footmen which were worth in goods above 150000 pounds sterling besides their lands such men would fight stoutly before they would have lost their goods by likelihood at this time many other bands were made of such principall men both of wealth and strength Of these things I am sorry to have cause to write in this sort but because you may see how heretofore you have been deceived with advertisements of many which had no proofe to know the truth thereof and so I confesse my selfe in some things to have erred namely in imagining that whensoever any forrain power should be seen ready to land in any part of this Realme there would have bin found but a smal number resolute to withstand the same or to defend the Queen but that the same would have been very unable for the 〈◊〉 untrained raw and ignorant in all warlike actions without 〈…〉 armour and weapons and that also the Noblemen and 〈…〉 that were in this Realme of our religion 〈…〉 you know we made account when you were here in England of 〈…〉 although many of them be dead since that time but at this time there are not so many tens as we accounted hundreds whom we thought would have shewed 〈…〉 like men of courage for our common cause and would have suddenly surprised the houses families and strength of the heretiques and adversaries But now such is our calamity that it hath pleased God as I thinke for our sins or else for confounding of our bold opinions and presumptions of our owne strength to put in the hearts of all persons here one like mind and courage to withstand the intended invasion as well in such as we accounted Catholiques as also in the heretiques so as it hath appeared manifestly that for all earnest proceeding for arming and for contributions of money for all other warlike actions there was no difference to be seen betwixt the Catholique and the hereticke But in this case to withstand the threatened conquest yea to defend the person of the Queene there appeared such a sympathy concourse and consent of all sorts 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 have had the names in such Catalogues of Catholiques as you have bin acquainted withall were lately upon the report of the comming out of the army to the seas sent to the Isle of Ely there to remaine restrained of their former liberty during the expectation of this intended invasion yet it hath appeared that they were not so restrained for any doubt that they would with their powers have assisted our army but onely thereby to make it knowne to all our friends and countrey-men in Spaine and Handers yea even to your selfe for so I heard it spoken as accounting you to have bin the most principall Author perswader of this action that there should be no hope to have any of them or of their friends to assist these great armies And in very truth I see now whosoever of our friends in Spaine or in Handers or elsewhere made any such account of any ayd against the queen or against her party here they should have bin deceived if the army had offered to have landed For I my selfe have heard that the best of those that were sent to Ely did make offers yea by their letters to the Councell here signed with their hands that they would adventure their lives in defence of the queene whom they named their undoubted Soveraigne Lady and Queene against all forrain forces though the same were sent from the Pope or by his commandement Yea divers of them did offer that in this quarrell of invading of the Realme with strangers they would present their owne bodies in the foremost rankes with their countrey-men against all strangers Whereupon I heard also by a secret friend of mine in the Court that it was once in some towardnesse of resolution amongst the Counsellors that they should have bin returned and put to their former liberty But the heat of the war being kindled with the knowledge of the Kings Armado being at that time come to the Groigne and the Duke of Parmas readinesse with so great an army and shipping in Handers 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 Ely notwithstanding their offers of their service to the Queen And so they doe remain in the Bishops palace there with fruition of large walks about the same altogether without any imprisonment other then that they are not suffred to depart into the town 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 neverthelesse they are not impeached to any danger of their lives but onely charged with a penalty of money because they will not come to the Churches whereby by the law a portion of their revenue is allotted to the Queen and the rest left to the maintenance of them their wives and children By which kind of proceedings our adversaries here doe pretend that both these Gentlemen and all other of their qualities are favourably used that they are not pursued to death for their Religion as they say it was used in Queen Maries time and as it is daily used is they say most rigorously and barbarously in Spaine against the English-men that come thither only in trade of merchandise And yet I and others sometimes privately speaking with such our adversaries as we thinke are not maliciously bent to have men prosecuted to death only for their Religion for to say the truth and as the proverbe is not to belye the Devill very many of our Contraries are in that point not uncharitable we doe object to them the executions by cruell torments and deaths of very many both here about London and other parts of the