Capitaines minded not to giue ouer the matter for a bragge And determined couragiously to set vpon their enemies whiche in deede thei did and gaue so lustie a charge that thei ranne cleane through theim and slue at the least fower hundred of them puttyng the rest to flight and followyng the chace draue them into a woodd whiche beyng nere saued many of their liues Sir Peter Caroe saied muche of this victorie rested in Capitaine Malbies manhoode and conducte The Lorde Deputie sente Sir Peter Caroe for to take possession of a certaine Castell in whiche Castell was a coÌ„panie of stoute men And to the seruice was Capitaine Collyer Capitaine Furres and others sent Thei within shotte and slue our people whiche encreased the hatred and malice Muche businesse was aboute this Castell and at length it came to a parley and whiles the capitaines were at the parley the soldiours wer made drinke and a siluer boule sent theÌ„ to drinke in out of the Castell But the parley could not take vp the matter so thei called for their siluer boule again but a soldiour with one legge whose name was haltyng Dick hauyng the siluer boule in his hande made aunswere that he would keepe that till the reckenyng were made of the reste And the parley beyng doen thei put in the Conestable of the Castell at a grate and sodainly withall thei thrust in a great peece of Timber whiche kepte the grate open wherein the Soldiours entered and so wonne the Castell where after was a pitifull murther for man woman and child were put to the sworde And the soldiours found therein greate riches especially Tapestrie and Plate and muche good housholde stuffe It was not long after but the Lorde Deputie raised a greate power to go to the West against the rebelles whose leader was Iames Fitz Moris whiche was reported to bee of greate force And the Lorde deputie marchyng forwarde toward Clammell the newes was brought that Fitz Morris was so strong that the Lorde Deputie was to weake to deale withall So counsaill was giueÌ„ him to retire The lord Deputie seeyng the cowardies of some and hauyng good courage hym self called Capitaine Malbie and asked his aduise who aunswered if good guides could bryng my lorde through the plaine Countrey his fiue hundreth horse would marche in despite through all Irelande The Lorde Deputie thereon saied he neuer bare the George that daie that he gaue place to any rebelles and so the Deputie commaunded them to marche and his power came that night and lodged at a Castell of his enemies as the reporte wente There was a stoute Kerne seyng the Deputies campe commyng ranne out of the Castell and sett many houses a fire because the Lorde Deputies power should haue no succour thereof and be in soâ—â— daunger by their approche To whiche Kern Ihon Malbie galloped apace and so dispatched hym which was a good peece of seruice The nexte daie the Castell was yelded so the lorde Deputie marched to the White Knightes Countrey and besieged a strong Castell of his and because thei did withstande the siege thei were all put vnto the sworde From thence he marched towarde a Castell in the Desmondes Countrey called Bally Marten where thei withstode the siege so it was battered And there was one called the Seneshall who founde meane in the night to steale awaie with all his companie and so thei tooke the bogge and escaped to Iames Fitz Morrice who made many wordes and threateninges but he performed no peece of those promises So after this the Lorde Deputie came vnto Corke and froÌ„ thence to Lymbrick takyng all the Castelles in his waie that he founde till he came to Gallawaye And after he returned towardes Dublin in whiche iourney his enemies did neuer shewe their faces Shortly after this Capitaine Malbie tooke in farme the countrey of Lakaell at the handes of the Erle of Kildare whiche Lakaell had lyen waiste three yeres before and after that came sir Thomas Smithes base sonne with his horsemen and footmen to a place called the Ardes nere neighbor to Capitaine Malbie who furnished maister Smithe with diuerse thynges and did bestowe on hym and his soldiours a good rounde soÌ„me of money but maister Smithes fortune was not good and so at the length he was slaine as after you shall heare Now the noble and moste bountifull gentleman of Englande came ouer as Gouernour of Vlster I meane the Erle of Essex whose praises no manne in the worlde can ecclips Whiche Erle was accompanied with a goodly bande of horsemen and footemen he arriued at Karrickefargus And there came with hym the Lorde Ritche Maister Henrie Knowlles and his fower brethren maister Mighell Carie and maister Ihon Carie soonnes to the Lorde of Honsdon and maister William Norrice and maister Ihon Norrice twoo of the eldest soonnes of the Lorde Norrice whose courages and deedes did shewe their noble race as in deede the other gentlemen named before theim by their owne actes aparte did often tymes expresse their honourable birthe There was likewise one maister Blunt a valliaunt gentleman brother to the Lorde Mongie and sonderie others whose names I haue forgotten Within a prettie space after this noble Earles arriuall sir Bryan Mackefellin who was accounted then a rebell did sue to come in To whom the Earle gaue protection and yeldyng hym self simplie vnto the Queene the Earle not onely graunted hym a pardon but also gaue him greate giftes and vsed hym so courteously as he could not imagine how to be better entertained But Bryans follower beeyng wearie of well doyng and peraduenture by Bryans consent the soldiours horses could not bee in saffetie and the followers of Bryan fell to open thefte and priuie filchyng The Earle willed Bryan to giue correction to the malefectours who promised from tyme to tyme but no redresse could be had The Earle lettyng those offences passe and conceiued that he had not his people in suche obedience as was reason and so bore with little faultes in hope amendemente would followe but all this while the soldiours were robbed and as the poore menne them selues were caught alone thei were murthered For whiche outrage the Erle shaped a reuenge and so to crie quittaunce but Bryan hearyng thereof desired to come in and make his aunswere the Erle graunted that and so sir Bryan came and made his submission declaryng he could not rule his naughtie people and was sorie for their follies and foule factes committed So the Erle badde hym bryng them all into an Ilande called Mahair and offered Bryans menne an aide to bryng them that would refuse to come promisyng thei should be all well vsed and all former faultes shoud be forgotten Sir Bryan so departed and in fine wrought cunnyngly to deceiue the Erle and departe with all his Creett of Kye whiche amounted to twentie thousande into the wooddes or where he thought beste but my Lorde of Essex had good espiall on Bryan by meane of Capitaine Malbie notwithstandyng the sleightes of the enemies
were so fine that thei could not bee easely perceiued nor preuented because so many tales were brought and so many flatters tooke sir Bryans parte Yet alwaies the Erle did that whiche he thought for the beste and was lothe to seeke blood but vpon a greate occasion and yet in the ende true woorde was brought that Mackefellyn was stollen awaie by this meanes as I shall tell you Capitaine Malbie and his brother hearyng of this dispute and hauyng greate businesse to repaire vnto Lakaill tooke their iourney and as thei were ridyng thei espied a freende of theirs commyng galloppyng whose name was Marke Hoult Who brought newes of Bryans goyng awaie whiche messenger thei sent in all haste to the Erle and thei appointed a place where thei would meete the Earle But in the meane while thei hasted to staie Bryan and thei might or to holde hym plaie till the Earle came But that was in vaine for all the Creete had take a strength before the daie Yet the Earle marched apace and came within twoo miles of the enemie where he mette Capitaine Malbie but of necessitie the Earle retired to Carryckefargus for this matter could not be recouered Yet in a fewe daies after the Earle made a rode against Bryan and by meane of a Spaniell in the companie their entent was eskried and wantyng Kerne to enter the wood the Earle retired homeward againe The Earle sent for the Barron of Dongarren and maister Edwarde Moore and one Thomas Flemmyng but Bryan had gotten intelligence thereof and laye in waite for to entrappe theim The Barron came to Bellfaste and passed the Foorde and sent to Hollyngburne Abbey for maister Moore so passyng a softe pace towardes the Earle Bryans horsemen brake and so the Barron retired backe to the forde again where by chaunce maister Malbie was and gaue the Barron succours and caused theim to passe ouer the Foord for their better suertie But those horsemen that thei had sent for maister More did light in the lappes of their enemies in commyng backe againe yet some of theim were well horssed and so escaped to Hollyngburne Abbay and those that were nerest mischeef were slaine This hazarde beeyng paste Capitaine Malbie sente in poste to the Earle to come closely with as many horsemen and footemen as he might make and to come in the night followyng the Earle made speede and came as secretly as he might three howers before daie to the place appoincted where he laye in couerte till it was tyme to passe ouer the Foorde Now the Barron with maister Moore and their companie passed ouer and had not gone but a little ground but thei were sharpely set vpon and sent backe againe Bryans foote men were so nere them with that Capitain Malbie and his brother hastened to the skirmishe whiche grewe very hott and as thei were almoste ouer the water maister Richard Blunt commyng with them cried a charge a charge and so settyng his staffe againste his thigh he ranne emong theâ—m whiche were footemen whiche had quickely killed his horse and had hym doune laiyng loade vppon hym whiche was a wonder of the worlde he had not been slaine capitain Malbie and his brother with fiue or sixe more gaue a charge to rescue him and so put his enemies backe where at a man of the Barrons and an other called Thomas Flemmyng tooke hym vp and haled hym awaie At this skirmishe many of Bryans men were slaine and the Englishemen did retire ouer the water in tyme for the tide was commyng And the very same night the enemies came ouer the water and encamped them selues by the Englishe power And in the mornyng betymes thei prouoked the skirmishe bothe cunnyngly and manfully For at the firste beginnyng thei killed maister Willyam Norrises horse vnder hym who valliauntly behaued hymself and in lesse then an hower capitaine Malbies horse was striken doune and if Sir Willyam Morgan with greate courage and one maister Egerton had not dooen verie well Capitaine Malbie had been slaine for his horse laye vppon hym The noble Earle beholding this broile with his footemen came fliyng in and gaue a charge on the rebelles and put them to flight and did it in suche order that many of the enemies loste their liues thereby And after that charge thei retired into the wooddes where sondrie of them were ouerthrowne and those that escaped went to their Creete As tyme did passe and the Erle laie at Karrickefargus newes was brought that one Noall Macke Bryan Artho had deuised a draught for the killyng of Maister Thomas Smithe who was slaine by that deuise My Lorde of Essex was muche moued at that deede and Capitaine Malbie and his brother were marueilous sorie for the losse of suche a neighbour and good companion And swore to reuenge his death ere it should be long as thei did when occasion serued therefore In processe of tyme the twoo brethren desired leaue to repaire into Lakaell meanyng to practise a reueÌ„ge for maister Smithes death the Earle not knowyng their myndes gaue Ihon Malbie leaue to goe but kept the other Capitaine about his owne persone Maister Ihon Malbie commyng into Lakaell mustered all the menne he might make and hauyng a good power sufficiente as neede required practised with one called Donny Sallowe for the catcheyng of Neall Bryan Artho at some aduantage and promised at the least an hundred pounds for his labour that should drawe suche a drifte This Donny Sallowe as muche for the money as glad to please his freende went closely about this matter and brought suche certaine newes of Neall Bryan Arttoes haunt and order of life that it was an easie thyng either to compasse hym in some daunger or laye handes vppon his followers And by a good occasion maister Ihon Malbie with three score and fower horsemen and a fewe footemen he made suche a slaughter that fiue and thirtie of his beste men that followed Neall Bryan Artto were licked vp and slaine and a greate preye and bootie taken from hym and brought awaie he beeyng twoo hundreth footemen and fourtie horsemen in the feelde Emong those menne that was slaine was one Con Mackmeloeg who before caused maister Smithe to be eaten vp with Dogges after he had been boiled and this same Con Mackmeloeg beyng slaine was lefte emong wolues v. daies and was had into a house where his freendes howled and cried ouer his dedde bodie so long that by mischaunce a greate deale of pouder caught fire and sett the house in a flame the Dogges in the toune smellyng this ded bodie ranne in and tooke it out of the house and so tore it in peeces and fedde vppon his carraine fleshe openly Whiche was a thyng to bee muche marueiled at and thought to bee sent from God for a terrour to all tyrauntes hereafter Now here is to be noted that the Erle so long as he had power left no occasion to trouble Bryan Mackefellyn and to make hym knowe he had offended the Queenes highnesse and for that cause
sufficient power to annoye that Toune and for other greate causes then mouyng his Maiestie prepared anone after a small Nauie to moleste his enemies makyng Admirall of that fleete the noble Lorde Lyle after Duke of Northumberlande and with hym was sent the Lorde Clinton now Erle of Lincolne sir George Caro sir Peter Caro sir Gawine Caro sir Robert Stafforde maister Clement Parstons maister Willyam Winter now knight maister Biston a valliant Capitaine with whom was maister Biston the Pensioner that now is a liue And all these gentlemen vnder the leadyng of the Lorde Lyle encountred the Galleis in moste braueste and warrlike sorte vppon the Seas and fought with them halfe a daie daungerously and in greate perill our Shippes hauyng a greate disaduauntage because the porte holes were not so lowe as reason required by whiche meane our Shippes might not come to dooe the harme that was intended Notwithstandyng the greate Ordinaunce plaied on the enemie all the while and our gentlemen behaued them selues as noblie as might bee deuised not in no little hazard nor without greate courage For this fight was so sore and daungerous that euery mannes vallue and stoutnesse might be seen There was no hole nor caue for the cowarde to hide his hedde in For the Cannon could fetche theim vp that would creepe in the Cooke roume and sette them a woorke that would sitte doune and doe little good The barres and chaines of Iron flewe about so thicke and the smoke and smother of the pouder was so greate that one might scarce see an other for fume flame and the furie of the shotte And to bee plaine because I haue seen the like I take it to bee the moste terrible and cruell fight that can bee named or expressed with penne For it is rather if it bee rightly painted out a helle then any other thyng it can bee compared vnto But how so euer it is or was at that present tyme our fleete abode the brunte thereof and tried it out to the vttermoste as the Frenche theim selues did afterward reporte and affirme And so bothe the sides beeyng wearied with roaryng of Cannons and murtheryng of menne were driuen at the length to leaue of and saile seuerall waies but the Frēche had the worste and were glad to departe to their losse and mischeef But in the necke of this the Frenche Nauie came gallauntly to Portchmouthe and in the vewe of Kyng Henry thei made a stoute showe and signe of some shrewde intent Againste the whiche Nauie went out sir George Caro in a noble vessell and with a greate nomber of valliaunt gentlemenne but by mischaunce and ouersight of some reachlesse persones the Shippe and all was caste awaie and drouned full before the vewe and face of Kyng Henry the eight And yet our