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
and the victorie hanged long in ballaunce in so muche it was doubtfull to whether partie good Fortune would fall but in fine the Burgonions fledde towardes the woodde where all their force of footemen stoode and in that encoūter and bloodie fight the Prince of Pianoyes was smored to death in his armour the Duke of Askotte compelled to creepe and lye in a woodde all night where the Peisantes on the morrowe tooke him and fifteene hundreth prisoners more were ledde awaie with the Duke by the Frenchemen And when the vieue was made at their returne to Amiance of their losse the Frenchemen missed many of their owne people especily of the Citie and many by meane of their valiauncie were come home sore wounded mangled and out of hope to liue any long season the fight had been so daungerous and cruel that fewe whiche were desirous of fame escaped skotfree from the conflicte The Emperour not long after this broile gathered his people together and came to Vallencian with a great army but the French kyng gathered in a maner suche a multitude of soldious wherein was muche Nobilitie that it was gessed his Campe was at the leaste fiftie thousande horsemen and footemen and hymself in persone noblie mounted marched towardes Valencian where he founde the Emperoure entrenched and passyng before the Emperour with his vawwarde wherein was sixe thousande horsemen and twentie thousande footemen the Frenche kyng presented the Emperour battall who had out of his trenche certaine Spanishe and Italian horsemen with a small troupe of Launces on the whiche companie the Frenchemen offered skirmishe and the skirmishe grewe so hotte that a charge was giuen wherein was prisoners taken at the verie entrie of the trenches so that the Emperoures power beeyng not twentie thousande were faine to tarrie in their Trenches all that season The Frenche kyng seeyng this and commyng from his maine battaile on a barbed horse with a goodlie troupe of braue gentlemen made no more a dooe but shewed hym self in the feelde and marched so awaie makyng his waweward his rereward and his maine battaile his waweward yet I maie not forgette that sondrie in his companie were hurte emong the whiche M. Nicholas Malbies horse a bastarde courser was shotte through the necke and in at the reines of the backe behinde the saddell whiche horse when he was whole was giuen to the lorde Grey of Wilton then lieutenaunt of Gynes Now the Emperour bearyng in minde the braue offer the Frenche kyng had made as here before is expressed he sent Mounsire graunde Maister as generall of a greate armie to besiege Torwain shortly after a toune of greate momente and well fortified to whiche siege so soone as the Frenche heard of it was sente Memorancie that now is liuyng to assiste Mounsire Dessie then capitaine of Torwain a man of greate vallue for the same Dessie was before generall of all the Frenchemen that besieged Sir Iames Wilforde at Haddyngton in Scotlande Now Mounsire Memorancie bryngyng with hym diuers gentlemen for the aidyng of Mounsire Dessie in Torwain determined to dooe some good seruice and the Frenche kyng in the meane while leauied thirtie thousande men to remoue the siege if it were possible or at least to releeue the toune in some sorte as the tyme would suffer Where vpon diuers capitaines and gentlemen requested that thei might be the firste that should enter the toune emong whiche was M. Nicholas Malbie the kyng graunted their requeste and prepared pouder in bagges and other munition for them to carrie with them that toke this enterprise in hand thus one Humfrey Hassock and a gentleman called Ihon Griffin with twoo other called Poell and Kockes ioyned with three score Frenchemen M. Nicholas Malbie beeyng with theim and passed through the Emperoures Campe with greate hazarde and so entered Torwain whiche gaue no little comforte to them that were besieged Then vppon the hope of the kynges commyng and other causes thei fallied daiely out of the toune and did often annoye the Burgonions Campe. And one daie the watche espiyng a bande of footemen liyng louse from their succoure vnder a banke gaue warnyng thereof to the capitaine of the toune who sent on the spurre the Frenche horsemen to giue charge vppon them And maister Malbie espiyng when he came neare them that thei were Englishemen seruyng the Emperours side badde theim goe awaie or els thei should be cutte all in peeces Goe awaie that is aferde saied Nicholas Sibbill a valiaunte gentleman The Alarum then was giuen and the Frenche footemen approched and so capitain Sibbell was slaine and sondrie others of his companie defeated and Humfrey Hassocke hauyng a redde dubblet was taken to bee a Burgonion and so vnhorsed But M. Malbie seyng his seruaunt in daunger to bee slaine succoured hym by a charge he gaue on those that would haue killed his mā and brought his seruaunt to the toune with muche a doe the soldiours on the walles beholdyng thesame commended the acte verie muche Thus euery second or third daie thei sallued out and slue in the feelde and in the trenches many soldiours but still the Englishemen gatte greate praise for their stoute and desperate aduentures The Capitaine of the toune walkyng on the walles and notyng how busilie the Canons went of against the breach came doune and deuised that bothe horsemen and footemen should sodainly make a sallie out of the toune and so thei did but though the Campe semed to bee quiet and did nothyng but plie the Batterie thei were well prouided to resiste the force of the Frenche and at their issuyng out there was a verie greate skirmishe And an Almaine beeyng an armed Pike marched brauely out of the Campe vpon some lustie conceipte vnto whom rode maister Nicholas Malbie and brake his staffe on hym and so the Almaine was slaine For whiche seruice Mounsire Memorancie and the Capitain of the Toune came and embraced hym when he retourned and gaue hym bothe a reward and thankes for his labour But after this toune was helde so shorte that the soldiours could issue no more for a generall assaulte was daiely looked for and the breache beyng assaultable the Burgonions attempted the assaulte Capitaine Gonnie hauyng the leadyng thereof with whom I was in wages but capitain Gonnies bande and all the reste were repulsed to their greate rebuke and losse notwithstandyng an other assaulte was a preparyng for and the greate shotte went of so fast that thei within the toune were faine to holde in their heddes a great tyme But Mounsire Dessie aduaunsyng hym self a little to hye for to discouer the meanyng of his enemies was striken in the hedde with a little shotte and yeeldyng vp the ghost spake certaine manly wordes and so fell doune dedde Then the toune was somewhat discouraged and came to a composition howbeit a midde the Parley the Spaniardes brake into the toune and did muche mischeef yet the composition was that all of the Toune of what degree so euer thei were should
maner marueile at the happe and manlinesse of our people I will firste and formoste declare vnto you a victorie gotten against the Count de Ringraue albeit it falles not in order of the whole discourse a man of greate honour and no little courage and conducte Who gouerned his Campe and regiment with as good pollicie and knowledge as any manne liuyng in his daies and place of seruice It fell out after the Frenche were knit in vnion and that bothe the Religions were bente against vs as in causes of dominion is alwaies to be looked for and so determinyng to laye siege to Newe Hauen with all the power thei could make Thei sent this noble Count Ryngraue to take a certaine village not farre from the Forte in whiche village did encampe the whole regiment of the Ryngraue when he had with some difficultie possessed it The Earle of Warwicke Lorde Lieutenaunt for the Queenes Maiestie beyng carefull of his charge and watchfull to preuente mischeef Sent out at Midnight Capitaine Reade and some other bandes to holde the enemie some plaie and bidde them the basse and so in skirmishe as the season and occasion would serue thei droue out a peece of the night receiuyng little harme and doyng all the hurte thei could deuise But my Lorde Lieutenaunt beholdyng the boldnesse of the Ryngraue and seyng how nere he sought to nestell hym self to Newe Hauen with suche a power as peraduenture might haue troubled the whole toune My Lorde issued and went to the Forte whiche stoode a good distaunce from the Hauen And after my Lorde had a while digested this businesse and had well foreseen what might followe if the enemie wer suffered like a strong hedded horse to take the bridell in his teeth my Lorde called Capitaine Reade before hym and tolde hym that the enemie must bee remoued For by Gods will ê™ he as it is my Lordes earnest woorde if the Ryngraue lodge so nere my charge the one of vs bothe shall take little reste and so my Lorde concluded and fully determined that Capitaine Read should haue the leadyng of a thousande men and goe giue a charge on the enemie To whiche commaundement Capitaine Read willyngly obeyed wherevppon Capitaine Souche Capitaine Ward Capitaine Gam Capitaine Somersettes