who was then sir Williams Lieutenant or wyth Captaine Salsburie who are nowe both in England they will satisfie you farther in this matter none can better speake it than they especially the last named because hee opposed himselfe and had sure sunke vnder the burthen if that his wit and courage had not carryed him thorough Once sir William Stanly began to looke it and to auoide both that and other inconueniences tooke some yeres since his iourney into Spaine Sir W. Stanley tooke his iourney into Spain partlye to secure vnto himselfe some estate of liuing of which hee nowe considering this dealing beganne to doubt partly by the inuitation of the Iesuites wyth which order hee is exceedinglie inchanted Sir William Stanley wholie drected by the Iesuites and to them wholye subiected who dealte for him in such sorte wyth the Cardinall that hee presently sent Parsons awaye into Spaine to infourme the King of his worthynesse and vertue and wythall He tooke with him into Spain Hugh Owen George Parsons brother to Parsons the Iesuit He sent E Crisp before to Rome to solicite his matters with the Cardinal who returning thēce met him afterwards in Spain of his experience of the sea coastes of Englande but especially of his intelligence about Ireland which in truth he presumeth to be verie great Parsons plaid his parte in such forte that sir William Stanley was presently sent for who vppon his arriuall dyd what hee couide to perswade the King to sende forces for Ireland but belyke there was not such greate credite giuen him as he expected there should be insomuch that hee wrote Letters to Holte the Iesuite beeing in Brussels which is his countriman and one vppon whom he chiefly relieth of great discontentment signifying that his intertainment was far colder than hee expected Sir W Stanley sent to Coronia Within short space after he was sent downe to the kings nauie lying at Coronia where a while hee remained with the Adelantado In the meane time his regiment began to drop and droup away in such sort that what for lack of sustenāce through ill vsage the number of them was so melted that they were not in all aboue an hundred and fiftie for the chifest captaines leaders and gentlemen they did both so much mislike the base handling of matters also the practises there dayly set abroch against their countrie Sir W Stanley forsaken by his Captaines that they made by means intercession to her maiestie for their pardon which of her mercifull and roiall benignitie she granted so that such of them as remain aliue do inioy their Countrie and can testifie this which I haue sayd to be true But now to returne to Yorke whō I lefte in Dauentre assured both by Verdugos promises and his owne hopes of the towns gouernment when he sawe Graue Harman make his enterie as new created gouernour by the Dukes appointment you must imagine that it grieued him to the verie gall but forced he was to dissemble it with his best patience Neuertheles hauing in the towne a gallant companie of lances in despite of them he florished bare his head aloft ranging and scouring ouer the whole countrie bringing in dayly great booties growing rich This prosperitie of his was a great blemish in their eie for they knew him to be discontented and of a dangerous humour so that they did not greatly trust him him therefore fairely one daie at dinner they caused to bee poisoned where likewise poisoned with him yong Richard Souch and Robert Fenne priest Yorke poisoned by the Spaniard Richard Souch and Robert Fen priest but he belike hauing swallowed the chiefe substance they onely met with the drams so that he died miserably and they fel sicke brake out into many pustules biles yet afterwards recouered and did giue this testimonie his breath was no sooner out of his body but Trias a Spanish Captaine and Graue Harman the newe gouernor rusht into his lodging to breake vp his coffers in which being withstoode by Yorkes Lieutenant Iohn Bowcer and by Edward Bowcer his brother I Bowcer and his borther Edward Bowcer murthered by the Spaniard they caused their gardes at noone daies to enter in vppon them and most inhumanely and barbarously to murther them both in their own presence which worthie exploit beeing perfourmed they brake vp his coffers tooke out his iewells plate and monie of which they found great store appropriating the same to their own vse as likewise they did his horses armes furniture though he by testament had bequeathed them to a litle youth his brothers sonne called Edmond Yorke being then in those partes with him Lastly they chased his whole companie out of the towne Yorkes companie barbarously intreated by the Spaniard and spoyled their baggage at the gates who poore men seeing their Captain poisoned their Lieutenant murthered and themselues so vnchristanly dealt withall repaired to Verdugo imploring his helpe and assistaunce in so hard an extremitie who for recompence verie charitably cashierd them al without the receit of one peny Afterwards when the fame of this poisoning grew rife abroad they gaue out published that some one had done it suborned thereunto by the Councell of England but if there had bin no other proofe as there were infinit yet the sequell of their doings their murthering of his friends and the robbing of his treasure shewed by whom it was done wherat they aimed Thus much as touching the vsage which they receued from the king and his ministers nowe keeping the course I began let vs see with what prosperitie it pleased God to blesse this action of sir William Stanleys those whom he vsed as instruments therein After his comming into the kings seruice he diuided his regiment which was the greatest part Irish into sixe companies The leading of his owne company he gaue to Peter Winne The names of sir W. Stanleys Captaines in which roome afterwardes master Winne discharging himselfe hee placed one Hart an olde souldier and follower of his The other fiue companies he gaue to Gwin Salsburie Eaton Reinolds and Harrison the sargeant maiorship hee gaue to one Simon Scurlocke an Irish Gentleman but aboue all the rest he himself conuersed most in kindnes of loue and affection with one R. Ashton who had bin his bedfellow and the greatest furtherer of him in this enterprise The foure first named after humble suite made vnto her Maiesties honourable councell for their pardon returned into England and imployed themselues with great commendation in her Maiesties seruice Gwin went first with my Lord of Essex lastly with sir Roger Williams ouer into France as sargeant maior of his regiment Captaine Gwin slaine before Roane where beeing wounded in a skirmish before the wals of Roane hee languished thereof grieuously some three or foure weekes and finally ended his daies at Diep Peter Winne likewise went ouer with my L. of Essex into
away into Spaine to informe the King of his worthinesse vertue and experience of the sea coastes of England but especially of his intelligence about Irelande which in truth hee presumeth to bee verie greate Parsons plaide his part in such sort that sir William was presently sent for who vpon his ariuall did what he could to perswade the king to send forces for Ireland but belyke there was not such credite giuen him as hee expected insomuch that he wrote Letters to H. Holt the Iesuit in Brusels which is one of those on whom he chiefly relyeth of great discontentmēt signifieng that his entertainment was far colder than he expected VVithin short space after he was sent downe to the kings nauie lying at Coconia where as yet he remaineth In the meane time his regiment began to drop and droupe awaie in such sort that what for lacke of sustenance what for ill vsage the number of them was melted to an hundred and fiftie which base and villanous vsage the grauest and wisest of his Captains seeing especially abhorring the trecherous practises of their Coronell made by secrete meanes humble intercession to her most gracious MAISTIE to pardon theyr offences committed and to grant them libertie to liue in their Country which of her most princely and royall benignitie shee graunted so as now they liue here in honest and good sort can testifie all this which I haue sayd to be true Hauing gotten sir William out of Deuenter yet Yorke still remained a blemish in their eie who alwais notwithstanding their base vsage stil flourished bare his head aloft ranging ouer the whole countrie with his Companie bringing in daylye many great and rich booties Him therefore fairly on a daie at dinner they caused to bee poysoned where likewise were poisned with him yong Richard Souch Robert Fen priest but he belike hauing swalowed the best Boncon they only met with the drams so that he died miserablie and they fell sick and brake out into many pustles biles yet afterwardes recouered and did giue this testimony His breath was no sooner out of his bodie but Fiorias a Spaniard and Vandenberg the newe gouernour of Deuenter rushte into his lodging to breake vp his coffers in which being withstoode by Yorkes lieutenant Edward Boncer and his brother they caused their gards at noone dayes to enter in vpon them and to murther them both in their owne presence which done they brake vp his coffers took out his iewels plate and mony of which they found great store appropriating the same to their townes vse which he by Testament had giuen to a little youth his nephew being now at this present in England Lastly they chased his whole companie out of the towne and spoiled their baggage at the gates The poore souldiers beeing thus inhumanely depriued of their Captaine and Lieutenant and seeing them selues so vilely dealt with repaired to Verslugo for releefe who for recompence presentlye cashierd them all without receit of one pennie Afterwardes they gaue out and published that Yorke was poisoned by subornation of the counsel of England but if there had bene no other proofes as there were infinite yet the sequele of their doings their murthering of his friends and their robbing of his treasure shewed by whom it was done and whereat they aymed If these examples bee not inough to serue the turne but that perchance you will say he hath delt better with priuate men If you can name me but any one that he hath raised or aduanced to honor or that liueth richly or welthily in his seruice I wil name you an hundred that beeing Gentlemen of good houses and of worthie merite haue consumed languished and beene brought to nothing in his seruice some of them perished died for lacke of sustenance You perchance will name Hugh Owen and in good faith hee is the onely man that euer I knew aduanced credited or graced in his seruice And yet God wot all that hee getteth is no more than to maintaine him in a meane estate and shew with a man only or two to serue him VVhere on the other side I will recken you vp of those that are onely for want of thinges necessarie and of pure pouertie consumed and dead M. Copley L. Dacers Michael Tempest old Norton Tremaine Stradling Henrie Carew Edward Allen Southwell with sundry others of good