other Shippes made out and sette so lustely vppon the Frenche fleete that thei made them retourne homeward to their small contentatiō so that little or nothyng was doen worthie the notyng a good tyme after An other seruice there was where maister Clementte Parston and Capitaine Wolffe was in Kyng Edwardes daies where thei had a Galley in chace and ouercame the same Galley For maister Parston brought it awaie and had in signe of that victorie a Iewell thereof made in maner like a Snake of golde In Queene Maries raigne the Lorde Admirall that now is with sir Willyam Woodhouse sir Thomas Cotton sir Willyam Winter maister Gonstone maister Holstocke maister Morley Sir Richard Brooke Capitaine Poole a knight of the Rodes as sir Richard Brooke was sir Richard Winkfeeld sir Robert Conestable that now is Maister Willyam Gorge and Maister George Biston bothe Pentioners went to the burnyng of Conkquette and did there a greate exploite and made muche spoile and hauocke in that countrey and retiryng to our Shippes tooke good order for the saffetie of our menne But the Almaines beyng greedie of gaine and ouercome with wine could not bee brought a Shipboarde in no due season and so through their owne follie and lewde behauioure thei were entrapped and ouerthrowne and yet was there as greate regarde for their preseruation as might bee but their reatchlesse maner was suche that no deuise could recouer them and so thei perished When our people did prospere and came awaie with honour and commoditie From Concquet there was appoincted seuen Sailes of Shippes to goe to my Lorde of Sussex then Lorde Deputie of Irelande The names of whiche Shippes followeth the Hue Willoughbie in whiche was sir Thomas Cotton Admirall for that seruice The Gearfaucon in whiche was maister Tornar of the Garde The Newbarke where was Southerwicke of Douer The Saker at the commaundement of M. Peter Killegrey The Barcke Caree vnder the charge of M. Gregorie Carie. The Ihon of Plimmouthe in the whiche was maister Richard Bingham And all these attended my Lorde of Sussex at Daukkith who noblie sett forwarde and bornte Kynteer Iames Mackono beeyng in the countrey and raized twoo of Mackonoes cheef Castles tooke diuers of thei Galleis and executed many of their mē My Lorde also burnt the I le of Butte the I le of Combra and the I le of Amilashe with diuers other places in that iourney And at this seruice was sir Willyam Fitz Willyams maister George Delues Capitaine Colliar maister Thomas Masterson Capitaine Warren Capitaine Peers sir George Stanley maister Edward Stāley who was there made knight And a nomber of other lustie gentlemen that presently I make no mention of Sir Willyam Winter did a greate peece of seruice with other Englishe gentlemen and Soldiours at a place called Alderneye For the Frenche to the nomber of mene hundred had taken that Ilande and were in the Castell in a marueilous triumphe But sir Willyam Winter hauyng but fower hundreth soldiours and Marriners whiche Marriners who so markes shall see greate worthinesse in landed in Alderneye with his small companie and handeled the Frenche so hardly that he draue them into the Castell and would not leaue theim till he had dispatched the Ilande of theim And so in his countreys honour retourned into Englande againe There was an other peece of seruice by Sea when Mounsire Determes loste a battaill by Grauelin and as I dooe remember maister Nicholas Gorge was at this seruice But be there who might it happened well on Mounsire Degmondes side that the shotte of our Shippes had any meane to annoy his enemies For euen as at Mosseborough feelde our Galleye did greate seruice that flancked a long the Scottes Campe and slue many stoute menne So our shippes at this battaill made suche waie emong the French that the Borgonions gatte good passege by that bargaine and went awaie with victorie In the raigne of our Soueraigne Ladie Queene Elizabeth there was sente the Hope the Lyon the Harte the Swallowe and the Phenix verie goodly Shippes to newe Hauen sir Willyam Woodhous beyng Admirall who fallyng sicke at Deepe wente home againe with maister Holstocke And then remained maister George Biston Admirall hauyng but three
in the daie should bee cutte of from their bodies and brought to the place where he incamped at night and should there bee laied on the ground by eche side of the waie leadyng into his owne Tente so that none could come into his Tente for any cause but commonly he muste passe through a lane of heddes whiche he vsed ad terrorem the dedde feelyng nothyng the more paines thereby and yet did it bryng greate terrour to the people when thei sawe the heddes of their dedde fathers brothers children kinsfolke and freendes lye on the grounde before their faces as thei came to speake with the saied Collonell Whiche course of gouernemente maie by some bee thought to cruell in excuse whereof it is to bee aunswered That he did but then beginne that order with theim whiche thei had in effecte euer tofore vsed toward the Englishe And further he was out of doubte that the dedde felte no paines by cuttyng of their heddes accordyng to the example of Diogenes who beyng asked by his freendes what should be doen with hym when he died aunswered in this sorte Caste me on a dunghill ê™ he where vnto his freendes replied saiyng The Dogges will then eate you his aunswere thereto was thus why then sette a staffe by me Wherevnto thei aunswered you shall not feele them to whom he again replied with these woordes what neede I then to care But certainly by this course of gouernemente although to some it maie seeme otherwise there was muche blood saued and greate peace ensued in haste For through the terrour whiche the people conceiued therby it made short warres For he reformed the whole Countrey of Munster and brought it into an vniuersall peace and subiection within six weekes leauyng at his commyng froÌ„ thence Iames Mack Morres as a woode Kerne accompanied onely at the moste not with aboue seuentene menne who at his first commyng thether commaunded many a thousande Whiche reformation and establishemente of the Countries peace there performed presently came from thence and so lefte his charge there with sufficiente pledge bonde and paune for the good behauioure of euery Lorde and Capitaine for theim selues and their followers refusyng no duetifull seruice euer since An abstracte of some of his perticular seruices EMongeste many others these perticulare seruices followyng he did in persone of whiche onely I haue thought good to make rehearsall of these fewe omittyng the reste Firste with 150. footemen he seruyng then a priuate capitaine vnder the leadyng of maister Edward Randolphe then his Collonell at Knockfargus he stoode firmely in the plaine feelde charged with fower thousande footemen and sixe hundred horsemen of Onyles companie and there killed and hurte of the enemie about twoo hundred hauyng of his companie in all not aboue thirtie hurte and slaine This seruice was doen for the rescuyng of Capitaine Wilforde and Capitaine Warde who although thei ventered them selues farther then reason would to cause certaine disordered Soldiours to retire stirred therevnto through the tender care of the Soldiours safeties Thei did so valiauntly behaue theim selues therein as that thei worthely deserued greate commendation The seconde seruice was doen by Kylkennie the third of Iulie a thousande fiue hundred sixtie and nine where he beyng accompanied with maister Henry Dauels a noble and valiant gentleman now slain by Ihon of Desmond and xij others went from sir Peter Carewe knight with pretrnce but to vewe the Rebelles And yet with that small nomber charged he them at the leaste fourtie score before all the rest of his companie the rebelles beeyng then in nomber aboute twelue hundred as it was reported and standyng then in battaill raye The saied sir Peter Carewe and one Appesley Lieutenaunt to the saied Collonell commyng nexte after hym accompanied with the horsebande of the saied Collonell and a certaine of maister Capitaine Wingefeeldes soldiours who were that daie in the vauntegard amountyng in the whole to the nomber of a hundreth and twentie horse Capitaine Malbe and Capitaine Bassenet followyng in the rereward either of them hauyng vnder their leadynges fiftie horsemen In this charge the saied Collonelles blacke Curtall horse whervpon he then serued was verie sore hurt vnder hym in eight places The thirde seruice was doen by Kylmallocke the xxiiij daie of September 1569. wherewith his owne horsebande he scirmouched with three thousande rebells at the least the Erle of Glanckar beyng then there emongest theÌ„ in persone with diuers other Lordes and Capitaines of countreis In this scirmouche all his companie were beaten from hym sauyng one Tadcastell a Soldiour of his owne bande who standyng with hym in defendyng of a Forde was in th ende slaine And he hym self beyng lefte alone and enforced to defende the same kepte it a greate while againste verie neere thirtie horsemen Iames Macke Morres Râ—wrey Macke Shee the cheef Capitaine of the Desmondes Galliglasses the Lorde of the greate Wood Pursell Suppell Edmonde Sites Dani with diuers other gentlemen emongst them Also in this scirmouche his blacke Curtall horse of whom I spake of before was hurte in diuers places of the bodie and was shotte through the necke with a Harcabushe And the saied Collonelles Targatte was stricken throughe with diuers dartes besides many blowes on his Armoure but in persone not hurte Whereat the Irishe wondered so muche thei made sondrie songes and Rimes of hym and his blacke Curtall horse imaginyng hym self to haue been an enchaunter that no man could hurte ridyng on a Deuill And here is to bee specially noted that in all the seruices before spoken of and at moste of suche other seruices as wer doen by the saied Collonell in Munster Capitaine Ward and maister Crues shewed them selues verie foreward and valiaunte And therefore in that respecte thei haue deserued commendation whiche in nowise is to bee forgotten The saied sir Henry Sidney Lorde Deputie inuested the saied Collonell with the title and honour of knighthoode for his good seruice on Neweyeres daie 1569 and so came he into England where he hath remained a while the moste parte in Courte Since that he serued the Prince of Orrange in the cause of Religion in Zelande and Flaunders where beyng geneall of twoo thousande Englishe he had for the entertainement of his owne persone in wages and other allowaunces verie neere tenne thousande Markes per Annum besides verie large allowaunces for all the Officers Capitaines and Soldiours vnder his regimente At an other time sir Ihon Parret beyng as lorde Iustice in a Prouince of Irelande behaued himself so nobly and vsed suche seuere Iustice that no one Lorde nor other vnder his charge durst any waie offende hym For he nether graunted pardoÌ„ but vpoÌ„ merueilous great cause nor would giue eare to a parley But alwaies proceded in suche a manly maner and stoute resolution of minde that he was bothe feared and beloued And so muche desired of good menne to tarry in the countrey that the badde sorte to this daie are aferd to heare his name rehearsed He
and at the requeste of the Soldiours in Mottrell those prisoners were giuen to Mounsire Bilboe to purchace his fauour because he seemed to bee angrie for the burnyng of the Abbey of S. Poule and the Frier house there Now at the same tyme when this bootie was gotten and brought into Motterell thei made open sale of the preye in the Market place and the soldiours beeyng of the old garrison in the Toune bloshyng at the boldnesse of the Englishemen and disdainyng their well dooyng that were not of their owne nation immediatlie beganne to spoile the bootie Maisters and by force thought to haue reaped the laboures of others that better deserued Whereupon the Scottishemen of Armes assembled in the Markette place and takyng the Englishe mennes parte demaunded wherefore that outrage was committed and saied thei would not suffer suche a follie to goe vnreuenged For the whiche cause and encouraging of good men Mounsire Bilboe tooke order in the matter committyng one of them that made the spoile to passe the shotte of the Hargaboes without mercie notwithstandyng the twoo brethren seeyng that Mounsire Bilbowe fauoured so muche lawe of Armes and dissipline of warre made sute for the pardon of the offendour by whiche sute and courtesie of theirs thei conquered and obtained the loue of al the Frenche soldiours whiche amitie after did thē as greate pleasure as their present pitie was a thyng to be liked For when the Englishemen wente to any seruice the Frenche would striue to see who could bee fauoured moste to goe in their companie Suche force and vertue hath mercie and gentilnesse to leade the hartes of people euery where either toward seruice or any other hazarde or worthie accion that the remembrance of mercie maie reche into and consider of The Englishe beeyng commaunded then to lye in the borders of Picardie of season at their owne discretion and the Countries charge were after sent to Bohayn and putte there in garrison where was a Capitaine called Capitaine Hearyng with a valiaunt bande of Gascoins whiche ioyned with the Englishmen and made many iournies and roades together into the Burgonion Pale spoilyng the Countrie and puttyng the Burgonions sondrie tymes to the worse and endamaged the countrie so muche and so often that the poore people complained to the Emperour of their Burgonion capitaines beyng many in nomber did suffer a fewe of their aduersaries to distresse the whole Frontiers Wherevpon Mounsire de Fammey then capitain of Laundersey seyng the Emperour moued with this incurssion beganne to practise by all the meanes he might to ouerthrowe the Englishe bande either by pollicie or Treason and findyng a guide that alwaies had the leading of the English when thei wēt about a bootie Moūsire de Fammey infected this guide with a fewe Crounes to betraie his companie and in the meane while againste the daie appoincted Defammey had prepared and made readie a thousande horse and diuerse bandes of footemen to entrappe the Englishe soldiours of Bohain The daie of this practise and murther approchyng and all thyng in readinesse the Burgonions to lye in waite and the Englishe to issue there fell a debate and quarrell betwene twoo Englishemen the one called Tuttell and the other Cheaston whiche faulyng out hindered their goyng to horse and detracted tyme in so muche this traitorous guide could not at the hower appoincted bryng foorthe the Englishemen nor answere the expectation of the Burgonions and so the Capitaine of Laundersey mistrustyng the guide had deceiued hym brake sodainly into the countrey and fell to spoile and to followe their moste aduauntage for the season and beeyng many in nomber did muche hurte aboute Gwyes before the small power there might make any head towardes their enemies but in conclusion the Englishe bande though but a fewe of them were at that presente at Bohayn with the helpe of capitain Hearyng a valiant man and leader of the Gascoins sette vpon the Burgonions and at the first encounter ouerthrew so many Burgonions that the residue fledde and made shifte for them selues at whiche on sette and couragious charge maister Nicholas Maelbie was sore hurte through bothe the sides and one Ihon Daie and he beeyng by seruice drawen from their companie in a daungerous place and plight thei tooke greate care how to recouer their people and in the ende to escape the hazarde Ihon Daie carried maister Malbie on his backe till a horsemanne by chaunce happened to come and comforte theim both Mounsire Deffammey by meanes of a blowe that Ned Driuer had giuen him on the hedde peece was faine to kepe his Beauer doune a long season and taried al a whole night in a woodde the meane while A none after this bickeryng the Frenche kyng made a Proclamation that all his Garrisons should repaire vnto Reins in Schampanie at whiche tyme there was a secrete speache of battaile betwene the Emperour and the Frenche kyng for the whiche cause all the bandes and garrisons that might be made with greate expedition repaired to the place appoincted for the fight And beyng assembled together thei encamped and so the Frenche kyng marched towardes Meattes in Lorraine where he vsed suche pollicie and faire speache that he wanne the toune without bloodshed tooke the Duke of Lorraine and sente hym safely into Fraunce And from Meattes the kyng marched vnto Speeres in Almaignie where he had a certaine masse of money And so to Stroseborough the kyng giuyng order that the Englishe horsemen and others that serued as vaunt currours should ride about the countrey and spoile what thei thought good Maister Nicholas Malbie beyng left at sainct Quintaines to bee healed of his hurte as you haue heard had his brother Ihon Malbie in the campe with the Frenche king who ioyned an other gentleman vnto hym called George Liell and thei twoo seekyng aduentures mette twoo gentlemen Almaines well mounted and appointed but the twoo English men charged them and tooke them prisoners and possessed their Borespeares and other weapōs of warre But George Liell hauyng somewhat to amende deliuered his prisonar his Borespeare to hold because he could not hymself amende his thinges and holde his Borespeare at that instaunte the prisoner seyng his aduauntage thruste the Borespeare vnder the armour of George Lyell and so slue hym he giuyng his laste gaspe and wofull crie made maister Ihon Malbie looke behinde hym who findyng his fellowe dedde ran hastely on the Almaine and in that charge slewe hym and so forthwith set vppon the other prisoner with like determination the other Almaine fell on his knees and asked mercie vppon whiche submission he was saued and ledde awaie by Ihon Malbie where other Englishemen attended to heare some newes And hearyng of this straunge cace thei altogether repaired where the twoo dedde bodies were and buried them bothe as the tyme and place did permit The Frenche Kyng marchyng from Stroseborough came to a strong toune called Domuiell whiche the Kyng besieged and the assaulte beyng readie to be giuen the capitaine