Lieutenaunte Capitaine Apleyarde Capitaine Parkinson Capitaine Anttwesill Capitaine Wilfforde and all their bandes were appoincted to followe Capitaine Reades order and direction in as duetifull maner as my Lorde hym self had had the leadyng of these bandes and officers Now it behoued Capitaine Reade to looke well aboute hym and to sette doune a course and order to keepe firmelie and aduisedlie because he had not to deale with men of small value nor people that before tyme had been ignoraunte of the seruice in the feelde Wherefore he sorted his soldiours and placed them in the moste assured and aptest maner for the accomplishyng of suche an enterprise deuided theim into that order that one might aunswere an other and the maine battaill should giue releef to the whole companie But here is to bee noted that the enemies were thought verie strong and to the nomber of fiue or sixe thousande soldiours Frenche and Almaines who looked for some encouÌ„ter and were in battaill closely sette and knitte together at the entrie of the village hauyng certaine louse shott without the toune and some horsemen withall redy to giue a charge and take what aduauntage might be gotten Fearyng little that our people would haue ventered on their battaill and doubtyng nothyng the victorie if so small a power as ours durst putte in hazarde the fight or offer to giue the repulse Well in this daungerous and doubtfull peece of seruice Capitaine Reade beeyng resolued to trie the vttermoste of Fortune and followe my Lordes will and pleasure who behelde all the exploite With as greate expedition as could be deuised he sette Capitaine Souche Capitaine Gam Capitaine Parkinson and Capitaine Warde menne of good seruice and readie to aduenture for renowme as a wyng on the lefte hande of his battaill to plie the enemie with shotte and in the battaill and as occasion required he placed Capitaine Apleyard Capitaine Anttwesill and Capitaine Wilford For to aunswere his hope with their manhood and diligence and doe that was conuenient in suche a hotte and couragious encounter Now Capitaine Souche and his companie made suche haste to the seruice this beeyng at sixe a clocke in the Mornyng and had trotted so faste towardes the enemies that thei were likelie to haue been out of breathe and in greate perill had thei not been succoured with the foresight and dexteritie of Capitaine Read. For he beholdyng the swiftenesse of the wing and the necessitie of the cause beganne sodainly to mende his wonted marche and helde a good pace and trotte towardes the village hauyng euer an eye and regarde to bryng on his people whiche was the battaill alwaies in good order and breath But this haste and bolde attempte was no soner offered but the enemie thought to preuent it and so with suche horsmenne as thei had at hande thei charged our footemen who were so strongly garded with Pikes that the horsemennes labour was loste and some of them slaine emong the Pikes thei were so well ioyned and clasped together By this tyme went of all the small shotte of the enemies battaill and as God would our menne were come so nere that thei were crept vnder the daunger of the hargaboze by meane of a smother and smoke that a greate while before the enemies shot and ours had made For Capitaine Read espiyng that aduauntage badd marche apace to come to the ioynyng so that through this occasion the enemies shott did little or no hurte at all At this instaunt were our people euen at the verie entrie of the village and a Frenche gentleman as seemed beholdyng Capitaine Read the cheef leader of our battaill marchyng before the reste leuied his peece at hym myndyng to haue shotte but by trauesyng of grounde Capitaine Reade staied the Frenche mannes hande who stepte straight waie behinde a little waule and at the enteryng into the Toune discharged his peecefull at the breast of Capitaine Reade the peece beeyng charged with twoo bullettes but albeeit it was so nere that the fire flewe in his face yet he was so well armed that the shotte but rente and broke his Armour and did hym no further hurte Wherevppon Capitaine Reade steppes to the Frencheman and so thrust hym through with a Halbert an other gentleman standyng nere this offered to bee taken prisoner but Capitaine Read myndyng to doe that he came for followed his enterprise and charged on the battaill of the enemie that stoode as stiffe as a waule till our men laied their Pikes lustely vppon theim and by verie fine force and pushe of the Picke put them backe and caused theÌ„ to wheele aboute In whiche conflicte sixe hundreth were slaine and nine score and three persones were taken and brought awaie The victorie was followed a small season with as
make sale of feathers in the winde And sell good cheape a drousie adell braine Yet Musicke not compares with merrie minde For that bryngs blood to eurie vitall vaine And heaues vp harte from dongeon of dispaire To be as blithe as birde in open aire If any glance of matter be in this Past merrie meane yet merrie muse it is That leades my penne I sweare by heauens blis Wherefore in mirthe I praie you take these lines My duetie maie excuse my boldnesse here I borrowd not my wordes of graue deuines Nor of fine wittes that holdes small dainties dere Thei came good cheape from merrie nourses papp Good chepe thei goe where muses fauour moste But dere thei are if writer finde mishapp Thereby and worlde account the labour loste God graunt the tyme be good when thei were sent And that eche worde be taken as I ment The best is sure and that is moste to praies Thei goe to one I honour all my daies FINIS The Epitaphe of the rare vertuous Prince and towardes Impe of grace Kyng Edward the sixte THe Lampe is out that lightned Englishe harts Whose liuely shoe and beautie shoen so bright And gaue suche ioye to all our inward smarts That well was hym that had thereon a sight Edward I meane whiche was our kyng by right The golden torche and candle matutine Did blase and burne within his Christalleyne But well awaie those lookes their life hath loste Full dimme and darcke Is now that sparke That whilome was the staie of Englandes boaste Now Death hath dried this pleasaunt princely plant And hent our happ an hye aboue the skyes Who knowes the losse but those that feele the want Wherefore the teares distilled from our eyes But since this babe hath made his sacrifies And yeelded vp his life and vitall breath What can ye blame but hastie cruell death Whiche pluckt the Rose before his leaues were spredde Yet shall his name Remaine with fame And florishe still although the flowre be dedde A face so fraught with fauour bloomyng still A cheere so chaste subduyng eche desire A hedde so ripe with grace and connyng skill A tong so deckt and cladd in trothes attire A harte so meeke and cleane deuoide of yre An eare so pure to heare the poore mannes cause A witte to iudge a zeale to make good lawes A hande so clere from blood looke well thereon Was seldome seene In Kyng ne Queene Helas the while our Lanterns light is gon His witte wanne praise as by his waies apperes His vertuous stepps wan fame emong the wice His tender youth did teache the aged yeres His sober life rebuked euery vice His woords and works did passe the pearle in price His gestures all if thei were grauen in gold A mirrour were to learne bothe yong and old Wherfore the vnfitte the yearth is for his graue His place of reast Is Abrams breast A worthie tombe for suche a Kyng to haue Finis The Epitaphe of the worthie Erle of Essex I Blushe to write in verse a matter of suche weight That makes the hearars shed some teares and moueth sorrowe streight In graue and statly stile this tale should sounded be Too base for suche greate cause I finde my slender muse and me My harte doeth bléede in breast my pen in hande doeth shake Mine inward sprits doe wepe for woe this sad discourse to make But though with heauie newes a while I fill your eares The fame I write of this great mā to ioy shall turne your tears Yea greate of birthe and minde and fewe so greate as he For daiely through desarts he grewe in greatnesse by degree A Caesars harte he boare that neuer shronke nor quaild A courage that against his foes in all attemptes preuaild A hedde that could conceiue as farre as cause was found A bodie apt for warlike broiles where bountie did abound Yea for his bountie greate a prince in very deede That made no more account of gold then of a rotten reede The noble giftes he gaue a worlde of worthies wan Was neuer seen in Britaine bred for bountie suche a man. An Erle and liuely Lorde as milde as is the Doue Whose courtuous speeche pleasant port did purchace peoples loue A freend to all good men as faste and true as steele That would not wagg with worlds abuse turn about like whéele A pearlesse subiect sure that Englandes honour sought And carde not with what losse of goods his countrey gaine was bought Full bent to Marciall feats a Mars in deede well tried Abroad in féeld where men are known and cowards easly spied The care of publique weale laie wakyng in his eyes A noble Soldiour framde by kinde in best and brauest gyes A house and houshold kept so frankly euery where That all the lookers on would saie some prince was placed there The Soldiours swarmd like Bées about his stately gate He was a Lanterne of this land and Mirrhour of the state In all thyngs that he did then what a losse had they That comes to sée his noble shrine and findes the sainct awey O fréends that honord hym and faithfull seruaunts bothe Come wéepe with me shew thereby some signe of your great trothe For I haue lost a fréend and for his sake I vowe To plant my penne vpon his tombe and rest from writyng now Till I his like maie finde whiche hardly shal be don O Essexe of renowmed fame thy race is nobly ron FINIS