race and credite in their Countrie Copley being sicke at Beuere and in vnspeakable distresse and calamitie desired a Gentleman his kinsman one Lo. Lewkner to beseech Pedro de Olane who then was treasurer to pay him vpon an assignation which hee had onely fiue pounds protesting that at that present his life might therewith be saued The Gentleman performed his request with all instance and fidelitie as he hath oftentimes told me but coulde not obtaine one pennie VVherevpon hee mooued the Duke but nothing woulde come so that without finding any man that tooke compassion of his distresse his owne Countrie-men being vnable to helpe him hee ended his life though with patience vertuously and well yet the state of so honorable a gentleman considered most pittifully and in great misery To recite vnto you the names of those that doe yet liue so poorely and vncomfortably in his pension would bee too long and therefore take them all in generall Charles Paget onely excepted and examine them one from an other from my Lord of Westmerland downeward euen to the very lowest and if there bee in the whole worlde a more miserable and discontented troupe of Gentlemen than they are let me neuer be credited in any thing else that I shall tel you And because you shal your selfe the beteer iudge I will tell you what payment they haue of such pensions as the king hath giuen them They had graunted them at Bruges the first day of August in the yeere one thousand fiue hundred eighty and eight a generall Liberanca to receyue three moneths pay a peece of their pensions Since that time they haue followed the Duke from Towne to Towne making vnto him sundrie requestes for the payment thereof but if they haue vntill this present day obtayned the same then let mee not be credited in any part of the rest which I shall heere entreate of In deede some small time past Cosimo beeing wearyed with their importunities and lamētations addressed thē to Baptista Spinola a baker dwelling at Antwerp giuing them his Letter and sending the same by one H. Haslwood requesting him to relieue those distressed English Gentlemen and to buy their Liberanca which he doubted not but they would sell good cheap greatly to his profit the whole summe was ten thousand crowns which Cosimo promised him should be allowed and paid in the reckoning he had with the king Haslewood in the name of the rest offered him the sayd summe for sixe hundred But Spinola vtterly refused the same saying he wold not take it for two hundred and withall hee desired that hee might not meddle anie
the other The Spaniards did much disdaine their aggrauation of their abilitie and meanes to facilite the kings enterprise for England insomuch that one Don Ambrosio a man of principal qualitie asked them in cholar whether they thought the king of Spain not puisant inough to win England with out them their friends This euill intreatie wrought so great an apprehension in my L. Paget who both in regard of his fathers especiall credit in times past with the king The L Paget died at Brussels as also of his owne qualitie and carriage had presumed vpoÌ„ much better vsage that he retired him selfe to Brussels where what with the conceit of this griefe what with other accidents he shortly ended his life Sir W. Stanley tooke it also in such disdainfull sort that he was not called to the counsell of the wars whereas he presumed gaue out that no man in the armie knew more or was better able in this voiage thaÌ„ himself that he sequestred himselfe from the court coÌ„ming discontented to Antwarp there hired a house where foure or fiue moneths hee liued full of melancholy passion making euident shew that his mind was vtterly vnable to beare the burthen of so great an indignitie But whosoeuer liueth there must bee contented to indure this and a great deale more for the Spaniards will not be by anie meanes perswaded that those of our nation liuing there with them are gentlemen of good houses qualities liuing in England but rather take them to be such as the Banditi of Italy men fled out of their Countrie for theft debt robbery or manslaughter The speeches of a Spanish Captaine to sir W Stanley as a Captain of them spared not plainly to tel sir W. Stanley in the passage boat between Antwarpe and Brussels saying that he could not but exceedingly wonder what should moue a man being rich well descended and of good liuing in his Country to change the same for the seruice of an opposite forren Prince swearing a great oath that al the religion in the world should not make him to do the like The monstrous hateful speeches of the Spaniards condemning such of our nation as serued among them Likewise a great companie of them standing round together in a ring as their manner is vpon the mere Brigge in Antwarpe and seeing certaine English gentlemen passe by one of them and hee a Captaine by name Lucas well knowen by his redde beard balde head and maymed armes sayde that hee wondered what the King made with anie such vermine in his Countrie Another of them sware a greate oath that looke howe manie English men there were in the kings seruice there were so many spies traitors the third said it were an almes deed to put them al in sacks and to throw them into the riuer but the fourth verie gently replied that it would be a better course to send them downe to the kings gallies where in regarde of their big ioynts and broad shoulders they could not but proue good tuggers at an oare But these beeing but the speeches of priuate men might the better bee borne Speeches of the treasurer generall to Thomas ThrockmortoÌ„ were they not confirmed by men of greater sort which whether it be so or no aske T. Throckmorton who talking with Iuan de Lasture the kings treasurer general one day vpon the wals of Brussels wondred why the king hauing such preteÌ„ces for England made no more reckoning of such Englishmen as followed him who in regard of their parentage and inteligence might bee able to doo him great seruices if they were hartned with somwhat better vsage whereas now by reason of their póuertie and drouping they were not fit for anie thing To which the treasurer replied that he was not ignorant of the estate qualitie and condition of all such Englishmen as followed the king but for his part swearing a Spanish oath or two he knew not anie one of theÌ„ in regard of abilitie to do the king seruice worth the straw that lay vnder his foot The like answere in a manner was giuen by Francesco Blancocauallo his vize treasurer in Antwarpe to captaine Pernay other Gentlemen who being denied by him the paiment of certaine monie they demaunded and speaking of the seruices they had done vnto the king he answered that he knew not what seruices they had done or were able to doo vnlesse it were to spend the kings monie in tauernes and brothell houses The like they receiued from Sammariba the Veedors chiefe officer but that the same was accompanied with worse effects For Captaine Barney laying hand on his rapier making proffer to reuenge the hardnes of such speeches as were offered him was presently inuironed among them and run thorough the doublet in a place or two not without exceeding danger of his life But by the waie I thinke it not amisse to tell you a merrie accident that fell out betweene the treasurer one Captain Smith an Englishman A pretie iest betweene captain Smith and the tresurer general spoken of before in this Treatise who being one daie well tipled came in all hast to demand his monie of I. de Lasture He seeing him come in that vnreuerent sorte grew so farre gone with cholar as the other was with wine reuiled him by many foule names as Perro Luterano Borachio c. Smith had not a word of Spanish nor anie other language but a little Dutch wherein he requited the treasurer in as snarling tearmes as he could calling him Honscont Schellam Turke Wherewith the treasurer came in a great rage and would haue thrust him downe the staires but Smith drew out his dagger and had without doubt mischieued him if Coronell Boid other Scottish Gentlemen that were there present as sutors for monie had not come between them The matter came before the Duke who as alwayes haring I. de Lasture exceedingly made but a iest of it Smith being sober submitted himselfe imputing his fault to the wine and so the matter was ended I could recite vnto you a thousand the like thinges as these but they are not worthie the remembring Returning therefore to my purpose They are so iealous and suspitious of vs that if anie thing proue vntowardly in their seruice they think it straight to be don by our especiall meanes and intelligence as vpon the taking of Axhill by that honorable and worthie souldier sir P. Sidney The exceeding ielousie of the Spaniards ouer the English that erue amongst hâ—em Mondragon presently imprisoned Pigot within the castle of Gaunt tooke away all thinges whatsoeuer he had worth anie thing and the rest hee caused his men to rifle and steale saying openly that we were all traitors spies And if you desire further confirmation of the good opinion confidence they haue of vs tell mee what Companies of English they haue trusted within these ten yeeres in garrison I am sure you cannot name
the priuileges of these Nations which both he and his predecessors at euery entry of gouernement into these prouinces haue solemnely vowed and sworne to maintaine all in generall and euery one in particular inuiolate and vppon that couenant and condition they haue reciprocally sworne vnto him due fidelitie and obeysance hee failing in the one they to be exempted from the other Moreouer her Maiestie seeing the lamentable and most pittifull cause of her distressed neighbours and allies finding no other possible meanes by labour suites messages and sundry Ambassadours which shee most honourably sent vnto the King of Spaine for pacifying the saide troubles and reconciling the saide King and those sometimes his saide subiectes hath been inforced to take pittie and commiseration of their most miserable afflicted estate and distresse and for their releefe to her excessiue and almost importable charges to vndertake a most iust godly and charitable defensiue warre against those that daily seeke the bloud liues goods lands and liberties of the inhabitants of the said distressed Nations since which being published I thinke it not onely vnlawfull but a most heinous and capitall crime and offence for any of her Maiesties subiectes to serue on the contrary part It shall be good for you and all other good subiects of her Maiesties to remember that consideration being had by her Maiesty and her most honourable prudent councell of the loosenesse of many of her subiects and small respect they had to her Highnesse and countrey and as little to their owne safetie her Maiestie hath caused to be published and set foorth diuers lawes ordinances proclamations and inhibitions whereby all her subiects except knowen marchants and strangers are straightly forbidden to passe the seas into any forraine partes without especiall licence of