of the saied toune came and rendered it to the kynges handes ▪ in whiche toune was left a sufficient Garrison And the Campe retired for that yere and broke vp at Reines in Schampaine where the kyng paied his armie for fiue Monethes and those he kepte in wages were commaunded to lye in Garrisons the Englishe bande was appoincted to remaine at Abontton fiue leagues from Gwies to whiche place was now Maister Nicholas Malbie come and there the twoo brothers shewed suche courtesie to a gentleman of Yorkeshire as is worthie the remembraunce and seldome hath been seen in a straunge lande and harde season At Abantton were many honest and valiaunt soldiours Englishe gentlemen as maister Iames Crues Nedde Driuer Humfrey Blont and a nomber of others that accompanied the twoo brethren Whose names I would gladlie shewe because those gentlemen did suche seruice in those daies and beyonde the seas as thei deserue to be honoured for thesame in their owne Countrie whiles the worlde lasteth but hauyng forgotte moste of their names I proceede to my former matter From Abantton the Englishe bande were cōmaunded to lye at sainct Quintains where liyng but a season thei were emploied for the furnishyng of a ronnyng Campe appoincted to marche into the Countie of Saincte Poule and in this exploite Sainct Poule was burnte and spoiled and many villages there aboutes brought to vtter ruine and mischeef The Emperoure to reuenge these iniuries sente into Fraunce an other runnyng Campe entryng at Noua Chatteau and did muche hurte in many places albeeit the Englishemen were so often in the skirtes of the Burgonions that thei could not doe many tymes what thei intended thei were by the Englishemen kept so well occupied and daiely waited on The Burgonions beyng thus nettled and vexed by a fewe in comparison of their greate nomber began politikely to woorke and so laied an ambushment to entrappe Capitaine Crayer and his bande and placyng fiftie Spanyardes all horsed vppon gallant Genettes to breake vppon the Englishe horsemen It came to passe by occasion of seruice that sodainly thei brake on capitain Crayer who wheelyng about for his moste succour had not his horse so readie as he was disposed to tourne him and there withall his horse stombled and fell flatte on the yearth in whiche faule Capitaine Crayer was taken and the residue of the enemies retired towardes their ambushe whiche laye a league from the place where capitaine Crayer was taken And yet vpon aduisemeante and hope of good happe to bee gotten by some hazard presently offred the Englishmen grewe so warme that thei had the enemie in chace and in the ende the broile and businesse began to be so hotte that bothe sides were Pell Mell. Ihon Malbie beyng in a Swarffe rotters garmente girded on his armour was taken to bee one of the Spaniardes owne troupe and knowyng hym self not farre from the Englishe companie he plucked out of a Spaniardes handes the raines of his horses bridell and caried hym ouer the Brooke perforce where was one of the Englishe bande that challenged halfe of the bootie and stroue so for that was not his owne that the prisoner lost his life in the pleadyng of the matter Whiche prisoner had he been voide of that brabble might haue paied a good and reasonable raunsome Now on the takyng of capitaine Crayer was capitaine Clauers his lieutenaunt made leader of fiftie horsemen and he chose maister Nicholas Malbie his lieutenaunt vpon the erection of whiche bande or immediatlie after the Emperour besieged Heddyng and Capitaine Clauers bande beeyng commaunded to keepe vppon the Frontires happened vpon the Prince of Oranges bande whiche had been in the countrey spoilyng as thei might and findyng the Prince of Oranges bande in a maner tired set on them so couragiously that thei gaue them the chace where was thirtie or fortie prisoners taken and maister Nicholas Malbie tooke a gentleman of the Princes chamber and M. Ihon Sauage tooke another of the Prince of Oranges troup whiche were well vsed and suffered on their faithe to goe where thei would shewyng them selues at night to their taker But twoo of the worste of those prisoners stoale awaie and their fellowe had been like to haue been straightly handeled therevppon but fauour was founde and he sente by a Trompette to the Emperours Campe for all their ransomes whiche was but quartarage a courtezie then vsed emong Soldiours and so sone as the Princes gentilman came before the Prince he complained of his companions for breakyng of their faithe for whiche cause a poste was presently sette vp and the prisoners lost bothe their eares on the same post and after thei were banished the Campe for euer The Prince paied all their raunsomes and giuyng a reward of tenne crounes to the Trompetor sent hym safely awaie in like sorte At the siege of Heddyng Capitaine Clauers was taken prisoner and maister Nicholas Malbie had the leadyng of al his men and hauyng occasion to ride to Paris he lette his charge to his brother Ihon till he retourned His brother as desirous of fame as any other after he and his bande laye awhile at Braie vpon some ingarrison made many rodes into the Burgonion pale and committed greate spoiles Whiche the capitaine of Beawpawlme sought to reuenge And vpon a Sondaie at Masse tyme in the mornyng he brake into the Frontires with a greate troupe of horsemen and tooke a greate bootie from the toune that the Englishemen laye in whereon there was a larum that euery man in all haste mounted to horse and followed the enemies in suche a furie that in rescuyng one of their owne people the enemies were betweene some of the Englishe bande and the toune but Ihon Malbie and an other were in greatest hazarde for thei twoo hauyng taken twoo prisoners were faine to plucke the bridelles ouer the horses heddes pricking the horses in the buttockes to the ende the enemies might bee occupied about the recouerie of their owne menne And when the prisoners were let go in this maner thei ventered through the troupe of the enemies offeryng their Pistolles from one to an other till thei had passed through the thickest and at the laste slue one and ouerthrewe an other and tooke the third prisoner and brought hym horse and man into the toune The tounes menne and nobilitie emong the whiche was capitaine Gordant now capitaine of Calice beholdyng this boldenesse aduertised the Frenche kyng of the seruice who rewarded at the nexte paie daie Ihon Malbie with a good somme of money For that a kyng would not forgette suche an acte nor let suche seruice eskape vnrecompensed The nexte Sondaie after this businesse rehersed the capitaine Beauppawm came againe with a troupe of fiue hundreth horsemen and a regimente of three thousande footemenne And to encounter theim marched fiftie Englishe horsemen and as many others of the Albanoies whiche serued before at Bulleyn with a fewe gentlemen of Fraunce puttyng them selues in good order as nere as thei could vnder
should haue a noble death because he should bee killed at a noble mannes handes and with that woorde slue hym whiche was against all ciuill order or lawe of Armes but note what followed The Duke Domale in the ende of this crueltie and encounter charged the Count de Hornes bande with a braue companie of men at Armes and ouerthrewe moste of the Count de Hornes people and defeitted them all or carried them awaie prisoners with hym And in that charge giuen there was a companie of Frenche footemen whiche sette vpon the Spaniardes and Italians in the woodde and draue theim out of the same and possessed the woodde againe to the greate discourage of the other partie whiche Frenchemen entrenched thē selues in the saied woodde as surely as thei could The Englishe and Scottes men beeyng well mounted and desirous of some honour beholdyng what good successe the Duke had founde by the valliaunt charge he had giuen Thei sodainely brake vppon van Rousis Launceknightes with a greate shoute and crie who amased at the noyse and afferde of the charge flang doune their weapons and betoke them to their feete whiche ouersight and feblenesse of spirit in theim was occasion of a greate slaughter For when the Englishe and Scottes horsemen were a wearie of killyng the poore Almaines thei tooke prisoners some one man ten or twelue a peece as was crediblie reported So that in a maner moste of all van Rousis Ensignes were troden vppon or taken from them that carried them The Emperour was somewhat moued at this misfortune and determined the nexte daie in the Mornyng to giue the Frenche kyng battaill The Frenche kyng on that victorie sent a Harralde of Armes with a Trompet to the Emperour declaryng vnto hym that within fower and twentie howres he would meete hym in the feelde For whiche message the Herralde had a good rewarde and the Emperour was glad that so honourable an acte as was offered should ende the quarrell betwene the Frēche kyng and him The fame night beyng well spent and thynges in order for battaill the Emperour caused the Drommes and Trōpettes to sounde and strike a marche to the feelde for that he would by the breake of the daie behold his enemies power The Frenche Kyng beeyng a beaten Soldiour with many daungerous seruices and lookyng into the daunger of an exstreme fight for a wearied armie tooke compassion on his ouerlaboured menne of warre that had lyen in the open feelde all that yere and so without sounde of Dromme or any noyes makyng he retired his Batterie caused his footemen to marche quietly towardes Muttrell whiche thei recouered before the breake of the daie and the kyng with the reste of his armie at midnight priuelie withdrewe hym sel and his power from daunger of the Emperours Campe. Placyng his horsemen in the reergarde to tarrie till the Emperour were readie to marche who had intelligence of the Frenche Kynges priuie practises and departure And thereon gaue commaundemente to followe with all expedition the horsemen hauyng that in charge to see if thei could ouertake any of the Frenche kynges armie especiallie the footemen The Duke Denamores attendyng on certaine straglars in goyng out of a woodde to the plaine happened with his whole bande on Capitaine Stukeleis troupe who all that iourney and at sondrie other seruices had dooen merueilous actes in whiche troupe was the twoo brethren maister Nicholas Malbie and Ihon. And the Duke Denamores was no soner espied but capitain Steukely and his troupe charged hym who fled as fast as he might to recouer some freendes and Ihon Malbie beyng well horssed put the Duke to leape hedge and dicke till he mette with a bande of men at Armes which the Englishmen wer not strong enough to deale with all and so thei retired M. Richard Bingham at this seruice And in that retiryng thei mette with the Emperoure who gaue them greate thankes and rewarded hym that deserued moste praise The Emperour liyng at Renttie fiue or sixe daies caused the breache to be made vp againe and that beyng dooen he commaunded the Duke of Sauoye beyng his Lieutenant generall to make his repaire to Heddyng with his whole Campe. Where he made a verie strong Toune and there was not a noble manne in that Campe but for to giue good example putte once a daie his handes to the Baskette and Spade And euery soldiour had a double paie so long as the woorke was a buildyng where there was in wages a hundreth thousande daiely whereof some were suffered to make roades into Picardie and many bootes gotten emong the reste the Spaniardes had gotten a greate bootie beyng accompanied with the Burgonions in the same attempte and commyng into the Campe with their preye and spoile thei were to passe by the Almaines Campe or quarter whiche thei kepte The Almaines seyng a greate compaie desirous of spoile or glad to make a mutenie fell to take some shepe and what els thei thought good from the Spaniardes the Spaniardes thereon made Alarum The Duke of Sauoye knowyng of this vpprore gallopped with his bande emong the Almaines and tooke diuerse sedicious fellowes and committed them to the Prouost and one manne emong them retained to a noble man of Germanie whiche came to the Duke and did request hym to spare his manne and pardon his offence the Duke aunswered he should suffer for his follie committed the noble manne spake againe in so muche that the Duke was displeased at the suite The other seyng he could finde no fauour tolde the Duke in a rude maner that if he were not a Lieutenaunte generall ouer hym he should not put his man to death the Duke made no more a doe but tooke out a Pistolet that was bente and discharged it vpon the noble man and so slue hym The Almaines and Roiters therevpon armed them selues and put them in order of battaill The Spaniardes Italians and Burgoniōs presently repaired to the Dukes Pauilion The Prince of Orrange and many other noble personages came betwene the twoo powers and made a peace and so the businesse ended whiche at the beginnyng was like to haue come to a greate flaughter and bloodshed Now for the better contentation of the Almaines there was a roade made vnto Muttrell and twentie thousande Almaines appointed to bee at the winnyng of the bootie where was a greate skirmishe prouoked and at that tyme Capitaine Steukeleis horse was killed vnder hym when he gaue a valliaunt charge on his enemies There was a challenge made by the Frenchmen for the breakyng of certaine Launces for their mestresse sakes To aunswere the chalenge went a Portugall a greate companion with the Duke of Sauoye and one capitaine Tother an Albanoies sometyme seruyng in Englande was an other And the thirde was a gentleman called Ambrose Digbie who encountred a valliaunt horseman named Petro Strose and thei brake bothe the one vpon the other Ambrose Digbies horse was somewhat strong hedded and bare his Maister awaie into the Frenche troupe where the
