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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A05269	The copie of a letter sent out of England to Don Bernardin Mendoza ambassadour in France for the King of Spaine declaring the state of England, contrary to the opinion of Don Bernardin, and of all his partizans Spaniardes and others. This letter, although it was sent to Don Bernardin Mendoza, yet, by good hap, the copies therof aswell in English as in French, were found in the chamber of one Richard Leigh a seminarie priest, who was lately executed for high treason committed in the time that the Spanish Armada was on the seas. Whereunto are adioyned certaine late aduertisements, concerning the losses and distresses happened to the Spanish nauie, aswell in fight with the English nauie in the narrow seas of England, as also by tempests, and contrarie winds, vpon the west, and north coasts of Ireland, in their returne from the northerne isles beyond Scotland.	Burghley, William Cecil, Baron, 1520-1598.; Leigh, Richard, 1561?-1588, attributed name.; Mendoza, Bernardino de, 1540 or 41-1604.	1588 (1588)	STC 15413; ESTC S108408	47,041	60

mine owne knowledge but I haue heard it reported when I was gréeued to thinke the same to be so true that there was through England no quarter East West North and South but all concurred in one mynde to be in readines to serue for the Realme and that some one countrie was able to make a sufficient Armie of twentie thousand men fit to fight and fiftéene thousand of them well armed weaponed and in some countries the number of fortie thousand able men The maritime Countries from Cornewall all along the Southside of England to Kent and from Kent Eastward by Essex Suffolk and Norfolk to Lincolnshire which Countries with their Hauens were well described vnto you in perfect Plots when Francis Throgmorton first did treat with your Lordship about the same were so furnished of men of warre both of themselues with resort of aide from their next shires as there was no place to be doubted for landing of any forrein forces but there were within eight and fortie houres to come to the place aboue twentie thousand fighting mē on horsebacke and on foote with field ordinance victuals pioners and cariages and all those gouerned by the principal Noble men of the Countries and reduced vnder Captaines of knowledge And one thing I heard of that was very politikely ordered and executed at this time as of many late yeares was not vsed that as the Leaders officers of the particuler Bāds were men of experience in the warres so to make the Bands strong and constant choise was made of the principall Knights of all Countries to bring their renantes to the field being men of strength landed of wealth whereby all the forces of compounded were of a resolute disposition to sticke to their Lords and Chieftaines the Chieftaines to trust to their owne tenants And to remember one strāge spéech that I heard spoken may be marueiled at but it was auowed to me for a truth that one Gentlemā in Kent had a Band of one hundred fiftie footmen which were worth in goods aboue one hundred fiftie thousand pounds sterling besides their lands such men would fight stoutely before they would haue lost their goods and by likelihood at this time many other Bands were made of such principall men both of wealth and strength Of these thinges I am sory to haue cause to write in this sort because you may see how heretofore you haue bene deceiued with aduertisemēts of many which had no proofe to know the truth thereof and so I confesse my selfe in some thinges to haue erred namely in imagining that whēsoeuer any forreine power should be séene ready to land in any part of this Realme there would haue bene found but a small number resolute to withstand the same or to defend the Quéene but that the same would haue bene very vnable for the warres vntrained raw and ignorant in all warlike actions without sufficient armour and weapons and that also the Noble men and Gentlemē that were in this Realme of our Religion whereof you know we made accōpt when you were here in England of very many although many of thē be dead since that time but at this time there are not so many tens as we accompted hundreds whom we thought would haue shewed them selues like men of courage for our common cause and would haue sodenly surprised the houses families and strength of the heretiques and aduersaries But now such is our calamitie that it hath pleased God as I thinke for our sinnes or els for confounding of our bold opinions and presumptions of our owne strength to put in the hearts of all persons here one like mynde courage to withstand the intended Inuasion as well in such as we accompted Catholiques as also in the Heretiques so as it hath appeared manifestly that for all earnest procéeding for arming and for contributions of money and for all other warlike actions there was no difference to be séene betwixt the Catholique and the heretique But in this case to withstand the threatned conquest yea to defend the person of the Quéene there appeared such a sympathie concourse and consent of all sortes of persons without respect of Religion as they all appeared to be ready to fight against all strangers as it were with one heart and one body And though some few principall Gentlemen of whom heretofore you haue had the names in such Catalogues of