proue it against him Therfore seeing that they had in this failed they determined to take their reuenge by another course to effect the which they vsed as an instrument a young Gentleman called Gage whom by many pratises they suborned incensed thereunto the manner whereof was as followeth Morgan being come downe into the low countries in company of the L. Paget his brother Charls hauing bin one night late at euening seruice in the Church of Saint Gudala at Brussels was as he came down the church staires encountered in the darke by Gage Morgan wounded by Gage suborned therevnto by the Iesuites by him grieously wounded in the face Who thereupon presently fled thinking that he had slaine him but afterwardes by the means and earnest pursuit of the L. Paget was apprehended The Iesuites and their partie seemed at the first stifly to deny that they had bin the causers of this fact but the sequel of their proceedings made it most apparant to the whole world For when Morgan the L. Paget and diuerse of his friends labored verie earnestly with petitions vnto the duke to haue the rigor seueritie of iustice to proceed against him by whom this great violence was offred they first labored for reconciliation which being flatly refused Morgan accused by the Iesuites of treason then to stop the plaintifes mouthes and to preuent such mischiefes as they feared might insue they found no better meanes than once again to accuse Morgan of treason laying to his charge sundrie points of trecherie as well in former matters concerning the Scottish queen as also the seruice person of the d. of Parma Besides they accused him to haue bin a setter on of Gilford his confederates in such practises as they had vndertaken by sir Frances Walsinghams warrant setting on to that end they sent Chriton the Scottish Iesuite to Paris to take Giffords examination whose imprisonment they had there procured and withall they caused all such as anie way relied vpon them to take their oath before the auditor generall that in their conscience they though Morgā to be a traitor and a spie vnto the taking of which oath also they laboured earnestly with sundrie others which they not hauing their conscience so saleable refused vtterly denied to doo yet in the meane time while these things were in hand they wrought so with their forged accusatiōs that Morgan was clapt close prisoner in a miserable dungeon called the Truerenborche where til the D. of Parmas death he remained at which time as it is said he was set at libertie and liueth now with the Bishop of Cusano Vpon his apprehension there were aboue thirtie seuerall ciphers found in his closet in which abroade in the world he corresponded with great personages and withall a Letter which hee had newly written to the Bishop of Dunglane verie defamatory against the person of the D. of Parma which incensed the Duke exceedingly against him was without doubt the chiefest cause of his long imprisonment for otherwise it is thought hee wold easily haue ouerpassed the calumniation of the Iesuits In fine these two factiōs haue sought to ouerthrow one anothers credit in the chiefest courts of christēdom opening of either side such foule matters and tossing to fro such filthie slanderous defamations that al men crie out against them both holding thē to bee traitors men of no fidelitie So that vndoubtedly I cannot but thinke him distracted of his wits that hauing meanes to lieu else where quietly wil make himself a partie in these partialities and contentions which whosoeuer liueth there must needs doo or else like an enemy to them both be rusht like a ship betweene two tempests But the pretiest of all is to see how smoothly they handle the matter with you in England abusing your simplicitie with the subtiltie of their words and the holynes of their apparance They make you and the other Catholikes of England beleeue that what practises drifts so euer they take in hand are all for the zeale of religion and aduancement of the Catholike cause And you silly soules thinke all they saie to bee Gospell whereas God wot religion is the least matter of a thousand that they thinke vppon The onely point they aime at beeing lost companions at home The drifte of the English traitors abroad is to make thēselues great where they are that by making you hazard your liues repuputations and credits and to that ende they are alwayes breeding of practises and conspiracies both within and without the realme caring not what successe they take if they proue well then they will haue the praise merite honor and rewarde thereof if otherwise then they saie their good will must bee accepted in greate matters the attempt is sufficient And thereby they thinke to win the reputation to be accounted great state men and contriuers of waightie matters not caring in the meane time for the securitie of them by whome they worke as appeareth by the example and fall of many braue gentlemen of England whome by their treacherous practises they haue brought to ruine and destruction They verie well knew that when they first began to set abroach the matter of Babbington his disloiall confederats that the effecting thereof in such sorte as they had plotted it was altogether vnpossible Babington and his confederats as Mendoza the Spanish Embassador told Ballard the priest their instrument in contriuing the same when he was at first in Paris brought vnto him by C. Paget to desire him to informe the king his master of their intention and withall that at a daie appointed there might be a force assistance of men readie to correspond with them But that was al one so they might be accounted men of great reach and dealers in such high state matters they spared not to proceede in inchanting those poore vnexperienced yong gentlemen neuer leauing till they had brought them to their ends to the vtter ruine of them and their houses in such sorte as to the whole world is manifest and needs not to be recited Let therefore all the gentlemen of England especially the Catholiks who in regard of their religion credulitie are by them likeliest to be insnared take heed beware of hauing any thing to do with this pestilent and factious race of people for they speak so deuoutly looke so smoothly and write with such counterfeted grauity and holines that it is hard for anie man to eschue theyr deadly baits vnles he do first knowe the falshood trecherie vnder which they doo colour and shroud them What else hath intangled M. Shelly in these extreame calamities M. Shelly What likewise brought the late Earle of Northumberlāà who neuer before was once detected of the least disloialtie towards his Prince or Countrie into so great troubles and distresses The lāte Earle of Northumberland and finally to so tragicall despairful an end
of the Towne of her olde acquaintaunce with whome hearing of her husbands returne shee ranne away selling first whatsoeuer of her husbandes that was not portable and the rest of the things that remained beeing of anie value shee tooke with her And with this Companion of hers shee got her selfe into England knowing that her husbande durst not make pursute thither after her but comming to London shee mette with certayne Flaunders Souldyours that knewe her and her husbande who vnder coulour of yeelding her assistance in a straunge place coosened her of the greatest parte of such thinges as shee had lefte beeing of good woorth as shee had so deceiued her husband of the rest shee spent in dissolutenesse and so by degrees according to the fortune of such courses fell into extreamest miserie and beggerie that might bee in the meane time Pygots heart beeing striken dead with the coldnesse of the entertainment he had in Spayne and now returning homewardes on the one side quite frustrated of all his expectations and hopes and on the other syde pursued wyth the stynges and terrors of a guilty conscience yet cheered vp him self with thinking on the comfort of his wiues youth and affections Aloft solde by Pigot to the king of Spanie for 30 thousand Frēch crownes and withall of the money that he had lefte in her keeping for you must consider that hee had not giuen but solde the towne of Alost for thirtie thousand French crownes for payment of which they had hostages and the same was fully paid before hee deliuered vp the towne Out of this monie sixe moneths paie was deducted for the souldiers the rest hee diuided among the Captaines retaining a great share to himselfe which as you heare hee had left in keeping with his wife as a certaine remedy in store against whatsoeuer hardnesse of fortune should afterwardes happen But beeing vpon his returne to Torney incountered with the newes of his wiues disloialtie and withall which grieued him most finding his lodgings ransackt his coffers emptie and himselfe at once ouerwhelmed with such a heap of scorne miserie I leaue you to imagine the patience and quietnesse wherewith his minde entertained these tidings being as before I told you one that meerely for money as for religion hee knew not what it meant had solde his loialty to his prince and countrie his faith to his Coronell to whome in so many duties he was tied and finally his owne person as likewise he would haue done his soule if hee coulde haue found a chapman Sure I am that if by the bodies iestures a man may iudge of the minds vnquiet perturbations there was neuer anie wretch more violently ouerthrowen with the extremity of an inward affliction despaire yet did he not for all this wholy forsake and abandon himselfe but rather determined to turne as the prouerbe is euerie stone and to attempt fortune once anew thereby either to redresse the miseries of his estate or at the least if the worst shoulde fall to end his lyfe for finding himselfe already about the shooes he made no reckning of being aboue the boots therefore following the saying of the Poet Per scelera sceleribus tutum esse itur he resolued himself by a new trecherie to amend his olde withall his fortune if it were possible and therefore fell presently a tempering with some of his friendes in Holland and Zeland and lastly with my Lord of Leicester himselfe being then newly come ouer to the gouernment of the vnited prouinces to whom he offered so he might haue his pardon and withall be rewarded to betraie the Duke of Parma in some notable sorte besides sundrie other lyttle seruices of which none could be performed without notable periury and infidelitie to performe which he made prodigall offers of his best indeuors which neuerthlesse truly I thinke hee had not bene able to performe though hee had neuer beene hindered in the course of his practises yet from time to time hee sent my Lord ouer such poore intelligences as the smalnes of his credit wherein he liued could attaine vnto The carrier of his letters and the returner of his aunsweres was a brokerly felow an Englishman that then dwelt in the English house at Antwarpe called I. G. one that in intelligence desired to correspond with either side but with whether he dealt faithfully God knoweth I will speake the lesse of him because though his wife remaine still in Antwarpe yet he himselfe is withdrawen to Middleborough where some saie he liueth now honestly and well This fellow whether by carelesse conueiance or by worse practise as some suspected though truly I thinke him thereof innocent as Rowland York afterwards assured me with whome Pigot had at that time intelligence who had vsed him before in such like practises for himselfe and by him receiued his pardon and pasport vppon his first being with the Duke of Parma from my L. of Leycester yet in conclusion hee handled his matters so ill that Mondragon chiefe Captaine and Lieutenant of the Castles of Anwarpe and Gaunt came to haue intelligence thereof who presently thereupon caused Pigot to be apprehended conueied prisoner to the Castle of Gaunt Pigot sent prisoner to the castle of Gaunt where hee had beene presently laide vpon the torture but that Hugh Owen who for some causes especially affected him laboured to the contrarie And in fine so much preuailed that after halfe a yeres imprisonment he got him to be deliuered Thence poore and penilesse he traueled to Burges where the Duke of Parma then remained with intention to sue for somwhat wherewith to relieue himselfe Nemesis in Tergo But whether soeuer he went still Nemesis followed him in tergo Iustice still followed him at his heeles for by the way he was taken by certaine English souldiers that laye in ambush on the way and by them caried prisoner to Ostend where with the smothnesse of his tongue the protestation of many great seruices by him intended hee so enchaunted Sir Iohn Conway then being gouernour of the towne Pigot taken carried prisoner to Ostend that hee forbare to hang him as he was once determined and presently by letters aduertised the Counsel of his taking and withall such seruices of which he to shift the halter from his necke had giuen such confidence assurance so he might be suffred to escape al which notwithstanding by the Counsels commaundement he was sent for into England and committed prisoner to the Marshalsie Pigot died sodainly strāgely in the marshalsie where hauing remained some space of time being one day wel ouernight he fell into straunge and extreame accidents of his body and was found the next morning dead Such after this goodly seruice was his fortune and such his end and such bee the like of all other trecherous ill affected Englishmen But now let vs come to speake of master Dalton beeing next in the rowe and see how hee spedde
