Catalogue description M. DE FREMIN to LORD WYLLUGHBY.

--It seems to me that the preparations which Holland and Zeeland are making for the capture of Geertruydenberghe cause them to give no thought to what the enemy may do while they are occupied there. They have taken all the best of their forces and leaders thither, and have almost stripped their frontier towns for this purpose. There are now before Geertruydenberghe two hundred ships and thirty four pieces of artillery, which are to batter it at the end of this week ; also great boats with fire-works to be put at the breach they intend to make upon the water side of the town-as was done at Antwerp to destroy the bridge of Caloo -and other fire-works to set on fire the town and the church where the ammunition is kept. If their designs succeed, they will storm and sack the town and all within it, and they already talk as if they were the victors; wherefore I pray your Lordship to have a care for your sister and your brother-in-law. If Holland and Zeeland had taken as much trouble to succour their besieged towns, these would not now be in the hands of the enemy. It is said that there are no good gunners in the town, and that they shoot so badly that the ships can come in quite close.

Captain Ludas [?] has been killed before Gertruydenberghe by a pistol-shot.

* See Motley's History of the United Netherlands, i. 181, et seq.