Catholiques as you haue bene acquainted withall werelately vpon the report of the comming out of the Armie to the seas sent to the Isle of Ely there to remaine restrained of their former libertie during the expectation of this intended Inuasion yet it hath appeared that they were not so restrained for any doubt that they would with their powers haue assisted our Army but onely thereby to make it knowen to all our friends and countrimen in Spaine and Flaunders yea euen to your selfe for so I heard it spoken as accompting you to haue bene the most principall Author and perswader of this action that there should be no hope to haue any of them or of their fréends to assist these great Armies And in very truth I see now whosoeuer of our fréends in Spaine or in Flaunders or els where made any such accompt of any aide against the Quéene or against her partie here they should haue bene deceaued if the Army had offered to haue landed For I my selfe haue heard that the best of those that were sent to Elie did make offers yea by their letters to the Counsell here signed with their hands that they would aduenture their liues in defence of the Quéene whom they named their vndoubted Soueraigne Lady and Queene against all forrein forces though the same were sent from the Pope or by his commandement Yea diuers of them did offer that in this quarell of inuading of the Realme with strangers they would present their owne bodies in the formost rankes with their countrie men against all strangers Whereupon I heard also by a secrete friende of mine in the Court that it was once in some towardnes of resolution amongst the Counsellers that they should haue bene returned and put to their former libertie But the heate of the warre being kindled with the knowledge of the Kings Armada being at that time come to the Groigne and the Duke of Parmas readines with so great an Armie and shipping in Flaunders daily looked for to land in England yea to come to London and a generall murmur of the people against all such Recusants of reputation was the cause of the staying of these Gentlemen at Elie notwithstanding their offers of their seruice to the Quéene and so they doe remaine in the Bishops pallace there with fruition of large walkes about the same altogether without any imprisonment other then that they are not suffred to depart into the towne or countrey and yet for their religion I thinke surely they doe and will remaine

constant to the obedience of the Church of Rome for the which neuerthelesse they are not impeached to any danger of their liues but only charged with a penalty of money because they will not come to the Churches whereby by the law a portion of their Reuenue is alotted to the Quéene and the rest left to the maintenance of them their wiues and children By which kind of procéedings our Aduersaries here do pretend that both these Gentlemen and all other of their qualities are fauourably vsed that they are not pursued to death for their religion as they say it was vsed in Quéene Maries time and as it is daily vsed as they say most rigorously and barbarously in Spaine against the Englishmen that come thither onely in trade of marchandise And yet I and others sometimes priuately speaking with such our Aduersaries as wée thinke are not maliciously bent to haue men prosecuted to death only for their Religion for to say the truth and as the prouerbe is not to belie the Diuel very many of our Contraries are in that point not vncharitable we doe obiect to them the executions by cruell torments deaths of very many both here about London and other parts of the Realme whom we accompt as Martirs in that they do witnes by their death their obedience to the Pope and the Catholique Church of Rome To which these our Aduersaries pretēding some small drops of charity do answere vs that no execution hath bene of any to their knowledge for their religiō or for profession thereof but for that they which haue bene executed haue bene found to haue wandred in the Realme secretly in a disguised maner which the Aduersaries scornfully terme as Ruffians with fethers and all ornaments of light coloured apparell like to the fashion of Courtiers and doe vse many meanes to entice all people with whom they dare aduenture to speake not onely to be reconciled to the Pope and Church of Rome but to induce them by vowes and othes to renounce their obedience to the Quéene to deny her to be their soueraigne and themselues to be discharged of their Alleageance and to repute all Magistrates vnder her to be vnlawfull and in conscience not to be obeyed with many moe such matters which I neuerthelesse count to be very vaine calumniations tending to make the facts of all such holy Priests as are sent with Commission to winne mens soules to be direct treasons against the Quéene and the state of the Realme These Defenders of these iudgements and executions contend and do most earnestly maintaine that all such Priests Iesuites Seminaries and others so perswading the people against the Quéene the Lawes the Gouernment and state of the Realme and all others that are so perswaded by them are manifest traitors and so they say that their enditements and all proces of law extended and pursued against them doe manifestly declare the same Wherein these our Aduersaries do sometimes for maintenance of their arguments shew the very copies of their enditements and iugdements wherin