To the Impartial Reader.

Attentive reader, I have here presented for your eyes, by means of a well-crafted copperplate engraving, the city of Geertruidenberg with the entire siege, which commenced on the 28th of March of this year, 1593, by the High-born Prince, Lord Maurice of Nassau, Count of Katzenelnbogen, Vianden, Diez, etc., Lord of Breda, etc., Governor-General of the United Provinces of the entire Netherlands. Within it, all Schantzen fortified redoubts/earthworks are placed at their most certain positions and distances, along with the entire siege and the primary houses, all drawn with the greatest diligence and precision. Therein you can properly see what strong work was required for those of Nassau to win the city of Geertruidenberg from the enemy, and how they defended the same against the enemy, who sought to retake it by force, with so few people against the great power of the Count of Mansfeld, which he led into the field on those days.

So that you may now see by what means those of Nassau defended themselves through warfare against the enemy, behind what was called the unconquerable earthworks, until the city was compelled by the siege and hard hunger on the 24th of June, as one may read in more detail below. Here you can clearly see how they kept watch over the city upon the appeal of the Arminians a group often used here to refer generally to certain religious or political factions within the context of the Dutch Revolt. And thereupon the most serene and high-born Prince, Lord Maurice, who rejoiced greatly at this, with few lost men—which I will have the honor to have printed for the impartial reader in a historical book at a future time, in which will be contained everything that happened diligently during these campaigns and sieges, together with those placed in opposition here, who were drawn here with mighty force as they had from the whole empire. You must observe regarding them that they have already, by God's help and the counsel of the Lords States General, so fortunately captured the city, which was also relieved from the violent assault of Mansfeld; for because he attacked those of Nassau, the besieged, for the first time on the 1st of June, and afterward a second time on the 24th of June to relieve them, until he had to abandon them. For God the Lord wished to bless them. Thus, I wish the reader, together with all well-wishers, the Lords States General, the serene Prince Lord Maurice, and all other well-wishers, that the matters written hereafter may serve all pious territories, alongside the Lords States General, for the best. Hereafter, the progress continues according to the historical order that follows.

Here, attentive reader, you have the entire layout of the siege of the city of Saint Geertruidenberg, which His Serene Highness Maurice, Count of Nassau, etc., took in hand on the 28th of March, 1593, and conquered with accord and victory on the 24th of June, diligently drawn up, and everything carefully noted and described in order below.

1. The City of Saint Geertruidenberg, which the Bishop of Utrecht took in hand on the 28th of March, 1593, and conquered with accord and victory on the 24th of June.
2. A redoubt, where those from the city could make sorties in wartime, for which reason His Serene Highness took the redoubt by force and occupied it in that same month of May, on the 4th of June, with a garrison and troops, or gave it a name.
3. The Holland dike, which stretches from the city to Oosterhout.
4. The quarters of the high Count of Hohenlohe, with several hundred wagons, with entrenching tools to help the sappers, and as many others who are at these quarters, as well as some who are besieged, from which one could see that every soldier is very careful for his own life (in case Prince Ernst of Mansfeld might arrive).
5. The city where the Count of Hohenlohe is stationed.
6. The quarters of Admiral Doornvoorde.
7. The island of Khodorp, near the north, has a good boundary with ditches and the like for defense.
8. The quarters of the high-born Count Philipp of Nassau.
9. The quarters of the Lords States General.
10. The quarters of the Frisians.
11. Redoubts by the Holland dike, on a high bank, from the quarters of the Frisians to the other.
12. Another redoubt, which is opposite the quarters of Lord Philipp of Nassau, on the side of the Admiral, opposite Termont, near Doornvoorde, surrounded by ditches and with earthworks around the siege.
13. The quarters of the Admiral by the Frisian redoubts, which are made opposite each other with ditches: upon which a well-shaped trench was made on every path from one to the other. From this, one could see that each of ours had so much trouble with trenches against the Frisians, so that they could defend themselves against the Frisians before the redoubt at night time, as well as possible; from which one can well see that one side of the siege came to the aid of the other afterward.
14. A small island, lying in the water opposite the siege, on the Frisian side, near the Frisian redoubt.
15. The quarters of the Count of Solms, which lies near the besieged on the Frisian side, opposite the Frisian quarters: from which one can well see that the Frisians have another side, by which the Frisian redoubt was located.
16. The redoubt of the Count of Solms, the redoubt: there was also a redoubt upon which one could fire onto the water: by which one can well see how much trouble the Frisians had with the siege; likewise afterward, two quarters were added by Hohenlo to those same redoubts, next to the Frisian siege, which the Frisian redoubt later completely occupied and was called the Frisian redoubt.
17. A redoubt, from the Frisians opposite, with ditches: with a strong defense that wanted to hold the siege.
18. A first Frisian redoubt by the city of Hohenlo: item, also on the other side of the Frisians, a redoubt was to be made on the other path toward the city, and halfway to the Frisian side, a redoubt was made, upon which one was to keep watch.
19. Part of the Frisians with ammunition and war troops near the Frisians, who are located opposite the Frisian redoubt near the north.
20. An island of Khodorp, located near the Frisians, on which a redoubt was made, and later titled the Frisian redoubt by our men: which is in the quarters of the Count of Solms and the Frisians, on the Frisian siege, upon which there were also some redoubts.
21. A redoubt that was made near Saint Geertruidenberg on the lake at the beginning of the siege.

