FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   297   298   299   300   301   302   303   304   305   306   >>  
nd Zealand troops, who had disembarked to come to close action with the enemy, at once lost their courage when they looked about them and saw the vessels, which were their last refuge, putting off from the shore. For the tide had begun to ebb, and the commanders of the fleet, from fear of being stranded with their heavy transports, and, in case of an unfortunate issue to the engagement, becoming the prey of the enemy, retired from the dam, and made for deep water. No sooner did Alexander perceive this than he pointed out to his troops the flying vessels, and encouraged them to finish the action with an enemy who already despaired of their safety. The Dutch auxiliaries were the first that gave way, and their example was soon followed by the Zealanders. Hastily leaping from the dam they endeavored to reach the vessels by wading or swimming; but from their disorderly flight they impeded one another, and fell in heaps under the swords of the pursuers. Many perished even in the boats, as each strove to get on board before the other, and several vessels sank under the weight of the numbers who rushed into them. The Antwerpers, who fought for their liberty, their hearths, their faith, were the last who retreated, but this very circumstance augmented their disaster. Many of their vessels were outstripped by the ebb-tide, and grounded within reach of the enemy's cannon, and were consequently destroyed with all on board. Crowds of fugitives endeavored by swimming to gain the other transports, which had got into deep water; but such was the rage and boldness of the Spaniards that they swam after them with their swords between their teeth, and dragged many even from the ships. The victory of the king's troops was complete but bloody; for of the Spaniards about eight hundred, of the Netherlanders some thousands (without reckoning those who were drowned), were left on the field, and on both sides many of the principal nobility perished. More than thirty vessels, with a large supply of provisions for Antwerp, fell into the hands of the victors, with one hundred and fifty cannon and other military stores. The dam, the possession of which had been so dearly maintained, was pierced in thirteen different places, and the bodies of those who had cut through it were now used to stop up the openings. The following day a transport of immense size and singular construction fell into the hands of the royalists. It formed a floating castle, and
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   297   298   299   300   301   302   303   304   305   306   >>  



Top keywords:

vessels

 

troops

 

hundred

 
Spaniards
 

cannon

 
perished
 

swords

 
swimming
 

endeavored

 

transports


action

 

thousands

 

bloody

 

Netherlanders

 
drowned
 
principal
 
nobility
 

disembarked

 

complete

 

reckoning


Crowds
 

fugitives

 

destroyed

 
dragged
 

victory

 

boldness

 

Zealand

 

openings

 
transport
 
immense

formed
 

floating

 
castle
 

royalists

 
singular
 

construction

 

bodies

 

victors

 

military

 

Antwerp


provisions

 

supply

 

stores

 

possession

 

thirteen

 

places

 

pierced

 
maintained
 

dearly

 

thirty