Duke Denamoures courteoussie asked hym if any thing were amisse in his armour in purpose to amende it yet the Duke was a greate freende to Petro Strose for Strose was his Lieutenaunt Ambrose Digbie aunswered that all was well and gaue the Duke and the gentlemen greate thankes for their courtesie and so gallowped to the other side at his pleasure Petro Strose in like sorte went backe againe to his owne coÌ„panie For capitain Tother was not so fortunate that daie as couragious for he ranne thre courses one after an other and could not breake and the Frenchman that ran against hym brake euery course his lance the reasons was why capitain Tother brake not alwaies at the couchyng of the Launce his horse flang out whiche moued the geÌ„tleman very muche and for whiche foule condition he gaue the horse immediately awaie The Portugall beyng brauely horsed vpon a baye courser had not worse happe then courage For he brake full in the face of the â—eueâ— it was thought that he that ranne against hym was the Barron of Burnasell who brake in like maner alwaies vpon the Portugall In the meane tyme there was diuerse bandes that had gotten a greate bootie and spoile in the Countrey whiche contented muche the Almaines who with their spoile and bootie were retired to the campe whereof intelligence beyng giuen to the Duke he caused a retraite to bee sounded and euery man marched forward to the Campe. But the Frenche waited on them and skirmished all the waie where good seruice was to bee seen on bothe sides so thei departed the one side to the Campe and the other side to Muttrell When thei were in the campe and the Duke in his Pauillion at supper there was greate commendation giuen to the Portugall for the beste dooer that daie he hearyng his owne praise replied and saied he should but flatter hymself to beleeue that reporte to be true since all men might see the Englishe gentleman ranne with the greatest Launce and brake moste fairest and especially because he ranne againste Petro Strose who was counted to be one of the valliauntest gentlemen of Fraunce so with this and suche like talke thei rose from the table When this Toune called newe Heddyng was finished there was lefte in the same a verie greate Garrison bothe of Burgonions and Almaines and then the Campe was dispersed and many soldiours cashed and put out of wages Wherevppon the twoo brothers thought to make their repaire into Englande to whiche place the Duke of Sauoye was goyng and so with hym thei came ouer and attended on hym three Monethes and came againe to the seruice of the Emperour where thei remained vntill an Armie was appointed to goe to Sainct Quintaines The noble Erle of Penbroke being Lorde lieutenaunt for that seruice ouer the Englishe Armie in whiche regiment M. Nocholas Malbie had charge of fiftie light horsemen The Armie liyng betwene Gynes and Arde the garrison of Arde beyng strong issued out and gaue our Campe Alarum and our Englishe menne vnacquainted with that kinde of noyes and order of warre were in a maner a mased some ronnyng one waie and some an other and one George Broughton hauyng the leadyng of fiftie horsemen went out of the Campe and was immediatly encountred with a bande of Frenchemen who charged so furiouslie that thei wanne the Gydon of George Broughtons bande and carried it awaie Nicholas Malbie commyng from the scoute with his bande and hearyng the Larum without the Campe made his repaire with certain of his companie where he mette with Broughton who said he had loste his Gydon vppon that newes maister Malbie caused all his companie to retourne and make haste to ouertake the Frenche whiche thei ouertooke at the tournepike and so sharpely dealt with them that the Gydon was recouered againe by maister Malbies owne hande who brought it hym self and deliuered it vnto George Broughton that gaue hym greate thankes therefore Maister Broughton caused the Lorde Lieutenaunte to promise maister Malbie a recompence for this bolde attempte and diuerse noble men commended the seruice vpon the report of suche as sawe it The next daie the Campe remoued to Samedeboyes and so toward Sainct Quintaines where kyng Phillip was besiegyng the toune with a mightie Armie whiche had ouerthrowen moste of the nobilitie of Fraunce that came to succour sainct Quintaines and the Englishe Campe beyng before the toune was appointed to set out certaine bandes for the goyng to the assault emong whiche was one Capitaine Vaughan who came to a freende of his and desired of all freendshipp and for old acquaintaunce sake to light of his horse and goe with hym to the saulte Now in good faithe saied Nicholas Malbie though horsemen neuer come to the breache with my freende I will either winne the Spurres or loose the Saddle and so a lighted and went with maister Vaughan hauyng firste procured licence of the Lorde lieutenaunt to the assault where the enemies were readie to defende their Toune and their liues yet as God would the enemies gaue place with muche a doe to those that valiauntly entered the breache And the firste that entered as diuerse did beholde was these twoo freendes whiche vpon their enterie ranne to saincte Quintaines Churche and gatte there sainct Quintaines hedde a riche iewell and were commyng awaie with this greate treasure but the Almaines had entered at the other breache and mette maister Malbie and Capitaine Vaughan and beeyng a strong companie together tooke awaie the gained bootie from them and put theÌ„ in hazarde of their liues so that thei were faine and glad to escape and leaue sainct Quintaines hedde behinde them Vaughan was hurte in the face and therefore desired to goe to the Campe to be cured And at this assault there wer many made riche though these twoo freendes had but euill Fortune and founde enemies where thei should haue had freendes The toune was spoiled and ransackte and the Admirall of Fraunce with many others were taken there and so kyng Phillip fortified it againe and lefte therein a greate Garrison and retired towardes the Burgonion Paile takyng certaine tounes and fortresses in his waie Not verie long after a peace was concluded and the Englishe Armie beeyng well paied and in Englande maister Nicholas Malbie went to the Irishe warres and kept capitaine Girtton companie not in paie but vppon pleasure The Erle of Sussex then Lorde Deputie and Capitaine Girtton hauyng somewhat to take with the Lorde Deputie desired maister Malbie to see that his charge and countrey should be well gouerned till his retourne and gaue M. Malbie power to doe what he pleased in that behalfe There was one in those partes named Mighell Patrick that was a tickell Subiecte and did many wronges to his neighbours and namely to Capitaine Girttons menne against whom maister Malbie went and had diuerse tymes the vpper hand of hym and put hym and his Kerne to flight In this season there was a Proclamation made by the Lorde Deputie that whosoeuer
could take a Rimar which were a kinde of Supersticious Prophesiers of Irelande should spoile hym and haue his gooddes without daunger of Lawe Maister Malbie maister Anthonie Poore maister Robart Hartpole maister Thomas Masterson beyng all at Kilkennie heard of certaine blinde Prophesiers called Rimars that had been abroad with gentlemen and others and gotten their beste horses Plate and Iewelles for tellyng them fables and lyes whiche Iewelles and treasure came to the value of twoo hundreth markes These Rimars goyng home were followed by these gētlemen and brought backe to Kilkennie and there spoiled and whipped and banished the toune which Rimars swore to Rime these gentlemen to death but as yet God bee thanked thei haue taken no hurte for punishyng suche disordered people In a little while after maister Malbie went to my lorde of Warwicke his maister who was Lorde Lieutenaunt of Newe Hauen where maister Malbie was not onely my Lordes Secretarie but also was readie in all seruices and had good and greate entertainement at my Lordes handes and Ihon Malbie serued there at his owne charges on horse backe and Capitaine Horssey can tell what good seruice he did at a skirmishe by Harfflue master Thomas Horde is a good witnesse in like sorte of the same seruice For Horde was striken through the hippes with a shotte and laye on the grounde at the mercie of the enemies sworde whē Ihon Malbie flang in emong the thickest and recouered his coūtrie man who yet is liuyng and able to doe good seruice At this seruice maister Ihon Malbies horse receiued two shotte and yet carried his maister to Newe Hauen after At Newe Hauen was diuerse times greate an noble seruices to be seen The Ryngraue and all his regimente could well shewe you the same For thei thought and founde that our Soldiours were of greate vallue and worthinesse For many of the Ryngraues bande passed vnder the misericorde of our Englishe blacke Billes And the Ryngraue a moste worthie and noble warriour confessed hym self that Englishe soldiors ought to be honoured But the Plague beyng so sore and so terrible in Newe Hauen the value of our men could not be seen but a little season and so the toune of necessitie was yelded wherein was lefte Capitaine Randall and Capitaine Malbie to see the hurte menne conuayed awaie and the greate ordinaunce carried into Englande that was agreed vppon betweene the Frenche and the Erle of Warwicke by whiche meanes and to see the condicions performed Capitaine Randall and Capitaine Malbie were the last of our Englishe nation that came out of Newe Hauen These thynges brought to passe and all thinges in quiet here at home The twoo brethren heard of warres betweene kyng Phillippe and the greate Turke and tariyng a small tyme here thei sailed vnto Spaine and came to the Courte where by the meanes of the Count de Ferrey the king gaue them a gracious welcome and commended theim in his letters to Dom Ihon de Tholethoe then Viceroye of Cisill and Capitaine generall of his Armie againste the Turkes and Admirall of the Leuaunt sea The kyng also gaue them letters vnto the Viceroye of Kateloniea who was Duke of Langgiuill for their passyng into Cisill whiche Duke vsed theim verie courteously and appoincted theim a Frigette whiche was rowed with fower and twentie Oers and had appoincted for their safe conduite fiftie Soldiours with victualles for all the whole companie Thei arriued in a Citie called Guarthelagare and walkyng abroad vp and doune the streates till their menne had prouided their supper There came one vnto them that was the Algusie Magore and crossyng the streate before them offered them his varge as in a maner of a reste whiche thei yelded vnto and with that he drewe out their Rapiers to se if thei were accordyng to the sise of that Countrey and findyng one of them about the breadth of a strawe longer then his measure he carried bothe the twoo brethren to prison thei mistrustyng his dealyng requested hym to bryng theim to the Corige doore Who answered thei should goe to hym but straight waies he clapped theim vp in a strong prison where thei were faine to woorke for their libertie and sendyng a greate iourney backe againe to the kyng of Spaine that laye at Madriell by meanes of maister Shelley and the Count de Ferrye thei receiued letters againe from the king that he whiche did them wrong should bee put out of office and should paie their charges that was the Corigedoore and the other that did areste them first should haue his necke broken and should be caste into a Well except thei that had the wrong would pardon hym Whiche thei did pardon but he loste his office and paied for their charges whiche was thought a greate matter in a straunge Countrey and taken to be a greate Iustice in a kyng So thei passed towardes Palarma through many daungers and perillous passages beeyng sonderie tymes in hazarde to fall in the lappes of the Turkes Galleyes and yet through good happe and conducte of the Frigette thei were in whiche was well furnished thei escaped all perilles and came to Palarma From thence thei helde companie with the Galleyes of Cisill that went to Messiney where beyng arriued thei presented their letters to the Viceroye who vsed theim courteouslie and presented theim to diuerse noble men and furnished them with all suche necessaries as thei needed There was a gentleman that came frō Sardinia where the brethren had been and brought letters of commendatiō from kyng Phillip and Dom Ihon de Austria in his behalfe who the Viceroye examined gentely and findyng hym not meete to take charge in suche a greate seruice as was then intended gaue hym good entertainment and told hym that other auncient soldiours muste bee firste preferred because the greatest seruice of Christendome was presently to be followed with men of moste experience And so placyng this gentleman in a Capitaines wages and at his owne table he gaue the twoo brethren the charge of a Galley whiche was vnder the leadyng of a gentleman whose name was Giles Andratha one of the order of the white Crosse. And within fiue daie the whole power pasfed from Messina to Seragosa where thei remained seuen daies and from thence thei passed to Malta euery man bearyng on his backe twoo and thirtie pound weight of bisket whiche burthen bothe noble and simple were willyng to carie at the least fower Italian miles For thei landed at S. Paules rode and marched to the aunciente Citie named Ciuerauegia Sir Ihon Smithe that now is a valliaunte graue gentleman shewed hym self there so honourable that he aduaunced the fame of his countrey by the noblenesse of his minde The Turkes vppon the arriuall of the Christians plucked backe their Batterie and embarked their greate Ordinaunce and retired their men of warre a Shipborde but in their retire thei loste fifteene hundred Turkes and those soldiours that were before penned vp issued out and recouered twoo greate Cannons Dom Garsia
the Earle made diuerse iourneis vppon hym As a iourney where a preye was to be wonne where maister Maunsfeelde a proper man was slaine at and maister Harry Knowles was fore hurte in who serued noblie that daie And a iourneye made to the Glyns to Freers Toune and to many other places emong the enemies but with this seruice and diligence the Englishe glentlemen were so weried that sondrie sought meanes to departe into Englande and so the Earle remained with the lesse force and could not put further the mater in practise then his power and Fortune would suffer and procure notwithstandyng he founde meanes to entrappe and take sir Bryan Mackefellyn whiche he sent to Deuelyn and caused to bee retourned againe At whose retourne to auoide further trouble sir Bryan was put to death on whiche execution runneth diuerse reportes the maner whereof I leaue to the worlde For my intente is but to shewe breefly how thynges were begonne and ended at that present tyme of seruice All this season remained with the Earle sir Nicholas Malbie and his brother Capitaine Barkley Capitaine Selbie Capitaine Bousar Capitaine Deeryng sir Peter Carewe sir Willyam Morgan and twoo of my Lorde of Hunsdons soonnes maister Harry Bronkar and others of good callyng courage and credite Sir Willyam Fuwillyams was Lorde Deputie then who tooke greate paines to reforme the badde disposition of disobediente people and often tymes was in Campe hym self to vse the sworde and minister iustice And at his goyng awaie came the honorable sir Harry Sidney in whose tyme was muche to be doen but especially against one Sarlaboyes a Skotte that kepte aboute the Ban and had ouerthrowne a nomber of talle soldiours saruyng at Karryckefargus emong the whiche companie was Capitaine Baker slaine So for the reuenge and redresse of these and suche like causes the Lorde Deputie made a power and marched frō Dradaffe to Dondalke and so to the Newewrie and from thence to Lakaell and so toward Bellfaste where in a woode a greate nomber of wilde Kerne vnder the leadyng of Brian Macke Farttie did attende vs and staied vs from takyng the aduauntage of the tide thei plied vs with suche shot and other their leaude demeanour But we charged on them and so draue them into their fastnesse Capitain Harryngton and his bande serued well that season I behelde the same and with small difficultie we put the enemies backe and passed the Riuer with some hazard for the floud was come in and we were faine to carrie our footemen behind vs a horseback and some we ledde by the handes whiche moyled and wette the poore soldiours extremely but the marche that wee had after to Karryckefargus brought the poore menne in good harte againe but their victualles waxed scante and we carried a longer season then was looked for by meane of the hollowe and false dealyng of the wilde Scottes of whom Sarlaboyes was Capitaine This Serlaboyes had in his Creete as thei call it thirtie thousande Kye and yet wee wanted bothe Beefe and Biskette The reason was the winde serued not to conueigh vs victualles from Strangfforde and other places appoincted to victuall the Campe. At the length Serlaboyes was faine and glad to sende vs some Kye and so we marched awaie but the seconde daie after