footmen which were worth in goods above 150000 pounds sterling besides their lands such men would fight stoutly before they would have lost their goods by likelihood at this time many other bands were made of such principall men both of wealth and strength Of these things I am sorry to have cause to write in this sort but because you may see how heretofore you have been deceived with advertisements of many which had no proofe to know the truth thereof and so I confesse my selfe in some things to have erred namely in imagining that whensoever any forrain power should be seen ready to land in any part of this Realme there would have bin found but a smal number resolute to withstand the same or to defend the Queen but that the same would have been very unable for the 〈◊〉 untrained raw and ignorant in all warlike actions without 〈…〉 armour and weapons and that also the Noblemen and 〈…〉 that were in this Realme of our religion 〈…〉 you know we made account when you were here in England of 〈…〉 although many of them be dead since that time but at this time there are not so many tens as we accounted hundreds whom we thought would have shewed 〈…〉 like men of courage for our common cause and would have suddenly surprised the houses families and strength of the heretiques and adversaries But now such is our calamity that it hath pleased God as I thinke for our sins or else for confounding of our bold opinions and presumptions of our owne strength to put in the hearts of all persons here one like mind and courage to withstand the intended invasion as well in such as we accounted Catholiques as also in the heretiques so as it hath appeared manifestly that for all earnest proceeding for arming and for contributions of money for all other warlike actions there was no difference to be seen betwixt the Catholique and the hereticke But in this case to withstand the threatened conquest yea to defend the person of the Queene there appeared such a sympathy concourse and consent of all sorts of persons without respect of Religion as they all appeared to be ready to fight against all strangers as it were with one heart and one body And though some few principall Gentlemen of whom heretofore you have had the names in such Catalogues of Catholiques as you have bin acquainted withall were lately upon the report of the comming out of the army to the seas sent to the Isle of Ely there to remaine restrained of their former liberty during the expectation of this intended invasion yet it hath appeared that they were not so restrained for any doubt that they would with their powers have assisted our army but onely thereby to make it knowne to all our friends and countrey-men in Spaine and Handers yea even to your selfe for so I heard it spoken as accounting you to have bin the most principall Author perswader of this action that there should be no hope to have any of them or of their friends to assist these great armies And in very truth I see now whosoever of our friends in Spaine or in Handers or elsewhere made any such account of any ayd against the queen or against her party here they should have bin deceived if the army had offered to have landed For I my selfe have heard that the best of those that were sent to Ely did make offers yea by their letters to the Councell here signed with their hands that they would adventure their lives in defence of the queene whom they named their undoubted Soveraigne Lady and Queene against all forrain forces though the same were sent from the Pope or by his commandement Yea divers of them did offer that in this quarrell of invading of the Realme with strangers they would present their owne bodies in the foremost rankes with their countrey-men against all strangers Whereupon I heard also by a secret friend of mine in the Court that it was once in some towardnesse of resolution amongst the Counsellors that they should have bin returned and put to their former liberty But the heat of the war being kindled with the knowledge of the Kings Armado being at that time come to the Groigne and the Duke of Parmas readinesse with so great an army and shipping in Handers daily looked for to land in England yea to come to London and a generall murmur of the people against all such Recusants of reputation was the cause of the staying of these Gentlemen at Ely notwithstanding their offers of their service to the Queen And so they doe remain in the Bishops palace there with fruition of large walks about the same altogether without any imprisonment other then that they are not suffred to depart into the town or countrey and yet for their Religion I thinke surely they doe and will remaine constant to the obedience of the Church of Rome for the which neverthelesse they are not impeached to any danger of their lives but onely charged with a penalty of money because they will not come to the Churches whereby by the law a portion of their revenue is allotted to the Queen and the rest left to the maintenance of them their wives and children By which kind of proceedings our adversaries here doe pretend that both these Gentlemen and all other of their qualities are favourably used that they are not pursued to death for their Religion as they say it was used in Queen Maries time and as it is daily used is they say most rigorously and barbarously in Spaine against the English-men that come thither only in trade of merchandise And yet I and others sometimes privately speaking with such our adversaries as we thinke are not maliciously bent to have men prosecuted to death only for their Religion for to say the truth and as the proverbe is not to belye the Devill very many of our Contraries are in that point not uncharitable we doe object to them the executions by cruell torments and deaths of very many both here about London and other parts of the Realme whom we account as Martyrs in that they doe witnesse by their death their obedience to the Pope and the Catholique Church of Rome To which these our adversaries pretending some smal drops of charity do answer us That no execution hath bin of any to their knowledge for their Religion or for profession thereof but for that they which have been executed have bin found to have wandred in the Realme secretly and in a disguised manner which the adversaries scornfully terme as ruffians with feathers and all ornaments of light coloured apparell like to the fashion of Courtiers and doe use many means to entice all people with whom they dare adventure to speake not only to be reconciled to the Pope and Church of Rome but to induce them by vowes and oathes to renounce their obedience to the Queene to deny her to be their
