themselues most manfully aboue the space of an houre in such sort as the alarum passed through the whole campe yet they were neuer releeued with any succour at all insomuch that the greatest part of them beeing slaine in defence the enemie at last entered and put the residue to the swoord To rehearse vnto you the sundrie and seuerall calamities that these poore men as well Captaines as souldiers endured during the small time of that theyr vnfortunate seruice especiallye at Ganskecke Aske and Grauer would seeme I am sure vnto you for the vnspeakable straungenesse thereof scarcely credible for they neuer receiued all the time of their seruice anie one moneths paie I haue seene Lieutenants and Ensignes of them go vp and down the campe begging their bread couered only with olde mantles about their shoulders and haue my selfe releeued some of them Shortly after came Pigot who brought with him sir Iohn Norris his regiment beeing well neere a thousand as tall and well appointed men as were in Europe whose seruice how meritorious and beneficiall it was vnto the Spaniardes I leaue to their iudgementes that know the Countrie For by rendering of Alost vnto him they were the occasion that he got Darmounde the Sasse the fortes of Leiskins hooke Saint Anthonies and Saint Margarets the best part of the land of Wast in manner Gaunt it selfe as the sequel shewed Notwithstanding all which seruice they were wythin two yeeres space what with hunger the gallowes rigorous dealing consumed and brought to nothing And last at Stalbrooke euen against the yeelding vp of Antwarp when all other nations were to receiue their count and reckoning they onely were infamously cashierd without anie one monethes pay And which of all other is most monstrous and scarse credible whereas some of the Captaines not long before had made them of theyr owne purses new and fayre Ensignes those Ensignes were violently taken awaie from those that bare them and detained Which abuse and wrong though captain Tresham and the other Captaines complained off to the Duke with great protestations yet they coulde neuer obtaine anie restitution Somewhat before this time when the whole campe was at the siege of Dermound paide two moneths they onely though of all others most trauelled in the trenches wading euerie night bosome high to theyr wast and hauing had more men slaine in that siege than anie other regiment in the whole campe could not receiue one pennie notwithstanding they had passed in muster with the rest and some of the Captaines bribed the Commissarie thinking thereby to make a great hand But in stead of money when they shewed the Duke they were scornfully by him turned of to the Contadores of whom they receiued the most base opprobrious speeches that euer were giuen soldiers were in fine reiected without euer receiuing one halfpeny And lastly when the Regiment was cast whereas the pay of a reformed Captaine amongst them of what Nation soeuer he bee is fortie crownes they giue onely to our English captaines fiue and twentie a moneth Not long before it chanced that one of the Captains whose name was Edward Vincent was taken in a skirmish by the enemie at Pernence and set at ransome at a hundred and fiftie poundes to make which raunsome his father being then in Flanders a poore olde man of seuenty yeres of age fell vpon his knees before the Duke weeping and imploring his help But in sted of yeelding him releefe the Duke badde take awaie the olde dronken foole the griefe whereof strake the old man so to the heart that he went home and dyed within sixe dayes and his sonne for lacke of his raunsome was shortly after hanged at Perges Pigot himselfe being some three yeeres since taken and Barne betweene Gaunt and Bruges were neuer releeued with anie one pennie towardes their charges or raunsomes Pigot was suffred miserably to end his daies in prison and so had Barne also but that his wife by her solicitation found such fauour among his priuate friends that she got as much as paide his raunsome but neuer could obtaine one pennie of the Duke though shee were an importunate sutor vnto him Lastly came sir W. Standley and R. Yorke rendering vnto the King the towne of Deuenter fort of Sutphen the one with a regiment of foote the other with a company of lances Let vs see howe the one and the other was vsed First sir William Standley was confirmed gouernour of the Towne hee rendered and his regiment left there in garrison with the receit of two moneths pay For a while he liued in the greatest applause that might be Cardinal Allen was written to to send downe Priests to instruct this religious regiment hee informed the Pope thereof who wrote ioyntly to the king to be good vnto this regiment VVhich being well and liberally intreated as they had already at Rhemes and Rome a Seminary of schollers to pray and write for the catholike cause of our Country