let us fight that night so in the morning the enemy was fled and got his trenches and so we lost all 56 Our forlorn hopes were ready all drawn forth And Doctor Burgesse gave brave encouragement To all our souldiers who was of that worth That all was ready and to battail bent But Marquesse Baden all our hopes then bard And all our pastime for that day was mard 57 For after that our Canon mounted was Fair for to play against the enemy Also our horse faln on like hearts of brasse To shew their valour and fidelity And we were ready both with hart hand To fight our parts as long as we could stand 58 But present tydings came we should not fight But every man his quarter fair should keep Because it grew even some what to ward night Which made the heart of many a souldier weep To see how basely that same day was lost Which did indeed the Palsgraves Countrey cost 59 For that same night our fo their trenches got Which was more safe then any Castle strong Not caring then what we could do a jot And in the same they did remain so long Till that they had even so increas'd their force That they were able to give us the worse 60 For winter comming and our force grew weak Our fare being hard and eke our payment bad Our Captains then with us did all betake To severall towns and of the same were glad And there we did in Garrison remain Till we were forc'd to yield them up again 61 But not with ease this dare I tell you plain Nor with the losse of small or little bloud But with hard war they did the Country gain With wofull spoil and but with little good Town after town when they were very poor For untill then we would not give them ore 62 For there we kept unto Commission came From Englands King unto our Generall And Chichester that Lord brought him the same With Frankindale we should deliver all Then we with honour marched quite away For in the country there we might not stay 62 After that most nay indeed all the Palatinate was lost both higher and lower yet my Lord kept Frankindale till my Lord of Chichester brought Commission from King Iames to deliver it up by way of composition 63 Then every man had leave for to depart Vnto his Country or where lik'd him best Being glad to march with poor and heavy heart To finde some place where hee might take his rest But many a man this can I truly say Did lose his life in comming thence away 64 But God above did then preserve me so That I got down along the noble Rhine And did me keep even from the mortall Fo That not one hurt I got in that same time But safely came to Utrich where indeed I did get means for to relieve my need 64 I got down the Rhine and came to Vtrich in the Netherlands where I served Sir Ferdinando Knightley untill I came for England to goe over with the foure Regiments 65 And here I stay'd under the States a while Being under pay of noble Knightley he Thinking the best and time so to beguile Till he thought good his Passe to give to me Then did I come to Englands shore again But here I staid not long for to be plain 66 For that four noble Peers were ready bent In forraigne parts their valour for to try And each of them a warlike Regiment Being men of courage and of spirits high Oxford and Essex and Southampton three The fourth of these was noble Willoughby 66 These foure Peers had each a Regiment that went over at the first time Breda was beleagred and wonne by the Enemy and where more was the pitie the Lord Henry Earle of Oxford with over-heating himself at Treheyes Sconce got such a vehement surfet that at the Hage in short time after he died as also did the Earle of Southampton and the yong and noble Lord Wriothesley his sonne to the great grief of all the whole Regiments At this Voyage I got a shot in my head and then I came for England 67 These Nobles had Captains of high degree To follow them being men of high renown And each of them a worthy company Of souldiers stout of brave courage known But yet indeed this Voyage was not the best Two of the Earles did die besides the rest 68 That in this great exploit did hope for gains And went with these same Lords their worths to try But had no more but death even for their pains As it did prove and with them then went I But yet I came a Fool as I did go With one shot mo that I got from the Fo. 69 Then presently a presse was new prepar'd For noble Mansfield dainty Voyage was that As ever was in any age yet heard For hunger and extreams I le tell you what Yet can I scarcely now the same rehearse For why I shame to put it in my verse 69 This Voyage of Mansfields was the poorest that ever souldiers made for if they had lost their lives in service and fair fight it had redownded to their honour but dying so basely as they did being starved was such a poor proceeding as hath not bin hard of 70 It was so poor and bad and base withall That he declar'd I cannot well tell how For noble Mansfield