had besieged Barwicke and had won it by assault and possessed it quietly whereof no part was true nor any cause to imagine the same though I wish it had so been but not for any good will that I now beare to that King but for the trouble to this Queen For in truth there is no good for us to be hoped for from the King of Scots howsoever the Scottish Bishops in France have sought to make you beleeve otherwise who is so rooted in the Calvinists Religion as there is never hope that he can be recovered to the Church of Rome and so I thinke you are of late duely informed and by his violent actions against divers Catholikes and against all that favour the Spaniards may certainly appeare And likewise another great untruth was lately printed as your enemies say by your direction also in Paris that now in Iuly last when the Spanish Fleet and English had met and fought betwixt France and England the Spaniards had then a great victory wherein they had sunke the Lord Admirall of England with sixteen of the Queens great ships into the bottome of the Seas and that all the rest were driven to fly with the Vice-Admirall Francis Drake Upon these two so notable untruths which the adversaries spightfully called Don Bernardin Mendozas mendacia many who honour you were right sorry that you should give so hasty credit to publish the same as your enemies say you did though I have to my power for clearing of your honour given it out that these and such like have proceeded of the lightnesse of the French who commonly print more lies then truths in such doubtfull times and not of you whose honour and wisedome I thought would not be justly touched with so great untruths and lies considering alwayes a small time will discover things that are in facts reported untruly and bringeth the Authors to discredit and infamy There hath been a speech also reported here to have proceeded from you in France that hath caused a great misliking of you in Scotland which is that you should in open assembly and in a bravery say that the young King of Scots whom you called in your language a boy had deceived the K. your master but if the Kings Navy might prosper against England the K. of Scots should lose his Crowne and of this the King of Scots hath been advertised out of France and useth very evill language of you which I will not report But now to leave this digression and to returne to let you know the truth of the state of the Queens Navy this Summer The same was in the beginning of the yeare when the brute was brought of the readines of the Kings Armado in Lisbone and of the army by land upon the Sea-coasts in Flanders with their shipping divided into three companies the greatest under the charge of Charles L. Haward high Admirall of England whose father grandfather uncles great unckles and other of his house being of the noble house of the Dukes of Norfolk had also been high Admirals afore him whereof both France and Scotland have had proof Another company were appointed to remaine with the L. Henry Seymour second son to the Duke of Somerset that was Protector in King Edwards time and brother to the Earle of Hartford and these companies for a time continued in the narrow seas betwixt England and Flanders under the charge of the said high Admirall to attend on the Duke of Parmas actions A third company were armed in the West part of England towards Spain under the conduct of Sir Francis Drake a man by name and fame known too too well to all Spam and to the Kings Indias and of great reputation in England and this was compounded partly of some of the Queens owne ships and partly of the ships of the West parts But after that it was certainly understood that the great Navy of Spaine was ready to come out from Lisbone and that the fame thereof was blowne abroad in Christendome to be invincible and so published by books in print The Queen and all her Councell I am sure whatsoever good countenance they made were not a little perplexed as looking certainly for a dangerous fight upon the Seas and after that for a landing and invasion Whereupon the Lord Admirall was commanded to saile with the greatest ships to the West of England towards Spaine to joyne with Drake whom he made Vice-Admirall and to continue in the Seas betwixt France and England to stop the landing of the Navy of Spaine And with the Lord Admirall went in certaine of the Queens ships the Lord Thomas Haward second son to the last Duke of Norfolke and the Lord Sheffeld sonne to the Admirals sister who is wife to the Queenes Embassadour in France with a great number of Knights of great livelihood And at that time the Lord Henry Seymour was left with a good number of ships in the narrow Seas upon the coast of Flanders to attend on the Duke of Parma Whilst these two Navies were thus divided I confesse to you that I and others of our part secrerly made a full account that none of all these English ships durst abide the sight of the Armado of Spaine or if they would abide any sight yet they should all be sunke at the first encounter For such constant opinion we had conceived by the reports of the world that the greatnesse and the number of the ships and the army of Spaine being the chosen vessell of all the Kings Dominions was so excessive monstrous beyond all the Navies that ever had been seen in Christendome not excepting the Armado at Lepanto that no power could abide in their way But how far deceived we were therein a very short time even the first day did manifestly to the great dishonour of Spaine discover For when the Catholique army came to the coast of England which indeed the English confesse did seeme far greater then they looked for and that they were astonied with the sight of them yet the Lord Admirall and Drake having but onely fifty of the English ships out of the haven of Plimmouth where the rest remained for a new revictualling without tarrying for the rest of the Navy that was in Plimmouth they did offer present sight and furiously pursued the whole Navy of Spaine being above 160 ships so as the same with the furious and continuall shot of the English one whole day fled without any returning And after the English Navy being increased to an hundred great and small renued their fight with terrible great shot all the whole day gaining alwayes the wind of the Spanish Navy And as I am sorry to remember the particularities which the English have largely written to their owne praise so to speake all in one word for nine dayes together they still forced them to flye and destroyed sunke and tooke in three dayes fight divers of the greatest ships out of which
indeed was of the more credit first by reason of a new Bull lately published at Rome by the Popes Holinesse which I have seen with more severity then others of his predecessors whereby the Queen here was accursed and pronounced to be deprived of her Crowne and the invasion and conquest of the Realme committed by the Pope to the king Catholique to execute the same with his armies both by sea and land and to take the Crowne to himselfe or to limit it to such a Potentate as the Pope and he should name And secondly there followed a large explanation of this Bull by sending hither a number of English books printed in Antwerp even when the Navy of Spaine was daily looked for the originall whereof was written by the reverend father Cardinall Allen in Aprill last called in his owne writing the Cardinall of England which booke was so violently sharply and bitterly written yea say the adversaries so arrogantly falsly and scandalously against the person of the Queene against her father King Henry the eight against all her Nobility and Councell as in very truth I was heartily sorry to perceive so many good men of our own Religion offended therewith in that there should be found in one accounted a Father of the