This Gentleman to the end you should the better know him was one of the craftiest Conicatchers that euer liued and had all his life time shifted it out with coosening sleightes and practises of vilanie as all the olde Flaunders souldiers that knewe hym can well testifie now by reason of his good experience hee was growne verye weather wise and did by manye coniectures foresee the stormes and tempestes that were comming towardes him and hys followers and therefore thinking it a great madnesse to lye still at Anker in so daungerous and vnsafe a roade hoysed vpp his sayles and shewed them a fayre payre of heeles running awaye from them at Torney where the Duke of Parma then kepte his Courte into Fraunce yet because hee woulde not bee in hys absence vnremembred hee first tooke vp vppon his credite as much wares as by all his vtmost deuises hee coulde procure eyther of Mercers Goldsmithes or anye other sorte of Artificers Thence hee conueyed himselfe into the North partes of Englande where as hee had gotten his goods wickedly so he spent them as riotously afterwards changing his name hee betooke him to sea Dalton hanged in the North Country and became a pirate for which and sundry other such honest parts as hee had plaid he was of afterwards apprehended and tied vp to the galowes there in the North in the yere 1586. Tailor of all the rest was most to be pittied for hee was a man of very comely personage fine qualities verie gentlemanly behauior His father had long serued her Maiestie as likewise himself had done in some office as I take it pertaining to the prouisions of her stable it was my chance to conuerse much with him both because we were of acquaintance in England as also that I liked exceedingly his conuersation and the manner of his carriage truly thus much I must saie of him beeing now dead that I did neuer know anie man that was striken with a greater apprehension of his owne fault and that did more euerie waie beat his braines and seeke all occasions how to amend it The cause that had drawen him into this matter as sundry times he told me and sometimes not without teares were the many debts with which being very youthfully giuen he had intangled himselfe in England withal his marriage which was most vnfortunate To rid himself of both which inconueniences at once he had throwē himself into this headlong action which surely if God had lent him life Coronell Morgan sent a Letter to Captaine Tailor in the hair of an Irish lacky he would haue indeuored to amend For I remember once the camp lying then at a place called Euergham that coronel Morgan sent him a secret Letter wrapped in the long haire of an Irish lacky that brought it who not handling his matters with that warines as was requisite the Letter was discouered Captaine Tailor apprehended neuertheles by the helpe of his owne wit and the assistance of his friends he was soone set at libertie againe though with an exceeding suspition that euer after ouerlooked his doings insomuch that in great griefe of minde he complained vnto me that the only iealousy held of him in regard of this Letter would be a great hinderance to that satisfaction which hee had in his minde resolued which was at least to haue drawen back awaie with him all such English souldiers as serued the king in that regimēt which in regard of their loue vnto him he might easily haue done But it pleased the almightie in his iudgements to preuent him to take him awaie in the midst of his imaginations for he and my L. of Westmerland hauing bin one daie in the quarter of the Wallons The Earle of Westmerlande and Captayne Tailor entered into quarrell banqueted by a captain of the Count of Egmonts where according to the vse of that nation either of them had bin constrained to drinke liberally as they returned backe together they two in companie alone towards Euergham they fel in to contention about a friuolous matter concerning one Dauies an Irishman that serued the Earle and that so far that the Earle reuiling him in many opprobrious names lighted down his horse drew his sword willing him to doo the like but Tailor knowing howe extreamly there the law determines of him that should draw his sword against his Coronell put spurs to his horse galloped home before to his lodging which scorne of his as the Earle did interpret it moued him to so great cholar that getting vp on his horse he pursued him and drew vpon him againe afore the verie doore of his loding which indignity Tailor not being able any further to indure drawing his rapier likewise encountered him and after some thrusts betweene them Tailor hurtes the Earle ranne the Earle verie daungerously into the brest at which instant Contraras the Spaniard accompanyed with many souldiers of the Earles companie the most parte of the which had halbertes came running in Tailor slaine by the Earle of Westmerland Contraras a Spaniard and inuironing Tailor of all sides most cruelly murthered him with aboue twentie woundes for which cause the Earle was vpon the complaintes and earnest pursuite of the other Captaines and souldiers by the Duke of Parma for a time bannished the Regiment and the gouernment thereof giuen to one Mana Cardonni an Italian Shortly after another of these Captains called Edward Vincent was sent out of the lande of Waft where the Spanish armie laie then incamped with two hundred English souldiers in companie of an Italian captaine with as many more Italians towardes the forte of Terneuse where by a sallie made from out the forte they were all ouerthrowen Captaine Vincent taken prisoner sundrie slaine and among the rest Captaine Vincent taken prisoner where neuerthelesse in regarde of former acquaintance with Coronell Michael who was there commaunder for the States hee found such fauour at his handes that hee was not presently deliuered ouer to the States as hee mortally feared but set at raunsome at an hundred and fiftie poundes prouided that the same shoulde bee sent with speed for otherwise when the matter shoulde bee once knowen to the States in Holland it coulde not bee in his power possible anie longer to vvithholde him of which desperate estate Vincent did with all speed aduertise his father being then a poore olde man vvell neere seuentie yeeres of age vvho hauing by present sale of such thinges as his son had lefte vvyth him raisde some parte of the money fell dovvne vppon his knees before the Duke weeping and imploring his helpe for the rest telling him in the Spanish tongue in the vvhich language he was verie perfect the great daunger and extremitie of the case his sonne then stoode in if so bee his raunsome were not presently sent But in stead of yeelding him releefe the Duke badde take awaie the importunate dotard but vvhen neuerthelesse hee persisted ouercome vvith a
Fathers affection to vse many loude and passionate speeches the Spaniardes by violence thrust him avvaie calling him foole and dronkarde The griefe whereof strake the olde man so inwardly to the heart that hee vvent home to his lodging and died vvithin sixe dayes after And his sonne when his raunsome came not in time Vincents father dyed of sorow himself hanged in chains at Bargenopsome was by the States commandement sent to Bargenopsome and there hanged in chaines where his cracasse remaineth yet wauing in the vvinde Smith held yet somewhat longer out though drinking as deeply in the cup of miserie or rather deeplier than anie of the rest for hee fell thorough sicknesse and pouertie into such extremitie of vvantes that of a Captaine hee was faine to be come a victualler and to buy butter and cheese and by making sale thereof againe to helpe to releeue his poore estate Withall he fel into so strange extreme a dropsie that I scarcely beleeue the like was euer heard of neither truly doo I speak this to amplifie the matter for all those that haue seen him beyond sea will approue my speeches either of his legs was swollen to that bignes of a mans middle his face onely was bare of flesh and miserable and his eies sunke into his head in such sorte that I neuer remember to haue beheld a more pittifull spectacle in which miserie after he had languished well neere a yeere and a halfe he died finally in extreame calamitie as it is tolde me since at Gaunt in the yeere 1588. Walsh onely had this good hap that he suruiued all the rest of whom I will speake the lesse because there is scarcely anie one in England that professeth armes but knew both him and his fortunes After the breaking of the regiment from a Captaine he was faine to become a priuate soldier and yet not thereunto without great sute accepted vnder Canullo de Mounts companie of horsemen in the garison of Breda which issuing one daie forth of the towne was vpon the plaines neere adioyning encountered defeated by sir Phillip Sidneys companie of English lances Captain Walsh taken prisoner among the rest Captaine Walsh in two places grieuously wounded and taken prisoner brought into Holland where my L. of Leicester gaue commandement presently to hang him Sir Phillip Sidney being full of true honor earnestly intreated my Lord for his pardon obtayned it in respect that he knew him to bee valiant and withall that howsoeuer in this action transported yet he had euer borne a dutifull regard towards her Maieiestie Whereupon beeing recouered of his hurts hee serued some while in the armie vnder my L. of Leicester as a priuate soldier Afterwards comming into England he went with my Lord Willoughbie as Ensigne to one of his companies to the siege of Paris Lastly hee followed my L. of Essex into France as a priuate souldier where his fortune was to be slaine vnder the wals of Roane Captain Walsh slaine vnder the wals of Roane and with his death finished the last act of this tragedie Of which truly I knowe not what you wyll iudge that reade but sure I am that I who write it am full of wonder and amazement when with my selfe I consider in so short a space the fal of so many men of great courage and valour all taken awaie by violent death Which vndoubtedly maketh me assure my self that God doth mightily protect the cause of her Maiestie God doeth apparātly protect the cause and quarrell of her Maiestie and wil not suffer the disloialties of her vnfaithful subiects to escape vnpunished as by these most miraculous foreremembred examples most euidentlie appeareth But now to proceed with my Discourse Sir W. Stanley and R. Yorke the one rendering the towne of Deuenter and the other the forte of Zutphen Shortly after came sir William Stanley Rowland Yorke either of them being a man of great courage well approued valor and long experience in the warres the one rendering vnto the king the towne of Deuenter and the other betraying the fort of Zutphen the one being coronel ouer a regiment of foot the other captain of a companie of lances Let vs see the one the others prosperitie and the sequell of their vsage vnder their new chosen master the Spanish king First sir W. Stanley was confirmed gouernor of the towne which hee rendred his regiment left there in garison with the receit of two moneths pay For a while he liued in the greatest applause that might be Cardinall Allen was written vnto to Rome to send down priests to instruct this religious regiment He informed the Pope thereof who both wrote ioyntly vnto the king to be good and gracious vnto this regiment which being well liberally intreated as they had alreadie at Rhemes and Rome a Seminarie of students and schollers to praie write for the Catholike cause of our Countrie so this being conducted by so worthy and Catholike a Gentleman as sir William Stanley might bee a contynuall nurserie and seminarie of souldyers to fight for the same A Treatise written by Cardinal Allen Withall Cardinall Allen wrote a booke vnto the Captaines and souldiers of this regiment indeuoring therein to satisfie theyr consciences as touching the iustice of this action and likewise animating them constantly to perseuer in this goodly course into the which they were now entered Besides downe came Priestes thicke and threefolde from France and Italie catechizing these newe souldyers with many Masses and continuall Sermons Gentlemen that for theyr conscience laye dispearsed in other partes all drewe downe thether in hope of this good payment and golden world that there was talked of In the meane time while the matters were thus in handling there chaunced to arise a great and deadly contention betweene sir William Stanley and Rowland Yorke Quarrell betweene sir William Stanley Yorke which as you shall heare yeelded a verie good and easie occasion to ouerthrowe them both which to the ende you may the better vnderstande I thinke it not amisse to fetch the matter somewhat farther frō the beginning Deuenter whereof sir William Stanley was made gouernour by my Lorde of Leicester is a fayre Citie chiefe and metrapolitane of the Prouince called Ouerisel which confineth on Frizeland scituated vpon the inside of the riuer Isel not farre thence vpon the same riuer and the same side standeth a great towne called Zutphen wherin there was for the king of Spaine a gouernour called Tassos a Germane borne and of obscure parents but himselfe of notable courage Tassos gouernor of Zutphē and by degrees and deserts was growen vnto these partes to great reputation and commandement next in authoritie to Verdugo who was Generall of Frizeland Ouerisel Zutphen and the bordering places he had first trained Tassos vp to the warres Verdugo Lieutenant generall of Frizeland and giuen him from time to time such charges and preferments
as at length he had brought him to bee in a manner equall with himselfe in dignitie insomuch that at last hee began to suspect his greatnes and would haue clipt his wings but could not for the other was passing ambitions full of courage and by name and many deserts knowen vnto the king so that in no sort he would let himself be touched in the lest iot of his greatnes reputation wherupon each of them bare a secret grudge and rancor to the other which came by this meanes to bee more inflamed For sir W. Stanley hauing in his mind fully determined the rendition of Deuenter entred into secret practise with Tassos for the perfourming thereof who with al gladnes secrecy intertained his offer til such time as the town was rendered into the hands of Tassos Quarel between Tassos and Verdugo vpon such agreements and conditions as between them were concluded Tassos exceedingly reioyced at the honour of his enterprise and receiued both from the King and the D. of Parma many thankes promises of reward for his diligence and discreet behauiour therein Then the which nothing could be more displeasing bitter to Verdugo who beeing gouernor of the prouince hauing the forces in his hand tooke it as an exceeding disgrace scorn done vnto him that an inferior persō such as he reckned Tassos to be shuld vnderhand accomplish so great an exploit go away with the honor therof he in the mean time remain stale neglected as a man vtterly accounted vnworthie so much as once to bee acquainted therewith so that from that time forward he nourished in his heart a deadly hatred against Tassos and sir William Stanley In the meane time Rowland Yorkes companie of horsemen was confirmed vnto him by the Duke of Parma and both hee and they sent downe to lie in garison at Deuenter where of the one side hee taking vpon him more commandement that sir William Stanley thought to be conuenient on the other side scorning to liue as a priuate Captaine in a towne of garison especially vnder the commaundement of one of his Nation to whom he iudged himselfe no way inferior in worthines they began to enter into a great mislike one of the other and by degrees into deadly quarrels challenges as some nowe in England can well testifie who were mediatours betweene them Neuerthelesse by meane of friends they grew againe to reconciliation though the same was but from the teeth outward and continued not long Yorke practised with Verdugo to dispossesse Sir W. Stanley of the gouernment of Deuenter For Yorke in the meane time hauing discouered Verdugos humor fell secretly to practise with him a meane whereby to thrust sir William his companies out of the towne hoping and therein being by Verdugo comforted and confidently assured that vpon the remoue of sir William the gouernment of the towne should remaine wholy in himself wherupon he ceased not to beate into Verdugos eares that were of nothing more desirous than of these newes the wauering inconstant humours of sir William Stanley the offers made vnto him by my L. of Leicester and his other friends in England especially of the small affection his souldiers had to the seruice of the Spanish king who desired nothing more than an occasion to recouer the fauour of their Countrie which by no meanes they should so soone procure as by redeliuering the towne Assuring him that there were to this end great practises in hand which could not but turne to a dangerous issue if they should