commendation O that menne knewe what gaie garlande is gotten by the goodnesse of vertue then the inferior sort would not striue wrastell to putte on the wretched wreath of vice For as right renoume is the true reward of well dooyng So open reproche followes as a shadowe the bodie that is readie to doe harme The good that is dooen emong the thankefull is not onely redoubled againe with good will but like wise linketh in a chaine of loue the hartes of those that receiues it And thei are priuie rich that can by bountie purchace many debtars deserue many blessynges and make many people be beholdyng vnto them A number of glosyng and glorious worldlinges that by bragges of boūtie offer good turnes to saell with a signe and showe that thei maie be bought for a little or nothyng but on a sodaine thei rather looke who can doe theim good then remember to whō thei haue offered the saell and commmoditie of their marchandice Sutche fine fellowes and petie foggars are the frothe and scome of the sea that welters with the waues and not the Honie and Creame of the yearth that ought to be preciously made of And lo for a proofe of praise sutche yonkars can promesse more in an howre then thei minde to performe all their life tyme thinking with bare woordes to winne freendes and followers where naked woorkes of Nature nourisheth nothyng but hollownesse of harte For proofe and example thereof let the thristie looke for drinke and finde his hope deceiued at the well hedde of comforte he flynges awaie his bottle beates his breast with repētance falles in misliking for euer or seekes some other faire fountain to coole and quenche the flaming furnaies of the stomacke An other sorte there are but no greate number whiche without boste bragge or businesse are glad to finde an occasion to pleasure their freende by woorde deede trauaill or charges And these are the Salte of the worlde that seasoneth the life of manne with sweete sauor and giueth good tast at the death to the soule before god There is no one man so mightie so strong valiaunt or wise but needes the aide of an other and happie are the handes hedde and bodie from whom helpe proceadeth It breedeth merrie thoughtes causeth sweete sleepes shaketh of displeasure to woorke a common commoditie or a priuate benefite whiche goodnesse and noble Nature is in some that I knowe But for feare of fallyng into a kinde of adulation therein nor in the discourse of the worlde I goe no farther confessyng that who soeuer listeth to write hath coppie and store of matter enough to treate vppon when willyng mynde leades the penne and honest iudgement shall skilfully scan the maners of menne their sondrie inclinations their quallities and callinges and the disposition of the worlde And for that my capacitie reacheth not farre and discoursyng of greate thynges maie bryng my small knowledge out of compasse I haue bente my studie to treate of cōmon causes as familiar with the wise learned in these our daies as weakest fancies in other seasons hath been with the ignoraunte people embraced And because many writers haue but sleightly touched both in Chronicle and otherwise the affaires of warre the honour of Soldiours the cause and beginnyng of Nobilitie the erection of Haraldes the names of Gentlemen that well haue deserued the goodnesse that Calamitie bryngeth and the fame that noble life attaineth vnto I haue taken this troublous taske in hande not onely to woorke truely for the daiely hire that good report giueth but to showe plainly my honeste meanyng in the thynges named that bothe laboure and long studie hath brought me too Not thinking but your honourable insight and acquaintaunce with these matters needes none of my discourses but because I promised in the booke of my Chipps a matter vnfit for your honour to looke on to presente an other worke whiche hath been long of commyng out and I feare is ouer simple with all this greate laisure to merite thankes Notwithstandyng the paines hath been greate and desire to dooe well not little yet the barenesse of the woordes and weakenesse of the matter I dread will either lose my thankes or driue me in disgrace And yet I might saie that the matter nowe presented though not well written maie claim a greate consideration and merites as mutche fauour as any thyng that euer passed from my penne The iudgemente whereof can not escape the compasse of your honorable knowledge and albeeit that with diuers deuises and bookes dedicated to sondrie good and greate personages I haue wandered a while after the fauour of this worlde and the good Fortune that diligence might haue brought yet nowe wearied with ouermutche labour in gaddyng about for the purchasyng of freendshippe hardely to bee gotten and as daungerous to bee kepte am driuen to retire to my firste Fortresse and holde where helpe is to bee had and succour is to bee sought because my second practise neither purchased prefarment nor paied for the paines and paper that I thinke well bestowed And though verely some thinke that good turnes comes rather in generall cases by Fortune affection or fauoure then by diligence studie or desarte I a dresse my laste woorkes where I truste a noble mynde shal bee iudge of my labours and so further my happ and fauour in the worlde that no hatefull Fortune nor people shall hinder my hope Thus hopyng the woorkes by help of your protection presented shall haue as many fauourers as readers and no more readers that mislikes the matter then liketh to write an other discourse as well meante I shadowe my self vnder the sheelde of youre honoure so dwellyng in that saffetie staiednesse of mynd whiche is a beautie to hoarie heares I wishe you what beste can bee imagined of honoure wealthe knowledge credite and worldly felicitie Praiyng with all that the blessed deawe of heauen multiplie and keepe moiste the manifold graces of your well desposed mynde From my lodging the xv of October 1579. Thomas Churchyard in all that he maie at your honorable commandmente To the freendly reader AS it is a thing sufferable and daiely seene that eche man fauors those personages whose nature qualitie or condition agreeth together so I hope albeit I am but a small Soldiour I maie boldly write of Marciall affaires and men of warre without dislikyng of any because suche matter or menne are fittest for my penne to be honoured withall and neerest the compasse of my knowledge and profession Yet albeeit that some of the malicious sort doe maruell at my boldnesse herein I let them babble and aunswere the quiet people of milde and sounde iudgemente that I thinke the beste tyme I can bestowe is to further the fame of the honest nexte to the prefarmente of my countries commendation And that before all other thynges excepte the honouryng of Prince and publike state a true writer ought of duetie to haue in admiration and reuerēce the valliaunt Soldiours and
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
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
see the vttermoste of Fortune called me backe againe and fell to questions and argumentes with me suche as I liked not But other aunswere did I not make then before you haue heard wherewith he called for some meate and made me to sitte doune and after I had a little refreshed my self I demaunded to knowe his pleasure Who straight waies tolde me there was no helpe to be had but to become all captiues and prisoners to the French kyng Not so sir I aunswered and that should the nexte assault make triall thereof Then he went to talke with the noble men and there thei concluded that the soldiours should marche awaie with bagge and baggage and the capitaines and officers should remaine prisoners whiche I knewe would not bee liked and so desired to bee sente to my Lorde Graie But when I came into the Castell and the soldiours had gotten woorde that thei might marche awaie at their will Thei came to me and threatened me with greate wordes commaundyng to make dispatche and yeelde vp the Forte For saied thei since the matter is in talke and likelie to be brought to a good purpose thei would cutte my throte if I made not hastely an ende of the cace And thereon had thei made a greate hole in a walle and so thei thruste me out emong the Almaines who rudely handeled me But my Lorde Graie at my departure badde me tell the Duke that the Almaines were aboute to breake into the Castell and to sette the gate a fire and my Lorde saied he would shoote of his greate Ordinaunce emong theim if the lawe of Armes wer not better obserued But in the meane tyme at an other place was entered