Sir Francis Vere (1560/6128 August 1609) was a prominent
English soldier serving under Queen
Elizabeth I
Elizabeth I (7 September 153324 March 1603) was List of English monarchs, Queen of England and List of Irish monarchs, Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death in 1603. She was the last and longest reigning monarch of the House of Tudo ...
fighting mainly in the
Low Countries
The Low Countries (; ), historically also known as the Netherlands (), is a coastal lowland region in Northwestern Europe forming the lower Drainage basin, basin of the Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta and consisting today of the three modern "Bene ...
during the
Anglo-Spanish War (1585–1604)
The Anglo-Spanish War (1585–1604) was an intermittent conflict between the Habsburg Spain, Habsburg Kingdom of Spain and the Kingdom of England that was never formally declared. It began with England's military expedition in 1585 to what was ...
and the
Eighty Years' War
The Eighty Years' War or Dutch Revolt (; 1566/1568–1648) was an armed conflict in the Habsburg Netherlands between disparate groups of rebels and the Spanish Empire, Spanish government. The Origins of the Eighty Years' War, causes of the w ...
.
He was a sergeant major-general of
English and Scottish troops in 1589, a position he retained during fifteen campaigns fighting the Spanish, with almost unbroken success - most notably at the
Battle of Nieuwpoort. He enjoyed excellent relations with the Dutch under
Maurice of Nassau
Maurice of Orange (; 14 November 1567 – 23 April 1625) was ''stadtholder'' of all the provinces of the Dutch Republic except for Friesland from 1585 at the earliest until his death on 23 April 1625. Before he became Prince of Orange upo ...
, working in close co-operation with them to help secure the country for the cause of independence.
Family and parliament
Francis Vere, born about 1560, was the second son of
Geoffrey Vere of Crepping Hall,
Essex
Essex ( ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the East of England, and one of the home counties. It is bordered by Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, the North Sea to the east, Kent across the Thames Estuary to the ...
, a younger son of
John de Vere, 15th Earl of Oxford
John de Vere, 15th Earl of Oxford, Lord Great Chamberlain Order of the Garter, KG Privy Council of England, PC (). was an English peerage, peer and courtier.
Early life
John de Vere, born around 1482, was the son of John de Vere and Alice Kilri ...
, and
Elizabeth Trussell. His mother was Elizabeth Hardekyn (d. December 1615), daughter of Richard Hardekyn (d.1558) of Wotton House near
Castle Hedingham
Castle Hedingham is a village in northern Essex, England, located four miles west of Halstead and 3 miles southeast of Great Yeldham in the River Colne, Essex, Colne Valley on the ancient road from Colchester, Essex, to Cambridge.
It develope ...
. He had three brothers, John Vere (c. 15581624) of
Kirby Hall near
Castle Hedingham
Castle Hedingham is a village in northern Essex, England, located four miles west of Halstead and 3 miles southeast of Great Yeldham in the River Colne, Essex, Colne Valley on the ancient road from Colchester, Essex, to Cambridge.
It develope ...
, Robert Vere (b. 1562), and
Sir Horatio Vere (b. 1565), and a sister, Frances Vere (born 1567), who married, as his second wife, the colonial adventurer and author
Sir Robert Harcourt (1574/5–1631), of
Nuneham on 20 March 1598.
He was elected
Member of Parliament for
Leominster
Leominster ( ) is a market town in Herefordshire, England; it is located at the confluence of the River Lugg and its tributary the River Kenwater. The town is north of Hereford and south of Ludlow in Shropshire. With a population of almos ...
in 1593.
Vere spent a great deal of time visiting his friend,
Sir Julius Caesar in
Mitcham
Mitcham is an area within the London Borough of Merton in South London, England. It is centred southwest of Charing Cross. Originally a village in the county of Surrey, today it is mainly a residential suburb, and includes Mitcham Common. It ...
in
Surrey
Surrey () is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Greater London to the northeast, Kent to the east, East Sussex, East and West Sussex to the south, and Hampshire and Berkshire to the wes ...
