make sale of feathers in the winde And sell good cheape a drousie adell braine Yet Musicke not compares with merrie minde For that bryngs blood to eurie vitall vaine And heaues vp harte from dongeon of dispaire To be as blithe as birde in open aire If any glance of matter be in this Past merrie meane yet merrie muse it is That leades my penne I sweare by heauens blis Wherefore in mirthe I praie you take these lines My duetie maie excuse my boldnesse here I borrowd not my wordes of graue deuines Nor of fine wittes that holdes small dainties dere Thei came good cheape from merrie nourses papp Good chepe thei goe where muses fauour moste But dere thei are if writer finde mishapp Thereby and worlde account the labour loste God graunt the tyme be good when thei were sent And that eche worde be taken as I ment The best is sure and that is moste to praies Thei goe to one I honour all my daies FINIS The Epitaphe of the rare vertuous Prince and towardes Impe of grace Kyng Edward the sixte THe Lampe is out that lightned Englishe harts Whose liuely shoe and beautie shoen so bright And gaue suche ioye to all our inward smarts That well was hym that had thereon a sight Edward I meane whiche was our kyng by right The golden torche and candle matutine Did blase and burne within his Christalleyne But well awaie those lookes their life hath loste Full dimme and darcke Is now that sparke That whilome was the staie of Englandes boaste Now Death hath dried this pleasaunt princely plant And hent our happ an hye aboue the skyes Who knowes the losse but those that feele the want Wherefore the teares distilled from our eyes But since this babe hath made his sacrifies And yeelded vp his life and vitall breath What can ye blame but hastie cruell death Whiche pluckt the Rose before his leaues were spredde Yet shall his name Remaine with fame And florishe still although the flowre be dedde A face so fraught with fauour bloomyng still A cheere so chaste subduyng eche desire A hedde so ripe with grace and connyng skill A tong so deckt and cladd in trothes attire A harte so meeke and cleane deuoide of yre An eare so pure to heare the poore mannes cause A witte to iudge a zeale to make good lawes A hande so clere from blood looke well thereon Was seldome seene In Kyng ne Queene Helas the while our Lanterns light is gon His witte wanne praise as by his waies apperes His vertuous stepps wan fame emong the wice His tender youth did teache the aged yeres His sober life rebuked euery vice His woords and works did passe the pearle in price His gestures all if thei were grauen in gold A mirrour were to learne bothe yong and old Wherfore the vnfitte the yearth is for his graue His place of reast Is Abrams breast A worthie tombe for suche a Kyng to haue Finis The Epitaphe of the worthie Erle of Essex I Blushe to write in verse a matter of suche weight That makes the hearars shed some teares and moueth sorrowe streight In graue and statly stile this tale should sounded be Too base for suche greate cause I finde my slender muse and me My harte doeth bléede in breast my pen in hande doeth shake Mine inward sprits doe wepe for woe this sad discourse to make But though with heauie newes a while I fill your eares The fame I write of this great mā to ioy shall turne your tears Yea greate of birthe and minde and fewe so greate as he For daiely through desarts he grewe in greatnesse by degree A Caesars harte he boare that neuer shronke nor quaild A courage that against his foes in all attemptes preuaild A hedde that could conceiue as farre as cause was found A bodie apt for warlike broiles where bountie did abound Yea for his bountie greate a prince in very deede That made no more account of gold then of a rotten reede The noble giftes he gaue a worlde of worthies wan Was neuer seen in Britaine bred for bountie suche a man. An Erle and liuely Lorde as milde as is the Doue Whose courtuous speeche pleasant port did purchace peoples loue A freend to all good men as faste and true as steele That would not wagg with worlds abuse turn about like whéele A pearlesse subiect sure that Englandes honour sought And carde not with what losse of goods his countrey gaine was bought Full bent to Marciall feats a Mars in deede well tried Abroad in féeld where men are known and cowards easly spied The care of publique weale laie wakyng in his eyes A noble Soldiour framde by kinde in best and brauest gyes A house and houshold kept so frankly euery where That all the lookers on would saie some prince was placed there The Soldiours swarmd like Bées about his stately gate He was a Lanterne of this land and Mirrhour of the state In all thyngs that he did then what a losse had they That comes to sée his noble shrine and findes the sainct awey O fréends that honord hym and faithfull seruaunts bothe Come wéepe with me shew thereby some signe of your great trothe For I haue lost a fréend and for his sake I vowe To plant my penne vpon his tombe and rest from writyng now Till I his like maie finde whiche hardly shal be don O Essexe of renowmed fame thy race is nobly ron FINIS
bandes and furnished olde places with a present supplie of suche Nations as would enter into wages and though the long liyng in the colde and keepyng of the cāpe made bothe horse and manne stiffe as a stake and a wearie of Winter weather Yet would thei sette suche a shewe and brauerie on the matter as though thei had gone about some Sommer Maie game or a Christmas pastyme walkyng and sportyng before the Toune thei besieged as thei had ron at the Basse in a pleasaunte peece of grounde and goodlie greene Meadowe The maner wherof and boldnesse of that behauiour made the lookers on that were in a pittefold and peepyng out at a hole by stealth thinke of straunge deuises and haue many busie Bees in their heddes Now it happened through long besiegyng many assaultes and greate Batteries that the people of Mastricke wer so well acquainted with mischeefe and miserie that eache thing was welcome that Fortune by Gods appointment had sent or by any occasion fell out But alwaies with wisedome labour and pollicie thei prepared to defende and prouided a nette and cunnyng trappe to deceiue their enemies and when thei thought least of a Stratagime thei should fall in daunger and paie many a life for their pastyme So the daie approched of a moste terrible assault when the Toune was threatened to bee wonne and the Campe stoode in battaill the horse menne were mounted the bloodie Ensignes were spread and the Drommes and Trompettes sounded a slaunghter and the Alarū was giuen Then towardes the breache the Spanyardes began to marche where thei were receiued with the poshe of the Pike and the bullette of the Harcabooze and fought withall verie noblie a marueilous greate season in so muche that the Spanyardes were likely with muche losse to retire and be driuen backe But as a greate storme beateth doune mightie Trees And a strong streame driueth feeble fishe before it So the power of the Spanyardes pearssed through the breache and entered the Toune and possessed a greate plotte of grounde whiche in deede was vndermined and euen as thei thought all had ben their owne fire was giuen to the traine of pouder and twoo or three thousande of the Spanyardes side were blowen as hye as the highest wall in the Toune and therevpon the soldiours of Mastricke gaue a lustie charge on their enemies and so draue nombers out at the breache some with burnte faces some with broken armes some with haltyng legges and verie fewe free of hurt or vnmangled in some one place or other and he that spedde beste retourned with rebuke and escaped a blodie Butcherie A heauie sight to beholde and a thyng that Harlam often tymes before had offered the duke of Aluaes Soldiours But those that are bente to goe about worthie enterprises refuseth no hazardes nor waighes nothyng but the worthinesse of manhoode and honour of their Prince as here you maie perceiue by the Prince of Parmas Soldiours who no terrour nor tormente could turne from attemptyng the assault But yet after this broile and harde encounter thei made more curtchie and tooke better aduisement before thei wēt in hande with so greate a hazarde and so dwellyng vpon deuises and restyng on suche pollicies as might supprise the Toune Thei made many signes of assaultes and occupied poore people with diuers imaginations whiles thei went about a Mine and so to creepe in through a caue and gette into the Toune by a Cloister and house of Religion whiche Mine couertly handeled thei brought to passe albeeit many tymes a coūter Mine was made against them and hauyng doen that serued their purpose for to enter and giue a generall assault thei gaue the Alarum and approched the breach forgettyng not to arange their battailes for the States had a power neere theim and were likely to haue geuen an Alarum to the Campe and whiles a fewe bandes made hedde to the breache and a generall assaulte had besette the Toune rounde about A great companie beyng in the Mine beganne to shewe them selues and to sound Drommes and Trompetts at the backes of those that defended the breach who lookyng behind them and espiyng the Ensignes of the Spanyardes betooke theim selues sodainly to flighte and leauyng the breache ranne ouer the bridge to an other peece of the Toune But the thronge was so greate and the feare of death so muche emong the comon people that all amased and paste hope of life stoode bothe man woman and child that neuer sawe the like conflicte nor could not shift for their liues So some flange doune weapon caste of their armour held vp their handes to the heauens smote their wofull breastes and kneeled before the face and feete of their enemies criyng for mercie where little was to bee founde And some ranne into cornes Churches Hospitalles and emong Religious persones But thei rather founde a sworde then succour and destruction soner then comfort and happed in their hādes that sought bothe blood and victorie and had no more mynde of mercie for a season till victorie was certaine then the cruell Tygers haue when thei preye and feede on little Lambes thus hauyng victorie at will and the toune in subiection The Spanyardes followed so fast after the fleears and fearfull discomfited people that one of them ranne ouer an other No one could neither helpe his self nor succour his neighbour So that wiues with children in their armes and armed men beyng become childrē in crauyng of mercie wer all a like serued Where vppon is to be iudged that yeldyng in extremite bryngeth death or vtter seruitude and hazardyng life for libertie the sworde maie either make place to escape by or sodainly bryng the dispatche that riddes menne from miserie and puttes them from the rage of a tyraunte For in fightyng eache partie standes in doubte by whiche a manly minde is not conquered and in yeelding the one part is maister and the other made a captiue and peraduenture a seruaunt to captiues that neither can shewe sparke of pitie nor dragme of good mynde Wherefore in assaultes in battailes and matter of furie manhood is to be vsed of him that is moste in hazard and mercie not to be hoped for whē manhood abideth the vttermoste of Fortune and hath doen their enemies the greatest despite thei can worke Thus followyng the poore people in Mastrick thei wer cleane voide of courage or shifte to helpe them selues withall The Toune was taken wherein some Englishe menne were founde whiche were lefte a liue of a bande that serued whereof one maister Brooke was Capitaine who was sore hurte ere he did yeelde and whose companie serued all that siege so stoutly that the Spaniardes feared them more then double the nomber of the reste Albeit the reste of Soldiours generally were giuen to stande to their defence and so well defended the Toune that was sharpely assaulted and besieged as I haue not heard of So that it is harde to iudge whiche of the twoo sides deserued moste honour the matter was so manly
