Death of Sir Philip Sidney Before Zutphen
Sir Fulke Greville

October 1586

When that unfortunate stand was to be made before Zutphen to stop the issuing out of the Spanish Army from a streict, with what alacrity soever he went to actions of honour... the weather being misty, fell unawares upon the enemy, who had made a strong stand to receive them, near to the very walls of Zutphen, their muskets layed in ambush within their own trenches....

An unfortunate hand brake the bone of Sir Philip's thigh with a musket shot. The horse he rode upon, was rather furiously choleric than bravely proud, and so forced him to forsake the field, and being thirsty with excess of bleeding, he called for drink, which was presently brought him; but as he was putting the bottle to his mouth, he saw a poor soldier carried along, who had eaten his last at the same Feast, ghastly casting up his eyes at the bottle. Which Sir Philip perceiving, took it from his head, before he drank, and delivered it to the poor man, with these words, Thy necessity is greater than mine. And when he had pledged this poor soldier, he was presently carried to Arnheim, where the principle Chirurgeons of the Camp attended for him....

F. Grenville, Sir Philip Sidney. (London: 1907), p. 128.