Church who was also a born subject of this Crowne though by the adversaries reported to be very basely borne such soule vile irreverent and violent speeches such irefull and bloudy threatenings of a Queen of a Nobility yea of the whole people of his owne nation Sorry and most sorry I am to report the generall evill conceit of these unordinate unadvised proceedings of this Cardinall of whose rash choice to such a place the world speaketh strangely as though he came to it through corruption of the Popes Sister without liking of the Colledge of Cardinals where otherwise the blessed intention of our holy Father and the desire also of the said Cardinall might without such fatall bloudy premonitions and threatenings of future invasions and conquests by the Catholique Kings noble forces have taken better place There was also to adde the more credit to these terrible prognestications such kind of other books printed in Spaine and translated into French as it is said by your Lordship containing particular long descriptions and catalogues of Armados of Castile of Andalouzia of Biscaye of Guipusque of Portingall of Naples of Sicil of Ragusa and other countries of the Levant with a masse of all kind of provisions beyond measure for the said Armados sufficient in estimation to be able to make conquest of many kingdomes or countries And one great Argument is published by the adversaries to stir up the minds of the Nobilitie of England against the Spaniards which is very maliciously invented to shew the intention of the conquest not only of England but of the whole Isle of Britaine moving all men specially to marke by the description of the Armado that there are specially named such a number of Noblemen as Princes Marquises Condes and Dons that are called Adventurers without any office or pay and such another number also of men with great titles of honour and many of them named Captains and Alferez without office but yet in sold and therfore called Entertenidos as all those being for no service in the Armada may be well presumed say they to have come to have possessed the roomes of all the Noblemen in England and Scotland and this fiction hath taken more place then it is worth And though these armies were indeed exceeding great and mighty yet they were so amplified beyond all measure in these books as in no preparation of Christendome in former times against the Sarracins or Turks could be greater By this meanes this Queene and her Realme being thus forewarned and terrified took occasion with the ayde of her people being not only firmly as she was perswaded devoted to her but throughly irritated to stir up their whole forces for their defence against such prognosticated conquests as in a very short time all her whole Realme and every corner were speedily furnished with armed people on horsebacke and on foot and those continually trained exercised and put into bands in warlike manner as in no age ever was before in this Realme Here was no soaring of money to provide horse armour weapon pouder all necessaries no not want of provision of Pyoners carriages and victuals in every County of the Realme without exception to attend upon the Armies And to this generall furniture every man voluntarily offered very many their service personally without wages others money for armour and weapons and to wage souldiers a matter strange and never the like heard of in this Realme or else where And this generall reason moved all men to large contributions that to withstand a conquest where all should be lost there was no time to spare a portion The numbers made ready in the Realme I cannot affirme of mine owne knowledge but I have heard it reported when I was grieved to thinke the same to be so true that there was through England no quarter East West North and South but all concurred in one mind to be in readinesse to serve for the Realme And that some one countrey was able to make a sufficient army of twenty thousand men fit to fight and fifteene thousand of them well armed and weaponed and in some countries the number of forty thousand able men The maritine countries from Cornowall all along the Southside of England to Kent and from Kent Eastward by Essex Suffolke and Norfolke to Lincolne-shire which countries with their havens were well described unto you in perfect Plots when Francis Throgmorton first did treat with your L. about the same were so furnished of men of war both of themselves and with resort of ayde from their next Shires as there was no place to be doubted for landing of any forraine forces but there were within eight and forty houres to come to the place above twenty thousand fighting men on horsebacke and on foot with field ordinance victuals pioners and carriages and all those governed by the principall Noblemen of the countries and reduced under Captaines of knowledge And one thing I heard of that was very politiquely ordered and executed at this time as of many late yeares was not used that as the leaders and officers of the particular Bands were men of experience in the warres so to make the Bands strong and constant choise was made of the principall Knights of all countries to bring their tenants to the field being men of strength and landed and of wealth whereby all the forces so compounded were of a resolute disposition to sticke to their Lords and Chieftaines and the Chieftaines to trust to their owne tenants And to remember one strange speech that I heard spoken may be marvelled at but it was avowed to me for a truth that one gentleman in Kent had a band of 150
Queene against all the world And where account was made to have a party in this Realm which by these former relations appeare could nor be possible the whole Nobility being assured to the Queen and the force of the people not violently bent that way In this very time was offered to the Queene as great a party for her to come to her service and defence of the Realme as out of all Christendome she could not have to all respects a stronger Which was the King of Scots who hearing of the intended invasion of the Realme sent a Gentleman to the Queene with his letter as I credibly heard to offer her all the power that he had to defend her and her Realme and if she so would he would come in his own person and hazard his own life to defend this Realme against all invaders for Religion or any other pretence whatsoever So by this you may see what account may be made of any vain promises made in the name of this King And because you shall perceive that I have good meanes to have intelligence of any other forces of the Realme for defence thereof it is most certain as I heare and I have seen a List or Roll of a great number both of horsemen and footmen which the Bishops of the Realme have of their owne charges with the contribution of the Clergy raised up in bands of horsemen and footmen which are to be led by noble Gentlemen at the Queenes nomination and these bands must be vainly termed Milites Sacri As to the last point of the three foundations of the principall hope conceived wherupon the invasion was chiefly grounded and taken in hand which was most certainly and generally beleeved that there should be found here in the realm a strong party of Catholiques against