so this conducted by so worthy and catholike a Gentleman as sir William Standley was might be a continuall nursery and seminary of souldiours to fight for the same Downe came Priestes thicke and three fold from France and Italy many Masses and much preaching there was Gentlemen from all parts drew downe thither in hope of this good payment and golden world that thē was talked of But what folowed within short space to weaken then number three of their companies vnder colour of seruice were cunningly drawen out of the Towne by Verdugo Haaltephen neuer from that time after being suffred to returne to it againe within a while after sir William him selfe with the remnant was commanded vnder the lyke colour of seruice to come foorth beeing tolde that hee shoulde presently returne into it againe And by this fine meanes was cased of his gouernment and such goods as he and his souldiers lefte were spoiled made bootie of And sithence that time his seminary soldiers with al their religion were neuer trusted in any towne nor neuer shal be I warrant them From thence they were presently drawen downe into Brabant where they wintered in the field without monie and in such great miserie and pouertie that tenne weekes together their chiefest foode and sustenaunce in Turnolt was vnpoudered acornes which they founde in cellers VVhich diet the priests not liking of came to their Coronell to Antwerpe who to auoid the lamentations and complaints of his souldiers had gotten him there a lodging where you should neuer haue foūd his table without a squadron of Priests Some did wonder so worthy a souldier could suffer their indignities which to auoide some yeeres since hee went into Spaine partlye to secure vnto himselfe some estate of liuing of which he now considering this dealing began to doubt partly by the inuitation of the Iesuites with which order hee is exceedingly inchanted to thē wholy subiected who dealt for him in such sort with the Cardinall that he presently sent Parsons
more with the king wishing that he had not medled with him so much So that they were fain to returne pennilesse and doo at this instant liue in so poore and pitifull sort that truly my hart grieueth to see it insomuch that I knew a Gentleman that solde his part there being foure and twentie pounds for three pounds But perchance you will saie he giueth great pensions and entertaineth manie of our Nation it is true in deede in shewe hee doth so and therewith doth bleare the worldes eyes wyth a shew of great liberalitie But his payment and vsage considered a God is my iudge and witnesse I speake vnfainedly I account it a farre happier estate to bee a doore-keeper in that your blessed soile than to be heere pensioner to the king of Spaine I leaue the iudgement of the truth thereof to those that haue tryed it you haue many amongst you confer with them and examine them vppon their consciences as for my part in good faith I cannot imagin cause why he entertaineth vs vnles it be to vse vs as stales to allure others considering the hatred that he his beare vs and so vnder the dissembled colour of a false affection to ouerthrow vs all at the last Thus much I dare boldly say because through the conference I haue had with them I doe know assuredly that euen those of our nation which doe most serue his turne howsoeuer in outward apparance they seem for some particular causes to magnifie and extoll his liberalitie yet in their owne secret conceits they do imagin know nothing in the world to be more reprochfull base and contemptible than to be an Entertain do in the king of Spaines seruice As for example you shall easilie see what account is made of them At such time as preparation was made at Brussels for the voyage of Englande when they all expected to bee made knights coronels captaines and conducters of the armie and to be filled with crownes they were so farre from those matters with which they flattered themselues that in stead of being honored and aduaunced they were the onelie reiected and contemned people that followed the Court all men beeing releeued with some moneths paie they onely excepted and which is more whereas they mooued the Duke sundry times to know his pleasure how hee woulde dispose of them in this iourney telling him besides that vpon the wel vsage of them depended much matter of importaunce as the alluring drawing to them other gentlemen of their kinsmen and friends and vpon hope of the like good vsage honour and aduancement woulde bee able to doe great seruice vpon their landing where contrariwise in seeing them come ouer so poore in shew without credit mony or armes lyke lacke is for so were the words of their request it would be a cause to terrifie them from vndertaking any such course They were by the Duke scornefully and with derision reiected neyther did hee vouchsafe to giue them any other answere than onely that