A few unimportant skirmishes between Schenk and the Spaniards had taken place, but the city was already hard pressed, and, by the series of forts which environed it, was cut off from its supplies.

It was highly important, therefore, that Grave should be relieved, with the least possible delay.
Early in Easter week, a force of three thousand men, under Hohenlo and Sir John Norris, was accordingly despatched by Leicester, with orders, at every hazard, to throw reinforcements and provisions into the place.

They took possession, at once, of a stone sconce, called the Mill-Fort, which was guarded by fifty men, mostly boors of the country.

These were nearly all hanged for "using malicious words," and for "railing against Queen Elizabeth," and--a sufficient number of men being left to maintain the fort--the whole relieving force marched with great difficulty--for the river was rapidly rising, and flooding the country--along the right bank of the Meuse, taking possession of Batenburg and Ravenstein castles, as they went.

A force of four or five hundred Englishmen was then pushed forward to a point almost exactly opposite Grave, and within an English mile of the head of the bridge constructed by the Spaniards.