A TRVE Coppie of a Discourse written by a Gentleman employed in the late Voyage of Spaine and Portingale Sent to his particular friend and by him published for the better satisfaction of all such as hauing been seduced by particular report haue entred into conceipts tending to the discredit of the enterprise and Actors of the same AT LONDON Printed for Thomas Woodcock dwelling in Paules Churchyard at the signe of the blacke Beare 1589 To the Reader SOme holding opinion that it is onely proper to men of learning whose Arte may grace their dooings to write of matter worthie to be committed to the viewe of future Ages may iudge the publication of such Discourses as are contained in this Pamphlet to be an aduenture too great for a professed Souldier to vndertake but I more respecting the absolute trueth of the matter than the faire shew that might be set thereon and preferring the high reputation of the Actors in this Iourney before the request of my particular friend haue presumed to present vnto you a report of the late Voyage into Spaine and Portingall sent vnto me almost 4. moneths sithence frō a Gentleman my verie nere friend employed in the same who as it appeareth in his obseruations hath aduisedlie seene into euerie action thereof and because I haue often conferred with manie that were in the same Iourney verie nere vpon euerie particular of his relation and finde as much confirmed as I haue receiued I presume to deliuer it vnto you for true exact Howbeit forasmuch as it came vnto my hands with his earnest request to reserue it to my selfe I had almost consented thereunto had not the desire I haue to reconcile the contrartetie of opinions that be held of that action to make it known what honour the cause hath laid vpon our whole Nation mooued me to publish the same whereof sith there may growe a greater benefit in publique for that manie shall partake thereof than the pleasure can be to him in smothering the labors he hath bestowed in setting downe the Discourse I doubt not but he esteeming a cōmon good before his priuate fancie will pardon me herein In the behalfe of whom I beseech you to whose viewe and reading the same is offered not so curiouslie to looke vpon the forme as vpon the matter which I present vnto you as he sent it naked and vnpolished And you that were companions with him of the Iourney if anie of you may thinke your selues not fully satisfied in the report of your deseruings let me intreate you to excuse him in that he indeuouring to write thereof briefly for my particular vnderstanding did onely take notice of them who cōmaunded the seruices in chiefe as being of greatest marke and lay the blame vpon me who can by no meanes auoyd it sauing that from the fault I haue committed if it be a fault I hope there may some good proceed It hath satisfied me in many things whereof I beeing ignorant was led into an erronious conceipt of the matter and of the persons and I hope it shall both confirme others who maie remaine doubtfull of either and reforme them that hauing been seduced are become sectaries agaynst the same I will therefore commend the man and matter to your friendly censure forbearing to notifie his name least I might increase mine offence against him be namelesse my selfe for other good considerations which I leaue friendly Reader to thy best construction THE TRVE COPIE of a letter sent from a Gentleman who was in al the seruices that were in the late Iourney of Spaine and Portingall to a friend of his ALthough the desire of aduancing my reputation caused me to withstand the manie perswasions you vsed to hold me at home and the pursute of honorable actions drew me contrarie to your expectation to neglect that aduise which in loue I know you gaue me yet in respect of the manie assurances you haue yéelded me of your kindest friendship I can not suspect that you wil either loue or estéeme me the lesse at this my returne and therefore will not omit anie occasion which may make me appeare thankfull or discharge anie part of that dutie I owe you which now is none other than to offer you a true discourse how these warres of Spaine and Portingall haue passed since our going out of England the xviii of Aprill till our returne which was the first of Iuly Wherein I wil vnder your fauourable pardon for your further satisfaction as well make relation of those reasons which confirmed me in my purpose of going abroad as of these accidents which haue happened during our abode there thereby hoping to perswade you that no light fancie did draw me from the fruition of your dearest friendship but an earnest desire by following the warres to make my selfe more worthie of the same Hauing therefore determinately purposed to put on this habit of a Souldiour I grewe doubtfull whether to imploy my time in the warres of the Lowe Countreyes which are in auxiliarie manner mainteined by her Maiestie or to follow the fortune of this voyage which was an aduenture of her and manie honorable personages in reuenge of vnsupportable wrongs offered vnto the estate of our Countrey by the Castilian King in arguing whereof I finde that by how much the Challenger is reputed before the defendant by so much is this iorney to be preferred before those defensiue warres For had the Duke of Parma his turne béen to defend as it was his good fortune to inuade from whence could have procéeded that glorious honor which these late warres haue laid vppon him or what could haue béen said more of him than of a Respondent though neuer so valiant in a priuate Duell Euen that he hath done no more than by his honour he was tied vnto For the gaine of one Towne or anie small defeate giueth more renowme to the Assailant than the defence of a Countrey or the withstanding of twentie encoūters can yéeld any man who is bound by his place to gard the same whereof as well the particulers of our age especially in the Spaniard as the reports of former histories may assure vs which haue still laid the fame of all warres vpon the Inuador And do not ours in these daies liue obscured in Flanders either not hauing where withall to manage anie warre or not putting on Armes but to defend themselues when the Enemie shall procure them Whereas in this short time of our Aduenture wee haue wonne a Towne by escalade battred and assaulted another ouerthrowen a mightie Princes power in the field landed our Armie in thrée seuerall places of his Kingdom marched seauen daies in the hart of his Countrey lyen thrée nights in the Suburbes of his principall Citie beaten his forces into the gates thereof and possessed two of his frontier Forts as shall in discourse thereof more particulerly appeare whereby I conclude that going with an Inuadour and in such an action as euerie daie
way on the right hand and the bodie of them which were Musketters Captaine Wingfield tooke himselfe keeping the direct way of the march But the way taken by Captaine Middleton met a little before with the way helde by Captaine Wingfield so as he giuing the first charge vpon the Enemie was in the instant seconded by Captaine Wingfield who beate them from place to place they hauing verie good places of defence and crosse walles which they might haue held long till they betooke them to their bridge which is ouer a creeke comming out of the Sea builded of stone vpon Arches On the foote of the further side whereof lay the Campe of the Enemie verie stronglie entrenched who with our shot beaten to the further end of the bridge Sir Edward Norris marching in the poynt of the pikes without stay passed to the bridge accompanied with Colonell Sidney Captaine Hinder Captaine Fulford and diuers others who found the way cléere ouer y e same but through an incredible volie of shot for that the shot of their Armie flanked vpon both sides of the bridge the further end whereof was barricaded with barrells but they who should haue garded the same seeing the proude approach wee made forsooke the defence of the Barricade where Sir Edward entered and charging the first defendant with his pike with verie earnestnes in ouerthrusting fell and was grieuouslie hurt at the sword in the head but was most honorablie reskued by the Generall his brother accompanied with Colonell Sidney and some other gentlemen Captaine Hinder also hauing his Caske shot off had fiue wounds in the head and face at the sword and Captaine Fulford was shot into the left arme at the same counter yet were they so throughlie seconded by the Generall who thrust himselfe so néere to giue incouragement to the attempt which was of wonderful difficultie as their brauest men that defended that place being ouerthrowne their whole Armie fell presentlie into route of whom our men had the