there is no mention made of charging them with their religion but that they haue attempted to perswade the Quéenes subiects to forsake their Allegeance and consequently to be Rebels to their Quéene and Soueraigne In this sort these men for their aduantage doe at all times with these and many like earnest arguments maintaine their procéedings against the holy Priests Iesuites that haue suffred death for their conscience as iust necessary And though where I and others may reply without perill to our selues as surely in some small companies we may vsing modest words we obiect the confession of the Catholique faith by the parties at their death and that with great constancie which our Aduersaries cannot denie so as it may seeme they die for their religion yet is it on the other part against vs alleaged maintained that they are neither indited condemned nor executed for their religion or for offering of them selues to die for their religion but onely for their former treasons in conspiring against the Quéene and state of the Realme no otherwise then of late time Babington and all his Complices who were condemned for their attempt to haue raised warre in the Realme and to haue murdered the Quéene and to haue set vp the Quéene of Scots all which the said Babington and all his complices voluntarily confessed and were codemned and executed onely for those their great treasons and yet diuers of them at the place of their execution did in like maner as these Priests and Iesuites vse to doe make confession of their Catholique faith with offer to die for the same and yet say our Aduersaries it ought not to be affirmed that Babington and his complices were put to death for religion but for their treasons And for further maintenance of the coloured arguments wherewith I and others my good faithfull and Catholique brethren are often troubled how to answere them it is alleaged that the great number of gentlemen gentlewomen yea some of honourable calling and of other meaner degrées are knowne manifestly to be of a contrary religion to the lawes of the Realme both néere the Court and farre of and yet they are neuer pursued by any fourme of law to put their liues in danger or questioned or imprisoned for their opinions in religion whereby to bring them in any danger Onely such as are presented or complained of by the parishioners where they dwell for neuer comming to any Church by the space of certaine moneths in a whole yeare are therof endited and afterward being called to answere thereto if they can shew no such lawfull excuse as the law hath prouided they are then condemned to pay a penaltie out of their goods and lands if they haue any and not otherwise punished nor yet by inquisition any of them examined of their faith But yet say these defenders if they shew them selues by their open déeds and facts to be reconciled from their Alleageance and obedience to the Quéene and that they will therein persist then they are therewith charged and punished according to the lawes therefore prouided These arguments in their defence I doe not repeate as allowing of thē but yet surely they do moue me some others that are wise to thinke that indéed the rashnes of diuers comming secretely into the Realme professing themselues to be Priestes many of them being both very young vnlearned and of light behauiour hath done great harme to the goodnesse of our common cause and if they and such others could haue temperately and secretly instructed the people and vsed more circumspection in their owne liuing behauiour there would haue bene a greater increase of numbers perswaded in conscience to haue ioyned with vs in our profession Whereof I am the bolder to write to you my Lord that you may conferre with our countrimen that haue accesse vnto you and that they also may deale with the Fathers

of ours on that side y e seas may persist in their former opinions against the experience lately seen as it is likely they may be forced to do to maintaine them selues in credit for continuing their necessary relief from the Pope and the King hauing no other means to keepe them from steruing or begging yet because I would not haue you further deceiued by them who haue not bene present in the Realme to see such contrary proofs against all their conceits as I and others haue done I will shew you a great number of manifest Arguments though I am sory at my heart to remēber them whereby you in your wisedome if you be not blinded by others shall see it most certaine that these former opinions for comfort to be had from hence will proue the next yeare as strong against vs and in some part more strong then they proued this yeare if any accompt should be made thereof First for the Nauy of England which hath this yere to the sight of the world proued to be of great force value for those Seas and able to ouermatch in their maner of fight double to their number of the great Gallions Carikes Galliasses or Gallies it is certaine that it will be greatly increased this next yeare For I know that within these few dayes bargaines are already made Imprest of money deliuered and certaine sent into the Estlands for great store of all maritime prouisiōs And as for the increase of the number of good shippes for the Quéenes proper vse there is already a great quantitie of timber ready and order giuen to fell more in Nouember and December next in the Countries neare both