But Maurice had thrown a bridge across the Yssel above, and another below the town, had carefully and rapidly taken measures in the success of which he felt confident, and now declared that it would be cowardly and shameful to abandon an enterprise so well begun.

The city had been formally summoned to surrender, and a calm but most decided refusal had been returned.

On the 9th June the batteries began playing, and after four thousand six hundred shots a good breach had been effected in the defences along the Kaye—­an earthen work lying between two strong walls of masonry.

The breach being deemed practicable, a storm was ordered.  To reach the Kaye it was necessary to cross a piece of water called the Haven, over which a pontoon bridge was hastily thrown.  There was now a dispute among the English, Scotch, and Netherlanders for precedence in the assault.  It was ultimately given to the English, in order that the bravery of that nation might now on the same spot wipe out the disgrace inflicted upon its name by the treason of Sir William Stanley.  The English did their duty well and rushed forward merrily, but the bridge proved too short.  Some sprang over and pushed boldly for the breach.  Some fell into the moat and were drowned.  Others, sustained by the Netherlanders under Solms, Meetkerke, and Brederode, effected their passage by swimming, leaping, or wading, so that a resolute attack was made.  Herman van den Berg met them in the breach at the head of seven companies.  The defenders were most ferocious in their resistance.  They were also very drunk.  The count had placed many casks of Rhenish and of strong beer within reach, and ordered his soldiers to drink their fill as they fought.  He was himself as vigorous in his potations as he was chivalrous with sword and buckler.  Two pages and two lieutenants fell at his side, but still he fought at the head of his men with a desperation worthy of his vow, until he fell wounded in the eye and was carried from the place.  Notwithstanding this disaster to the commander of the town, the assailants were repulsed, losing two hundred-and twenty-five in killed and wounded—­Colonel Meetkerke and his brother, two most valuable Dutch officers, among them.

During the whole of the assault, a vigorous cannonade had been kept up upon other parts of the town, and houses and church-towers were toppling down in all directions.  Meanwhile the inhabitants—­for it was Sunday—­ instead of going to service were driven towards the breach by the serjeant-major, a truculent Spaniard, next in command to Van den Berg, who ran about the place with a great stick, summoning the Dutch burghers to assist the Spanish garrison on the wall.  It was thought afterwards that this warrior would have been better occupied among the soldiers, at the side of his commander.