chase three miles in foure sondrie waies which they betooke themselues vnto There was taken the Standerd with the Kings Armes and borne before the Generall How many two thousand men for of so many consisted our Vangard might kill in pursuit of 4. sundrie parties so many you may imagine fell before vs that day And to make the number more great our men hauing giuen ouer the execution and returning to their stands found many hidden in the Vineyards and hedges which they dispatched Also Colonell Medkerk was sent with his Regiment three miles further to a Cloyster which he burnt and spoyled wherein he found fiue hundred more and put them to the sword There were staire in this fight on our side onlie Captaine Cooper and one priuate souldier Captaine Barton was also hurt vppon the bridge in the eye But had you seene the strong Baracades they had made on either side of the bridge and how strongly they lay encamped thereabouts you would haue thought it a rare resolution of ours to giue so braue a charge vpon an Armie so strongly lodged After the furie of the execution the Generall sent the Vangard one way and the Battell another to burne and spoyle so as you might haue seen the countrie more than three miles compasse on fire There was found verie good store of Munition and Victuals in the Campe some plate and rich apparell which the better sort left behind they were so hotlie pursued Our Sailors also landed in an Iland next adioyning our shippes where they burnt and spoyled all they found Thus we returned to the Groyne bringing small comfort to the enemie within the same who shot many times at vs as wee marched out but not once in our comming backe againe The next day was spent in shipping our Artillarie landed for the Batterie and of the rest taken at the Groyne which had it béen such as might haue giuen vs any assurance of a better batterie or had there béen no other purpose of our Iourney but that I thinke the Generall would haue spent some more time in the siege of the place The two last nights there were that vndertooke to fire the higher towne in one place where the houses were builded vpon the wall by the water side but they within suspecting as much made so good defence against vs as they preuented the same In our departure there was fire put into euerie house of the lowe towne in somuch as I may iustlie say there was not one house left standing in the Base towne or the Cloyster The next day being the eight of May wee embarked our Armie without losse of a man which had we not beaten the Enemie at Puente de Burgos had been impossible to haue done for that without doubt they would haue attempted something against vs in our imbarking as appeared by the report of the Commissarie aforesayd who confessed that the first night of our landing the Marâ—â—es of Seralba writ to the Conde de Altemira the Conde de Andrada to Terneis de Santisso to bring al the forces against vs that they could possiblie raise thinking no way so good to assure that place as to bring an armie thether wherewithall they might either besiege vs in their Base towne if we should get it or to lie betwéene vs and our place of embarking to fight with vs vpon the aduantage for they had aboue 15000. souldiers vnder their commandements After wee had put from thence wee had the winde so contrarie as wee could not vnder nine daies recouer the Burlings in which passage on the 13. day the Earle of Essex and with him Master Walter Deuereux his brother a Gentleman of wonderful great hope Sir Roger Williams Colonell generall of the foot men Sir Philip Butler who hath alwaies been most inward with him and Sir Edward Wingfield came into the Fléete The Earle hauing put himselfe into the Iourney against the opinion of the world and as it seemed to the hazard of his great fortune though to the great aduancement of his reputation for as the honorable cariage of himselfe towards all men doth make him highlie estéemed at home so did his excéeding forwardnes in all seruices make him to be wondrred at amongst vs who I say put off in the same winde from Famouth that wee left Plymouth in where he lay because he would auoide the importunitie of messengers that were daylie sent for his returne and some other causes more secret to himselfe not knowing as it seemed what place the Generals purposed to land in had been as farre as Cales in Andalosia and lay vp and downe about the South Cape where he tooke some ships laden with Corne and brought them vnto the Fleete Also in his returne from thence to méete with our Fléete he fell with the Ilands of Bayon and on that side of the riuer which Cannas standeth vpon the with Sir Roger Williams those Gentlemen that were with him went on shore with some men out of the ship he
which bare too with them and séemed by striking her sayles as though she would also haue ankered but taking her fittest occasion hoysed againe and would haue passed vp the Riuer but the Generall presently discerning her purpose sent out a Pinnace or two after her which forced her in such sort as she ranne her selfe vppon the Rocks all the men escaped out of her and the lading being manie chests of sugar was made nothing woorth by the salt water In his going thether also he tooke ships of the Port of Portingal which wer sent from thence with fiftéene other from Pedro Vermendes Xantes Serieant Maior of the same place laden with men and victualls to Lisbone the rest that escaped put into San Vues The next day it pleased General Norris to cal al y e Colonells together and to aduise with them whether it were more expedient to tarrie there to attend the Forces of the Portingall horse and foote wherof the King had made promise and to march some conuenient number to Cascais to fetch our Artillarie and munition which was all at our ships sauing that which for the necessitie of the Seruice was brought along with vs Whereunto some carried away with the vaine hope of Don Antonio that most part of the Towne stood for vs held it best to make our abode there and to send some 3000. for our Artiliarie promising to themselues that the Enemie being wel beaten the day before would make no more sallyes Some others whose vnbeléefe was verie strong of anie hope from the Portingall perswaded rather to march whollie away than so be anie longer carried away with an opinion of things wherof there was so little apparance The Generall not willing to leaue anie occasion of blott to be layd vpon him for his spéedie going from thence nor to loose anie more time by attending the hopes of Don Antonio tolde them that though the Expedition of Portingall were not the onely purpose of their Iourney but an aduenture therin which if it succéeded prosperously might make them sufficiently rich wonderfull honorable and that they had done so much alreadie in triall thereof as what ende soeuer happened could nothing impaire their credits Yet in regard of the Kings last promise that hée should haue that night 3000. men armed of his owne Countrey he would not for that night dislodge And if they came thereby to make him so strong that hee might send the like number for his munition he would resolue to trie his fortune for the Towne But if they came not he found it not conuenient to diuide his Forces by sending anie to Cascais and kéeping a Remainder behinde sithence he saw them the day before so boldly sally vpon his whole Armie and knew that they were stronger of Soldiers armed within the Towne than hee was without And that before our returne could be from Cascais that they expected more supplies from all places of Souldiers for the Duke of Bragantia and Don Francisco de Toledo were looked for with great reliefe Whereupon his conclusion was that if the 3000. promised came not that night to march wholly away the next morning It may bee here demanded why a matter of so great moment should be so slenderlie regarded as that the Generall should march with such an Armie against such an Enemie before hee knewe either the fulnes of his owne strength or certaine meanes how he should abide the place when he should come to it Wherein I pray you remember the Decrée made in the Councell at Penicha and confirmed by publique protestation the first day of our march that our Nauie should meete vs in the riuer of Lisbone in the which was the store of all our prouisions so the mean of our tariance in that place which came not thogh we continued till we had no Munition left to entertaine a verie small fight We are also to consider that the King of Portingall whether carried away with imagination by the aduertisements hee receiued from the Portingalls or willing by any promise to bring such an Armie into his Countrie thereby to put his fortune once more in