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
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
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
both the Emperor Charles and afterward this King the Pope were so notably deceived by this Stukely doe conclude meerly that they think some of these English that have thus abused the King have followed Stukelyes steps And in very truth I and many others have bin very often ashamed to heare so broad speeches of the King and the Pope yea of the Emperour Charles whom such a companion as Stukeley was could so notably deceive and the more to be marvelled it was how he could deceive the King Catholique considering he was known to many of his Councell at the Kings being in England to have bin but a vaunting beggar and a Ruffian and afterwards a pyrat against the Spaniards Now my Lord Embassadour by these my large relations of the things evill past and of the opinions of such as I have lately dealt withall with mine owne conceit also which I doe not vainly imagine your Lordship may see in the first part our present calamity and miserable estate In the second part the state of this Queene her Realme her people their minds their strength so far contrary to the expectation of the Popes Holinesse the King Catholique and specially of you my Lord and all others that have been in hand these many yeares with this action as I know not what course shall or may be thought meet to take seeing it is seen by experience that by force our cause cannot be relieved Neither will any change amend the matter when this Queen shall end her dayes as all Princes are mortall for both the universalitie of the people through the Realme are so firmely and desperately bent against our Religion as nothing can prevaile against their united forces And whosoever shall by right succeed to this Crowne after the Queen who is likely to live as long as any King in Christendome if the Crowne should come to the K. of Scots or to any other of the bloud royall as there are very many within this Realme descended both of the Royall houses of York and Lancaster There is no account to be made but every one of them that now live at this day are knowne to be as vehemently disposed to withstand the authority of the Pope as any of the most earnest Protestant or heretick in the world So as to conclude after all circumstances well considered for the present I know no other way but to commit the cause to Almighty God and to all the Saints in heaven with our continuall prayers and in earth to the holy Counsels of the Pope and his Cardinals with our supplications to relieve the afflicted number of our exiled brethren and to send into the Realme discreet holy and learned men that may only in secret manner without in intermedling in matters of estate by teaching us confirme us in our faith and gaine with charitable instruction others that are not rooted in heresie And for relief of such has are forced to pay yearly great sums of money out of their revenue because they forbeare to come to the Church it were to be charitably considered whether there might not be some dispensation from the Popes holines for some few yeares to tolerate their comming to the Church without changing of their faith considering a great number doe stand therein not for any thing as they say used in this Church that is directly contrary to Gods Law but for that the Rites and prayers though they are collected out of the body of the Scripture are not allowed by the Catholique Church and the head thereof which is the Popes Holinesse And for that cause lastly all true Catholiques account this Church to be schismaticall By which remedy of tolleration a great number of such as will be perpetually Catholiques might enjoy their livings and liberty and in processe of time the Catholique Religion by Gods goodnesse might with more surety be increased to the honour of God then ever it can be by any force whatsoever For so did all Christian Religion at the first begin and spread it selfe over the world not by force but only by teaching and example of holinesse in the teachers against all humane forces And so I will end my long letters with the sentence which K. David used foure times in one of his Psalmes Et clamaverunt ad Dominum in tribulatione eorum de angustia corum liberavit eos And so must we make that for our foundation to lay our hope upon for all other hopes are vain and false At London the of August 1588. AFter that I had made an end of this my letter which I fâ—und by perusall thereof to have bin at more length then I looked for although the matters therein contained did draw me thereto and that I had made choice of a friend of mine who had more knowledge in the French tongue then I to turne the same into French My mishap was that when he had done some part thereof he fell sicke of a burning fever whereby my letter remained with him upon hope of recovery for ten or twelve dayes and seeing no hope thereof I intreated another very trusty and a sound Catholique having perfect knowledge in the French tongue who took upon him to put it into French wherein was also longer time spent so as my letter being written in the midst of August I am forced to end it in September And therupon I thought good whiles my former letter was in translating to adde some things happened in the mean time meet for your knowledge About the seventh of August the L. Admirall returned with the Navy having followed the Spanish Navy as they reported as far as the 55 degree Northwards the Spanish Navy taking a course either to the furthest parts of Norwey or to the Orcades beyond Scotland which if they did then it was here judged that they would goe about Scotland and Ireland but if they could recover provisions of masts whereof the English Navy had made great spoyle they might returne But I for my part wished them a prosperous wind to passe home about Ireland considering I despaired of their return for many respects both of their wants which could not be furnished in Norwey and of the lacke of the Duke of Parmas ability to bring his army on the Sea for want of mariners Neverthelesse upon knowledge from Scotland that they were beyond the Orcades and that the King of Scots had given strict commandement upon all the Sea-coasts that the Spaniards should not be suffered to land in any part but that the English might land and be relieved of any wants order was given to discharge all the Navy saving twenty ships that were under the L. Henry Seymours charge to attend upon the Duke of Parmas attempts either towards England which was most unlikely or toward Zeland which began to be doubted But within three or foure dayes after this suddenly there came report to the Court that the Spanish Navy had refreshed it selfe in the