her Maiestie Therefore if you or any other of her Maiesties subiects shall nowe attempt to passe the seas without lawfull licence there is no reason why you should expect any other than the rigour of the lawes and iustice and to be holden guiltie of cases capitall especially such as shall serue vnder so open and professed an enemy to the crown and state Further I pray you to haue in consideration that when I came ouer hither the case so stoode as al Gentlemen of any qualitie or merit were gratefully receiued and employed in good and honourable seruices whereas since the Spaniard hath professed himselfe an open enemy to her Maiestie and the state of her realme hee hath had all English men in very base account being iealous and extreamely suspitious of those that be most inward with him and who for his sake haue make shipwracke not onely of their honour and credit but also of their loyalty duty and allegeance to her Maiestie and their natiue countrey examples whereof are infinit and partly touched in my discourse before set downe Besides there is of late crept into that Nation with a commaunding authoritie a prowd insolent and factious company of Iesuites and with them a consorted crew of other practising busie people all of them malicious enemies to her Maiestie and to their owne countrey vile and pernicious instruments of the Spansh King and his adherents who daily as it is manifest to them that haue knowledge and experience of them and their actions seeke nothing more than the vtter ruine pulling downe and destruction of her Maiestie and their countrey He therefore that doeth thinke to liue among these subtile and dangerous people in any credite or account let him as hee woorthily doth deserue be accounted beside his wittes or else as disobedient and traiterous to almightie God her Maiestie and his countrey As for my part howsoeuer in my yoong yeeres affected to learne languages and to see the warres and fashions of forraine places yet when I perceiued that the matter beganne to concerne her Maiestie and withall to looke into the drift and conueyance whereto their practises tended presently abandoning and vtterly reiecting the merit of my long seruice and such hopes and preferrements the which I might as well as any man else of my qualitie of my Nation haue pretended and perchance shoulde as soone haue obtained I made humble intercession to her Maiestie my most honoured princesse and soueraigne Lady for my returne which of her royall and accustomed benignitie she gratiously graunted so that besides the vnfained prayer which I will neuer cease to send to the heauens from the depth of a most faithfull affection for the continuance of her blessed estate and happinesse I take God to recorde that there is not in this world any thing that I more thirst after than an occasion to make the world witnesse of the desire I haue to do her seruice and so concluding I beseech God that as her vertues are infinit so her ioyes may be endlesse Amen FINIS A DISCOVRSE OF THE VSAGE OF the English Fugitiues by the Spaniard SIC CREDE LODON Printed by Thomas Scarlet for Iohn Drawater and are to be solde at his shop in Pater noster row at the signe of the Swan 1595. THE COPIE OF A Letter sent out of the Low countries by a Gentleman entertained by the King of Spaine in pension To a yong Gentleman his Kinsman in ENGLAND MY very good Cosin vnderstanding as well by your Letters as by the message lately done vnto me by the mouth of A. T. of the great longing and desire you haue to draw your self into these parts to imploy your selfe here in seruice of the Spanish king perceiuing also as well by your sayd Letters as by the Gentleman that brought the same and by the reporte of diuerse other young Gentlemen of our Countrie there bee manye that are of your minde in that point Some thereunto as I doo gesse moued of a youthfull and vaine tickling humour to bee wandering abroade in straunge and forreine Countries Others in hope there to growe to greate preferment aduauncement imployment and wealth Other some pretending matter of conscience seeme to haue sure confidence that there they maye liue with more libertie and ease of minde then that within our Countrie they inioye I haue thought good for the particular loue which I beare and alwayes haue borne towardes you vnto whome I wish as to my selfe but chiefely in respecte of the sincere faythfull reuerent and loyall fidelitye and regarde I haue to the person of our sacred renowmed and most gracious Soueraigne the QVEENES most excellent Maiestie and to my natiue Countrie and Countrye-men to sette downe some notes and obseruations vvhich by long and painefull troubles and experience in this place I haue gathered by which I hope I shall make manifest not onelye to you but also to all others my most deare Countrye men if I maye haue the fauour to haue it published in which point I meane to labor by my best friends to such of the greatest persons as may permit the same how greatly you and they that desire to repaire hether by any of the
THE ESTATE OF ENGLISH FVGITIVES VNDER the king of Spaine and his ministers Containing besides a Discourse of the sayd Kings manner of gouernment and the iniustice of many late dishonorable practises by him contriued 〈◊〉 CREDE LONDON Printed for Iohn Drawater and are to be solde at his shop in Canon lane neere Powles 1595. To the Reader BEing some fiue or sixe yeres since in those partes of Flanders which are subiect to the Spanish king and seeing a miserable troupe of my vnhappie countrimen some of which were gentlemen of good houses in England wandring in poore habites afflicted gestures heauily groning vnder the burthen of an extreeme and calamitous necessitie on the one side by their heedlesse demeanure there debarred from returne into their countrie and on the other daily ouerlooked with the proud eyes of disdainfull Spaniards and for want of due regarde in that comfortlesse seruice perishing without either pity or reliefe Seeing as I say these things and entring into a consideration of them with an vnpartiall iudgement knowing some of my good friendes and acquaintance in England possessed with the like humor as that which mooued the foresaid gentlemen to forsake their countrie and to settle themselues in the seruice and dominions of the king of Spaine I thought good to aduertise them of that which my poore experience had gathered touching the small regard distresse pouertie scorne calamitie affliction befallen to such as had alreadie entred the course that to their vnexperienced iudgement yealded such shew of contentment therby if it were possible to dissuade them from attempting the like the same being in regard of the offence to their soueraigne so trecherous of the reproche to their familye and parentage so infamous and lastly in so deepe a degree to themselues dangerous that being once thereinto entered it should not bee in their power vpon their afterchange of humor and appetite thence to withdraw themselues the error being such as admitteth not any repentaunce or excuse Hauing to that effect written from thence priuatly to some of my acquaintaunce the coppies of my letters contrarie to my intention were since my returne by some of them giuen abrode and lastly not long since a discourse printed in Paules Church-yarde conteining some parte of the substance thereof but manye thinges that I had written left out and manye thinges inserted that I neuer ment and finally in the whole so falsified and chaunged aswell in matter as words ignorantly entermixed with fictions of the publisher that howsoeuer the vulgar sorte bee therewith pleased those that are of farther reach and insight cannot but condemne it as a thing fabulous grossely handled and full of absurdities Besides the time and occasion to which that discourse was fitting is now altogether past and therefore the same altogether impertinent In regard of which and other inconueniences I thought it not vnfitte to publish the true coppy of my owne letter which though after so many yeares cannot but seeme stale yet the occasions that moued me thereunto considered I trust I shall not otherwise be censured of then the sinceritie of my meaning deserueth which is to dedicate the fruicts of my poore experience to the benefit of my countrie and withall to satisfie the world as touching the former treatise for though they are suppressed yet there are greate numbers of them extant the which was by a fellow that had stolne a coppy thereof foysted to the print in hope of benefit and now when the matter comes to examination slipps his head out of the Coller and will not bee found Withall I shall perchaunce seeing I haue so good an occasion offered touch by the way some occurrents of later time And whereas my meaning was at the first onely to satisfie a few priuate friendes now seeing it is my chaunce to publish it I shall entreate the Reader whosoeuer he be howsoeuer in religion affected neuerthelesse laying aside all preiudicate opinion not to condemne any thing seeme the same neuer so strange heerein mencioned vnlesse hee shall himselfe be able to disprooue it which I hope for trewnesse of matter it shal not lie in any mans power to do For my meaning is not to speak of sophisticall deuices proiected driftes or matters forged in the ayre but plainly and simply of thinges actually and really doone in publique view of the world and confirmed with the witnesse of thousandes THE COPPIE OF A Letter written by a Gentleman that had sometimes serued the King of Spaine To a Catholike Gentleman his Kinseman and Friend SIR vnderstanding as well by your Letters as also by the message lately done vnto mee by the mouth of R. B. of the greate longing and desire you haue to come into these partes and to imploy your selfe heere in seruice of the Spanish King And perceiuing also not onely by your sayde Letters but by the Gentleman that brought the same by the report of sundrie others that many young Gentlemen of our Countrie are of your minde in that point Some thereunto as I gesse moued of a youthfull and vaine tickling humor to be wandering abroad in strange and forrein Countries others in hope there to grow to great preferment aduāncement imployment wealth other some pretending matter of conscience seeme to haue sure confidence that there they may liue with more liberty ease of minde than that which within our Countrie they inioy I haue thought good for the particular loue which I beare and alwayes haue born towards you vnto whom I wish as to my self but chiefly in respect of that due humble regard and zealous reuerent affection which I beare to the seruice and sacred person of our most gracious and princely Soueraigne the Queenes most excellent Maiestie and to my most dearly loued natiue Countrie countrymen to set downe some notes and obseruations which by a long and dangerous experience in this place I haue heedfully gathered By which I hope I shall make manifest as well to you as likewise to all other my Countrymen howsoeuer in humor disposed by apparant examples and vndeniable truthes how greatlie you and they that desire to repaire hether by anie of the motions before expressed are in anie hope of good to bee receiued from the sayd King of Spaine or his ministers do erre and are deceiued I heartely and most earnestly desire you all other that shall reade this Treatise deeply to iudge and consider of these pointes which I shall heerein set downe which God willing I will doo with such fidelitie true meaning and sinceritie as that no parte of the same shall be truly to be gainsaid or refelled and my selfe by the persons times and places and other circumstances shall make most manifest and plaine to anie that shall doubt of the truth of the same or anie part thereof And I shal take great ioy and comfort if my self hauing vndertaken an vntowardly dangerous course though with better successe than hath happened to many hundreds