the Queen to joyne and assist the invaders upon the appearing of the Spanish Navy By my former relations of the generall great and fervent love of the people towards the Queene and of the great offers of service now made by the whole Nobility of the Realme this their foundation may appeare to have been wrong laid onely by imaginations as it were upon a quick-sand or rather as flying in the ayre And yet it appeareth very truly that no small account was made hereof by the K. of Spain and by his principall Ministers for there is nothing at this present more universally with one lamentable voyce spoken of by all the multitude of the Spaniards now here prisoners yea by the chiefest of them then that they now evidently see that the King their Master was with such informations greatly abused yea rather betrayed For they say there was no man of value in all this army but he heard it constantly affirmed and so delivered for comfort of all that served therein before they were shipped that they should not be afraid of any resistance to land in England for thaâ— there was good assurance given to the King that they should finde a strong army of Catholiques ready in their favour as soon as ever their Navy should be seen upon the Sea-coast and so they all here say they were encouraged to come to this journey otherwise many of them sweare they would never have come on ship-boord so unlikely they say it was and against all reason to invade a Realme with opinion to conquer it without both some title of right and a party also but specially without a good sure party And therefore now finding this report very false many of these prisoners do by name curse you as being the Kings Embassadour as him they say who upon the opinion of the knowledge which you had gotten in England was therein more credited then any other and had these many yeares together tempted the King their Master upon hope and other such like perswasions to attempt such a matter as this was being utterly in all wisedome to have been condemned without some certainty of this latter part specially to have had a strong party here They also curse all such English-men as have fled out of this countrey whom they spare not to call arrant traitors for offering the sale of their countrey to the Pope and the King of Spaine And these prisoners adde also that they were borne in hand that this countrey was so open to march in and so weak to withstand any force and the people so miserable as they thought the conquest thereof had been of no more difficulty then the overcomming of a number of naked Indians was at the beginning of the conquest thereof by King Ferdinand And now for strength of this countrey and people many of these prisoners having bin brought from the Sea-coasts hither to London whereby they have observed the countrey and the people doe speak marvellously thereof counting the same invincible otherwise then by treason of some great party within the Realme But whether all these speeches which are commonly reported of them proceed from their hearts or that they speake thus to please the English because they are well used by them who also are easily deceived with flattery I know not but sure I am they doe thus speake daily withoutward shew of great passions against such as have been perswaders to the King for this journy Divers of them also which are of good judgment and have heard of such of the English banished men as have bin in Spain and have knowne some of them there as of long time Sir Francis Englefield and of late the L. Paget and his brother have curiously enquired of what power they were and credit here to have a party They also enquired of the Earle of Westmerland although of him they confesse he is a man but of small government But our adversaries here have so abased these and all the rest to have been of no credit to carry any numbers of men but by the Queenes authority when they were at their best As the prisoners wonder how the king could be so deceived to give them pensions otherwise then for charity because of their Religion But they confesse they have often heard in Spaine how the King was once notably deceived when one Tho. Stukely a private English man that fled out of Ireland for debt and other lewd actions into Spaine and not being worth one penny his debts being paid but the second son of a mean Gentleman pretended was beleeved in Spain so by entituling of himself to be a Duke a Marquesse and an Earle of Ireland and so was a long time entertained as a man that could doe great service against the Q. of England untill at length the King understood his falshood and so banished him out of Spaine and repairing to Rome he was by the Pope also maintained for a time untill he was discovered even by some good Catholiques that could not endure the Popes holinesse to be so grossely mocked of whom some of the prisoners using merry speeches how
Islands beyond the Orcades both with water plentifully and with bread fish and flesh as for their money they could get and would returne hither once againe to attend on the Duke of Parmas army to conduct it by Sea into England Whereupon grew some new busines here wherewith I know the Queen and her Councell was not a little perplexed what to doe but in the end order was given to stay the disarming of her Navy and so the whole Navy was very speedily made ready againe only upon the former reports wherewith I and many others were very glad to see them thus newly troubled and upon every light report put to great charges But this lasted not past eight or ten dayes for upon more certain knowledge by two or three Pinnaces that were sent to discover where the Spanish fleet was which certified that they were beyond the Orcades sayling towards the West in very evill case having many of their people dead in those North parts and in great distresse for lacke of masts and also of mariners A new commandement was given to dissolve the Navy saving that which should attend on the Duke of Parma and so the Lord Admirall returned with the L. Thomas Haward the L. Henry Seymour L. Sheffeld Sir Francis Drake with all the Captaines to the Court saving such as had charge of the Fleet that was under the L. Henry And upon the returne of these Sea-men to the City there are spread such reports to move the Noblemen Gentlemen Ladies Gentlewomen and all other vulgar people of all sorts into a mortall hatred of the Spaniards as the poore Spanish prisoners were greatly afraid to have bin all massacred for that it was published and of many beleeved that the Lords of Spaine that were in the Navy had made a speciall division amongst themselves of all the Noblemens houses in England by their names and had in a sort quartered England among themselves and had determined of sundry manners of cruell death both of the Nobility and the rest of the people The Ladies Women and Maidens were also destined to all villany the rich Merchants houses in London were put into a Register by their very names and limited to the companies of the Squadrons of the Navy for their spoyle And to increase more hatred it was reported that there were a great number of halters brought in the Spanish Navy to strangle the vulgar people and certaine Irons graven with markes to be heated