triall assured the Generall that vppon his first landing there would be a reuolt of his subiects wherof there was some hope giuen at our first entrie to Penicha by the manner of the yéelding of that Towne and Fort which made the Generall thinke it most conuenient speedilie to march to the principall place thereby to giue courage to the rest of the Countrie The Friers also and the poore people that came vnto him promised that within two daies y e Gentlemen and others of the countrie would come plentifully in within which two daies came many more Priestes and some verie fewe Gentlemen on horsebacke but not till we came to Toras Vedras where they that noted y e course of things how they passed might somewhat discouer the weakenes of that people There they tooke two daies more and at the ende thereof referred him till our comming to Lisbone with assurance that so soone as our Armie should be seene there all the inhabitants would be for the King and fall vpon the Spaniards After two nights tarriance at Lisbone the King as you haue heard promised a supplie of 3000. foote and some horse but all his appoyntments being expired euen to the last of a night all his horse could not make a Cornet of 40. nor his foote furnish two Ensignes fullie although they carried three or foure Colours and these were altogether such as thought to inrich themselues by the ruine of their neighbors for they committed more disorders in euerie place wher we came by spoyle thā any of our own The Generall as you see hauing done more than before his comming out of England was required by the King and giuen credite to his many promises euen to the breach of the last he desisted not to perswade him to stay yet nine daies longer in which time he might haue engaged himselfe further than with any honor he could come out of againe by attempting a Towne fortified wherein were more men armed against vs than wee had to oppugne them with all our Artillarie and Munition being fifteene miles from vs and our men then declining for there was the first shewe of any great sicknes amongst them Whereby it seemeth that either his Prelacie did much abuse him in perswading him to hopes whereof after two or thrée daies he sawe no semblance or he like a sillie louer who promiseth himselfe fauour by importuning a coy mistris thought by our long being before his Towne that in the ende taking pitie on him they would let him in What end the Friers had by following him with such deuotion I knowe not but sure I am the Laitie did respite their homage till they might see which way the victorie would sway fearing to shewe themselues apparantlie vnto him least the Spaniard should after our departure if we preuailed not call them to accompt yet sent they vnder hand
euer they made twentie of our men turne their faces from them And be there not many other places of lesse difficultie to spoyle able to satisfie our forces But admit that if vpon this Alarme that wee haue giuen him he tendring his naturall and néerest soyle before his further remoued off gouernments do drawe his forces of old Souldiers out of the Low Countries for his own defence is not the victorie then wonne by drawing and holding them from thence for the which we should haue kept an Armie there at a charge by many parts greater than this and not stirred them Admit further our Armie bee impeached from landing there yet by kéeping the Sea and possessing his principall Roades are wee not in possibilitie to méete with his Indian Merchants and verie like to preuent him of his prouisions comming out of the East Countries without the which neither the subiect of Lisbone is long able to liue nor the King able to maintain his Nauie for though the countrey of Portingall doo some yeres finde themselues corne yet are they neuer able to victuall the least part of that Citie And albeit the King of Spaine be the richest Prince in Christendome yet can he neyther draw cables hew masts nor make powder out of his mettalls but is to bee supplied of them all from thence Of whom some will holde opinion it is no reason to make prize because they be not our enemies and that our disagréeance with them will impeach the trade of our Merchants and so impouerish our Countrey Of whose minde I can hardly be drawen to be For if my enemie fighting with me doo breake his sword so as I therby haue the aduantage against him what shall I thinke of him that putteth a new sword into his hand to kil me withal And may it not be thought more fitting for vs in these times to loose our trades of cloath than by suffering these mischiefes to put in hazard whether we shall haue a Countrey lefte to make cloth in or no And yet though neither Hamburgh Embden nor Stode doo receiue our cloth the necessarie vse thereof in all places is such as they will finde meanes to take it from vs with our sufficient commoditie And admit which were impossible that wee damnifie him neither at sea nor land for vnlesse it bee with a much more mightie Armie than ours he shall neuer be able to withstand vs yet shal we by holding him at his home frée our selues from the warre at our owne walls the benefite whereof let them consider y e best can iudge haue obserued the differēce of inuading being inuaded the one giuing courage to the Souldier in that it dooth set before him commoditie and reputation the other a fearfull terror to the Countrey man who if by chaunce hee play the man yet is he neuer the richer and who knowing manie holes to hide himselfe in will trie them all before hee put his life in perill by fighting whereas the Inuador casteth vp his accompt before he goeth out and being abroad must fight to make himselfe way as not knowing what place or strength to trust vnto I will not say what I obserued in our Countrey men when the enimie offered to assaile vs here but I wish that all England knewe what terror we gaue to the same people that frighted vs by visiting them at their owne houses Were not Alexanders fortunes great against the mightie Darius onely in that his Macedonians thirsted after the wealth of Persia and were bound to fight it out to the last man because the last man knewe no safer waye to saue himselfe than by fighting Whereas the Persians either trusting to continue still masters of their wealth by yéelding to the Inuador began to practise against their owne King or hauing more inward hopes did hide themselues euen to the last to sée what course the Conquerour would take in his Conquest And did not the aduice of Scipio though mightely impugned at the first proue verie sound and honorable his Countrey Who séeing the Romanes wonderfully amazed at the nearnesse of their enemies Forces and the losses they dayly sustained by them gaue counsaile rather by way of diuersion to carrie an Armie into Affricke there to assaile than by a defenciue warre at home to remaine subiect to the commō spoyles of an assailing Enemie Which being put in execution drew the Enemie from the Gates of Rome and Scipio returned home with triumph albeit his beginnings at the first were not so fortunate against thē as ours haue béen in this small time against the Spaniard The good successe whereof maye encourage vs to take Armes resolutely against him And I beséech God it may stirre vp all men that are particularly interested therein to bethinke themselues how small a matter will assure them of their safetie by holding the Spaniard at a bay so farre of whereas if wee giue him leaue quietly to hatch and bring foorth his preparations it will bee with danger to vs all He taketh not Armes against vs by anie pretence of title to the Crowne of this Realme nor led altogether with an ambitious desire to command our Countrey but with hatred towardes our whole Nation and Religion Her Maiesties Scepter is alreadie giuen by Bull to another the honours of our Nobilitie are bestowed for rewardes vpon his attendants our Clergie our Gentlemen our Lawyers yea all men of what condition soeuer are offered for spoyle vnto the common Souldier Let euerie man therefore in defence of the libertie and plentie hee hath of longe enioyed offer a voluntarie contribution of the smallest part of their store for the assurance of the rest It were not much for euerie Iustice of peace who by his blewe coate protecteth the properest and most seruiceable men at euerie muster from the warres to contribute the charge that one of these idlemen doo put him to for one yere nor for the Lawyer who riseth by the dissentions of his neighbors to take but one yeares giftes which they call fées out of his coffers What would it hinder euerie Officer of the Exchequer and other of her Maiesties Courtes who without checke doo sodainlie grow to great wealth honestlie to bring foorth the mysticall commoditie of one yeres profites Or the Clergie who looke precisely for the Tenths of euerie mans increase simply to bring foorth the Tenth of one yeares gathering and in thankfulnes to her Maiestie who hath continued for all our safeties a most chargeable warre both at land and sea bestowe the same for her honour and their owne assuraunce vppon an Armie which may make this bloodie Enemie so to knowe himselfe and her Maiesties power as hee shall bethinke him what it is to mooue a stirring people Who though they haue receaued some small checke by the sicknesse of this last Iourney yet doubt I not but if it were made knowen that the like Voyage were to be supported by a generalitie that might and would beare the charge