Realme whom we account as Martyrs in that they doe witnesse by their death their obedience to the Pope and the Catholique Church of Rome To which these our adversaries pretending some smal drops of charity do answer us That no execution hath bin of any to their knowledge for their Religion or for profession thereof but for that they which have been executed have bin found to have wandred in the Realme secretly and in a disguised manner which the adversaries scornfully terme as ruffians with feathers and all ornaments of light coloured apparell like to the fashion of Courtiers and doe use many means to entice all people with whom they dare adventure to speake not only to be reconciled to the Pope and Church of Rome but to induce them by vowes and oathes to renounce their obedience to the Queene to deny her to be their
Soveraigne and themselves to be discharged of their Allegiance and to repute all Magistrates under her to be unlawfull and in conscience not to be obeyed with many more such matters which I neverthelesse count to be very vain calumniations tending to make the facts of all such holy Priests as are sent with Commission to win mens soules to be direct treasons against the Queen and the state of the Realme These Defenders of these judgements and executions contend and doe most earnestly maintaine that all such Priests Jesuites Seminaries and others so perswading the people against the Queen the Lawes and the Government and state of the Realme and all others that are so perswaded by them are manifest traitors and so they say that their enditemonts and all processe of law extended and pursued against them do manifestly declare the same Wherein these our adversaries doe sometimes for maintenance of their arguments shew the very copies of their enditements and judgements wherein there is no mention made of charging them with their Religion but that they have attempted to perswade the Queens subjects to forsake their Allegiance and consequently to be rebels to their Queen and Soveraigne In this sort these men for their advantage doe at all times with these and many like earnest arguments maintaine their proceedings against the holy Priests and Jesuites that have suffered death for their conscience as just and necessary And though where I and others may reply without perill to our selves as surely in some small companies we may using modest words we object the confession of the Catholike faith by the parties at their death and that with great constancy which our adversaries cannot deny so as it may seeme they dye for their Religion yet is it on the other part against us alleadged and maintained that they are neither endited condemned nor executed for their Religion or for offering of themselves to die for their Religion but onely for their former treasons in conspiring against the Queen state of the Realme no otherwise then of late time Babington and all his Complices who were condemned for their attempt to have raised war in the Realm and to have murdered the Queen and to have set up the Q. of Scots all which the said Babington and all his complices voluntarily confessed and were condemned and executed only for those their great treasons and yet divers of them at the place of their execution did in like maner as these Priests and Jesuites use to doe make confession of their Catholike faith with offer to dye for the same and yet say our adversaries 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 wherwith I and others my good faithfull and Catholike brethren are often troubled how to answer them it is alleadged that the great number of gentlemen and gentlewomen ye some of honourable calling and of other meaner degrees are knowne manifestly to be of a contrary Religion to the Lawes of the Realme both near the Court and far oft and yet they are never pursued by any forme of Law to put their lives 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 never comming to any Church by the space of certaine months in a whole yeare are thereof indited and afterward being called to answer thereto if they can shew no such lawfull excuse as the Law hath provided they are then condemned to pay a penalty out of their goods and lands if they have any and not otherwise punished nor yet by inquisition any of them examined of their faith But yet say these defendors if they shew themselves by their open deeds and facts to be reconciled from their allegiance obedience to the queen and that they will therein persist then they are therwith charged and punished according to the Lawes therfore provided These arguments in their defence I doe not repeate as allowing of them but yet surely they doe move me and some others that are wife to thinke that indeed the rashnesse of divers comming secretly into the Realme and professing themselves to be Priests many of them being both very young unlearned and of light behaviour hath done great harme to the goodnesse of our common cause and if they and such others could have temperately and secretly instructed the people and used more circumspection in their owne living and behaviour there would have bin a greater increase of numbers perswaded in conscience to have joyned with us in our profession Wherof I am the bolder to write to you my Lord that you may confer with our countrey-men that have accesse unto you and that they also may deale with the Fathers of the Jesuites that more care and choice be had of such English men as are