hee would thinke vpon it But on the night that they thought to embarke he departed leauing them all behind not thinking them any way woorthy to be called vppon or to be taken with him VVherupon the lord Westmerland and Paget and sundry others layd their heads together and made their complaint to the duke of Pastrana by whom they were as basely and scornfully handled as by the other insomuch as a great Spaniard standing by asked them whether they thought the king of Spaine not puisant enough to winne England without them and their friends Vpon which answere the Lord Paget that verily thought hee shoulde haue beene made one of the priuy Councell and now finding himselfe to bee had in so small account conceiued such an inward griefe that for that time forward hee neuer ioyed till his dying day Sir William Standley also tooke it in such heauy and disdainefull sorte that he was not called to be counsell of warres wheras hee presumed and so gaue out that no man in the army knewe more or was better able in this voiage than himself that he sequestred himselfe frō the Country and came malecontent and hired an house in Antwerpe where hee liued a most melancholy lyfe foure or fiue moneths and oftentimes would burst out into such impassionate speeches that the world verily imagined he would haue professed himselfe into a cloyster Besides the loue the Spaniarde beareth vs appeareth by the speeches hee dayly vseth in publike assemblyes concerning vs. Once seeing certayne English-men passe by as they stoode a great many of them in a ring as they vse together vppon the bridge in Antwerpe they sayde They wondered what the king made with such vermin in his coūtry one of them swearing a great oath that looke how many English-men there were in the Lowe countries there were so many spies and traitours Another sayd it were an almes deede to put them all in sackes and throw them into the riuer I could recite a thousand more such speeches but that they are not worth the remembring They are so ielous and suspitious of vs that if any thing proue vntowardly in their seruice they think it straight to be done by our especiall meanes and intelligence As vpon the taking of Axhil by that braue worthie souldier Sir Philip Sidney of worthie memorie Mondragon presently imprisoned Paget within the Castle tooke away all things whatsoeuer that hee had woorth anie thing and the rest he caused his men to ryfle and steale saying openly that we all are traitors and spies To confirme the confidence they haue in vs tell mee what companies of English they haue trusted within these ten yeares in garison I am sure you cannot name one And whereas sundry Gentlemen amongst vs haue instantly sued to haue theyr pensiōs granted them in the castle of Antwerpe or Gaunt because the payment is there somewhat better no one hath hitherto been able to attayne the same so vile base is the reckoning they make of vs. I could alledge vnto you many other exampls of sundry disgraces offered vnto our nation wherby we myght if we lust easly discouer the hatred they beare vs the suspition they haue of vs and the danger wherein we stand to haue one day our throates cut But this I hope which I haue already rehearsed shall suffice fully to assure and persuade you that here is no aduancement wealth or reputation to be gotten but pouerty peril iealousie and disgrace Now let vs see touching the point of conscience and repose in religion if the fame be to be found here such as you expect In matter of religion I will not take it vpon me to dispute because it were to digresse from my purpose and besides I neuer studyed diuinity only making comparison between the comfortable freedome of the one and the dispayring slauery of the other laying of the one side Indulgences pilgrimages forged relikes fabulous deuises and auricular confessions on the other side the merites and
his stomacke euen to his dying day But now to my newcome English that had done these notable seruices to the Spaniard let vs see howe they were recompensed within one yeere they were suffered all in a manner to famish which miserie some of them seeking to releeue by foraging out vpon the countrie Eoure twentie Englishmen hanged by the Spaniard in Audenarde foure twentie of them were taken by the Spanish prouost carried to Audenarde of the rendering whereof they had bin the chiefest meanes openly hanged in the market place Another troup of them being thirty in number and lying in a village neere Poppering in Flanders a companie of Spaniards hearing of them came into the village where they were and after a friendly and souldierly salutation of each side as they were all making mery together on a sodain the Spaniards toke thē at aduantage vnarmed A most monstrous murther committed by the Spaniard vp on sundry English souldiers that serued among them most trecherously and inhumanely murdred them