of a more ample prouision but there would of all sortes most willingly put themselues into the same some caried with an honorable desire to be in action some in loue of such would affectionately follow their fortunes some in thirsting to reuenge the death and hurts of their brethren kindred and friends and some in hope of the plentiful spoyles to be found in those Countreyes hauing béen there alreadie and returned poore would desire to goe againe with an expectation to make amends for the last and all in hatred of that cowardly proud Nation and in contemplation of the true honor of our own would with courage take Armes to hazard their liues against them whom euerie good English man is in nature bound to hate as an implacable Enemie to England thirsting after our blood and labouring to ruine our land with hope to bring vs vnder the yoke of perpetuall slauerie Against them is true honour to bee gotten for that wee shall no sooner set foote in their land but that euery steppe we tread will yéeld vs newe occasion of action which I wish the gallantrie of our Countrie rather to regarde than to followe those soft vnprofitable pleasures wherein they now consume their time and patrimonie And in two or thrée Townes of Spaine is the wealth of all Europe gathered together which are the Magasins of the fruits and profites of the East and West Indies whereunto I wish our young able men who against the libertie they are borne vnto terme themselues Seruing men rather to bend their desires and affections than to attend their double liuerie and fortie shillings by the yeare wages and the reuersion of the old Coppie-hold for carrying a dish to his masters table But let me here reprehend my selfe and craue pardon for entring into a matter of such state and consequence the care whereof is alreadie laid vpon a most graue and honorable Councell who will in their wisedomes foresee the dangers that may bee threatned against vs. And why do I labour to disquiet the securitie of these happie Gentlemen the trade of those honest Seruing men by perswading them to the warres when I see the profession therof so slenderlie estéemed For though al our hope of peace bee frustrate and our quarells determinable by the sword though our Enemie hath by his own forces and his pencionaries industrie confined the vnited Prouinces into a narrowe roume and almost disunited the same if he be now in a good way to harbour himselfe in the principall Hauens of France from whence he may frunt vs at pleasure yea though wee are to hope for nothing but a bloudie warre nor can trust to any helpe but Armes yet how farre the common sort are from reuerencing or regarding any persons of conduction was too apparant in the returne of this our iourney wherein the base and common souldier hath béen tollerated to speake against the Captaine and the souldier and Captaine against the Generalls and wherein mechanicall and men of base condition doo dare to censure the dooings of them of whose acts they be not worthie to talke The auncient graue degrée of the Prelacie is vphelde though Martin rayle neuer so much and the Lawyer is after the olde manner worshipped whosoeuer inueigh against him But the auncient English honour is taken from our Men of Warre and their Profession in disgrace though neuer so necessarie Either we commit Idolatrie to Neptune and will put him alone still to fight for vs as he did the last yere or we be inchanted with some diuellish opinions that trauaile nothing more than to diminish the reputation of them vpon whose shoulders the burthen of our defence against the Enemie must lie when occasion shall be offered For whensoeuer he shall set foote vpon our land it is neither the preaching of the Clergie that can turne him out againe nor the pleading of any Lawyers that can remoue him out of possession no then they will honour them whom now they thinke not on and then must those men stand betwéene them and their perills who are now thought vnworthie of any estimation May the burning of one Towne which cost the King then being sixe times as much as this hath done her Maiestie wherein were lost seauen times as many men as in any one seruice of this iourney and tarried not the tenth part of our time in the Enemies Countrie bee by our elders so highly reputed and sounded out by the historie of the Realme and can our voyage be so meanlie estéemed wherein wee burned both Townes and Countries without the losse of fortie men in any such attempt Did our Kings in former times reward some with the greatest titles of honour for ouerthrowing a number of poore Scots who after one battaile lost were neuer able to reenforce themselues against him and shall they in this time who haue ouerthrowne our mightie Enemie in battaile and taken his royall Standerd in the field besieged the Marques of Saralba fiftéene daies together that should haue béen the Generall of the Armie against vs brought away so much of his Artillarie as I haue before declared be vnworthelie estéemed of Is it possible that some in some times should receiue their reward for looking vppon an Enemie and ours in this time not receiue so much as thankes for hauing beaten an Enemie at handie strokes But it is true that no man shall be a Prophet in his Countrey and for my owne part I will lay aside my Armes till that profession shall haue more reputation and liue with my friends in the Countrey attending either some more fortunate time to vse them or some other good occasion to make me forget them But what shall the blind opinion of this Monster a beast of many heads for so hath the generaltie of old béen termed cause me to neglect the profession from whence I challenge some reputation or diminish my loue to my Countrey which hetherto hath nourished mée No it was for her sake I first tooke Armes and for her sake I will handle them so long as I shall be able to vse them not regarding how some men in priuate conuenticles doo measure mens estimations vp their owne humours nor how euerie populer person doth giue sentence on euerie mans actions by the worst accidents But attending the gracious aspect of our dread Soueraigne who neuer yet left vertue vnrewarded and depending vpon the iustice of her most rare and graue aduisors who by their heedie looking into euerie mans worth doo giue encouragement to the vertuous to excéede others in vertue and assuring you that there shall neuer any thing happen more pleasing vnto me than that I may once againe be a partie in some honorable iourney against the Spaniard in his owne Countrie I will cease my complaint and with them that deserue beyond me patiently endure the vnaduised censure of our malicious reprouers If I haue seemed in the beginning hereof troublesome vnto you in the discouering of those impediments and answering the slaunders which by the vulgar malicious and mutinous sort are laid as blemishes vpon the iourney and reproaches vpon the Generalls hauing indeede proceeded from other heads let the necessitie of conseruing the reputation of the action in generall and the honors of our Generalls in particuler be my sufficient excuse the one hauing by the vertue of the other made our Countrie more dreaded and renowmed than any act that euer England vndertooke before Or if you haue thought my perswasivie discourse long in the latter end let the affectionate desire of my Countries good bee therein answerable for me And such as it is I pray you accept it as onely recommended to your selfe and not to bee deliuered to the publique view of the world least any man take offence thereat which some particuler men may seeme iustlie to doo in that hauing deserued verie well I should not herein giue them their due commendations whereas my purpose in this priuate discourse hath béen onelie to gratifie you with a touch of those principall matters that haue passed wherein I haue onelie taken notes of those men who either commanded euery seruice or were of chiefest marke if therefore you shall impart the same to one and hée to another and so it passe through many hands I knowe not what constructions would be made thereof to my preiudice for that the Hares eares may happelie bée taken for hornes Howbeit I hold it verie necessarie I must confesse that there should bee some true manifestation made of these things but bee it farre from me to bée the author thereof as verie vnfit to deliuer my censure of any matter in publique and most vnwilling to haue my weaknes discouered in priuate And so doo leaue you to the happie successe of your accustomed good exercises earnestlie wishing that there may bee some better acceptance made of the fruites of your studies than there hath béen of our hazards in the warres From London the 30. of August 1589. FINIS Answere in the first Answere to the second Answers to the third Answere to the fourth Answere to the fifth Errors in sundrie names must thus be read Pag. 16. lin 31. reade Santa Cruz. lin 23. reade at Madrid Pag. 17. lin 1. reade at Madrid lin 2. reade Capt. Manco Pag. 21. lin 12. reade Cap. Sydenham Pag. 29. lin 8. reade at Lorin̄a lin 34.35 reade los Caualleros Pag. 34. lin 6. reade Sant ' Vués Pag. 45. lin 29.31 read del Tercio de Napoles lin 34. reade Capt. Sauban
