their works with troops inferior in number to theirs and fatigued by the march.  Should he remain where he was he would soon be starved into submission, and would be obliged to surrender his whole army.  On the other hand, by advancing now, in the intolerable heat of a July sun over the burning and glaring sands, the troops already wearied would arrive on the field of battle utterly exhausted, and would be obliged to attack an enemy freshly and cheerfully awaiting them on ground of his own selection.

Moreover it was absolutely certain that Fort Albert would not hold an hour if resolutely assaulted in the midst of the panic of Ernest’s defeat, and, with its capture, the annihilation of Maurice was certain.

Meantime the three thousand men under Velasco, who had been detached to protect the rear, would arrive to reinforce the archduke’s main army, should he pause until the next day.

These arguments, which had much logic in them, were strongly urged by Zapena, a veteran marshal of the camp who had seen much service, and whose counsels were usually received with deference.  But on this occasion commanders and soldiers were hot for following up their victory.  They cared nothing for the numbers of their enemy, they cried, “The more infidels the greater glory in destroying them.”  Delay might after all cause the loss of the prize, it was eagerly shouted.  The archduke ought to pray that the sun might stand still for him that morning, as for Joshua in the vale of Ajalon.  The foe seeing himself entrapped, with destruction awaiting him, was now skulking towards his ships, which still offered him the means of escape.  Should they give him time he would profit by their negligence, and next morning when they reached Nieuport, the birds would be flown.  Especially the leaders of the mutineers of Diest and Thionville were hoarse with indignation at the proposed delay.  They had not left their brethren, they shouted, nor rallied to the archduke’s banner in order to sit down and dig in the sand like ploughmen.  There was triumph for the Holy Church, there was the utter overthrow of the heretic army, there was rich booty to be gathered, all these things were within their reach if they now advanced and smote the rebels while, confused and panic-stricken, they were endeavouring to embark in their ships.

While these vehement debates were at the hottest, sails were descried in the offing; for the archduke’s forces already stood upon the edge of the downs.  First one ship, then another and another, moved steadily along the coast, returning from Nieuport in the direction of Ostend.