and the victorie hanged long in ballaunce in so muche it was doubtfull to whether partie good Fortune would fall but in fine the Burgonions fledde towardes the woodde where all their force of footemen stoode and in that encoūter and bloodie fight the Prince of Pianoyes was smored to death in his armour the Duke of Askotte compelled to creepe and lye in a woodde all night where the Peisantes on the morrowe tooke him and fifteene hundreth prisoners more were ledde awaie with the Duke by the Frenchemen And when the vieue was made at their returne to Amiance of their losse the Frenchemen missed many of their owne people especily of the Citie and many by meane of their valiauncie were come home sore wounded mangled and out of hope to liue any long season the fight had been so daungerous and cruel that fewe whiche were desirous of fame escaped skotfree from the conflicte The Emperour not long after this broile gathered his people together and came to Vallencian with a great army but the French kyng gathered in a maner suche a multitude of soldious wherein was muche Nobilitie that it was gessed his Campe was at the leaste fiftie thousande horsemen and footemen and hymself in persone noblie mounted marched towardes Valencian where he founde the Emperoure entrenched and passyng before the Emperour with his vawwarde wherein was sixe thousande horsemen and twentie thousande footemen the Frenche kyng presented the Emperour battall who had out of his trenche certaine Spanishe and Italian horsemen with a small troupe of Launces on the whiche companie the Frenchemen offered skirmishe and the skirmishe grewe so hotte that a charge was giuen wherein was prisoners taken at the verie entrie of the trenches so that the Emperoures power beeyng not twentie thousande were faine to tarrie in their Trenches all that season The Frenche kyng seeyng this and commyng from his maine battaile on a barbed horse with a goodlie troupe of braue gentlemen made no more a dooe but shewed hym self in the feelde and marched so awaie makyng his waweward his rereward and his maine battaile his waweward yet I maie not forgette that sondrie in his companie were hurte emong the whiche M. Nicholas Malbies horse a bastarde courser was shotte through the necke and in at the reines of the backe behinde the saddell whiche horse when he was whole was giuen to the lorde Grey of Wilton then lieutenaunt of Gynes Now the Emperour bearyng in minde the braue offer the Frenche kyng had made as here before is expressed he sent Mounsire graunde Maister as generall of a greate armie to besiege Torwain shortly after a toune of greate momente and well fortified to whiche siege so soone as the Frenche heard of it was sente Memorancie that now is liuyng to assiste Mounsire Dessie then capitaine of Torwain a man of greate vallue for the same Dessie was before generall of all the Frenchemen that besieged Sir Iames Wilforde at Haddyngton in Scotlande Now Mounsire Memorancie bryngyng with hym diuers gentlemen for the aidyng of Mounsire Dessie in Torwain determined to dooe some good seruice and the Frenche kyng in the meane while leauied thirtie thousande men to remoue the siege if it were possible or at least to releeue the toune in some sorte as the tyme would suffer Where vpon diuers capitaines and gentlemen requested that thei might be the firste that should enter the toune emong whiche was M. Nicholas Malbie the kyng graunted their requeste and prepared pouder in bagges and other munition for them to carrie with them that toke this enterprise in hand thus one Humfrey Hassock and a gentleman called Ihon Griffin with twoo other called Poell and Kockes ioyned with three score Frenchemen M. Nicholas Malbie beeyng with theim and passed through the Emperoures Campe with greate hazarde and so entered Torwain whiche gaue no little comforte to them that were besieged Then vppon the hope of the kynges commyng and other causes thei fallied daiely out of the toune and did often annoye the Burgonions Campe. And one daie the watche espiyng a bande of footemen liyng louse from their succoure vnder a banke gaue warnyng thereof to the capitaine of the toune who sent on the spurre the Frenche horsemen to giue charge vppon them And maister Malbie espiyng when he came neare them that thei were Englishemen seruyng the Emperours side badde theim goe awaie or els thei should be cutte all in peeces Goe awaie that is aferde saied Nicholas Sibbill a valiaunte gentleman The Alarum then was giuen and the Frenche footemen approched and so capitain Sibbell was slaine and sondrie others of his companie defeated and Humfrey Hassocke hauyng a redde dubblet was taken to bee a Burgonion and so vnhorsed But M. Malbie seyng his seruaunt in daunger to bee slaine succoured hym by a charge he gaue on those that would haue killed his mā and brought his seruaunt to the toune with muche a doe the soldiours on the walles beholdyng thesame commended the acte verie muche Thus euery second or third daie thei sallued out and slue in the feelde and in the trenches many soldiours but still the Englishemen gatte greate praise for their stoute and desperate aduentures The Capitaine of the toune walkyng on the walles and notyng how busilie the Canons went of against the breach came doune and deuised that bothe horsemen and footemen should sodainly make a sallie out of the toune and so thei did but though the Campe semed to bee quiet and did nothyng but plie the Batterie thei were well prouided to resiste the force of the Frenche and at their issuyng out there was a verie greate skirmishe And an Almaine beeyng an armed Pike marched brauely out of the Campe vpon some lustie conceipte vnto whom rode maister Nicholas Malbie and brake his staffe on hym and so the Almaine was slaine For whiche seruice Mounsire Memorancie and the Capitain of the Toune came and embraced hym when he retourned and gaue hym bothe a reward and thankes for his labour But after this toune was helde so shorte that the soldiours could issue no more for a generall assaulte was daiely looked for and the breache beyng assaultable the Burgonions attempted the assaulte Capitaine Gonnie hauyng the leadyng thereof with whom I was in wages but capitain Gonnies bande and all the reste were repulsed to their greate rebuke and losse notwithstandyng an other assaulte was a preparyng for and the greate shotte went of so fast that thei within the toune were faine to holde in their heddes a great tyme But Mounsire Dessie aduaunsyng hym self a little to hye for to discouer the meanyng of his enemies was striken in the hedde with a little shotte and yeeldyng vp the ghost spake certaine manly wordes and so fell doune dedde Then the toune was somewhat discouraged and came to a composition howbeit a midde the Parley the Spaniardes brake into the toune and did muche mischeef yet the composition was that all of the Toune of what degree so euer thei were should
should haue a noble death because he should bee killed at a noble mannes handes and with that woorde slue hym whiche was against all ciuill order or lawe of Armes but note what followed The Duke Domale in the ende of this crueltie and encounter charged the Count de Hornes bande with a braue companie of men at Armes and ouerthrewe moste of the Count de Hornes people and defeitted them all or carried them awaie prisoners with hym And in that charge giuen there was a companie of Frenche footemen whiche sette vpon the Spaniardes and Italians in the woodde and draue theim out of the same and possessed the woodde againe to the greate discourage of the other partie whiche Frenchemen entrenched thē selues in the saied woodde as surely as thei could The Englishe and Scottes men beeyng well mounted and desirous of some honour beholdyng what good successe the Duke had founde by the valliaunt charge he had giuen Thei sodainely brake vppon van Rousis Launceknightes with a greate shoute and crie who amased at the noyse and afferde of the charge flang doune their weapons and betoke them to their feete whiche ouersight and feblenesse of spirit in theim was occasion of a greate slaughter For when the Englishe and Scottes horsemen were a wearie of killyng the poore Almaines thei tooke prisoners some one man ten or twelue a peece as was crediblie reported So that in a maner moste of all van Rousis Ensignes were troden vppon or taken from them that carried them The Emperour was somewhat moued at this misfortune and determined the nexte daie in the Mornyng to giue the Frenche kyng battaill The Frenche kyng on that victorie sent a Harralde of Armes with a Trompet to the Emperour declaryng vnto hym that within fower and twentie howres he would meete hym in the feelde For whiche message the Herralde had a good rewarde and the Emperour was glad that so honourable an acte as was offered should ende the quarrell betwene the Frēche kyng and him The fame night beyng well spent and thynges in order for battaill the Emperour caused the Drommes and Trōpettes to sounde and strike a marche to the feelde for that he would by the breake of the daie behold his enemies power The Frenche Kyng beeyng a beaten Soldiour with many daungerous seruices and lookyng into the daunger of an exstreme fight for a wearied armie tooke compassion on his ouerlaboured menne of warre that had lyen in the open feelde all that yere and so without sounde of Dromme or any noyes makyng he retired his Batterie caused his footemen to marche quietly towardes Muttrell whiche thei recouered before the breake of the daie and the kyng with the reste of his armie at midnight priuelie withdrewe hym sel and his power from daunger of the Emperours Campe. Placyng his horsemen in the reergarde to tarrie till the Emperour were readie to marche who had