giueth new experience I haue much to vaunt of that my fortune did rather carrie me thither than into the warres of Flanders Notwithstanding the vehement perswasions you vsed with me to the contrarie the ground whereof sithence you receiued them from others you must giue me leaue to acquaint you with the error you were lead into by them who labouring to bring the world into an opinion that it stood more with the safetie of our Estate to bend all our forces against the Prince of Parma than to followe this action by looking into the true effects of this Iourney will iudicially conuince themselues of mistaking the matter For may the Conquest of these Countreyes against the Prince of Parma bee thought more easie for vs alone now than the defence of them was xi yeares agoe with the men and money of the Queene of Egland the power of the Monsieur of France the assistance of the principall States of Germanie and the Nobilitie of their owne Countrey Could not an Armie of more than 20000. horse and almost 30000. foote beate Don Iohn de Austria out of the Countrey who was possessed of a verie few frontier Townes And shall it now be laid vpon her Maiesties shoulders to remooue so mightie an Enimie who hath left vs but 3. whole parts of 17. vncōquered It is not a Iourney of a few months nor an auxiliarie warre of few yeres that can damnifie the King of Spaine in those places where we shall méete at euerie 8. or 10. miles end with a Towne which will cost more the winning than will yearly pay 4. or 5000. mens wages where all the Countrey is quartred by Riuers which haue no passage vnfortefied and where most of the best Souldiers of Christendome that be on our aduerse partie be in pencion But our Armie which hath not cost her Maiestie much aboue the third part of one yeares expences in the Lowe Countries hath alreadie spoyled a great part of the prouision he had made at the Groyne of all sorts for a newe voyage into England burnt 3. of his ships whereof one was the second in the last yeares expedition taken from him aboue 150. péeces of good artillarie cut off more than 60. hulkes and 20. French ships well manned fit readie to serue him for men of warre against vs laden for his store with corne victualls masts cables and other merchandizes slaine and taken the principall men of warre hee had in Galitia made Don Pedro Enriques de Gusman̄ Conde de Fuentes Generall of his Forces in Portingall shamefullie runne at Penicha laide along of his best Commaunders in Lisbone and by these fewe aduentures discouered how easelie her Maiestie may without any great aduenture in short time pull the Tirant of the World vpon his knées as well by the disquieting his vsurpation of Portingall as without difficultie in keeping the commoditie of his Indies from him by sending an armie so accomplished as may not bee subiect to those extremities which we haue endured except he draw for those defences his forces out of the Lowe countries and disfurnish his garisons of Naples and Milan which with safetie of those places he may not doo And yet by this meane shall rather be inforced thereunto than by any force that can be vsed there against him wherefore I directly conclude that this procéeding is the most safe and necessarie way to be held against him and therefore more importing than the warre in the Lowe Countries Yet hath the iourney I know béen much misliked by some who either thinking too worthely of the Spaniards valour too indifferently of his purposes against vs or too vnworthely of them that vndertooke this iourney against him did thinke it a thing dangerous to encounter the Spaniard at his owne home a thing néedlesse to procéede by inuasion against him a thing of too great moment for two subiects of their qualitie to vndertake And therefore did not so aduance the beginnings as though they hoped for any good sucesse thereof The chaunces of warres bee things most vncertaine for what people soeuer vndertake them they are indéede but as chastizements appointed by God for the one side or the other For which purpose it hath pleased him to giue some victories to the Spaniards of late yeares against some whome he had in purpose to ruine But if we consider what warres they be that haue made their name so terrible we shall finde them to haue béen none other than against the barbarous Moores the naked Indians and the vnarmed Netherlanders whose yéelding rather to the name than act of the Spaniards hath put them into such a conceipt of their mightines as they haue considerately vndertaken the conquest of our Monarchie consisting of a people vnited and alwaies held sufficiently warlike against whom what successe their inuincible Armie had the last yeare as our verie children can witnes so I doubt not but this voyage hath sufficiently made knowne what they are euen vpon their owne dounghill which had it béen set out in such sort as it was agreed vppon by their first demaund it might haue made our Nation the most glorious people of the world For hath not the want of 8. of the 12. péeces of Artillerie which was promised vnto the Aduenture lost her Maiestie the possession of the Groyne and many other places as hereafter shal appeare whose defencible Rampiers were greater than our batterie such as it was cold force and therefore were left vnattempted It was also resolued to haue sent 600. English horse of the Lowe Countries wherof we had not one notwithstanding the great charges expended in their transportation hither and that may the Armie assembled at Puente de Burgos thanke God of as well as the forces of Portingall who foreranne vs sixe daies together Did wee not want seauen of y e thirtéene old Companies we should haue had from thence foure of the ten dutch Companies sixe of their men of warre for the sea from the Hollanders which I may iustly say we wanted in that we might haue had so many good souldiers so many good shippes and so many able bodies more than we had Did there not vpon the first thinking of the Iourney diuers gallant Courtiers put in their names for aduenturers to the summe of 1000 li. who séeing it went forward in good earnest aduised themselues better and laid the want of so much money vpon the Iourney Was there not moreouer a round summe of the aduenture spent in leuieng furnishing and mainteyning three moneths 1500. men for the seruice of Berghen with which companies the Mutinies of Ostend was suppressed a seruice of no small moment What miserie the detracting of the time of our setting out which should haue been the first of Februarie did lay vpon vs too many can witnesse and what extremitie the want of that moneths victualls which we did eate during the moneth wee lay at Plimoth for a winde might haue driuen vs vnto no man can doubt of