to the Sea and to Thames to build a number of ships of warre equall to these whose seruice was séene this yeare to haue ouermatched the great Armadas Castles of Spaine Italy And furthermore to ioyne with the Nauie of England this yeare following not onely the Hollanders and Zelanders but also shippes of Denmarke other partes of Estland will certainly be had in great numbers whereof there was none at all required this yeare past to ioyne with the Nauie of Englād Onely certaine Hollanders Zelanders offred their seruice according as they are bound in the end of this Sommer since the conflict neare Callice to ioyne with some of the English Nauie in the narrow seas to defend y e issuing of the Duke of Parma out of the ports of Flāders in that seruice at this time there are aboue fortie and sixe good ships of warre with the Uiceadmirall Iustinian of Nassau a man that agréeth too well with the English Nation and is a sworne enemie to all Spaniardes and Catholiques as it is reported for certaine there are thréescore more comming out of North-Holland to the Seas for the same purpose so as it is to be doubted that this Realme this next yeare will be double as strong as it was this last yeare As to the second branch of our hope depending vpon opinion of some great miscontentment of sundry persons against the Quéene the proofe of the contrary so appeared this yeare both of her actions to maintaine the liking of all her people of the generall earnest deuotion shewed to her by all estates Noble and meane rich poore as I thinke no Prince Christened euer had greater cause of comfort in her people which I may iudge to bréede a pride in her And to recompence the same she did most notably shew her selfe in this time euen when most danger was threatened in all her actions towards her people as carefull for their weale and for the safetie of her Realme without any speciall or particular prouision or regard to her owne person as euer any Prince could do First to let her people vnderstand what care she had to make her Realme strong against Inuasion she politikely yea most carefully by her owne frequent directions caused her whole Realme to be put in armes she tooke accompt thereof her selfe by monethly Certificat from such as were made her Lieutenauntes in euerie Shire of her Realme she caused Armour Powder Weapon to be sent to all Countries and Ordinance to all Maritime Countries There were also sundry Armies described to defend euery coast of the Sea and as I heard it reported by some that did know the secrets of the Court was importunate with her Counsell to leaue no day vnoccupied to bring these seruices to effect and yet she did still continue her Commissioners in the Low Countries to treat of peace which surely she desired to haue obtained so that she might haue had the same with certaine conditions So as to content her people shee did both treat and desire peace and did not in the meane time neglect to make her Realme strong for defence if peace could not be gotten But in the end when her demaunds were wholy refused whereof we and all Catholiques were most glad and that she vnderstood very certainely that the Armie of the Duke of Parma should come first to destroy the Citie of London she reuoked her Commissioners approched London in person and did lie as it were in the Suburbs of the same whereby they of the Citie tooke great comfort hauing daily in shew and muster of their owne ten thousand men armed and trained of very able men of the Citie and in readines thirtie thousand more able to fight She caused also an Armie to be brought to incampe néere the Sea side vpon the Riuer of Thames betwixt the Sea and the City twenty miles beneath the City and after the Army was come thither she would not by any aduise be staied but for comfort of her people and to shew her owne magnanimity of heart as she said she would so do though she was a woman she went to that Armie lying betwixt the City and the Sea vnder the charge of the Earle of Leicester placing her selfe betwixt the enemy and her City and there viewed her Armie and passed through it diuers times lodged in the borders of it returned againe and dined in the Armie And first saw the people as they were by their Countries lodged and quartered in their seuerall campes which she viewed from place to place Afterward when they were all reduced into battailes ready as it were to fight with any enemy she rode round about them and did view them curiously being accompanied onely but with the Generall and thrée or foure others attending on her But yet to shew her state I well marked it she had the sword carried before her by she Earle of Ormond There she was generally saluted with cries with shoutes with all tokens of loue of obedience of readinesse and willingnesse to fight for her as seldom hath bene seene in a Campe and army considering she was a Quéene and all tended to shew a maruellous cōcord in a mutual loue betwixt a Quéene and her subiects and of reuerence and obedience of