as at length he had brought him to bee in a manner equall with himselfe in dignitie insomuch that at last hee began to suspect his greatnes and would haue clipt his wings but could not for the other was passing ambitions full of courage and by name and many deserts knowen vnto the king so that in no sort he would let himself be touched in the lest iot of his greatnes reputation wherupon each of them bare a secret grudge and rancor to the other which came by this meanes to bee more inflamed For sir W. Stanley hauing in his mind fully determined the rendition of Deuenter entred into secret practise with Tassos for the perfourming thereof who with al gladnes secrecy intertained his offer til such time as the town was rendered into the hands of Tassos Quarel between Tassos and Verdugo vpon such agreements and conditions as between them were concluded Tassos exceedingly reioyced at the honour of his enterprise and receiued both from the King and the D. of Parma many thankes promises of reward for his diligence and discreet behauiour therein Then the which nothing could be more displeasing bitter to Verdugo who beeing gouernor of the prouince hauing the forces in his hand tooke it as an exceeding disgrace scorn done vnto him that an inferior persō such as he reckned Tassos to be shuld vnderhand accomplish so great an exploit go away with the honor therof he in the mean time remain stale neglected as a man vtterly accounted vnworthie so much as once to bee acquainted therewith so that from that time forward he nourished in his heart a deadly hatred against Tassos and sir William Stanley In the meane time Rowland Yorkes companie of horsemen was confirmed vnto him by the Duke of Parma and both hee and they sent downe to lie in garison at Deuenter where of the one side hee taking vpon him more commandement that sir William Stanley thought to be conuenient on the other side scorning to liue as a priuate Captaine in a towne of garison especially vnder the commaundement of one of his Nation to whom he iudged himselfe no way inferior in worthines they began to enter into a great mislike one of the other and by degrees into deadly quarrels challenges as some nowe in England can well testifie who were mediatours betweene them Neuerthelesse by meane of friends they grew againe to reconciliation though the same was but from the teeth outward and continued not long Yorke practised with Verdugo to dispossesse Sir W. Stanley of the gouernment of Deuenter For Yorke in the meane time hauing discouered Verdugos humor fell secretly to practise with him a meane whereby to thrust sir William his companies out of the towne hoping and therein being by Verdugo comforted and confidently assured that vpon the remoue of sir William the gouernment of the towne should remaine wholy in himself wherupon he ceased not to beate into Verdugos eares that were of nothing more desirous than of these newes the wauering inconstant humours of sir William Stanley the offers made vnto him by my L. of Leicester and his other friends in England especially of the small affection his souldiers had to the seruice of the Spanish king who desired nothing more than an occasion to recouer the fauour of their Countrie which by no meanes they should so soone procure as by redeliuering the towne Assuring him that there were to this end great practises in hand which could not but turne to a dangerous issue if they should not be in time preuented Presently thereupon Verdugo wrote vnto the D. of Parma aggreuating the matter with so many additiōs of his own that the D. counted the town as half lost alreadie though in truth I thinke there was neuer anie such matter pretended and presently sent downe a straight commission to Verdugo to draw three of the sixe companies ouer which sir William Stanley was gouernor out of the towne vnder colour of succouring Monsieur de Haultpen brother to the Earle of Barlamont who was in the fieldes with some few forces taking in certaine places of Gelderland Verdugo was nothing slow to execute this Commission but caused it to bee accomplished with all speed thrusting in theyr place certaine companies of his owne into the town and within a while after he so practised that sir William Stanley with his other three Companies were vnder the like colour of seruice cōmanded also to come forth Sir W. Stanley his companie drawen out of Deuentre being told that he should presently returne into it againe which as yet to this day he neuer did But by this fine deuise was eased of his gouernment and such goods as he and his soldiers left were spoiled made bootie of euen as though they had pertained to publike enemies since which time this regiment of seminarie soldiers with all their religion were neuer trusted in anie towne nor as I beleeue euer shall be Being now ioyned with the troups of Haultpenne they chanced to incounter the enemie harde by Balduke where the Italians Burgonians ouer which Captaine Haultpenne had charge playing exceedingly the cowardes they onely behaued themselues though with losse of many of their liues so manfully and with such courage that they grewe ouer the whole countrie into a maruellous reputation of good souldiers But leauing here Haultpenne their general wounded to death they marched downe into Brabant Haultpen slain in an incounter not farre from Balduke where for recompence of their late good seruice they were wintered in the field without monie and in such great misery nakednesse and pouertie that tenne weekes together theyr chiefest food and sustenaunce in Turnot was dried akornes that they found in sellers which diet the priests not liking of came to their Coronell to Antwarpe who to auoid the lamentations and complaints of his souldiers had gotten him thether before where one Oliuer Eustace an Irish Gentleman told him to his face that he was the author of these poore mens miserie therefore bound in conscience to procure them some releefe Sir William bit his lip knowing well that hee had told him truth their calamitie went to his very heart but how to remedie it he knew not and therefore absented himselfe in Antwarpe where you should neuer haue founde his table without foure or fiue priests some of the which were in their behauiour wordes farre more insolent and sausie than the meeknesse of their vocation required insomuch that the Captaines and Gentlemen tooke such griefe scandall at their controlling humour that they left sir William Stanley wholye abandoned and vnfrequented Some did much wonder howe a Gentleman of his worthinesse and courage could indure these indignities as to suffer himselfe to be directed and gouerned by them especially in such matters as concerned not their vocation I wit not touch for some respects herein anie particulars but if you speake with Captaine Hart
subiects bodies but also the interior fidelitie of their mindes I cannot heere omit to speake a worde or two as well of the worthinesse and loyaltie of those honorable gentlemen of her Maiesties Court The honourable offer of certaine worthy Gentlemen of the Court made vnto hir Maiestie who vpon the approch of the Spanish fleete presented not only their persons and liues for the defence of her Ma. but also a great portion and yeerely reuenue of their landes as also of her Maiesties great benignitie and gratious answere telling them That shee accounted her selfe rich enough And her most princely and gracious answere made vnto them againe in that shee possessed such subiects assuring them that for her part she would spend the last peny of her treasures for their defence rather than shee would be burthenous vnto them O happy people in such a Princesse and happie Princesse in such a people here is a well tuned musicke an agreeing concord and perfect harmonie of gouernement where the frankenesse of voluntarie affection draweth from men the effects of duty and not the basenesse of seruile and constrained feare Let atheists and traitors breathe out their bootelesse blasphemies and inueigh impugne and maligne against the florishing happinesse of our estate and let them turne themselues to all the malicious practises they can the ende of all their wicked endeuours will be like Erisicthon that dared presume to lay his profane axe vppon the holie tree of Ceres to starue languish and pine away with a selfe consuming disease of enuy and dispaire As for these that are vertuous and wise they can not but in the infinitenes of our blessings acknowledge the mightie and apparant hand of God which surely cannot be casuall or attributed to the politike industrie of man but meerely to the mightinesse of Gods mercifull working and to his long and eternall fore-appointed ordinance In fine to come to the conclusion of this point you see that her Maiestie is protected by God confederated and linked in friendship and alliance with mighty Kings and Princes that shee commaundeth a populous and manly Nation that her warres are vertuous iust and lawfull and finally her successes fortunate and prosperous This then being considered I see no reason why you or any man else should be so apprehensiue of that terrour wherewith the Spanish Brokers doe daily indeuour to dismay the courages of our countrimen If it be through doubt that our Nation is not equall vnto the Spaniard in force of armes and valour of courage I can not iudge of him that shall so conceiue as of a true English man borne but as of a degenerate bastardly and adulterine plant guiltie to his owne minde of an inward selfe feeling cowardise and finally worthy of that enthralled slauery vnder which many of our falsehearted countrymen doe groane and languish as one that through the disease infection and vnsoundnesse of his owne corrupted minde is not able for to take the true taste and rellish of his owne natiue Country vertues Sore eyes can not endure the Sunne beames nor false hatefull mindes neuer harbour true or noble mindes and affections The Poet saieth To him that loues each foule thing seemeth faire And so by contrary To him that hates ech faire thing seemeth foule If such would but reade the Chronicles as well of ours as other nations they should finde that