Mounsire de Tre maister of the Ordinaunce and the Lorde Graie that now is was sent into the Campe for the paune of Mounsire De Tre. But I was come to Mounsire Degwise before those thynges were finished and had tolde hym my message And he like a noble Prince and faithfull Capitaine roade to the gate causyng me to mounte behynde maister Harry Dudley where the Almaines were busily occupied aboute some naughtie practise and with a greate trontchon he strake diuers of the Almaines and others to make them retire and laiyng loade about hym he made suche waie that the gate was free And the capitulation was at laysure talked of but I was not suffred to enter no more into the Castell and so staied as a prisoner notwithstandyng looke what promesse Mounsire Degwise made it was so well kepte and obserued that our soldiours marched awaie with all their wealthe money or weapons And greate wealth was by them borne from Gines in so muche that diuers poore Soldiours were made thereby all their life daies after And this was to bee noted there was greate honour in the Duke of Gwise for the bandes that parted either sicke or sounde hurte or whole were honestly conueighed and truely dealte withall euen as long as thei were in any daunger albeit thei had greate sommes of money and Threasure with theim and the Generall his Capitaines and Officers were courteouslie vsed so long as we were in the Duke of Gwise his Campe. And to saie the truth I thinke our peace was not so dishonourable as some reporte For succour had wee no hope of The nexte assaulte had ouerthrowen vs The whole members of the Castell were cutte of from vs There remained but the bare bodie of the Castell in our custodie The enemies Cannons did beate vs from the breache on the in side The Castell was subiect to euery shotte bothe from the Keepe the Catte and Mary Bulwarke The Frēche possessed all the speciall places of our strength and comforte The beste and cheefest of our soldiours were slaine or laye maimed in moste miserable estate And we had loste eight hundreth men in these assaultes and seruices whiche did their duetie so well that the enemie confessed that thei had loste fower thousande before wee could bee brought to any parley and composition But some of our Officers by crafte and cunnyng escaped home out of the Frenche mennes handes came to the Court and made vp their bandes againe to the greate reproche of those that ment no suche matter and so by that subteltie and shift thei that escaped gatte a paye or some reward of the prince And those that abode out the bronte and hazarde of the bloodie broile were lefte in prison and the worlde thought by seyng so many come home we had loste but a fewe at the siege of Gynes Whiche is otherwise to be proued and affirmed for a trothe when true triall shal be made Callice was loste before I can not declare how but well I wotte Sir Anthonie Ager a stoute gentleman and a valliaunte knight there loste his life and one Capitaine Saule was terrible burnte with pouder in makyng a traine to destroye the enemie Now leauyng of these vncomfortable discourses I will shewe what gentlemen of ours after serued in sondrie soiles where many greate Princes were in daiely exercises of warre and many greate victories and exploites were to be seen and though I write not the iourneis in right order as one that writes a Chronicle maie dooe yet the matter I write of shal be so true that it shal be needlesse to shewe what season the causes were put in practise or make mention in due order of the date and tyme of suche noble enterprises for your common Chronicles can sufficiently satiffie you in those poinctes The seruices on the Sea I doe sette aparte by them selues and so here I proceede in some matter whiche toucheth a peece of the businesse of Flaunders and Fraūce where diuers of our gētlemen wer and beheld many great exploites Now is to be noted that M. Henry Champernowne of Deuonshire after his returne from the warres of Hungarie serued in the cause of the Protestantes of Fraūce of his own proper charges in the second Ciuile warres with xij gentlemen or more And in the thirde Ciuile warres after the battaile of Iarnag he serued with an hundred men of his owne proper costes Likewise accompanied and followed these gentlemenne Edward Barkley Phillip Budsed Gawine Champernowne Richard Kirkam Walter Rawley Carro Rawley Ranoldes Hugh Vdall Thomas Courtney Willyam Fonte Richard Keyes Willyam Walwyng Thomas Atkins and others whereof some retourned after the death of the olde Prince of Conde But maister Henry Champernowne as one desirous of renowme and greedie of glorie gotten by seruice remained till his death where liuely fame was to be wonne and serued so nobly and so gallantly as the whole Campe where he was in sounded of his valliantnesse and many of those gentlemen that he brought with hym augmented so muche his fame that to this daie his deedes and theirs are moste noblie spoken of greatly to the honour of all our Englishe Nation For his gentlemen or the moste parte of them loste their liues with their Capitaine muche is to be saied in this matter But I must
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
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
saile in his coÌ„panie But he proceaded onward and houered vp and doune the coast a certain space till at length commyng before the Castell of Cane Mongomrie hauyng espied the Shippes that Capitaine Biston brought before the Toune of Cane whiche was besieged by the enemies of Count Mongomries beganne to prepare hym self and all his people to goe a Shippe boarde and so came from Cane and passed to Newe Hauen by Capitaine Bistons meanes giuyng hym greate thankes for his commyng to Cane and for seruyng the Counties tourne in that extremitie The Counte had brought with hym from Cane twelue hundred soldiours and other thynges necessarie for his furniture And Capitaine Biston departyng from hym made saile into Englande and receiued sir Adriane Poinynges and maister Cutbart Vaughan with twoo thousande Soldiours and there on sailed backe againe to Newe Hauen and landed them there at their owne willes and pleasure After the siege of Newe Hauen the Count Mongomrie gathered a greate Nauie and wente out of Englande in hope to succour Rotchell that was strongly besieged and enteryng in at the hauens mouthe of Rotchell a Cannon shotte passed through the Shippe the Count was in hym self So vpon that or other causes vnknowne to many in his companie he retourned and lefte Rotchell in greate daunger Whiche toune notwithstandyng againste all hope or expectation of manne kepte it self in suretie and did suche wonderfull thynges duryng the siege thereof as to this daie and to the worldes ende is and wil be spoken of For emong all the sieges that euer wee haue heard of there is not one comparable to the siege of Rotchell Albeeit Haddyngton Harlam and Malta are monumentes and patrons to shew that manhoode maie woorke maruailes and constancie ioyned with courage is not easely conquered As Rotchell and these places before mention of doeth witnesse and shall whiles we are men be daiely remembred In that season whiles the Count Mongomrie was aboute to succoure Rotchell Bell Ilande was assaulted and verie valliaunly wonne with a fewe menne one of sir Willyam Winters brethren beeyng the cheef leader to that seruice In whiche seruice was many a hotte skirmishe and many more matters worthie memorie putte in practise wherein manhoode and diligence of manne was throughlie tried And the Englishe nation did shewe their accustomed courage in in suche maner and sort that the Frenche which thought to keepe Bell Ilande were forced to leaue it and seeke their beste waie to conueigh theim selues from daunger albeeit thei defended the saied Ilande as long as thei might Now hauyng further causes to treate of and meanyng no more to wearie the readers with many wordes or warre either of Sea seruice or Landes bloodie broiles I mynde to expresse and set forthe at large how Soldiours were made of and honoured in tymes paste and what prerogatiue thei had aboue other people And to declare how Princes helde them in admiration and gaue theim liberties titles and dignities farre beyonde the reste of any that liued vnder their lawes and obedience And this by the waie is to be thought that all my former discourse and rehearsall of warres attended to no other purpose and effecte but for the aduauncement of Soldiours and to be as it were a foile to sette forthe the matter I presently mynde to publishe out For now I will in a maner shewe how Gentilitie beganne and where and in what sorte honour was first gotten and maintained whiche argumente as I hope shall not onely contente the wise and wel learned but also please euery degree and make the simple sorte plucke vp their courages and imitate by some honest exercises the liues of noble Soldiours I truste I neede not in this readie and ripe age wherein good writers greate learnyng and studious iudgementes doeth florishe rehearse by particulars euery parcell and poincte that belongeth to a Soldiours profession Nor that you looke I should recite when and where the Romaines Lacedemonians