of Rheinberg—­Capitulation of Meurs—­Surrender of Grol—­Storming and taking of Brevoort Capitulation of Enschede, Ootmaxsum, Oldenzaal, and Lingen—­Rebellion of the Spanish garrisons in Antwerp and Ghent—­Progress of the peace movement between Henry and Philip—­Relations of the three confederate powers—­Henry’s scheme for reconciliation with Spain—­His acceptance of Philip’s offer of peace announced to Elizabeth—­Endeavours for a general peace.

The old year had closed with an abortive attempt of Philip to fulfil his favourite dream—­the conquest of England.  The new year opened with a spirited effort of Prince Maurice to measure himself in the open field with the veteran legions of Spain.

Turnhout, in Brabant, was an open village—­the largest in all the Netherlands lying about twenty-five English miles in almost a direct line south from Gertruydenburg.  It was nearly as far distant in an easterly direction from Antwerp, and was about five miles nearer Breda than it was to Gertruydenberg.

At this place the cardinal-archduke had gathered a considerable force, numbering at least four thousand of his best infantry, with several squadrons of cavalry, the whole under-command of the general-in-chief of artillery, Count Varax.  People in the neighbourhood were growing uneasy, for it was uncertain in what direction it might be intended to use this formidable force.  It was perhaps the cardinal’s intention to make a sudden assault upon Breda, the governor of which seemed not inclined to carry out his proposition to transfer that important city to the king, or it was thought that he might take advantage of a hard frost and cross the frozen morasses and estuaries into the land of Ter Tholen, where he might overmaster some of the important strongholds of Zeeland.

Marcellus Bax, that boldest and most brilliant of Holland’s cavalry officers, had come to Maurice early in January with an urgent suggestion that no time might be lost in making an attack upon the force of Turnhout, before they should succeed in doing any mischief.  The prince pondered the proposition, for a little time, by himself, and then conferred very privately upon the subject with the state-council.  On the 14th January it was agreed with that body that the enterprise should be attempted, but with the utmost secrecy.  A week later the council sent an express messenger to Maurice urging him not to expose his own life to peril, but to apprise them as soon as possible as to the results of the adventure.

Meantime, patents had been sent to the various garrisons for fifty companies of foot and sixteen squadrons of horse.  On the 22nd January Maurice came to Gertruydenberg, the place of rendezvous, attended by Sir Francis Vere and Count Solms.  Colonel Kloetingen was already there with the transports of ammunition and a few pieces of artillery from Zeeland, and in the course of the day the whole infantry force had assembled.  Nothing could have been managed with greater promptness or secrecy.