the woodde Kernes spied their tyme and set vpon some of our carriages and tooke with theim bothe tronkes full of apparell and some plate but thei could not dooe to our power any hurte at all saue to a fewe that went without order and felte some scourge for their follie After this the Lorde Deputie roade to a place called Blackwater to whom came the Oneall and made his humble submission and so we helde on in iourneyng and marche still towardes the Weste and came firste to the Forttes in Affayleye where some offendours were hanged and then to Kylkennie the Lorde Deputie passed but before he came nere the Toune the noble Earle of Ormonde with a braue traine mette the Lorde Deputie and afterwardes feasted hym moste sumptuously and now to speake of this valliant Earle it shall beautifie my matter For his seruice charges and trauaill hath been suche that it deserueth memoriall for euer For alwaies and at all seasons he hath on his owne proper coste and charge been as readie and as forwarde to serue the Prince as any man that euer I haue heard spoken of noble or otherwise and this is moste to be commended in that noble Earle he neuer brake faithe in his daies but had suche regard to his honour that he would keepe touche with his mortall enemies and muche more with his freendes and where due obedience doeth leade hym I lacke but laisure to praise that noble man a right and so for this tyme I goe no further in his honourable commendations Now from Kylkennie the lorde Deputie went to Korke and so to Lymbricke where I sawe the Earle of Desmonde come in with greate humilitie and reuerence and many others of the Nobilitie of Irelande duetifully behaued them selues there So from that place the Lorde Deputie went to Gallawaie and retourned home through Connaught where now Sir Nicholas Malbie remaines as gouernor FOr that it shall not seeme in any sorte that either affection or report should lead my penne to the praise of one and leauing out the laude of an other which is a kind of curryng fauour with menne and a fauourer of good fortune I haue drawne and sett doune in good order the valliant seruices of diuerse capitaines that were at Newe Hauen who ought not to bee forgotten if I write not parshallie and voide of consideration Emong the whiche Capitaines I finde Capitaine Reade now in the Garrison of Barwicke a manne so worthie of memorie and garnished with knowledge and courage that he not onely merites to bee spoken of but likewise deserueth to be honoured in Marshall causes and exercises of warre And because sonderie reportes hath been bruted and blowen abroad otherwise then reason requireth of the kepyng and yeeldyng of Newe Hauen I mynde in breef and shorte maner to make a whole and sounde discription of the seruices there Whiche in myne opinion were bothe daungerous and manly and maie be called a noble exploite till Goddes visitation by terrible Plague and diseases had infected the toune and disouraged stoute soldiours For in callyng to mynde the sondrie hazardes and extremities thei were in consideryng a fewe in comparison in a straunge Countrey withstoode a greate nation and multitude of men well experimented I am moued to touche a little their vallue and to shutte in silence by this my true rehersall the bablyng speeches of those that haue barked or snarred at the well dooyng of their Countrey men Whose fame and laudation in our Forefathers daies hath ouermatched and farre surpassed the glorie of any our neighbors examine but their deedes and conquestes and you shall neede no further triall of the matter Now to make good myndes of vpright meanyng conceiue the trothe and in a
muche manhode as could be shewed and the enemie driuen out of the village But for the auoydyng of suche daūger as ouer farre marchyng into a straunge Countrey as might haue brought our menne vnto Capitaine Read with fame and victorie retired in verie good order and maner of the feelde Now I praie you was not this a peece of seruice worthy the honoring and because many at home that neuer saw seruice abrode sittyng on soft cushons and feles no hard fortune doeth descāt of euery mans doyng yet neither knowes plainsong nor vnderstandeth measure I haue thought good to sette out plainly sutche a peece of seruice put in proofe at newe Hauen emong the reste of seruices as the ignoraunte babler shal be a shamed to speake againste and the manne of knowledge shall honour and hold in reputation whē he shall heare what trothe hath reported After Capitaine Rede and his valliant companions capitains and soldiours had giuē the Ringraues companie an ouerthrowe there befell a seconde and a third daies seruice sutche and so noblie maintained and followed as seldome hath been seen in any place of the worlde And for the better vnderstandyng of the same and in praise of our Englishe nation I will rehearse it vnto you orderly as it was or at the least wise as well as I cā The Frenche stomackyng the ouerthrowe lately spoken of and the Ringraue seekyng a reuenge drewe a draught to traine our men out of the toune whiche were readie enough either for skimishe or any other maner of enterprise and to this seruice on the sodaine wente out one maister Charles Leighton as leader of all our shot in the feeld that daie this Charles was Sir Thomas Leightons brother then there and now gouernour of Garnesey on whose good seruice I could speake in like maner But now to my former matter The Frenche side with as greate a brauerie and order of warre as might be came lustellie to prouoke the skirmishe hauyng certaine bandes of horse menne for their garde and greate aduauntage And our Englishe Soldiours desirous to encounter ranne in vpon their enemies so feercely and with suche a couragious charge that nothyng but smoke of shotte and flamyng fire was seen betweene the twoo powers And alwaies maister Charles Leighton who was a moste notable Soldiour kepte his companie in so warlike an order that the horse men durst not charge them albeeit thei made many an offer and ranne in vpon our men sondorie tymes but thei came so sparkled abroade and so daungerously without fastnesse of troupe and suretie of force that our armed Pikes had many of them at their pleasure And our shotte made greate hauocke emong their cheefest Soldiours But the maner of this fight was so Soldiourly handeled that those of the Frenche side beyng maisters of that arte were learned a Schoole poinct of skill and tooke out a lesson worthie the notyng For those whiche thei tooke for ignorant schollars taught a newe kinde of conuyng and shewed an Artificiall poincte of pollecie and practice of warre Whiche was sometymes to retire vpon fight to drawe the Frenche forwarde and there on to charge with the Pike in bothe the handes enterlarded with shotte sworde and Targette and came so gallauntly to the pushe of the Pike and blowe of the sworde a volley of Hargaboze shotte of before that the Frenche and Almains thought that our meinie had been rather dauncyng the Almaine Haye then trauessyng the grounde to forsake the feelde and retire into the Toune and albeeit it was in earnest for life and honour our Soldiours did striue yet thei made it but a sporte it was so lustely maintained and so noblie handeled In the beginnyng of this skirmiche and when the seruice grewe somwhat hotte and furious at whiche tyme diuers stoute gentlemen were come to the feelde sir Humfrey Gilbart was hurte with the shotte of a Hargaboze There were at this seruice sondrie of our gentlemen as maister Thomas Gorge now of the priuie Chamber maister Ihon Horssey maister Ihon Souch and to bee shorte diuers of good callyng and reputation whiche I must omitte for that an other daies ▪ seruice muste be remembred whche was vpon a Saterdaie not long after this Yea sutche a daies seruice it was as who so euer notes it well shall finde matter enough to talke or write of a long season the maner whereof a litle shall bee touched because suche valliauncie shall remaine as a spectacle to looke into while the siege of newe Hauen can be remembred Now as you haue vnderstoode the Frenche and Almaines desirous of honour and to bryng to passe that thei came for laied an ambushe of horsemen and footemen priuily for their purpose And so a fewe of theim aboute Dinner tyme approched a trenche that was fortified with barrelles because the grounde serued for no other fortification on the Peeble and there our menne withstoode theim to the vttermoste and issued out of the same trenche diuers tymes with the force thei had whiche was but small The enemie seeyng the Trenche not sufficiently manned waxed more bolder then thei were wont and so meant to driue our small power into the toune whiche was from the newe deuised Trenche a good distaunce and so determinyng and disbandyng certaine shotte and other apt Soldiours for sutche an exploite thei gallauntly came forwardes and in a little season yet with somwhat adoe thei enioyed the Trenche forcyng our men to retire to their better aduanntage and more suretie My Lorde of Warwicke beholdyng this broile and bold attempte not meanyng that our menne should either lose honour or grounde beganne to bee somewhat moued in minde and for that he would beard the enemie and knowe what his freendes and those good Soldiours vnder his charge would doe He called Capitaine Horssey now sir Edward Horssey Knight and Capitaine of the I le of Wight and asked his aduice in this matter who aunswered my Lorde that he and his power with the helpe and aide of maister Francis Somersettes bande would driue the Frenche out of the Trenches and that right soone if thei that issued out of the toune followed good direction and order My Lorde Lieutenant agréed to this deuice And so capitaine Horssey had the whole charge of this seruice who marched towardes the trenches with great courage and hope of victorie The enemie bothe at hande and farre of in the vewe of this attempte framed themselues to defende and resiste that came to defeite them and so on bothe the sides a hotte peece of seruice was put in proofe and no partie was well that might any waie occupie weapon in that present action But alwaie the Frenche side with their forces whiche were double or treble our nomber sought aduauntage how to giue a charge on our menne with little losse whiche Capitaine Horssey had a good eye vnto and sought to preuente For euen as the enemie came lustely on to doe mischeef by horsemen so our menne mette them a foote as stoutly and
iotte of honor from them that well had deserued Yea this Ryngraue was suche a noble warriour that after the battaill or skirmishe was ended or any peece of seruice was doen he would sende flaggons of wine to his enemies and in tyme of truce or breache of warre whiche he vsed often for honours sake he would make bankettes giue giftes shewe liberalitie and bee as courteous as a little child And in the feelde a verie Lion more like then a manne and yet a man of moste sober iudgement and knowledge The whole Campe of the Frenchemen came to a greate hille after the ouerthrowe that the Ryngraue had and fullie bent to besiege Newe Hauen thei made euery daie a newe approche to the toune in moste soldiourlike sorte and order and to holde them in some awe as our power might many skirmishes were made and good pollicie and courage was put in excersice and nothyng lefte vndoen that either tyme or place would permit But what should I further delate of thinges paste mannes helpe and pollice when Gods wrathe and visitation dooeth cutte of all argumentes and makes a quicke dispatche of the matter For the Plague was so sore in the Toune that many men in a rage did leape out of the windowes into the streate and suche a generall disease and dispairing sicknesse was spread throughout the whole companie of soldiours that no one stoode in certaintie of his own state or life Suche was the heate and furie of the fearefull Pestilence and greeuous botche a dauntyng malladie that takes awaie the vse of witte and courage of man. Well albeeit that this greate mortalitie and miserable state of life might haue vtterly ouerthrowen the valliaunte myndes of many good men yet our people stoode so stoutely to their defence that many exploites were taken in hande and thei forced the enemie to make an offer vnto theim of a noble composition whiche of necessitie muste bee taken all thynges considered for there was no succour to bee hoped for to come out of Englande And some that were sent thether as sir Thomas Finche and diuerse other gentlemen were caste awaie by the sea and presently drouned Then noble Capitaine Randall who can not haue to muche fame who after was slaine in Irelande was appoincted by the Lorde Lieutenaunt to tarrie behynde when the Toune was yeelded vp to see all conditions and capitulations performed whiche were but slackly handeled and looked vnto by the Frenche and yet in effecte our soldiours with as muche honour as men in their plight could haue came home and brought muche ordinaunce and goods with them But thei had so greate a plague still emong them that many here at their arriuall departed this worlde This was but a peece of the seruice that capitaine Read was at in his daies for his moste paines hath been taken aboute the warres of Scotlande and roades made into that Countrey where he hath borne hym self so well and that a long season that all those who knowes the same or can call the seruice to memorie giueth good reporte thereof and speaketh muche to the adâ—â—â—ncement of his good name And seeyng that in 〈◊〉 praise and others my penne hath gone so farre I wil â— touche the seruices of sir WillyaÌ„ Winter who bothe by lande and Sea hath often been emploied And in the rehearsall of some parte of his doynges I will as I maie make mention of sir Willyam Drewrie sir Humfrey Gilbart sir Willyam Morgane Capitain Barkley Capitaine Morgane Capitaine Chester Capitaine Bingham and sondrie that of late daies hath been in diuers places of daunger and good seruices But this is to bee looked for that the honourable sir Iames Croftes now Controller of the Queenes Maiesties houshold sir Ihon Walloppe sir Iames Wilfforde and sir Ihon Bellyngame bee not forgotten and that euery one of these as remembrance shall serue me be breefly spoken of For if at large I touched some of their noble exploites that laste I haue made mention of I should make a greate volume of the same and so seeme to write a Chronicle that meanes but to treate of a fewe passages for the passyng of the tyme and the pleasuryng of my freendes The seruices of sir Iames Croftes maie well bee vnderstoode if you loke into the siege of Bullein The warres of Scotlande and the troublesome affaires of Irelande where he was Lorde Deputie And who that looketh depely in the mannagyng of those matters shall iustely of hym self yeelde due honoure to the persone that hath taken these paines without the reporte of my penne or further publishyng of the same Sir Ihon Walloppe that long remained gouernour of Gines and the seruice of the good knight Bellyngame once lorde Deputie of Irelande are of no little moment For the one had suche a hurt by a counter boffe that he got at Laundersey that he carried it to his death albeit he liued long after and did many greate thynges and the other was giuen to suche valliauntnesse as his doynges doe declare that in a maner we can not imagine more worthinesse in twoo men nor rightly attribute vnto them the glorie thei deserue If neuer any seruice but the siege of Haddyngton were spoken of it were sufficient enough and a witnesse greate to shewe the greate mynde and manly courage of sir Iames Wilfforde For he beeyng there as generall helde out the force of Fraunce and power of Scotlande the Queene mother lookyng and liyng at the siege and the Toune was so battered and beaten that men on horsebacke might haue ridden ouer the breache Yet notwithstandyng besides a nomber of other greate causes to make men rander a Forte sir Iames Wilfforde kepte the enemies out and did so noblie euery waie neither scarcitie of victuall nor want of pouder could moue his inuincible mynde For the more was the miserie the greater grewe his harte and hope to haue good Fortune for the whiche assured fortitude and determinate purpose he purchased euerlastyng renowne And liues at this daie in as freshe memorie as he were seen presently before the eyes of the people In that season was a place called Donglasse at our deuotion where one maister Aston was placed and an other fort beyonde Fiffeside called Broghttie Cragge where sir Ihon Luttrell did serue verie valliauntely a longe tyme And at a Toune nere the same Forte called Dondie Sir Willyam Winter and others did a greate peece of seruice worthie the rehearsall But for that Broghttie Cragge was at the length loste for lacke of succour out of Englande I leaue out muche matter that otherwise I had written After the Siege of Haddyngton was raised and the Frenche had withdrawen their batterie and the old Erle of Shrewesburie was come with an armie and laie at a place called Abberladie The Earle of Linkcolne that now is beeyng Lorde Admirall landed a greate companie of soldiours at a Pile called sainct Minius where our Fortune was but frowarde and for that I was taken prisoner there and our