intelligence of the Frenche Kynges priuie practises and departure And thereon gaue commaundemente to followe with all expedition the horsemen hauyng that in charge to see if thei could ouertake any of the Frenche kynges armie especiallie the footemen The Duke Denamores attendyng on certaine straglars in goyng out of a woodde to the plaine happened with his whole bande on Capitaine Stukeleis troupe who all that iourney and at sondrie other seruices had dooen merueilous actes in whiche troupe was the twoo brethren maister Nicholas Malbie and Ihon. And the Duke Denamores was no soner espied but capitain Steukely and his troupe charged hym who fled as fast as he might to recouer some freendes and Ihon Malbie beyng well horssed put the Duke to leape hedge and dicke till he mette with a bande of men at Armes which the Englishmen wer not strong enough to deale with all and so thei retired M. Richard Bingham at this seruice And in that retiryng thei mette with the Emperoure who gaue them greate thankes and rewarded hym that deserued moste praise The Emperour liyng at Renttie fiue or sixe daies caused the breache to be made vp againe and that beyng dooen he commaunded the Duke of Sauoye beyng his Lieutenant generall to make his repaire to Heddyng with his whole Campe. Where he made a verie strong Toune and there was not a noble manne in that Campe but for to giue good example putte once a daie his handes to the Baskette and Spade And euery soldiour had a double paie so long as the woorke was a buildyng where there was in wages a hundreth thousande daiely whereof some were suffered to make roades into Picardie and many bootes gotten emong the reste the Spaniardes had gotten a greate bootie beyng accompanied with the Burgonions in the same attempte and commyng into the Campe with their preye and spoile thei were to passe by the Almaines Campe or quarter whiche thei kepte The Almaines seyng a greate compaie desirous of spoile or glad to make a mutenie fell to take some shepe and what els thei thought good from the Spaniardes the Spaniardes thereon made Alarum The Duke of Sauoye knowyng of this vpprore gallopped with his bande emong the Almaines and tooke diuerse sedicious fellowes and committed them to the Prouost and one manne emong them retained to a noble man of Germanie whiche came to the Duke and did request hym to spare his manne and pardon his offence the Duke aunswered he should suffer for his follie committed the noble manne spake againe in so muche that the Duke was displeased at the suite The other seyng he could finde no fauour tolde the Duke in a rude maner that if he were not a Lieutenaunte generall ouer hym he should not put his man to death the Duke made no more a doe but tooke out a Pistolet that was bente and discharged it vpon the noble man and so slue hym The Almaines and Roiters therevpon armed them selues and put them in order of battaill The Spaniardes Italians and Burgoniōs presently repaired to the Dukes Pauilion The Prince of Orrange and many other noble personages came betwene the twoo powers and made a peace and so the businesse ended whiche at the beginnyng was like to haue come to a greate flaughter and bloodshed Now for the better contentation of the Almaines there was a roade made vnto Muttrell and twentie thousande Almaines appointed to bee at the winnyng of the bootie where was a greate skirmishe prouoked and at that tyme Capitaine Steukeleis horse was killed vnder hym when he gaue a valliaunt charge on his enemies There was a challenge made by the Frenchmen for the breakyng of certaine Launces for their mestresse sakes To aunswere the chalenge went a Portugall a greate companion with the Duke of Sauoye and one capitaine Tother an Albanoies sometyme seruyng in Englande was an other And the thirde was a gentleman called Ambrose Digbie who encountred a valliaunt horseman named Petro Strose and thei brake bothe the one vpon the other Ambrose Digbies horse was somewhat strong hedded and bare his Maister awaie into the Frenche troupe where the
Duke Denamoures courteoussie asked hym if any thing were amisse in his armour in purpose to amende it yet the Duke was a greate freende to Petro Strose for Strose was his Lieutenaunt Ambrose Digbie aunswered that all was well and gaue the Duke and the gentlemen greate thankes for their courtesie and so gallowped to the other side at his pleasure Petro Strose in like sorte went backe againe to his owne coÌ„panie For capitain Tother was not so fortunate that daie as couragious for he ranne thre courses one after an other and could not breake and the Frenchman that ran against hym brake euery course his lance the reasons was why capitain Tother brake not alwaies at the couchyng of the Launce his horse flang out whiche moued the geÌ„tleman very muche and for whiche foule condition he gaue the horse immediately awaie The Portugall beyng brauely horsed vpon a baye courser had not worse happe then courage For he brake full in the face of the â—eueâ— it was thought that he that ranne against hym was the Barron of Burnasell who brake in like maner alwaies vpon the Portugall In the meane tyme there was diuerse bandes that had gotten a greate bootie and spoile in the Countrey whiche contented muche the Almaines who with their spoile and bootie were retired to the campe whereof intelligence beyng giuen to the Duke he caused a retraite to bee sounded and euery man marched forward to the Campe. But the Frenche waited on them and skirmished all the waie where good seruice was to bee seen on bothe sides so thei departed the one side to the Campe and the other side to Muttrell When thei were in the campe and the Duke in his Pauillion at supper there was greate commendation giuen to the Portugall for the beste dooer that daie he hearyng his owne praise replied and saied he should but flatter hymself to beleeue that reporte to be true since all men might see the Englishe gentleman ranne with the greatest Launce and brake moste fairest and especially because he ranne againste Petro Strose who was counted to be one of the valliauntest gentlemen of Fraunce so with this and suche like talke thei rose from the table When this Toune called newe Heddyng was finished there was lefte in the same a verie greate Garrison bothe of Burgonions and Almaines and then the Campe was dispersed and many soldiours cashed and put out of wages Wherevppon the twoo brothers thought to make their repaire into Englande to whiche place the Duke of Sauoye was goyng and so with hym thei came ouer and attended on hym three Monethes and came againe to the seruice of the Emperour where thei remained vntill an Armie was appointed to goe to Sainct Quintaines The noble Erle of Penbroke being Lorde lieutenaunt for that seruice ouer the Englishe Armie in whiche regiment M. Nocholas Malbie had charge of fiftie light horsemen The Armie liyng betwene Gynes and Arde the garrison of Arde beyng strong issued out and gaue our Campe Alarum and our Englishe menne vnacquainted with that kinde of noyes and order of warre were in a maner a mased some ronnyng one waie and some an other and one George Broughton hauyng the leadyng of fiftie horsemen went out of the Campe and was immediatly encountred with a bande of Frenchemen who charged so furiouslie that thei wanne the Gydon of George Broughtons bande and carried it awaie Nicholas Malbie commyng from the scoute with his bande and hearyng the Larum without the Campe made his repaire with certain of his companie where he mette with Broughton who said he had loste his Gydon vppon that newes maister Malbie caused all his companie to retourne and make haste to ouertake the Frenche whiche thei ouertooke at the tournepike and so sharpely dealt with them that the Gydon was recouered againe by maister Malbies owne hande who brought it hym self and deliuered it vnto George Broughton that gaue hym greate thankes therefore Maister Broughton caused the Lorde Lieutenaunte to promise maister Malbie a recompence for this bolde attempte and diuerse noble men commended the seruice vpon the report of suche as sawe it The next daie the Campe remoued to Samedeboyes and so toward Sainct Quintaines where kyng Phillip was besiegyng the toune with a mightie Armie whiche had ouerthrowen moste of the nobilitie of Fraunce that came to succour sainct Quintaines and the Englishe Campe beyng before the toune was appointed to set out certaine bandes for the goyng to the assault emong whiche was one Capitaine Vaughan who came to a freende of his and desired of all freendshipp and for old acquaintaunce sake to light of his horse and goe with hym to the saulte Now in good faithe saied Nicholas Malbie though horsemen neuer come to the breache with my freende I will either winne the Spurres or loose the Saddle and so a lighted and went with maister Vaughan hauyng firste procured licence of the Lorde lieutenaunt to the assault where the enemies were readie to defende their Toune and their liues yet as God would the enemies gaue place with muche a doe to those that valiauntly entered the breache And the firste that entered as diuerse did beholde was these twoo freendes whiche vpon their enterie ranne to saincte Quintaines Churche and gatte there sainct Quintaines hedde a riche iewell and were commyng awaie with this greate treasure but the Almaines had entered at the other breache and mette maister Malbie and Capitaine Vaughan and beeyng a strong companie together tooke awaie the gained bootie from them and put theÌ„ in hazarde of their liues so that thei were faine and glad to escape and leaue sainct Quintaines hedde behinde them Vaughan was hurte in the face and therefore desired to goe to the Campe to be cured And at this assault there wer many made riche though these twoo freendes had but euill Fortune and founde enemies where thei should haue had freendes The toune was spoiled and ransackte and the Admirall of Fraunce with many others were taken there and so kyng Phillip fortified it againe and lefte therein a greate Garrison and retired towardes the Burgonion Paile takyng certaine tounes and fortresses in his waie Not verie long after a peace was concluded and the Englishe Armie beeyng well paied and in Englande maister Nicholas Malbie went to the Irishe warres and kept capitaine Girtton companie not in paie but vppon pleasure The Erle of Sussex then Lorde Deputie and Capitaine Girtton hauyng somewhat to take with the Lorde Deputie desired maister Malbie to see that his charge and countrey should be well gouerned till his retourne and gaue M. Malbie power to doe what he pleased in that behalfe There was one in those partes named Mighell Patrick that was a tickell Subiecte and did many wronges to his neighbours and namely to Capitaine Girttons menne against whom maister Malbie went and had diuerse tymes the vpper hand of hym and put hym and his Kerne to flight In this season there was a Proclamation made by the Lorde Deputie that whosoeuer