not be in time preuented Presently thereupon Verdugo wrote vnto the D. of Parma aggreuating the matter with so many additiōs of his own that the D. counted the town as half lost alreadie though in truth I thinke there was neuer anie such matter pretended and presently sent downe a straight commission to Verdugo to draw three of the sixe companies ouer which sir William Stanley was gouernor out of the towne vnder colour of succouring Monsieur de Haultpen brother to the Earle of Barlamont who was in the fieldes with some few forces taking in certaine places of Gelderland Verdugo was nothing slow to execute this Commission but caused it to bee accomplished with all speed thrusting in theyr place certaine companies of his owne into the town and within a while after he so practised that sir William Stanley with his other three Companies were vnder the like colour of seruice cōmanded also to come forth Sir W. Stanley his companie drawen out of Deuentre being told that he should presently returne into it againe which as yet to this day he neuer did But by this fine deuise was eased of his gouernment and such goods as he and his soldiers left were spoiled made bootie of euen as though they had pertained to publike enemies since which time this regiment of seminarie soldiers with all their religion were neuer trusted in anie towne nor as I beleeue euer shall be Being now ioyned with the troups of Haultpenne they chanced to incounter the enemie harde by Balduke where the Italians Burgonians ouer which Captaine Haultpenne had charge playing exceedingly the cowardes they onely behaued themselues though with losse of many of their liues so manfully and with such courage that they grewe ouer the whole countrie into a maruellous reputation of good souldiers But leauing here Haultpenne their general wounded to death they marched downe into Brabant Haultpen slain in an incounter not farre from Balduke where for recompence of their late good seruice they were wintered in the field without monie and in such great misery nakednesse and pouertie that tenne weekes together theyr chiefest food and sustenaunce in Turnot was dried akornes that they found in sellers which diet the priests not liking of came to their Coronell to Antwarpe who to auoid the lamentations and complaints of his souldiers had gotten him thether before where one Oliuer Eustace an Irish Gentleman told him to his face that he was the author of these poore mens miserie therefore bound in conscience to procure them some releefe Sir William bit his lip knowing well that hee had told him truth their calamitie went to his very heart but how to remedie it he knew not and therefore absented himselfe in Antwarpe where you should neuer haue founde his table without foure or fiue priests some of the which were in their behauiour wordes farre more insolent and sausie than the meeknesse of their vocation required insomuch that the Captaines and Gentlemen tooke such griefe scandall at their controlling humour that they left sir William Stanley wholye abandoned and vnfrequented Some did much wonder howe a Gentleman of his worthinesse and courage could indure these indignities as to suffer himselfe to be directed and gouerned by them especially in such matters as concerned not their vocation I wit not touch for some respects herein anie particulars but if you speake with Captaine Hart
who was then sir Williams Lieutenant or wyth Captaine Salsburie who are nowe both in England they will satisfie you farther in this matter none can better speake it than they especially the last named because hee opposed himselfe and had sure sunke vnder the burthen if that his wit and courage had not carryed him thorough Once sir William Stanly began to looke it and to auoide both that and other inconueniences tooke some yeres since his iourney into Spaine Sir W. Stanley tooke his iourney into Spain partlye to secure vnto himselfe some estate of liuing of which hee nowe considering this dealing beganne to doubt partly by the inuitation of the Iesuites wyth which order hee is exceedinglie inchanted Sir William Stanley wholie drected by the Iesuites and to them wholye subiected who dealte for him in such sorte wyth the Cardinall that hee presently sent Parsons awaye into Spaine to infourme the King of his worthynesse and vertue and wythall He tooke with him into Spain Hugh Owen George Parsons brother to Parsons the Iesuit He sent E Crisp before to Rome to solicite his matters with the Cardinal who returning thēce met him afterwards in Spain of his experience of the sea coastes of Englande but especially of his intelligence about Ireland which in truth he presumeth to be verie great Parsons plaid his parte in such forte that sir William Stanley was presently sent for who vppon his arriuall dyd what hee couide to perswade the King to sende forces for Ireland but belyke there was not such greate credite giuen him as he expected there should be insomuch that hee wrote Letters to Holte the Iesuite beeing in Brussels which is his countriman and one vppon whom he chiefly relieth of great discontentment signifying that his intertainment was far colder than hee expected Sir W Stanley sent to Coronia Within short space after he was sent downe to the kings nauie lying at Coronia where a while hee remained with the Adelantado In the meane time his regiment began to drop and droup away in such sort that what for lack of sustenāce through ill vsage the number of them was so melted that they were not in all aboue an hundred and fiftie for the chifest captaines leaders and gentlemen they did both so much mislike the base handling of matters also the practises there dayly set abroch against their countrie Sir W Stanley forsaken by his Captaines that they made by means intercession to her maiestie for their pardon which of her mercifull and roiall benignitie she granted so that such of them as remain aliue do inioy their Countrie and can testifie this which I haue sayd to be true But now to returne to Yorke whō I lefte in Dauentre assured both by Verdugos promises and his owne hopes of the towns gouernment when he sawe Graue Harman make his enterie as new created gouernour by the Dukes appointment you must imagine that it grieued him to the verie gall but forced he was to dissemble it with his best patience Neuertheles hauing in the towne a gallant companie of lances in despite of them he florished bare his head aloft ranging and scouring ouer the whole countrie bringing in dayly great booties growing rich This prosperitie of his was a great blemish in their eie for they knew him to be discontented and of a dangerous humour so that they did not greatly trust him him therefore fairely one daie at dinner they caused to bee poisoned where likewise poisoned with him yong Richard Souch and Robert Fenne priest Yorke poisoned by the Spaniard Richard Souch and Robert Fen priest but he belike hauing swallowed the chiefe substance they onely met with the drams so that he died miserably and they fel sicke brake out into many pustules biles yet afterwards recouered and did giue this testimonie his breath was no sooner out of his body but Trias a Spanish Captaine and Graue Harman the newe gouernor rusht into his lodging to breake vp his coffers in which being withstoode by Yorkes Lieutenant Iohn Bowcer and by Edward Bowcer his brother I Bowcer and his borther Edward Bowcer murthered by the Spaniard they caused their gardes at noone daies to enter in vppon them and most inhumanely and barbarously to murther them both in their own presence which worthie exploit beeing perfourmed they brake vp his coffers tooke out his iewells plate and monie of which they found great store appropriating the same to their own vse as likewise they did his horses armes furniture though he by testament had bequeathed them to a litle youth his brothers sonne called Edmond Yorke being then in those partes with him Lastly they chased his whole companie out of the towne Yorkes companie barbarously intreated by the Spaniard and spoyled their baggage at the gates who poore men seeing their Captain poisoned their Lieutenant murthered and themselues so vnchristanly dealt withall repaired to Verdugo imploring his helpe and assistaunce in so hard an extremitie who for recompence verie charitably cashierd them al without the receit of one peny Afterwards when the fame of this poisoning grew rife abroad they gaue out published that some one had done it suborned thereunto by the Councell of England but if there had bin no other proofe as there were infinit yet the sequell of their doings their murthering of his friends and the robbing of his treasure shewed by whom it was done wherat they aimed Thus much as touching the vsage which they receued from the king and his ministers nowe keeping the course I began let vs see with what prosperitie it pleased God to blesse this action of sir William Stanleys those whom he vsed as instruments therein After his comming into the kings seruice he diuided his regiment which was the greatest part Irish into sixe companies The leading of his owne company he gaue to Peter Winne The names of sir W. Stanleys Captaines in which roome afterwardes master Winne discharging himselfe hee placed one Hart an olde souldier and follower of his The other fiue companies he gaue to Gwin Salsburie Eaton Reinolds and Harrison the sargeant maiorship hee gaue to one Simon Scurlocke an Irish Gentleman but aboue all the rest he himself conuersed most in kindnes of loue and affection with one R. Ashton who had bin his bedfellow and the greatest furtherer of him in this enterprise The foure first named after humble suite made vnto her Maiesties honourable councell for their pardon returned into England and imployed themselues with great commendation in her Maiesties seruice Gwin went first with my Lord of Essex lastly with sir Roger Williams ouer into France as sargeant maior of his regiment Captaine Gwin slaine before Roane where beeing wounded in a skirmish before the wals of Roane hee languished thereof grieuously some three or foure weekes and finally ended his daies at Diep Peter Winne likewise went ouer with my L. of Essex into
the other The Spaniards did much disdaine their aggrauation of their abilitie and meanes to facilite the kings enterprise for England insomuch that one Don Ambrosio a man of principal qualitie asked them in cholar whether they thought the king of Spain not puisant inough to win England with out them their friends This euill intreatie wrought so great an apprehension in my L. Paget who both in regard of his fathers especiall credit in times past with the king The L Paget died at Brussels as also of his owne qualitie and carriage had presumed vpoÌ„ much better vsage that he retired him selfe to Brussels where what with the conceit of this griefe what with other accidents he shortly ended his life Sir W. Stanley tooke it also in such disdainfull sort that he was not called to the counsell of the wars whereas he presumed gaue out that no man in the armie knew more or was better able in this voiage thaÌ„ himself that he sequestred himselfe from the court coÌ„ming discontented to Antwarp there hired a house where foure or fiue moneths hee liued full of melancholy passion making euident shew that his mind was vtterly vnable to beare the burthen of so great an indignitie But whosoeuer liueth there must bee contented to indure this and a great deale more for the Spaniards will not be by anie meanes perswaded that those of our nation liuing there with them are gentlemen of good houses qualities liuing in England but rather take them to be such as the Banditi of Italy men fled out of their Countrie for theft debt robbery or manslaughter The speeches of a Spanish Captaine to sir W Stanley as a Captain of them spared not plainly to tel sir W. Stanley in the passage boat between Antwarpe and Brussels saying that he could not but exceedingly wonder what should moue a man being rich well descended and of good liuing in his Country to change the same for the seruice of an opposite forren Prince swearing a great oath that al the religion in the world should not make him to do the like The monstrous hateful speeches of the Spaniards condemning such of our nation as serued among them Likewise a great companie of them standing round together in a ring as their manner is vpon the mere Brigge in Antwarpe and seeing certaine English gentlemen passe by one of them and hee a Captaine by name Lucas well knowen by his redde beard balde head and maymed armes sayde that hee wondered what the King made with anie such vermine in his Countrie Another of them sware a greate oath that looke howe manie English men there were in the kings seruice there were so many spies traitors the third said it were an almes deed to put them al in sacks and to throw them into the riuer but the fourth verie gently replied that it would be a better course to send them downe to the kings gallies where in regarde of their big ioynts and broad shoulders they could not but proue good tuggers at an oare But these beeing but the speeches of priuate men might the better bee borne Speeches of the treasurer generall to Thomas ThrockmortoÌ„ were they not confirmed by men of greater sort which whether it be so or no aske T. Throckmorton who talking with Iuan de Lasture the kings treasurer general one day vpon the wals of Brussels wondred why the king hauing such preteÌ„ces for England made no more reckoning of such Englishmen as followed him who in regard of their parentage and inteligence might bee able to doo him great seruices if they were hartned with somwhat better vsage whereas now by reason of their póuertie and drouping they were not fit for anie thing To which the treasurer replied that he was not ignorant of the estate qualitie and condition of all such Englishmen as followed the king but for his part swearing a Spanish oath or two he knew not anie one of theÌ„ in regard of abilitie to do the king seruice worth the straw that lay vnder his foot The like answere in a manner was giuen by Francesco Blancocauallo his vize treasurer in Antwarpe to captaine Pernay other Gentlemen who being denied by him the paiment of certaine monie they demaunded and speaking of the seruices they had done vnto the king he answered that he knew not what seruices they had done or were able to doo vnlesse it were to spend the kings monie in tauernes and brothell houses The like they receiued from Sammariba the Veedors chiefe officer but that the same was accompanied with worse effects For Captaine Barney laying hand on his rapier making proffer to reuenge the hardnes of such speeches as were offered him was presently inuironed among them and run thorough the doublet in a place or two not without exceeding danger of his life But by the waie I thinke it not amisse to tell you a merrie accident that fell out betweene the treasurer one Captain Smith an Englishman A pretie iest betweene captain Smith and the tresurer general spoken of before in this Treatise who being one daie well tipled came in all hast to demand his monie of I. de Lasture He seeing him come in that vnreuerent sorte grew so farre gone with cholar as the other was with wine reuiled him by many foule names as Perro Luterano Borachio c. Smith had not a word of Spanish nor anie other language but a little Dutch wherein he requited the treasurer in as snarling tearmes as he could calling him Honscont Schellam Turke Wherewith the treasurer came in a great rage and would haue thrust him downe the staires but Smith drew out his dagger and had without doubt mischieued him if Coronell Boid other Scottish Gentlemen that were there present as sutors for monie had not come between them The matter came before the Duke who as alwayes haring I. de Lasture exceedingly made but a iest of it Smith being sober submitted himselfe imputing his fault to the wine and so the matter was ended I could recite vnto you a thousand the like thinges as these but they are not worthie the remembring Returning therefore to my purpose They are so iealous and suspitious of vs that if anie thing proue vntowardly in their seruice they think it straight to be don by our especiall meanes and intelligence as vpon the taking of Axhill by that honorable and worthie souldier sir P. Sidney The exceeding ielousie of the Spaniards ouer the English that erue amongst hâ—em Mondragon presently imprisoned Pigot within the castle of Gaunt tooke away all thinges whatsoeuer he had worth anie thing and the rest hee caused his men to rifle and steale saying openly that we were all traitors spies And if you desire further confirmation of the good opinion confidence they haue of vs tell mee what Companies of English they haue trusted within these ten yeeres in garrison I am sure you cannot name