hereafter to be sent into England and not to send every yong man that hath more boldnesse then learning and temperance for such a function In the former part of this my declaration to you of the universall concurrence of all men of value wealth and strength in the body of the Realme to serve and defend the Queen and the Realme I forgot to report unto you the great numbers of Ships of the subjects of the Realme as of London and other Port Townes and Cities that voluntarily this yeare were armed able to make a full Navy of themselves for an army and all at the proper costs of the Burgesses for certaine moneths with men victuall and munition which did joyne with the Queens owne Navy all this Summer a thing never in any former age heard of otherwise then that such ships were alwayes hired waged and victualled by the Kings of the Realm which argued to the griefe of me and some others a most vehement and unaccustomed affection and devotion in the Cities and Port Townes such as they shewed themselves therin ready to fight as it had been pro aris focis Of the number and strength of the Queenes owne ships of war I thinke you have been sufficiently informed many times heretofore But yet I will make you a true report of the state of them this present Summer what I have credibly heard therof because I have been very sorry to heare how you and others have been therein abused And that not only in this matter of the Queens ships but in some other things also of late whereof some part hath been here by very many maliciously and in common speeches imputed to your owne invention and publication whereof in a few words I will make some digression before I shall shew the estate of the Queens Navy In this Summer past there was printed in Paris by your direction as it was reported a notable untruth which I did see and reade That the King of Scots
required this yeare past to ioyn with the Navy of England Onely certaine Hollanders and Zelanders offered their service according as they are bound in the end of this Summer since the conflict near Callice to joyne with some of the English Navy in the narrow Seas to defend the issuing of the Duke of Parma out of the Ports of Flanders and in that service at this time there are above forty and six good ships of warre with the Vice-Admirall Justinian of Nassau a man that agreeth too well with the English Nation and is a sworne enemy to all Spaniards and Catholiques And as it is reported for certaine there are sixty 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 upon opinion of some great miscontentment of sundry persons against the Queene the proofe of the contrary so appeared this yeare both of her actions to maintain the liking of all her people and of the generall earnest devotion shewed to her by all estates noble and meane rich and poore as I thinke no Prince christened ever had greater cause of comfort in her people which I may judge to breed a pride in her And to recompence the same she did most notably shew her selfe in this time even when most danger was threatened in all her actions towards her people as carefull for their weale and for the safety of her Realme without any speciall or particular provision or regard to her owne person as ever any Prince could doe First to let her people understand what care she had to make her Realme strong against inâ—asion she politikely yea most carefully by her owne frequent directions caused her whole Realme to be put in armes she tooke account thereof her selfe by monethly certificate from such as were made her Lievtenants in every shire of her Realme she caused armour pouder weapon to be sent to all countries and ordnance to all maritine countries There were also sundry armies described to defend every coast of the Sea and as I heard it reported by some that did know the secrets of the Court was importunate with her Councell to leave no day unoccupied to bring these services to effect and yet she did still continue her Commissioners in the Low Countries to treat of peace which surely she desired to have obtained so that she might have had the same with certaine conditions So as to content her people she 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 demands were wholly refused whereof we and all Catholiques were most glad and that she understood very certainly that the army of the Duke of Parma should come first to destroy the City of London she revoked her Commissioners approached London in person and did lie as it were in the Suburbs of the same whereby they of the City took great comfort having daily in shew and muster of their owne ten thousand men armed and trained of very able men of the City and in readinesse thirty thousand more able to fight She caused also an army to be brought to incamp neare the Sea side upon the river of Thames betwixt the Sea and the City 20 miles beneath the City and after the army was come thither she would not by any advise be stayed but for comfort of her people and to shew her owne magnanimity of heart as she said she would so doe though she was a woman she went to that army lying betwixt the City and the Sea under the charge of the Earle of Leicester placing her selfe betwixt the enemy and her City and there viewed her army and passed through it divers times lodged in the borders of it returned againe and dined in the army And first saw the people as they were by their countries lodged and quartered in their severall camps which she viewed from