was gone backe again to Saragosa for the residue of the Armie And in the meane tyme the Turkes stoale awaie and retired towardes Constantinople when intelligence was sente vnto Dom Garsia beeyng in Cicill of the departure of the Turkes Armie he made greate speede to come to Malta leauyng the power he went for behinde hym and beyng arriued tooke order for the fortification of euery dismembred peece that beyng doen he tooke certaine soldiours into the Galleyes and sought to finde some of the skattered Turkes on the seas So passyng from Malta Eastward he came to an Ilande called Strumdario Ihon Andredoria mette with an Argosie and was so bolde as to borrowe suche victualles as the Argosie had for the better releeuyng of his Galleyes And after the Armie had refreshed them there ▪ thei passed to an Ilande called Sireygo ▪ where the Armie of the Turkes were vpon the one side of the Ilande so attendyng some good Fortune thei taried there seuen daies in whiche tyme freshe victualles waxed skante Then were thei driuen to retire towardes Cisill without dooyng any exploite and hauyng greate wante of victualles and sweete water the Spaniardes died out of all order And if God had not sent a shower of Raine by meane of a Thonder full many a stoute man had perished for want of freshe water whiche releeued bothe the Soldiour and the Galley slaue the shower of Raine was so sweete and comfortable In the meane tyme a brute was blowen in Cisill on the soddaine departyng of Dom Garsia from thence that the Turkes had wonne Malta by whiche reporte and ouerthrowe a noble man of Cisill thought to expulse the Spanyardes out of that coūtrey and so slue as many as he might laye handes on and whiles he was in his greatest glory and practisyng a generall reuolte The Galleyes arriued there that lacked victualles before wherein was sixe thousande soldiours and the Generall beyng at Messina hauyng intelligence of all this businesse caused the noble man to bee apprehended and with hym sixe of his confederates and settyng vp a Skaffolde and a paire of Gallowes caused the noble mannes hedde to bee smitten of and his sixe fellowes to be hanged before his face And after this execution a new Custome was raised for their Silkes in signe that this reuolte should neuer be forgotten The Armie dispersed and euery manne gon to his countrey a quarrell had like to haue growē betwene the capitain of the Kynges Galleyes and the Capitaine of the Galleyes of Naples in the goyng out of Messina for thei beganne to striue whiche of them ought to beare the Flagge of the Admirall Dom Garsia stated the matter and made thē bothe frendes and tooke a good order for that cause Then it was appoincted by Dom Garsia that the twoo brothers should enbarke with the Capitaine of the Kynges Galleyes but sir Edward Standley beyng at Messina was occasion vpon his request that the brothers might not keepe companie together for a space but thei mette merrie after at Naples where sir Ihon Smithe mette with them who dealt as courteously with them there as he did before in Cisill And thei remainyng in Naples fourteene daies thei enbarked theim selues with Dom Alueray de Basane for Spaine who was the Capitaine of the kynges Galleyes and passyng from thence all along the coaste of Italie came to Gene and remained fourteene daies there From Gene to Barsilonia in whiche voiage befell a greate storme but the daunger beyng passed thei landed and were forced for want of horses to trauaile through the kyngdome of Katellonia Aragon and so into Castile And then findyng the kyng at Madreell thei made at their leisure their repaire to the Count de Ferrey who presented them to the kyng He beeyng in his priuie Chamber alone with one of the Generals that was at Malta whiche commended the seruice of the twoo brethren so muche that the kyng made theim kisse his hande and so thei departed towardes their lodgyng where thei founde Secretarie Arras seruaunt readie to presente them from kyng Phillippe fiue hundred Dukettes Dom Garsias letters were deliuered the kyng of their seruice a little before and so with the kynges fauoure and bountifull reward thei reposed them selues a season And mindyng but to take their leaue thei came to the Courte againe where the kyng gaue theim gracious speeches and fiue hundred Duckettes more a liberalitie meete for suche a Prince and a rewarde that might haue pleased a right good subiecte as in deede the twoo brethren stoode so well contented withall that thei accounted all those Soldidiours happie that might serue suche a kyng And there withall the kyng gaue theim fiftie Duckettes a peece to bee paied euery Monethe so long as thei listed to serue hym In Naples the like entertainement the Emperour his father had giuen them before but thei seyng the great bountie and Princely dealyng of the kyng of Spaine and mindyng to haue more experience of the worlde thei tooke their leaue of his Maiestie and purposed to retourne towardes Englande So passyng to Bilboe thei found maister Man who was come to be a leeger in Spain and hauyng a barke to bryng them into Foye a hauen in Cornwaill thei tooke shippyng and in fiue daies came into Englande Beeyng come to the Courte of Englande the honourable sir Frances Knowlles was to passe into Irelande then maistes Nicholas Malbie made sute to goe ouer where he might be emploied And his master the noble Erle of Warwicke prefarred hym bothe by letter and commendation of his seruice So attended he on sir Frances Knowles till he came to sir Henrie Sidney then Lorde Deputie who vpon vewe of his letters and the regarde of his knowledge made hym Sargeant Maior in whiche roume he serued well and worthelie till vpon good consideration the Lorde Deputie placed hym at Karikfargus and gaue hym charge there of a hundred horsemen in whiche charge he so behaued hym self towardes the Prince and soldiours that he spente fiue hundreth pounde more then his entertainemente to the honouryng of his Countrey and enrichyng of his Soldiours Thus he did continue to his great charges a long while And at length came doune to Karrikefargus sir Willyam Fuwillyams as Lorde Iustice who liyng long in Campe with a nomber of Soldiours for the reformyng of matters out of frame he wanted victualles So sente for Capitaine Malbie and sought his aduise for the releeuyng of the whole power And maister Malbies opinion was to preye vppon the enemie and findyng thynges readie for that purpose Prepared to sette vppon a Kreete as thei were feedyng the enemies had intelligence thereof and draue thei Kine into a Bawne otherwise called a place of defence Capitaine Malbie seeyng their crafte shotte of the Hargabose emong the beastes thei that were so hurte ranne in a madnesse emong their fellowes and so draue out fiue hundreth good Kine in the daunger of the Soldiours and so thei were driuen to the Campe and the hongerie people
Capitaines minded not to giue ouer the matter for a bragge And determined couragiously to set vpon their enemies whiche in deede thei did and gaue so lustie a charge that thei ranne cleane through theim and slue at the least fower hundred of them puttyng the rest to flight and followyng the chace draue them into a woodd whiche beyng nere saued many of their liues Sir Peter Caroe saied muche of this victorie rested in Capitaine Malbies manhoode and conducte The Lorde Deputie sente Sir Peter Caroe for to take possession of a certaine Castell in whiche Castell was a coÌ„panie of stoute men And to the seruice was Capitaine Collyer Capitaine Furres and others sent Thei within shotte and slue our people whiche encreased the hatred and malice Muche businesse was aboute this Castell and at length it came to a parley and whiles the capitaines were at the parley the soldiours wer made drinke and a siluer boule sent theÌ„ to drinke in out of the Castell But the parley could not take vp the matter so thei called for their siluer boule again but a soldiour with one legge whose name was haltyng Dick hauyng the siluer boule in his hande made aunswere that he would keepe that till the reckenyng were made of the reste And the parley beyng doen thei put in the Conestable of the Castell at a grate and sodainly withall thei thrust in a great peece of Timber whiche kepte the grate open wherein the Soldiours entered and so wonne the Castell where after was a pitifull murther for man woman and child were put to the sworde And the soldiours found therein greate riches especially Tapestrie and Plate and muche good housholde stuffe It was not long after but the Lorde Deputie raised a greate power to go to the West against the rebelles whose leader was Iames Fitz Moris whiche was reported to bee of greate force And the Lorde deputie marchyng forwarde toward Clammell the newes was brought that Fitz Morris was so strong that the Lorde Deputie was to weake to deale withall So counsaill was giueÌ„ him to retire The lord Deputie seeyng the cowardies of some and hauyng good courage hym self called Capitaine Malbie and asked his aduise who aunswered if good guides could bryng my lorde through the plaine Countrey his fiue hundreth horse would marche in despite through all Irelande The Lorde Deputie thereon saied he neuer bare the George that daie that he gaue place to any rebelles and so the Deputie commaunded them to marche and his power came that night and lodged at a Castell of his enemies as the reporte wente There was a stoute Kerne seyng the Deputies campe commyng ranne out of the Castell and sett many houses a fire because the Lorde Deputies power should haue no succour thereof and be in soâ—â— daunger by their approche To whiche Kern Ihon Malbie galloped apace and so dispatched hym which was a good peece of seruice The nexte daie the Castell was yelded so the lorde Deputie marched to the White Knightes Countrey and besieged a strong Castell of his and because thei did withstande the siege thei were all put vnto the sworde From thence he marched towarde a Castell in the Desmondes Countrey called Bally Marten where thei withstode the siege so it was battered And there was one called the Seneshall who founde meane in the night to steale awaie with all his companie and so thei tooke the bogge and escaped to Iames Fitz Morrice who made many wordes and threateninges but he performed no peece of those promises So after this the Lorde Deputie came vnto Corke and froÌ„ thence to Lymbrick takyng all the Castelles in his waie that he founde till he came to Gallawaye And after he returned towardes Dublin in whiche iourney his enemies did neuer shewe their faces Shortly after this Capitaine Malbie tooke in farme the countrey of Lakaell at the handes of the Erle of Kildare whiche Lakaell had lyen waiste three yeres before and after that came sir Thomas