Vere sent for reinforcements, but none came up, and for hours the
sixteen hundred Englishmen alone checked the advance of the whole
of the Spanish army. Sir Francis Vere was fighting like a private
soldier in the midst of his troops. He received two balls in the
leg, but still kept his seat and encouraged his men. At last the
little band, receiving no aid or reinforcements from the Dutch,
were forced to fall back. As they did so, Vere's horse fell dead
under him and partly upon him, and it was with great difficulty
that those around him extricated him. On reaching the battery on the
sands Vere found the thousand Dutch of his division, who asserted
that they had received no orders to advance. There were also three
hundred foot under Sir Horace Vere and some cavalry under Captain
Ball. These and Horace's infantry at once charged the Spaniards,
who were pouting out from the sand hills near to the beach, and
drove them back.
The Spaniards had now captured East Hill, and two thousand of
their infantry advanced into the valley beyond, and drove back the
musketeers from the south ridge, and a large force advanced along
the green way; but their movements were slow, for they were worn out
by their long struggle, and the English officers had time to rally
their men again. Horace Vere returned from his charge on the beach,
and other companies rallied and joined him, and charged furiously
down upon the two thousand Spaniards.
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