place to place Afterward when they were all reduced into battels 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 three or foure others attending on her But yet to shew her state I well marked it she had the sword carried before her by the Earle of Ormond There she was generally saluted with cries with shouts with all tokens of love of obedience of readinesse and willingnesse to fight for her as seldome hath been seen in a camp and army considering she was a Queene and all tended to shew a marvellous concord in a mutuall love betwixt a Queene and her subjects and of reverence and obedience of subjects to a Soveraign All which she acquited with very princely thanks and good speeches I could inlarge this description with many moe particularities of mine owne sight for thither I went as many others did and all that day wandring from place to place I never heard any word spoken of her but in praising her for her stately person and princely behaviour and in praying for her life and safety and cursing of all her enemies both traitors and all Papists with earnest desire to venture their lives for her safety And besides such particular acclamations the whole army in every quarter did devoutely at certaine times sing in her hearing in very tunable manner divers Psalmes put into forme of Prayers in praise of Almighty God no wayes to be misliked which she greatly commended and with very earnest speech thanked God with them This that I write you may be sure I doe not with any comfort but to give you these manifest arguments that neither this Queene doth discontent her people nor her people doe shew any discontentation in any thing that they be commanded to doe for her service as heretofore hath been imagined She had also an army of about forty thousand footmen and of six thousand horsemen under the charge of the Lord Hunsdon Lord Chamberlain as Lievtenant of that army made ready from the Inland parts of the Realme to be about her owne person without disarming the maritine counties so as many marched out of sundry countries towards her at the very time that she was in the camp some came to the suburbs and townes neare London whom she remaunded to their countries because their harvest was at hand and many of them would not be countermanded but still approached onward on their owne charges as they said to see her person and to fight with them that boasted to conquer the Realme But though the greatest number of the said souldiers were compelled to return yet the Captains Leaders and the principall Knights and Gentlemen came to the Court to offer their service and those were graciously accepted of her with many thanks and are
THE COPIE OF A LETTER SENT OVT OF ENGLAND TO AN 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 Spaniards and others Wherunto are adioyned certain Advertisements concerning the losses and distresses happened to the Spanish Navy as well in fight with the English Navie in the narrow Seas of England as also by tempests and contrary winds upon the West and North coasts of Ireland in their returne from the Northerne Isles beyond Scotland LONDON Printed by George Miller dwelling in Black-Friers 1641. The Printer to the Reader ALthough it be well known that neither the first writers of these Letters now by me printed nor yet the Spaniard Don Bernardin to whom 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 grieved to make any good report of England other then of meere necessity he was urged 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 victory had by the Spaniards even when the victory was notable on the part of England and the Spanish vanquished yet whilst I was occupied in the printing heerof a good time after the Letters were sent into France there came to this City certaine knowledge to all our great comfort of sundry happy Accidents to the diminution of our mortall enemies in their famous Fleet that was driven out of our Seas about the last of July 1588 towards the farthermost North parts of Scotland Wherefore I have thought it not amisse to joyne the same to this Letter of Don Bernardin that he may beware not to be so hasty of himselfe nor yet to permit one Capella who is his common sower of reports to write these false things for truthes The particularities whereof are these The Fleet was by tempest driven beyond the Isles of Orknay about the first of August 1588. the place being aboue threescore degrees from the North Pole an unaccustomed place for the young Gallants of Spaine that never had felt stormes on the Sea or cold weather in August And about those North Islands their Mariners and Souldiers died daily by multitudes as by their bodies cast on land did appeare And after twenty daies or more having spent their time in miseries they being desirous to returne home to Spain sailed very farre Southwestward into the Ocean to recover Spaine But the Almighty God who alwaies avengeth the cause of his afflicted people which put their confidence in him and bringeth downe his enemies that exalt themselves with pride to the Heavens ordered the windes to be so violently contrarious to this proud Navie as it was with force dissevered on the high Seas West upon Ireland and so a great number of them driven into sundry dangerous bayes and upon rockes all along the West and North parts of Ireland in sundry places distant above an hundred miles asunder and there cast away some sunke some broken some run on sands some burned by the Spaniards