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
should haue a noble death because he should bee killed at a noble mannes handes and with that woorde slue hym whiche was against all ciuill order or lawe of Armes but note what followed The Duke Domale in the ende of this crueltie and encounter charged the Count de Hornes bande with a braue companie of men at Armes and ouerthrewe moste of the Count de Hornes people and defeitted them all or carried them awaie prisoners with hym And in that charge giuen there was a companie of Frenche footemen whiche sette vpon the Spaniardes and Italians in the woodde and draue theim out of the same and possessed the woodde againe to the greate discourage of the other partie whiche Frenchemen entrenched thē selues in the saied woodde as surely as thei could The Englishe and Scottes men beeyng well mounted and desirous of some honour beholdyng what good successe the Duke had founde by the valliaunt charge he had giuen Thei sodainely brake vppon van Rousis Launceknightes with a greate shoute and crie who amased at the noyse and afferde of the charge flang doune their weapons and betoke them to their feete whiche ouersight and feblenesse of spirit in theim was occasion of a greate slaughter For when the Englishe and Scottes horsemen were a wearie of killyng the poore Almaines thei tooke prisoners some one man ten or twelue a peece as was crediblie reported So that in a maner moste of all van Rousis Ensignes were troden vppon or taken from them that carried them The Emperour was somewhat moued at this misfortune and determined the nexte daie in the Mornyng to giue the Frenche kyng battaill The Frenche kyng on that victorie sent a Harralde of Armes with a Trompet to the Emperour declaryng vnto hym that within fower and twentie howres he would meete hym in the feelde For whiche message the Herralde had a good rewarde and the Emperour was glad that so honourable an acte as was offered should ende the quarrell betwene the Frēche kyng and him The fame night beyng well spent and thynges in order for battaill the Emperour caused the Drommes and Trōpettes to sounde and strike a marche to the feelde for that he would by the breake of the daie behold his enemies power The Frenche Kyng beeyng a beaten Soldiour with many daungerous seruices and lookyng into the daunger of an exstreme fight for a wearied armie tooke compassion on his ouerlaboured menne of warre that had lyen in the open feelde all that yere and so without sounde of Dromme or any noyes makyng he retired his Batterie caused his footemen to marche quietly towardes Muttrell whiche thei recouered before the breake of the daie and the kyng with the reste of his armie at midnight priuelie withdrewe hym sel and his power from daunger of the Emperours Campe. Placyng his horsemen in the reergarde to tarrie till the Emperour were readie to marche who had intelligence of the Frenche Kynges priuie practises and departure And thereon gaue commaundemente to followe with all expedition the horsemen hauyng that in charge to see if thei could ouertake any of the Frenche kynges armie especiallie the footemen The Duke Denamores attendyng on certaine straglars in goyng out of a woodde to the plaine happened with his whole bande on Capitaine Stukeleis troupe who all that iourney and at sondrie other seruices had dooen merueilous actes in whiche troupe was the twoo brethren maister Nicholas Malbie and Ihon. And the Duke Denamores was no soner espied but capitain Steukely and his troupe charged hym who fled as fast as he might to recouer some freendes and Ihon Malbie beyng well horssed put the Duke to leape hedge and dicke till he mette with a bande of men at Armes which the Englishmen wer not strong enough to deale with all and so thei retired M. Richard Bingham at this seruice And in that retiryng thei mette with the Emperoure who gaue them greate thankes and rewarded hym that deserued moste praise The Emperour liyng at Renttie fiue or sixe daies caused the breache to be made vp againe and that beyng dooen he commaunded the Duke of Sauoye beyng his Lieutenant generall to make his repaire to Heddyng with his whole Campe. Where he made a verie strong Toune and there was not a noble manne in that Campe but for to giue good example putte once a daie his handes to the Baskette and Spade And euery soldiour had a double paie so long as the woorke was a buildyng where there was in wages a hundreth thousande daiely whereof some were suffered to make roades into Picardie and many bootes gotten emong the reste the Spaniardes had gotten a greate bootie beyng accompanied with the Burgonions