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Updated: June 20, 2025
Alexander Farnese, The Duke of Parma Sainte Aldegonde's position had become a painful one. The net had been drawn closely about the city. The bridge seemed impregnable, the great Kowenstyn was irrecoverably in the hands of the enemy, and now all the lesser forts in the immediate vicinity of Antwerp-Borght, Hoboken, Cantecroix, Stralen, Berghen, and the rest had likewise fallen into his grasp.
It was impossible for the Prince to send a second expedition to attempt the reduction of Ostend, for the patriots were at last arousing themselves to the necessity of exertion. It was very obvious now that the bridge had been built, and the Kowenstyn fortified that one or the other was to be destroyed, or Antwerp abandoned to its fate.
All this was in the hands of the patriots. The Kowenstyn was theirs. The Spaniards were driven from the field, the batteries of their forts silenced. For a long period the rebels were unmolested, and felt themselves secure.
The explosion was successfully carried out with terrific effect; a thousand Spaniards were blown to pieces; but by sheer blundering the opening was not at once utilised, and Parma was able to rebuild the bridge. Then, by a fine feat of arms, the patriots captured the Kowenstyn dyke, and cut it; but the loss was brilliantly retrieved, the Kowenstyn was recaptured, and the dyke repaired.
It was proposed that the Antwerp troops should make a fictitious demonstration upon Fort Ordam, while at the same moment the States' troops from Fort Lillo should make an assault upon the forts on Kowenstyn Dyke; and in this important enterprise the Zeeland vessels were requested to assist.
From Parma's camp at Beveren and Kalloo a great fortified road led across the river and along the fatal dyke all the way to the entrenchments at Stabroek, where Mansfeld's army lay. Grim Mondragon held the "holy cross" and the whole Kowenstyn in his own iron grasp.
Besides this, three other forts had been built, at intervals of about a mile, upon the dyke. The one nearest to Mondragon was placed at the Kowenstyn manor-house, and was called Saint James. This was entrusted to Camillo Bourbon del Monte, an Italian officer, who boasted the blood royal of France in his veins, and was disposed on all occasions to vindicate that proud pedigree by his deeds.
Two hundred ships in all had been got ready, part of them under Hohenlo and Justinus de Nassau, to sail up from Zeeland; the others to advance from Antwerp under Sainte Aldegonde. Their destination was the Kowenstyn Dyke.
There stood the bridge which the citizens had ridiculed while it was growing before their faces. There scowled the Kowenstyn black with cannon, covered all over with fortresses which the butchers had so sedulously preserved.
Position of Alexander and his Army La Motte attempts in vain Ostend Patriots gain Liefkenshoek Projects of Gianibelli Alarm on the Bridge The Fire Ships The Explosion Its Results Death of the Viscount of Ghent Perpetual Anxiety of Farnese Impoverished State of the Spaniards Intended Attack of the Kowenstyn Second Attack of the Kowenstyn A Landing effected A sharp Combat The Dyke pierced Rally of the Spaniards Parma comes to the Rescue Fierce Struggle on the Dyke The Spaniards successful Premature Triumph at Antwerp Defeat of the Patriots The Ship War's End Despair of the Citizens
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