THE method and manner that I in­tend to vse in this Discourse, shall bee after this sort, 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 grosenes and simplicitie, our rebelly­ous 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 ouerthrow of them and theirs. Thirdly, because many of our countrie [Page] 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 maner 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 benefits & blessings with which it hath pleased God to adorn her royall Maiestie, together with the flourishing estate of that noble soile since the time of her Ma­iesties raigne, so flourishing with peace, prosperity, and abundance, in glorie of warres, so renowmed and victorious in arts, 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, their abo­lition of their priuiledges, and in fine, the vnspea­kable bondage, slauerie, and desolate despaire in which they liue languishing. A matter though farre vnfit for me 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 [Page] of the other, both don in the appearance of the world, I hope and so with all lowlynesse most humbly desire her most gracious and benigne Ma­iestie to pardon me, if I come farre short of that which men fitter for the handling therof could say or intreat. And so most humbly also make petition, that I may therein bee censured according to the loyall zeale I beare to her most princely Maiestie, and not to the basenes and simplicitie 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 cleerly and plainly discerne those things which hetherto your eies blinded with the vaile of partialitie, haue not bin able to view. I will begin with the good vsage, honor & 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 like course before you, wherby you shal perceiue it is not all gold that glistreth, but that whatsoeuer shew the Spaniarde make vnto vs, yet in his hart he mortally abhorreth vs, & by al means possible seeketh our destruction, ruine & subuerti­on, as it euidently appeareth by his vsage of troups & companies of our nations that haue serued him. 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 life, their comming beeing the onelie cause [Page] that the towne was so soone deliuered vnto him as it was. For whereas the Duke of Aniou laie vnder the wals of Gaunt, with sufficient force and most deliberate resolution to succour the sayd towne of Antwarp vpon his mutinie, fearing further incon­uenience, he marched away 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? Within one yeere they were let all to famish 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 Antwarp, of whose be­ginning they were the chiefest, and there openlye hanged in the market place. Whereas all other na­tions had libertie to rob and steale, and doo what they list. Another troupe of them of thirtye, beeing foorth, and lying in a village neere Poppe­ring in Flanders, a companie of Spaniardes hearing of them, came into the village where they were, & after friendly and soldierly salutation of each side, as they were all making merrie together, on a so­daine the Spaniards tooke them at aduauntage vn­armed, and most trecherously and inhumanelye murthered them euerie one. Sundrie complaint [...]s were made to the Duke, by the friends 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 [Page] poore miserable troupe, the campe being then be­fore Winockberghen, they made them two litle forts of purpose, in which they willingly placed them in the vtmost quarter of the whole camp, and neerest confining to the town, to the end they might haue all their throates cut, as in deede they had verie few nights 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 alarum passed through the whol campe, yet they were neuer releeued with any suc­cour at all, insomuch that the greatest part of them being 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 their vnfortunate seruice, especiallye at Ganskecke, Aske. and Grauer, would seeme (I am sure) vnto you for the vnspeakable strangenesse thereof, scarcelye 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 & downe 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, being well neere a thousand, as tall and well appointed men as were in Europe, whose seruice, how meritorious and beneficiall it was vnto the Spaniards, I leaue to their iudgements that knowe [Page] the Countrie. For by rendering of Alost vnto him, they were the occasion that hee got Darmounde the Sasse, the fortes of Leiskins hooke, Saint Anthonies, & 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 within two yeeres space, what with hunger, the gallowes, & rigorous dealing, consumed and brought to no­thing. And last at Stalbrooke, even against the yeeld­ing vp of Antwarp, when all other Nations were to receiue their count and reckoning, they only were infamously cashierd without anie one moneths paie. And which of all others is most monstrous & scarce credible, whereas some of the Captains, not long before had made them of their owne purses new and faire Ensignes, those Ensignes were vio­lently taken awaie from those that bare them and deteined. Which abuse and wrong though captain Tresham and the other Captaines complained off to the duke with great protestations, yet they could 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 their wast, and hauing had more men slain in that siege than anie other regiment in the whole campe, could not receiue one pennie, notwithstan­ding they had passed in muster with he rest, and some of the Captaines bribed the C [...]ommissarie, thinking thereby to make a great hand. But in sted [Page] of mony, 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 paie of a reformed Captaine amongst them, of what Nation so euer he be, 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 fifty poundes, to make which raunsome, his father beeing then in Flanders, a poore olde man of seuenty yeres of age, fell vpon his knees before the Duke, weeping and imploring his helpe. But in sted of yelding 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 theyr charges or raunsomes, Pigot was suffered 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 he got as much as paide his raunsome, but neuer could obtaine one pennie of the Duke, though shee were an importunate sutor vnto him.