a small army of English men vnder the conduct of that woorthy and magnanimous Prince of VVales The memorable famous battell of Nadres obtained by th Englishmen in Spaine vnder the cōduct of the blacke Prince eldest sonne to King Edvvard the third passed in despight of them through Nauarre into Spaine and there euen in the middest and bowels of their own country ouerthrew at Nadres their vsurping king Henry the bastard of whose race this man is descended by his grandmother beeing accompanied with the nobilitie of their countrie and three score thousand of the brauest fighting men in Spaine and so vtterly ouerthrew him that they erected in his place Don Pedro their iust and lawfull Prince of that kingdome compelling and by maine force constraining the nobilite and Cities to receiue him There they may likewise reade the valourous conquests archieued by Iohn Duke of Lancaster brother to the saide Prince in Galicia against Don Iohn Iohn Duke of Lancaster victorious in Galicia sonne of the saide Henry the vsurping bastard besides the Chronicles of Portugall are full of the martiall prowesse of the English men and glorious victories obtained in seruice of their King At the battel of Alaibereth to whose aide they were called against the saide king of Castile But what neede I run backe into the passed ages to seeke examples Looke but into the incounters that haue beene of late dayes betweene them and vs eyther by sea or by land and you shall finde that wee haue alwayes carryed the victorie and they blowes As by land at the incounter of Graue and that of Zutphen where the honour of the worlde and ornament of England sir Phillip Sidney by his aduenturous valour was slaine besides many other bickerings and skirmishes of lesse moment needelesse to recite Of sea matters I doe count it bootelesse for to speake so greatly and aboue measure glorious is the same and bruited throughout the worlde of the woorthy voyages of sir Frauncis Drake sir Iohn Hawkins sir Martine Frobysher Captaine Ryman the Fennors and the rest of the braue and couragious Gentlemen who for the benefite of their country haue not spared to make aduenture of their liues and fortunes But if you desire one example of all let that then serue of his huge late fleete with the which Golyas-like hee threatened heauen and earth and with the which hee thought to haue circumuented and surprized at vnawares her Maiestie whilest falsely wickedly and abusiuely hee entertained her Maiesties Commissioners in Flaunders with a treatie of peace to which her Highnesse like vnto a christian Princesse and for to anoyde the effusion of christian blood was very inclineable but God as hee hath alwayes doone so at this time did hee miraculously protect her Maiestie in such sort that through the great carefull and valorous resolution of the Lorde high Admirall of England and the rest of his noble and couragious followers they were with a small number of English shippes so fiercely and vigorously encountered that their resistance not preuailing them they were scattered chaced and vtterly discomfited in such sort as the whole worlde knoweth so that Lucans verse which in those dayes hee wrote to the glory of our Nation vpbraiding the Romanes cowardise may to none better be applied in my iudgement than vnto them Territa quaesitis ostendunt terga Printannis Besides what better triall can you haue of the valour of eyther Nation than this they being thirtie thousand the creame of all their forces and about the assembling of which hee had beene aboue three yeeres busied yet when
they came vpon the coast of England dared not to land a man whereas wee the next yeere following with a little nauie containing not aboue eleuen thousand men vnder the conduct of the twoo renowmed Captaines sir Iohn Norris and sir Frauncis Drake landed in Spaine burned his shippes put his people to the sworde and his Townes to the fire and coasted thence along into Portugall and there landing marched in his countrey euen to his gates of Lisbone with drummes sounding and with ensignes displayed from whence wee returned vnfought withall by any of his forces by sea or land These things well considered mee thinketh you haue greater reason to hope one day to see English ensignes displayed in Madrill together with the vtter ruine of this aspiring tyrant and al his followers and partisians than any way to seare him and his proceedings And yet there is one point besides all the aboue rehearsed out of which we may receiue singular comfort as that which of all other most deepely vexeth and afflicteth his cogitations and which not doubt before it be long will giue vs a great aduantage against him and that is the contention which he seeth to spring vp in his owne house of which I will briefly discourse vnto you the occasions bicause ye shal vnderstand the same the better His eldest onâ—l sonne Don Philip by Anne of Austria daughter to Maximilian the second He hath by seuerall wiues three children liuing two daughters and one son the son yong of yeeres pale and weake of complexion and not of the greatest viuacitie of spirite though the same according to the course of the worlde is by the common sorte much couered vnder the high dignitie of a Prince His eldest daughter Donna Isabella by Madâ—m Isabel the eldest daughter to Henry the second King of France His eldest daughter whome they call la infanta of Spaine a woman as by birth great so prowde exceedingly haughty minded and aboue measure aspiring prudent in her speeches maiesticall in her actions and countenance an aboue her sex manly and couragious her he hath alwayes nourished vnder his owne wing acquainting her euen from her cradle with matters of state and gouernement In which now by reason of her long experience therein she is exceedingly practised and ripe with her what waighty matter soeuer he vndertakes he participateth the same before demaunding her aduice and counsel spending sometimes whole halfe daies they two in communication together vppon her the youth and imbecillitie of the yong Prince considered are the eyes of all men throwen vpon her depend the nobilitie gentlemen and commons and innumerable troupes of surers into whose heartes she hath so insinuated hirselfe that they beare an exceeding loue reuerence towards her many mighty men haue beene offred her in marriage as the emperour Rodolph the Cardinall of Austria and diuers other but she wil abandon Spaine for none of them al til she see what wil become of her father whome she seeth olde oppressed with infinite cares and not likely long to liue vppon whose death her actions and maner of life doth assuredly shew that she is not of mettall to giue place to the yong Prince her brother but at least she meanes to part stakes with him In Spaine she knowes there is no lawe Salike to bridle hir ambitious thoughts but women may succeede as well as men for so did her great grandmother Iuana to Ferdinando her father Isabella wife to Ferdinand to Don Henryques her brother hauing these examples before her eies she feedeth her mind with high and ambitious desires of which her pretence she hath made so cleare and euident demonstâ—ations that her father to preuent this mischiefe the which hee feareth hee was forced nor long since to assemble and gather the whole Estates of Spaine and to make them sweare to be true to his sonne When her father was sicke some three yeeres since and the D. of Sauoy sent for into Spaine shee had so wrought that by her fathers testament she was ordained to be gouernesse of Spain and protectresse of the Prince her brother whome hee presently caused to keepe his Court apart sending him sundry of his counsell and commaunding the Nobilitie to be attendaunt on him acquainting him as much as in him lieth with the mannaging of matters of weight and gouernement besides it was a while bruited for certaine that the President of Artoys Richardo whome the Duke of Parma had sent into Spaine to make his excuses and iustifications against certaine pointes of treason of which hee was by the Duke of Pastrana and the Prince of Asâ—oly accused to the King vppon his returne had commission to assemble the nobilitie and states of the Lowe Countries and to cause them to take the like oathe vnto his sonne thereby to preuent as well his daughter as the Duke of Parma of theyr conceiued hopes but whatsoeuer the cause was the same was not effected His second daughter by the daughter of France Donna Katalina married to the Duke of Sauoy But nowe to come vnto his second daughter whome hee hath long time since bestowed in marriage vppon Charles Emanuel the Duke of Sauoy with absolute promise and solemne vowe betwixt him and her to leaue her a kingdome for her dowrie Shee is a Princesse in ambition and high desire nothing vnequall to her sister but in witte and courage verie farre her inferiour Shee and her husband both alreadie take vppon them in their manner stile and vsage a state and title farre beyond their dignitie conuenient onely vnto Kings Altezza is the meanest phrase that they will bee spoken in vnto Altezza Highnesse refusing anie Letters that are not so entituled for such is the will and pleasure of the King her father Naples and the Dutchie of Millaine they haue already deuoured in their hopes which if her father at his death leaue not quietly vnto them they will bee so bolde as to straine courtesie with his sonne to get them perforce if they can on the other side the States of Italie like not such a mightie neighbour amongest them and therefore to preuent both him and his father in fathers desseignement haue made a most straight secret league and alliance amongest themselues terming the same ragione de stato in the which are comprized the Pope the Venetians The Princes of Italy in league the Duke of Florence the Dukes of Vrbyne Mantua and Ferrara The Duke of Parma in his life time dared not to enter in among them but was forced though none more agreeued to dissemble and temporize for a while he knew right well that the king had beene exceeding iealous of him and did seeke though slily and dissemblingly his life honour and reputation What his sonne the new Duke will doe when occasion shall serue the Lorde onely knoweth but certaine it is that the detention of Portugall to which he perswadeth himselfe to haue right manet alta mente repostum sticketh