, on the road from London to
Nonsuch Palace
Nonsuch Palace was a Tudor architecture, Tudor royal family, royal palace, commissioned by Henry VIII of England, Henry VIII in Surrey, England, and on which work began in 1538. Its site lies in what is now Nonsuch Park on the boundary of the ...
. Caesar was on his second marriage to Alice Dent and she had a daughter from a previous marriage –
Elizabeth Dent. During these visits he quickly became enamoured with Elizabeth. They fell in love and Caesar consented to a marriage. Since Elizabeth’s sister was also engaged, Caesar arranged a grand wedding for his stepdaughters on 26 October 1607. Vere received a dowry of £2,000 and settled property on her for life. She was 16 and he was 47. They were married for 22 months before his death and there is no record of any children.
Military career
The young Francis Vere first went on active service under
Leicester
Leicester ( ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, city, Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area, and the county town of Leicestershire in the East Midlands of England. It is the largest city in the East Midlands with a popula ...
in 1585, and was soon in the thick of the war raging in the
Low Countries
The Low Countries (; ), historically also known as the Netherlands (), is a coastal lowland region in Northwestern Europe forming the lower Drainage basin, basin of the Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta and consisting today of the three modern "Bene ...
. At the
siege of Sluys he greatly distinguished himself under
Sir Roger Williams and Sir
Thomas Baskerville.
In 1588 during the
Spanish Armada
The Spanish Armada (often known as Invincible Armada, or the Enterprise of England, ) was a Spanish fleet that sailed from Lisbon in late May 1588, commanded by Alonso de Guzmán, Duke of Medina Sidonia, an aristocrat without previous naval ...
Vere was sent to
Vlissingen
Vlissingen (; ) is a Municipalities of the Netherlands, municipality and a city in the southwestern Netherlands on the island of Walcheren. With its strategic location between the Scheldt river and the North Sea, Vlissingen has been an importan ...
with 260 men to preempt a Spanish landing. During the action off Calais in August he was responsible for the destruction of the Spanish galleon ''San Mateo'' which had run aground between
Ostend
Ostend ( ; ; ; ) is a coastal city and municipality in the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It comprises the boroughs of Mariakerke, Raversijde, Stene and Zandvoorde, and the city of Ostend proper – the la ...
and
Sluis
Sluis (; ; ) is a city and municipality located in the west of Zeelandic Flanders, in the south-western Dutch province of Zeeland.
The current incarnation of the municipality has existed since 1 January 2003. The former municipalities of Oostb ...
. After this he was then with the largely English garrison of
Bergen op Zoom
Bergen op Zoom (; called ''Berrege'' in the Brabantian dialect, local dialect) is a List of cities in the Netherlands by province, city and Municipalities of the Netherlands, municipality in southwestern Netherlands. It is located in the Province ...
, which
delivered itself from the Spanish besiegers led by the
Duke of Parma
The Duke of Parma and Piacenza () was the ruler of the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza, a List of historic states of Italy, historical state of Northern Italy. It was created by Pope Paul III (Alessandro Farnese) for his son Pier Luigi Farnese, Du ...
by its own good fighting. Vere as a result of his heroic deeds was Knighted by
Lord Willoughby on the field of battle.
Ten Years campaign
In the next year Sir Francis became sergeant major-general of the
English and Scottish troops in the Low Countries, and soon afterwards the chief command devolved upon him. He was prominent in the campaign known as the ''
Ten years'', spanning from 1588 to 1598 with the Dutch forces under
Maurice of Nassau
Maurice of Orange (; 14 November 1567 – 23 April 1625) was ''stadtholder'' of all the provinces of the Dutch Republic except for Friesland from 1585 at the earliest until his death on 23 April 1625. Before he became Prince of Orange upo ...
. After assisting in
taking Breda he then retook the cities of
Zutphen
Zutphen () is a city and municipality located in the province of Gelderland, Netherlands. It lies some northeast of Arnhem, on the eastern bank of the river IJssel at the point where it is joined by the Berkel. First mentioned in the 11th centur ...
and
Deventer
Deventer (; Sallaans dialect, Sallands: ) is a List of cities in the Netherlands by province, city and Municipalities of the Netherlands, municipality in the Salland historical region of the Provinces of the Netherlands, province of Overijssel, ...