themselves As in the North part of Ireland towards Scotland betwixt the two rivers of Loughfoâ—le and Lough Swilley nine were driven to land and many of them broken and the Spaniards forced to come to land for succour amongst the wilde Irish In another place twenty miles South-west from thence in a Bay called Calbeggy three other ships driven also upon rockes In another place Southward being a Bay called the Borreys twentie miles North from Gâ—llowey belonging to the Earle of Ormond one speciall great Ship of a thousand tunne with fifty brasse peeces and foure Cannons was sunke and all the people drowned saving sixteene who by their apparell as it is advertised out of Ireland seeme to be persons of great estimation Then to come more to the Southward thirtie miles upon the coasts of Thomond North from the river Shennan two or three moe perished whereof one was burned by the Spaniards themselves and so driven to the shore another was of S. Sebastians wherin were three hundred men who were also all drowned saving threescore A third Ship with all her lading was cast away at a place called Breckan In another place afore Sir Tirlogh Obrynes house there was also another great Ship lost supposed to be a Galliasse These losses above mentioned were betwixt the fift and tenth of September as was advertised from sundry places out of Ireland so as by account from the one and twentieth of July when this Navy was first beaten with the Navie of England untill the tenth of September being the space of seven weekes and more it is most likely that the said Navie had never good day nor night Of the rest of the Navie report is also made that many of them have bene seene lying of and on upon the coast of Ireland tossed with the windes in such sort as it is also doubted that many of them shall hardly recover Spaine if they be so weakned with lacke of victuals and Mariners as part of their companies that were left on land do lamentably report These accidents I thought good to adde to the printed Copies of the Letters of Don Bernardin that he may see how God doth favour the just cause of that gracious Queen in shewing his anger towards those proud boasting enemies of Christian peace as the whole world from Rome to the uttermost parts of Christendome may see that she and her Realme professing the Gospell of his sonne Christ were kept and defended as the words of the Psalme are Under the shadow of his wings from the face of the wicked that sought to afflict her and compasse her round about to take away her soule Which I doubt not by thankfullnesse yeelded by her Majestie and her whole Realme will alwaies cotinue The 9. of Octob. 1588. The Copie of a Letter sent out of ENGLAND to an Ambassadour in FRANCE for the Kings of SPAIN MY Lord Embassador though at the time of my last large writing to you of the state of this countrey and of our long desired expectation of succours promised I did not thinke to have had such a sorrowfull occasion of any second writing as now I have of alamentable change of matters of estate here yet I cannot forbeare though it be with as many sighes as lines to advertise you of the truth of our miserable condition as now to me and others of our party the same appeareth to be That by comparing of all things past in hope with the present now in despaire your L. who have had the principall mannaging hitherto of all our causes of long time both here and there in France betwixt the King Catholique assisted with the Potentates of the holy League and all our countrey men which have professed obedience to the Church of Rome may now fall into some new and better consideration how our state
both the Emperor Charles and afterward this King the Pope were so notably deceived by this Stukely doe conclude meerly that they think some of these English that have thus abused the King have followed Stukelyes steps And in very truth I and many others have bin very often ashamed to heare so broad speeches of the King and the Pope yea of the Emperour Charles whom such a companion as Stukeley was could so notably deceive and the more to be marvelled it was how he could deceive the King Catholique considering he was known to many of his Councell at the Kings being in England to have bin but a vaunting beggar and a Ruffian and afterwards a pyrat against the Spaniards Now my Lord Embassadour by these my large relations of the things evill past and of the opinions of such as I have lately dealt withall with mine owne conceit also which I doe not vainly imagine your Lordship may see in the first part our present calamity and miserable estate In the second part the state of this Queene her Realme her people their minds their strength so far contrary to the expectation of the Popes Holinesse the King Catholique and specially of you my Lord and all others that have been in hand these many yeares with this action as I know not what course shall or may be thought meet to take seeing it is seen by experience that by force our cause cannot be relieved Neither will any change amend the matter when this Queen shall end her dayes as all Princes are mortall for both the universalitie of the people through the Realme are so firmely and desperately bent against our Religion as nothing can prevaile against their united forces And whosoever shall by right succeed to this Crowne after the Queen who is likely to live as long as any King in Christendome if the Crowne should come to the K. of Scots or to