more with the king wishing that he had not medled with him so much So that they were fain to returne pennilesse and doo at this instant liue in so poore and pitifull sort that truly my hart grieueth to see it insomuch that I knew a Gentleman that solde his part there being foure and twentie pounds for three pounds But perchance you will saie he giueth great pensions and entertaineth manie of our Nation it is true in deede in shewe hee doth so and therewith doth bleare the worldes eyes wyth a shew of great liberalitie But his payment and vsage considered a God is my iudge and witnesse I speake vnfainedly I account it a farre happier estate to bee a doore-keeper in that your blessed soile than to be heere pensioner to the king of Spaine I leaue the iudgement of the truth thereof to those that haue tryed it you haue many amongst you confer with them and examine them vppon their consciences as for my part in good faith I cannot imagin cause why he entertaineth vs vnles it be to vse vs as stales to allure others considering the hatred that he his beare vs and so vnder the dissembled colour of a false affection to ouerthrow vs all at the last Thus much I dare boldly say because through the conference I haue had with them I doe know assuredly that euen those of our nation which doe most serue his turne howsoeuer in outward apparance they seem for some particular causes to magnifie and extoll his liberalitie yet in their owne secret conceits they do imagin know nothing in the world to be more reprochfull base and contemptible than to be an Entertain do in the king of Spaines seruice As for example you shall easilie see what account is made of them At such time as preparation was made at Brussels for the voyage of Englande when they all expected to bee made knights coronels captaines and conducters of the armie and to be filled with crownes they were so farre from those matters with which they flattered themselues that in stead of being honored and aduaunced they were the onelie reiected and contemned people that followed the Court all men beeing releeued with some moneths paie they onely excepted and which is more whereas they mooued the Duke sundry times to know his pleasure how hee woulde dispose of them in this iourney telling him besides that vpon the wel vsage of them depended much matter of importaunce as the alluring drawing to them other gentlemen of their kinsmen and friends and vpon hope of the like good vsage honour and aduancement woulde bee able to doe great seruice vpon their landing where contrariwise in seeing them come ouer so poore in shew without credit mony or armes lyke lacke is for so were the words of their request it would be a cause to terrifie them from vndertaking any such course They were by the Duke scornefully and with derision reiected neyther did hee vouchsafe to giue them any other answere than onely that hee would thinke vpon it But on the night that they thought to embarke he departed leauing them all behind not thinking them any way woorthy to be called vppon or to be taken with him VVherupon the lord Westmerland and Paget and sundry others layd their heads together and made their complaint to the duke of Pastrana by whom they were as basely and scornfully handled as by the other insomuch as a great Spaniard standing by asked them whether they thought the king of Spaine not puisant enough to winne England without them and their friends Vpon which answere the Lord Paget that verily thought hee shoulde haue beene made one of the priuy Councell and now finding himselfe to bee had in so small account conceiued such an inward griefe that for that time forward hee neuer ioyed till his dying day Sir William Standley also tooke it in such heauy and disdainefull sorte that he was not called to be counsell of warres wheras hee presumed and so gaue out that no man in the army knewe more or was better able in this voiage than himself that he sequestred himselfe frō the Country and came malecontent and hired an house in Antwerpe where hee liued a most melancholy lyfe foure or fiue moneths and oftentimes would burst out into such impassionate speeches that the world verily imagined he would haue professed himselfe into a cloyster Besides the loue the Spaniarde beareth vs appeareth by the speeches hee dayly vseth in publike assemblyes concerning vs. Once seeing certayne English-men passe by as they stoode a great many of them in a ring as they vse together vppon the bridge in Antwerpe they sayde They wondered what the king made with such vermin in his coūtry one of them swearing a great oath that looke how many English-men there were in the Lowe countries there were so many spies and traitours Another sayd it were an almes deede to put them all in sackes and throw them into the riuer I could recite a thousand more such speeches but that they are not worth the remembring They are so ielous and suspitious of vs that if any thing proue vntowardly in their seruice they think it straight to be done by our especiall meanes and intelligence As vpon the taking of Axhil by that braue worthie souldier Sir Philip Sidney of worthie memorie Mondragon presently imprisoned Paget within the Castle tooke away all things whatsoeuer that hee had woorth anie thing and the rest he caused his men to ryfle and steale saying openly that we all are traitors and spies To confirme the confidence they haue in vs tell mee what companies of English they haue trusted within these ten yeares in garison I am sure you cannot name one And whereas sundry Gentlemen amongst vs haue instantly sued to haue theyr pensiōs granted them in the castle of Antwerpe or Gaunt because the payment is there somewhat better no one hath hitherto been able to attayne the same so vile base is the reckoning they make of vs. I could alledge vnto you many other exampls of sundry disgraces offered vnto our nation wherby we myght if we lust easly discouer the hatred they beare vs the suspition they haue of vs and the danger wherein we stand to haue one day our throates cut But this I hope which I haue already rehearsed shall suffice fully to assure and persuade you that here is no aduancement wealth or reputation to be gotten but pouerty peril iealousie and disgrace Now let vs see touching the point of conscience and repose in religion if the fame be to be found here such as you expect In matter of religion I will not take it vpon me to dispute because it were to digresse from my purpose and besides I neuer studyed diuinity only making comparison between the comfortable freedome of the one and the dispayring slauery of the other laying of the one side Indulgences pilgrimages forged relikes fabulous deuises and auricular confessions on the other side the merites and
is to get together six thousand men and those all shepheardes hedgebreakers and such idle trewantly rogues the most part of which hee is forced to put in garrison for a yeere or two to fashion them before hee send them to seruice I saw about two yeeres agone a fresh leuie that came out of Pastrauia who put them presently in the castle of Antwarpe drawing out the olde garrison the most silly naked snakes that euer I sawe in my lyfe such as in my conscience a man in deed would beat ten of them As for Germanie out of the which heeretofore hee hath drawen greate numbers and by theyr help done great matters before Mastrig in Freisland and those places his vsage hath bene so base and miserable vnto them that the old souldiers are all starued and consumed in his seruice whose calamitie hath so terrfied the rest at home that no prince in Europe hath lesse credite to raise men there than hee And although there were no such matter yet they are no waie more bound vnto him than to an other theyr profession beeing to serue onely him best that will pay them best and yet if hee shoulde raise anie of the allyaunces of her Maiestie and the scituation of their Countrie considered it shoulde be a matter of great difficultie to ioyne them wyth his other troups Where are then his innumerable legions with which hee meanes to ouercome the world Alliance hee hath none vnlesse it bee wyth the rebellious league of France of them he can receiue no aide nor comfort themselues being miserable and distressed by reason wherof most burdenous vnto him yet there is no man liuing in the world lesse beholding vnto them than he For notwithstanding all his assistance they woulde neuer yeeld to receiue his forces into their townes or fortresses seruing only their turnes on him for the present time As for the Pope and the Princes of Italy what fayre weather so euer they do beare him he neither trusteth them nor they him and great reason they haue so to do And wythall this malediction hangeth vppon him that as hee is of all forraine Nations distrusted doubted and abhorred so both hee and the very name of a Spaniard is most loathsome and hatefull to the rest of his owne subiects Insomuch that in Millaine the young Gentlemen haue a pastime by night which they call Caccia Marran that is putting on a visard on theyr face by night they goe with theyr long Rapiers or picked Bastinadoes vnder their cloakes out into the Towne to seeke Spaniardes in the stewes or anie other place where they thinke they are lykely to finde anie of them vnto whome they giue as manye stabbes and blowes that they can laie vpon them insomuch that the Spaniards dare not for their eares abide out of the castle after shutting in of the gates As for his dealing in Portugall who knowes not his cruell tyrannie and the hatred they beare him But now come to her MAIESTIE you shall find another manner of state of matters her realme plentifully abounding in men of warlike disposition of whom she is loued adored her warres are iust charitable godly defensiue for maintenance of which besides the trust that she reposeth in God who hath hetherto mightily and miraculously defended her she is alied in straight league friendship confederation with the most victorious christian king of France with the kings of Denmarke Scotland with the Switzers and with sundrie princes and states of the Empire al being her neighbors dominions vnited with hers and thereby readie to assist aid succor one another in all such occasions as shall or may happen All this then considered tell me I praie you what occasion of feare or misdoubt you haue If you thinke the English valor not to be compared with that of the Spaniard reade but the Chronicles and you shall finde how much you are deceiued you shall finde that a small armie of English-men vnder the conduct of that worthie prince of Wales eldest sonne to Edward the third passed in despight of them thorough Cauarre into Spaine and there in the middest and bowels of their owne countrie ouerthrew at Nadres their vsurping king Henry the bastard of whose race this man is descended by his grandmother being accompanied with the nobilitie of the countrie and 60000. of the brauest fighting men in Spaine so vtterly ouerthrew him that they erected king in his place Don Pedro their iust lawfull prince of that kingdome whom by maine force they constrained all their cities and noble men of the countrie to receiue Read besides the valorous conquests atchieued by Iohn Duke of Lancaster brother vnto the sayde prince in Callicia against Don Iohn sonne of the sayd Henrie the vsurping bastard besides the chronicles of Portugal are full of the materiall prowesse of the English glorious victories obtained in seruice of their king to whose aide they were called against the sayde king of Castilo But what neede I run backe into the passed ages to seeke examples Looke but into the incounters that haue bene of late daies betweene them and vs either by sea or lande and you shall finde