, these having been lost five years earlier due to English treachery by
Rowland York and
William Stanley respectively. He ordered that York (who had died in 1588) be dug up, hanged and
gibbeted as a reminder of his treachery. These victories were important in recovering the losses caused by the mistaken confidence which the
Earl of Leicester
Earl of Leicester is a title that has been created seven times. The first title was granted during the 12th century in the Peerage of England. The current title is in the Peerage of the United Kingdom and was created in 1837.
History
Earl ...
had placed in both Stanley and York.
Vere garnered more rewards and respect from Maurice and the Dutch with his decisive actions in the defeat of Parma, this time during the
Siege of Knodsenburg outside
Nijmegen
Nijmegen ( , ; Nijmeegs: ) is the largest city in the Dutch province of Gelderland and the ninth largest of the Netherlands as a whole. Located on the Waal River close to the German border, Nijmegen is one of the oldest cities in the ...
in July 1591. Nearly half of the army were English and Scots; twelve English and ten Scots companies were present in this campaign under the command of Vere.
[Knight, Charles Raleigh: ''Historical records of The Buffs, East Kent Regiment (3rd Foot) formerly designated the Holland Regiment and Prince George of Denmark's Regiment''. Vol I. London, Gale & Polden, 1905]
p. 45.
/ref> Following this Maurice and Vere seized Hulst the same year. At the Siege of Steenwijk in the summer of 1592 Vere lead a force into a breach of the city's wall after a mine has blown - although he along with his brother Horace, Sir Robert Sidney, and a few of their captains were wounded, along with 152 of their men during the assault, the attack was successful and the Spanish surrendered the town. The Anglo-Dutch army then marched to Coevorden
Coevorden (; ; ) is a List of cities in the Netherlands by province, city and List of municipalities of the Netherlands, municipality in the Provinces of the Netherlands, province of Drenthe, in the east of Netherlands, the Netherlands. During the ...
and which fell after another successful siege. The city of Geertruidenberg fell the following year, and a Spanish attempt to retake Coevorden was defeated after Vere and Maurice when they marched to the city's relief. They both took to the field again in 1594 and laid siege to Groningen, which was also captured. By this time the Spanish army had been all but pushed out of the Northern provinces and the restoration of the seven provinces was then complete. Step by step these victories helped to secure the country for the cause of independence.
Vere won the reputation of being one of the best English soldiers of the day. His troops acquired a cohesion and a training based on the Dutch model fitting them to face the best Spanish troops, and his camp became the fashionable training-ground of all aspiring English soldiers, amongst others not only his younger brother Horace
Quintus Horatius Flaccus (; 8 December 65 BC – 27 November 8 BC), Suetonius, Life of Horace commonly known in the English-speaking world as Horace (), was the leading Roman lyric poet during the time of Augustus (also known as Octavian). Th ...
, but men of such note as Ferdinando (Lord) Fairfax, Gervase Markham
Gervase (or Jervis) Markham (ca. 1568 – 3 February 1637) was an English poet and writer. He was best known for his work ''The English Huswife, The English Huswife, Containing the Inward and Outward Virtues Which Ought to Be in a Complete Woma ...
and Captain Myles Standish
Myles Standish ( – October 3, 1656) was an English military officer and colonist. He was hired as military adviser for Plymouth Colony in present-day Massachusetts, United States by the Pilgrims (Plymouth Colony), Pilgrims. Standish accompan ...
. The future prominent dramatist and poet Ben Jonson
Benjamin Jonson ( 11 June 1572 – ) was an English playwright, poet and actor. Jonson's artistry exerted a lasting influence on English poetry and stage comedy. He popularised the comedy of humours; he is best known for the satire, satirical ...
served as a volunteer under his command.
