02/09/2026
Nieuwe Tijdinghen 1626 issue 100 (2 September), a double-length issue with editorial commentary and a report concerning the failure of a Dutch amphibious attempt on Kieldrecht and Hulst, and news from Germany.
[EDITORIAL:] Account of the current affairs of Germany and of the appearance of the unfortunate progress of the great undertakings of the Gueux. Many virtuous people have had concerns in considering the great malice and evil intentions of our good gueux, the perturbers of the peace of all Christendom, who have so framed their affairs that there is no doubt that they wish to tread all Christendom beneath their feet and destroy it, conspiring with Turks, half-Turks, Mahomedan corsairs, unjust usurpers of kingdoms, and also some malicious Lutherans and ill-advised Catholics.
They thought by six various armies in various places to subvert the power and force of Christendom.
So I could not fail to the contenment of the lovers of the peace of Christendom here to give a short account of how affairs in Christendom now stand, so that they might renew their courage and praise and thank God, who shows us good signs and appearances that the intentions of our enemies are not disposed to prosper according to their intended malice.
[REPORT:] Account of the failed attempt of the Gueux to invade Flanders and overrun Kieldrecht, having to give way and depart with all their ships, on 29 August 1626.
It is known to everyone that the States of Holland tax and consume their commonalty with great exactions. The States of Holland and Zeeland had a general arrest and took many ships into service, to undertake a campaign, and speedily gathered their troops together as best they could, and embarked them in over 2,600 vessels, all well provided with victuals, with which they assembled on the Biesbos near Dordrecht and by St Annen Land, and embarked many horses, to put the cavalry ashore as soon as they reached land, and so make themselves masters of the countryside. They also fixed a general day of prayer for 26 August 1626 that their attempt might the better succeed, which they have planned and plotted for many years. All the ships set sail on 27 August and most of the fleet came to Ouden Doel, and on Friday 28 August they showed themselves in the open, so that they could clearly be seen from Antwerp, and the same night they rested at Saeftinghen, where early on Saturday morning most of the vessels sailed through the Saeftinghen G*t, and so arrived at Kieldrecht in Flanders. They had several warships with them and three galleys, and many ships carrying guns and well provided. First a galley came from the fleet, rowing to Kieldrecht, which was the galley built in Antwerp a few months ago that the slaves on board took over to the Gueux. So this galley came with the fleet, the enemy also had many sloops to land troops, but they dared not land, for they found the d***s so full of soldiers and rural levies that it seemed that it had been raining men from the sky. But the enemy continued to advance boldly with 600 ships along the channel before Kieldrecht, and the galley advanced to Kieldrecht Fort, those of Kieldrecht firing muskets fiercely, and with an artillery piece shot right through the galley, so that it at once turned back. Then the pack of ships came to by Fort Kieldrecht , riding up on the high tide on Saturday morning at 7 o’clock. The enemy’s warships bombarded the fort, and Kieldrecht steeple, but did little damage. Five hundred Italians came to Kieldrecht, and some companies of horse, and there were Walloons at the Fort of Monsieur de Licques, who also shot heartily at the enemy. The Italians bore themselves hearty, as did the rural levies, who so shot from the d***s that they could scarcely be seen. There were at least 10,000 levies out. The Gueux also shot bravely from their ships, the trumpets sounded heartily, the drums beat alarm, that it was a delight to see. Carriage horses brought up three artillery pieces from the Clinghe, which were aimed at the enemy ships and so tremendously shot through them that the enemy had to give way with great losses, and dared not land. We understand that one ship sank on the way. The galley was also treated in such manner as not to return, and had to stop for repairs, and the throng of vessels made it hard for them to avoid one another, for in departing they had to keep to the middle of the channel not to run aground, while those in the fort shot their big guns into the enemy ships. The artillery was drawn along the d**e to do more harm to the enemy. One of the enemy warships was so shot through that it was leaky it would have sunk. On Saturday it lay all day on its side opposite Kieldrecht, making repairs, and was protected by two States warships.
Another ship stranded on the sandbank near Kieldrecht Fort, stuck in the mud there, and another ship, laden with horses, was also high and dry. The Gueux thought to tow it off and were ready aboard their sloops, but our troops’ shooting forced them to abandon the ship, only taking off the men aboard. Our troops fetched 22 fine horses from the ship, which were a prize for the soldiers. Five horses sank into the mud and were hard to get out. Our troops quickly took the sails and ropes, and then set the ship afire.
The other large ship was laden with ammunition, carrying many barrels of powder, many shovels, picks, large axes, and hatchets, with cutlasses, each with the sign of a gallows on it. There were also many barrels with musket balls. The powder and ammunition was mostly taken off the ship. When the tide began to come in again at about 5 o’clock on Saturday afternoon, the Italians feared that with the high water the Gueux might come to fetch the ships again, so their captain had the one ship set on fire, and at about 6 o’clock set the ammunition ship on fire, with many barrels of gunpowder still aboard, using a long fuse, so that it exploded in sight of the enemy, giving such a terrible clap that the earth shook, and the ship burned all through the night until Sunday morning. Then some fishermen from Antwerp came and fished up a lot of ironwork in their smacks, bringing to Antwerp many shovels, picks, axes and cutlasses that had flown out of the ship, as well as a large anchor and some cables with a sail and many musketballs. All of this was sold at the Wharf in Antwerp on the morning of Monday, 31 August.