farther meanings and driftes Another drifte of the English fugitiues as those that do looke deepliest with greatest heedfulnes into theyr actions do verily imagine hauing by sundrie their proceedinges euidently discoured the same of which the chiefest is that as they are of all people liuing the most ambitious so seeing this beggerly seruice doeth not fit their humors they do feed themselues with an imaginatiō of the time to come I mean a Spanish or Romish world in our Countrie at which time the doubt not the long time of their exile sufferance losse of their liuings considered for so is their phrase manner of speech to become mightie and great men and to haue principall dignitie swaie and authoritie in our countrie Marie againe on the otherside considering that the most part of them are but base defamed companions of no birth or liuing and that there are in England many Gentlemen of the same religion of great qualitie and houses that wold disdain to haue such mates preferred before them in qualitie or degree They haue gone by al means possible they can about with their practises and colorable deuises to root them out so seruing their onwe turnes two waies the one to win vnto themselues the name and reputation of men of seruice the other to rid out of the waie those that they imagine wold stand in competencie with thē but God be thāked the chifest harm their conspiracies haue done hetherto hath bin to perish in their owne deuises Spies sent by them into England A little before the cōming of the Spanish fleet they sent their espials among them some that were priests in disguised garmēts with instructiōs to sound the meaning of such Gentlemen as they thought to be fauorers of their religion to incline their minds to the Spanish cause incouraging them to take armes against her maiestie to which they printed in the English tong many hūdreds of books in Antwarp barreling them vp vntil such time as the armie should haue bin landed Seditious books printed in Antwarpe and then their meaning was to haue dispersed them expryssing therin many great promises and large rewards to such as shuld assist or do any maner of seruice to the Catholike party terrifying the rest with bitter menaces In fine the whol being ful of traiterous and proud threatning speeches as well against her maiestie as against all such her faithfull subjects as should haue taken her part Likewise they obtained of the Pope the king that as many as had theyr voices in the parliament house at such time as the queen of Scotland was adiudged to die of what degree soeuer they were should be depriued not onely of their liues liuings but that their posteritie also should bee for euer disinherited and disnobled The like also they threatned in their bookes to all such as well noble men as others that shuld after the landing of the catholike armie persist in armes against the same But all this by the goodness of God hath but serued to discouer their wicked intentiōs and to animate all true Englishmen to persist with the greater loue vnitie corage in obediēce to her maiesty Turning therefore my speeches to you O vnnaturall degenerated Englishmē to those whom you shuld obey trecherous vnfaithfull and of those that you do obey cōtemned made slaues How can you indure to thirst after the destruction of so sweet a country in which you receiued your being that gaue you nouriture when you were yong Why do you abuse religion in making the same a maske to your intended treasons How can you find in your harts to seeke the destruction of so benigne a prince the subuersion of so glorious an estate by bringing into the bowels therof the barbarous armes of so insolēt an enemie who where he is victorious staineth the earth with bloud the aire with blasphemy and the heauens with his abhominable luxurious incontinēcies let Flanders Portugal Hispaniola the other princes of India be witnes The old worthy Romanes thoght it the most heroicall thing that might be to vowe themselues somtimes to death for their countrie The two Decij Tit. Liu. and euen to spend their liues in defēce of their altars temples monuments of their elders but you seek to see your coūtry bathing in the bloud of your parents kindred friends to see your cities graues temples of your predecessors consumed with fire to see your virgins defloured your women rauished and finally to bring the noblest of nations to a perpetuall slauerie seruitude yea and that of the most cruell nation that liueth a nation not fullie an hundred yeres since wholy they receiued christianity as yet are in their harts Pagans Moores frō profession of which they are onely restrained by the seuere bridle of their cruel sanquinary inquisitiō which paganisme of theirs thogh in their speeches they dare not manifest yet do they in their abhominations discouer the same If the Numantines Saguntines and Nessatians burnt their towns slew their wiues and children finally thēselues rather than they would receiue the yoake of worthie vertuous nations that assailed them What shoulde wee then do whō our vertuous ancestors haue left honored with the inuincible trophes of so many victories ouer great and mightie nations yea ouer Spanie it selfe rather than to indure the insolent wicked tiranous gouernment of that nation whom al Europe hath in horror leauing to our posteritie after vs a perpetuall seruitude and bondage as an euerlasting memorie of our cowardise But leauing this vntill a fitter time I hope that his alredy said shal be sufficient to make you cleerly plainly vnderstand that there is not to be found among these disentions partialities conspiracies treasons that sweetnesse libertie and tranquilitie of conscience which you expect looke for but rather turmoile griefe distraction of minde with a perpetuall grudging remorse of conscience scandalized with infinite examples of euill life impietie defamation periurie on the one side offensiue to her Maiestie and the state of your countrie on the other side subiected to the disdain bitter scorn of the Spaniard The Spaniarde esteemeth the seruice but scorneth the traitour who howsoeuer hee respect the seruice yet neuer regard the person of a traitour as a great noble man in Spaine spared not to tell Charles the fift when by him he was commanded to lodge the Duke of Burbon in his house at Madryle saying that he would willingly obey his Maiesty The answere of a noble man to Charles the fift but protesting withal by a great oath that he would set it a fire so soone as the Duke should be out of it for his predecessors had not built it to be an harbor for traitors Likewise when Christian var de Veque had betraied The kings recōpēce to Christiā var de Veque for betraying to him the
might thereof insue forbad by act of Parliament these sortes of seditious people to enter into her realme or to vse or exercise any such vnquiet doctrine Limiting therewithall to such as were within the realme a time to depart out of the same But this lenitie wrought rather contempt then obedience for these men contemning the grauitie of our lawes and not thinking any to be obeied but such as they make themselues came still into the realme as fast as before Great numbers of them were taken and emprisoned whom though her maiestie deseruedly and with greate Iustice especially the daily mischiefe stirred vp within the realme by their malitious practises considered might haue executed as Traytors and Rebels yet the greatenesse of her princely clemencie and compassion was so vnwilling to come vnto extreames that she caused them al once more to be pardoned and to be put out of the realme but with expresse commaundement neuer to returne in the like sorte in doing otherwise they should not attend any other than the rigor of the lawes All this would not serue their tourne but in despite of her maiestie and contempt of her lawes sundry of them returned of which some of them beeing taken haue receiued the hyre and iust recompence of their disobedience But that her maiestie seeketh not their blood as they most falsely giue out appeereth by her clemencie vsed to sondry of them taken by her souldiors in the Low-countries who though they were of Sir William Stanlyes crew and adhaerentes yet seeing they were not taken within England shee graciously pardoned them all and caused them to bee set at libertie in giuing some little recompence to those that had taken them prisoners Where is then this rigour you speake of I hope the king of Spaine keepeth another manners of reuell in his dominions The cruelty and persecutions of the Spaniard in matters of Conscience ouer all Spaine Portingall Lombardie Naples and Sicilia whosoeuer speaketh a worde or maketh the least signe in the world to mislike his religion there established or anie point or ceremonie therof his cruell bloudie ministers the Inquisitors cause thē without remission to be presently burnt aliue of which the death of poore Doctour Augustine Cacalla can giue good witnesse Who for a small point in difference of religion was at Valladolid in Spain apprehended for a Lutheran and with him thirtie of such as had giuen him audience many of which were Gentlemen and Ladies and among the rest the two sonnes of the Marquesse of Poza the greatest parte of which were presentlye burnt aliue the rest submitting themselues were pardoned their liues but condemned to perpetuall prison wyth the confiscation of all their goods and all theyr life time to weare the Sambenito which is a yeolow garment The Sambenito wyth a red crosse before and another behinde painted all ouer full of deuils faces a thing of the greatest reproch and dishonour there that possiblie can bee But seeing these of which wee haue spoken are his subiectes and are of force tied to the iurisdiction of his lawe howe cruell so euer I will not heere trouble you anie farther with the recitall of the calamities and miseries layde vppon them from time to time howe sundrie of them for the breache of his constitutions in matter of ceremonie haue bin cruelly committed to the flames But what reason hath he I would faine knowe to extend the like rigor and crueltie against strangers who owe him no obedience but come onely into his Countrie in regarde of machandise or other theyr occasions and neuerthelesse haue beene apprehended their goods taken awaie and theyr themselues cruelly executed Among innumerable other examples hereof that I could alleadge I will onely acquaint you with one At execution of which a Gentleman of good credite in the lowe Countries sware vnto mee that hee was present and that it was in manner as followeth There was one Giles Rat a Citizen of Antwarpe The execution of a Dutchman an Englishman in Spaine for religion and by his occupation a shoomaker who some fewe yeeres since going into Spaine about some businesse pertaining to his trade was apprehended brought before the inquisitors onely for that hee had smiled at the image of our Ladie which as they sayde he had done in derision and therefore presently condemned him to the fire amd with him likewise an Englishman for the like cause whose name the Gentleman that sawe them burned knew not but hee tolde mee that at the time of their execution there mounted vp into a scaffolde there by two Iesuites forbidding the peoto vppon paine of excommunication to praie for them saying that they had deliuered them both ouer inbodie and soule to the deuill as those that died obstnate and wilfull heretikes Surely by these examples it appeareth that hee would bee loth to tollerate in Spaine anie that should go about to seduce his people with anie contrarie doctrine especiallye ministers of which if anie such should fall into his handes it is likely he would not so often pardon them as the Queene hath done the other As for his lowe Countries They were takē in the towne of Dermounde three yeres since I neuer knew but of two taken and they were both put in sackes by the Spaniards and throwen into the riuer This is in deede extreame tyrannie and not that which her maiestie vseth who is alwaies readie to receiue into grace and fauour those of whome she hath anie hope that they will become good subiectes The mercifull offer of her maiestie to Catholikes after theyr condemnation and hath as I haue heard offered after that by lawe they were condemned her princely mercie and fauour to some of them if they wold haue promised to become good subiect O howe different is this proceeding from that whose mildnesse and clemencie they so highly commend But it is the nature of men especially of those whose iudgementes are wauering and vnsetled alwaies to mislike and loath those things to which they are accustomed deeming other to them vnknowen much better But perchance you will saie that in their so greate commendation they do onely meane his manner of gouernment in the Lowe Countries True in deede it is that hee hath not yet planted there his inquisitiō though the same be much against his wil. Neuertheles if you did but see the manner of his gouernment in those parts I thinke you wold iudge them worthie of small beliefe that haue so highly commended the same vnto you First in matter of religion and conscience I doo not thinke that it is possible for anie people bee more hardly any vncharitably dealt withal then they are vnder the seruitude of the cleargie but especially of the Iesuits As for the other orders of religion as Monks Friers c. though they are exceedingly exhausted by them in matter of charge as beeing compelled to reedifie their ruined cloisters to furnish them with costly images and