Smithes base sonne with his horsemen and footmen to a place called the Ardes nere neighbor to Capitaine Malbie who furnished maister Smithe with diuerse thynges and did bestowe on hym and his soldiours a good rounde soÌ„me of money but maister Smithes fortune was not good and so at the length he was slaine as after you shall heare Now the noble and moste bountifull gentleman of Englande came ouer as Gouernour of Vlster I meane the Erle of Essex whose praises no manne in the worlde can ecclips Whiche Erle was accompanied with a goodly bande of horsemen and footemen he arriued at Karrickefargus And there came with hym the Lorde Ritche Maister Henrie Knowlles and his fower brethren maister Mighell Carie and maister Ihon Carie soonnes to the Lorde of Honsdon and maister William Norrice and maister Ihon Norrice twoo of the eldest soonnes of the Lorde Norrice whose courages and deedes did shewe their noble race as in deede the other gentlemen named before theim by their owne actes aparte did often tymes expresse their honourable birthe There was likewise one maister Blunt a valliaunt gentleman brother to the Lorde Mongie and sonderie others whose names I haue forgotten Within a prettie space after this noble Earles arriuall sir Bryan Mackefellin who was accounted then a rebell did sue to come in To whom the Earle gaue protection and yeldyng hym self simplie vnto the Queene the Earle not onely graunted hym a pardon but also gaue him greate giftes and vsed hym so courteously as he could not imagine how to be better entertained But Bryans follower beeyng wearie of well doyng and peraduenture by Bryans consent the soldiours horses could not bee in saffetie and the followers of Bryan fell to open thefte and priuie filchyng The Earle willed Bryan to giue correction to the malefectours who promised from tyme to tyme but no redresse could be had The Earle lettyng those offences passe and conceiued that he had not his people in suche obedience as was reason and so bore with little faultes in hope amendemente would followe but all this while the soldiours were robbed and as the poore menne them selues were caught alone thei were murthered For whiche outrage the Erle shaped a reuenge and so to crie quittaunce but Bryan hearyng thereof desired to come in and make his aunswere the Erle graunted that and so sir Bryan came and made his submission declaryng he could not rule his naughtie people and was sorie for their follies and foule factes committed So the Erle badde hym bryng them all into an Ilande called Mahair and offered Bryans menne an aide to bryng them that would refuse to come promisyng thei should be all well vsed and all former faultes shoud be forgotten Sir Bryan so departed and in fine wrought cunnyngly to deceiue the Erle and departe with all his Creett of Kye whiche amounted to twentie thousande into the wooddes or where he thought beste but my Lorde of Essex had good espiall on Bryan by meane of Capitaine Malbie notwithstandyng the sleightes of the enemies
were so fine that thei could not bee easely perceiued nor preuented because so many tales were brought and so many flatters tooke sir Bryans parte Yet alwaies the Erle did that whiche he thought for the beste and was lothe to seeke blood but vpon a greate occasion and yet in the ende true woorde was brought that Mackefellyn was stollen awaie by this meanes as I shall tell you Capitaine Malbie and his brother hearyng of this dispute and hauyng greate businesse to repaire vnto Lakaill tooke their iourney and as thei were ridyng thei espied a freende of theirs commyng galloppyng whose name was Marke Hoult Who brought newes of Bryans goyng awaie whiche messenger thei sent in all haste to the Erle and thei appointed a place where thei would meete the Earle But in the meane while thei hasted to staie Bryan and thei might or to holde hym plaie till the Earle came But that was in vaine for all the Creete had take a strength before the daie Yet the Earle marched apace and came within twoo miles of the enemie where he mette Capitaine Malbie but of necessitie the Earle retired to Carryckefargus for this matter could not be recouered Yet in a fewe daies after the Earle made a rode against Bryan and by meane of a Spaniell in the companie their entent was eskried and wantyng Kerne to enter the wood the Earle retired homeward againe The Earle sent for the Barron of Dongarren and maister Edwarde Moore and one Thomas Flemmyng but Bryan had gotten intelligence thereof and laye in waite for to entrappe theim The Barron came to Bellfaste and passed the Foorde and sent to Hollyngburne Abbey for maister Moore so passyng a softe pace towardes the Earle Bryans horsemen brake and so the Barron retired backe to the forde again where by chaunce maister Malbie was and gaue the Barron succours and caused theim to passe ouer the Foord for their better suertie But those horsemen that thei had sent for maister More did light in the lappes of their enemies in commyng backe againe yet some of theim were well horssed and so escaped to Hollyngburne Abbay and those that were nerest mischeef were slaine This hazarde beeyng paste Capitaine Malbie sente in poste to the Earle to come closely with as many horsemen and footemen as he might make and to come in the night followyng the Earle made speede and came as secretly as he might three howers before daie to the place appoincted where he laye in couerte till it was tyme to passe ouer the Foorde Now the Barron with maister Moore and their companie passed ouer and had not gone but a little ground but thei were sharpely set vpon and sent backe againe Bryans foote men were so nere them with that Capitain Malbie and his brother hastened to the skirmishe whiche grewe very hott and as thei were almoste ouer the water maister Richard Blunt commyng with them cried a charge a charge and so settyng his staffe againste his thigh he ranne emong theâ—m whiche were footemen whiche had quickely killed his horse and had hym doune laiyng loade vppon hym whiche was a wonder of the worlde he had not been slaine capitain Malbie and his brother with fiue or sixe more gaue a charge to rescue him and so put his enemies backe where at a man of the Barrons and an other called Thomas Flemmyng tooke hym vp and haled hym awaie At this skirmishe many of Bryans men were slaine and the Englishemen did retire ouer the water in tyme for the tide was commyng And the very same night the enemies came ouer the water and encamped them selues by the Englishe power And in the mornyng betymes thei prouoked the skirmishe bothe cunnyngly and manfully For at the firste beginnyng thei killed maister Willyam Norrises horse vnder hym who valliauntly behaued hymself and in lesse then an hower capitaine Malbies horse was striken doune and if Sir Willyam Morgan with greate courage and one maister Egerton had not dooen verie well Capitaine Malbie had been slaine for his horse laye vppon hym The noble Earle beholding this broile with his footemen came fliyng in and gaue a charge on the rebelles and put them to flight and did it in suche order that many of the enemies loste their liues thereby And after that charge thei retired into the wooddes where sondrie of them were ouerthrowne and those that escaped went to their Creete As tyme did passe and the Erle laie at Karrickefargus newes was brought that one Noall Macke Bryan Artho had deuised a draught for the killyng of Maister Thomas Smithe who was slaine by that deuise My Lorde of Essex was muche moued at that deede and Capitaine Malbie and his brother were marueilous sorie for the losse of suche a neighbour and good companion And swore to reuenge his death ere it should be long as thei did when occasion serued therefore In processe of tyme the twoo brethren desired leaue to repaire into Lakaell meanyng to practise a reueÌ„ge for maister Smithes death the Earle not knowyng their myndes gaue Ihon Malbie leaue to goe but kept the other Capitaine about his owne persone Maister Ihon Malbie commyng into Lakaell mustered all the menne he might make and hauyng a good power sufficiente as neede required practised with one called Donny Sallowe for the catcheyng of Neall Bryan Artho at some aduantage and promised at the least an hundred pounds for his labour that should drawe suche a drifte This Donny Sallowe as muche for the money as glad to please his freende went closely about this matter and brought suche certaine newes of Neall Bryan Arttoes haunt and order of life that it was an easie thyng either to compasse hym in some daunger or laye handes vppon his followers And by a good occasion maister Ihon Malbie with three score and fower horsemen and a fewe footemen he made suche a slaughter that fiue and thirtie of his beste men that followed Neall Bryan Artto were licked vp and slaine and a greate preye and bootie taken from hym and brought awaie he beeyng twoo hundreth footemen and fourtie horsemen in the feelde Emong those menne that was slaine was one Con Mackmeloeg who before caused maister Smithe to be eaten vp with Dogges after he had been boiled and this same Con Mackmeloeg beyng slaine was lefte emong wolues v. daies and was had into a house where his freendes howled and cried ouer his dedde bodie so long that by mischaunce a greate deale of pouder caught fire and sett the house in a flame the Dogges in the toune smellyng this ded bodie ranne in and tooke it out of the house and so tore it in peeces and fedde vppon his carraine fleshe openly Whiche was a thyng to bee muche marueiled at and thought to bee sent from God for a terrour to all tyrauntes hereafter Now here is to be noted that the Erle so long as he had power left no occasion to trouble Bryan Mackefellyn and to make hym knowe he had offended the Queenes highnesse and for that cause
