Three years after the first revolt, this place was invested by the
celebrated prince of Parma, governor of Flanders. This general, having
secured his quarters and encamped in face of Maestricht, directed a
numerous park of artillery against it. Mondragone was charged with
the blockade on the side of Wyck. In a short time the circumvallation
was secured; and, simultaneously, the Meuse was closed, both below
and above the city, by two bridges of boats, sufficiently solid to
deprive the enemy of all chance of entrance to the place by water.
These bridges served at the same time as means of communication to the
army spread over both banks of the river. The trenches were opened.
The garrison, being small, could not risk many sorties, but they made
some with success. Two attacks were formed: one at the Brussels gate,
and the other opposite the curtain which was between the gate of Hoxter
and that of the Cross. When the trenches were sufficiently advanced,
Hierges set his batteries playing. The Spaniards had already arrived
at the counterscarp, and were endeavouring to debouch in the fosse,
to fill it promptly and second the operations of the artillery. The
Brussels gate was defended by a good ravelin and a large cavalier,
which impeded the progress of the besiegers greatly. It was battered by
some pieces of large cannon; but the audacity of the besieged seemed
to increase with their peril. The Spaniards on their part redoubled
their efforts; their ardour was indefatigable; they emulated each other
in braving dangers. Within the walls, the citizens and the countrymen
who had there sought refuge, vied with the most practised soldiers
in intrepidity. The women themselves became redoubtable warriors:
three companies of them were formed, one of which was employed at
the counter-mines, and the others did garrison duty. They appeared
on the ramparts by the side of the bravest soldiers; they cheerfully
shared the painful labours of the pioneers, and entered warmly into
the repairs of old fortifications, or the erection of new ones. The
besiegers, however, remained masters of the fosse, and the breach
appeared sufficiently practicable for an assault to be attempted. A
signal was given for one; but the Spaniards, after making the most
courageous efforts, were constrained to retire with loss. The fire of
the batteries increased; the works were perfected; all sorts of means
were employed to prevent the enemy from repairing the breaches made
in the ramparts of the city. A second assault was prepared. To weaken
the resistance of the Flemings by dividing it, it was resolved to give
the assault at the two attacks. The trumpets sounded; they rushed to
the breaches; the parties met; the contest began; one side impetuously
attacking, the other as firmly defending: victory remained doubtful;
Herle, in the Spanish ranks, and Tappin, the celebrated defender of
Maestricht, performing prodigies of valour. It was a hand-to-hand
fight,--pike to pike, and sword to sword. Some barrels of powder caught
fire, and blew up; in an instant the ground was covered with mutilated
bodies. The combat ceased, and the besiegers were obliged to retreat,
without having been able to gain possession of the breach. This
fruitless attempt cost the Spaniards very dear. But the greater part
of the garrison had perished upon the walls, and the remainder were in
want of everything. Disease, fatigue, watching, and famine, made awful
ravages. No more confidence could be placed in the succours promised
by the prince of Orange; and the inhabitants, determined to die rather
than surrender, had no resource but their bravery. The ravelin which
covered the Brussels gate annoying the besiegers greatly, the prince of
Parma determined to make himself master of it. He ordered some fresh
mines, and on the 24th of June succeeded in winning it. The prince,
profiting by this advantage, caused the large cavalier constructed at
this point to be raised much higher, and turned the fire against the
place. The besieged, being without repose and finding safety nowhere,
began to despair of holding out, without, however, being at all willing
to subscribe to the honourable capitulation offered them by the
prince. That general fell sick; the siege appeared to suffer by the
circumstance, and the attacks became weaker. In consequence of this,
the exhausted citizens relaxed in their vigilance. The prince, who from
his bed was still watchful, learnt how matters stood, and immediately
ordered an assault. On the morning of the day designed for this last
effort, a soldier having crept through an ill-repaired breach, found
no one on the walls but some sentinels buried in sleep. He informed
the general of this. The troops were commanded to follow him: the
breach was mounted, and the city taken. The carnage was so frightful,
that scarcely four hundred persons were spared. The life of the brave
Tappin, the governor of Maestricht, was however saved, out of respect
for his character. The besiegers lost two thousand five hundred men;
but a booty of a million of crowns of gold, and the conquest of an
important city, compensated for their fatigues and perils.