that they haue alwaies carried the blowes As by land at the encountering of Grane and that of Sutphen where the honor of the world and ornament of England sir P. Sidney by his aduenturous valor was slaine besides many other bickerings and skirmishes of lesse moment needles to recite Of sea matters I account it bootlesse to speake so greatly and aboue measure glorious is the same bruited through the world of the worthie voiages of sir F. Drake sir I. Haukins sir M. Frobisher C. Raiman and the rest of the braue and couragious Gentlemen who for the benefit of their countrie haue not spared to make aduenture of their liues and fortunes But if you desire one example of all let that then serue of his huge late fleet with which Golyas like hee threatned heauen and earth with which he thought to haue circumuented and surprised at vnawares her Maiestie whilest falsely wickedly and abusiuely hee entertained her Graces Commissioners in Flanders with a treatie of peace To which her Highnesse lyke a Christian princesse and for to auoide the effussion of Christian bloud was verie vnclinable But God as he hath alwaies done so at this time did hee miraculously protect her Maiesty in such sort that through the great careful and exceeding valorous resolution of that most worthie and renowmed Gentleman the Lorde Admirall of England of whose couragious behauiour and terrour with which he amazed them the verie enemy himselfe though agaynst his will makes worthie mention They were with a small number of English so fiercely and vigorously encountered that their resistance not preuailing them they were scattered chased and vtterly discomfited in such sorte as the whole world knoweth so that Lucans verse me thinkes may verie fitly bee applyed vnto them Territa quaesitis ostendunt terga
Britannis Besides what better triall can you haue of the valour of their nation than this being thirtie thousand the creame of all theyr forces and aboute the assembling of which he had bene three yeres busied yet when they came vpon the coast of England dared not to lande a man whereas wee the nexte yeere following with a little Nauie containing not aboue eleuen thousand men vnder the conduct of the two most renowmed Captaines sir Iohn Norris and sir Frances Drake landed in Spaine burnt his shipping put his people to the sword his townes to the fire and coasted thence along into Portugal and there landing marched in his countrie euen to his gates of Leisbone with drums sounding and ensignes displayed from whence wee returned vnfought withall by anie of his forces either by sea or land These things well considered mee thinkes you haue greater reason to hope one daie to see English Ensignes displayed in Madrill together wyth the vtter ruine of that proude tyrant of Spaine and his holy father the pope with all their rabble than anie waie to feare him or his proceedings And yet there is one point besides all the aboue rehearsed out of which wee may receiue singular comfort as that which of all other most deepely vexeth and afflicteth his cogitations and which no doubt before it be long wil giue vs a great aduantage against him and that is the contention which hee seeth to spring vp in his owne house of which I will briefly discourse vnto you the occasions because you shall vnderstand the same the beeter Hee hath by seuerall wiues three children liuing two Daughters and one sonne the Sonne young of yeeres sickly of bodie pale and weake of complexion of wit poore and vnfurnished in a manner a very idiot His eldest daughter whom they cal La Infante of Spaine a woman as by birth great so proud exceedingly haughtie minded and aboue measure aspiring prudent in her speeches maiesticall in her countenance and actions couragious her he hath alwaies norished vnder his owne wing acquainting her euen from her cradle with matters of state and gouernment In which now by reason of her long traine and experience therein shee is exceedingly practised and ripe With her what waightie matter so euer hee vndertaketh hee participateth the same before demanding her aduice and counsell spending sometimes whole halfe daies they two in communication together Vpon her the youths weaknesse simplicitie of the yong prince considered are the eies of all men throwen vppon her depend the nobilitie gentility and commons and innumerable troups of sutors into whose hearts she hath so insinuated her selfe that they doo beare an exceeding loue and reuerence towards her many mightie men haue bin offered her in marriage as the Emperour Rodolph the king of Scotland and diuers other but she vntil she see what wil become of her father whome she seeth olde oppressed with infinit cares and not likely long to liue vppon whose death her actions and manner of life doth assuredly shew that shee is not of mettall sufficient to giue place to the young idiother brother but at least she meanes to part stakes with him In Spaine she knowes there is no lawe Salike to bridle her ambitious thoughtes but women maye succeed as men for so grandmother Iouina did Ferdinando her father Hauing these examples before her eies she feedeth her mind with high and ambitious desyres of which she hath made so cleere and euident demonstrations that her father to preuent this mischiefe that hee feareth was forced this last yeere to assemble the whole estates of Spaine to make them sweare to be true vnto his sonne whom hee presently caused to keepe his court a part sending him sundrie of his councell and commanding the nobilitie to bee attendant on him acquainting him as much as in them lyeth with managing of matters of waight estate and gouernment Besides it is heere bruited for certaine amongest vs that the president of Artois Richardol whō the Duke of Parma had sent into Spaine to make his excuses and iustifications agaynst certaine pointes of treason of which he was by the Duke of Pastrauia and prince of Ascoly accused to the king is now returned with commission to assemble the nobles states of these Countries and to cause them to take the like oath to his sonne thereby to preuent as well his daughter as the Duke of Parma of their conceiued hopes But now to come to his second daughter whom he hath long sithence bestowed in marriage vppon the Duke of Sauoy with absolute promise solemn vow betweene him and her to leaue her a kingdom for her dowrie She is a princesse in ambition and high desire nothing ynequall to her sister but in wit courage far her inferior she her husband both alreadie take vpon them in their manner stile and vsage a state and title far beyond their dignity conuenient onely vnto kings Altessa is the meanest phrase they will be spoken in vnto refusing any letters that are not so intituled for such is the will and pleasure of the king her father Naples the Dutchie of Millaine they haue alreadie deuoured in theyr hopes which if her father at his death leaue not quietly vnto them they will be so bold as strain curtesie with his son to get them perforce if he can On the other side the states of Italy like not such a mightie neighbor amongst them and therefore to preuent both him and his father in lawes desseignment haue made a most straight secret league alliance among themselues tearming the same Ragoyne de Stato in which are comprised the pope the Venetians the Duke of Florence the Duke of Parma the Dukes of Vrbine Mantua and Ferrara the duke of Parma dared not to enter in among them but is forced though none more agreed to dissemble and temporize than he for a while he knoweth that the king hath bene exceeding ielous and seeketh though slily and dissemblingly his life honour and reputation But aboue al the dissention of Portugall to which hee perswadeth himselfe to haue right as in truth his title is better than that of the king of Spaines sticketh deepe in his stomacke Manet alta monte repostum and wee doubt not but one daie when occasion shall serue hee will make the worlde witnesse of his discontentment which the king well knoweth and greatly feareth but he must haue patience for he can hardly remedie it vnlesse the duke will wittingly ouerthrow himselfe especially hauing these meanes in his handes which hee hath not onely to worke his owne securitie but to crie quittance also when time shall serue But hauing now exceeded the limits of a Letter it is time I refraine my pen hoping that these alledged demonstrations shall if not to worke the good effect which I desire in you other Gentlemen of my Countrie yet at the least to manifest the dutiful zeale and loue I beare to the state of my
before being here a pensioner to the king of Spaine I leaue the iudgement of the truth heereof to those that haue tried it you haue many of them amongst you conferre with them and examine them vpon their conscience As for my part in good faith I cannot imagine the cause why hee intertaineth vs vnlesse it be to vse vs as stales to allure others cōnsidering the hatred that he and his beareth vs and so vnder the dissembled colour of a false affection at length to ouerthrow vs all Thus much I dare boldly saie because through the conference that I haue had with them I doo knowe it assuredly that euen those of our natiō which do most serue his turne howsoeuer in outward apparance they seeme for some particular causes to magnifie and extoll his liberalitie yet in theyr owne secret conceites they doo imagine and knowe nothing in the worlde to bee more reproachfull base and contemptible than to be an Entretenido in the king of Spaines seruice especially if hee serue not in the warres and haue his entertainment assigned him in some companie or other which fewe or none of our Countrymen haue chiefely those of the better sorte As for those that haue their pensions granted them to follow the court without anie obligation of seruice as in a manner all the pensions granted to the Englishmen are the Spanish souldier maketh the most base and contemptible reckoning of them that may bee euen as of men that liue by charitie as our poore knightes doo at Windsore English pensioners there vtterly scorned and vnregarded But to the end you may in this point cleerly discerne the manner of their vsage you must vnderstand that the king granteth two manner of pensions or extraordinarie paies bestowing vpon men of desert eyther of them as the occasion and the qualitie of theyr seruice shal require the one called by the name of Entertainment and the other Ventaja in the Patents wherin they are granted The difference betweene two kindes of pensions or paimēts which the king giueth to such as serue him the one called Entretenumēto the other Ventaja The first which they call Entertainment is such as is graunted to our Countrymen to stragling Italians and to some cashierd Captaines such as are of best regard and to strangers of other nations who are neuer paid till the whole armie be satisfied al other occasions defraid then if any ouerplus remaine which seldome happeneth somwhat therof perchance may come to their share This pension is verie casuall and hath often bin abolished taken