this assaulte wee loste a hundreth and fiftie good soldiours but the night commyng on the French surseased their furie and yet kepte them selues closely vnder the toppe of the breache where our shotte nor flankers could doe them no harme For all our greate Ordinaunce was dismounted long before the enemie made any approche for the giuyng of an assault The nexte daie within three halfe howers the Batterie had beaten the breache so bare whiche molded awaie like a hillocke of Sande that wee were forced to feight on our knees and beeyng kepte wakyng all the night before with false Allarummes our men began to fainte and waxe wearie of workyng at the breach But we defended Mary Bulwarke so well all that daungerous daie that the Frenche loste a thousande Soldiours by their owne confession at the same seruice and yet the assaulte endured to the very darcke night with as muche crueltie as could bee deuised And alwaies when the enemies first men did waxe feeble with labour there was a seconde and newe releef of freshe bandes to continue the assault So that as long as the daie light serued it seemed by the fight a bloodie broile hath no ende nor season to take breathe in whiche certainly would haue daunted any harte liuyng The nexte night was so plied with polliticke practises that wee had skarcely laysure to take any reste or sustentation and in deede with ouer watchyng some of our men fell a slepe in the middell of their tale and tyme of greatest necessitie to debate and argue of those thynges that pertained to life and libertie and to auoide vtter seruitude and shame And now wee that were without the Castell might heare a greate businesse and sturre throughout the whole bodie and harte of the peece For the nexte mornyng whiche was the third daie we were assaulted our generall looked for a generall assault and to bee assailed roundely as of trothe he was In the meane while we might speake one to an other ▪ a farre of and our freendes aunswered vs ouer the wall for nerer together we might not come and for succour or aide in Mary Bulwarke to our soldiours we hoped not after Euery man was occupied with his owne businesse and charge that no one persone might bee spared from his place Well as God would permit the poore Spaniardes and suche Burgoniōs as was left vs a liue in Mary bulwark fell to make a coūter skarffe to beate out the enemie from the Braie when the Bulwarke should be wonne as it was likely to bee loste the breache was so bare and the entrie for the enemie was so large For in a maner thei might assaulte our Bulwarke rounde about on all sides and did lodge at the verie edge of the breache to the nomber of twoo thousande of their brauest bandes mindyng to assaile vs as sone as the daie began to pepe out of the skies Whiche thei performed when the third daie approched for a generall assault was giuen to euery place of the Castle whiche assaulte endured till the verie night came on and the Frenche in this assaulte wanne the base Courte and were readie to sette fire vnder the gate and blowe it vp with pouder And Mounsire Dandelot his owne persone was entered Mary Bulwarke with twoo thousande soldiours who slue the Spaniardes in the Braie and forced as many Burgonions and Englishe as was lefte a liue whiche was but fifteene of fower hundred to leape doune into the Dikes and so to scamble for their liues and creepe into a hole of a bricke wall that my Lorde Grate had broken vp to receiue suche as eskaped from the assaulte whiche was Capitaine Andrea Capitaine Lambert and my self with twelue common Soldiours But when wee had entered the hole in the wall the Frenche followed at our heeles and we to saue our liues tourned againe bendyng Pikes againste the passage and so shotte of one Hargaboze by whiche meanes the enemie followed no further And yet we were in as greate distresse as before For wee were betweene twoo gates and at the gate we should haue entered was twoo greate Cannons readie charged to be shotte of to driue them backe that would haue sette fire on the gate And the crie and noise was so greate and terrible on all sides that we could not be harde speake But as God would maister Lewes Diue a man of warshippe now in Bedforde Shire hears my voice then I plied the matter so sore for life so that with muche a dooe maister Diue receiued vs into the harte of the Castell and yet in the openyng of the gate the Frenche were like to enter pelley melley with vs if a Cannot shotte had not made place whiles the gate was a shuttyng But now wee were no soner come before my Lorde Graie but all the soldiours cried yeelde vp the Castell vppon some reasonable composition And when the Soldiours sawe thei could not haue the Castell yeelded thei threatened to flyng my Lorde Graye ouer the walles and that was determined if my Lorde had not preuented them with a pollicie Wherevpon the Capitaines were called together and there thei agreed to sende me to Mounsire Degwise with an offer that if we might all marche with bagge and baggage Ensigne displaied and sixe peeces of Ordinaunce we would yeelde the Castell into the handes of the Frenche Now was it night and I muste bee let out at maister Harry Norwitche his Bulwarke but neither Dromme nor Trompet wentte with me because a Trompettor was slaine as he sounded to haue a parley and as I heard saie a Dromme that would haue followed me was shotte into the legge But there was no remedie but I must wade ouer the water in whiche water laye certain galthroppes as thei tearme them whiche were greate bordes full of long spikes of Iron on the whiche hauyng good bootes and a staie in my hande I was taught daintely to tread and the night was so darcke that the enemie might not take any good marke of me albeit thei shotte diuerse tymes so with some hazard and no greate hope to attaine that I was sent for I was taken by the watche and brought to Mounsire Degwises tent where duke D'omale and many greate estates were in presence my message beeyng saied with decent reuerence made The Duke tolde me that all our Ordinaunce was dismounted and that therby our mallice was cutte of and we could not doe his Campe any annoyaunce Wherefore saied he this was a stoute bragge to seeke a capitulation with suche aduauntage vpon I replied to his excellencie and tolde that wee had flanckers and other greate peeces whiche would not be discouered till the next assault declaryng likewise our soldiours had sworne rather to dye in their defence then not to marche awaie like men of warr The noble men on this myne aunswere badde me retourne and will the reste of the Castell to doe the worste thei could So I departed and the Duke of Gwise beholdyng as he thought we were resolued to
see the vttermoste of Fortune called me backe againe and fell to questions and argumentes with me suche as I liked not But other aunswere did I not make then before you haue heard wherewith he called for some meate and made me to sitte doune and after I had a little refreshed my self I demaunded to knowe his pleasure Who straight waies tolde me there was no helpe to be had but to become all captiues and prisoners to the French kyng Not so sir I aunswered and that should the nexte assault make triall thereof Then he went to talke with the noble men and there thei concluded that the soldiours should marche awaie with bagge and baggage and the capitaines and officers should remaine prisoners whiche I knewe would not bee liked and so desired to bee sente to my Lorde Graie But when I came into the Castell and the soldiours had gotten woorde that thei might marche awaie at their will Thei came to me and threatened me with greate wordes commaundyng to make dispatche and yeelde vp the Forte For saied thei since the matter is in talke and likelie to be brought to a good purpose thei would cutte my throte if I made not hastely an ende of the cace And thereon had thei made a greate hole in a walle and so thei thruste me out emong the Almaines who rudely handeled me But my Lorde Graie at my departure badde me tell the Duke that the Almaines were aboute to breake into the Castell and to sette the gate a fire and my Lorde saied he would shoote of his greate Ordinaunce emong theim if the lawe of Armes wer not better obserued But in the meane tyme at an other place was entered Mounsire de Tre maister of the Ordinaunce and the Lorde Graie that now is was sent into the Campe for the paune of Mounsire De Tre. But I was come to Mounsire Degwise before those thynges were finished and had tolde hym my message And he like a noble Prince and faithfull Capitaine roade to the gate causyng me to mounte behynde maister Harry Dudley where the Almaines were busily occupied aboute some naughtie practise and with a greate trontchon he strake diuers of the Almaines and others to make them retire and laiyng loade about hym he made suche waie that the gate was free And the capitulation was at laysure talked of but I was not suffred to enter no more into the Castell and so staied as a prisoner notwithstandyng looke what promesse Mounsire Degwise made it was so well kepte and obserued that our soldiours marched awaie with all their wealthe money or weapons And greate wealth was by them borne from Gines in so muche that diuers poore Soldiours were made thereby all their life daies after And this was to bee noted there was greate honour in the Duke of Gwise for the bandes that parted either sicke or sounde hurte or whole were honestly conueighed and truely dealte withall euen as long as thei were in any daunger albeit thei had greate sommes of money and Threasure with theim and the Generall his Capitaines and Officers were courteouslie vsed so long as we were in the Duke of Gwise his Campe. And to saie the truth I thinke our peace was not so dishonourable as some reporte For succour had wee no hope of The nexte assaulte had ouerthrowen vs The whole members of the Castell were cutte of from vs There remained but the bare bodie of the Castell in our custodie The enemies Cannons did beate vs from the breache on the in side The Castell was subiect to euery shotte bothe from the Keepe the Catte and Mary Bulwarke The Frēche possessed all the speciall places of our strength and comforte The beste and cheefest of our soldiours were slaine or laye maimed in moste miserable estate And we had loste eight hundreth men in these assaultes and seruices whiche did their duetie so well that the enemie confessed that thei had loste fower thousande before wee could bee brought to any parley and composition But some of our Officers by crafte and cunnyng escaped home out of the Frenche mennes handes came to the Court and made vp their bandes againe to the greate reproche of those that ment no suche matter and so by that subteltie and shift thei that escaped gatte a paye or some reward of the prince And those that abode out the bronte and hazarde of the bloodie broile were lefte in prison and the worlde thought by seyng so many come home we had loste but a fewe at the siege of Gynes Whiche is otherwise to be proued and affirmed for a trothe when true triall shal be made Callice was loste before I can not declare how but well I wotte Sir Anthonie Ager a stoute gentleman and a valliaunte knight there loste his life and one Capitaine Saule was terrible burnte with pouder in makyng a traine to destroye the enemie Now leauyng of these vncomfortable discourses I will shewe what gentlemen of ours after serued in sondrie soiles where many greate Princes were in daiely exercises of warre and many greate victories and exploites were to be seen and though I write not the iourneis in right order as one that writes a Chronicle maie dooe yet the matter I write of shal be so true that it shal be needlesse to shewe what season the causes were put in practise or make mention in due order of the date and tyme of suche noble enterprises for your common Chronicles can sufficiently satiffie you in those poinctes The seruices on the Sea I doe sette aparte by them selues and so here I proceede in some matter whiche toucheth a peece of the businesse of Flaunders and Fraūce where diuers of our gētlemen wer and beheld many great exploites Now is to be noted that M. Henry Champernowne of Deuonshire after his returne from the warres of Hungarie serued in the cause of the Protestantes of Fraūce of his own proper charges in the second Ciuile warres with xij gentlemen or more And in the thirde Ciuile warres after the battaile of Iarnag he serued with an hundred men of his owne proper costes Likewise accompanied and followed these gentlemenne Edward Barkley Phillip Budsed Gawine Champernowne Richard Kirkam Walter Rawley Carro Rawley Ranoldes Hugh Vdall Thomas Courtney Willyam Fonte Richard Keyes Willyam Walwyng Thomas Atkins and others whereof some retourned after the death of the olde Prince of Conde But maister Henry Champernowne as one desirous of renowme and greedie of glorie gotten by seruice remained till his death where liuely fame was to be wonne and serued so nobly and so gallantly as the whole Campe where he was in sounded of his valliantnesse and many of those gentlemen that he brought with hym augmented so muche his fame that to this daie his deedes and theirs are moste noblie spoken of greatly to the honour of all our Englishe Nation For his gentlemen or the moste parte of them loste their liues with their Capitaine muche is to be saied in this matter But I must