was in whom the enemie that held gard vpon the Coast would not abide but fled vp into the country After his coÌ„ming into the fléet to the great reioycing of vs all he demaunded of the Generals that after our Armie should come on shore he might alwaies haue the leading of the vanegard which they easilie yéelded vnto as being desirous to satisfie him in all things but especially in matters so much tending to his honor as this did so as from the time of our first landing in Portingall hee alwaies marched in the poynt of the vangard accompanied with Sir Roger Williams except when the necessitie of the place hee held called him to other seruices The 16. day we landed at Penicha in Portingall vnder the shot of the Castle and aboue the wast in water more than a mile from y e towne wherin many were in peril of drowning by reason the wind was great the Sea went high which ouerthrew one boat wherin 25. of Captaine Dolphins men perished The Enemie being fiue coÌ„panies of Spanyards vnder the coÌ„maundement of y t Conde de Fuentes fallied out of the towne against vs in our landing made their approach close by the water side But the Earle of Essex w t Sir Roger Williams his brother hauing landed sufficient number to make 2. troups left one to hold the way by the water side and led y e other ouer the Sandhils which the Enemy séeing drew theirs likewise further into the land not as we coniectured to encounter vs but indéede to make their spéedie passage away notwithstanding they did it in such sort as being charged by ours which were sent out by y e Colonell generall vnder Captaine Iacson they stood the same euen to the push of the pike in which charge at the push Captaine Robert Piew was slaine The Enemie being fled further thaÌ„ we had reason to follow them al our companies were drawn to the town which being vnfortified in any place we found vndefended by anie man against vs. And therefore the Generall caused the castle to bee somoned y t night which beâ—â—g â—â—andoned by him that coÌ„maunded it a Portingall nameâ— Antonio de Aurid being possessed thereof desired but to be assured that Don Antonio was landed whervpon he would deliuer y e same which he honestly performed There was taken out of the castle 100. shot pikes which Don Emanuel furnished his Portingals withall 20. barrels of powder so as possessing both y e towne the castle we rested there one day wherin some Friers other poore men came vnto their newe King promising in the name of their Countrie next adioyning that within two daies he should haue a good supplie of horse foote for his assistance That day we remained there the Generals company of horses were vnshipped The Generals hauing there resolued y t the Armie should march ouerland to Lisbone vnder y e conduct of generall Norris that general Drake should méet him in the riuer thereof w t the fléete that there should be one company of foote left in gard of the castle 6. of the ships also y t the sicke and hurt should remaine there w t prouisions for their cures The General to trie y e euent of the matter by expedition the next day began to march on this sort his owne regiment the regiments of Sir Roger Williams Sir Henrie Norris Colonel Lane Colonel Medkerk in the Vangard Generall Drake Colonel Deuereux S. Edward Norris Colonel Sidneis in y e Battaile S. Iames Hales Sir Edward Wingfield Colonell Vmptons Colonell Huntleis Colonell Brets in the arrereward By that time our armie was thus marshalled general Drake who though he were to passe by sea yet to make known the honorable desire he had of taking equal part of al fortunes w t vs stood vpoÌ„ the ascent of an hil by y e which our Battalions must of necessitie march with a pleasing kindnes tooke his leaue seuerally of the coÌ„maunders of euerie regiment wishing vs al happy successe in our iourney ouer the land with a constant promise y t he would if the iniury of y e wether did not hinder him méet vs in the riuer of Lisbone with our fléete The want of carriages the first day was such as they were enforced to carrie their Munition vpon mens backes which was the next day remedied In this march Captaine Crispe the Prouost Marshall caused one who contrarie to the proclamation published at our arriuall in Portingall had broken vp a house for pillage to be hanged with the cause of his death vpon his breast in the place where the act was committed which good example prouidentlie giuen in the beginning of our march caused the commandement to be more respectiuelie regarded all the iourney after by them whom feare of punishment doth onlie hold within compasse The Camp lodged that night at Lorignia The next day we had intelligence al the way that the enemie had made head of horse and foote against vs at Toras Vedras which wee thought they would haue held But comming thither the seconde day of our march not two houres before our Vangarde came in they lefte the Towne and Castle to the possession of Don Antonio There began the greatest want we had of victualls especiallie of bread vpon a Commandement giuen from the Generall that no man should spoyle the Countrey or take anie thing from anie Portingal which was more respectiuely obserued than I thinke would haue béen in our owne Countrey amongst our owne friends and kindred but the Countrey contrarie to promise hauing neglected the prouision of victualls for vs whereby we were driuen for that time into a great scarcitie Which moued the Colonell Generall to call all the Colonels together and with them to aduise for some better course for our people who thought it best first to aduertise y e king what necessitie we were in before we shuld of our selues alter the first institution of abstinence the Colonell generall hauing acquainted the General herewith with his very good allowance therof went to the King who after some expostulations vsed tooke the more carefull order for our men and after that our Armie was more plentifully relieued The third daye wee lodged our Armie in thrée sundrie villages the one Battalion lying in Enchara de los Caualiers another in Enchara de los Obisbos and the third in San Sebastians Captaine Yorke who commanded the Generals horse companie in this march made triall of the valour of the horsmen of the Enemie who by one of his Corporalls charged with 8. horses through 40. of them and himselfe through more than 200. with some 40. horse who would abide him no longer than they could make way from him The next day we marched to Loris and had diuers intelligences that the enemie would tarrie vs there for the Cardinall had made publique promise to them of Lisbone that he would fight with vs in that place which hee might
messages to him of obedience thereby to saue their owne if he became King but indéede verie well contented to see the Spaniards and vs trie by blowes who should carrie away the Crowne For they bee of so base a mould as they can verie well subiect themselues to any gouernment where they may liue free frō blowes and haue libertie to become rich being loath to endure hazard either of life or goods For durst they haue put on anie minds throughly to reuolt they had three wonderfull good occasions offered them during our being there Themselues did in generall confesse that there were not aboue 5000. Spaniards in that part of the Countrie of which number the halfe were out of the Towne till the last day of our march during which time how easilie they might haue preuailed against the rest any man may conceiue But vpon our approach they tooke them all in and combined themselues in generall to the Cardinall The next day after our comming thether when the sallie was made vppon vs by their most resolute Spaniards how easilie might they haue kept them out or haue giuen vs the Gate which was held for their retreate if they had had any thought thereof And two daies after our comming to Cascaies when 6000. Spaniards and Portingalls came against vs as farre as S. Iulians by land as you shall presentlie heare all which time I thinke there were not many Spaniards left in the Towne they had a more fit occasion to shewe their deuotion to the King than any could be offered by our tarrying there And they could not doubt that if they had shut them out but that we would haue fought with them vpon that aduantage hauing sought them in Galitia vpon disaduantage to beate them and hauing taken so much paines to seeke them at their owne houses whereof wee gaue sufficient testimonie in the same accident But I thinke the feare of the Spaniard had taken so déepe impression within them as they durst not attempt any thing against them vpon anie hazard For what ciuil Country hath euer suffred themselues to be conquered by so few men as they were to be depriued of their naturall King and to be tyrannized ouer thus long but they And what Countrey liuing in slauerie vnder a stranger whom they naturaly hate hauing an Armie in the Field to fight for them their libertie would lie still with the yoke vpon their neckes attending if anie strangers would vnburthē them with out so much as rousing themselues vnder it but they They will promise much in speaches for they bee great talkers whom the Generall had no reason to distrust without triall therefore marched on into their Countrey But they perfourmed little in action whereof wee could haue had no proofe without this thorough triall Wherein hee hath discouered their weaknesse and honorably performed more than