so I will him call Was in no fault this dare I swear and vow He did his best his souldiers to maintain And honour to himself and them to gain 71 For many went in this disastrous Voiage Brave noble harts and valour truly tri'd As noble Cromwell Dutton wise and sage That honor'd Ramsey and gallant Rich beside And Sir Ralph Hopton that same noble Knight Whose worth is more then I can write of right 72 For when some others left their souldiers poor Those that were his and left to hungervild He did not leave them nor did give them ore But like a faithfull Captain meek and milde Did them relieve and left them safe sound Though that it cost him many a hundred pound 73 Now doe I think I heare the vulgar cry That at this Voyage some fault for sure there was Else with vild hunger why did so many die Vpon shipboard and not to land did passe The souldiers fault that was so bad at home The States would not let them on their land come 73 Now by the censure of the common and vulgar sort Count Mansfield was much blamed but altogether unjustly and unworthily for he was a very noble Gentleman and of a high spirit stout and very couragious wise and gentle and expert in the wars he was ever loving to an honest souldier but hated a sharke he had too many in this Presse more was the pitie for it kild his noble heart when hee was cut off from landing them for indeed the fault was neither his nor any of the Commanders then appointed for that service for they
to spectators view Arch upon Arch by perfect art and sleight He that nere saw it scant will think it true That such a worke within the World were wrought By mortall man since man was made of nought 39 Here did I see brought in by Burgers two A man they said was call'd the wandring Iew But I with him had nought at all to do So that for me he may be false or true For what he was as then I did not care My mind was more my supper not to spare 39 Here I saw this old Pilgrime who Master Middleton told mee was noted to be the wandring Iew but for my part I did take no great regard of him more then I have writ 40 A black tall man of stature that he was With visage stern his colour pale and wan And Pilgrime he both up and down did passe Within the town where I did see him than Grones sighes sobs I hard him often give But what of him they said I scarce believe 41 This town environ'd with the noble Rhine Govern'd by States within themselves all free And guarded strong by souldiers brave and fine Stout men of body as a man shall see Courteous and kinde to strangers that they be This can I say for they were so to me 41 This town of Strasburgh is a free State of it selfe environed by the River Rhine a very strong thing and a braue Garrison of souldiers in it well maintained when I was there they wore red velvet Cassocks with the Flower Deluce in blue cloth and edged with silver very comely 42 So now to Savrine that I take my way And through a desart and a mighty Wood Vnto Panspoyce but there I could not stay For there I found not any thing was good But harbour cold and courtefie so much I do not care how seldome I have such 42 I came by many other places I cannot name also it is needlesse 43 Then did I come to the Duke of Lorains land And to the dainty City of Nancie Dainty it is and sweetly it doth stand For aire most sweet and good commodity For Corn and Cattle Wood and water fair It hath enough and can to others spare 43 If this Citie of Nancie be not of late ruinated it is as fine a little sweet thing as ever a man can see on earth for all outward blessings naturall for mans content a little before I came to it I was at a great Monastery where was many English Iesuites and other Priests called Saint Nicholai 44 So now by Tow and Fow Tholas and Bar I passe my way with cold and hunger both And tho indeed I come my Country war To help my need there 's few or none that doth Vnlesse poor man I got a bit of bread Which few would give for to relieve my need 45 So on I came unto the Champion Plain Where fourteen days I travailed with wo For nothing had I all within the same But what the Cloysters help me then unto Some meat and drink and harbour poore I had Tho it was poor yet of it I was glad 45 This Champion Countrey is a very scant Countrey for fire but very rich of Corn especially also there is prety good store of hard wine to keepe out the cold 46 For winter it was cold and I was poor My clothing thin and bare-foot then I was And all my limbes was numb'd grown so sore That ten miles on a day I could not passe Yet in the end I came to Paris Citie Where I did finde some comfort love and pitie 46 I will speak nothing of these parts of France being all in Picardy and Normandy which every one almost knows they are so neer hand 47 So then to Roane where Merchants kind I found And then to Deep a daintie Haven town Where I got shipping for our English ground And came