THE WAR IN HOLLAND
In the confusion caused by the collision of the Active with the
Spanish galleon no one had noticed the accident which had befallen
Geoffrey Vickars, and his brother's distress was great when, on the
ship getting free from among the Spaniards, he discovered that
Geoffrey was missing. He had been by his side on the poop but
a minute before the mast fell, and had no doubt that he had been
carried overboard by its wreck. That he had survived he had not
the least hope, and when a week later the Active on her way back
towards the Thames was driven into Harwich, he at once landed and
carried the sad news to his parents. England was wild with joy at
its deliverance, but the household at Hedingham was plunged into
deep sorrow.
Weeks passed and then Lionel received a letter from Francis Vere
saying that Parma's army was advancing into Holland, and that as
active work was at hand he had best, if his intentions remained
unchanged, join him without delay.
He started two days later for Harwich, and thence took ship for
Bergen op Zoom. Anchoring at Flushing, he learned that the Duke of
Parma had already sat down in front of Bergen op Zoom, and had on
the 7th attempted to capture Tholen on the opposite side of the
channel, but had been repulsed by the regiment of Count Solms, with
a loss of 400 men. He had then thrown up works against the water
forts, and hot fighting had gone on, the garrison making frequent
sallies upon the besiegers. The water forts still held out, and
the captain therefore determined to continue his voyage into the
town. The ship was fired at by the Spanish batteries, but passed
safely between the water forts and dropped anchor in the port on
the last day of September, Lionel having been absent from Holland
just a year. He landed at once and made his way to the lodgings of
Francis Vere, by whom he was received with great cordiality.
"I was greatly grieved," he said after the first greetings, "to
hear of your brother's death. I felt it as if he had been a near
relative of my own. I had hoped to see you both; and that affair
concerning which my cousin wrote to me, telling me how cleverly
you had discovered a plot against the queen's life, showed me that
you would both be sure to make your way. Your father and mother
must have felt the blow terribly?"
"They have indeed," Lionel said. "I do not think, however, that
they altogether give up hope. They cling to the idea that he may
have been picked up by some Spanish ship and may now be a prisoner
in Spain."
Francis Vere shook his head.
"Of course, I know," Lionel went on, "their hope is altogether
without foundation; for even had Geoffrey gained one of their
ships, he would at once have been thrown overboard. Still I rather
encouraged the idea, for it is better that hope should die out
gradually than be extinguished at a blow; and slight though it
was it enabled my father and mother to bear up better than they
otherwise would have done. Had it not been for that I believe that
my mother would have well nigh sunk beneath it. I was very glad
when I got your letter, for active service will be a distraction to
my sorrow. We have ever been together, Geoffrey and I, and I feel
like one lost without him. You have not had much fighting here, I
think, since I have been away?"
"No, indeed; you have been far more lucky than I have," Francis Vere
said. "With the exception of the fight with the San Mateo I have
been idle ever since I saw you, for not a shot has been fired here,
while you have been taking part in the great fight for the very
existence of our country. It is well that Parma has been wasting
nine months at Dunkirk, for it would have gone hard with us had
he marched hither instead of waiting there for the arrival of the
Armada. Our force here has fallen away to well nigh nothing. The
soldiers could get no pay, and were almost starved; their clothes
were so ragged that it was pitiful to see them. Great numbers have
died, and more gone back to England. As to the Dutch, they are more
occupied in quarrelling with us than in preparing for defence, and
they would right willingly see us go so that we did but deliver
Flushing and Brill and this town back again to them. I was truly
glad when I heard that Parma had broken up his camp at Dunkirk
when the Armada sailed away, and was marching hither. Now that he
has come, it may be that these wretched disputes will come to an
end, and that something like peace and harmony will prevail in our
councils. He could not have done better, as far as we are concerned,
than in coming to knock his head against these walls; for Bergen
is far too strong for him to take, and he will assuredly meet with
no success here such as would counterbalance in any way the blow
that Spanish pride has suffered in the defeat of the Armada. I
think, Lionel, that you have outgrown your pageship, and since you
have been fighting as a gentleman volunteer in Drake's fleet you
had best take the same rank here."
The siege went on but slowly. Vigorous sorties were made, and the
cavalry sometimes sallied out from the gates and made excursions as
far as Wouw, a village three miles away, and took many prisoners.