Athenians and other nations did preferre and extoll menne of Marshall myndes and noble courages For their bookes and Commentaries and the innumerable Libraries of greate antiquitie are the verie recordes of my discourse and remaine as mirrours for you to looke in And shall proue a thousande partes more in the comendation of Soldiours then either my penne or tongue by sufficiente cuÌ„nyng hath power to expresse For it can not be that from a little gutte or Channell of water you should looke for so greate a flood as from a multitude of springes froÌ„ whence mightie Riuers takes originall and recourse And so I sende you to the Welspryng of â—â—â—â—â—edge I meane the auncient Fathers woorkes to fetche true intelligence of the thynges I make mention of touchyng the worthie reputation of a good Soldiour and the antiquitie of his credite triumphe and glorie Firste looke in the sacred Scriptures and searche from the death of Abell commyng doune orderly to the birthe of Christe And see whether Souldiours were made of or no. And doubtlesse you shall finde thei were not onely embraced and maintained but like wise thei are of a long continuance and credite As al the Bible before Ihon the Baptistes time declareth And Christe hym self in a sorte did vtter when he saied he had not founde suche faithe in Israell as he sawe in a Senturion Yea and in the Apostles Actes there is a speciall poinct to bee noted Deuoute Soldiours were sente to Symon Tanners house to finde out Peter Well now I commit you to the Scripture and I will followe prophane histories and beginne at the verie Infidelles a scorne for a Christian to bee taught by whiche are no small nomber nor of no little continuaunce people alwaies brought vp in war and Princes of greate fame power and aucthoritie Yea conquerours of the whole worlde and kynges to whom all people did stoupe and doe homage These Paganes or as we maie tearme them loste shepe to whom the greate Shepherd would not bee knowne and yet emong theim tormented and crucified did make suche lawes and orders for Soldiours as the Turke to this daie obserueth and holdeth in greate reuerence Regard but the liberties and aucthoritie of the Ienessaries and that shall manifestlie proue that menne of warre are had in greate admiration But because you shall haue the more beleef to the matter read the life of Alexander the Greate The Commentaries of Iulius Caesar and the noble actes and victories of a nomber of other notable Princes And then assuredlie you shal be perswaded that the renowme of Soldiours hath reached and spread as farre as fame can flie or good reporte could haue passage I praie you can any manne deny but it springeth of a greate courage and zeale to the Common wealthe when a man forsaketh the pleasure of life to followe the painfulnesse of warre and daunger of death and refuseth no toile nor trauaill to purchase credite and attaine vnto knowledge Yea some suche wee reade of as Marcus Cursius and Musius Sceuola that refused no
if thei once refused mercie beyng offered and yeelded not presently thei muste resolue theim selues to dye manne woman and childe if thei could not for euer withstande hym by meanes whereof these commodities ensued First this his resolute and irremoueable determination towardes them bredde suche an vniuersall feare and terrour as that thereby verie many yeelded without blowes bloodshed or losse either of their partes or his Also it gaue him suche expedition in his seruices as that thereby he recouered more Fortes in some one daie then by strong hande would haue been wonne in a yere respectyng the smalnesse of his companie And the gainyng of tyme was one of his cheefest cares bothe because he had no prouition of victailes for his people but pulled it as it were out of the enemies mouthe perforce And also for that he his companie beeyng so fewe in nomber not knowyng how to haue supplies could not beare with the losse of menne to the winnyng of euery pettie Forte He performed all his actions after suche an open knowē course and maner as that he would not graunte grace to an offendour at any maner of requeste contrary to his resolued course so as euery manne knewe whereto to truste He further tooke this order infringeble that when soeuer he made any ostyng or inrode into the enemies Countrey he killed manne woman and child and spoiled wasted and burned by the grounde all that he might leauyng nothyng of the enemies in saffetie whiche he could possiblie waste or consume And these were his reasons that perswaded hym thereto as I haue often heard hym saie Firste the men of warre could not bee maintained without their Churles and Calliackes or women who milked their Creates and prouided their victualles and other necessaries So that the killyng of theim by the sworde was the waie to kill the menne of warre by famine who by flight oftentymes saued them selues from the dinte of the sworde Also he helde it dishonourable for the Prince to practise with Rebelles to accepte her Maiesties mercie And therefore he did alwaies seeme to care leaste for the submission of them whom he cheefly desired to haue become true And yet by this course of gouernement it happened that their wiues and children whom thei dearly loued were Embassadours to bryng that to passe whiche he disdained to seme to desire or to bee willyng to accepte He neuer would parley with any Rebell nor thereto permitte vnder his charge saiyng alwaies that he thought his Dogges eares to good to heare the speeche of the greateste noble manne emongest them so long as he was a Rebell Also he neuer receiued any into protection but by their owne greate and long suites and that with promise firste made to performe these thinges followyng without whiche he neither did nor would by any intreatie bee brought to receiue them to grace Firste of what estate condition or degree soeuer he were at the firste commyng into his presence he muste fall doune on his knees before the saied Collonell and there knelyng confesse hymself a traitour and to haue deserued to bee hanged and so desire her Maiesties pardon after whiche sort there came vnto him the Erle of Glankar the white knight Mack Donawothe the Lorde of the greate Woode and diuers others Irishe Lordes whiche I omitte To whiche kinde of humilitie and submission he draue theim for this cause that thei might thereby wonder the more at her heighnesse greatnesse of whom he endeuoured in their hearynges to speake as muche honoure as he ought Although not so muche as her Maiestie deserued Declaryng vnto thē howe that he hym self was but a poore gentleman and that the fame his aucthoritie proceeded but as a sillie braunche of her highnesse gouernemente and that receiued from the handes of a meane subiect his place reserued Secondlie he should bee sworne to bee true and faithefull dueryng his life to her Maiestie and her successours and to all suche as should from henceforthe vnder her highnesse and her successours haue the care and charge of that Countrey And this he did to the ende that their consciences if thei had any might bee a clogge to theim if thei should infringe the same Thirdlie for performaunce of thinges before spoken of euery one should bee bounde in a Recognizaunce and that in as greate a somme as the saied Collonell should seme good whiche ordinarely amounted vnto so muche as verie nere counteruailed the value of their goodes and landes or at the least was muche more then thei were able to paie And this pollicie he had therein that it mighte lye alwaies in the Prince Deputie or other cheef officers thereby by coloure of Iustice to laye any of theim by the feete for forfaityng of their bandes whiche he knewe thei all would doe and so by that meanes preuented a mischeef before thei could commit any further acte of greate daunger The totall somme of the Recognizaunces taken by hym within his charge and certified vnder the handes of the Maiors and Touneclarkes of the Cities and Tounes within that Prouince amounted vnto 244182. l. 4. s̄ 5. d. q d. Lastely euery one should put suche pledges in hande for the keepyng and performyng of all the Articles aforesaied as the saied Collonell would demaunde whiche he did to preuent theim thereby that thei should not dare to offende For the choise of his pledges was on this sorte he tooke not onely those whom the cheefe Lorde loued beste But rather those whom his followers of greateste force helde derest either by blood or fosterage to the ende that thei should forsake their Lorde or persecute hym if he attempted any thyng to the iniuryng or indaungeryng of their dearest beloued All whiche pledges he left in hande within the Cities of Corke and Limbricke at his departyng from thence Farther he neuer tooke pledge if he were of yeres to speake but by his owne consent and that vpon this conditiō of all partes That if he for whom he laye should become a Rebell and should refuse to come to the saied Collonell or other cheefe officers when he should bee sent for that then the pledge shall dye for the offence of hym so disobaiyng that he laye for and the other when he might bee taken And in this matter none of them durste passe through his fingers for he alwaies obserued his orders and course of gouernemente irremoueably not makyng hymself subiecte to any perswasion Moreouer he helde this generall rule that what soeuer offendoure was taken he died or had his iuste punishmente without redemption Affirmyng hymself to bee of the opinion that the noble Capitaine Lamacus was of who saied Quod nonest bis in bello peccare And thei whiche formerly did moste hurte after thei were receiued to mercie he had in greatest estimation beyng perswaded that thei had moste value in thē to doe good seruice if thei would applie it well His maner was that the heddes of all those of what sort soeuer thei were whiche were killed