for the marking of all children in their faces being under seven yeares of age that they might be knowne hereafter to have been the children of the conquered Nation These were commonly reported by those that came from the English Navy as having heard the Spaniards confesse the same so as for a time there was a generall murmure that those Spanish prisoners ought not to be suffered to live as they did but to be killed as they had purposed to have done the English But the wiser sort of men and such as had the charge of the prisoners having no commandement from the Councell did straitly looke to the safety of the prisoners as a matter not to be so rashly suffered But to content the people with some other matter there was upon Sunday last at the request of the Major and his brethren a great number of Banners Streamers and Ensignes which were won from the Spanish Navy brought to Pauls Church-yard and there showed openly in the Sermon time to the great rejoycing of all the people And afterwards they were carried to the crosse in Cheap and afterwards to London bridge whereby the former rage of the people was greatly asswaged the fury generally converted into triumph by boasting in every place that this was the act of God who had heard the fervent prayers of the people and was pleased with their former prayers and fastings to have such Banners and Streamers which the Spaniards meant to have brought and set up in all places of the City as monuments of their triumphs by his good providence in punishing the pride of the Spaniards now to be erected by the English as monuments of their victories and perpetuall shame to the Spaniards Upon these shewes great rejoycing followed And as in Iune and Iuly past all Churches were filled daily with people exercised with prayers and shewes of repentance and petitions to God for defence against their enemies And in many Churches continually thrise in the week exercises of prayers sermoÌ„s fastings all the day long from morning to evening with great admiration to see such generall devotion which I and others did judge to proceed more of feare then of devotion so now since the English Navy is returned and the Spanish Navy defeated and intelligence brought of the disorders in Flanders of the dissentions betwixt the Spaniards and the other souldiers of the contempt of the Duke of Parma by the Spaniards being thereto maintained by a Duke called the Duke of Pastraw the King Catholiques bastard and of the departure and running away of the Dukes mariners here is a like concourse of the people to Sermons in all Churches wherein is remembred the great goodnesse of God towards England by the delivery thereof from the threatened Conquest and prayers also publikely to give thanks to God for the same At London this of September 1588. FINIS WILLIAM CECIL Baron of Burgleigh Lord Treasurer of England He dyed Anno 1598. Aged 77 yeares W. Marshall sculp ROBERTUS DUDLEUS COMES LEYCESTRIAE BARO DENBIG GUBERNATOR BELGARUM In what termes England standeth in the opinion of the Catholiques The Spanish preparation 3 yeares in making The Duke of Parmas army in Flanders No forraine force could invade England without a strong party in England Hope of victory by the Spanish army with assistance of a party in England this Summer All Spanish hope fallen in nine dayes The Catholiques doubt of their cause seeing the hand of God is against the army Many English Catholiques mislike of the Popes reformation by force The 〈…〉 The hearts of all 〈◊〉 of people inflamed against the Spaniards vaunting to conquer the land The untimely publication of the Popes Bull did 〈◊〉 to the common cause Cardinall Allens books have done much hurt to the intended invasion and conquest The Cardinals rash and violent writing misliked by the Catholiques The multitude of books published to shew the greatnesse of the Spanish Navy did also hurt the fore warnings of the 〈◊〉 greatnesse caused the Queene to put all her Realme in force beyond all 〈◊〉 The armies made ready in England in every quarter of the Realme The maritine Counties provided at landing plâ—ces with 20000 men All the bands were under the principal Knights of the Realme compounded of the most mighty men being their tenant and servants A strange report of the wealth of a hand of souldiers 〈…〉 A consent and concurrence of Papist andProtestant to withstand the conquest The gentlemen Recusâ—â— in 〈◊〉 offer
THE COPIE OF A LETTER SENT OVT OF ENGLAND TO AN AMBASSADOUR in FRANCE for the KING of SPAINE declaring the State of ENGLAND contrary to the opinion of Don Bernardin and of all his partizans Spaniards and others Wherunto are adioyned certain Advertisements concerning the losses and distresses happened to the Spanish Navy as well in fight with the English Navie in the narrow Seas of England as also by tempests and contrary winds upon the West and North coasts of Ireland in their returne from the Northerne Isles beyond Scotland LONDON Printed by George Miller dwelling in Black-Friers 1641. The Printer to the Reader ALthough it be well known that neither the first writers of these Letters now by me printed nor yet the Spaniard Don Bernardin to whom they are directed had any desire to heare of any good successe to the State of England as may appeare in the writer by shewing himselfe grieved to make any good report of England other then of meere necessity he was urged And in Don Bernardin who was so impudent or at the least so blindly rash as to disperse in print both in French Italian and Spanish most false reports of a victory had by the Spaniards even when the victory was notable on the part of England and the Spanish vanquished yet whilst I was occupied in the printing heerof a good time after the Letters were sent into France there came to this City certaine knowledge to all our great comfort of sundry happy Accidents to the diminution of our mortall enemies in their famous Fleet that was driven out of our Seas about the last of July 1588 towards the farthermost North parts of Scotland Wherefore I have thought it not amisse to joyne the same to this Letter of Don Bernardin that he may beware not to be so hasty of himselfe nor yet to permit one Capella who is his common sower of reports to write these false things for truthes The particularities whereof are these The Fleet was by tempest driven beyond the Isles of Orknay about the first of August 1588. the place being aboue threescore degrees from the North Pole an unaccustomed place for the young Gallants of Spaine that never had felt stormes on the Sea or cold weather in August And about those North Islands their Mariners and Souldiers died daily by multitudes as by their bodies cast on land did appeare And after twenty daies or more having spent their time in miseries they being desirous to returne home to Spain sailed very farre Southwestward into the Ocean to recover Spaine But the Almighty God who alwaies avengeth the cause of his afflicted people which put their confidence in him and bringeth downe his enemies that exalt themselves with pride to the Heavens ordered the windes to be so violently contrarious to this proud Navie as it was with force dissevered on the high Seas West upon Ireland and so a great number of them driven