people had no greate good happe It shall remaine vntouched any further A little before this betwene Tom Tallent and the Basse some Frenche Gallies were placed and three of our Shippes liyng in vewe of theim the Antheloppe the Harte and the Grand Mestresse so were the three Shippes called hoissed vp Sailes to feight with the Galleis whiche were twoo and twentie in nomber but there befell suche a misfortune by castyng aboute to fetche aborde that our Shippes fell one in others takell and were so harde clasped together through meane of mischaunce that thei might not shoote at aduauntage to annoye the enemie Who espiyng this oportunitie came orderly forward and shot many shott of Cannons emong vs breakyng doune a Maste or twoo and killing a fewe persones But in the ende the Shippes were set free and my Lorde Admirall had sent to our succours and the calme was gone in so muche that the gale of Wynde blewe our shippes full vpon the Gallies whiche the French beeyng in feare of drewe apace towardes the Shore and ranne their Gallies on grounde But ere thei could departe out of our daunger wee were so nere them that our Bowe men shot into their Gallies and our Cannons made a great murther and hauocke emong the poore slaues whose leggs armes and Ores I sawe flie about as the force of our shotte might attaine them These Gallies hopyng to keepe victuall from Broghttie Cragge crepte a long by the Shore and encountred a Shippe wherein was Capitaine Peers now seruyng in Irelande and then a venterar and laied so sore to his charge that thei shotte his Ensigne through and through and were like to haue bouged the Shippe but he mindyng more his reputation then regardyng the hazarde he was in plied the Gallies so well that thei durste not approche ouer nere and so in the meane while came a lustie gale of winde and sente Capitaine Peers from the Frenche Gallies to his greate safetie and the comfort of his freendes and countrey men Our Shippes manned furthe Boates and set vppon diuerse sailes that laie in Bornte Ilande and so spoiled them and lefte them on a flamyng fire and thereon rowed towardes a mightie greate Carrecke that laie vnder the succoure of Ynchskeeth and boorded the same Carreck and so burnt it the fire whereof discharged many greate shotte in the said Shippe before our menne could come aborde againe but that shotte did little hurte at all and our Nauie in the meane season laie in the mouthe of the Frithe not farre from an Ilande called the Maay Within a short while after was there a lustie gentilman and a seruiceable sent to take Yntchskeeth his name was maister Ihon Cotton a Capitaine of good account he landed and valliauntly tooke the Ilande but when our Shipps departed from the Frithe the Frenche and Scottes menne entered the Ilande againe and recouered it to our greate discontent in whiche furie and fight Capitain Cotton was slaine albeeit he did what became a man of stoute harte and courage and fought it out to the laste man in his companie whiche made the enemies maruaile consideryng thei were voide of hope to be succoured and releued The Scottes and Frenchemen takyng a greate despite to goe without Haddyngton liyng so long before it determined in a mornyng to assaile it manfully and to trie what Fortune and force of menne might compasse So the Ryngraue and nombers of the Frenche side came priuelie from Edenborough and set vpon the base courte of Haddyngton and in verie deede were likely to haue distressed the Toune if good watche and circumspection had not preuented that approche For the enemies were in the base Court and beganne to glorie muche of their conquest but one gaue fire to a greate peece that stoode full of haileshotte at the enterie of the gate and slue diuerse of the enemies whereat our men issued and dealt so valliauntly with the enemie that thei retired and loste all their labour At this tyme either sir Iames A Croftes was generall there or anone after For Sir Iames Wilfforde was either before taken prisoner at Donbarre or within a shorte season after But how so euer that cace standeth the soldiours of Haddyngton kept the toune and wanne suche fame thereby that to this present age thei are spoken of and honoured Whiles these thynges were in dooyng tyme roulled on and produced further matter For the wheele tourned and Fortune so frouned at our prosperitie that the worlde began to fall to declination and so Haddyngton was rased and left to those that would possesse it and the Frenche hauing some hope to recouer what thei loste before tooke occasion offred by some sodaine alteration and common course of worldlie affaires and therevpon thei besieged Bullein Barke the old Man and many other members belongyng to Bullein and a greate capitaine called Mounsire de Termes was in Scotlande preparyng to besiege Lawther Forte where Sir Hugh Willoughbie had gouernment with whom was Capitaine Colbie Capitaine Maneryng Capitaine Haeles Capitaine Whitton Capitaine Colliar Capitaine Knapp and others whose names I haue forgot albeeit I was then there newlie escaped out of Scotlande The saied Mounsire de Termes laie a long Mile with his whole Campe from Lawtherfort and wee to make hym sport deuised that some lustie gentlemen should clapp on white scarffes and so ride like Scottes men into the enemies Campe whiche we performed and slue diuerse in the Markette place and came awaie vntouched And not contente with this little attempte for emong our companies were soldiours of Haddyngton wee daiely offered to skirmishe when in the feelde was alwaies to encounter vs fiue to one of as good Soldiours as then were to bee founde in Fraunce But our hope and forewardnesse was suche that euery seconde daie we did somewhat worthy the meetyng and at this seruice came one Ihō Carr of Warke a valliaunte olde Capitaine and a speciall Soldiours in those partes and brought harde Cheese and pouder to vs For the eatyng of Horses did argue harde Cheese was as welcome as pouder yet none of them bothe might be spared in that extremitie Mounsire de Termes beyng desirous of victorie determined to come with Ladders and so to scale the fort wherof we had woorde and prepared to receiue hym with an vnfreendly welcome and for that we founde he brake his daie and would waxe wearie of rest by long liyng idle in a place The Generall caused all the greate Ordinaunce of the fort to bee bente fullie vppon Determes his Campe Capitaine Manneryng in deede putte that deuice in hedde and practise first and early in the mornyng on an Easter daie the whole greate artillerie was discharged on Determes his Campe which slue diuerse and so vexed the Campe that as you see a nomber of Crowes flie out of a wood when a harkaboize is shotte of so the Frenchemen came out of their Hiue that yeeldeth no Honie and gaue vs a sower and sharpe encounter For in a small season thei
returne to giue others their due praise that serued in Fraunce and Flaunders in these perillous tymes and daies of no little daunger Emong the reste I finde that Sir Willyam Morgane was one For he came on his owne voluntary will and charges with the yong Brickamone and a fewe other Frenche gentlemen to a toune called Vallencia and at their enterie whiche was on a Sondaie mornyng the Spaniardes that helde the Castell issued and thought to expulse bothe French and Burgonions out of the Toune And in deede the common soldiours hauyng small harte to maintaine their quarrell beganne to shrinke But the Frenche gentlemen and sir Willyam Morgan gaue a charge on the Spaniardes after a long skirmishe and muche adooe and draue them into the Castell and followed the Spanyardes so faste that thei sett a fire the drawe bridge because by that meanes thei thought that the Spaniardes should make no more sallies to assaile the Toune Vpon this seruice sir Willyam Morgan by the gouernour of Vallencia had a goodly gentilmannes house giuen hym stuffed with gooddes and furnished with Wines and victuall for a long yere that might haue serued his people and hym if his happe had been there to haue remained But the Graue Lodwicke sent for Sir Willyam to come vnto Mowns in Henault and after he had been there but a weeke he had the Threasurers house and all his substaunce deliuered hym The Duke of Alua besieged this Toune where many greate skirmishes and seruices were offered on bothe the sides albeit the Dukes power did farre excede the Coūt de Lodwickes yet euery daie the soldiours of the Toune did the vttermoste thei could to disquiete the Dukes Campe. And vndoubtedly the valliauncie and courage of theim that were besieged was so greate and so noble that their verie enemies commended theim for the same For it was no ordinarie maner of seruice thei did shewe but rather a newe deuised excersice of warre to make the assailantes as muche astonished at their enemies stoutenesse as take any hope to winne the Toune by any aduauntage might bee espied And in this maner of seruice the tyme was spent along season to the euerlastyng praise and fame of those that stode in the Tounes defence Sir Willyam Morgan was not idell in no one peece of all these bickerynges and at the length behelde the commyng of the Prince of Orranges power of horsemen whose power encountryng with the Duke of Aluaes force in a mornyng betymes continued in skirmishe till three a clocke in the after noone and so with the losse and slaughter of eight or nine hundred men the twoo forces did depart and seuered The Prince of Orrange thus marchyng awaie had giuen occasion to the Duke to followe or goe about some pollicie and after at a place called Sainct Gillyng the Dukes force gaue a greate ouerthrowe to the Prince of Orrenges side Whiche conflicte did argue there was no hope of succours to be looked for from the Prince at that present necessitie and Mowns standyng in this extreme daunger and beyng not well furnished with thynges that pertained to a long siege besides their Generall Count de Lodwick was sicke the Soldiours and Tounes men beganne to giue eare to a parley and so a peace was concluded on a straite composition whiche was that all the Soldiours in the Toune sauyng a fewe Almaines with the Count de Lodwick and himself should sweare neuer after to beare armour against the kyng of Spaine or of Fraunce Sir Willyam Morgan hearyng of that othe required rather death then to make a promesse paste the compasse of his alleagance and duetie to his owne Countrey and saied that he would neuer cōdescende to suche a straight composition though life and all he had laye vppon the refuse thereof Wherevpon a newe parley and cōmunication was had and there the Duke graunted sir Willyam Morgan and those Englishemen he had with hym to marche awaie in the same order and libertie of mynde that the Count de Locwick and his Almaines had obtained The Toune beyng randered into the handes of the duke of Aluae there were that perswaded sir Willyam to leaue the companie of the Count de Lodwick because it was presupposed that he should bee slaine or scape hardely from the Duke But sir Willyam beholdyng the honourable dealinges of the Counte and espectyng the regard that the Duke ought to haue to the lawe of Armes and performaunce of a Princes promesse determined to putte all to the hazarde of Fortune and to followe the Count de Lodwicke who marched saffely toward the Prince Suthe was the faithfulnesse and vsage of the Duke at that season that the Counte tame to his brother the Prince at his will and pleasure who laye with an armie at Riermont The Frenchemen had forsaken the companie of the Counte before and had procured that a passeport should be giuen to sir Willyam Morgan to passe through Flaunders by Iulian Romeroes freendshipp a gallaunt auncient man of warre But Sir Willyam refusyng that courtesie came with the Count to Riermounte where the Prince embraced hym And after the Princes Campe was dispersed he had sir Willyam to his brother in Lawe called the Count de Bergges and so to West Frese lande Holland and many other partes that the Prince had then in possession And in sondrie of these soiles sauyng in Hollande sir Willyam Morgan serued with tenne great horses at his owne charges For that he was the Quenes Maiesties seruaunt and would not be bounde for wages neither to passe the boundes of his duetie nor to tarrie a longer terme in a forraine countrey then good cause might commaunde hym So thus muche haue I thought good to write of in the behalfe of those that willyngly haue offered them selues to seruices worthie commendation Sir Humfrey Gilbart in this season with a good nomber of soldiours and Englishe gentlemen was at Floshyng and serued well in those partes and one Capitaine Morgan and maister Cotton a Pensioner did their duetie so throughly that muche was spoken of their praise at whiche seruice one Capitaine Bowsar and a valliaunte gentleman called maister Mackwillyam were slaine with sondrie others of our nation that did no whit forgette the former fame of our auncient predecessours and countreymen And those that liued and serued there at that tyme were well paied For the Floshyngars had drawen many a good hande of the Spanishe Fleete and were become wealthie with the spoiles thei had by hazard gotten I haue made mention of the goyng of the Erle of Essex into Irelande that fell out anone after this season with whō was sir Willyam Morgan maister Henry Bronkar Capitaine Barkley and sonderie other gentlemen that endured to the ende of all the seruices to their greate charges hazard and paines And for that I doe but breefly touche those thynges and haue spoken on them heretofore I commende the lengthe and discourses of those matters to youre iudgementes that haue laisure to looke and read what