1 397. A Biscaine wrecked before Ostēd 1. 000.   The day after the fight there sank two Venetians 2 843.   A great Biscaine forced by two of the Queenes ships to perish at Newhauen 1 000.     Ships Men   Total of these ships 15 4791.   Totall of both these losses 32 10185. Whereof there are prisoners in England Zeland at the least 1000. besides a great multitude of men not here accounted that were slaine in the fight and that haue died of famine as by the examinations aforesaid appeareth Beside many ships not yet heard of thought to be lost       In what termes England standeth in the opinion of the Catholiques The Spanish preparation three yeeres in making The Duke of Parmas army in Flaunders No forreine force coulde inuade England without a strong party in England Hope of victorie by the Spanish Army with assistance of a partie in England this Sommer All Spanishe hope fallen in nine daies The Catholiques doubt of their cause seeing the hād of God is against the Armie Many English Catholiques mislike of the Popes reformatiō by force The vntimely publishing of the intended conquest before the Spanish nauy was redy did great hurt The heartes of all sorts of people enflamed against the Spaniards vaunting to conquer the land The vntimely publication of the Popes Bull did hurt to the common cause Cardinall Allens bookes haue done much hurt to the intended inuasion and conquest The Cardinals rash violent writing missiked by the Catholiques The multitude of bookes published to shewe the greatnes of the Spanishe Nauy did also hurt The forewarninges of the Armadas greatnes caused the Queene to put all her Realme in force beyond all former The Armies made readie Nauie England in euery quarter of the realme The Maritime Countries prouided at lading places with twenty thousand men All the bands were vnder the principal Knights of the realme compounded of the most mightie men being their tenants and seruants A strange report of the wealth of a band of souldiers An error of the Catholique fugitives in the number of their partners in England A consent and concurrencie of Papistes and Protestants to withstand the conquest The gentlemen Recusants in Elie offer to aduenture then liues against all inuasions whatsoeuer without respect of Pope or other potentate The Recusants are not put in danger of their liues for their religion but are fined at summes of money The Iesuits are not executed for religion but for treasons The Seminaries for the most part come disguised like Ruffians Babington suffered for his treasons voluntarily cōfessed not for religion though at his death hee professed the Romane religion A multitude of gentlemen suspected to be Papists yet neuer indangered of their liues Many of the Priests that are sent into the realm are yong rash of leude life A great strēgth of the English Nauie by the Shippes of the port townes that did serue without wages Two notable lies printed in Paris and imputed to Don Bernardin Mendoza A most manifest lie printed in Paris of a Spanish victory when it was altogether an English victorie Mendacia of Mendoza The state of the Nauie of England this Sommer L. Haward L Admirall L. Henry Seymour Sir Francis Drake L. Tho. Haward L. Sheffeld The fight of the English Nauie with the Spanish The flying away of the Spanish Nauie The Spaniards prisoners say that Christ shewed himself a Lutheran in this Sommer voiage of the Spanish Nauie God shewed no sauour to the Spanishe Nauy from the beginning to the ending Don Pedro de Valdez Captaine Generall of the Armada of Andaluzia Hugo de Moncada Generall of the Galliasses of Naples Diego de Pimentelli Captaine of the Galleon named S. Matthew A consideration what may be done the next yeare to renew this Action The 3. hopes conceiued against Englād are nowe all frustrated The Englishe Nauie will be stronger the next yeare Offer of Hollanders and Zelanders to ioine with the English Nauie Iustinian Nassau Admiral of Holland with sixe and fortie ships of warre ioyned to the English Nauie against the D. of Parma Argumentes to proue no miscontentment of the people towards the Queene The prouidēce of the Queene to make her Realme strong The Queenes being in the Army in Essex when moste daunger was threatned by the enemies landing The notable Applause of the people to the Queene for her presence in the Campe. The singing of Psalmes by the English Army in the Campe. An Army prouided for the Queene beside the Army readie to withstād the landing of the enemie Great power of Horsemen brought by the Nobilitie to attend on the Queenes person The Viscount Mountagues shewe of horsemen was the first A number of great Lordes shewed their horsemen Earle of Lincolne Lord Windesore Lord Chancelour Earle of Warwicke Lord Treasurer L. Compton Earle of Leycester Lord Rich. Sir Walter Mildmay Sir Henry Cromwell Sir 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Earle of Essex with a great Band of horsemen and footemen afore the Queene at S. Iames. Course of the field Tourney Earle of Worcester Earle of Hertford Lord Audeley Lord Morley L. Dacres L. Lomeley L. Mountioy L. Sturton L. Darcy L. Sands L. Mordant Marques of Winchester Earle of Sussex Erle of Shrowsbury L. Talbot Earle of Darby L. Strange Earle of Bath Earle of Pembrokes noble offer Earle of Northumberland Earle of Cumberland Master Henry Brooke Sir Tho. Cecil Sir Wil. Hatton Sir Horatio Pallauicino M. Robert Carie. Sir Charles Blunt M. Thomas Gerard. M. Wil. Heruie Earle of Oxford M. Robert Cecil L. Dudley Sir Walter Ralegh M. Wil. Cecil M. Edward Darcy M. Arthure Gorge Earle of Huntington L. Scroope L. Darcy L. Euers Earle of Kent L. Hunsdon L. Cobham L. Grave L. North. L. Chandos L. Saint Iohn L. Buckhurst Earle of Rutland Earle of South-hampton Earle of Bedford Offer of the K. of Scots to the