into sundry dangerous bayes and upon rockes all along the West and North parts of Ireland in sundry places distant above an hundred miles asunder and there cast away some sunke some broken some run on sands some burned by the Spaniards themselves As in the North part of Ireland towards Scotland betwixt the two rivers of Loughfoâ—le and Lough Swilley nine were driven to land and many of them broken and the Spaniards forced to come to land for succour amongst the wilde Irish In another place twenty miles South-west from thence in a Bay called Calbeggy three other ships driven also upon rockes In another place Southward being a Bay called the Borreys twentie miles North from Gâ—llowey belonging to the Earle of Ormond one speciall great Ship of a thousand tunne with fifty brasse peeces and foure Cannons was sunke and all the people drowned saving sixteene who by their apparell as it is advertised out of Ireland seeme to be persons of great estimation Then to come more to the Southward thirtie miles upon the coasts of Thomond North from the river Shennan two or three moe perished whereof one was burned by the Spaniards themselves and so driven to the shore another was of S. Sebastians wherin were three hundred men who were also all drowned saving threescore A third Ship with all her lading was cast away at a place called Breckan In another place afore Sir Tirlogh Obrynes house there was also another great Ship lost supposed to be a Galliasse These losses above mentioned were betwixt the fift and tenth of September as was advertised from sundry places out of Ireland so as by account from the one and twentieth of July when this Navy was first beaten with the Navie of England untill the tenth of September being the space of seven weekes and more it is most likely that the said Navie had never good day nor night Of the rest of the Navie report is also made that many of them have bene seene lying of and on upon the coast of Ireland tossed with the windes in such sort as it is also doubted that many of them shall hardly recover Spaine if they be so weakned with lacke of victuals and Mariners as part of their companies that were left on land do lamentably report These accidents I thought good to adde to the printed Copies of the Letters of Don Bernardin that he may see how God doth favour the just cause of that gracious Queen in shewing his anger towards those proud boasting enemies of Christian peace as the whole world from Rome to the uttermost parts of Christendome may see that she and her Realme professing the Gospell of his sonne Christ were kept and defended as the words of the Psalme are Under the shadow of his wings from the face of the wicked that sought to afflict her and compasse her round about to take away her soule Which I doubt not by thankfullnesse yeelded by her Majestie and her whole Realme will alwaies cotinue The 9. of Octob. 1588. The Copie of a Letter sent out of ENGLAND to an Ambassadour in FRANCE for the Kings of SPAIN MY Lord Embassador though at the time of my last large writing to you of the state of this countrey and of our long desired expectation of succours promised I did not thinke to have had such a sorrowfull occasion of any second writing as now I have of alamentable change of matters of estate here yet I cannot forbeare though it be with as many sighes as lines to advertise you of the truth of our miserable condition as now to me and others of our party the same appeareth to be That by comparing of all things past in hope with the present now in despaire your L. who have had the principall mannaging hitherto of all our causes of long time both here and there in France betwixt the King Catholique assisted with the Potentates of the holy League and all our countrey men which have professed obedience to the Church of Rome may now fall into some new and better consideration how our state
especially out of the principall great ship of Andaluzia and out of the Admiranta of Guipusque and thirdly out of the principall great Galliasse of Naples great numbers were brought beside many moe killed and drowned to London and to sundry other Ports of the Realme to the great dishonour of Spain amongst which prisoners were a great number of Captaines both for land and sea And besides that which deeply blemisheth the honour of Spaine and vexeth me at my heart to consider the inequalitie of fortune it is vaunted by our adversaries that in all the time of these fights so many dayes the Spaniards did never take or sinke any English ship or boat or break any mast or tooke any one man prisoner A matter that indeed these Spaniards which are taken doe marvell at greatly and chafe thereat so as some of them in their anguish of mind let not to say that in all these fights Christ shewed himselfe a Lutheran And though such speeches be unadvised and not to be regarded yet surely it is most manifest that in all this voyage from the comming of the Navy out of Lisbone even to this houre God did shew no favour to ours any one day as he did continually to these Lutherans which percase may be done for our good to correct us as putting our trust wholly in our worldly strength and to the confusion hereafter of the Lutherans by putting them up being his enemies with prosperitie for a time to be afterwards the cause of their ruine And amongst other things reported to the dishonour of the Duke of Medina who it is said was lodged in the bottome of his ship for safety and to a great touch to the Commanders of the Spanish Navy that they never would turne their ships nor stay them to defend any of their owne ships that were forced to tarry behind but suffered divers to perish as are good witnesses thereof the three great vessels One wherein Don Pedro de Valdez was taken another Galleon of Guipusque that was spoyled with fire and the noble Galliasse wherein Hugo de Moncada was slaine Of which lacke of care by the Duke of Medina these Spaniards that are taken give very ill report The like is said in Zeland by the Spaniards there that were saved with Diego de Pimentelli though the Galleon wherein he was being beaten with the English shot and not succoured by the Navy of Spaine did there perish in their comming to Flushing and so also did another likewise perish for lacke of succour before Ostend And now I must needs thinke that you are stricken with some griefe of minde or rather with some anger towards me to heare from me so much of those averse things although they are too true and therefore I also imagine you may be desirous for your better contentation to understand what opinions we that are here have being thus frustrate of our expected delivery by the defeat of this enterprise whether we doe comfort our selves with a conceit that this Action may be by any probabilitie once againe renewed this next yeare for the recovery of our lost hope this yeare famously spoken of by the number of 88. and so verified to the losse of all Catholiques Wherein surely for our owne parts as by secret conference I find with many with whom I have secretly of late upon this unfortunate accident conferred we cannot judge of any likelihood of good successe for any long time and if there should any be hoped for surely the Sea-forces of the King