battle fought september near village town netherlands eighty years war fought forces netherlands aided english spanish england signed treaty states general netherlands formally entered war spain earl leicester appointed governor general netherlands sent command english army support dutch rebels prince commander besieged town cologne war leicester turn besieged town province eastern bank river strategically important allowed troops levy war contributions rich region left troops blockading marched relieve town personally supplied anglo dutch siege continued assembled large convoy delivery town entrusted leicester learned dispatched francisco man charge intercepted english dutch prepared ambush english knights involved end spanish succeeded delivering convoy safely hard fought battle spanish cavalry composed mainly italian soldiers defeated english cavalry earl essex spanish infantry held ground delivered convoy reinforced spanish troops forced english retreat secured spanish following weeks english managed capture major spanish fort bank river opposite town english gains months later english governors defected spanish ranks handed places background queen elizabeth england took netherlands protection signed treaty states general england dispatched infantry cavalry soldiers low countries earl leicester proclaimed governor general netherlands commanding badly paid leicester unable prevent seizing towns grave managed besieged september leicester army marched took spanish left bank river september leicester laid bridge took positions right bank river leicester anglo dutch army consisted infantry mainly english scottish irish cavalry earl essex led cavalry infantry camp deposed son prior portuguese crown resided receiving news siege dispatched governor infantry cavalry companies lieutenant infantry cavalry companies siege continued left troops blockade supplied person cavalry convoy wagons wheat leicester receiving news approach returned camp found arrival nassau entrenched army mountain right bank leicester informed possible ways spanish army attempt supply town misunderstanding troops deployed guard roads led spanish troops left night passed dutch town reached narrow way flanked deep woods prayed church later walked tower watch english army following morning war council held captured scottish officer interrogated revealed leicester plans strength considered possibility defending town avoid giving queen england fame prince like prisoner inside returned entrusted command town sent guard fort nearby siege continued marched army intercept corps recruited germany elizabeth orders arrived dissolved lack pay battle preparations preserve garrison gathered food feed men months towns food carried large convoy formed resupply gave command mission escort infantry spanish italian cavalry according jesuit historian infantry cavalry claimed spanish chronicler soldier eyewitness september sent letter commanding leave men meet convoy deliver town intercepted near leicester learned convoy persuaded captain prepared ambush york served years imprisoned charges pretending surrender spanish brussels fell freed went serve leicester confidence earned leicester waited spanish convoy near small village half mile supported sir sir lord nephew poet sir leicester commanded infantry cavalry according english scholar increases numbers infantry cavalry veteran count nassau 19th century american historian hand reduces strength english force cavalry adding stronger force infantry held reserve readiness english soldiers unlike dutch anxious engage spanish troops told leicester understood spanish tactics english soldiers leicester formed army deep narrow way mountain dutch entrenched deployed cavalry squadrons formed large infantry battalion advanced sir lord way flanked road morning september english met convoy expected spanish cavalry opened way followed battalion foot flanking wagons cavalry closing way left cavalry near guard rear convoy spanish led passed stanley lord began skirmish spanish vanguard clashes earl essex charged spanish english cavalry crying follow good honour england england queen ambush spanish vanguard driven english charge spanish captains juan del formed defenders squadron formation kept way open wagons fled beginning fight spanish places brought wagons stanley charged spanish squadron repelled push pike fight approached francisco noticed fire ordered wagon loaded powder bullets sent spanish english cavalry meantime charged spanish flanks succeeded breaking foremost ranks essex men penetrate twice english charged squadron repelled reduce pressure spanish infantry collected cavalry charged stanley infantry turn repelled nearly killed english soldier attacked spanish light arenas saved english lance retired fight met troops join battle time english troops unsuccessfully attacked defended men moment thought skirmish inside town risen arms spanish troops left walls leicester committed mistake believing count nassau fighting spanish inside confusion cavalry left included italian companies reached count captain attacked english orders taken prisoner lord wearing close helmet received slash neck fell horse english governor fatally wounded leg final charge spanish cavalry sought protection infantry kept english cavalry bay supported captain las general cavalry managed restore order spanish ranks seeing good order men english dutch commanders renew action began retire camp handful spanish including low ranking officers orders began pursue english aftermath spanish soldier labelled battle best factions time seen flanders years common hard fought action warm fight according probable encounter forgotten melancholy close field bright career allegedly removed saw wearing cavalry soldiers wore armour past instead solidarity companion cost life carried town recover died weeks later unable extract bullet historians uncertain number casualties sides suffered battle claims horse foot killed english men spanish hand claimed spanish winners little loss having wounded slaughtered people rebels october time supplied garrison personally time later sent left charge spanish army took winter quarters moved brussels spend winter earl leicester continued siege able town succeeded occupying forts including carried surprise brother soldiers shortly english dutch took winter quarters sir given command sir stanley york appointments met suspicion stanley openly catholic york man character leicester expressed confidence soldiers stanley york shifted sides spanish party handed stanley york acts gains campaign undermined leicester reputation dutch states confidence english troops decided appoint count nassau governor general netherlands lieutenant loss spanish able levy war contributions provinces remained spanish control capture
Battle of Zutphen