charitie not to refuse to receue him seeing it had nowe pleased God to touch his heart with so godly and zealous a desire in fine hee vsed such perswasiue speeches that the gardian was contented presently to admit him and withal to alow him a time of probation after the which if in the meane time hee did not mislike of their orders nor they of his behauiour hee promised to accept him into their fraternitie Presently a Friers long coate with a cowle was giuen him which after hee had worne three or foure dayes and learned the behauiour thereto belonging he acquainted the gardian with certaine debts that he had in the towne wherwith his conscience was greatly burthened Mary withall that hee had a lyberansa able to discharge them and ouerplus besides remaining which hee meant to bestow upon the Cloister if that the Treasurer would be so fauourable vnto him as to pay the same to which end hee requested the gardian to accompany him and to help to intreate the Treasurer in that behalfe to which hee consented and being both admitted to the presence of the Treasurer the new conuerted brother first with a Friers ducke lowe to the ground then with a very reuerent gesture and humble speech told him that he came not now as in former time to importunate him for mony but only to signifie to his Lordship the grace the which it had pleased God by his holy spirit to work in him praying him from hence forward to continue his good Lord and patron as hee woulde for euer in his spirituall function remaine his Oratour and bedseman Mary withal that the debts which hee had made during his time of being a suter laie heauie vpon his conscience and withall his creditors came clamorously to the cloister in such forte that the gardian there present had threatened to expell him the house vnlesse hee tooke present order for their satisfaction which as it could not but bee greatly to his bodily shame euen so might it also turne to the destruction of his soule if hee shoulde be now againe thrust into the wandering courses of the worlde which of necessitie hee must bee vnlesse it would please his Lordship to bee good vnto him and to cause his poore lyberansa to bee payed and therewith wiping his eyes as though hee had wept made an other lowe reuerence neither was the gardian behinde to confirme his speeches and earnestly in his behalfe to entreate the Treasurer who at the generall request of the standers by as also that hee felt his owne conscience beginning to wamble with compassion after hee had encouraged him with many comfortable words to patience and perseuerance in that blessed estate of life caused his lyberansa to be taken and his money to bee foorthwith payed vppon which with many himble thankes tooke their leaue The Spaniard vpon his returne to the Cloister told the gardian that hee could not by any meanes conforme the frailenes of his flesh to that austeritie of life And therefore with many harty thankes deliuering him his coate went his wayes to make good cheere amongst his Cameradoes not gloyifying a little in the happinesse of his successe The like practise of cousonage vsed by a Sycilian But now to our Sycilian he hauing by many obseruances found the humor of the Treasurer chiefly to be addicted to one especiall Iesuite aboue any other of the Colledge as both beeing his ghostly father as also otherwise of very priuate conuersation with him and finding the Iesuite one day hearing of confessions in the Church of their Colledge according as their custome is kneeled downe and when his turne came vttered his confession in the end whereof he interrupted his speeches with many sighes as though there were something hanging in his teeth that he was loath to commit to the vtterance of his tongue Which the Iesuite perceiuing with many protestations and assurances both of his comfort and counsell encouraged and perswaded him to reueale it insomuch that after a long shew of great vnwillingnesse and drawing backe hee told him that he had made a solemne othe and vow to kill Iohn de Lasture the Kings high Treasurer moued thereunto by a violent dispaire whereunto his extreame and rigorous dealing had driuen him The Iesuite amazed at so strange a speech failed not to tell him that the obseruation of such a vow was much more wicked than the breach thereof and withall that the performance would procure both his bodies death and his soules damnation The souldier replied that hee knewe his wordes to bee true and withall that hee had in his minde already forecast this and much more neuerthelesse that his minde was so strongly possessed with this dispairefull and dreadfull resolution that it was not in his power to withdrawe his thoughts from the desire to accomplish it Whereupon the Iesuite seeing that it was not in his force to diuert him from that vppon which to his seeming his minde had so fully resolued requested him yet that hee would the next morning at eight of the clocke meet him in the same place againe and hee would conferre further with him Which the souldier promising the Iesuite presently repaired to the Treasurer and after his solemne oath taken neuer to prosecute any thing against the fellow acquainted him with what had happened forgetting not withall to dilate much of the wilde countenaunce and amazed gesture of the fellow and therefore wished him not by any means to hazard a thing of so great valew as his life vppon the franticke resolution of a desperate souldier The Treasurer not daring to apprehend the fellowe lest thereupon danger might haue ensued to the Iesuite for reuealing a thing vttered in confession and withall restrained by his oathe requested him to bring him with him the next morning which the Iesuite not failing to doe they found a fellow ready in the hall to receiue them with money who taking the souldiers lyberansa gaue him presently satisfaction which was of such vertue that it assoiled him of his vow In fine you may see that these are no great tokens of that bottomlesse plenty which they speake of when poore men that haue spent their yeeres and their blood in his seruice must be driuen to vse such dishonest sleights and cousoning deuises for the obtaining of their money Neither as I heare is the matter much better in Spaine it self euen there where the storehouse of his treasure is For I my self haue seene many comming thence poore and penylesse cursing their iourney and denied the suites they went for And withall I heard not long agone a gentleman of good sort and iudgement say that it was his happe to bee in Spaine at such time as sundry of those Spaniards that had bin prisoners here in England after the ouerthrow of their Amada ariued there poore miserable where he saw great troups of them suing in the court for some small reliefe but to so small purpose that he heard diuers of
them exclaime euen afore the Secretaries doore and wish themselues in England againe for there they had meat and drinke and lodging whereas in their own Country they could not get any The sight of this hard and beggarly vsage but especially the feeling of that which they themselues receiued haue made many great and worthy souldiers to abandon him with mighty discontentments as amongst the rest Iohn Baptista de Monte and Camillo de Monte two notable Captaines Iohn Baptista de Monte. Canullo de Monte. both now retained vnder two mighty States the one being Generall to the Duke of Florence the other bearing like charge vnder the Venetians who both lie in awaite to crie quittance with him And if report be true I hope ere it be long wee shall heare that they haue accomplished their desire for they say these two States beginne to shuffle the cardes which if it be so it is very likely that they will deale the King of Spaine but an ill game Once it is certaine that the Duke of Florence his braue bastard brother Don Iohn de Medicis who had a pension of foure hundred crownes by the yeere from the king of Spaine Don Iohn de Medicis hath renounced the king of Spaines pension hath sent him backe both his pension and his pattent and hee raiseth troupes of horsemen but to what end and purpose the sequele will shew The Venetians well affected to the French King As for the Venetians their Embassadour resident in the French Kings Court and their apparant fauours doone him from time to time sufficiently declareth their affections vnto the other side But these things being aboue my reach I will leaue them to their successe and so returne to my matter The vnnoble and ingrateful vsage of sir Martin Skinke Sundry of you haue knowen and scarcely anie but hath heard of that renowmed Germane sir Martine Skinke a man both in courage of attempting and iudgement in directing and managing matters of warre scarcely second to any Captaine of our time the storie of his life and fall is as common as pitifull and therefore I will not trouble you with the rehearsall of it neyther is it incident vnto the matter I entreate of onely I will briefly acquaint you with some parte of his deserts and the recompence which hee in fine receyued to the ende that you may the better iudge what rewarde or aduancement after long deseruing and infinite merites is in this penurious seruice to bee expected First after the memorable siege of Mastricht vppon the last departure of the Spaniardes out of the low Countries according to the capitulation betwene the K. the prouinces of Henalt and Artoys who thereupon putte themselues in the Kings obedience whereas the Duke of Parma seruing himselfe in his warres only of the VVallons of the country and a few Italian horsemen was daily ouertopped by the Prince of Orange and the French not knowing scarcely where to turne him for want of Forces to keepe the fielde Skinke brought him out of Germany a mighty power of Reyters which comming in such a season you must imagine were welcome as being indeede the onely occasion of many great exploites which the Duke of Parma happily atchieued Secondly after the siege of Cambray raised and the towne of Cambray Lyberium and Saint Gillians taken by the French on the other side the townes of Eyndouen and Helmont and the Castels of Buxtell Hemer Lemmicke and Midlaer taken in Brabant by the States the duke of Parma being as much or more distressed than before Skinke brought him a second supply of at least fiue and twentie hundred horsemen which as I haue often heard him say hee had leuied in a manner wholy vppon his owne charge ioyning the which with certaine troupes of footemen being vnder the charge of Monsieur de Houltepenne hee tooke in all those forenamed places which the ennemy had surprized in Brabant and clearing the country round about did many other notable seruices of importance But to be short it was at last his chaunce by a trecherous plot that was laide for him to fall into his enemies handes and to bee carried prisoner into Gelders of which one Ouersay a Germaine was at that time gouernour for the States who being glad of such a prize in regarde that hee was his countrie man and so great a souldier endeuoured by al meanes and practise possible to diuert his minde and affection from the Spaniardes but finding him still most resolutely faithfull and constant to the party which hee followed hee caused him to bee imprisoned in a great obscure filthy Tower of the Towne and withall set him at an excessiue ransome such as he did think would exceede the compasse of his abilitie to discharge Skinke in the meane time by his friendes earnestly sollicited the duke of Parma to help him with somwhat towards his ransome but in fine seeing there came nothing from thence but delayes and dilatorie excuses hee vsed such meanes by the sale of his goodes and the helpe of his other friendes that after fifteene moneths imprisonment hee procured his liberty and came directly to the D. of Parma lying then at the siege before Antvverp at a place called Beuer where it was my chance to see him a long suter without obtaining any the least helpe at all such was at that time the Dukes necessitie insomuch I assure you that I haue heard Skinke earnestly protest that hee had not in his purse wherewithall to buy him so much as a paire of shooes for those were his very wordes neyther had hee knowen where to haue gotten meate or drinke but that by good happe hee mette there with Chenovvs a Germane to whome he was much beholding for releefe in these great extremities In fine seeing no money was to be gotten hee desired the gouernement of Nieumegen the which by a deuise of his plotting was newly rendered neuerthelesse he was denyed and the same giuen to Monsieur de Haultpenne Then hee desired the Kings commission to leuy a standing regiment of Dutch footemen that likewise was denied Lastly to stoppe his mouth he had a company of horsemen graunted him with which going downe into Gelderland hee put himselfe presently into employment But winter comming on when all the Kings horsemen had their quarter appointed them for the receit of their contribution Hee likewise sent his Furrier to Sigonio chiefe commissary for those causes to demaunde such quarter contribution and allowances as were appointed to the other troupes of horsemen who sent him word that his company was not enroled within the list of the Kings horsemen and therefore that hee had not authoritie to assigne him any whereupon Skinke went presently vnto the Duke of Parma requesting his Highnesse to cause his company to bee enrolled in the listes and to commaunde that they might receiue such vsage as the rest but his answere was that the King woulde not raise anie other new companies but