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
either followe their steppes or goe the course his owne light should leade hym And beeyng wearied with worldely affaires though yong of yeres sought sonderie waies to ease the burthen of his breaste bothe by pollicie and causes that happe hazarde might bryng to good perfection and so bendyng his studie and spirites aboute some daungerous aduenture and noble attempte He firste made a shewe as though he would haue besieged Antwarpp bryngyng a power on the spurre to amasse the worlde and in that ronnyng campe amused their wittes that sawe but into the outwarde shewes of ordinarie causes ▪ and therewith all when the brauado was made towardes Antwarppe on whiche toune the whole State depended and some of the Prince of Parmas men wente and ventered verie farre yet siue of Englishe and others a nomber scarce worthie hearyng The Prince of Parma retired and immediately vppon good direction and order besieged Mastricke a marueilous strong Toune subiect to no euill but misfortune or mannes pollicie Whiche Toune shewed it self so well and worthely that I must needes without any greate intelligence of euery particuler seruices write of the notorious matters that fell out duryng the tyme of the siege And for that the noble myndes and greate courages of menne delightes in doyng greate thynges and hearyng of mightie matters It is reason in aunsweryng their hopes and iudgementes to delate a little and make a long discourse of these Marciall affaires For suche a noble behauiour of Soldiours on bothe sides maie not bee forgotten nor bee left bare and naked from the roebes of renoume and remembraunce of the worlde The Spanyardes and others what soeuer that serued the Prince of Parma made a stoute and gallante approche to the Toune of Mastricke In whiche attempte thei of the Toune were tried and founde bothe able to resiste and willyng to defende Their scirmouches and maner of warre did to the vttermoste shewe there was no faintnesse of hart nor lacke of force to withstande a stoute enemie For euery Minute of an an howre thei offered as muche brauerie and bolde courage as any people that euer were in our daies did abide the siege set Haddyngton aparte Well now the Spanyardes placed the Campe in good order the Countrey neere about in subiection the Munition ready and all necessaries for a siege prouided for the Batterie was planted and euery Trenche garded and looked to in the moste warlike sort and maner might be deuised Notwithstandyng thei of the Toune made many sallies and issued so often that it was thought neither their courage was to be daunted nor their Toune to be wonne But the Prince of Parma myndyng onely victorie and perswadyng nothyng but hazard of life or daunger of bodie framed his Soldiours to suche a resolution of mynde that thei thought neither vamures of yearth nor walles of brasse might keepe theim from their desired conquest with whiche resolution in the face of the shott and lapps of their enemies thei lighted verie often yet scambled out of perill as the present mischeef would suffer and euery man might make shift for hym self There was to be seen betweene these twoo people suche stoutnesse of minde and practise of witte that nothyng was forgotten that might giue grace to the one or bryng good fortune to the other So in this sort a long season was spent and no small charges bestowed greately to the disquietnesse of bothe the parties and wonder of their neighbours farre or neere that daiely gaped for newes and were fedde with suche reportes as the packettes vnfolded and the Postes would make brute of And all this while thei within the Toune hoped for succour and their enemies without were but to withstande any power should approche them And made a full accoumpt either to giue battaill or winne the toune thei had besieged The Batterie was plied the Cannons wente of the wilde-fire was flong the engines of warre were occupied the soldiours were readie to assaulte and the Mine was thrust full of poulder to blowe vp the walles and all the crueltie and terrour that could bee inuented was speedily sette a broche too make the murther and bloodshed the more The people of Mastricke had made a counter Mine and in the tyme of the assaulte siue the woorkemen vnder the yearth and defended their walles moste manfully whiche was assailed with suche a furie and courage as though a mainy of Gyauntes had set vpon a fewe children or a multitude of Wolues had ronne vpon a poore and simple flocke of Shepe But yet for all this furie and dreadfull maner of approche the Soldiours assalted did shewe thē selues so valliant that the assailantes were forced after long fight at the pushe of the Pike to retire and shrinke from the breache and with greate losse of many a noble Soldiour turne their faces from their enemies and drawe them selues from daunger to the sauegard of their Trenches and gardyng of their Campe. This first assault was so stoutly withstoode that a long while after the Toune tooke some reste But the Spanyardes waiyng not their liues and waxyng angerie for this repulse made sonderie sharpe approches When many legges and armes by meane of the Mines fiue vp in the ayre as though a tempest or whirle winde had blowen a fewe feathers or gotten vnder a loose bundell of Strawe yea the Mines at one tyme were so terribly sette on fire and shaked a peeces by a nomber of barrells of pouder that you would haue thought it had Thondered or the worlde had been at an ende and the Iudgement daie had been come So pitifullie the bodies and heddes of people fiue aboute the feeldes for thereby the Cloudes were dimmed with gloumyng smoke and smother A sight moste dreadfull to behold and as a man might saie a verie helle vppon yearth where diuers bloodie wretches and Ruffians dooe dye without any hope of heauen or regarde of God. Well in this miserable maner and plight the people of Mastricke continued full many a heauie daie and weeke and yet alwaies the greatest losse fell on their enemies part who neuerthelesse became so venterous and hardie by this their hard Fortune That thei were in a maner as desperate as wilde Bulles that neither cares for Dogges nor shunneth no daunger And in deede the Prince of Parmaes power were become suche Tygers and Lyons that thei thought no force could resiste their furie nor no people could matche them in courage and valliauncie Suche was the greatnesse of their myndes and desire of worldely fame and glorie the onely sturrer vp of stoutnesse in a Soldiours stomacke and the principle poincte that a manne of warre careth for and holdeth in reputation And in this pride and gallaunce conceipte of doyng what thei pleased thei made no more of the losse of halfe a score Ensignes of menne then of a handfull of Rushes or a trusse of Hey For when a thousande or two thousande Soldiours were slaine at the assaulte or at any peece of seruice thei erected newe
beare all maner of liquour that is putte into it and as a Creature condempned to taste and feele tormentes sorrowes and troubles wherin man sees Gods mercie and his owne infirmities And refusyng to beare and suffer what is laied vppon hym he seemeth to holde an other course then God hath appoincted and so seeketh that he can not attain For since the yearth was cursed it neuer could bryng forthe but cares and greef of mynde The onely fruite and painfull portion that was from the beginnyng prepared for all Adams children and posteritie Now some will replie and saie that the rich and wealthy of the worlde that maie wallow and toumble on their treasure Haue builded suche bulwarkes against the assaultes of fortune that no troubles can touche theim nor make them yeeld to the common callamitie of our life but who soeuer so thinketh is vtterly deceiued For ritches is not gotten nor kept but with muche care and labour and where it is possest it bryngeth daunger dread disdain and a thousande euilles with it Temptyng manne to riot and lasciuious liuyng and leadeth the soule to perdition by a nomber of infinite follies except a speciall grace doe vphold it it ronneth headlong into helle and looketh seldome vnto heauen And commonly when menne doe growe riche thei surfette so often with Bankettes or bibbyng that thei are full of diseases and so shortens their daies Whiche libertie of life and boldnesse in abuses that sprynges on aboundance the roote of disorder puffes them vp in Pride pampers them in pleasures and blindeth so their iudgementes that thei neither can se who