The next day they went to Antwerp. As they proceeded they
crossed a very large river which comes from Ghent. It was
covered with an enormous sheet of ice. They led their horses by
the reins over the ice to the middle of the river. They then put
them in boats from a quay of ice, and landed them on a similar
one on the other side. They reached a fort in front of the city.
of Antwerp called 'The Head of Flanders'. They left their horses
there, and came themselves in boats to the city. When they had
taken a hostel, they went to view the castle of Antwerp. All
admit that that castle is one of the greatest fortresses in
Christendom. The river surrounds it, and there are a thousand
Spaniards continually guarding it by night and by day, with much
regular cannon and large ordnance provided with every
convenience and necessity that is required. They have a very
pretty church inside. There are two large guns of brass in a
p.69high position, each gun thirty-six feet long. They carry
almost three leagues in shooting their