Queen of England Bands of horsemen and footmē erected by the Bishops The third and last hope which the Catholiques had of a partie in the realme was all frustrate The Spanishe prisoners condemne the K. purpose as being abused by the exiled Catholiques whō the Spaniards call traitors to their countrey No possibilitie to Inuade and conquere a realme without fauour of a partie inward The Spanishe prisoners condemne the enterprise and course of Don Bernardin of Mendoza Sir Frācis Englefield Lord Paget Earle of Westmerland Thomas Stukleyes abusing of the King of Spaine and the Pope newly remēbred by the Spaniardes A conclusiō by the writer to perswade an other course not by violence No hope for furtherance of the Popes authoritie by any now liuing that may succeede the Queene in the liue Royall A Conclusion what is best to maintaine the Catholike Religion in England A tolleration from the Pope for the Recusants in England Order taken by the K. of Scots in fauour of the English Daily prayers Publike praiers and giuing of thankes The seuenth of September A place neere to Smerwike where the Spaniards were defeated by the Lord Gray Michael Oquēdo was general of the squadrō of xiiii ships of Guipusque Fiue hundred drownd wherof were a hundred gentlemē and one onely saued of the whole number Seuen hundred drowned and one hundred takē prisoners Ballicrahihy Thirteene gentlemen taken Foure hundred haue sought to intrench themselues Seuēty eight were drowned and slaine Threescore taken Melaghlin Mac Cab slue foure score of them A Spanish ship of a thousande tuns burnt by the Spaniards Two other ships lost Ricaldes the Admiral in the sound of Bleskey Eight thousand Spaniards lost by fight sicknesse Two ships sonke A ship of 1000. tonne sonke of 500. persons but one saued The Kings base sonne drowned with other principall perions Fiftie Canons twēty fiue peeces of ordināce fiftie tonnes of secke thirtie thousand Duckets in gold and siluer sonke Fifteene men lost in fight vpon the Disards Fiue and twentie moe lost in the same ship Two ships lost One Galliasse cast on shore Two Gallions and one Byskeine sonke Three Venetian shippes sort beaten with shot The Spanishe Nauy sore beated with shot by the English and their tackling much spoiled The Spaniard cast their horses and mules ouer boord In the fight at Callice were slaine the Maister of the Cauallary of the Tercij of Naples Sicile The Maister of the Campe of the horsemen The Maister of the Campe of footemen And foure thousand others besides a thousand drowned The Admirall after the sight at Callice came not out of his bed in seauen weekes and more Sixe hundred Spaniards assaulted by one hundred and fifty Englishe vanquished taken prisoners * Don Piedro de Valdes taken These two remaine in England * In this vessell Don Hugo de Moncada was slaine * Don Diego Piementel taken in this

London whereby they haue obserued the countrie and the people doe speake marueilously thereof counting the same inuincible otherwise then by treason of some great partie within the Realme But whether all these spéeches which are commonly reported of them procéede from their hartes or that they speake thus to please the English because they are well vsed by them who also are easily deceiued with flattery I know not but sure I am they do thus speake dayly with outward shewe of great passions against such as haue bene perswaders to the King for this iourney Diuers of them also which are of good iudgemēt haue heard of such of the English banished men as haue bene in Spaine haue knowen some of them there as of long time Sir Francis Englefield of late the Lord Paget his brother haue curiously inquired of what power they were credit here to haue a partie They also inquired of the Earle of Westmerland although of him they confesse he is a man but of small gouernement But our Aduersaries here haue so abased these all the rest to haue bene of no credit to cary any numbers of men but by the Quéenes authoritie when they were at their best as the prisoners wonder how the king could be so deceiued to giue them pentions otherwise then for charitie because of their religion But they confesse they haue often heard in Spaine how the King was once notably deceiued when one Thomas Stukeley a priuat Englishman who fled out of Ireland for debt other lewd Actions into Spaine not being worth one peny his debts being paied but the second sonne of a meane Gentleman pretended and was beléeued in Spaine by so intitling of him selfe to be a Duke a Marquis and an Earle of Ireland and so was a long time enterteined as a man that could do great seruice against the Quéene of England vntill at length the King vnderstood his falshood and banished him out of Spaine And after repairing to Rome was by the Pope also mainteined for a time vntill he was discouered euen by some good Catholiques that could not endure the Popes holines to be so grossely mocked of whom some of the prisoners vsing mery spéeches how both the Emperour Charles and afterward this King and the Pope were so notably deceiued by this Stukeley do conclude merely that they thinke some of these English that haue thus abused the King haue followed Stukeleys steppes And in very truth I and many others haue bene very often ashamed to heare so brode spéeches of the King and of the Pope yea of the Emperour Charles whom such a companion as Stukeley was could so notably