to Dover poor and eke unknown But yet I had the Gest-house courtesie Iohn Bangor then was in the Majoraltie 47 Iohn Bangor was Major when I landed at Dover 48 From him a Passe to London that I had Being both poor lame and in misery Where when I came my heart indeed was glad For there I got good clothes even presently For that some monies fell unto my lot That former sorrows they were all forâ—ot 49 Then news was come of the Bohemian wars For which my minde was presently so bent That I would see how there would go the jars And did indeed for thither that I went With noble Gray and many worthy men Who did not come again not one of ten 49 I went into Bohemia with Sir Andrew Gray being Generall we were not there long before all was lost yet for the time there was some sharpe doings and much losse 50 For tho indeed the service it was short Because at first the hopes was very poor Yet Pilsen it can tel there was brave sport When all the ground with bloud was turned gore And Prague can say and other parts indeed That in these warres many a brave heart did bleed 51 Thus when I saw the hopes was poor and bare No staying then at all there was for me For nothing saw I fall unto my share But service hard with want and misery Away I came to the Palatinate And for my welcome there a shot I got 52 There was in service to defend the land Of Englishmen so brave a Regiment Whom noble Vere as Generall did command The like I never saw where ere I went For of a hundred scarce you could find ten But by their birth or worth were Gentlemen 53 Oxford and Essex noble Earles were there And many Gallants under their command Brave Rich and Wentworth and Burlassie were With Colours flying fair in field did stand That noble Burroughs brave Herbert too Fairfax and Wilmot all their best to do 53 Never went a more noble company of voluntary souldiers out of England then went to this Voyage of the Palatinate and had worse successe 54 Knowls and kind Thornix they were not behinde With many Gallants here to try their luck And many mo who was of noble minde Even as Bonithon and brave Captain Buck Who came to looke for honour in the field For to the fo that they would never yield 55 Once here we had hope of a noble day And was prepared with the Fo to fight When noble Oxford led our Vangard way Having the Fo before us in our sight Thinking none other but without all doubt To end that war by then to fight it out 55 This was the day that the Palatinate was lost for if wee had gone on we had such vantage every way especially in horse as also our souldiers very able and as forward to go upon service wee had good store of Canon and all mounted our horse had given fire to the enemy wee had all things just in readinesse for the Battail then Marquesse Baden being Generall of the Field betrayed the Countrey and would not
were very noble Gentlemen but the mayn cause of this much losse on shipboard was the very rogery inhumane carriage of the vulgar prest souldiers which made such spoyle in all places of England as they went especially in Kent that the tydings came both to the eares of the French King as also to the States who hearing what hurt and inhumane parts they play'd in their own Country being a Kingdome of a commendable and civill government thought they would make havock in theirs where warrs is kept a foot therfore to prevent a greater mischief they would not a mit them to come to shore and this their own base carriage brought their owne ruines and this was the maine cause of so much losse on shipboard 74 O Getheringbarch what wofull work was there When over-board so many men were thrown That every morn the water did appear With dead mens corps for to be overflown O souldiers then beware take heed by this In your own Country never do amisse 74 Nothing can be more hatefull to GOD then for a souldier who is commanded to fight for the truth of the Gospell and for his King and Country to be a traitor and enemy to it and by any colour or pretence to wrong the inhabitants of his owne Nation as God knows too many of these souldiers did was then prest therefore God shewed his judgemenâ— upon them 75 But strive to do your King and Country good And not the Kingdome harm before you go For if you do you sure will lose your bloud If not thus basely yet before your fo You shall have shame and with disgrace shall die For God is just and justly will you try 76 Then souldiers all bear you an honest minde And being prest take hearts of valour then And to your Country ere be true and kinde And with your fo be sure to fight like men So shall you gain credit and comfort brave And to your Countrey much more welcome have 76 Nothing in a souldier is more honorable then to be well conditioned and true to his Country 77 Then after this another Voyage I went To Cadiz fair where Sack did make such spoile That souldiers had their wits therwith so