In early 1596 he was transferred from the field to take part in the Cádiz expedition to Spain which was to take place in June. Vere and Sir Walter Raleigh
Sir Walter Raleigh (; – 29 October 1618) was an English statesman, soldier, writer and explorer. One of the most notable figures of the Elizabethan era, he played a leading part in English colonisation of North America, suppressed rebell ...
quarrelled over leadership but it was agreed that Raleigh would command at sea and Vere was made lord marshal and lieutenant-general of the army. On June 30, Vere's veterans spearheaded the assault on the city and captured it and the outlying forts. The English and Dutch held the place for two weeks during that time Vere received the ransoms of three wealthy prisoners a clergyman who was president of the Casa de Contratacion at Seville
Seville ( ; , ) is the capital and largest city of the Spain, Spanish autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Andalusia and the province of Seville. It is situated on the lower reaches of the Guadalquivir, River Guadalquivir, ...
and two cavaliers named Don Pedro de Herrera and Don Geronimo de Avalos. The town was then set on fire and the fleet departed on the 5th of July. Vere shared in a considerable amount of booty as well as the popular acclaim that greeted the leaders of the expedition on their return to England.
The following year he was back in the Low Countries and in January 1597 he made an important contribution to the victory of Turnhout, a rare pitched battle against the Spanish ' Tercios'. The English and Dutch cavalry having driven off the Spanish cavalry, then fell upon the disordered Spanish infantry who were then routed with heavy casualties. Vere received a personal note from the Queen congratulating him on the victory, and he was even dramatised in London
London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
on the stage
Stage, stages, or staging may refer to:
Arts and media Acting
* Stage (theatre), a space for the performance of theatrical productions
* Theatre, a branch of the performing arts, often referred to as "the stage"
* ''The Stage'', a weekly Brit ...
. The following year he was entrusted with the negotiation of the treaty whereby the Anglo-Dutch alliance was revised; for himself he obtained the governorship of Brill
Brill may refer to:
Places
* Brielle (sometimes "Den Briel"), a town in the western Netherlands
* Brill, Buckinghamshire, a village in England
* Brill, Cornwall, a small village to the west of Constantine, Cornwall, UK
* Brill, Wisconsin, an un ...
and the rank of general.
Zaltbommel, Nieuwpoort and Ostend
In May 1599 a Spanish offensive led by Francisco López de Mendoza y Mendoza was launched in the area of Bommelerwaard. A subsequent siege on the town of Zaltbommel
Zaltbommel (), also known, historically and colloquially, as Bommel, is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands.
History
The city of Zaltbommel
The town of Zaltbommel was first mentioned as "Bomela" in the year 850. Zaltbommel received ...
by the Spanish was attempted but they had to lift the siege after Vere crossed the river Waal with 6,000 men, and successfully stormed a Spanish position which they called Durango. The Spanish were on the verge of being totally cut off and were defeated in subsequent attempts to regain the initiative. Mendoza retreated and the Spanish army then found itself in chaos: mutinies took effect and as a result further operations by them were suspended for a number of years.
The culminating point of Vere's career came the following year, when on the advice of Oldenbarnevelt, the States General decided to carry the war into the enemy's country. In the Battle of Nieuwpoort (2 July 1600), one of the most desperately contested battles of the age, Maurice of Nassau, with support by Vere, defeated the veteran Spanish troops of the Archduke Albert.
This was followed by the celebrated defence of Ostend from July 1601 when he took command of the garrison. The Spanish were under the command of the Archduke Albrecht. He was severely wounded in the head during a Spanish bombardment in August but returned by the end of the following month after convalescing. In December a Spanish assault on the outlying positions was defeated with nearly a quarter of the attacking force killed wounded or captured. However as the siege dragged on it became apparent that the town was unable to get any reinforcements for some time.
After learning of a Spanish attempt to launch a huge assault - Vere had to rely on a parley stratagem to keep the Spanish from doing so. This he succeeded and at the same time vital repair work was carried out on the defences. During the ruse reinforcements came in and the parley was called off. Vere's plan had worked and when the Spanish assault came on 7 January 1602 the defenders were ready. The attack consisting of some 10,000 Spanish veterans rushed to assault the main bulwarks of Ostend's defences just as the darkness of night set in. Vere directing the defenders made sure the defences were impassable - using his engineers to shore up defences. The Spanish attacked the bulwarks and revelins but were repelled at all points. Just before midnight the Spanish had seized a position known as the ''Spanish Half Moon'' but Vere ordered its recovery and an English company subsequently drove the Spanish out who lost 300 men, mostly captured. Vere now ordered a defensive sluice
A sluice ( ) is a water channel containing a sluice gate, a type of lock to manage the water flow and water level. There are various types of sluice gates, including flap sluice gates and fan gates. Different depths are calculated when design s ...