euerie one rifling them of their clothes such other things as they had pilled abroad in the countrie Sundrie cōplaintes were made to the Duke by the friends of those that were thus murthered and by the Captaines of the regiment Amongst the rest that were thus murthered ther was one Aucrie Crispe brother in lawe to sir Stephen Thornax likewise a younger sonne of Alderman Starkie one Norton c. but Spaniards being the doers thereof there could neither bee remedie nor iustice obtained But to make amends because they woulde bee the cleanlyer rid of the residue of this poore miserable troupe the campe being then before Wynochbergen wherein laie a mightie strong garrison of Frenchmen they made them two little fortes of purpose in which they willingly placed them in the vtmost quarter of the whole campe and neerest confining to the towne to the end they might haue all their throates cut as in deede they had verie fewe nightes after at which time the enemie assaulting them with great furie and they defending themselues most manfully aboue the space of an houre in such sort as the allarum passed through the whole camp yet they were neuer releeued with anie succour at all These English troups ouerthrowen by trechery of the Sqaniard insomuch as the greatest part of them being slaine in the defence the enemie at last entered put the residue to the sword To rehearse vnto you the sundrie and seuerall calamities that these poore men as well captaines as souldiers indured during the time of that their vnfortunate seruice especially at Gausbecke Aske and Gauer would seeme I am sure vnto you for the vnspeakable strangenes thereof scarcely credible for they neuer receiued in all the time of their seruice anie one moneths paie I haue seen Lieutenants Ensignes of them go vp and downe sickly and famished begging their bread couered onely with poore blankets and tikes of featherbeds that they had rifled in the villages abroade and haue my selfe releeued some of them Neither were the ends of their Captaines lesse tragicall which I thought good to set downe to the ende you may perceiue that such and so great calamities as these could neuer haue happened without the apparant hand of God whose reuengful iustice neuer ceased to pursue the infidelitie of these miserable men til he had taken them from the face of the earth First Norris chiefe captaine and ringleader of the rest The strange tragicall ends of the leaders and captaines of this reuolted regiment after hee had leasure to bethinke himselfe of the foulenes of his fault and withall sawe the scorne and contempt wherein hee liued vnder the Sraniard conceiued thereof so deep an impression that he fell dangerouslie sicke and into a kind of lunasie of which before hee was well recouered hee stole secretly out of the campe lying then at Varnaton with intention to conuey himselfe into England but by the way was taken prisoner and carried to Flushing Norris died mirably at Flushing whereby dying in prison or as some saie by laying violent hands on him selfe hee preuented those torments that according to the qualitie of his offence were prepared for him Gibson at such time as the campe laie before Mening lying one night with his wife in his cabine a Spanish horseman comming vpon occasion into his quarter chanced to tie his horse to the stake whereunto Gibsons cabbin was fastned who what with stamping and shaking the cabbin did so disquiet him that he arose thinking to vntie the horse giuing withall some harde wordes to the owner who in requitall thereof ranne him through the bodie with this rapier Gibson slain sodenly by night so that hee fell downe in the place starke dead I sawe his wife many times afterwardes weeping and falling downe vpon her knees before the Duke of Parma for iustice But English bloud was there of so vile price especially being shed by a Spaniard that the matter was not thoght worthie the inquiring after Cornish was in the one of the litle forts before mentioned at such time as they were surprised by the French men within the which both himselfe his lieutenant Ensigne and whole companie were miserablie slaine and mangled Barnies Companie was with the other likewise defeated and put to the swoord but he himselfe was by his good happe sicke and absent at Saint Homars Cornish hys whole company slaine in a forte before Winocbergen Neuerthelesse hee escaped not altogether his part and portion of these afflictions for presently vppon his returne to the campe as hee stood beholding the march of a companie of footmen that passed by hee was shot at by an vnknowen man with an harguebuze which by chaunce though it missed his bodie yet it lighted vppon his right arme in such sorte as it sheuered all the principall bones thereof to peeces so that hee hath vtterly lost the vse thereof Shortly after hee was taken prisoner by the English souldyers of Ostend