order against the commendation of the sword and the Sworde beyng disgraced by a balde blotte of a scuruie Goose quill lyes in a broken rustie scabberd and so takes a Canker whiche eates awaie the edge and is in a maner loste for lacke of good lookyng to and consideration of a painfull Cutlare And the Penne as many people are perswaded is like the Pensell of a Painter alwaies readie to sette out sondrie colours and sometime more apt to make a blurre then giue a good shape and proportion to any inuention or deuise that proceades of a plaine meanyng And as all Penselles are as well occupied of a bonglyng Painter as a cunnyng woorke manne So the scriblyng Penne is euer woorkyng of some subteltie more for the benefite of the writer then commonlie for the profite or pleasure of the reader yea and the Penne is waxt so fine and can shewe suche a florishe that a maister of Fence though he plaied with a twoo hande Sworde might bee put to a foule foile where the Penne is in place and is guided by a sleight hande and a shrewde hedde But vnder correction if a man maie bee plaine the Pen and the Sworde can neuer agree because the Penne standes in suche feare of the Sworde it would not come vnder the blowe of the blade and the Sworde is in suche doubte to bee moiled with ynke by the dashe of a Penne that it loues not to come where the Penne maie annoye it And so the dissention and quarrell betweene the Penne and the Sworde is neuer like to bee taken vp the harmes are so greate that growes on their amitie and meetyng and the aduauntage of them bothe is so muche when thei bee kept a sonder For the sworde is beste and in his moste brauerie when it is shinyng in the feelde where blood maie bee shedde and honour maie bee wonne And the Penne is in cheefest pōpe when it lyes lurkyng in the toune where pence maie be purchased and peace and quietnesse maie doe what it pleaseth And the Penne is so glad to reste in the Pennar till profite calles hym out that he can not abide the hindrers of his commoditie nor the disquieter of his ease Whiche commeth by warres and procedeth from the Sworde when the Drom and the Trompet puttes the Penne out of credite Now to speake roundly to the reason maie bee alledged in the Pennes behalfe and praises of those haue the vse of the same it can not bee denied but the Penne maie bothe perswade warre and purchace peace And those that here at home maintaine good Lawes see iustice ministered vphold the publike state Plead controuersies at the barre studie to vnfolde doubtes Labour at their booke to bee profitable mēbers and striue daiely to excell in learnyng and quiete the quarellous people of their countrey Suche I saie that with Penor tonge aduaunceth vertue and ouerthrowes vice are meete to bee honoured deserueth greate lande and ought to goe in the rancke and place of commendation and dignitie For there is but fower sortes of true Nobilitie or Gentlemenne The firste is Gouernours by whom all states and Kyngdomes are guided brought to knowe order and made possesse in quietnesse the gooddes that either good Fortune or sweate of browes hath gotten The seconde are Soldiours whose venter and valliance hath been greate seruice and labour not little and daiely defended with the hazarde of their liues the libertie of their Countrey The thirde are vpright and learned Lawyers that looketh more to the matter thei haue in hande then the money thei receiue And are neuer idell in dooyng their duetie and studiyng for the quietnesse of matters in controuersie The fowerth are Marchauntes that sailes forrain countreys and brynges home commodities and after greate hazardes abroad doe vtter their ware with regard of consciēce and profite to the publike estate And as from the beginnyng gouernours and rulers wer ordeined by God and the reste of gentilitie came in and did followe as reason required and desarte did commaunde So auncient birth and blood ioyned with good conditions is a thyng muche to bee honoured and esteemed and beautifies not onely the noble race but brynges likewise a treable beatitude to the persone so verteouslie bent and noblie borne And as for the soldiours and their originall of honours titles and callyng the Romains whiche were the Fathers of all Marshall affaires and conquerours of the worlde haue so muche spoken of and praised that no manne can deny but thei are the men of greatest antiquitie and people that princes firste prefarred and gaue stipendes vnto Yea and the cheefest conquerours that euer were before our daies had a greate glorie them selues to bee called Soldiours and Noble Capitaines For thei thought none so worthie as the soldiour nor none so mete to compare them selues vnto as the man that stoode on his honour and would neither stoupe to no kinde of slauerie nor yeelde to no villanous action But in verie deede to speake of euery one in their order there is none so muche to bee feared loued and honoured as the rulers and leaders of the common people For the peaceable Gouernoure and suche as are experimented in worldlie pollicies knowes how to make warre and how to auoide troubles and as thei are lothe to fall from reste and wealthe to ruffelyng warre and wickednesse that breedes bloodshed and want So thei can breake the bandes of peace and set menne out to the feelde when causes commaundes them and oportunitie doeth serue But since that my purpose is but to treate of Soldiours alone and that I lacke skill to set forthe the reste I will retourne to my firste discourse and intent and leaue the wise to cōsider what good matter maie be saied in the thyng I leaue of The Soldioure because his life is in Ballunce and his death is at the dore hath so many mischeeues to passe and so fewe meanes to escape daunger that he is compelled to bee honest and be ready to make an accompt euery hower of the daie For as the Cannon maie call hym before he be a ware or the pollicie of the enemie maie cutte of his yeres So is he assured that the potte whiche goeth often to the water commes home with a knocke or at lengthe is passhed all in peeces Through whiche accidentes or crosse chances he is held so harde and curbed so shorte if any feare of God bee in his breast that he hath no scope to runne at riot in nor plaie the partes of a wanton or prodigall soonne Albeeit some holde opinion that Soldiours be giuen to spoile and offered to insolente life by a nomber of inconueniences yet maie thei so well be occupied in warre that thei maie bee occasion of greate good and a greate hynderer of many harmes For when houses are readie to be burnt impotente persones poore women and children readie to bee slaine thei maie saue what the liste and preserue an infinite nomber of thynges that a man at home can doe
the Viscount of Gant and the reste moste valliauntly encountered with a Spanyard and as worthely acquited hymself of the same at their enteryng or chargyng for the Hille thei made signes that their forces should followe Who beyng arriued and possessed of the grounde discended from their horses to encourage the whole nombers and troupes of our Nation to the seruice to followe whiche thei beganne to doe verie faste The first that came in was the Capitaine maister Roger Byngham accompanied with diuers Gentlemen and Soldiours as maister Huzey maister Knight maister Tēple with many more The other brother came in vpon the higher grounde more neere the Hethe with a fiftie or sixtie with hym some of that bande and some of others with whiche the saied Capitaine incontinent entered into scirmouche with the enemie from the Hille and the corner of the Heathe to their forces whiche were placed all a long vnder a Hedge This scirmouche was so well maintained of bothe sides that thei grewe verie neere the one to the other and diuers slaine on bothe sides As the actions passed in this heate of shotte the horse of maister Yorke was stricken with a bullet throughe whiche he was forced to forsake the Hille or place giuyng a note thereof by woorde from hym self to the Lieutenaunte Who fearyng leaste the goyng awaie of that horse from the Hille inward would staie or discourage those that were cōmyng into their succours or aide Sent one of his menne to his brother the Capitaine willyng hym to fight or deale warely vppon a reteate And leaped hym self to horse to hasten and bryng them in whiche by this meanes or charge he doubted of and were commyng euen in this meane while The enemie charged with greate furie Capitaine Bingham and the reste that were with hym who moste worthely choose rather to sell his life dearely with the slaughter of some of his enemies then in vile and disorderly sort to retire yet made he an orderly retreate into the high waie in whiche there came vp on the lefte hande a greate troupe of the enemies who inuironed or caste theim aboute with this the Lieutenaunte came in with succours who was encountered with the saied enemie twentie paces before he could ariue at the Capitaine and was so hardely charged and ouersaied with nomber that he was forced to fight pelle melle in a retraite all a long vnder the Hedge till he came to the elbowe or bought of the cloase where Capitaine Edwardes the Lieutenaunt of maister Cabendiches companie came in to hym well accompanied with the shotte of that band with the aide of whiche the Lieutenant Generall charged the enemie again with a greate furie and courage forcyng