any other of the bloud royall as there are very many within this Realme descended both of the Royall houses of York and Lancaster There is no account to be made but every one of them that now live at this day are knowne to be as vehemently disposed to withstand the authority of the Pope as any of the most earnest Protestant or heretick 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 Almighty God and to all the Saints in heaven with our continuall prayers and in earth to the holy Counsels of the Pope and his Cardinals with our supplications to relieve the afflicted number of our exiled brethren and to send into the Realme discreet holy and learned men that may only in secret manner without in intermedling in matters of estate by teaching us confirme us in our faith and gaine with charitable instruction others that are not rooted in heresie And for relief of such has are forced to pay yearly great sums of money out of their revenue 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 few yeares to tolerate their comming to the Church without changing of their faith considering a great number doe stand therein not for any thing as they say used in this Church that is directly contrary to Gods Law but for that the Rites and prayers 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 Holinesse And for that cause lastly all true Catholiques account this Church to be schismaticall By which remedy of tolleration a great number of such as will be perpetually Catholiques might enjoy their livings and liberty and in processe of time the Catholique Religion by Gods goodnesse might with more surety be increased to the honour of God then ever it can be by any force whatsoever For so did all Christian Religion at the first begin and spread it selfe over the world not by force but only by teaching and example of holinesse in the teachers against all humane forces And so I will end my long letters with the sentence which K. David used foure times in one of his Psalmes Et clamaverunt ad Dominum in tribulatione eorum de angustia corum liberavit eos And so must we make that for our foundation to lay our hope upon for all other hopes are vain and false At London the of August 1588. AFter that I had made an end of this my letter which I fâ—und by perusall thereof to have bin at more length then I looked for although the matters therein contained did draw me thereto and that I had made choice of a friend of mine who had more knowledge in the French tongue 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 fever whereby my letter remained with him upon hope of recovery for ten or twelve dayes and seeing no hope thereof I intreated another very trusty and a sound Catholique having perfect knowledge in the French tongue who took upon 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 therupon I thought good whiles my former letter was in translating to adde some things happened in the mean time meet for your knowledge About the seventh of August the L. Admirall returned with the Navy having followed the Spanish Navy as they reported as far as the 55 degree Northwards the Spanish Navy taking a course either to the furthest parts of Norwey or to the Orcades beyond Scotland which if they did then it was here judged that they would goe about Scotland and Ireland but if they could recover provisions of masts whereof the English Navy had made great spoyle they might returne But I for my part wished them a prosperous wind to passe home about Ireland considering I despaired of their return for many respects both of their wants which could not be furnished in Norwey and of the lacke of the Duke of Parmas ability to bring his army on the Sea for want of mariners Neverthelesse upon knowledge from Scotland that they were beyond the Orcades and that the King of Scots had given strict commandement upon all the Sea-coasts that the Spaniards should not be suffered to land in any part but that the English might land and be relieved of any wants order was given to discharge all the Navy saving twenty ships that were under the L. Henry Seymours charge to attend upon the Duke of Parmas attempts either towards England which was most unlikely or toward Zeland which began to be doubted But within three or foure dayes after this suddenly there came report to the Court that the Spanish Navy had refreshed it selfe in the
Islands beyond the Orcades both with water plentifully and with bread fish and flesh as for their money they could get and would returne hither once againe to attend on the Duke of Parmas army to conduct it by Sea into England Whereupon grew some new busines here wherewith I know the Queen and her Councell was not a little perplexed what to doe but in the end order was given to stay the disarming of her Navy and so the whole Navy was very speedily made ready againe only upon the former reports wherewith I and many others were very glad to see them thus newly troubled and upon every light report put to great charges But this lasted not past eight or ten dayes for upon more certain knowledge by two or three Pinnaces that were sent to discover where the Spanish fleet was which certified that they were beyond the Orcades sayling towards the West in very evill case having many of their people dead in those North parts and in great distresse for lacke of masts and also of mariners A new commandement was given to dissolve the Navy saving that which should attend on the Duke of Parma