where hee was euerie daie in daunger of the gallowes but vppon promises of great seruices hee was at length set at libertie by Sir Iohn Conway and suffered to returne from whence hee came whereas yet hee liueth but maymed and verie muserable and in exceeding great distresse needinesse and pouertie Two or three yeeres after this foreremembred storie came one William Pigot A lost betrayed to the Kinge of Spaine by a regiment of Englishmē of which one Pygot had the comanding who beeing of a meane man raysed to the degree of a Captaine by Sir Iohn Norris and in his absence lefte as commander in Alost ouer the rest of the Companies trecherously deceiuing him to whome hee was so infinitely beholding rendered the Towne himselfe and the whole Regiment beeing well neere a thousand as tall and well appoynted men as were in Europe to the seruice and deuotion of the Spanish King which seruice howe meritorious and beneficiall it was vnto
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
before being here a pensioner to the king of Spaine I leaue the iudgement of the truth heereof to those that haue tried it you haue many of them amongst you conferre with them and examine them vpon their conscience As for my part in good faith I cannot imagine the cause why hee intertaineth vs vnlesse it be to vse vs as stales to allure others cōnsidering the hatred that he and his beareth vs and so vnder the dissembled colour of a false affection at length to ouerthrow vs all Thus much I dare boldly saie because through the conference that I haue had with them I doo knowe it assuredly that euen those of our natiō which do most serue his turne howsoeuer in outward apparance they seeme for some particular causes to magnifie and extoll his liberalitie yet in theyr owne secret conceites they doo imagine and knowe nothing in the worlde to bee more reproachfull base and contemptible than to be an Entretenido in the king of Spaines seruice especially if hee serue not in the warres and haue his entertainment assigned him in some companie or other which fewe or none of our Countrymen haue chiefely those of the better sorte As for those that haue their pensions granted them to follow the court without anie obligation of seruice as in a manner all the pensions granted to the Englishmen are the Spanish souldier maketh the most base and contemptible reckoning of them that may bee euen as of men that liue by charitie as our poore knightes doo at Windsore English pensioners there vtterly scorned and vnregarded But to the end you may in this point cleerly discerne the manner of their vsage you must vnderstand that the king granteth two manner of pensions or extraordinarie paies bestowing vpon men of desert eyther of them as the occasion and the qualitie of theyr seruice shal require the one called by the name of Entertainment and the other Ventaja in the Patents wherin they are granted The difference betweene two kindes of pensions or paimēts which the king giueth to such as serue him the one called Entretenumēto the other Ventaja The first which they call Entertainment is such as is graunted to our Countrymen to stragling Italians and to some cashierd Captaines such as are of best regard and to strangers of other nations who are neuer paid till the whole armie be satisfied al other occasions defraid then if any ouerplus remaine which seldome happeneth somwhat therof perchance may come to their share This pension is verie casuall and hath often bin abolished taken awaie quite as well from the English as from all other nations witnes Charles Browne Hugh Owen and Ralfe Ligons that were faine foure yeres since vpon that occasion to go into Spaine where after long great sute they brought downe order again to haue the same renued yet still commonly once a yeere there comes an allarum among thē that the king will not be any longer at the charge of so many pensions and in danger to be turned out of paie And some three or four yeres agone they were all commanded to go downe to the armie and to put themselues in seruice vnder some companie or otherwise not to expect anie pension or paiment which how vnfitting it is and vnworthie to men brought vp in other courses as most of them are I leaue to your iudgement yet the misery of that bondage to which they haue subiected themselues must indure al and which is most miserable must not complain when they are striken The other paimēt or pension which is called Ventaya as it is much more honorable because though verie vsuall among the Spaniards and all other nations ours excepted yet they are neuer granted but vpō pretence of good seruice don or some duenes of desert they that haue thē are more respectiuely regarded and better paid than the other and they are neuer taken from them so long as they follow the kings seruice Many of our nation haue serued among the Spaniards yet to this daie did I