in the same attempte and commyng into the Campe with their preye and spoile thei were to passe by the Almaines Campe or quarter whiche thei kepte The Almaines seyng a greate compaie desirous of spoile or glad to make a mutenie fell to take some shepe and what els thei thought good from the Spaniardes the Spaniardes thereon made Alarum The Duke of Sauoye knowyng of this vpprore gallopped with his bande emong the Almaines and tooke diuerse sedicious fellowes and committed them to the Prouost and one manne emong them retained to a noble man of Germanie whiche came to the Duke and did request hym to spare his manne and pardon his offence the Duke aunswered he should suffer for his follie committed the noble manne spake againe in so muche that the Duke was displeased at the suite The other seyng he could finde no fauour tolde the Duke in a rude maner that if he were not a Lieutenaunte generall ouer hym he should not put his man to death the Duke made no more a doe but tooke out a Pistolet that was bente and discharged it vpon the noble man and so slue hym The Almaines and Roiters therevpon armed them selues and put them in order of battaill The Spaniardes Italians and Burgoniōs presently repaired to the Dukes Pauilion The Prince of Orrange and many other noble personages came betwene the twoo powers and made a peace and so the businesse ended whiche at the beginnyng was like to haue come to a greate flaughter and bloodshed Now for the better contentation of the Almaines there was a roade made vnto Muttrell and twentie thousande Almaines appointed to bee at the winnyng of the bootie where was a greate skirmishe prouoked and at that tyme Capitaine Steukeleis horse was killed vnder hym when he gaue a valliaunt charge on his enemies There was a challenge made by the Frenchmen for the breakyng of certaine Launces for their mestresse sakes To aunswere the chalenge went a Portugall a greate companion with the Duke of Sauoye and one capitaine Tother an Albanoies sometyme seruyng in Englande was an other And the thirde was a gentleman called Ambrose Digbie who encountred a valliaunt horseman named Petro Strose and thei brake bothe the one vpon the other Ambrose Digbies horse was somewhat strong hedded and bare his Maister awaie into the Frenche troupe where the
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
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
bandes and furnished olde places with a present supplie of suche Nations as would enter into wages and though the long liyng in the colde and keepyng of the cāpe made bothe horse and manne stiffe as a stake and a wearie of Winter weather Yet would thei sette suche a shewe and brauerie on the matter as though thei had gone about some Sommer Maie game or a Christmas pastyme walkyng and sportyng before the Toune thei besieged as thei had ron at the Basse in a pleasaunte peece of grounde and goodlie greene Meadowe The maner wherof and boldnesse of that behauiour made the lookers on that were in a pittefold and peepyng out at a hole by stealth thinke of straunge deuises and haue many busie Bees in their heddes Now it happened through long besiegyng many assaultes and greate Batteries that the people of Mastricke wer so well acquainted with mischeefe and miserie that eache thing was welcome that Fortune by Gods appointment had sent or by any occasion fell out But alwaies with wisedome labour and pollicie thei prepared to defende and prouided a nette and cunnyng trappe to deceiue their enemies and when thei thought least of a Stratagime thei should fall in daunger and paie many a life for their pastyme So the daie approched of a moste terrible assault when the Toune was threatened to bee wonne and the Campe stoode in battaill the horse menne were mounted the bloodie Ensignes were spread and the Drommes and Trompettes sounded a slaunghter and the Alarū was giuen Then towardes the breache the Spanyardes began to marche where thei were receiued with the poshe of the Pike and the bullette of the Harcabooze and fought withall verie noblie a marueilous greate season in so muche that the Spanyardes were likely with muche losse to retire and be driuen backe But as a greate storme beateth doune mightie Trees And a strong streame driueth feeble fishe before it So the power of the Spanyardes pearssed through the breache and entered the Toune and possessed a greate plotte of grounde whiche in deede was vndermined and euen as thei thought all had ben their owne fire was giuen to the traine of pouder and twoo or three thousande of the Spanyardes side were blowen as hye as the highest wall in the Toune and therevpon