deceiueth theim nor finde out the right waie of heauenly felicite And yet the flatterie of one and falsehoode of an other aboute theim breedeth suche businesse raiseth suche stormes where quietnesse is looked for that the ritche mannes house is neuer without blonder brabble and braulynges So that vnder the calmeste shewes and ciuillest maners lurketh terrible tempestes and fearfull suspitions whiche in that kinde is a domesticall callamitie and miserie incurable And so all the iollitie and pōpe of the earth enioyed by enheritaunce or purchased by fortune are accompanied with pain enterlarded with dolloure and mixed with vnquietnesse and maie bee compared to a rotten painted walle that vnder faire collours hath many a foule frette whiche deceiueth the eyes of them that lookes on it or giues those a great ouerthrowe that leaneth againste it But this is no proofe that ritches is cause of sorrowe but this rather shewes that sorrowe care and many misfortunes doeth followe ritches and pouertie so it bee not bare indigence is voide of hazard free from fortunes mutabilitie and coumpted moste happie in comparison of the goodnesse that belongeth to a blessed life God in beholdyng the vices of many and sees some bente to esteeme villanie or offence doeth cut of their daies by sodaine mischaunces or on a sette purpose through the Deuine power because their euill shall not hurte the good And regardyng the other sort that will or maie amende leaues them to the touche of their consciences with good respite and laysure to repent sendyng them miserie trouble and disquietnesse onely as a restraint and bridell to plucke theim from vices And so callamitie maie bee accompted a precious purgation and prosperitie maie bee iudged a Pestilente disease whiche encreased or begonne by disordered life is rather to bee called a callamitie and sicknesse of the soule then a healthe of the minde or good renowme to the bodie Many great personages beyng ouercome with the casualties of this worlde and mutabilitie of fortune haue after their fall into persecution taken all thynges in good parte and made but smal adoe nor account of their state when aduersitie approched and been often times as glad to vse the libertie of mynde in a seruile sorte as thei were well pleased when their bodies tooke moste pleasure and had the worlde at commaundement For of necessitie stormes followe calmes and calamitie either laste or firste dooeth visite an yearthly vessell For some come to Kyngdomes from prison and induraunce and some fall to miserie from wealth and honor Dyonisius was glad to keepe a Schoole after he had loste his Empire and Andronico of Athens when his Countrey was subdued by the Romains was faine to serue sondrie miserable Maisters and after ledde a Lyon aboute Rome to the ende of his daies But though I brought a Tyraunte and an Infidell to shewe that calamitie must bee tasted so could I rehearse many Christen princes that calamitie hath touched and made thē as happie by those crosses thei haue borne as some others are blessed that makes boaste that haue neuer suffered torment Calamitie is like a suplyng salue that heales a sore Canker A precious preseruatiue to keepe the hed from furie of follie A gentill medicine to reforme an infected conscience A bitter draught of drinke that pourgeth a stoute corrupt stomack A sowre sirope or sauce that seasoneth a lewde appetite And the sweete Salte of mannes felicitie without the which no life can bee well seasoned Who feeles hymself afflicted hath cause to conceiue he is not forgotten where fauour is moste to be desired and he that is let a lone to followe his owne pleasure walkes as a casteawaie and hath nothing to reioyce of For his badde spirite leades hym to destruction and his good Angell hath forsaken his companie whiche is a signe he is giuen ouer to his noughtie inclinations and is suffered to slide or fal doune right when the afflicted by a speciall grace is kept from stomblyng The Horse that findes the Bridell caste in his necke ronnes out of order about the wild feeld And suche as loueth lewde libertie and will not bee brideled good order ronnes from them and foule reproche waites at their heeles And if thei chaunce to happen in any hazarde the sodainnesse of the mischeef breaketh their harte or the wonderyng of the worlde makes the wicked a wearie of his life But suche as calamitie by custome hath reclaimed taketh aduersitie as a qualifier of cursed conditions and beeyng content to kisse the Rodde of perturbation are made children of promes and inheritours of the lande thei haue long looked for So blessed be those babes then who in the troble of their soules possesseth quietnesse and makes a counte of calamitie to bee the perfite waie and meane to felicitie good happ The feelyng of suche a scourge and visitation lately sent a man that I knewe who gatte great benefite by his trouble made me write this little triflyng treatise of calamitie So fare thou well good Reader Finis A pitefull complaint in maner of a Tragedie of Seignior Anthonio dell Dondaldoes wife somtyme in the duke of Florences Courte Translated out of Italian prose and putte into Englishe verse YOu wiues that wishe to liue with worldes renowne And wisely waie the worthe of precious fame Come heare the voyce that giues a wofull sowne Come heare her tale that dare not shewe
her name Come Countrey youth come noble courtly Dame. And marke my woords whose woorks in wondryng daies With double blotte redounds to my dispraies From tender yeres till twentie twoo were paste I nourisht was at pompe and pleasures papps But who can tell how long our ioye shall laste For greatest calmes comes ofte to Thonder clapps And sweetest hopes doe chaunge to sowrest happs O tickle tyme that wanders swift as winde With heare before and bare and balde behinde No gripe nor hande can take sure holde on thee Thou flittst so faste and leaues the worlde at worst Looke what tyme bryngs tyme takes awaie you see Good tyme is blest badd tyme wee holde accorst Tyme hurtes them oft that tyme did helpe at forst Looke what we haue when youth is moste in prime That shall wee want in age by course of tyme. My freashe delites doe fall and fade like flowre The blossomes gaie from beauties budds are gone Our state of life doeth alter euery howre As pleasures passe come sorowes pasyng on The worlde it self is like a rowlyng stone And on suche wheeles our tomblyng happs doe ronne Thei slide as swifte as shadowe in the Sonne Whiles carelesse witte doeth carry youth about To sportes and plaies that doeth from pasty meries The merrie mynde is voyde of feare and doubt And all the powres are glad to please the eyes But when wilde hedde or wanton waxeth wise The weightie thoughtes that deepe foresight retains Bryngs troubled sleepes and breakes the quiet brains In childishe daies I made no counte of chaunce When freends tooke care to matche me to their will So hopyng long good happ would me aduaunce I kept me free from wedlocks boudage still But parents wise that had good worldly skill With open checks rebukt the causes cheef The more thei sturde the greater grewe my greef As when a sore is rubbde and handled harde The lesse it heales because ye touche it neere O fathers graue if that you tooke regarde How that with checks you vse your children deere Or in your moodes you would some reason heere Thei should bee ioynde where thei greate ioye should haue And you of them enioye the thyng you craue But wilfull men that wealth maie wrest awrie Will force poore babes to marrie or to morne What father will the child maie not denie He hurts his shins against the pricke shall sporne When matche is made it is paste tyme to torne When sillie Lambe is to the slaughter ledde The Butchar braggs the simple Sheepe is dedde And yet in deede t were better childern smarte And matche in tyme as cause and matter moues Then childrens choyse should breake the fathers harte Or breede debate as wilfull marrage proues Short is the ioye of them that longest loues When want comes on and woe beginnes to wryng For lacke is thrall and slaue to euery thyng Loue is not now as loue hath been of old A game some babe to dandle on the knee Loue cares for nought but lande and baggs of gold That keepes bothe man and horse in stable free Thei haue no witte that other louers bee Wealthe maister is and porter of the gate That lettes in loue when want shall come to late Well as it was my freends could doe no good My Fortune bore the swaie and ruled all And I full long on will and freedome stoode Till fleshe and blood must needes to fancie fall And then though happe and worldly wealth was small I lighted where I likte and loued well And where I voude for terme of life to dwell My choise was likte for many giftes of grace He had though wealth somtyme was not at will And for his sake in many a noble place I welcome was and purchast fauour still My candell blasde like torche on toppe of hill And for content of minde where loue doeth reste Myne owne poore choise might passe emong the beste Long liu'de we thus at home and eke abroad When kindred cleane in deede forsooke vs bothe What burthen fell I helpt to beare the loade