half past two o'clock
The second and third divisions of Maurice 's army also moved away from the shore inland . They now numbered but three thousand men , as the four thousand five hundred who had been lost belonged entirely to these divisions , Sir Francis Vere 's division having been left intact . It was upon the first division that the whole brunt of the battle fell , they receiving some assistance from the thousand men remaining under Count Solms that were posted next to them ; while the rear division was never engaged at all . At half past two o'clock on the afternoon of the 2d of June , 1600 , the battle began . Vere 's plan was to hold his advanced position as long as possible , bring the reserves up as required until he had worn out the Spaniards , then to send for the other two divisions and to fall upon them . The company of Lionel Vickars formed part of the three hundred men stationed on the East Hill , where Vere also had taken up his position . After an exchange of fire for some time five hundred picked Spanish infantry rushed across the hollow between the two armies , and charged the hill .