and so the Lord Admirall returned with the L. Thomas Haward the L. Henry Seymour L. Sheffeld Sir Francis Drake with all the Captaines to the Court saving such as had charge of the Fleet that was under the L. Henry And upon the returne of these Sea-men to the City there are spread such reports to move the Noblemen Gentlemen Ladies Gentlewomen and all other vulgar people of all sorts into a mortall hatred of the Spaniards as the poore Spanish prisoners were greatly afraid to have bin all massacred for that it was published and of many beleeved that the Lords of Spaine that were in the Navy had made a speciall division amongst themselves of all the Noblemens houses in England by their names and had in a sort quartered England among themselves and had determined of sundry manners of cruell death both of the Nobility and the rest of the people The Ladies Women and Maidens were also destined to all villany the rich Merchants houses in London were put into a Register by their very names and limited to the companies of the Squadrons of the Navy for their spoyle And to increase more hatred it was reported that there were a great number of halters brought in the Spanish Navy to strangle the vulgar people and certaine Irons graven with markes to be heated for the marking of all children in their faces being under seven yeares of age that they might be knowne hereafter to have been the children of the conquered Nation These were commonly reported by those that came from the English Navy as having heard the Spaniards confesse the same so as for a time there was a generall murmure that those Spanish prisoners ought not to be suffered to live as they did but to be killed as they had purposed to have done the English But the wiser sort of men and such as had the charge of the prisoners having no commandement from the Councell did straitly looke to the safety of the prisoners as a matter not to be so rashly suffered But to content the people with some other matter there was upon Sunday last at the request of the Major and his brethren a great number of Banners Streamers and Ensignes which were won from the Spanish Navy brought to Pauls Church-yard and there showed openly in the Sermon time to the great rejoycing of all the people And afterwards they were carried to the crosse in Cheap and afterwards to London bridge whereby the former rage of the people was greatly asswaged the fury generally converted into triumph by boasting in every place that this was the act of God who had heard the fervent prayers of the people and was pleased with their former prayers and fastings to have such Banners and Streamers which the Spaniards meant to have brought and set up in all places of the City as monuments of their triumphs by his good providence in punishing the pride of the Spaniards now to be erected by the English as monuments of their victories and perpetuall shame to the Spaniards Upon these shewes great rejoycing followed And as in Iune and Iuly past all Churches were filled daily with people exercised with prayers and shewes of repentance and petitions to God for defence against their enemies And in many Churches continually thrise in the week exercises of prayers sermoÌ„s fastings all the day long from morning to evening with great admiration to see such generall devotion which I and others did judge to proceed more of feare then of devotion so now since the English Navy is returned and the Spanish Navy defeated and intelligence brought of the disorders in Flanders of the dissentions 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 concourse of the people to Sermons in all Churches wherein is remembred the great goodnesse of God towards England by the delivery thereof from the threatened Conquest and prayers also publikely to give thanks to God for the same At London this of September 1588. FINIS WILLIAM CECIL Baron of Burgleigh Lord Treasurer of England He dyed Anno 1598. Aged 77 yeares W. Marshall sculp ROBERTUS DUDLEUS COMES LEYCESTRIAE BARO DENBIG GUBERNATOR BELGARUM In what termes England standeth in the opinion of the Catholiques The Spanish preparation 3 yeares in making The Duke of Parmas army in Flanders No forraine force could invade England without a strong party in England Hope of victory by the Spanish army with assistance of a party in England this Summer All Spanish hope fallen in nine dayes The Catholiques doubt of their cause seeing the hand of God is against the army Many English Catholiques mislike of the Popes reformation by force The 〈…〉 The hearts of all 〈◊〉 of people inflamed against the Spaniards vaunting to conquer the land The untimely publication of the Popes Bull did 〈◊〉 to the common cause Cardinall Allens books have done much hurt to the intended invasion and conquest The Cardinals rash and violent writing misliked by the Catholiques The multitude of books published to shew the greatnesse of the Spanish Navy did also hurt the fore warnings of the 〈◊〉 greatnesse caused the Queene to put all her Realme in force beyond all 〈◊〉 The armies made ready in England in every quarter of the Realme The maritine Counties provided at landing plâ—ces with 20000 men All the bands were under the principal Knights of the Realme compounded of the most mighty men being their tenant and servants A strange report of the wealth of a hand of souldiers 〈…〉 A consent and concurrence of Papist andProtestant to withstand the conquest The gentlemen Recusâ—â— in 〈◊〉 offer