could be in reason expected of him which had he not done would not these malingners who seeke occasions of slander haue reported him to bee suspitious of a people of whose infidelitie he had no testimonie and to be fearfull without cause if he had refused to giue credite to their promises without anie aduenture Let no friuolous Questionist therefore further enquire why he marched so manie dayes to Lisbone and tarried there so small a while The next morning seeing no performance of promise kept the gaue order for our marching away himselfe the Earle of Essex and Sir Roger Williams remaining with the Stande that was made in the high streate till the whole Armie was drawne into the field and so marched out of the Towne appoynting Captain Richard Wingfield and Captaine Anthonie Wingfield in the Arrereward of them with the shot thinking that the Enemie as it was most likelie would haue issued out vppon our rising but they were otherwise aduised When we were come into the field euerie Battalion fell into that order which by course appertained vnto them and so marched that night vnto Cascaies Had wee marched through his Countrie as enemies our Souldiers had béen well supplied in all their wants but had wee made enemies of the Suburbs of Lisbone wee had béen the richest Armie that euer went out of England for besides the particuler wealth of euerie house there were many warehouses by the water side full of all sorts of rich Marchandizes In our march that day the Gallies which had somewhat but not much annoyed vs at Lisbone for that our way lay along the riuer attended vs till we were past S. Iulians bestowing many shot amongst vs but did no harme at all sauing they strooke off a priuate Gentlemans legge and killed the Sergeant Maiors moyle vnder him The horsemen also followed vs a farre of and cut off as many sicke men as were not able to hold in march nor we had carriage for After we had béen two daies at Cascais wee had intelligence by a Frier that the Enemie was marching strongly towards vs and then come as farre as S. Iulians which newes was so welcome to the Earle of Essex and the Generalls as they offered euerie one of them to giue the messenger a hundred Crownes if they found them in the place for the Generall desiring nothing more than to fight with them in field roume dispatched that night a messenger with a Trompet by whom he writ a Cartell to the Generall of their Armie wherein he gaue them the lie in that it was by them reported that we dislodged from Lisbone in disorder and feare of them which indéede was most false for that it was fiue of the clock in the morning before wee fell into Armes and then went in such sort as they had no courage to followe our vpon vs. Also he challenged him therein to meete him the nexte morning with his whole Armie if he durst attend his comming and there to trie out the iustnes of their quarrell by battaile by whom also the Earle of Essex who preferring the honor of the cause which was his Countries before his owne safetie sent a particuler Cartell offering himselfe against any of theirs if they had any of his qualitie or if they would not admit of that sixe eight or tenne or as many as they would appoynt should méete so many of theirs in the head of our Battaile to trie their fortunes with them and that they should haue assurance of their returne and honorable intreatie The Generall accordingly made all his Armie readie by thrée of the clocke in the morning and marched euen to the place where they had encamped but they were dislodged in the night in great disorder being taken with a sodaine feare that we had béen come vpon them as the Generall was the next daye certeinly informed so as the Trumpet followed them to Lisbone but could not get other answere to either of his letters but threatning to bee hanged for daring to bring such a message howbeit the Generall had caused to bee written vppon the backside of their pasport y t
if they did offer any violence vnto the messengers he would hang the best prisoners he had of theirs which made them to aduise better of the matter and to returne them home but without answere After our Armie came to Cascais and the Castle sommoned the Castillan thereof graunted that vpon fiue or sixe shot of the Cannon hee would deliuer the same but not without sight thereof The Generall thinking that his distresse within had been such for want of men or victualls as he could not hold it many daies because he sawe it otherwise defencible enough determined rather to make him yeeld to that necessitie than to bring the Cannon and therefore onlie set a gard vpon the same least anie supplie of those things which hee wanted should bee brought vnto them But he still standing vpon those conditions the Generall about two daies before he determined to goe to Sea brought three or foure peeces of batterie against it vpon the first tire whereof he tendered and compounded to goe away with his baggage and Armes he had one Cannon two Enluerings one Basiliske and thrée or foure other field péeces thréescore and fiue Souldiers verie good store of munition and victuals enough in the Castle insomuch as hee might haue held the same longer than the Generall had in purpose to tarie there One Companie of foot men was put into the garde thereof til the Artillarie was taken out our Armie embarked which without hauing that Fort we could not without great perill haue done When we were readie to set saile one halfe of the Fort being by order from the General blowne vp by myne the Companie was drawne away During the time we lay in the Road our Fléete began the second of Iune and so continued sixe daies after to fetch in some Hulks to the number of 60. of Dansik Staten Rastock Lubec and Hamburgh laden with Spanish goods and as it seemed for the Kings prouision and going for Lisbone their principall lading was Corne Mastes Cables Copper and Waxe amongst which were some of great burthen wonderfull well builded for sailing which had no great lading in them and therefore it was thought that they were brought for the Kings prouision to reinforce his decaied Nauie whereof there was the greater likelihood in that the owner of the greatest of them which carried two Misnes was knowne to be verie inward with the Cardinall who rather than hée would be taken with his ships committed himselfe vnto his small boate wherein he recouered S. Sebastians Into the which our men that before were in Fléeboates were shipped and the Fléeboates sent home with an offer of Corne to the value of their hire But the wind being good for them for Rochel they chose rather to lose their Corne than the winde and so departed The Generall also sent his horses with them and from thence shipped them into England The third of Iune Colonell Deuereux and Colonell Sidney being bath verie sicke departed for England who in the whole iourney had shewed themselues verie forward to all seruices and in their departure verie vnwilling to leaue vs that day we embarked all our Armie but lay in the Road vntill the eight thereof The sixt day the Earle of Essex vpon receipt of letters from her Maiestie by them that brought in the victualls presentlie departed towards England with whom Sir Roger Williams was verie desirous to goe but found the Generals verie vnwilling he should do so in y t he bare the next place vnto them and if they should miscarrie was to commaund the Armie And the same day there came vnto vs two shall Barkes that brought tidings of some other shippes come out of England with victualls which were passed vpwards to the Cape for méeting with whom the second day after wee set saile for that place in purpose after our méeting with them to goe to the Iles of Açores the second day which was the ninth wee met with them comming backe againe towards vs whose prouision little answered our expectation Notwithstanding we resolued to continue our course for the Ilands About this time was the Marchant Royal with thrée or foure other shippes sent to Penicha to fetch away the Companies that were left there but Captaine Barton hauing receiued letters from the Generalls that were sent ouerland was departed before not being able by reason of the enemies speedie marching thether either to bring away the Artillarie or all his men according to the direction those letters gaue him for hee was no sooner gone than the Enemie possessed the Towne and Castle and shot at our ships as they came into the Road. At this time also was the Ambassador from the Emperour of Moroco called Rays Hamet Bencasamp returned and with him Master Ciprian a Gentleman of good place and desart was sent from Don Antonio and Captaine Ousley from the Generals to the Emperour The next morning the