spent That then with shame the fo gave us the foile Besides commission it was counted bad And said the worst that ere Generall had 77 This Voyage is too wel known therfore I will say no more of it but that I went from Hull with Sir William Courtney I had as good have had staid at home 78 But what it was I cannot truly tell But by report and fame may tell a lie For with edge-tools I do not love to mell For they will cut therfore I le let them lie But how it was I cannot truly say Many were glad they came so well away 79 But presently we had another Presse Where I was sent into the North Country And did receive three hundred men no lesse All able men as any man might see Where that indeed I then Conductor was And brought them safe to Hull where they did passe 79 This Voyage I went also from Hull with Captain Francis Conisby to the Long Line to General Morgan then for Stoad Leager but presently I came back 80 Over the Seas with all the Northerne men To Denmark's Voyage and to the Leager poor Which was at Stoad but I with them as then There did not stay but presently came ore Even from Long Line where noble Conisby Did send me back with Sir Iohn Burlassie 81 Now here I must the Muses summon all With trumpets sound chiefly Melpomene To aid me here and shew the heavy fall Even of such Worthies as I dare well say Will vex great Mars within his Court to finde So many Worthies of so noble minde 81 This I le of Ree Voyage was not so poore as pitifull by reason of so great a losse of noble Souldiers great Commanders the passages of it is too well known therfore I will say no more of it 82 As here was lost wo to that fatall chance And wo unto that more then dismall day That England had that overthrow by France Which makes the French for to presume say From Englands yoke that they have eas'd their neck And brought brave England for to bow and beck 83 Aswell as they had formerly been kept Vnder command of Englands Royall Kings Now that obedience they away have swept And of Heroick victory now sings Having their green died with our Crimson gore Of noble bloud whose losse we may deplore 84 But out alas what doth the Frenchmen say And as the Spaniard nay the Boâ—ish Dutch Lay Sack enough but in the English way They need no fo their valour is so much The 'le kill each other in their drunken fits For Bacchus is their god and spoyles their wits 84 It is an ordinary brag of the Spaniard to give out that throw but a Butt of Sack in the way of the English and with their own help killing one another being drunk will do more hurt in an English Army then a thousand Spaniards can do in Arms. 85 For Mars is banish'd quite and valour to Vnlesse it be in some brave minded men Which are so few alasse what can they do When in a hundred scarce you shall finde ten That ere is prest but they are bred so base That they have neither valor truth nor grace 85 And the Dutch braggeth that they have changed trades with the English for we have learned them to fight and they us to drink or else we have taken the trade up at our own hands never being any apprentices to the same yet free without any order of Lâ—w So now we English are the drinkers and the drunken Dutchmen brave souldiers more is the pitie 86 For any slave if he be nere so bad Is holden good enough to serve the King Nay any thief whence ere he can be had Which doth good souldiers oft to ruine bring For when they should doe service as they ought Prest to be gone they are then to be sought 87 Which makes brave hearts come oft by weeping crosse And lofe their lives by such disasters base Which might have honor but comes home with losse Both of their lives and with most vild disgrace And then these slaves to England will come ore Saw nere the fo yet beg for souldiers poor 88 And tell you tales how Cannons they do rore And how great Mars his trumpet brave doth found And how they are lam'd and made exceeding poor By that hard warre in which they nere were found But run away before it did begin To beg or steal their former course of sin 89 But why do I use this prolixity To speak of that which I can never mend Yet pray I will and that most heartily That God King would better souldiers send Against the foes of his blest royall bloud For untill then that we shall nere do good 90 Yet still me thinks the