Very early on Sunday morning the enemy made sail at high water, and sailed away. On Saturday evening another 200 ships, coming from Axel, had joined the throng, having planned that once the first party had overpowered Kieldrecht, these 200 ships would sail to attack Hulst. If Kieldrecht had been taken, they would also have taken the Rooden Moer, and the other party would have taken Absdael [Absdale] and breached the d***s there, to isolate Hulst, and placed the Land of Waes under contribution, and built a Fort Royal at Kieldrecht, where they could have sailed in and out at will by the Doel and Saeftingen gaps without anybody being able to hinder them, but the Lord God prevented their evil intent, and even if the Gueux had landed 20,000 men they would have been meat for the slaughter, for the soldiers in Flanders were afoot, and the rural levies were guarding the d***s in great numbers, with such high courage that their only desire was for the enemy to land.
At the place near Kieldrecht called the Rooden Moer there were another five artillery pieces and guarding against the enemy’s arrival. The levies from Melsen and Beveren had their quarters on the d**e at Calloo, where they kept watch with flying banners. The Spaniards, and those who had come from Aalst, Dendermonde, and elsewhere lay along the d**e at Calloo Fort. It was a delight to see so many troops in arms along the d***s. All was cheerfulness, with people jumping, dancing, piping, singing and cheering, night and day.
On the morning of Monday, 31 August, the ships all sailed to the Agger as though they intended to sail to Bergen op Zoom, but set course to Zevenbergen, where they began to put men ashore on Monday night. What they will attempt next will soon be known.
Prince [Frederick] Henry of Nassau’s second exploit has been no more successful than his first test outside Breda, when he thought to overrun and capture Baglioni’s sconce or quarter. Scratching his head like this in Flanders, they would have better stayed at home.
The soldiers from Cruys Sconce were by Axel in Flanders last week with two sloops, and fetched 750 fat sheep away from the Gueux outside Axele. 700 pounds Flemish are being offered for them. They also brought in prisoners.
GERMANY: Firstly, concerning the affairs of Germany, the king of Denmark has arisen and showed himself in the open field, yet has achieved nothing. Meanwhile, Monsieur de Tilly has taken the city of Gottinghen.
The three ecclesiastical electors, the bishops of Mainz, Cologne and Trier, have laid siege to the town of Sinte Gweer [Sankt Goar], on the Rhine, to assist the Prince of Armstadt, who won the case against the Landgrave of Hesse in the Chamber of Speyer, and according to the last letters, those of the town, seeing there to be no appearance of succour on hand, asked for just three days of respite, which will now have concluded, and so there will be n more bleating of the calfs tale, under the name of Psalms of David, from Cologne all the way to Speyer. This will be a sad thing for many zealous Bible Sisters, who liked to make more noise in church than the preacher himself.
The pillager Mansfeld has found himself deceived in reckoning without his host, for having invaded Silesia with is troops, thinking that the States of the territory would fall in line, it has pleased Almighty God to give them better sense, so that instead of falling in with him, they fell upon him, and it is apparent that he brought his troops to the butcher’s block. It will be enough for him to save himself, as he is accustomed to do whenever he comes where blows will fall. We will soon hear more, for besides these States, the Prince of Walsteyn is not far off, who has a fine body of troops with him, and would be gladder to fight him than to dine.
The Peasants’ War has passed its peak, many of them beaten here and there, many run away, and the rest within his imperial majesty’s power to defeat, that none should escape, and nevertheless he wishes to show himself merciful and has granted them a truce for a few days.
They have been deceived into thinking they would be succoured, either by Mansfeld or by Bethlen Gabor, and meanwhile they have reamiend obstinate, to the ruin and despoliation of many among them, whose wives and children are now doomed to wander as beggars.
Bethlen Gabor, who is estimated to be half Turk, the Gueux rely upon not a little. He has also assembled many troops, including Turks to enlarge his army, and as he is at peace with the Emperor, he has given command to the old Count fo Thurn who some years ago was in open rebellion agaisnt his imperial majesty. But now luck has turned against Bethlen Gabor too, for ths Prime Vizier of the Grand Turk, on whom Bethlen Gabor relied, for he held his hand over his head, has been strangled at Constantinople. Bethlen Gabor has thereby lost his great patron, and must rely upon himself, for the Grand Turk has work enough with the Persian, and will not seek to break the peace with the Emperor.
Some write of the usurper of the kingdom of Sweden, that he lies before the city of Dantsick with fifteen great warships, each carrying 300 men, and that he is demanding toll of all ships that would sail out, and that those of Danzig have sought to reach agreement with him, but news has since come that those of Danzig are arming against him, for he is unreasonable in demanding what is theirs, to which he has no right nor claim. The towns of Elbing and Marienbergh have reached agreement with him and given themselves into subjection to provide the victuals and necessaries that he requires, although this will only last until the king of Poland has gathered his forces to winkle him out. Some write that he will welcome him to his territory with 80,000 men.
Royal Library of Belgium (KBR)
Scans of original: https://uurl.kbr.be/2080046