other men haue written of those causes Now I make a little recitall of a seruice beeyng dooen betweene sainct Dennis and Parris where the Conestable of Fraunce was slaine in whose companie was maister Edward Barkley attendyng on Mounsire Brizak This battaill was attempted and fought by the power of the king againste the Prince of Conde whose force laye scattered a broade in the countrey aboute Parris and yet the nomber of xviij hundred horsemen and three thousande footemen wer lefte at saincte Dennis Whiche hearyng of the kynges power marched towardes them issued out of the Toune and beganne the skirmishe moste daungerously and with suche courage as seldome hath been seen or redde of consideryng their power was so small and the Parrisians were suche a multitude and to tell the trothe it seemed that the Prince of Condes force was but a handfull in comparison of the contrary side And it seemed a greate madnesse or mockerie for the small nomber to encounter with the greate and huge companie But necessitie that either redoubleth the strength of menne or dauntes the hartes of cowardes had so plucked vp the hartes of this little nomber that thei imagined thei rather sought againste children then champions And as it proued this little troupe presupposed that in a multitude is many opions and many that would rather bee at home in suretie then abroad in daunger whiche opinion and desire of of the weaker sorte breedes oftentymes a confusion and vtter mischeef emong a greate multitude Well albeit the hazard was marueilous and the enterprise paste all the exspectation of man yet the Prince of Condeis power did sette a good face on the matter and plied the kynges force with shotte and polliticke deuises of warre Yea in suche sorte and with suche manhoode at euery encounter some paied the beste blood in their bodies and some were forced to giue a lustie charge to staye and amuse the whole battaill And charge vpon charge was giuen on bothe sides moste noblie with moste assured hope of victorie And the fight beeyng begonne nere Saincte Dennies endured from the winde-milles almoste to the suburbes of Parris But alwaies as the multitude did ouerlaye the little bande the small companies courage did encrease and their myndes were become so greate that thei thought the feelde to small and the daie to short to shewe the valliauncie of their hartes And in this their manly disposition thei gatte grounde at euery charge thei gaue And in fine beeyng furiously bente compelled by greate Fortune and daungerous seruice the kynges side to swaie a little about and takyng the aduauntage offered thei charged a bande of horsemen where thei thought the Conestable of Fraunce stoode in troupe and hitte so full vpon the marke thei shotte at that the noble Mounsire Memorancie was slaine at the firste stroke by the handes of one called capitaine Steward a Scottishe gentleman Thus the Conestables death and others of good credite beeyng knowne and published emong the Parrisiens that came with hym to the feelde Thei fled as faste as thei could and so the whole armie was discouraged and as thei might euery man made shift for hym self But yet some order was kept emong them or els a great slaughter had been made and yet in trothe the Prince of Condeis side were waxt so a wearie that thei but looked for a tyme to take breathe in and refreshe their ouerlaboured horses Here maie the worlde beholde what good Fortune the forward myndes of men maie attaine vnto and what victorie and conquest is compassed by a constaunt determination and a resolute seruice Whiche who that lookes into and regardes throughly shall euer haue a prosperous successe For in all battailes and seruices where good Capitaines are the leaders the valliauncie of menne commonly goes awaie with the garlande and all worldly glorie and triumphes attendes and waites on the worthinesse of mennes courages as a thyng incident to those that dare aduenture by vallue to striue for good fame The Kyng notwithstandyng this ouerthrowe whiche might not a little moue his Maiestie raised a greate Armie after this when Sharters was besieged by the prince of Conde and marched thetherwardes with a princely power where was greate seruice and many a man slaine before the siege was raised But for that but a fewe of any greate name loste their liues there I write little of the particulars and yet if I liste to delate there is matter enough lefte to enlarge my volume of the same seruice Maister Edward Barkly was on the kynges side in like sort at this seruice and at the reste of the Frenche warres that followes on the Prince of Condies side Capitaine Barkley went after with the Prince of Conde and was at the siege of sainct Ihon Dangill At the siege of Poictiers At the siege of Angulem At the skirmishe of Lodwyne At the skirmishe of Lasmirie At the skirmishe of Pompero in whiche skirmishes many greate conflictes were giuen and many thousandes were slaine And a nomber of greate aduentures were to bee seen the Chronicle of Fraunce settes theim foorthe at the full For whiche cause I leaue out muche of the matter And after Capitaine Barkley had been at all these seruices afore named he was with the Prince at the battaill of Iernake where there was a greate fight and a hotte encounter long in ballaunce hangyng betweene hope and doubte But to conclude as the Frenche writers and trothe dooeth testifie The Kyng had the vpper hande and the Prince of Conde was slaine and his whole force driuen backe In whiche fight and blouddie battaill thousandes were discomfited on bothe the sides But the grace of good Fortune and the glorie of that daie wente awaie with the Kyng that longe had sought victorie and founde but harde chaunce till that present howre Some doe excuse the Princes misfortune with an ouersight of those that were aboute hym But in Gods blessed bosome the bowels of those broiles and businesse is shrined and lyes faste locked from the lookes and iudgement of man. Now I mynde to touche somewhat the seruices that were by Sea since we that are a liue can remember the reporte of the same and yet I maie not expresse at large any greate thyng thereof because I would not be tedious to the reader nor would not write more then is or maie bee well liked â–ª For that I searche no bookes nor robbe no one Aucthour of his studie and laboure I runne but to my owne vewe and reache of reason or followe the true report of those that I knewe will not fable with the worlde in matter of trothe and credite In the raigne of that moste redoubted and perelesse Prince Kyng Henry the eight whose famous actes can not bee to muche spoken of There was a noble and terrible fight on the Sea betweene the Frenche Galleis whiche were nineteene in nomber and twoo Foistes and our shippes whiche were not many The Kyng hauyng sente to Laundersey sir Ihon Walloppe and a
It must be likewise that the enemie did hold and possesse the place that same daie that the Romaine Citezen was rescued in It is necessarie that the manne whiche hath been succoured should confesse the same before the people For a Soldioures owne witnesse in that behalfe serues to no purpose And furthermore it is required that he whiche was rescued be knowen to be a Burgois of Rome For if one dooe rescue a Kyng that commeth to serue the Romains he dooeth not merite for the same the Croune Ciuique In like sort if one doe rescue a generall of an armie he gettes no more honor therefore then though he had rescued a simple Citezen For thei whiche established this ordinaunce had no regard but to the conseruation of the Citezens of Rome who so euer thei were The Priuilege of this Croune shall be to giue power to weare a Hatte of broad leaues as ofte as he pleased that had been once Crouned for his well dooyng Further all the Senate had a custome to rise out of their places and to doe honour to them that haue had this croune when thei goe to see the common plaies and pastymes And it is sufferable and permitted that thei shall sitte in a seate neere the Senatours And thei shal be exempt from all Ciuill charges not onely theim selues but their naturall Fathers and Graundfathers and now beholde touchyng their Priuileges there was one Cicinius Dentatus accordyng as wee haue saied Crouned fowerteene tymes And one Capitolinus had sixe tymes been Crouned for he rescued Seruilius then generall of the armie not withstandyng Scipio Affrican would not suffer them to giue hym the croune Ciuique for succouryng his Father in the iourney of Trebia O ordinaunce worthie of immortalitie saieth Plinie that assigneth no other praise for suche greate workes then this greate honor whiche surpasseth all other warlike crounes This farre goes the verie woordes of Plinie and many other auncient aucthors that I could rehearse in the commendation of menne of warre whiche neither in Tholomeus tyme Artaxerses daies nor any of the mightie Monarkes long raignyng before could bee forgotten but were so honoured that lawes and orders was onely deuised for the enlargyng of their lande and stirryng vp their noble myndes Yea Soldiours and Herrauldes had power to denounce warres in so muche as the aunciente Romains who were the Fathers of all Marshall affaires and conquerours of the worlde helde this for a moste certaine rule Nullum bellum iustum esse nisi pro rebus iniuste ablatis quod fecialis Romani antea denunciabant Whiche rule and order of the Romains for the power and honour of soldiours and Herrauldes declareth thei are of greate dignitie and callyng and maie compare by this their authoritie to be no whit inferiour to the beste sorte of gentlemen You maie reade in like maner that there was a manne emong the Romains that merrelie or paraduenture in contempte putte a Croune Cinique vppon his owne hedde and loking out at a greate windowe into the streate was espied And thervpon apprehended and brought before the Senate where he was iudged presently to bee putte to death for touchyng and abusyng that Croune Ciuique Whiche was ordained for the wearyng onely of an honourable Soldiour and for suche a one as had been by deserte Crouned with triumphe and solempnitie in open audience So this foolishe manne albeit he might meane but little harme was had to the place of execution and there loste his life to the greate terrour of those that rashely meddle with thynges that becomes theim not and to the greate honour of those that are aduaunced by vertue and winneth with courage the wearyng of this Croune called the Croune Ciuique Nowe commyng doune to this presente age in the tyme of our peace where Soldioures haue nothyng to dooe there is enough spoken and peraduenture to muche for the Soldiours commendation yet let me leade you a little further in that cace For now is to bee proued what degrees of Soldious hauyng serued long or borne any office of credite are gentilmen and maie vnrebukeable be bolde to take that name and title vpō them First you haue heard that seruyng tenne yeres honestly and truely he is not onely paste his prentishippe but also aboue a iourney manne and ought from all iourneis to bee spared As a man might saie though vnproperly compared a good free horse after his long labour and many greate iourneies is to bee ridden but seldome and kepte in the stable till extreme necessitie requireth and then is to bee vsed gentillie least his stiffe limmes and old bodie deceiue the riders expectation So a soldiour commyng to this age and perfection or beyng paste the iollitie of youth and youthfull actions ought to be prouided for and maie without presumption pleade for armes albeeit he neuer gaue none before and can bryng no greate proofe of his house gentrie or dissent and though he be the first of that house stocke and name that gaue Armes his beginnyng is allowed of all our aunciente writers and Princes and shall put his aduersaries to silence when in that poinct thei seeke to deface hym I remember once I sawe and heard an Italian vceyng in the Emperour Charles the fifth his Campe so stande on his reputation that when a meane Gentleman quarrelled with hym and desired the Combate he aunswered he had been Soldado Vetche an old Soldiour and had borne office and passed through sondrie offices by order and that the gentleman was but a yong man and but of twoo yeres experiēce in warre and farre vnmeete to make challenge with hym that had passed so many steppes of honour and places of credite But saied the Italian to his aduersarie goe and dooe that I haue dooen or passe through the like and when thou haste mounted vp and troden on euery steppe that I haue passed come to me and I will fight with thee the combate But to saie I will stoupe so lowe and base my self as a Lorde maie in fightyng with a Ruffian beyond the compasse of my callyng I will not nor no Lawe of Armes can commaunde me The matter came in question before the Prince of Orrange that now is and the Duke of Sauoye yet liuyng and the challenger had a foule disgrace in the audience of a multitude and the defendaunte had a rewarde of fiue hundreth Crounes allowed hym by the Emperour for preseruyng his honour and estimation so muche This was doen and openly seen a little before the siege of Renttie and standeth for a good recorde Then an old Soldiour is a gentleman bothe worthie to giue armes and collours and mete to be borne withall in causes of quarrell An other proofe for the maintenaunce of my matter I sawe at the siege of Leeth a gentlemant of greate courage and birthe called maister Ihon Soutch quarrell with Capitaine Randall then Maiour of the feelde And maister Soutche did vrge through ill woordes and stoute language Capitaine Randall verie farre whiche might haue
that his cunnyng failed him his force was but ill and his fortune worse For in the middell of his traiterous triumphyng he tasted the right recompence of rebellion and was slain in the feeld his hedde brought into Corke Toune and his bodie and reputation buried in the graue of reproche and infamie The Lorde Iustice had by this tyme or in shorte tyme after receiued some succour and aide out of Englande And sir Ihon Parret as Admirall of fower of the Quenes Shippes maister Willyam Gorge maister Nicholas Gorge maister Gilbart Yorke Capitaine Peers Capitaine Awdley Capitaine Hinde accompaniyng hym as Capitaines appointed for that seruice Sir Willyam Morgan maister Pellam maister Bousser maister Broncker maister Willyam Norrice maister Crofttes maister Ihon Soutche and many other lustie Capitaines and Gentlemen of good regarde were in like sorte appoincted for the seruice of Irelande But what was dooen and the rehearsall thereof I committe to those that liueth to Regester and keepe in memorie mennes labours and seruices hereafter Whiche writers in giuyng life to matters that tyme maie weare out of mynde are not onely well occupied but likewise makes good Soldiours imitate and followe the noble footesteppes of those that wente before them by whiche meanes Goddes glorie is aduaunced and our Countries honoure is vpholden and worthely defended Finis ¶ A small rehersall of some speciall seruices in Flaunders of late part whereof were in the tyme of Don Ihons gouernment and the reste beyng doen in the present seruice of the Prince of Parma now gouernour of Flaunders THE remembraunce of a booke dedicated to the right honourable Sir Frances Walsyngham touchyng the troubles of Flanders moues me againe to putte penne to Paper in that dehalfe Breefly to beginne where I left whiche was a matter of Don Ihon and procede a little in the dooynges of the Prince of Parma presentely in action and place of greate matter exspected And because my moste desire is to aduaunce the Soldiours of Englande as well as to publishe the seruices of forraine countreys I omitte many thinges that straunge Nations haue been exercised withall And declare somwhat in the fauour of myne owne countreymen that serue and haue serued vnder the Prince of Orange and States of the Lowe Countrey meanyng not to meddell with matter of State that passeth my reache and capacitie but familiarely to treate of suche thynges as the common sorte of people doe carpe vpon and is sufferable to bee written of As muche to delite the reader that searcheth for noueltie as any other cause that moues me to this labor and rehearsall of seruice The houge and greate armies the long continuaunce of troubles the passages and and discourses of manyfolde miseries and the open Plague and disturbaunce of poore afflicted Flaunders I referre to the vnsearcheable wisedome of the Almightie and the graue iudgement of the worlde And hearyng the certaintie of some scirmouches and seruices of late I followe the trothe of newe matter that falles nexte into my memorie You haue heard and the worlde can witnesse that Don Ihon before his death being desirours of fame and victorie sought and practised all meanes possible to come to his purpose and knowyng where and in what order the states laye and what straites were kept by the pollecie of Mounsire de Bussie Generall of the Campe for the States He determined with a full resolute mynde manfullie to attempte some exploite that might amase the Prince of Orranges side and plucke vp the courages of his owne people that laye a longe season idelly from dooyng of any greate enterprise And so therevppon Don Ihon in a maner gaue to vnderstande as by the sequel was perceiued that he would visite the campe of the States or winne suche straites from them as should be muche to their discontent and his greate aduauntage In the yere of our Lorde 1578. the warres beyng then at the hottest betwixt the estates and the Kyng the estates hauyng a greate puissant armie in the feelde vnder the conduicte of the Graue of Busie The Kyng hauyng also an other vnder the leadyng of Don Ihon his base brother It happened the firste of August the enemie to visite the armie of the states who laye then intrenched in the feelde nere vnto a Toune called Reminant The Armie beeyng composed of diuers nations bothe horsemen and footemen there was one regimente of Englishe of twelue hundred vnder the leadyng of the Collonell Candishe and in his absence his Lieutenaunte Collonell Richard Bingham The saied