deceiue and it was the more to be marueiled how he could deceiue the King Catholique considering he was knowen to many of his Counsell at the Kings being in England to haue bene but a vaunting beggar and a Ruffian and afterwards a Pirat against the Spaniards Now my Lord Ambassadour by these my large relations of the things euil past and of the opinions of such as I haue lately dealt withall with mine owne conceit also which I doe not vainely imagine your Lordship may sée in the first part our present calamitie and miserable estate in the second part the state of this Quéene her Realme her people their mindes their strength so far contrary to the expectation of the Popes holines the King Catholique and specially of you my Lord and all others that haue bene in hand these many yeares with this Actiō as I know not what course shal or may be thought méete to take séeing it is séene by experience that by force our cause cannot be reléeued Neither will any change amend the matter when this Quéene shall end her daies as all Princes are mortall For both the vniuersalitie of the people through the Realme are so firmely and desperately bent against our religion as nothing can preuaile against their vnited forces and whosoeuer shall by right sucéede to this Crowne after the Quéene who is likely to liue as long as any King in Christendome if the Crowne should come to the King of Scots or to any other of the blood Royall as there are very many within this Realme descended both of the Royall houses of York and Lancaster there is no accompt to be made but euery one of them that now liue at this day are knowen to be as vehemently disposed to withstand the authoritie of the Pope as any of the most earnest Protestant or Heretique in the world So as to conclude after all circumstances well considered for the present I know no other way but to commit the cause to Almightie God and to all the Saints in heauen without continuall prayers and in earth to the holy Counsels of the Pope and his Cardinals with our supplications to reléeue the afflicted number of our exiled brethren and to send into the Realme discrete holy and learned men that may only in secrete maner without intermedling in matters of estate by teaching vs confirme vs in our faith and gaine with charitable instruction others that are not rooted in heresie And for reliefe of such as are forced to pay yearely great sommes of money out of their reuenue because they forbeare to come to the Church it were to be charitably considered whether there might not be some dispensation from the Popes holines for some fewe yeares to tollerate their comming to the Church without changing of their faith considering a great number do stand therein not for any thing as they say vsed in this Church that is directly contrary to Gods law but for that the Rites and praiers though they are collected out of the body of the Scripture are not allowed by the Catholique Church and the head thereof which is the Popes holines and for that cause iustly al true Catholiques accompt this Church to be schismaticall By which remedie of tolleration a great number of such as will be perpetually Catholiques might enioy their liuings and libertie and in proces of time the Catholique religion by Gods goodnesse might with more suretie be increased to the honour of God then euer it can be by any force whatsoeuer For so did all Christian religion at the first begin and spread it selfe ouer the world not by force but only by teaching and example of holines in the teachers against all humane forces And so I will end my long Letters with the sentence which King Dauid vsed foure times in one of his Psalmes Et clamauerunt ad Dominum in tribulatione eorum de angustia eorum liberauit eos And so must we make that for our foundation to lay our hope vpon for all other hopes are vaine and false At London the of August 1588. AFter that I had made an end of this my letter which I found by perusall thereof to haue bene at more length then I looked for although the matters therein conteined did draw

me therto and that I had made choice of a friend of mine who had more knowledge in the French tong then I to turne the same into French my mishap was that when he had done some part thereof he fell sicke of a burning feuer whereby my letter remained with him vpon hope of recouery for tenne or twelue daies and séeing no hope thereof I entreated another very trustie a sound Catholique hauing perfect knowledge in the French tong who tooke vpon him to put it into French wherein was also longer time spent so as my letter being written in the midst of August I am forced to end it in September And thereupon I thought good whiles my former letter was in translating to adde some things happened in the meanetime méet for your knowledge About the seuenth of August the Lord Admirall returned with the Nauie hauing followed the Spanish Nauie as they reported as farre as the 55. degrée Northwards the Spanish Nauie taking a course either to the furthest partes of Norwey or to the Orcades beyond Scotland which if they did then it was here iudged that they would goe about Scotland and Ireland but if they should go to Norwey then it might be that if they could recouer prouisions of mastes whereof the English Nauy had made great spoile they might returne But I for my part wished them a prosperous winde to passe home about Ireland considering