trumpets sound amayn Wo and alas when shall I ever see Such noble hearts tread English earth again As now was lost in this same I le of Ree Rue we may call and rue we may that day The Duke did finde ore Neptunes floud the way 90 Gentle Reader give me leave this by the way to let thee understand that at our first going on we had good sport and very noble service and bravely performed and with great credit to the Lord Generall the Duke And tho at our comming off we had the worse yet the French for all their braging need not so much boast of their gaines or noble victory for first and last they lost a world of fine fellows But indeed it was Gods providence and foreseeing determination That we should know wee were all at his disposing and not as some scandalous and filthy reprochfull tongues did use to give out to the derogation of the noble Dukes honour being the Generall all which for as far forth as I for my part could ever discern was altogether unjust for never could any Generall carry himselfe more lovingly to all his souldiers then hee did not onely to the Commanders and Officers but even to the poorest Centinels and none that was a souldier of worth and quality will I think or can justly say but he was truly noble of a very amiable and loving disposition to all that had any sute unto him Some foule tongues â—ave out that at the retreat and comming off that my Lord Duke was then on shipboard but I am sure when it was darke night hee was in the field and brought to the Bridge a good quantity both of shot and powder For as hee was of an amiable condition so was he of a stout and couragious spirit ever forward to further an honest good souldier in his suite but a coward or a man of a preposterous or foule carriage hee could never abide but never man yet lived or died without enemies especially one so eminent no more did he much more was the pitie 91 Brave Rich Burrows you there lost your breath And so did Bret and Bingley both beside And Radcliffe sweet my Captain turn'd to earth Brave Coningam whose fame yet never di'd Heidon Blundell both two noble Knights With York and Thornix took their last good nights 92 With many mo brave Captains of great fame Which lost their lives bodies turn'd to dust Whom I for we cannot but weep to name Why say I so for to them that I must For sure I am all flesh was born to die As was these Gallants most unhappily 93 For formerly no age hath ever known That Englishmen receiv'd such vile disgrace Nor Chronicle past memory hath shown That bragging France did England so debase As it did then within this paultry I le So many Worthies of their lives beguile 94 Mars did envy against great Neptunes floud Great Neptune he was vext at Mars again To see that I le drownd with our English bloud Which water had enough about the same But now their pits are fild with purple gore As they were fild with saltish brine before 95 But for to leave this more then haplesse place And those sweet souls in blisse that dide therin For tho their bodies be interr'd so base Yet do their souls a Halleluia sing Vnto Iehovah the blest God above Who oft doth visit whom he best doth love 96 But I poor man 'mongst all these worthy dead Did scape alive and came to English shore Being in my travell forc'd to beg my bread With wofull wounds which was both greene and sore Vntill to London that at length I came Where I poor man a long time did lie lame 97 But when I was recovered of the same Vnto the Belgick States that I went ore And there indeed I did take armes again To see what Fortune would befall me more Thinking far better there to live in pay Then for to burthen England any way 98 But yet alas I had not there been long Till Mastrick Leager fell out very sore And cruell fate again did me that wrong That yet a shot unto my share fell more Beside I lost my noble Colonell good Stout and devout as on the earth ere stood 98 Here at Mastrick I got another shot for my reward and that was all the preferment that fell to my share 99 So I poor soul being then disabled quite Was forc'd to take the Gesthouse courtesie Where comfortlesse and without all delight I did remayn in pain and misery Vntill poorly recovered that I was Then left I armes and did to England passe 100 For after that my limbes I got again I to my Country then did make repayre Where for my service travell losse and pain I did request some pension for my share For I had served thirty yeers and more In constant service never gave it ore 101 For which poor I must needâ— constrained be To end my days like to an Anchorist And with what means the Gentry will give me Content my self untill I take my rest In earth's wide wombe where I must rot to dust God grant my soul it may live with the just Now armes farewell brave souldiers all adiew I was a souldier but I am none now Yet is my heart to souldiers ever true For I to Mars have made a constant vow That I will be a servant to him still In what I can his service to fulfill For though I cann't do King nor Country good Yet I a souldier from henceforth will be To Iesus Christ who shed his precious bloud To save that soul immortall is in me Thus will I rest in faith and hope will I Resolved be and never fear to die Thus you have heard the whole Catastrophe Of the disasters I have wandred through Of th' intricate Meanders weary way Though it be little yet it is enough And he that covets for to have it more Let him begin for now will I give ore FINIS