reconciliation though as in Religion so in Pollicie and Estate hee knoweth that there is not any thing more expedient and necessary for him than to haue a mighty King in Fraunce that may serue to hold the King of Spaine some tacke and serue as a barriere betweene him and Italie for his predecessours haue along time since discouered this secrete that there is not any thing more necessary for the maintenaunce of the Pontificall dignitie as the ballancing of kings in equall counterpoise one with another which hee now in respect of the king of Spaines encreased greatnesse is not able to doe and yet vnderhand I doe thinke hee could be very well content to see his winges a little clipped lest one of these dayes hee take his flight into Italie as his father did and make him as a priuate Bishoppe of a diocese to do nothing but whatsoeuer it shal please him to command him Pope Sixtus liked not the amoâ—ious greatnesse of the Spanish K. Pope Sixtus was accompted one of the greatest Politicians of our time like nothing at all this ouerweying greatnes of the King of Spaine as hee tolde his Embassadour plainely one day in the Consistorie when hee braued him with threatnings and commaundements from the King his Maister But presently the smell of the Spanish golde that certaine of his Cardinalles had in their purses strake him into such a calenture that much against his will hee was faine to take his leaue of the worlde and leaue behinde him vneffected many great matters on the which hee had in his minde determined So that although the King of Spaine be at great charge with these noble pillers of the Church yet you see that sometimes of their sides it is not vnrequited seeing that for his sake they are contented so honestly to betray their Maister Hee had not manie yeeres since an other charge no whit at all inferiour to this which was in maintenance of the pension in warres against the Turke But howe the matter standeth since the late agreement betweene these two Princes I knowe not but I doe imagine that his treasures walke that way still for Turpius eijcitur quam non recipitur hospes Pensions and entertainements giuen to strangers as for the time they procure a certaine hired and mercenary affection so their withdrawing engendereth for euer a deadly and euerlasting hatred Lastly for conclusion hee maketh at this instant open warres with Fraunce England and the Lowe Countries what deeme you then heereof Hath hee not vent trowe you for his treasures His father was a better souldiour and a greater man of warre than hee is and of much more mightinesse and puissance for in steede of Portugall and the Indies thereunto belonging wherwith this hath encreased his dominions the other swayed the mightie Empire of the Germaines and that with such a commaunding authoritie ouer that prowd Nation as neuer any of his predecessours since Charlemaine did the like and withall hee quietly enioyed the whole seuenteene Prouinces of the Lowe Countries whome in respect of their great opulence aboundance of riches and conuenientnesse of scituation Monsieur de la Noue Discourse sur l'estate de Fraunce some late Writers of great authoritie haue not spared to compare vnto his Indies and yet hee neuer dared to make warres vpon France alone before hee had first sought by all manner of possible meanes to assure him selfe in friendship with England giuing to that ende great and mighty presents unto Cardinall VVolsey and other of the Nobilitie that in those dayes did beare sway with her Maiesties father of most famous and woorthie memorie King Henry the eight whereas this maketh warre carelesly with all the world at once but the Italians haue a true prouerbe Chitutto abbraccia nessuno stringe He that embraceth all holdeth not any fast And so I hope it shall fare with him Nowe as touching those his mightie and puissant numbers wherewith they doe goe about to strike such terrour and feare into your mindes I doe take vppon mee to knowe the estate of his forces as well as an other man And I doe not thinke him to bee in anie thing more penurious than in the want of men for as for Spaine Naples and Lumbardy vppon which his onely force doth consist and which are his principallest and chiefest Store-houses of men it is sufficiently knowen that his Drummes haue gone at the least the space of a whole yeare together beating vppe and downe according as the manner is to gather together sixe thousand men and those all Sheepeheardes Hedgepikers and such idle trewantly rogues the most part of the which hee is forced to putte into garrisons for the space at the least of a yeare or twoo to the ende to fashion them before hee doe send them to seruice for vpon their first leuie you did neuer in all your life see more seely snakes than they are I sawe some few yeeres since a great number of them brought downe into the Lowe Countries fresh out of Spaine by the Duke of Pastrana such ragged beggarly staruelings that in my very conscience I doe speake as I thinke a man indeede would haue beaten tenne of them As for Germany out of the which heeretofore hee hath drawen great numbers and by their good helpe hee hath atchieued many great matters his vsage hath beene so base and miserable vnto them that the olde souldiours are all starued and consumed in his seruice whose calamitie hath so much feared and terrified the rest at home that no Prince in Europe hath lesse credite to raise men there than hee hath And although there were no such kinde of matter yet they are no manner of waie bound vnto him more than to an other their profession being to serue onely him that wil pay them best and yet if hee shoulde raise any of them the alliaunces of her Maiestie and the scituation of their Countrey considered it shoulde be a matter of great difficultie to ioyne them with his other troupes Where are then his innumerable legions with which these mount-banke lowde mouthed felows say hee is able to ouerrunne the worlde Alliances hee hath none vnlesse it bee with the holie rebellious league of France the which nowe of late is growen very sicke and keepes the chamber The holy League of Fraunce is of late growen very sick and euery day wee doe looke to heare the newes of the death and Vltimum vale thereof and yet when the patrons thereof were in best health was neuer of any assistance but of a continuall burthen and charge vnto him Neyther did hee euer trust his chiefe Agentes in this same sanctified societie nor they euer loue him Eche of them working and drifting with particular endes and meanings of the which I will speake but a worde or twoo succinctly leauing the rest to men that are of better abilitie to dilate vpon which in my iudgement in regarde of the practises iuglings diffidences circumuentions vnderminings treacheries mischiefes
the priuileges of these Nations which both he and his predecessors at euery entry of gouernement into these prouinces haue solemnely vowed and sworne to maintaine all in generall and euery one in particular inuiolate and vppon that couenant and condition they haue reciprocally sworne vnto him due fidelitie and obeysance hee failing in the one they to be exempted from the other Moreouer her Maiestie seeing the lamentable and most pittifull cause of her distressed neighbours and allies finding no other possible meanes by labour suites messages and sundry Ambassadours which shee most honourably sent vnto the King of Spaine for pacifying the saide troubles and reconciling the saide King and those sometimes his saide subiectes hath been inforced to take pittie and commiseration of their most miserable afflicted estate and distresse and for their releefe to her excessiue and almost importable charges to vndertake a most iust godly and charitable defensiue warre against those that daily seeke the bloud liues goods lands and liberties of the inhabitants of the said distressed Nations since which being published I thinke it not onely vnlawfull but a most heinous and capitall crime and offence for any of her Maiesties subiectes to serue on the contrary part It shall be good for you and all other good subiects of her Maiesties to remember that consideration being had by her Maiesty and her most honourable prudent councell of the loosenesse of many of her subiects and small respect they had to her Highnesse and countrey and as little to their owne safetie her Maiestie hath caused to be published and set foorth diuers lawes ordinances proclamations and inhibitions whereby all her subiects except knowen marchants and strangers are straightly forbidden to passe the seas into any forraine partes without especiall licence of her Maiestie Therefore if you or any other of her Maiesties subiects shall nowe attempt to passe the seas without lawfull licence there is no reason why you should expect any other than the rigour of the lawes and iustice and to be holden guiltie of cases capitall especially such as shall serue vnder so open and professed an enemy to the crown and state Further I pray you to haue in consideration that when I came ouer hither the case so stoode as al Gentlemen of any qualitie or merit were gratefully receiued and employed in good and honourable seruices whereas since the Spaniard hath professed himselfe an open enemy to her Maiestie and the state of her realme hee hath had all English men in very base account being iealous and extreamely suspitious of those that be most inward with him and who for his sake haue make shipwracke not onely of their honour and credit but also of their loyalty duty and allegeance to her Maiestie and their natiue countrey examples whereof are infinit and partly touched in my discourse before set downe Besides there is of late crept into that Nation with a commaunding authoritie a prowd insolent and factious company of Iesuites and with them a consorted crew of other practising busie people all of them malicious enemies to her Maiestie and to their owne countrey vile and pernicious instruments of the Spansh King and his adherents who daily as it is manifest to them that haue knowledge and experience of them and their actions seeke nothing more than the vtter ruine pulling downe and destruction of her Maiestie and their countrey He therefore that doeth thinke to liue among these subtile and dangerous people in any credite or account let him as hee woorthily doth deserue be accounted beside his wittes or else as disobedient and traiterous to almightie God her Maiestie and his countrey As for my part howsoeuer in my yoong yeeres affected to learne languages and to see the warres and fashions of forraine places yet when I perceiued that the matter beganne to concerne her Maiestie and withall to looke into the drift and conueyance whereto their practises tended presently abandoning and vtterly reiecting the merit of my long seruice and such hopes and preferrements the which I might as well as any man else of my qualitie of my Nation haue pretended and perchance shoulde as soone haue obtained I made humble intercession to her Maiestie my most honoured princesse and soueraigne Lady for my returne which of her royall and accustomed benignitie she gratiously graunted so that besides the vnfained prayer which I will neuer cease to send to the heauens from the depth of a most faithfull affection for the continuance of her blessed estate and happinesse I take God to recorde that there is not in this world any thing that I more thirst after than an occasion to make the world witnesse of the desire I haue to do her seruice and so concluding I beseech God that as her vertues are infinit so her ioyes may be endlesse Amen FINIS A DISCOVRSE OF THE VSAGE OF the English Fugitiues by the Spaniard SIC CREDE LODON Printed by Thomas Scarlet for Iohn Drawater and are to be solde at his shop in Pater noster row at the signe of the Swan 1595. THE COPIE OF A Letter sent out of the Low countries by a Gentleman entertained by the King of Spaine in pension To a yong Gentleman his Kinsman in ENGLAND MY very good Cosin vnderstanding as well by your Letters as by the message lately done vnto me by the mouth of A. T. of the great longing and desire you haue to draw your self into these parts to imploy your selfe here in seruice of the Spanish king perceiuing also as well by your sayd Letters as by the Gentleman that brought the same and by the reporte of diuerse other young Gentlemen of our Countrie there bee manye that are of your minde in that point Some thereunto as I doo gesse moued of a youthfull and vaine tickling humour to bee wandering abroade in straunge and forreine Countries Others in hope there to growe to greate preferment aduauncement imployment and wealth Other some pretending matter of conscience seeme to haue sure confidence that there they maye liue with more libertie and ease of minde then that within our Countrie they inioye I haue thought good for the particular loue which I beare and alwayes haue borne towardes you vnto whome I wish as to my selfe but chiefely in respecte of the sincere faythfull reuerent and loyall fidelitye and regarde I haue to the person of our sacred renowmed and most gracious Soueraigne the QVEENES most excellent Maiestie and to my natiue Countrie and Countrye-men to sette downe some notes and obseruations vvhich by long and painefull troubles and experience in this place I haue gathered by which I hope I shall make manifest not onelye to you but also to all others my most deare Countrye men if I maye haue the fauour to haue it published in which point I meane to labor by my best friends to such of the greatest persons as may permit the same how greatly you and they that desire to repaire hether by any of the
away into Spaine to informe the King of his worthinesse vertue and experience of the sea coastes of England but especially of his intelligence about Irelande which in truth hee presumeth to bee verie greate Parsons plaide his part in such sort that sir William was presently sent for who vpon his ariuall did what he could to perswade the king to send forces for Ireland but belyke there was not such credite giuen him as hee expected insomuch that he wrote Letters to H. Holt the Iesuit in Brusels which is one of those on whom he chiefly relyeth of great discontentmēt signifieng that his entertainment was far colder than he expected VVithin short space after he was sent downe to the kings nauie lying at Coconia where as yet he remaineth In the meane time his regiment began to drop and droupe awaie in such sort that what for lacke of sustenance what for ill vsage the number of them was melted to an hundred and fiftie which base and villanous vsage the grauest and wisest of his Captains seeing especially abhorring the trecherous practises of their Coronell made by secrete meanes humble intercession to her most gracious MAISTIE to pardon theyr offences committed and to grant them libertie to liue in their Country which of her most princely and royall benignitie shee graunted so as now they liue here in honest and good sort can testifie all this which I haue sayd to be true Hauing gotten sir William out of Deuenter yet Yorke still remained a blemish in their eie who alwais notwithstanding their base vsage stil flourished bare his head aloft ranging ouer the whole countrie with his Companie bringing in daylye many great and rich booties Him therefore fairly on a daie at dinner they caused to bee poysoned where likewise were poisned with him yong Richard Souch Robert Fen priest but he belike hauing swalowed the best Boncon they only met with the drams so that he died miserablie and they fell sick and brake out into many pustles biles yet afterwardes recouered and did giue this testimony His breath was no sooner out of his bodie but Fiorias a Spaniard and Vandenberg the newe gouernour of Deuenter rushte into his lodging to breake vp his coffers in which being withstoode by Yorkes lieutenant Edward Boncer and his brother they caused their gards at noone dayes to enter in vpon them and to murther them both in their owne presence which done they brake vp his coffers took out his iewels plate and mony of which they found great store appropriating the same to their townes vse which he by Testament had giuen to a little youth his nephew being now at this present in England Lastly they chased his whole companie out of the towne and spoiled their baggage at the gates The poore souldiers beeing thus inhumanely depriued of their Captaine and Lieutenant and seeing them selues so vilely dealt with repaired to Verslugo for releefe who for recompence presentlye cashierd them all without receit of one pennie Afterwardes they gaue out and published that Yorke was poisoned by subornation of the counsel of England but if there had bene no other proofes as there were infinite yet the sequele of their doings their murthering of his friends and their robbing of his treasure shewed by whom it was done and whereat they aymed If these examples bee not inough to serue the turne but that perchance you will say he hath delt better with priuate men If you can name me but any one that he hath raised or aduanced to honor or that liueth richly or welthily in