Time was everything,
for a change of wind would bring speedy succour, so without taking
council with anyone he sent Sir John Ogle with a drummer to the
side of the Old Haven.
Don Mateo Serrano came forward, and Ogle gave his message, which
was that General Vere wished to have some qualified person to speak
to him. This was reported to the archduke, who agreed that Serrano
and another Spanish officer should go into the town, and that Ogle
and a comrade should come as hostages into the Spanish camp. Sir
John Ogle took his friend Sir Charles Fairfax with him, and Serrano
and Colonel Antonio crossed into Ostend. The two Englishmen were
conducted to the archduke, who asked Sir John Ogle to tell him if
there was any deceit in the matter. Ogle answered if there were
it was more than he knew, for Vere had simply charged him to carry
the message, and that he and Fairfax had merely come as hostages
for the safe return of the Spanish officers.
Ogle was next asked whether he thought the general intended sincerely
or not, and could only reply that he was altogether unacquainted
with the general's purpose.
The next morning Serrano and Antonio returned without having seen
Vere. The pretext on which they had been sent back was that there
was some irregularity in their coming across; but instead of their
being sent back across the Old Haven they were sent across the
Geule, and had to make a long round to regain the archduke's camp.
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