I despaired of their returne for many respects both of their wants which could not be furnished in Norwey and of the lacke of the Duke of Parmas abilitie to bring his Armie on the Sea for want of Mariners Neuertheles vpon knowledge from Scotland that they were beyond the Orcades and that the King of Scots had giuen strict commandement vpon all the sea coastes that the Spaniardes should not be suffered to land in any part but that the English might land and be reléeued of any wants order was giuen to discharge all the Nauie sauing twentie ships that were vnder the Lord Henry Seymours charge to attend Spaniardes Upon these shewes great reioycing followed And as in Iune and Iuly past all Churches were filled daily with people exercised with praiers and shewes of repentance and petitions to God for defence against their enemies and in many Churches continually thrice in the wéeke exercises of prayers Sermons fastings all the day long from morning to euening with great admiration to sée such generall deuotion which I and others did iudge to procéede more of feare then of deuotion so now since the English Nauy is returned and the Spanish Nauie defeated and intelligence brought of the disorders in Flaunders of the discentions betwixt the Spaniards and the other souldiers of the contempt of the Duke of Parma by the Spaniards being thereto maintained by a Duke called the Duke of Pastraw the King Catholiques bastard and of the departure and running away of the Dukes Mariners here is a like cōcourse of the people to Sermons in all Churches wherein is remembred the great goodnes of God towards England by the deliuery therof from the threatned Conquest praiers also publikely to giue thankes to God for the same At London this of September 1588. The Printer to the Reader ALthough it be well known that neither the first writer of these Letters nowe by me printed nor yet the Spaniard Don Bernardin to whome they are directed had any desire to heare of any good successe to the state of England as may appeare in the writer by shewing himselfe grieued to make any good report of England other then of meere necessitie he was vrged and in Don Bernardin who was so impudent or at the least so blindly rash as to disperse in print both in French Italian and Spanish most false reports of a victorie had by the Spaniards euen when the victorie was notable on the part of England and the Spanish vanquished yet whilest I was occupied in the printing hereof a good time after the letters were sent into Fraunce there came to this Citie certaine knowledge to all our great comfort of sundrie happie Accidents to the diminution of our mortall enemies in their famous Fleete that was driuen out of our seas about the stla of Iuly towards the farthermost North partes of Scotland Wherfore I haue thought it not amisse to ioine the same to this Lettre of Don Bernardin that he may beware not to be so hastie of himselfe nor yet to permit one Capella who is his common sower of reports to write these false things for truthes The particularities wherof are these The Fleete was by tempest driuen beyond the Isles of Orknay about the first of August which is now more then sixe weekes past the place being aboue three score degrees from the North Pole an vnaccustomed place for the yong Gallants of Spaine that neuer had felt stormes on the sea or cold weather in August And about those North Islands their mariners and souldiers died daily by multiutdes as by their bodies cast on land did appeare And after twentie dayes or more hauing spent their time in miseries they being desirous to returne home to Spaine sayled very farre Southwestward into the Ocean to recouer Spaine But the Almightie God who alwayes auengeth the cause of his afflicted people which put their confidence in him and bringeth downe his enemies that exalt themselues with pride to the heauens ordred the winds to be so violently contrarious to this proud Nauie as it was with force disseuered on the high seas West vpon Ireland and so a great number of them driuen into sundrie dangerous bayes and vpon rockes all along the West and North parts of Ireland in sundrie places distant aboue an hundred miles asunder there cast away some sonke some broken some runne on sands some burned by the Spaniards themselues As in the North part of Ireland towardes Scotland betwixt the two riuers of Loughfoile and Lough Svvilley nine were driuen to land and many of them broken and the Spaniardes forced to come to land for succour amongst the wilde Irish. In another place twentie miles Southwest from thence in a Bay called Calbeggy three other ships driuen also vpon rockes In another place Southward being a Bay called the Borreys twentie miles North from Gallowey belonging to the Erle of Ormond one speciall great ship of a thousand tonne with fiftie brasse peeces and foure Canons was sonke and all the people drowned sauing sixteene who by their apparell as it is aduertised out of Ireland seeme to be persons of great estimation Then to come more to the Sowthward thirty miles vppon the coasts of Thomond North from the riuer of Shennan two or three mo perished whereof one was burned by the Spaniards them selues and so driuen to the shore an other was of S. Sebastians wherein were three hundred men who were also all drowned sauing three score A third ship with all her lading was cast away at a place called Breckan In