22. Another redoubt, which lies in the middle of the earthworks on the Council's side, which lies on the side of the Admiral, from which one could fire at the ships in the fleet.
23. Another redoubt, which lies on the side of the Admiral, with which one could fire at the city, and fire upon the water.
24. Proceeds the siege, which later, here on the Frisian side, here from the north toward the Frisians, from which one could see the incessant effort of the Frisians, who, with the Admiral, made a complete and total siege on the redoubts on all sides; on both sides, upon which one may see the Frisians with the Admiral against each other, as one finds the siege here afterward, to be seen together: which is called the Double Redoubt: which the Admiral's men and the Frisians protected on both sides so well, from which one can well see the Frisian side from the Admiral's, how one may connect them together, so that through such means they might conquer the city.
25. The quarters of the Count of Solms, near that same siege of the redoubts and the Frisian side.
26. A redoubt on which the ship of ammunition and other things that serve for military practice lies on the water.
27. A small redoubt by the side of the Admiral, and on the side that lies opposite one of the Count of Hohenlo's, from the north, from which one can see the siege of the side, how the Admiral allowed the siege to be bombarded with redoubts by the city.
28. A redoubt by the side of the Count of Mansfeld, which lies by the Count of Solms' quarters.
29. A redoubt, which lies by the side of the Count of Mansfeld, which lies in the middle of the siege on the Admiral's side.
30. A redoubt, upon which the quarters of the Count of Mansfeld lie on the Admiral's side: from which one may see the siege of the Admiral.
31. Another small redoubt by the side of the Count of Mansfeld, on the Frisian side, which lies in the middle of the Frisian siege.
32. The redoubt of Monsieur de la Noue.
33. The quarters of the Count of Hohenlohe.
34. A redoubt by the side of the Count of Hohenlohe.
35. A small redoubt by the side of the Count of Hohenlohe, from which one could see how the same lies against the siege by the Count of Hohenlohe's side on one side, and against the siege of the Admiral's side.
36. A small redoubt by the side of the Count of Hohenlohe, how the same lies against the side of the Count of Mansfeld.
37. A small redoubt, which lies in the middle of the siege on the Frisian side.
38. The quarters of Monsieur de la Noue, by the side of the Count of Hohenlohe.
39. A small redoubt by the side of the Count of Hohenlohe, from which one could see how the same lies against the side of the Count of Mansfeld; and in the middle of the siege, and how the same lies against the Admiral's side, from which one could see how the same lies against the side of the Count of Mansfeld.
40. The quarters of the Lords States General, by the side of the Count of Hohenlohe.
41. A small redoubt by the side of the Count of Hohenlohe, how the same lies against the side of the Count of Mansfeld, and in the middle of the siege, and how the same lies against the Admiral's side.
42. The quarters of the Count of Hohenlohe, by the side of the Count of Mansfeld.
43. A long redoubt with three half-bastions, as the same lies on the lake, and how that same redoubt was captured by our men.
44. A redoubt, which lies in the middle of the siege on the Frisian side, from which one could see how the same lies against the side of the Count of Mansfeld.
45. The quarters of the Count of Mansfeld, by the side of the Count of Hohenlohe.
46. A small redoubt by the side of the Count of Hohenlohe.
47. A small redoubt by the side of the Count of Hohenlohe.
48. A small redoubt by the side of the Count of Hohenlohe.
49. A small redoubt by the side of the Count of Hohenlohe.
50. The quarters of the Count of Hohenlohe, by the side of the Count of Mansfeld.
51. The quarters of the Count of Mansfeld, by the side of the Count of Hohenlohe.

With this, you can clearly see how the siege began, and on the 24th of June it was taken by accord, after it had been besieged for 3 months and 14 days: which has returned to our side: which God the Lord may honor for his Divine name: Amen.

A detailed bird's-eye view map engraving shows the Siege of Geertruidenberg in 1593. The central focus is the fortified town of Geertruidenberg, surrounded by a complex network of siege lines, trenches, and various military encampments. Numerous redoubts, or "Schantzen," are scattered throughout the landscape, each numbered to correspond with the German text. To the left, a large expanse of water is filled with sailing ships, illustrating a naval blockade. The terrain features rivers, dikes, and marshes.