The Englishman was wounded in the mouth and breast, the Count was seen to gallop past one thousand musketeers and caliver-men of the enemy, and to escape unscathed.  But as the strength of the soldiers exhausted itself, the violence of the tempest increased.  The floods of rain and the blasts of the hurricane at last terminated the affray.  The Spaniards, fairly conquered, were compelled to a retreat, lest the rapidly rising river should sweep away the frail and trembling bridge, over which they had passed to their unsuccessful assault.  The English and Netherlanders remained masters of the field.  The rising flood, too, which was fast converting the meadows into a lake, was as useful to the conquerors as it was damaging to the Spaniards.

In the course of the few following days, a large number of boats was despatched before the very eyes of Parma, from Batenburg into Grave; Hohenlo, who had “most desperately adventured his person” throughout the whole affair, entering the town himself.

A force of five hundred men, together with provisions enough to last a year, was thrown into the city, and the course of the Meuse was, apparently, secured to the republic.  In this important action about one hundred and fifty Dutch and English were killed, and probably four hundred Spaniards, including several distinguished officers.

The Earl of Leicester was incredibly elated so soon as the success of this enterprise was known.  “Oh that her Majesty knew,” he cried, “how easy a match now she hath with the King of Spain, and what millions of aficted people she hath relieved in these, countries.  This summer, this summer, I say, would make an end to her immortal glory.”  He was no friend to his countryman, the gallant Sir John Norris—­whom, however, he could not help applauding on this occasion,—­but he was in raptures with Hohenlo.  Next to God, he assured the Queen’s government that the victory was owing to the Count.  “He is both a valiant man and a wise man, and the painfullest that ever I knew,” he said; adding—­as a secret—­that “five hundred Englishmen of the best Flemish training had flatly and shamefully run away,” when the fight had been renewed by Hohenlo and Norris.  He recommended that her Majesty should, send her picture to the Count, worth two hundred pounds, which he would value at more than one thousand pounds in money, and he added that “for her sake the Count had greatly left his drinking.”

As for the Prince of Parma, Leicester looked upon him as conclusively beaten.  He spoke of him as “marvellously appalled” by this overthrow of his forces; but he assured the government that if the Prince’s “choler should press him to seek revenge,” he should soon be driven out of the country.  The Earl would follow him “at an inch,” and effectually frustrate all his undertakings.  “If the Spaniard have such a May as he has had an April,” said Lord North, “it will put water in his wine.”