neuer knowe anie one graced with one of these Ventayas though they are cōmon to all other nations yea euen to the Germanes though granted to thē by the name of Sobrepagas which in effect is all one If I were guiltie to my selfe that this which I doo write were vntrue I should greatly feare the shame of reprofe in a matter so manifest especially there being now in England many that are as well or better acquainted with these matters than my selfe can contradict me where I erre But grounding my selfe vpon the confidence of an assured truth I cannot but wonder these things being so how anie that hath the true feeling of that which pertaineth to the honor of a gentlemā cā indure an vsage so scornful contumelious as this which daily they receiue from the Spaniard of which if you desire one example for all this may satisfie you which followeth The most contemptible vsage of the English at Bruges At such time as the Duke of Parma lay at Bruges busie about his preparations for England attending the Spanish fleet when they all expected to be made knights Coronels Captaines conducters of the armie to be filled with crownes they were so far from those matters with which they flattered themselues that in sted of being honored and aduanced they were the only reiected contemned people that followed the court all nations els beeing releeued with some moneths paie they onley excepted And which is more wheras they moued the duke sundrie times to know his pleasure how he would dispose of them in that iourney telling him besides that vpon the well vsage of them depended much matter of importance as the alluring drawing vnto them other Gentlemen of their kinsmen friends who vpon hope of the like good vsage honor aduancemēt would be able to do great seruice vpon their landing wheras contrariwise seeing them come ouer so poore in shew without credit money or armes like lackies for so were the words of their request it would be a cause to terrifie them from vndertaking of anie such course they were by the Duke scornfully with derision reiected neither did he vouchsafe to giue them anie other answere than only that he would think vpon it But on the night in which vpon the hurly burlie of the comming of the Spanish nauie they thought to imbarke he departed towards Donckerk leauing them all behind not thinking them any way worthy to bee called vpon or to be taken with him Wheruepon the Earle of Westmerland the L. Paget sundry of the better sort laide their heads together made their complaint vnto the D. of Pastrana who was newly come out of Spaine with great fauors from the king The D. of Pastrana supposed to be the kinges bastard there liued in great honor and applause among the Spaniards but by him some saye they were as basely and scornfully handled as by
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
motions before expressed or in anye hope of good to be receiued from they sayde King doo erre and are deceiued I heartely and most earnestly desire you all other that shall reade the same deeplye to iudge and consider of these points which I shall set downe which God willing I wil doo with such fidelitie true meaning and sinceritie as that no parte of the same shall bee truly to bee gainsayde or refelled and my selfe by the persons times and places and other circumstances shall make most manyfest and plaine to anie that shal doubt of the truth of the same or any part thereof I shal take great ioy comfort if my self hauing vndertaken an vntowardlye dangerous course though with better successe then hath happened to many hundreds may be as a caueat to all the young Gentlemen of our Nation how they hazard themselues so dangerouslie And that my painfull experience may be to you as a looking Glas wherein they maye beholde the spots errours of theyr conceyued fansies or as markes sette vp for them whereby they maye auoide the perilles most daungerous rockes and shelfes to them yet vnknowen lying hidden vnder the smooth faire and delighful conceiued and fantasied pleasures forged in theyr imaginations THE METHOD OF the insuing Discourse THE method and manner that I intend to vse in this Discourse shall bee after this sorte First I will directe my speeches to the vnexperienced Gentlemen desirous to serue here in Spaine shewing them in what point of their hope and expectations they doo faile and are deceiued Secondly to our credulous Papistes at home vpon whose grosenesse and simplicitie our rebellious traitors heere abroade doo build their chiefest foundations of all their villanies whom while they entertaine with vaine expectations in the meane time with spies Priests and traitours which they daily send ouer they abuse with trecherous practises to the irrepiable ruine and ouerthrowe of them and theirs Thirdly because many of our countrie men liuing in great happinesse at home doo yet in their conceits mislike