his seruice I wil name you an hundred that beeing Gentlemen of good houses and of worthie merite haue consumed languished and beene brought to nothing in his seruice some of them perished died for lacke of sustenance You perchance will name Hugh Owen and in good faith hee is the onely man that euer I knew aduanced credited or graced in his seruice And yet God wot all that hee getteth is no more than to maintaine him in a meane estate and shew with a man only or two to serue him VVhere on the other side I will recken you vp of those that are onely for want of thinges necessarie and of pure pouertie consumed and dead M. Copley L. Dacers Michael Tempest old Norton Tremaine Stradling Henrie Carew Edward Allen Southwell with sundry others of good race and credite in their Countrie Copley being sicke at Beuere and in vnspeakable distresse and calamitie desired a Gentleman his kinsman one Lo. Lewkner to beseech Pedro de Olane who then was treasurer to pay him vpon an assignation which hee had onely fiue pounds protesting that at that present his life might therewith be saued The Gentleman performed his request with all instance and fidelitie as he hath oftentimes told me but coulde not obtaine one pennie VVherevpon hee mooued the Duke but nothing woulde come so that without finding any man that tooke compassion of his distresse his owne Countrie-men being vnable to helpe him hee ended his life though with patience vertuously and well yet the state of so honorable a gentleman considered most pittifully and in great misery To recite vnto you the names of those that doe yet liue so poorely and vncomfortably in his pension would bee too long and therefore take them all in generall Charles Paget onely excepted and examine them one from an other from my Lord of Westmerland downeward euen to the very lowest and if there bee in the whole worlde a more miserable and discontented troupe of Gentlemen than they are let me neuer be credited in any thing else that I shall tel you And because you shal your selfe the beteer iudge I will tell you what payment they haue of such pensions as the king hath giuen them They had graunted them at Bruges the first day of August in the yeere one thousand fiue hundred eighty and eight a generall Liberanca to receyue three moneths pay a peece of their pensions Since that time they haue followed the Duke from Towne to Towne making vnto him sundrie requestes for the payment thereof but if they haue vntill this present day obtayned the same then let mee not be credited in any part of the rest which I shall heere entreate of In deede some small time past Cosimo beeing wearyed with their importunities and lamētations addressed thē to Baptista Spinola a baker dwelling at Antwerp giuing them his Letter and sending the same by one H. Haslwood requesting him to relieue those distressed English Gentlemen and to buy their Liberanca which he doubted not but they would sell good cheap greatly to his profit the whole summe was ten thousand crowns which Cosimo promised him should be allowed and paid in the reckoning he had with the king Haslewood in the name of the rest offered him the sayd summe for sixe hundred But Spinola vtterly refused the same saying he wold not take it for two hundred and withall hee desired that hee might not meddle anie
passion of our Sauiour Iesus Christ the Inuocation of his holy Name and true penitence proceeding from a contrite heart on the one side mens traditions and on the other side the syncere and holy word of our sauiour In thinke the choyse is not hard to make for him whose heart is not hindered wyth obstinacy and selfe will opinion But leauing this and allowing your religion to be good le ts come to the contentment which you might here receyue in free vsage of the same together with the coÌ„seruatioÌ„ of such other your country men which here do professe the same religion First I thynke you are not ignorant of the broiles diuisions seditions and factions which are here among them some they cal Patriots some Iesuites some ouer negligent carelesse in religion other some ouer pure and hypocriticall some dunces state men but the notablest of all these factions is that betweene our Cardinall Doctour Allen and D. Lewes bishop of Casane on these two parties are all dependant and so must you be also if you were here or otherwise cleauing to neyther of them you shoulde bee counted enemy to them both and so within short space might put vp your pipes for ye should be sure to be put vp for a spie or at least so to be crossed in all your matters pretences that you would quickly I warant you be weary of such entertaynment On the other side embracing the one what enuy what defamation what slaunder should you not be subiect vnto On the other side what oathes and solemne depositions must you make Finally you would thinke there were no greater purgatory than to liue among these discentions â—arres and tumults These two factions I tell you of haue sought to ouerthrowe one anotherâ— credite in the chiefest courts in Christendome tossing to and fro such foule and filthie defamations that all men almost cryed out agaynst them both On the other side of the Cardinall are dependant Hugh Owen with the Iesuites their retinue of fauorites On the other side the Bishop of Dunglane a Scottish-man the Lord Paget whilest he liued Charles Paget Thomas Morgan the two Throgmortons Ra. Liggins c. The beginning heereof arose about the Cardinalshippe to which both Allen and Lewes were competitours each one for the obtayning thereof applyed his friendes to the vttermost but at length through the instant pursuite of the Iesuites and of theyr faction were for euer after mortally hated all those that had bin waies or fautours to Doctor Lewes but chiefly and among the rest Thomas Throgmorton who had bin one of the earnestest in that pursuite The Iesuites since haue had many a plucke at him but Morgan beeing wise strengthened himselfe alwayes wyth such friendes that they coulde neuer doe him any hurt but rather secretly hee galled them the which they seeing and peceyuing that that was not the way to bee reuenged of him they tooke another course and that was this One euening as hee came from the Church they caused him to bee assaulted by a young man called Gage who giuing him on the sodayne a grieuous blowe vppon the face presently made haste away so for that time escaped but was afterwardes by my Lorde Pagete meanes and earnest pursuite apprehended The Iesuites and their part seemed at the first to deny that they had beene the causers of that fact but the sequele of their proceedings made it most apparant vnto the whole world For when Morgan my Lord Paget and diuerse of their parte laboured very instantly and with often petitions vnto the Duke to haue the rigour and seuerity of iustice to proceede against him of whome they had receyued this great iniurie they to stoppe theyr mouthes and to preuent the mischiefe that might insue found no better meanes than to accuse Morgan of treason laying to his charge sundry points of treachery touching the Queene of Scotland Besides they accused him to haue bene a setter on of Gifford his assistances in such practises as he had vndertaken by sir Frances Walsinghams warrant to that end sent Chryton the Scottish Iesuite to Paris to take Gyffords examination And withall they made some of their adherents to take their oth before their Auditour generall that in their conscience they thought Morgan to be a traitour and a spie vnto the taking of which oath also they laboured earnestly with sundry others which they not hauing their consciences so saleable as some of them had refused and vtterly denyed to doe yet in the meane time while these thinges were in hand with their forged accusations they wrought so that Morgan was apprehended and clapped vp in close prison whereas yet he remaineth But this broile hath opened such foule matters both of the one side and of the other that the whole Nation is therewith infamed and held to be traitors spies and in good faith in my iudgment not vnworthily Good sir take it not in ill part that I write thus boldly vnto you for as neere as I can my endeuor is to let you know what hell torment and vexation it is to liue heere among this vnquiet troublesome traiterous crew I meane not this by them all for there are among them some well disposed and honest gentlemen whom they vse in such malitious and wicked sort that they make them in a manner wearie of theyr lyues But the pretiest of all is to see how smoothly they handle the matter with you in England and how they do abuse your simplicitie They make you and other Catholykes of England beleeue that what practises and driftes so euer they take in hand are all for the zeale of religion and aduancement of the Catholike cause the seely souls thinke all they say is Gospell wheras God wot religion is the least matter of an hundred they thinke vpon The only point they shoot at being lost Companies at home is to make them selues great heere and to make you hazarde your liues reputation and credit and therefore they are alwais breeding of practises and conspiracies both within and without the realme caring not what successe they take if they proue wel then they wil haue the praise merite honor and reward thereof if otherwise then they say their good will must be accepted and therewith they thinke to winne the reputation to be counted great state-men and contriuers of waighty matters not caring in the mean time of the seueritye of them by whome they worke as appeareth by the example and fall of many braue Gentlemen of England whome they by theyr trecherous practises haue brought to ruine and destruction They very well knew that when they first began to set abroach the matter of Babington and his disloyall confederates that the effectation therof was altogether vnpossible as Mendoza the Spanish embassador told Ballard the priest their instrument in contriuing the same when hee was first brought vnto him in Paris by C. Paget to desire him with al speed to informe the
Kings his master of their intention withall that at a day appointed they might haue some force and assistaunce of men ready to correspond with them but that was all one so they might bee counted men of greate reach and dealers in such high state matters they spared not to proceede in inchanting those poore vnexperienced young Gentlemen in such forte as to the whole world is manifest and need not to be recited Let all Gentlemen in England especiallye papists take heed and beware of their mischieuous broode of caterpillers for they speake so deuoutly looke so smoothly and write with such counterfetted grauity and holines that it is hard for any man to eschue their deadly baits vnlesse he thoroughly do first know their trechery vnder which they do colour and shroude them VVhat hath brought master Shellie into these his extreame troubles and perill of life if her gracious Maiestie of her great clemency merciful disposition had not regarded him wyth the eyes of pitty Likewise what hath brought the late erle of Northumberland into trouble and calamity and finally to that desperate and miserable end but only these outlandish practises their conference with counterfet Mopo I meane C. Paget who was sent out of France by this seditious troupe to vndermine and ouerthrowe both the one and the other VVhat besides hath beene the cause of bringing so many other Gentlemen to the losse of their liues and liuings that liued before in ease repose and security of conscience and which is more were it not that that plot cōtriued the death of the Queene of Scotland by setting her in continuall practise one vpon an other against the sacred person and royal state of our most gratious soueraigne Queene so that of violent necessity her Maiesty though vnwilling and with great griefe at the generall and instant petition of al her Graces most louing and faithfull subiects whose onely weale and comfort dependeth vppon her long lyfe and prosperity to satisfie them and to preserue the state of her noble florishing realme in quiet was constrained by cutting off that rankled and infected part to yeelde ease remedy and comfort to the rest of the whole body I say not this onely of my selfe though I and all the world else doe knowe it to be very true but these their dealings haue made them hatefull and detestable euen to those of their own religion For that a fresh Iesuite tearmeth them all in generall in a Booke which hee hath written touching the Queene of Scotlandes death a viperous mischieuous and faithlesse kinde of people trecherous to those they deale withall disdainfull arrogant ambitious and worthy to be extermined out of the vtmost boūds of the worlde Besides many other such goodly epethites with which hee beautifies them in their colours his whole booke being nothing else but railing agaynst English papistes wishing all princes noble men and Gentlemen whatsoeuer to beware and take heed of them and that in such earnest vehement and inuectiue manner that it is not possible to be more But some man perchance may demaund of me what their meaning heerein may bee or what credite commoditie or gaine might haue allured them to enter into these before sayd so wicked and detestable imaginations For aunsweare heereunto first I tolde you that so they might bee accounted and reputed for greate state-men high spirited and greate of action to procure that reputation and estimation they care not whose estate they indaunger But besides all this which wee haue alreadie spoken of they haue also further meaninges and driftes as those that doe looke deepelyest and diligentest into theyr actions doe verilye imagine and haue bene by sundrie their proceedinges euidently discouered amongest which the chiefest is that as they are of all people liuing the most ambitious so seeing this beggarly seruice doeth not fit their humour they doe feed themselues with an imagination of the time to come I meane a Spanish or popish world in this our countrie at which time then they doubt not the long time of their exile sufferance and lacke of liuing considered for so is theyr phrase and manner of speech to become mightie and great men and to haue the principal rule sway dignity and great authoritie in our countrie Marrie againe on the other side considering that they are but base companions of births and liuing and that there are in England many gentlemen of great qualitie and houses of the same religion that wold disdaine to haue such mates preferred before thē in race quality or degree they haue gon by all means possible they can about by practise or colourable deuises to roote them out so seruing their turnes two waies the one to winne reputation of men of seruice the other to rid themselues of other competitours But God be thanked the chiefest harme their conspiracies haue done hitherto hath ben to themselues and they confounded in their own deuises And yet for all this so many tragicall endes of their so many traiterous proceedinges are they not moued with any sparke of repentaunce Neyther hath the ruine of so many of you their countrie-men wrought and contriued by their practise allurement and perswasion bred in them anie feeling of remorse of conscience but rather are therby animated incouraged to set new deuises abroch with meaning in deed by sowing seditions among you by opposing you against the state to make you the onely instruments of the others ruine and so to make the way open to the Spanish tyrant to which end there is no weeke but they receyue spies and spials from you Insomuch that I speake vpon good assuraunce there are at this instant among you aboue three hundred seditious beggerlye priests sent ouer by them to no other purpose A little before the comming of the Spanish fleet they sent foure priests and two Iesuites in disguised apparell throughly instructed to sound the meaning of such Gentlemen as they thought to be of theyr religion and to incline their minds to the Spanish cause encouraging them to take Armes against her MAIESTY to which end they printed in English many hundred of bookes in Antwerpe barrelling them vp vntill such time as the Army should haue bene landed and then their meaning was to haue dispersed them full of the most blasphemous speeches and proud traiterous menaces as well agaynst her Maiestie as against you all in generall as neuer I thinke the like was heard of Besides they haue obtained of the Pope of the king that as many as had their voices in the parliament house at such time as the Queene of Scotland was adiudged to die of what degree so euer they were should be depriued not onely of theyr liues and liuings but that their posterity also shuld be for euer dis-inherited and disanulled The like also they threatned in their bookes to all such as well noble men as others that should after the landing of the Spaniards armie persist in arms against the same But
