He did his duty faithfully and well, and established himself upon the dyke, but found himself alone and without sufficient force to maintain his position.

The Antwerp fleet never sailed.

It was even whispered that the delinquency was rather intended than accidental; the Antwerpers being supposed desirous to ascertain the result of Hohenlo's attempt before coming forth to share his fate.

Such was the opinion expressed by Farnese in his letters to Philip, but it seems probable that he was mistaken.

Whatever the cause, however, the fact of the Zeelanders' discomfiture was certain.
The St.George battery and that of the Palisade were opened at once upon them, the balls came plunging among the sappers and miners before they had time to throw up many spade-fulls of earth, and the whole party were soon dead or driven from the dyke.