Lieutenaunt and no other Generall officer of that Nation beeyng commaunded to the feelde by the Generall of the states led forthe the whole nomber of shotte that was vnder his charge viz. sixe hundred The leaders vnder hym of the regimente were Capitaine Laukynges Capitaine Fitz Willyams Capitaine Edwardes the Lieutenant Paddon the Lieutenante Dalton the Liutenante Chubbe well accompanied with diuers other worthie gentlemen and officers Beeyng thus appointed with direction to leaue in a sure garde vpon the nexte Mounte to the trenche and with the reste to make hedde to the enemie and to entertaine hym as he should see cause offered at sight of the eye keepyng euermore the streight on the right hande and Steward with the Scottes on the lefte hande hauyng now placed a sufficient garde vppon the Mounte and sent Capitaine Fitz Willyams farther forthe by a quarter of a mile to assure theim of an other grounde and strength of aduauntage He receiues commaūdemente againe from the Generall that he should leaue the Mount and drawe his forces to the Churche whiche stoode aboute an Englishe Mile from the Mounte and vppon the saied streight wherevpon he presently lefte the Mounte leauyng behinde Capitaine Fitz Willyam to garde the place of aduauntage where he firste lefte hym beeyng a place of greate importaunce And with the reste he maketh waie to the Bridge where he lefte the Lieutenaunte Paddon with Chubbe and their companies in garde of the place and to stande faste for a releef to those that he ledde more foreward to the Churche Beeyng now arriued at the Churche with Capitaine Liggins his Lieutenant Dalton And Capitaine Edwardes with a three hundred shotte he sendeth vp to the Steeple twoo of his Soldiours to discouer the enemie who presently shewed that thei might see the faire Hethe whiche was yet halfe an Englishe Mile further and vppon it the whole power of the enemie in battaillions bothe horsemen and footemen and further that thei marched in for bothe the streightes The Lieutenante not reposing to muche truste in the twoo priuate Soldiours leaped of from his horse and went vp the Steeple hym self where as soone as he had discouered the enemie and perceiued hym to make in for bothe the streigtes he presentely at his commyng doune commaunded Capitaine Liggins to stande fast with twoo hundred shotte at the Churche and takyng with hym the Lieutenaunt Dalton Edwardes Finche and Straubrige with diuers other gentlemen officers with twoo hundred shotte He maketh hedde
to the streight where he founde the enemie commyng faste on to enter the same Who forthwith disbanded certaine shotte ledde by the aforesaied Dalton and Edwardes and enterteined them with the scirmouch so sufficiently as he forced them to giue grounde and to retire towardes the streight whiche Steward had in garde so far that in the action he brought hym self betwixte the enemie and the Scottes who mistakyng the companie gaue theim from the Hedge where thei laye suche a volley of shotte as made them to lose more grounde then euer the enemie could haue doen. The enemie in the meane time perceiuyng that and fought vpon a retreate came on with great furie beeyng supplied with freshe nombers But could not for all he might doe force them to abādon the streight till suche tyme as certain Englishe menne that were within the Closses to discouer broughte woorde that the enemie had entered the streight vpon the Scottes whiche was very true For euen at the instant the fire was seen to arise in the village and the whole forces that were to enter betwixte the water and the Englishe companies to retire theim selues vnto the Hethe againe The Scottes makyng good their fight vpon the retreate the Lieutenant was likewise driuen to doe the same whiche if he had not the enemie had cutte betwixte hym his companie and the trenches This beeyng well perceiued by Capitaine Liggins who was as is saied left at the churche for a releef by the Lieutenaunte the Capitaine presently aduaunced hym self and was now come halfe the waie to the succour of the Lieutenaunte and to preuent the enemie and ioyne hym self with the forces of the Lieutenant Thei altogether retire vnto the Churche and perceiuyng that the enemie came on apace the Lieutenaunt leaueth Capitain Liggins and Dalton his Lieutenaunt at a reasonable grounde of strength to entertaine theim and he hymself rideth backe to the bridge to fetche the releef for Capitaine Liggyns his retreate whiche releef was ledde by the Lieutenantes Paddon and Chubbe where he founde it of more strength then he thought of For he found his brother Capitaine Bingham come forthe with al the shotte of his companie beyng so willed by Capitaine Palmer the Sergant Maior of that regiment who commaunded hym from his warde The enemie seeyng the streight of that waie and that their other forces preuailed more vppon the other streight forsooke any longer to attempte the same againste the Englishe and retired theim as thei might on the side ouer the Closes to ioyne theim with their other forces whiche had euen now passed the streighte whiche the Scottes had in garde Who all together made hedde vp to the hill and so to the burnt house then fired by the Scottes in their retreate who at that instaunte forsooke the feelde and retired theim all into the Campe. Not farre from whiche place was Capitaine Fitz Willyams to whose tourne it now came The Lieutenaunte perceiuyng the enemie to bee aduaunced as neere the Trenches as he hym self was Commaunded his troupes to marche with all speede towardes Fitz Willyās to bryng them selues altogether on the hedde of the enemie and betwixt them and the Trenches Where at his arriuall he sent the Lieutenant Dalton with fiftie shotte into a close to beate theim on the flancke and hym self with the others dealte with them on frunte Here was Dalton with his encountered and twoo or three of his slain and of the enemies as many At this tyme came in Capitaine Fludde one of maister Morgans companies and was the firste that came in of the eleuen Ensignes to the greate comfort and encouragement of the other power that were of maister Norris his Regimente From the tyme that the Lieutenaunte Generall of maister Candishes regimente first entered into scirmouche on the farre Hethe vntill this tyme were passed twoo howers and from his first goyng forthe three This Capitaine Fludd had his marche on the rereward of maister Norris his regimente whiche was euen now all entered into the Estates Campe and was their firste arriuyng to the same After that Capitaine Fludde had deliuered diuers volles of shotte thei retired to the hille hauyng spente their pouder In this scirmouche whiche was verie well maintained by the forces of maister Candishes Regimente as also now by some of the other was slaine the Capitaine Liggins and one maister Shilton and maister Sādes sore hurte whereof not long after he died and maister Wingfeelde who recouered with diuers others hurte and slaine Aboute this tyme came in Capitaine Gill Lieutenaunte of maister Norrisses priuate bande accompanied with certaine squadrons of shotte of the saied bande After this came in Capitaine Salesburie with diuers troupes of maister Ihon Cobhams and Capitaine Aumond with the shotte of his owne companie As also Capitaine Cromwell with some of his owne companie and diuers other gentlemen as master Frances Fourder master Anthonie Ellis Capitaine Erryngton all whiche Capitaines and gentlemen behaued them selues verie sufficiently and with greate valure and courage ioyned theim selues with the Capitaines and companies of maister Candishes Regimente who as you haue heard were there long before and neuer departed the feelde but had alwaies their releef of pouder brought vnto them into the feelde by Smithe the Prouost Marshall who receiued the same of Palmer thei Sergeaunte Maior who was lefte within the Campe to prouide suche necessaries as also to gouerne the Trenches of the Englishe quarter whiche Capitaine Markain had in charge with the armed menne of that Regimente where he remained and serued all that daie As tyme had passed a twoo howers more in sore scirmouche of bothe sides maister Yorke came into the feelde who had been busie within about the deuision of their quarter for the eleuen Ensignes whiche as you haue heard were that forenoone ariued To whom the Lieutenant maister Byngham shewed the abuse of Soldiours that were of that Regimente who would not bee retired nor obaye his commaundemente Maister Yorke aunswered that he had then little to doe with them vpon whiche maister Bingham demaūded for maister Norris to whom he ment to signifie their disorder and disobedience As these speeches passed betwixt them thei sawe the whole force and power of the enemies Armie that were within the straight to moue and alter their present state with sounde of Trompet and Drom presentyng and aduaunsyng them bothe horsemen and foote men towardes vs wherevpon the Lieutenante demaunded of maister Yorke what it might signifie either to charge vs in grosse or els to make their retraite beeyng doubtfull whiche of these twoo the enemie would forthwith putte in vse the saied twoo gentlemen to preuente the worste and to assure thē selues and the state of the whole Armie thought good to possesse them selues of a hille or grounde of aduauntage whiche lay verie neere the enemie For whiche ground these gentlemen forthewith made for and also maister Roger Willyams came in on their left hande to the same who had not long before in the feeld before
the Viscount of Gant and the reste moste valliauntly encountered with a Spanyard and as worthely acquited hymself of the same at their enteryng or chargyng for the Hille thei made signes that their forces should followe Who beyng arriued and possessed of the grounde discended from their horses to encourage the whole nombers and troupes of our Nation to the seruice to followe whiche thei beganne to doe verie faste The first that came in was the Capitaine maister Roger Byngham accompanied with diuers Gentlemen and Soldiours as maister Huzey maister Knight maister Tēple with many more The other brother came in vpon the higher grounde more neere the Hethe with a fiftie or sixtie with hym some of that bande and some of others with whiche the saied Capitaine incontinent entered into scirmouche with the enemie from the Hille and the corner of the Heathe to their forces whiche were placed all a long vnder a Hedge This scirmouche was so well maintained of bothe sides that thei grewe verie neere the one to the other and diuers slaine on bothe sides As the actions passed in this heate of shotte the horse of maister Yorke was stricken with a bullet throughe whiche he was forced to forsake the Hille or place giuyng a note thereof by woorde from hym self to the Lieutenaunte Who fearyng leaste the goyng awaie of that horse from the Hille inward would staie or discourage those that were cōmyng into their succours or aide Sent one of his menne to his brother the Capitaine willyng hym to fight or deale warely vppon a reteate And leaped hym self to horse to hasten and bryng them in whiche by this meanes or charge he doubted of and were commyng euen in this meane while The enemie charged with greate furie Capitaine Bingham and the reste that were with hym who moste worthely choose rather to sell his life dearely with the slaughter of some of his enemies then in vile and disorderly sort to retire yet made he an orderly retreate into the high waie in whiche there came vp on the lefte hande a greate troupe of the enemies who inuironed or caste theim aboute with this the Lieutenaunte came in with succours who was encountered with the saied enemie twentie paces before he could ariue at the Capitaine and was so hardely charged and ouersaied with nomber that he was forced to fight pelle melle in a retraite all a long vnder the Hedge till he came to the elbowe or bought of the cloase where Capitaine Edwardes the Lieutenaunt of maister Cabendiches companie came in to hym well accompanied with the shotte of that band with the aide of whiche the Lieutenant Generall charged the enemie again with a greate furie and courage forcyng them to a maine retraite euen to the Hille or corner of the Hedge where thei findyng their freshe reserued troupes strength charged vs againe the seconde tyme with greater furie then before For it stoode them in hande to giue vs our filles that thei might make their retraite with saffetie forsyng the Lieutenaunt againe to a general retraite vpon this seconde retraite came in the cheefe Generall of our Nation Maister Norris to whom the Lieutenant adressed hym beyng then extreme wearie bothe in bodie and mynde for the doubtfull estate of his brothers and the other gentlemen as whether thei were taken or slaine whiche he signified forthe with to the Generall maister Ihon Norris Who beyng freshe and lustie endeuoured hymself moste worthely in commandyng charge of all handes with whiche the enemie was againe repulsed to his ordinary garde of strength beeyng brought to this state there beganne againe a hotte scirmouche betwixt them in whiche was neither sworde nor pouder spared The enemie seyng the great courage of the Englishe who would not leaue theim but were harde at their heeles was doubtfull how to make his retraite with any assuraunce thought good in pollicie to giue vs a maine charge once againe with as greate furie as thei might And this was the third tyme and the laste that thei persed our Nasion in whiche thei forced vs further then euer before euen to the corner of the cloase nexte to our Trenches At whiche place came in Capitain Fitz Willyams with a reasonable good troupe who the Lieutenaunt commaunded to charge on the enemie and promise doo followe hym in the back as he did but as he cam to the elbowe of the cloase he mette the saied Capitain commyng aboute sore beaten and all the place from that to the Hille imploied with the companies of bothe sides in fight of pelle melle with diuers encounters of many worthie men of courage vpon this occasion or fight wee stoode longer then in any other before Here thei gaue vs so muche as we were well contente after wee had forced them to retire to take a pauce on it Attendyng the commyng of the Collonell Morgan who was sette forward from the trenches with a good troupe to our succours And truely though he were not in the feelde yet did he very worthie seruice within the Campe in giuyng order for vs to be supplied in diuers cases As also in fastenyng and assuryng the myndes of a nomber of fearfull straungers Who had their wagons and packes all readie truste to flie onely restyng vppon the assurance of our Nasion In this meane while the launces of the enemie had passed the straite in their retraite backe againe and laye at the mouth of the straite towardes vs seuen or eight companies of Harcabuses on horsebacke to deale with them that would attempte to pursue theim Their footemen that had been so long in action with vs seyng their retraite prepared for and their tyme come without sounde of Drumme stale awaie ouer twoo or three cloases till thei paste the crossewaie that went towardes the straite on the right hande At this crossewaie thei had placed a releefe of shot whiche was emploied againste maister Norris and the reste that followed hym From this crossewaie and corner whiche was a grounde of strength thei deliuered a volle in brauerie and somewhat in pollicie more then to hurte on the instant of whiche volley of shot thei tooke their heeles ouer the Medes and ditches and neuer tourned till thei came to the farre Heathe where thei founde the Launces for their garde who presentely conducted them into the Armie And thēselues made the rereward with the shotte on horse that laie yet more behinde at the mouthe of the straite towardes our trenches as I haue shewed you before ouer twoo or three cloases thei were paste before wee could learne of their fearfull retraite Yet were there diuers lustie fellowes of ours that were in with the hindmoste and tooke some prisoners The Prince of Parma commyng to the gouernemente of Flaunders after the death of Don Ihon whose vallue is waighed by the wisedome of the worlde beganne pollitikely and manfully to vse his aucthoritie For so the cace required consideryng diuers Gouernours bearyng the Torche before hym and he with a little Candell must