to be opened, through which the water rushed down the ford where the Spanish were still wading across. The huge torrent then hit them and carried many of the assailants away into the sea. Once the waters had subsided Vere ordered a counter attack which drove what was left of the Spanish assailants away taking great plunder in the process. The assault was a costly failure for the Spanish who lost somewhere between 1,500 and 2,000 men.
Vere remained for a few months longer, when he was called away by the States General to assume command in the field. Vere's parley in December was met with muted criticism, however the repulse of the assault had overshadowed this. Vere came back to England in March 1602 and was feted for the successful conduct of the siege. English troops kept fighting side by side with the Dutch until the surrender of the garrison in September 1604.
Final campaign and retirement
Vere returned to the Low Countries with more troops in 1602 and with Maurice laid siege to the Spanish garrison at Grave
A grave is a location where a cadaver, dead body (typically that of a human, although sometimes that of an animal) is burial, buried or interred after a funeral. Graves are usually located in special areas set aside for the purpose of buria ...
but before that place surrendered he was injured under the right eye. He recovered after six months in Ryswick, was again on active service with the Dutch throughout 1603-04 and continued with the governorship of Brill.
When James I made peace with Spain in 1604, Vere retired from active service and spent the remainder of his days in country life in England, occupying himself with the compilation of his ''Commentaries of the Divers Pieces of Service'' that he had taken part in (which remained in manuscript form until 1657; reprinted in Arbers ''English Garner'', 1883).
Death and burial
He died 28 August 1609soon after the signing of the Twelve Years' Truce
The Twelve Years' Truce was a ceasefire during the Eighty Years' War between Habsburg Spain, Spain and the Dutch Republic, agreed in Antwerp on 9 April 1609 and ended on 9 April 1621. While European powers like Kingdom of France, France began tre ...
which in practice recognized the independence of the United Provincesand was buried in Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey, formally titled the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster, is an Anglican church in the City of Westminster, London, England. Since 1066, it has been the location of the coronations of 40 English and British m ...
in the chapel of St John the Evangelist. Francis has a large monument of alabaster and black marble showing him lying on a carved rush mattress in civilian dress under a slab on which is laid out his suit of armour. The slab is supported on the shoulders of four life-sized knights in armour who kneel at each corner. The monument seems to have been inspired by that of Count Engelbert II of Nassau-Dillenburg
The County of Nassau was a German state within the Holy Roman Empire from the period of the formal recognition of the countly title in 1159 (though "de facto" sovereignty began in 1125) until the declaration of the Duchy of Nassau in 1806 with ...
in the church at Breda
Breda ( , , , ) is a List of cities in the Netherlands by province, city and List of municipalities of the Netherlands, municipality in the southern part of the Netherlands, located in the Provinces of the Netherlands, province of North Brabant. ...
. The Latin inscription can be translated:
To Francis Vere, Knight, son of Geoffrey and nephew of John earl of Oxford, governor of Brill and Portsmouth, chief leader of the English forces in Belgium, died 28 August 1609, in the 54th year (sic) of his age.[Markham 1888 p.22, note 1 comments that this age must be incorrect.] Elizabeth, his wife, in great sadness and sobbing with tears, placed this supreme monument to conjugal faith and love.
Footnotes
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Vere, Francis
1560s births
1609 deaths
Military personnel from Essex
16th-century English soldiers
17th-century English soldiers
Burials at Westminster Abbey
Francis
Francis may refer to:
People and characters
*Pope Francis, head of the Catholic Church (2013–2025)
*Francis (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters
* Francis (surname)
* Francis, a character played by YouTuber Boogie2 ...
English MPs 1593
English expatriates in the Dutch Republic
English military personnel of the Eighty Years' War
English people of the Anglo-Spanish War (1585–1604)
16th-century English nobility
17th-century English nobility