We have taken Axel, a town in Flanders, near Ternous. Your son Philip with his bands had the leading and entering the town, which was notably handled, for they caused thirty or forty to swim over the ditch, and so get up the wall and opened the gate; yet, ere they could enter half their numbers, the soldiers were in arms, and came to resist our men, but they were overthrown, and most of them slain, being 600 as I hear, soldiers in that town, beside burghers. The Count Morrice was there, and my Lord Willoughby, and young Mr Hatton for his first nuseling. God send we may hold it, victual is so hard to come by there; but all is done that can be possible.
I see we shall starve on every side. I hear now, that there is 10,000 pounds sent over by exchange, and other 10,000 in the midst of August; you wrote unto me that her Majesty had appointed 30,000 pounds to come over. It is no marvel our men run fast away. I am ashamed to write it, there was 500 ran away in two days, and a great many to the enemy.
There is of our runagates 200 brought again from the coast-side. Divers I hanged before the rest, and I assure you they could have been content all to have been hanged rather than tarry. Our old ragged rogues here hath so discouraged our new men as, I protest to you, they look like dead men. God once deliver me well of this charge, and I will hang too, if I take charge of men and not be sure of better pay aforehand. I assure you it will fret me to death ere long, to see my soldiers in this case, and cannot help them. I cry now, peace! peace! for never was there such a war, and a cause so slenderly countenanced; but God will help us I trust.
I will not now hold you longer; but, Mr. Secretary, I tell you, if our people shall be no better relieved, by the Lord, I look for the foulest mutiny that ever was made, both of our men and these country soldiers, and I am sure I can do as much with them as ever any man could, and I do but wonder to see they do not rather kill us all than run away, God help us!
Camden Society, XXVII: 337.
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