nine Gallies which were send not fiue daies before out of Andolosia for the strengthening of the riuer of Lisbone which being ioyned with the other twelue that were there before though wee lay hard by them at S. Iulians durst neuer make any attempt against vs vppon our departure from thence were returning home and in the morning being a verie dead calme in the dawning thereof fell in the winde of our Fléete in the vttermost part whereof they assailed one stragling Barke of Plymouth of the which Captaine Cauerley being Captaine of the land Companie with his Lieutenant the Master and some of the Marriners abandoned the shippe and betooke them to the ship boates whereof one in which the Master the Captain wer was ouerrun with the Gallies and they drowned There was also two Hulks stragled farre from the strength of the other ships which were so calmed as neither they could get to vs nor we to them though all the great ships towed with their boates to haue relieued them but could not be recouered in one of which was Captaine Minshaw with his Companie who fought with them to the last yea after his ship was on fire which whether it was fired by himselfe or by them we could not well discerne but might easilie iudge by his long and good fight that the Enemie could not but susteine much losse who setting also vpon one other Hulk wherein was but a Lieutenant and he verie sicke were by the valour of the Lieutenant put off although they had first beaten her with their Artillarie and attempted to board her And seeing also one other Hulke a league of a sterne of vs they made towards her but finding that she made readie to fight with them they durst not further attempt her whereby it seemed their losse being great in the other fights they were loath to procéed any further From that day till the 19. of Iune our direction from the Generall was that if the winde were Northerlie wée should plie for the Açores but if Southerlie for the Iles of Bayon Wee lay with contrarie
their pouertie and the shortnesse of the time together but lay some iniuries vpon the Generalls and the action Where and by the way but especiallie here in London I finde there haue been some false prophets gone before vs telling straunge tales For as our Countrey doth bring forth manie gallant men who desirous of honour doo put themselues into the actions thereof so dooth it manie more dull spirited who though their thoughtes reach not so high as others yet doo they listen how other mens acts doo passe and eyther beleeuing what anie man will report vnto them are willingly caried away into errors or tied to some greater mans faith become secretaries against a noted truth The one sort of these do take their opinions from the high way side or at the fardest goe no farther than Paules to enquire what hath been done in this Voyage where if they méete with anie whose capacitie before their going out could not make them liue nor their valour maintain their reputation and who went onely for spoyle complayning on the hardnesse and miserie thereof they thinke they are bound to giue credite to these honest men who were parties therein and in verie charitie become of their opinions The others to make good the faction they are entred into if they sée anie of those malecontents as euerie iourney yéeldeth some doo runne vnto them like tempting spirits to confirme them in their humour with assurance that they foresawe before our going out what would become thereof Be ye not therefore too credulous in beléeuing euerie report for you sée there haue béen many more beholders of these things y t haue passed thā actors in the same who by their experience not hauing the knowledge of the ordinarie wants of the warre haue thought that to lie hard not to haue their meate well dressed to drinke sometimes water to watch much or to see men die and be slaine was a miserable thing and not hauing so giuen their minds to the seruice as they are any thing instructed thereby doo for want of better matter discourse ordinarilie of these things whereas the iourney if they had with that iudgement seen into it and as their places required hath giuen them farre more honorable purpose and argument of discourse These mens discontentments and mislikings before our comming home haue made me labour thus much to instruct you in the certeintie of euerie thing because I would not willinglie haue you miscarried in the iudgements of them wherein you shall giue me leaue somewhat to delate vpon a question which I onlie touched in the beginning of my letter namelie whether it bee more expedient for our estate to maintaine an offensiue warre against the King of Spaine in the Lowe Countries or as in this iourney to offend him in his néerer Territories seeing the grounds of arguing thereof are taken from the experience which the actions of this iourney haue giuen vs. There is no good subiect that will make question whether it bee behoofefull for vs to hold friendship with these neighbours of ours or no aswell in respect of the infinite proportion of their shipping which must stand either with vs or against vs as of the commoditie of their Harbors especiallie that of Vlishing by the fauour wherof our Nauie may continuallie kéepe the Narrow Seas and which would harbour a greater Fléete against vs than the Spaniard shall néede to annoy vs withall who being now distressed by our common Enemie I thinke it most expedient for our safetie to defend them and if it may bee to giue them a reentrie into that they haue of late yeares lost vnto him The one without doubt her Maiestie may doo without difficultie and in so honorable sort as he shall neuer be able to dispossesse her or them of any the townes they now hold But if any man thinke that the Spaniard may bee expelled from thence more speedilie or conuenientlie by kéeping an Armie there than by sending one against him into his own Countrie let him foresee of how many men and continuall supplies that Armie must consist and what intollerable expences it requireth And let him thinke by the example of the Duke of Alua when the Prince of Orrenge had his great Armie against him and of Don Ion when the States had their mightie assemblie against him how this wise Enemie with whom wée are to deale may but by prolonging to fight with vs leaue vs occasions enough for our Armie within fewe moneths to mutine and breake or by kéeping him in his Townes leaue vs a spoyled field where though our prouision may be such of our ownes as we starue not yet is our weaknes in any strange Countrie such as with sicknes and miserie we shall be dissolued And let him not forget what a continuall burthen wee hereby lay vpon vs in that to repossesse those Countries which haue béen lately lost will be a warre of longer continuance than wee shall be able to endure In the verie action whereof what should hinder the King of Spaine to bring his forces home vnto vs For it is certaine he hath long since set downe in Councell that there is no way for him whollie to recouer those Lowe Countries but by bringing the warre vppon England it selfe which hath alwaies assisted them against him and that being determined and whereunto he hath béen vehementlie vrged by the last yéeres losse he susteined vppon our Coasts and the great dishonor this iourney hath laid vpon him no doubt if we shall giue him respite to doo it but he will mightelie aduance his purpose for he is richlie able thereunto and wonderfull desirous of reuenge To encounter wherewith I wish euen in true and honest zeale to my Countrie that wee were all perswaded that there is no such assured meanes for the safetie of our estate as to busie him with a well furnished Armie in Spaine which hath so many goodlie Bayes open as wée may land without impeachment as many men as shall be néedfull for such an inuasion And hauing an Armie of twentie thousand royallie furnished there wee shall not néede to take much care for their paiment for shall not Lisbone be thought able to make so fewe men rich when the Suburbs thereof were found so abounding in riches as had we made enemie of them they had largely inriched vs all Which with what small losse it may be wonne is not here to shewe but why it was not wonne by vs I haue herein shewed you Or is not the spoyle of Ciuill sufficient to pay more than shall be needfull to be sent against it whose defence as that of Lisbone is onlie force of men of whom how many may for the present be raised it is not to be estéemed because wée haue discouered what kinde of men they bee euen such as will neuer abide ours in field nor dare withstand any resolute attempt of ours against them for during the time wee were in many places of their Countrie they cannot say that