depart out of the same But this sufficed not these good fellowes thinke no lawes good or to be obeyed but such as they make themselues In they came as fast as before greate numbers of them were taken imprisoned who though her Maiestie deseruedly and with great iustice especially the daylye misciefe stirred vp within the Realme by their seditious practises considered might haue executed as traitours and rebelles yet the greatnesse of her princely clemencie and compassion was so loth to come vnto bloud that shee caused them all once more to be pardoned and to bee put out of the Realme but with expresse commaundement neuer to returne in like sort in dooing otherwise they should bee sure to finde no fauour All this would not serue their turnes but in dispight of her Maiestie and contempt of her lawes sundrie of them returned of which some of them being taken haue receiued the hire of theyr gracelesse disobedience and rebellous attempt But that her Maiestie secketh not bloud as they most falsely gaue out appeareth by her clemencie vsed to sundrie of them taken by her souldiers in the Low Countries who though they were of sir William Standley his crewe and adherents her most professed enemies yet seeing they were not taken within England shee graciously pardoned them and caused to be set at libertie in giuing some litle recompence to those souldiers that had taken them prisoners VVhere is then her rigor you speake of I hope the king of Spaine keepeth another maner of rule in his Countries ouer all Spaine Portugall Lombardie Naples Ciciliae whosoeuer speaketh a word or makes the lest sigh in the world to dislike his religion there established or any one poynt or ceremonie thereof his cruell ministers the Inquisitours cause without remission to be burnt aliue as for example There was this last yeere a Citizen in Antwerpe one Gyles Rat a shoomaker that going into Spaine about some busines was apprehended for smiling at the Image of our Lady brought before the Inquisitours and by them presentlye condemned to fire and with him an English-man for the lyke cause whose name the Gentleman that sawe them burned knewe not but hee tolde mee that at the time of their execution there mounted on a scaffolde thereby two Iesuites forbidding the people vpon paine of Excommunication to praie for them saying that they had deliuered them both ouer in bodie and soule to the deuill as those that died obstinate and wilfull heretikes I would faine knowe how hee would doe with Ministers if hee shoulde catch them in Spaine as the Queene hath done priests in England As for his Lowe Countries I neuer heard but of two taken and that was at the siege of Dermond and they were both put in to sackes by the Spaniards and throwne into the riuer This is indeede Tyrannie and not that which her Maiestie doth who is alwaies readie to receiue into grace and fauour those of whome shee hath any hope that they will become good subiects and hath as I haue heard offered euen at the houre of their death her princely mercy and fauour to some of them if they woulde haue promised to become good subiects Oh how different from this is their proceeding heere which you see so highly commended But it is the nature of men especially of those whose iudgements are not setled as they shoulde bee alwaies to mislike and loath those thinges to which they are accustomed thinking other to them vnknown far better If you did but once see the tyranous vsage explication what is vsed in matter of religiō to the poore people vnder the Spanish gouernment in this Countrie I doubt not but you would be of another opinion especially the woful slauerie considered in which the cleargie or rather the rauening multitude of Iesuites Friers Monks and priests doe keepe their minde subiected It is not sufficient that they hold their mindes in a perpetuall despaire pronouncing vppon euerie friuolous point damnation vnto them but withal they compell them perforce to offerings to buying of pardons and indulgences to giue them money towardes the reparation of their Churches pictures images and waxe candles alwaies hauing one deuice or other in hand to robbe them and to drawe from them their substance for whosoeuer yeeldeth not to euery of these demaunds is presently an heretike The best houses in the Towne they take violently from the true owners and appropriate vnto themselues saying it is meete that God should first be serued before man There is no one daie but the poore citizens are punished and pestered with one or other of their orders of Friers Monkes Mendicants Capuchines Candles and monie towardes the reparation of their Churches and which they must not be denied vnlesse you will bee presently accused for an heretike But the best is to see how busie and diligent they are when they heare of a wealthie man that lyeth sick and is in danger of death This is their chiefest haruest and most optima praeda then they commend vnto him the pouertie of their cloister and the merite that hee should gaine as beeing for euer to bee remembred in their masses as one of theyr benefactors the Iesuits and Cordelleres are at this present in processe of Spaine about this matter of visitation of sicke men in articulo mortis The Iesuites saie that it appertaines vnto them because theyr profession is actiue alwaies stirring among the flocke and to doe good in the worlde abroade whereas that of the Cordelleres is contemplatiue and so by consequence most decent that they shoulde containe themselues within theyr cloysters The Cordelleres on the other side replye that theyr profession is meekenesse innocencie and pouertie and to doe good vnto all men As for the Iesuites that they are proude ambitious aspiring medlers in matters of state men of great riches and couetous of more and therefore by no meanes to bee admitted to such as lye at the article of death The matter hath beene much argued of and greatly debated in Spaine and besides the Iesuites haue openly inueighed against them in the publike schooles of Louaine yet notwithstanding how euer the cry goeth against them they holde theyr owne But this by the way seeing it comes so wel to our purpose I cannot chuse but tell you a prety ieast which happened this last Summer in these partes A Marchant of Antwerpe whose name was Hamiel being sicke of a consumption or feauer ethike the Iesuites knowing him to bee a man of great possessions and without children presentlye repayred vnto him vnder colour of spirituall consolation laying before him the vanitie of this lyfe and the certainty of the worlde to come wyth sundry other perswasions as of all men lyuing they haue their tongues most at will withall commending vnto him their order as of all other the most meritorious perfect and acceptable to God and to which our holye father the Pope and his predecessors haue granted more indulgences than to any other
that for the summe of sixe poundes haue followed him three yeeres when eyther hee goeth out or commeth into his house hee is faine to go thorough gardens and by-wayes to deceyue his poore sutors who otherwise assayed him though in vaine with such ruthfull cryes that it would pearse anie mans heart to heare them VVhich beggerlinesse and miserie sundrie worthie souldiers of straunge nations seeing especially the base and vnworthie vsage which they themselues receiued haue abandoned that banquerout seruice as Iohn Baptista de Monte and Camillo de Monte two warlike Captaines but now retained vnder two mightie states the one Generall to the Duke of Florence the other to the Venetians who both lie in waite to cry quittance with him and by Gods grace shall one day haue meanes to accomplish their desire Then sir Martine Skinke of whose iust discontentment and valerous reuenge you your selues in England are witnes VVhere are then the moūtains of treasure that the mightie king possesseth Or if yee say he spareth them to some other end I pray you tell me to what when he will vse them If not now the danger of the losse of his countrie fame religion and the greatnesse of the causes hee hath vndertaken and considered No no it is pure want extreame indigences that forceth him to deale so though he be rich yet the greatnesse of the cause he is entered into doth farte exceede the meanes hee hath to maintaine the same Vppon the comming downe of this last fleete hee set vp his rest and lost it not onely his owne but that also of his friendes the pope the duke of Sauoy the Geneoises c. which set him into such arrerages that I thinke hee will not easily come out of them As for the treasure of his Indians where in deede consisteth the verie marrowe strength and substance of all his puissance I confesse the same to bee great yet his charges considered making an estimate betweene the one and the other it can no waie bee able to aunswere and counteruayle them And yet the same hath beene reasonable well impaired also since such time as sir Fraunces Drake and other of your worthy English captaines by sea haue begunne to firke him in those For whereas before hee was wont vsually to waite his Indian fleete home-warde with a Gallyasse or two onely their returne accustomed to be euery sixe moneths hee is nowe forced to maintayne a great and mighty Nauy of many shippes and gallyes to his inestimable and continuall charges Notwithstanding all which his returne is seldome aboue once a yeere and that oftentimes minglingly as may be and yet they are sometimes met withall some of them scattered some sunke and some of them also taken by our Englishe shippes If you will knowe what these his great charges are on which hee is enforced to employ them First consider that he scarcely holdeth any countrey in which hee is not constrained to holde garrisons of souldiers As for these lowe Countries I knowe it vppon good and assured grounds there hath beene no yeere these twenty yeeres but they haue cost him one with another two millions and more yeerely aboue the reuenue and other commodities receyued thereout and yet howe beggarly his souldiers are vsed you haue heard before The rest for Naples Cicilia Portugall maiorque minorque the frontires of Arragon and Nauarre and Lombardie hee is faine to be at the charge of many strong and mighty garrisons by lande and in the most of them maine Gallyes or other shipping in the Hauens and all along the Sea-coasts none of which he can for his life diminish for his gouernment is so hateful that none of these prouinces are his any longer than hee hath their heades in the bridle And besides his prouinces stand so seuered and disunited that the transporting of his nauie from one to an other is infinite chargeable vnto him insomuch that I haue heard some of his commissioners here sweare that there is no crowne of his that commeth from Spaine into these Countries by land but standeth them in fiue rialles so infinite is the charge of carriages conuoyes and commissaries to deliuer and receiue the same Besides all this he disburseth yeerely mighty summes of mony to the Persian to the end to keep the Turke occupyed of whom he standeth mightily in feare and truely he hath reason if her Maiesty would condescend to such conditions as haue beene by this Turke to her proposed But shee like a christian Princesse how greatly soeuer to her aduantage the same might be will not do any thing whereby christianity might hereafter seerne to receiue any detriment As for Polonia the same hath beene incredible chargeable vnto him aswell for the mighty bribes bestowed vpon the nobles of the country as also the charges of a great army of Rewtiers he sent his kinsman Maximilian of Austria what by force and what by help of the part which he had gained and with his treasures thought to inuest him in the kingdome The successe of which enterprise I wold not write being to the whole world notorious and knowen In the consistorie of Rome hee is faine to entertaine a great number of those hungrie Cardinals in pension and fee thereby to gain theyr voices when need requireth which liberalitie of his he cannot by anie meanes withdrawe for in so doing he should be assured to haue them his enemies and contrarie to his proceedings Lastly for conclusion hee maketh at this instant open warres with France England and the Lowe counties What deeme you then heereof Hath he not trow you vent for his treasures His father was a better souldier and a greater man of warre than he is and as mightie a prince euerie deale his Portugal Indians onely excepted in place of which he quietly inioyed these his Lowe countries which in respect of theyr great oppulencie abundance of riches conuenientnes of scituation were to them accounted nothing inferior And yet he neuer dared attempt to make warres vpon France alone but he first sought by all possible meanes to assure himselfe in friendship with England giuing to that end great and mightie presents to Cardinall Wolsey and others of the councell that in those daies were with her Maiesties father of worthie memorie K. Henrie the eight whereas his sonne makes war with all the world carelesly at once but the Italians haue a true prouerbe Cum tutto abraccianes iunque string And so I hope it shall fare with him Now as touching those his mightie and puisant numbers of men which they say he is able to make I take vpon me to know the state of his forces aswell as other and I herein of all other men know him to be most needie wanting For as for Spaine Naples and Lombardie of which his onely force consisteth and which are his chiefest store-houses of men it is sufficiently knowen that his drums haue gone a whole yeere beating vp and downe according as theyr maner