Among these were two commissaries of ordnance, who were intrusted
to the safe keeping of the Deputy Provost Redhead. They were not
strictly kept, and were allowed to converse with the provost's
friends. One of these, William Grimeston, suspected that one of
the commissaries, who pretended to be an Italian, was really an
English deserter who had gone over with the traitor Stanley; and
in order to see if his suspicions were correct, pretended that he
was dissatisfied with his position and would far rather be fighting
on the other side. The man at once fell into the trap, acknowledged
that he was an Englishman, and said that if Grimeston and Redhead
would but follow his advice they would soon become rich men, for
that if they could arrange to give up one of the forts to Parma
they would be magnificently rewarded.
Redhead and Grimeston pretended to agree, but at once informed Lord
Willoughby, who was in command, of the offer that had been made to
them. They were ordered to continue their negotiations with the
traitor. The latter furnished them with letters to Stanley and
Parma, and with these they made their way out of the town at night
to the Spanish camp. They had an interview with the duke, and
promised to deliver the north water fort over to him, for which
service Redhead was to receive 1200 crowns and Grimeston 700 crowns,
and a commission in Stanley's regiment of traitors.
Stanley himself entertained them in his tent, and Parma presented
them with two gold chains. They then returned to Bergen and related
all that had taken place to Lord Willoughby. The matter was kept
a profound secret in the town, Francis Vere, who was in command of
the north fort, and a few others only being made acquainted with
what was going on.
On the appointed night, 22d of October, Grimeston went out alone,
Redhead's supposed share of the business being to open the gates
of the fort. When Grimeston arrived at Parma's camp he found that
the Spaniards had become suspicious. He was bound and placed in
charge of a Spanish captain, who was ordered to stab him at once
if there was any sign of treachery. It was a dark night; the tide
was out, for the land over which the Spaniards had to advance was
flooded at other times. The attacking column consisted of three
thousand men, including Stanley's regiment; and a number of knights
and nobles accompanied it as volunteers.
As they approached the forts--Grimeston in front closely guarded
by the Spanish captain--it was seen by the assailants that Redhead
had kept his word: the drawbridge across the moat was down and the
portcullis was up. Within the fort Lord Willoughby, Vere, and two
thousand men were waiting for them. When about fifty had crossed the
drawbridge the portcullis was suddenly let fall and the drawbridge
hauled up. As the portcullis thundered down Grimeston tripped up
the surprised Spaniard, and, leaping into the water, managed to
make his way to the foot of the walls. A discharge of musketry and
artillery from the fort killed a hundred and fifty of the attacking
party, while those who had crossed the drawbridge were all either
killed or taken prisoners. But the water in the moat was low. The
Spaniards gallantly waded across and attacked the palisades, but
were repulsed in their endeavour to climb them. While the fight was
going on the water in the moat was rising, and scores were washed
away and drowned as they attempted to return.
Parma continued the siege for some little time, but made no real
attempt to take the place after having been repulsed at the north
fort; and on the 12th of November broke up his camp and returned
to Brussels.
After the siege was over Lord Willoughby knighted twelve of
his principal officers, foremost among whom was Francis Vere, who
was now sent home with despatches by his general, and remained in
England until the end of January, when he was appointed sergeant
major general of the forces, a post of great responsibility and much
honour, by Lord Willoughby, with the full approval of the queen's
government. He was accompanied on his return by his brother Robert.
A month after Sir Francis Vere's return Lord Willoughby left
for England, and the whole burden of operations in the field fell
upon Vere. His first trouble arose from the mutinous conduct of
the garrison of Gertruydenberg. This was an important town on the
banks of the old Maas, and was strongly fortified, one side being
protected by the Maas while the river Douge swept round two other
sides of its walls. Its governor, Count Hohenlohe, had been unpopular,
the troops had received no pay, and there had been a partial mutiny
before the siege of Bergen op Zoom began. This was appeased, by
the appointment of Sir John Wingfield, Lord Willoughby's brother
in law, as its governor.
In the winter the discontent broke out again. The soldiers had been
most unjustly treated by the States, and there were long arrears
of pay, and at first Sir John Wingfield espoused the cause of the
men. Sir Francis Vere tried in vain to arrange matters. The Dutch
authorities would not pay up the arrears, the men would not return
to their duty until they did so, and at last became so exasperated
that they ceased to obey their governor and opened communications
with the enemy. Prince Maurice, who was now three and twenty years
old, and devoted to martial pursuits and the cause of his countrymen,
after consultation with Sir Francis Vere, laid siege to the town
and made a furious assault upon it on the water aide. But the Dutch
troops, although led by Count Solms and Count Philip of Nassau,
were repulsed with great loss. The prince then promised not only
a pardon, but that the demands of the garrison should be complied
with; but it was too late, and four days later Gertruydenberg was
delivered up by the mutineers to the Duke of Parma, the soldiers
being received into the Spanish service, while Wingfield and the
officers were permitted to retire.