And glad in worlde to taste how Fortune gothe The minde I had to God and sacred othe Made me refuse no trauaill for his sake Whom of free will I choose to bee my make The seas wee sailde the lande wee rode about The Court wee sawe the Toune wee dwelt long in The feeldes we walke the gardains gaie throughout Wee went vnto where many a feast hath bin Wee could not sincke for happe helde vp the chin He prosperde well and looke what God had sent With louyng wise at home the same he spent He tooke greate paines to come by that he had And trauailde sore through many a forraine soile To bryng that home that makes the housholde glad And keepe the wife and housholde folke from foile And I tooke care that nothyng went to spoile And looke in deede what thyngs that I did lacke Was seen in face or founde vpon my backe The worlde might see I went in garmentes good Though small I brought to hym as I confesse I spent hym muche and at greate charge he stoode Whiche bryngs strong harts somtyme to greate distresse But neuer that might make his loue the lesse For looke how he his likyng first beganne In fine for trothe he proude the self same manne I could not sleepe but where in bedde he laie I could not eate but where he satte at boorde I could not laugh when likyng was awaie I silent satte gaue he but halfe a woorde Ill newes of hym strake me with mortall sworde His minde and myne did drawe so in one yoke The self same fitts he felt where of I spoke Full seuen yeres this constant course wee kept Though often tymes there happened housholde iarrs And trattlyng tales that in betweene vs crept Made many wounds where yet remaines the skarrs Yet alwaies peace tooke vp our braulyng warrs And wee did seeke to salue eche others sore And passe old greefes and thinke thereon no more Sweete is that peace that patcheth vp greate harmes Sharpe is the warre that teares a house in twaine Wo worthe those words that brings in braules by swarms Darke be those cloudes that alwaies threatens raine Curste bee the cause that breedeth woe and paine And dampde in hell those subtell spirits shal be That councell gaue to parte my choise from me Well as our chaunce together was to ioyne And dwell long while as here in breef you harde So happe came on through hope of wealth or coyne And drewe my choise where he might bee prefarde To warrs and I that had a greate regarde To hym that tyme when I his mynde did knowe Gaue my consent that he to warrs should goe With sighes and sobbs and bitter tears emong Wee parted tho with promes suerly paste That one should here from other ere t were long And sadly soe wee seured at the laste His goods his gold his freends bothe firme and faste He lefte me then to comfort me with all But nere a child
No hazard here on yearth that men maie finde But there to me blinde deastnie had assignde My life was sought and freedome loste I long Compeld to stoupe where God was scarcly knowne Denied of right and forste to suffer wrong And plainly spoild of that whiche was my nowne In hockstars hands where lawe was made of will And hauocks mouthe I daiely hapned still Now drownd in dread and wishyng greedie graue Then feard to be a seruile galley slaue No helpe from home was lookt for any waie All hope was gone betweene good happe and mee In these extreams thus paste I many a daie Till God had sette bothe minde and bodie free And in the ende ere I did homward drawe At my nowne will Ierusalem I sawe And Sipres too with diuers kyngdoms more Whiche stately seats I had not seen before A minde I had of further toile then this But sondrie letts in that behalf I founde And as oft tyms I did my purpose mis So loe in fine I drewe me homeward round But Fortune wrought for me suche spite at home That once againe a broad I must goe rome I shapt me thoe a nerar course to hold In hope that happe the haplesse fauour wold Now sought I how to serue my countrey well And fram'd bothe witts and wealth to that delite In forraine soile the wandryng Prince did dwell From whence oft tyms to countrey did I write Yea to the cheef that here hath rule and charge To whom I showd some matters full at large For whiche I wanne greate fauour and good will So long tyme spent in right good credite still But Fortune fround at that good lucke of mine As she was wont to doe by course and kinde That froward dame ye knowe doeth still repine At eurie one that bears a noble minde A dreadfull Duke a fearfull prince I saie Sore matters there vnto my charge did laie And clapt me vp in cruell prison faste Where long I lookt for nought but death at laste A leuen months I laie in lothsome sincke Where some condempd aboad the diefinoll daie Some liu'd in lacke and staru'd for meate and drinke Some made greate shift yet could not get awaie Some were had out to suffer for offence Some had small wealth yet laie at greate expence And some were rackt and loste their lims there bye And none but glad to please the Iailours eye The fulsome smells and sauours out of frame Weare able sure to burst a Giants harte The vsage vile and other greefs to name Did farre surmount the weight of common smarte The checks the taunts and bitter bityng words Did cutte more sharpe then bloodie mortall swords The torments strange that helhounds shewd vs theare Was sure muche more then humain kinde could beare The worlde abroad knows not what prisnars feele The birde on bushe conceiu's no care of cage Who sitts a loft in topp of Fortun 's wheele Full little knowes the cause of captiu's rage Well I suckt vp of this the sweete and sowre And sought for freends and so stretcht forth my powre That out I came and homward once againe I paste in peace and scapt a scouryng plaine Here found I things as God hym self did please My wife in graue and worlde was altred cleane Then did I frame my self to liue at ease And as I might to hold a merrie meane Content with cares that tyme had ouer blowne Full bent to dwell and reste vpon myne owne Not lookt for chere in house I kept before Those spendyng daies bad spare and seeke for store But yet small while I rested here in deede But that I hard of one a noble brute A widdowe wise of gentill race and seede And suche a dame as worthie was of sute Whose wifely port and comlie maners graue With shamfast looks and glance of beautie braue Was able sure as worlds report did shoe To make from tombe the dedde to speake and goe Her famous brute so set my harte on fire That fancie flam'd on that I neuer sawe And still so hotte did burne this newe desire That witte confest in loue there was no lawe A sodaine heate and sure a thyng full strange That loue so sone could worke so sore a change To make hym like and namely in the place Where loe before he sawe ne shape nor face A powre deuine or Deastnie drewe this draught It can not come of light conceits nor toyes For as wilde birds in bushe or lime are caught And so strange handes poore sillie birde enioyes Through Deastnies lot that all appointeth here So was I caught I bye the proofe full dere For nought but smart as yet thereby doeth rise Suche Fortune falls on men from starrie Skise Where Gods doe worke men must of force giue place It hapned thus what needs more words here in Me thought in slepe I sawe a strangers face A wake I walkt as I in mase had bin In house or feeld all that I did behold Presented plaine this noble fleece of gold The wandryng Prince a Iason wisht hym than Or for that fleece to be a happie man. In spendyng daies and tyme of that deuice A chance befell as blisfull Fortune wold The preshoes Iemme and iewell dere of price That wandryng Prince doeth call the fleece of gold At dinner was where I was bidde a geast O happie house nay rather happie feast O castell good where in my Ladie satte Where but bare vewe and sight of her I gatte My gasyng eyes no soner sawe this sight But straight I saied the worlds report was true And in all poincts she was the self same wight That I had heard and more to saie to you Her grace so muche did please my inward minde That sure I thought I could not easly finde So sweete a sainct to serue and honour still If boldnesse durst present here my good will. A feare straight waies possest my senses all Of fitter matche for her then I in deede And dreadyng sore how matters forthe would fall That I might speake and others then might speede I silent stoode and stole awaie God wotte Yet hopyng still to finde a better lotte An aptter tyme a season for my sute That fancies toile should reape some thankfull frute In watchyng long and vsyng sleight of witte I fauour wan my sorrows to escrie But Fortune made me plaie vpon the bitte And want my will when hedde I held full hye I curbed was and suche a mozroule felt That in no staye nor certaine hope I dwelt Saue that accesse to her I had somtyme As on the staire I durst attempt to clime I did not preace the mountaine hye to win Nor clime the bowes and spraies of mightie trees The valley smothe I tooke greate pleasure in Or goodlie ley where haunts somtymes the Bees To sucke the flowrs that pleasant Honie makes And ley to ley I thought to hedge with stakes As feeld to feeld should better sure agree Then Skie with yearth or winde and ayre with tree Short season