them to a maine retraite euen to the Hille or corner of the Hedge where thei findyng their freshe reserued troupes strength charged vs againe the seconde tyme with greater furie then before For it stoode them in hande to giue vs our filles that thei might make their retraite with saffetie forsyng the Lieutenaunt againe to a general retraite vpon this seconde retraite came in the cheefe Generall of our Nation Maister Norris to whom the Lieutenant adressed hym beyng then extreme wearie bothe in bodie and mynde for the doubtfull estate of his brothers and the other gentlemen as whether thei were taken or slaine whiche he signified forthe with to the Generall maister Ihon Norris Who beyng freshe and lustie endeuoured hymself moste worthely in commandyng charge of all handes with whiche the enemie was againe repulsed to his ordinary garde of strength beeyng brought to this state there beganne againe a hotte scirmouche betwixt them in whiche was neither sworde nor pouder spared The enemie seyng the great courage of the Englishe who would not leaue theim but were harde at their heeles was doubtfull how to make his retraite with any assuraunce thought good in pollicie to giue vs a maine charge once againe with as greate furie as thei might And this was the third tyme and the laste that thei persed our Nasion in whiche thei forced vs further then euer before euen to the corner of the cloase nexte to our Trenches At whiche place came in Capitain Fitz Willyams with a reasonable good troupe who the Lieutenaunt commaunded to charge on the enemie and promise doo followe hym in the back as he did but as he cam to the elbowe of the cloase he mette the saied Capitain commyng aboute sore beaten and all the place from that to the Hille imploied with the companies of bothe sides in fight of pelle melle with diuers encounters of many worthie men of courage vpon this occasion or fight wee stoode longer then in any other before Here thei gaue vs so muche as we were well contente after wee had forced them to retire to take a pauce on it Attendyng the commyng of the Collonell Morgan who was sette forward from the trenches with a good troupe to our succours And truely though he were not in the feelde yet did he very worthie seruice within the Campe in giuyng order for vs to be supplied in diuers cases As also in fastenyng and assuryng the myndes of a nomber of fearfull straungers Who had their wagons and packes all readie truste to flie onely restyng vppon the assurance of our Nasion In this meane while the launces of the enemie had passed the straite in their retraite backe againe and laye at the mouth of the straite towardes vs seuen or eight companies of Harcabuses on horsebacke to deale with them that would attempte to pursue theim Their footemen that had been so long in action with vs seyng their retraite prepared for and their tyme come without sounde of Drumme stale awaie ouer twoo or three cloases till thei paste the crossewaie that went towardes the straite on the right hande At this crossewaie thei had placed a releefe of shot whiche was emploied againste maister Norris and the reste that followed hym From this crossewaie and corner whiche was a grounde of strength thei deliuered a volle in brauerie and somewhat in pollicie more then to hurte on the instant of whiche volley of shot thei tooke their heeles ouer the Medes and ditches and neuer tourned till thei came to the farre Heathe where thei founde the Launces for their garde who presentely conducted them into the Armie And thēselues made the rereward with the shotte on horse that laie yet more behinde at the mouthe of the straite towardes our trenches as I haue shewed you before ouer twoo or three cloases thei were paste before wee could learne of their fearfull retraite Yet were there diuers lustie fellowes of ours that were in with the hindmoste and tooke some prisoners The Prince of Parma commyng to the gouernemente of Flaunders after the death of Don Ihon whose vallue is waighed by the wisedome of the worlde beganne pollitikely and manfully to vse his aucthoritie For so the cace required consideryng diuers Gouernours bearyng the Torche before hym and he with a little Candell must
Loue is a sprite a shadowe or a ghoste A needlesse charge that seldome quitts the coste A practise bought with many a threede bare purse A wretched blisse that I and myne maie curse It is the skum and onely drosse of youth That bryngs bothe soule and bodie in decaye A kinde of taske wherein there is no truth A Courtyng trade that doeth muche crafte bewraie A wilie Foxe a wanton full of plaie A sainct to showe a Deuill God he knose That me betraied and made me freedome lose The Horse ronns farre that neuer tourns againe The beaten child is learnd to feare the rod The double minde maie fall to meanyng plaine Thei maie a mende that feels the feare of God. The clouds maie cleere that long hath threatned raine The tyme ill spent if reason will redeeme Calls home wilde witts from toyes that are extreeme Youth tak's his course and follows fancies freaks Age all reforms and sore repents tyme paste The bowe long bent ye knowe in processe weaks Hard thyngs at first maie gentill waxe at laste Who often faulls is taught to stande full faste And fewe there are but slieds or falls doune right In youth or age our iudgements are so light When witte is bought and follie throughly waied An vnce of skill is worthe a pounde of drosse Till bodie smarte the minde is neuer staied Gaine is not likte till we haue tasted losse Some saie eche one is borne to beare his crosse My heauie faults now burthens breast so sore That heare or hence I must be scourgd therefore Sweete are those stripps that breaks ne bone nor lim And yet setts sound the soule and bodie bothe Sowre are those ioyes and worldly braurie trim That doune to hell with dampned people gothe Sweete are sharpe woords that tells leawd life the trothe Sowre is sweete sause that cloyes the stomacke still Sweete are those nipps that doeth restraine the will. The pampred horse that still in stable stands Will ware a iade if spurre ne wande he taest The wildest Colt is tam'd by riders hands And so through bitte is made well traind and paest All hedstrong thyngs are not reformd in haest But when regard looks backe where blindnesse went The perrill paste bides pompe and Pride repent Greate is the scope that greedie will desiers Small gaine or grace doeth growe by gaddyng out With heauie lode the wearie leggs retiers And hartfull fraught of worldly dread and dout And sure the ground from whence all vice doeth sprout Is gaddyng geres that lovs a broad to gase Who shame sends home in greate sadde muse and mase And when in dores dame dalliance close is 〈◊〉 And noets what blot she did escape without She thinks in streate she put her name to pawne Or went abroad to plaie the bare banckrout Where wanton eyes did naught but stare about Where all a flant at full like shippe with saile Fine minions marche as braue as Pecockes taile The croked backe must bolstred be by arte The taunie skinne must shine by some trim knacke The twinklyng looks for sport must plaie their parte The perwicks fine must curle where hear doeth lacke The swellyng grace that fills the emptie sacke And iettyng pace with limes stretcht out full streight To patche out pride are matters of greate weight Then fie on all suche trashe and tromprie vile That setts forthe shaeds in Sonnie daie to shine My youth is paste I can not worlde begile Men will not looke for babes in hollowd eyen A witherd grape hangs now on rotten vien From blasted branche the berrie round is gone A doskie glasse is little lookt vpon Wherefore I vowe to weare a sorie vaile To shrowd the face that feaw or none will like And get some shell to holde in hedde like Snaile For former faults in conscience so doeth strike That I doe feare I shall my self mislike If shadowes doe not cloke defects I haue Or death dispatche and sende me to my graue Now note my tale you dames of gentill blood Now waile with me all suche as plaies my parte Now let my harms doe harmlesse people good Now bid all wivs defie this deulishe arte For my consaite is suche a deadly darte That where I goe or walke in any place Me thinks my faults are written in my face FINIS A heauie matter of a Englishe gentleman and a gentlewoman in maner of a Tragedie whiche gentlewoman called her freende the wanderyng Prince THE wandryng Prince whiche ran the restlesse race Had muche a doe to trie this froward fate And I poore man that doeth supplie his place In pilgrims porte maie waile my wofull state To Gods and men the storie now I tell That iudgement haue to marke my matter well Bothe lande and seas as farre as wandrer goes And worlde so wide my sokyng sorrowe knoes In natiue soile where long I fostred was A make I chose to leade my life with all From whom at length I wandryng Prince did pas For causes greate that tournd my sweete to gall Suffice to thinke some fire did raise the smoke That made me flie and shunne from marrage yoke Some piuishe pranck some padde laied in the strawe That forced feers thus seurall waies to drawe A wretched happ betid's betweene them twaine That parts in haste where long the loue was bent An open plague a pinchyng priuie paine Is felt and founde where suche mishapp is sent The house decaies the credite cracks with all And doune full flatte doeth eche good Fortune fall And of renowme the propps and pillars shak's And babblyng tongs there on a wonder mak's Let sleepe some harms my muse must now awake To blase the broills that wandryng life did bryng Who goes from home and doeth a iourney take Full little knowes where doeth the saddell wryng Till bityng greefs bewraies a secret sore As sone as man setts foote on forraine shore A mischeef streight doeth meete hym full in face As welcome fitte for men from forraine place As straungers here somtymes haue gazers on And Crowes with Kietts doe seldome well agree So home bred birds from hence no soner gon In countrey straunge full sone oermatched bee First finesse coms and fram's some fashon newe To catche wilde hauks or cast tame birde in mewe Then falshed fliers and plaies the wilie Foxe With gaddyng foote that faste is in the stoxe The traular tasts more toile then tong can tell More troublous tyms than trothe maie well report Wants heuens blisse and feeleth more of hell Then all the souls that to this worlde resort The Camell bears a burthen greate you knowe The Asse likewise doeth not vncharged goe But neither beast nor nothyng name you maie Surmounts the pains of wandryng Prince I saie My deastnie drewe my daies to dolefull date Desire to see strange realms bred myne vnrest For where I thought in suretie saffe I sate Farre from my freends I found my self distrest In daunger oft and feare of mortall foe I daiely paste betweene the stryng and boe