Catholique must of necessity be more increased and better also governed then they were this yeare For this we here doe consider that this enterprise of invasion and conquest was alwayes principally grounded upon many probable opinions of the evill state of the Realme First of the weaknesse of the English Navy for so you know you were divers wayes this last yeare advertised from hence and so also many of us here did conceive the same wherein we see by all this yeares service with these ships we did all notably erre Next of a supposed evill contentment of a number of people in this land to serve the Queene and her Government against her enemies Lastly and most principally of a great strong party that would be found here in the favour of us for the Catholique Religion that should take armes against the Queen upon the first sight of the Catholique Navy on the coasts of England Of all which opinions setled in good mens minds in maner of judgements we know that none in the world did more constantly assure the King thereof then you which as the matters have evill succeeded may I feare bring you in danger of his indignation although I know you meant very well therein And as these three opinions have all fayled this yeare so I assure you though some of ours on that side the Seas may persist in their former opinions against the experience lately seen as it is likely they may be forced to doe to maintaine themselves in credit for continuing their necessary reliefe from the Pope and the King having no other meanes to keep them from starving or begging yet because I would not have you further deceived by them who have not been present in the Realme to see such contrary proofes against all their conceits as I and others have done I will shew you a great number of manifest Arguments though I am sorry at my heart to remember them wherby you in your wisdome if you be not blinded by others shall see it most certaine that these former opinions for comfort to be had from hence will prove the next yeare as strong against us and in some part more strong then they proved this yeare if any account shall be made thereof First for the Navy of England which hath this yeare to the sight of the world proved to be of great force and value for those Seas and able to overmatch in their manner of sight double to their number of the great Gallions Carikes Galliasses or Gallies it is certaine that it will be greatly increased this next yeare For I know that within these few dayes bargaines are already made and Imprest of money delivered and certaine sent into the Eastlands for great store of all maritine provisions And as for the increase of the number of good ships for the Queens proper use there is already a great quantity of timber ready and order given to fell more in November and December next in the countries near both to the Sea and to Thames to build a number of ships of war equall to these whose service was seen this yeare to have overmatched the great Armados and Castles of Spaine and Italy And furthermore to ioyne with the Navy of England this yeare following not only the Hollanders and Zelanders but also ships of Denmarke and other parts of Eastland will certainly be had in great numbers whereof there was none at all
now for the more part returned with a full determination and firme promise to continue their Bands in such readinesse as upon a few houres warning they will assuredly returne with them in good array Beside these foresaid arguments to disprove the opinion of discontentment of the people which heretofore hath been thought a great furtherance to this honourable action I will also remember you some other more notable actions to prove both contentation and readinesse in all the Nobilitie of the Realme at this time that were not tyed to abide in their countries by reason of their offices as Lieutenants and Governours there for martiall services I or as soone as it was heard that the Queene was come neare London and that the armies were in gathering to come out of the countries for defence of all Invasions and reports brought from the sea coasts of the appearance of the Spanish Navy all the Noblemen in the Realme from East and West from North and South excepting onely such great Lords as had speciall Governments in countries that might not lawfully be absent from their charge and some few that were not able to make forces according to their desire came to the Queene bringing with them according to their degrees and to the uttermost of their powers goodly bands of horsemen both launces light horsemen and such other as are termed Carabins or Argeletiers lodging their bands round about London and maintaining them in pay at their own charges all the time untill the Navy of Spain was certainly known to be passed beyond Scotland And of these Noblemen many shewed their bands of their horsemen before the Queene even in the fields afore her own gate to the great marvell of men of good judgement as I heard reported for that the number of them was so great and so well armed and horsed as knowing that they were no parcell of the numbers of horsemen limited in every countrey and put into bands with the armies described it was thought before they were seen that there had not been so many spare horses of such valour in the whole Realm excepting the North part of England towards Scotland whose forces consist chiefly of horsemen The first shewed his bands to the Queen was that noble vertuous honorable man the Viscount Mountague who howsoever men doe judge of him for opinion in Religion yet to tell you the truth he is reported alwayes to have professed as now also at this time he did professe and protest solemnly both to the Queen and to all her Court in open assemblies that he now came though he was very sickly and in age with a full resolution to live and dye in defence of the Queene and of his countrey against all invaders whether it were Pope King or Potentate whatsoever and in that quarrell he would hazard his life his children his lands goods And to shew his mind agreeable therto he came personally himself before the Queen with his band of horsemen being almost two hundred the same being led by his own sons and with them a young childe very comely seated on hors-back being the heire of his house that is the eldest son to his son and heir a matter much noted of many whom I heard to commend the same to see a grandfather father and son at one time on hors-back afore a Queen for her service though in truth I was sorry to see our Adversaries so greatly pleased therwith But I cannot conceale it from your Lordships knowledge because I think this Nobleman is known unto you having bin used as an Embassadour to the King Catholik many years past by this Queen as I have heard to require confirmation of the treaties of amity betwixt both their Fathers And of this Noblemans conditions I thinke there be some others of whom there is no account to be made that they will give favour to any attempt against the Queen or to any invasion of the Realme There were also many at the same time that made shews of great numbers of serviceable horses where of though it be no comfort to you to heare yet it is good that you be not abused for lacke of knowledge how the