the soldiours of Mastricke gaue a lustie charge on their enemies and so draue nombers out at the breache some with burnte faces some with broken armes some with haltyng legges and verie fewe free of hurt or vnmangled in some one place or other and he that spedde beste retourned with rebuke and escaped a blodie Butcherie A heauie sight to beholde and a thyng that Harlam often tymes before had offered the duke of Aluaes Soldiours But those that are bente to goe about worthie enterprises refuseth no hazardes nor waighes nothyng but the worthinesse of manhoode and honour of their Prince as here you maie perceiue by the Prince of Parmas Soldiours who no terrour nor tormente could turne from attemptyng the assault But yet after this broile and harde encounter thei made more curtchie and tooke better aduisement before thei wēt in hande with so greate a hazarde and so dwellyng vpon deuises and restyng on suche pollicies as might supprise the Toune Thei made many signes of assaultes and occupied poore people with diuers imaginations whiles thei went about a Mine and so to creepe in through a caue and gette into the Toune by a Cloister and house of Religion whiche Mine couertly handeled thei brought to passe albeeit many tymes a coūter Mine was made against them and hauyng doen that serued their purpose for to enter and giue a generall assault thei gaue the Alarum and approched the breach forgettyng not to arange their battailes for the States had a power neere theim and were likely to haue geuen an Alarum to the Campe and whiles a fewe bandes made hedde to the breache and a generall assaulte had besette the Toune rounde about A great companie beyng in the Mine beganne to shewe them selues and to sound Drommes and Trompetts at the backes of those that defended the breach who lookyng behind them and espiyng the Ensignes of the Spanyardes betooke theim selues sodainly to flighte and leauyng the breache ranne ouer the bridge to an other peece of the Toune But the thronge was so greate and the feare of death so muche emong the comon people that all amased and paste hope of life stoode bothe man woman and child that neuer sawe the like conflicte nor could not shift for their liues So some flange doune weapon caste of their armour held vp their handes to the heauens smote their wofull breastes and kneeled before the face and feete of their enemies criyng for mercie where little was to bee founde And some ranne into cornes Churches Hospitalles and emong Religious persones But thei rather founde a sworde then succour and destruction soner then comfort and happed in their hādes that sought bothe blood and victorie and had no more mynde of mercie for a season till victorie was certaine then the cruell Tygers haue when thei preye and feede on little Lambes thus hauyng victorie at will and the toune in subiection The Spanyardes followed so fast after the fleears and fearfull discomfited people that one of them ranne ouer an other No one could neither helpe his self nor succour his neighbour So that wiues with children in their armes and armed men beyng become childrē in crauyng of mercie wer all a like serued Where vppon is to be iudged that yeldyng in extremite bryngeth death or vtter seruitude and hazardyng life for libertie the sworde maie either make place to escape by or sodainly bryng the dispatche that riddes menne from miserie and puttes them from the rage of a tyraunte For in fightyng eache partie standes in doubte by whiche a manly minde is not conquered and in yeelding the one part is maister and the other made a captiue and peraduenture a seruaunt to captiues that neither can shewe sparke of pitie nor dragme of good mynde Wherefore in assaultes in battailes and matter of furie manhood is to be vsed of him that is moste in hazard and mercie not to be hoped for whē manhood abideth the vttermoste of Fortune and hath doen their enemies the greatest despite thei can worke Thus followyng the poore people in Mastrick thei wer cleane voide of courage or shifte to helpe them selues withall The Toune was taken wherein some Englishe menne were founde whiche were lefte a liue of a bande that serued whereof one maister Brooke was Capitaine who was sore hurte ere he did yeelde and whose companie serued all that siege so stoutly that the Spaniardes feared them more then double the nomber of the reste Albeit the reste of Soldiours generally were giuen to stande to their defence and so well defended the Toune that was sharpely assaulted and besieged as I haue not heard of So that it is harde to iudge whiche of the twoo sides deserued moste honour the matter was so manly