History of the United Netherlands, 1600-1602



CHAPTER XXXIX.

Effects of the Nieuport campaign--The general and the statesman--
The Roman empire and the Turk--Disgraceful proceedings of the
mutinous soldiers in Hungary--The Dunkirk pirates--Siege of Ostend
by the Archduke--Attack on Rheinberg by Prince Maurice--Siege and
capitulation of Meura--Attempt on Bois-le-Duc--Concentration of the
war at Ostend--Account of the belligerents--Details of the siege--
Feigned offer of Sir Francis Vere to capitulate--Arrival of
reinforcements from the States--Attack and overthrow of the
besiegers.

The Nieuport campaign had exhausted for the time both belligerents.
The victor had saved the republic from impending annihilation, but was
incapable of further efforts during the summer. The conquered cardinal-
archduke, remaining essentially in the same position as before, consoled
himself with the agreeable fiction that the States, notwithstanding their
triumph, had in reality suffered the most in the great battle. Meantime
both parties did their best to repair damages and to recruit their
armies.

The States--or in other words Barneveld, who was the States--had learned
a lesson. Time was to show whether it would be a profitable one, or
whether Maurice, who was the preceptor of Europe in the art of war, would
continue to be a docile pupil of the great Advocate even in military
affairs. It is probable that the alienation between the statesman and