surfetting with ease the blessed estate they liue in and what withall the manner of her Maiesties most gracious and mercifull gouernment I haue thought it my dutie somewhat to expresse these few things which haue come to my knowledge touching the innumerable benefites blessings with which it hath pleased God to adorn her royall Maiestie together with the flourishing estate of that noble soyle since the time of her Maiesties raigne so flourishing with peace prosperitie and abundance in glorie of warres so renowmed and victorious in artes so curious and excellent in iustice euen to the verie enemie so admirable and which surpasseth all the rest in the free sweet and comfortable vse of the true religion so aboue all others blessed and fortunate that I haue hearde the verie Spaniardes themselues saie they feare Iesus Christ is become a protestant Withal I make some comparison betweene this and the tyrannicall gouernment of the Spanish tyrant his cruell and inhumane vsage of his miserable subiects theyr abolition of their priuiledges and in fine the vnspeakable bondage slauerie and desolate despayre in which they liue languishing A matter though farre vnfit for mee to handle or treate but worthie of the most graue and experienced men of qualitie and highest degree yet considering I shall not presume to treate of matters of high state or secrets but such as euerie good subiect may find and pick out of the heroicall actions of the one and the tyrannicall insolence of the other both don in the appearance of the world I hope and so with all lowlynesse most humblie desire her gracious and most benigne Maiestie to pardon mee if I come farre short of that which men fitter for the handling therof could saie or intreat And so most humbly also make petition that I may therin be censured according to the loiall zeale I beare to her most princely Maiestie and not to the basenesse and simplicity of my stile or the handling thereof But to come to my Discourse to the end that you and the rest of your opinion may cleerely and plainly discerne those things which hetherto your eyes blinded with the vaile of partialitie haue not bin able to view I will begin with the good vsage honor and aduancement that you and other Gentlemen addicted to this seruice are heere to expect bringing vnto you for example sundrie braue and worthie Gentlemen Captaines and souldiers that haue taken the lyke course before you wherby you shal perceiue it is not all gold that glistreth but that whatsoeuer shew the Spaniard maketh vnto vs yet in his hart he mortally abhorreth vs by all means possible seeketh our destruction ruine subuertion as it euidently appeareth by his vsage of troupes and companies of our nation that haue serued his For example at the siege of Antwarpe there came vnto him vnder the conduct of Norris and Cornish a troup of six thousand the tallest and best appointed souldiers that euer I remember to haue seene in all my lyfe theyr comming beeing the onely cause that the towne was so soone deliuered vnto him as it was For whereas the Duke of Aniou laie vnder the walles of Gaunt with sufficient force and most deliberate resolution to succour the sayd towne of Antwarpe vpon his mutinie fearing further inconuenience he marched awaie with his whole camp leauing the enemie now battering the towne who seeing themselues frustrate of their expected hope presently rendered the same to the Duke of Parma But how were they recompenced VVithin one yeere they were lâ—â— all to â—amâ—â—h for hunger which some of them seeking to releeue by foreranging out vpon the Countrie foure and twentie of them were taken and carried to Antwarpe of whose beginning they were the chiefest and there openlye hanged in the market place Whereas all other nations had libertie to robbe and steale and do what they list Another troupe of them of thirtie beeing foorth and lying in a village neere Poppering in Flanders a company of Spaniards hearing of them came into the village where they were and after friendly and souldierlye salutation of each side as they were all making merrie together on a sodayne the Spapiardes tooke them at aduauntage vnarmed and most trecherously and inhumanely murthered them euerie one Sundrie complaints were made to the Duke by the friendes of those that were thus murthered and by the Captaines of the Regiment but there could bee no remedie nor iustice obtained But to make amendes because they would bee the cleanlier ridde of the residue of this poore miserable troupe the campe beeing then before Winockbergen they made them two little sortes of purpose in which they willingly placed them in the vtmost quarter of the whole camp and neerest confining to the towne to the end they might haue all their throates cut as in deed they had verie few nightes after At which time the enemie assaulting them with great furie and they defending