awaie quite as well from the English as from all other nations witnes Charles Browne Hugh Owen and Ralfe Ligons that were faine foure yeres since vpon that occasion to go into Spaine where after long great sute they brought downe order again to haue the same renued yet still commonly once a yeere there comes an allarum among thē that the king will not be any longer at the charge of so many pensions and in danger to be turned out of paie And some three or four yeres agone they were all commanded to go downe to the armie and to put themselues in seruice vnder some companie or otherwise not to expect anie pension or paiment which how vnfitting it is and vnworthie to men brought vp in other courses as most of them are I leaue to your iudgement yet the misery of that bondage to which they haue subiected themselues must indure al and which is most miserable must not complain when they are striken The other paimēt or pension which is called Ventaya as it is much more honorable because though verie vsuall among the Spaniards and all other nations ours excepted yet they are neuer granted but vpō pretence of good seruice don or some duenes of desert they that haue thē are more respectiuely regarded and better paid than the other and they are neuer taken from them so long as they follow the kings seruice Many of our nation haue serued among the Spaniards yet to this daie did I neuer knowe anie one graced with one of these Ventayas though they are cōmon to all other nations yea euen to the Germanes though granted to thē by the name of Sobrepagas which in effect is all one If I were guiltie to my selfe that this which I doo write were vntrue I should greatly feare the shame of reprofe in a matter so manifest especially there being now in England many that are as well or better acquainted with these matters than my selfe can contradict me where I erre But grounding my selfe vpon the confidence of an assured truth I cannot but wonder these things being so how anie that hath the true feeling of that which pertaineth to the honor of a gentlemā cā indure an vsage so scornful contumelious as this which daily they receiue from the Spaniard of which if you desire one example for all this may satisfie you which followeth The most contemptible vsage of the English at Bruges At such time as the Duke of Parma lay at Bruges busie about his preparations for England attending the Spanish fleet when they all expected to be made knights Coronels Captaines conducters of the armie to be filled with crownes they were so far from those matters with which they flattered themselues that in sted of being honored and aduanced they were the only reiected contemned people that followed the court all nations els beeing releeued with some moneths paie they onley excepted And which is more wheras they moued the duke sundrie times to know his pleasure how he would dispose of them in that iourney telling him besides that vpon the well vsage of them depended much matter of importance as the alluring drawing vnto them other Gentlemen of their kinsmen friends who vpon hope of the like good vsage honor aduancemēt would be able to do great seruice vpon their landing wheras contrariwise seeing them come ouer so poore in shew without credit money or armes like lackies for so were the words of their request it would be a cause to terrifie them from vndertaking of anie such course they were by the Duke scornfully with derision reiected neither did he vouchsafe to giue them anie other answere than only that he would think vpon it But on the night in which vpon the hurly burlie of the comming of the Spanish nauie they thought to imbarke he departed towards Donckerk leauing them all behind not thinking them any way worthy to bee called vpon or to be taken with him Wheruepon the Earle of Westmerland the L. Paget sundry of the better sort laide their heads together made their complaint vnto the D. of Pastrana who was newly come out of Spaine with great fauors from the king The D. of Pastrana supposed to be the kinges bastard there liued in great honor and applause among the Spaniards but by him some saye they were as basely and scornfully handled as by
themselues most manfully aboue the space of an houre in such sort as the alarum passed through the whole campe yet they were neuer releeued with any succour at all insomuch that the greatest part of them beeing slaine in defence the enemie at last entered and put the residue to the swoord To rehearse vnto you the sundrie and seuerall calamities that these poore men as well Captaines as souldiers endured during the small time of that theyr vnfortunate seruice especiallye at Ganskecke Aske and Grauer would seeme I am sure vnto you for the vnspeakable straungenesse thereof scarcely credible for they neuer receiued all the time of their seruice anie one moneths paie I haue seene Lieutenants and Ensignes of them go vp and down the campe begging their bread couered only with olde mantles about their shoulders and haue my selfe releeued some of them Shortly after came Pigot who brought with him sir Iohn Norris his regiment beeing well neere a thousand as tall and well appointed men as were in Europe whose seruice how meritorious and beneficiall it was vnto the Spaniardes I leaue to their iudgementes that know the Countrie For by rendering of Alost vnto him they were the occasion that he got Darmounde the Sasse the fortes of Leiskins hooke Saint Anthonies and Saint Margarets the best part of the land of Wast in manner Gaunt it selfe as the sequel shewed Notwithstanding all which seruice they were wythin two yeeres space what with hunger the gallowes rigorous dealing consumed and brought to nothing And last at Stalbrooke euen against the yeelding vp of Antwarp when all other nations were to receiue their count and reckoning they onely were infamously cashierd without anie one monethes pay And which of all other is most monstrous and scarse credible whereas some of the Captaines not long before had made them of theyr owne purses new and fayre Ensignes those Ensignes were violently taken awaie from those that bare them and detained Which abuse and wrong though captain Tresham and the other Captaines complained off to the Duke with great protestations yet they coulde neuer obtaine anie restitution Somewhat before this time when the whole campe was at the siege of Dermound paide two moneths they onely though of all others most trauelled in the trenches wading euerie night bosome high to theyr wast and hauing had more men slaine in that siege than anie other regiment in the whole campe could not receiue one pennie notwithstanding they had passed in muster with the rest and some of the Captaines bribed the Commissarie thinking thereby to make a great hand But in stead of money when they shewed the Duke they were scornfully by him turned of to the Contadores of whom they receiued the most base opprobrious speeches that euer were giuen soldiers were in fine reiected without euer receiuing one halfpeny And lastly when the Regiment was cast whereas the pay of a reformed Captaine amongst them of what Nation soeuer he bee is fortie crownes they giue onely to our English captaines fiue and twentie a moneth Not long before it chanced that one of the Captains whose name was Edward Vincent was taken in a skirmish by the enemie at Pernence and set at ransome at a hundred and fiftie poundes to make which raunsome his father being then in Flanders a poore olde man of seuenty yeres of age fell vpon his knees before the Duke weeping and imploring his help But in sted of yeelding him releefe the Duke badde take awaie the olde dronken foole the griefe whereof strake the old man so to the heart that he went home and dyed within sixe dayes and his sonne for lacke of his raunsome was shortly after hanged at Perges Pigot himselfe being some three yeeres since taken and Barne betweene Gaunt and Bruges were neuer releeued with anie one pennie towardes their charges or raunsomes Pigot was suffred miserably to end his daies in prison and so had Barne also but that his wife by her solicitation found such fauour among his priuate friends that she got as much as paide his raunsome but neuer could obtaine one pennie of the Duke though shee were an importunate sutor vnto him Lastly came sir W. Standley and R. Yorke rendering vnto the King the towne of Deuenter fort of Sutphen the one with a regiment of foote the other with a company of lances Let vs see howe the one and the other was vsed First sir William Standley was confirmed gouernour of the Towne hee rendered and his regiment left there in garrison with the receit of two moneths pay For a while he liued in the greatest applause that might be Cardinal Allen was written to to send downe Priests to instruct this religious regiment hee informed the Pope thereof who wrote ioyntly to the king to be good vnto this regiment VVhich being well and liberally intreated as they had already at Rhemes and Rome a Seminary of schollers to pray and write for the catholike cause of our Country so this conducted by so worthy and catholike a Gentleman as sir William Standley was might be a continuall nursery and seminary of souldiours to fight for the same Downe came Priestes thicke and three fold from France and Italy many Masses and much preaching there was Gentlemen from all parts drew downe thither in hope of this good payment and golden world that thē was talked of But what folowed within short space to weaken then number three of their companies vnder colour of seruice were cunningly drawen out of the Towne by Verdugo Haaltephen neuer from that time after being suffred to returne to it againe within a while after sir William him selfe with the remnant was commanded vnder the lyke colour of seruice to come foorth beeing tolde that hee shoulde presently returne into it againe And by this fine meanes was cased of his gouernment and such goods as he and his souldiers lefte were spoiled made bootie of And sithence that time his seminary soldiers with al their religion were neuer trusted in any towne nor neuer shal be I warrant them From thence they were presently drawen downe into Brabant where they wintered in the field without monie and in such great miserie and pouertie that tenne weekes together their chiefest foode and sustenaunce in Turnolt was vnpoudered acornes which they founde in cellers VVhich diet the priests not liking of came to their Coronell to Antwerpe who to auoid the lamentations and complaints of his souldiers had gotten him there a lodging where you should neuer haue foūd his table without a squadron of Priests Some did wonder so worthy a souldier could suffer their indignities which to auoide some yeeres since hee went into Spaine partlye to secure vnto himselfe some estate of liuing of which he now considering this dealing began to doubt partly by the inuitation of the Iesuites with which order hee is exceedingly inchanted to thē wholy subiected who dealt for him in such sort with the Cardinall that he presently sent Parsons