Baron Hemart, a young Gueldrian noble, of small experience in military affairs, commanded in the city, his garrison being eight hundred soldiers, and about one thousand burgher guard.  As early as January, Farnese had ordered Count Mansfeld to lay siege to the place.  Five forts had accordingly been constructed, above and below the town, upon the left bank of the river, while a bridge of boats thrown across the stream led to a fortified camp on the opposite side.  Mansfeld, Mondragon, Bobadil, Aquila, and other distinguished veterans in Philip’s service, were engaged in the enterprise.  A few unimportant skirmishes between Schenk and the Spaniards had taken place, but the city was already hard pressed, and, by the series of forts which environed it, was cut off from its supplies.  It was highly important, therefore, that Grave should be relieved, with the least possible delay.

Early in Easter week, a force of three thousand men, under Hohenlo and Sir John Norris, was accordingly despatched by Leicester, with orders, at every hazard, to throw reinforcements and provisions into the place.  They took possession, at once, of a stone sconce, called the Mill-Fort, which was guarded by fifty men, mostly boors of the country.  These were nearly all hanged for “using malicious words,” and for “railing against Queen Elizabeth,” and—­a sufficient number of men being left to maintain the fort—­the whole relieving force marched with great difficulty—­for the river was rapidly rising, and flooding the country—­along the right bank of the Meuse, taking possession of Batenburg and Ravenstein castles, as they went.  A force of four or five hundred Englishmen was then pushed forward to a point almost exactly opposite Grave, and within an English mile of the head of the bridge constructed by the Spaniards.  Here, in the night of Easter Tuesday, they rapidly formed an entrenched camp, upon the dyke along the river, and, although molested by some armed vessels, succeeded in establishing themselves in a most important position.

On the morning of Easter Wednesday, April 16, Mansfeld, perceiving that the enemy had thus stolen a march upon him, ordered one thousand picked troops, all Spaniards, under Aquila, Casco and other veterans, to assault this advanced post.  A reserve of two thousand was placed in readiness to support the attack.  The Spaniards slowly crossed the bridge, which was swaying very dangerously with the current, and then charged the entrenched camp at a run.  A quarrel between the different regiments as to the right of precedence precipitated the attack, before the reserve, consisting of some picked companies of Mondragon’s veterans, had been able to arrive.  Coming in breathless and fatigued, the first assailants were readily repulsed in their first onset.  Aquila then opportunely made his appearance, and the attack was renewed with great vigour:  The defenders of the camp yielded at the third charge and fled in dismay, while the Spaniards, leaping the barriers,