Catalogue description The GARRISON OF GEERTRUDENBERGE to LORD WILLOUGHBY.

--We have seen a letter from your Lordship to our Governor, desiring him to go to the fleet, to Count Maurice, who has besieged us both by sea and land. We are unanimously resolved [? not] to let the governor or any other of his family depart, and, taking God Almighty and the governor to our aid, to hold the town for her Majesty to the last drop of our blood. We send herewith a copy of her Majesty's declaration that, in case unreasonable demands were made to us, she would feel herself obliged to remedy and avenge it, which we doubt not she will do. And if, within one month from the date of this, we do not receive any help, we shall be driven to what we would not willingly do, desiring to act only as is fitting for faithful and reasonable soldiers.

And although the States untruly and behind our backs declare to all that we designed to treat with the common enemy, which, we protest, we have never thought of, we hereby, taking God to our aid, declare that we will rather venture our lives to the last man than yield the town or ourselves into subjection to Count Maurice and the States. Signed, John Wingfelde, Charles Honinge, Floris Doeren, Claus Ersen, Andries Coennen, Jan van Maestricht, Hendrick Kyebom, Geret Abraham, Huybrecht van Esch, Pieter van Aernem, Samson Fobert.