The States were furious, as this was the third city commanded by
Englishmen that had been handed over to the enemy. The bad feeling
excited by the treachery of Sir William Stanley and Roland Yorke
at Deventer and Zutphen had died out after the gallant defence of
the English at Sluys, but now broke out again afresh, and charges
of treachery were brought not only against Wingfield but against
many other English officers, including Sir Francis Vere. The
queen, however, wrote so indignantly to the States that they had
to withdraw their charges against most of the English officers.
In May Lord Willoughby, who was still in London, resigned his command.
A number of old officers of distinction who might have laid claims
to succeed him, among them Sir John Norris, Sir Roger Williams,
Sir Thomas Wilford, Sir William Drury, Sir Thomas Baskerville, and
Sir John Burrough, were withdrawn from the Netherlands to serve in
France or Ireland, and no general in chief or lieutenant general was
appointed, Sir Francis Vere as sergeant major receiving authority
to command all soldiers already in the field or to be sent out during
the absence of the general and lieutenant general. His official
title was Her Majesty's Sergeant Major in the Field. The garrisons
in the towns were under the command of their own governors, and
those could supply troops for service in the field according to
their discretion.
The appointment of so young a man as Sir Francis Vere to a post
demanding not only military ability but great tact and diplomatic
power, was abundant proof of the high estimate formed of him
by the queen and her counsellors. The position was one of extreme
difficulty. He had to keep on good terms with the queen and her
government, with the government of the States, the English agent at
the Hague, Prince Maurice in command of the army of the Netherlands,
the English governors of the towns, and the officers or men of the
force under his own command. Fortunately Barneveldt, who at that
time was the most prominent man in the States, had a high opinion
of Vere. Sir Thomas Bodley, the queen's agent, had much confidence
in him, and acted with him most cordially, and Prince Maurice
entertained a great respect for him, consulted him habitually in
all military matters, and placed him in the position of marshal
of the camp of the army of the Netherlands, in addition to his own
command of the English portion of that army.
Vere's first undertaking was to lead a force of 12,000 men, of
whom half were English, to prevent Count Mansfelt from crossing
the Maas with an army of equal strength. Prince Maurice was present
in person as general in chief. Intrenchments were thrown up and
artillery planted; but just as Mansfelt was preparing to cross his
troops mutinied, and he was obliged to fall back.
In October, with 900 of his own troops and twelve companies of Dutch
horse, Sir Francis Vere succeeded in throwing a convoy of provisions
into the town of Rheinberg, which was besieged by a large force
of the enemy. As soon as he returned the States requested him to
endeavour to throw in another convoy, as Count Mansfelt was marching
to swell the force of the besiegers, and, after his arrival it
would be well nigh impossible to send further aid into the town.
Vere took with him 900 English and 900 Dutch infantry, and 800
Dutch cavalry. The enemy had possession of a fortified country
house called Loo, close to which lay a thick wood traversed only by
a narrow path, with close undergrowth and swampy ground on either
side. The enemy were in great force around Loo, and came out to
attack the expedition as it passed through the wood. Sending the
Dutch troops on first, Vere attacked the enemy vigorously with his
infantry and drove them back to the inclosure of Loo. As soon as
his whole force had crossed the wood, he halted them and ordered
them to form in line of battle facing the wood through which they
had just passed, and from which the enemy were now pouring out in
great force.
In order to give time to his troops to prepare for the action Vere
took half his English infantry and advanced against them. They
moved forward, and a stubborn fight took place between the pikemen.
Vere's horse was killed, and fell on him so that he could not
rise; but the English closed round him, and he was rescued with
no other harm than a bruised leg and several pike thrusts through
his clothes. While the conflict between the pikemen was going on
the English arquebusiers opened fire on the flank of the enemy,
and they began to fall back. Four times they rallied and charged
the English, but were at last broken and scattered through the wood.
The cavalry stationed there left their horses and fled through the
undergrowth. Pressing forward the little English force next fell
upon twenty-four companies of Neapolitan infantry, who were defeated
without difficulty. The four hundred and fifty Englishmen then
joined the main force, which marched triumphantly with their convoy
of provisions into Rheinberg, and the next morning fortunately turning
thick and foggy the force made its way back without interruption
by the enemy.