present state is here that you may better judge hereafter what may be done to recover this late losse and dishonour At this time the Earle of Lincolne and the Lord Windesore with some Knights and Gentlemen with them shewed their Bands as the Lord Mountague had done and after them the Lord Chancelour shewed goodly Bands of horsmen and footmen at his own house very many and strong And within one or two days after the Earle of Warwicke the Lord Burghley Lord Treasurer the Lord Compton and in the end of the day the Earle of Leicester and the Lord Rich besides sundry Knights of the Realme shewed every of them severall strong bands of horsmen to the great liking of the Queen and of all the people that were there being many thousands And within two days after that the Earle of Essex being Master of the Queens horse with certain principall Gentlemen his servants friends and followers shewed afore the Queen above three hundred horses of all service and a great number of Carabins and a faire Band of footmen all Muskettiers This shew exceeded in number any other particular Band and the Earle himself with a great number of Launces horsed and armed did run very many courses and specially with the Earle of Cumberland as they call it the Course of the field which I had never seen before and did also himself and his company Tourney on hors-back a very long time and caused also his Carabines and his footmen to make many skirmishes there to the great liking of the Queen of the multitude of people which were many thousands Amongst whom I heard many vehement speeches against all English Papists calling them all Traitors wishing also that the Spaniards had bin there in that field with treble the number to make proof of the value of English-men all which I heard to my great grief with many curses against all their countrimen saying that they as arrant traitors to their native country had villanously sold as far as in them did lie the liberty of their country to Spaniards and other Papists It behoved me not there to have contraried any of them for surely if I had their rancour was so stirred up by the comfort of these fair shews of hors-men as they would there in the field in their rage have killed me and cut me in a thousand peeces Besides these Lords above named there were brought to the town other fair Bands by the Earle of Worcester the Earle of Hertford the Lord Audeley Lord Morley Lord Darcy Lord Lomely Lord Mountjoy Lord Sturton Lord Darcy Lord Sands Lord Mordant and by every one that were of the privy Councell so as by estimation there were
to adventure their lives against all invasions whatsover without respect of Pope or other Potentate The Recusants are not put in danger of their lives for their Religion but are fined at sums of money The Jesuites are not executed for Religion but for treasons The Seminaries for the most part come disguised like Russians Babington suffered for his treasons voluntarily confessed not for Religion though at his death he professed the Romane Religion A multitude of gentlemen suspected to be Papists yet never endangered of their lives Many of the Priests that are sent into the Realme are young rash and of lewd life A great strength of the English Navy by the ships of the Port Townes that did serve without wages Two notable lyes printed in Paris and imputed to Don Bernardia Mendoza A most manifest lye printed in Paris of a Spanish victory when it was altogether an English victory Mendacia of Mendoza The state of the Navy of England this Summer L. Haward L. Admirall L. Hen. Seymour Sir Francis Drake L. Tho. Haward L. Sheffeld The fight of the English Navy with the Spanish The flying away of the Spanish Navy The Spaniard prisoners say that Christ shewed himselfe a Lutheran in this Summer voyage of the Spanish Navy God shewed no favour to the Spanish Navy from the beginning to the ending Don Pedro de Valdez Captaine Generall of the Armado of Andaluzia Hugo de Moncada Generall of the Galliasses of Naples Diego de Pimentelli Captain of the Galleon named St Matthew I consider him 1. The three hopes conceived against England are now all frustrated 2. 3. The English Navy will be stronger the next yeare Offer of Hollanders and Zelanders to joyne with the English Navy Iustinian Nassan Admirall of Holland with 46. ships of war ioyned to the English Navy against the Duke of Parma Arguments to prove no miscontentment of the people toward the Queen The providence of the Queene to make her Realme strong The Queene being in the army in Essex when most danger was threatened by the enemies in landing The nottable applause of the people to the Queene for her presence in the camp The singing of Psalmes by the English army in the camp An army provided for the Queen beside the army ready to withstand the landing of the enemy Great power of horsmen brought by the Nobility to attend on the Queens person The Viscount Mountagues show of horsemen was the first A number of great Lords shewed their horsmen Earle of Lincolne L. Windesor L. Chancelour Earle of Warwick L. Treasurer L. Compton Earle of Leycester L. Rich. S. Walt Mildmay S. Hen. Cromwell S. Iohn Points Earle of Essex with a great band of hors-men and footmen aforethe Queen at St. Iames Course at the field Tourney Earle of Worcester Earle of Hertford L. Audley L. Morley L. Dacres L. Lomeley L. Mounâ—joy L. Sturton L. Darcy L. Sands L. Mordant Marques of Winchester Earle of Sussex Earle of Shrowsbury L. Talbot Earle of Darby L. Strange Earle of Bath Earle of Pembroks noble offer Earle of Northumberland Earle of Cumberland M. Henry Brooke Sir tho Cecil Sir Wil. Hatton Sir Horatio Pallavicino M. Robert Cary Sir Charles Blunt M. Tho Gerard M. Wil. Hervy Earle of Oxford M. Robert Cecil L. Dudley S. Wal. Rawlegh M. Wil. Cecil M. Edward Darcy M. Arthur Gorge Earle of Huntington L. Scroope L. Darcy L. Evers Earle of Kent L. Hunsdon L. Cobham L. Grave L. North L. Chandos L. St. Iohn L. Buckhurst Earle of Rutland Earle of South-hampton Earle of Bedford Offer of the King of Scots to the 〈◊〉 of England Bands of horsemen and footmen erected by the Bishâ—ps The third and last hope which the Catholikes had of a party in the realme was all frustrate The Spanish prisoners condemne the Kings purpose as being abused by the exiled Catholiques whom the Spaniards call traitors to their countrey No possibility to invade and conquer a Realme without favour of a party inward The Spanish prisoners condemne the enterprise course of Don Bernardin of Mendoza Sir Francis Euglefield Lord Paget Earle of Westmerland Thomas Stukeleyes abusing of the King of Spain and the Pope newly remembred by the Spaniards A conclusion by the writer to perswade another course not by violence No hope for furtherance of the Popes authority by any now living that may succeed the Queen in the line Royall A conclusion what is best to maintaine the Catholike Religion in England A tolleration from the Pope for the Recasants in England Order taken by the K of Scots in favour of the English Great murmurs of all sorts against the Spaniards Report of the horrible cruelty intended by the Spaniards Banners Streamers and Ensignes of the Spaniards shewed to the people Daily prayers Publick prayers and giving of thanks