[Page] 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 companie 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 lefte there in gar­rison with the receite of two moneths paie. For a while he liued in the greatest applause that might bee: Cardinall Allen was written vnto to set down Priests to instruct this religious regiment: he infor­med the Pope thereof, who both wrote ioyntlie to the King to be good vnto this regiment. Which beeing well and liberally intreated, as they had al­readie at Rhemes and Rome, a Seminarie of schollers to praie and write for the Catholyke cause of our Countrie: So this conducted by so worthie and Catholike a Gentleman as sir William Standley was, might bee a continuall nurserie and seminarie of souldiers to fight for the same. Downe came Priestes thicke and three-folde, from France and I­taly, many masses and much preaching there was: Gentlemen from all parts drew downe thether, in hope of this good paiment, and golden world that then was talked of. But what followed within short space, to weaken their number, three of their com­panies vnder colour of seruice, were cunninglye drawen out of the Towne by Verdugo Haaltephen, neuer from that time after being suffered to return to it again: and within a while after sir, William him selfe with the remnant, was commanded vnder the [Page] lyke colour of seruice, to come foorth, being tolde that hee shoulde presently returne into it againe. And by this fine meanes was eased of his gouern­ment, and such goods as hee and his souldiers lefte, were spoiled & made bootie of. And sithence that time his seminarie souldiers, with all their religion, were neuer trusted in anie towne, nor neuer shalbe 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 theyr chiefest foode and sustenaunce in Turnolt, was vn­poudered acornes, which they founde in cellers: which dyet the Priests not liking of, came to theyr Coronell to Antwarp, who to auoide the lamen­tations and complaints of his souldiers, had gotten him there a lodging, where you should neuer haue found 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 them wholy subiected: who dealt for him in such sorte with the Cardinall, that he presently sent Parsons awaie into Spaine, to in­forme the King of his worthinesse, vertue, and ex­perience of the sea coastes of England, but espe­cially of his intelligence about Irelande, which in truth hee presumeth to bee verie greate. Parsons [Page] plaide his part in such sort, that sir William was pre­sently sent for: who vpon his ariuall, did what hee could, to perswade the king to send forces for Ire­land: but belyke there was not such credite giuen him as hee expected, insomuch that he wrote Let­ters to H. Holt the Iesuite in Brusels (which is one of those on whom he chiefly relyeth) of great discon­tentment, signifieng, that his entertainment was far colder than he expected. Within short space after, he was sent downe to the kings Nauie, lying at Co­conia, whereas yet he remaineth. In the meane time his regiment began to drop and droupe awaie, in such sort, that what for lacke of sustenance, & what for ill vsage, the number of them was melted to an hundred and fiftie: which base and villanous vsage the grauest and wisest of his Captaines seeing, espe­cially abhorring the trecherous practises of theyr Coronell, made by secrete meanes humble inter­cession to her most gracious MAISTIE, to par­don theyr offences committed, and to grant them libertie to liue in their Country: which of her most princely and royall benignitie shee graunted, so as now they liue here in honest and good sort, & can testifie all this which I haue sayd to be true.

Hauing gotten sir William out of Deuenter, yet Yorke still remained a blemish in their eie, who al­wais, notwithstanding theyr base vsage, stil flouri­shed & bare his head aloft, ranging ouer the whole coun [...]rie with his Companie, bringing in daylye many great and rich booties: Him therefore fairly on a daie at dinner, they caused to bee poysoned, [Page] where likewise were poisoned with him yong Rich­ard Souch, & Robert Fen priest: but hee belike hauing swalowed the best Boncon, they only met with the drams, so that he dyed miserablie, and they fell sick and brake out into many pustles & biles, yet after­wardes recouered, and did giue this testimony. His breath was no sooner out of his bodie, but Fiorias a Spaniard, and Vandenberg, the newe gouernour of Deuenter, rushte into his lodging to breake vp his coffers, in which beeing withstoode by Yorkes lieu­tenant Edward Boncer, and [...]is brother, they caused their gards at no one dayes to enter in vpon them, and to murther them both in theyr own presence: which done, they brake vp his coffers, tooke out his iewels, plate, and mony, of which they found great store, appropriating the same to theyr townes vse, which he by Testament had giuen to a little youth his nephew, being nowe at this present in England. Lastly, they chased his whole companie out of the towne, and spoiled theyr baggage at the gates. The poore souldiers beeing thus inhumanely depriued of their Captaine and Lieutenant, and seeing them selues so vilely dealt with, repaired to Verslugo for releefe, who for recompence presentlye cashierd them all without the receit of one pennie.

Afterwardes they gaue out and published, that Yorke was poisoned by subornation of the counsell of England, but, if there had bene no other proofes (as there were infinite) yet the sequele of their do­ings, their murthering of his friends, and their rob­bing of his treasure, shewed by whom it was done, [Page] and whereat they aimed.

If these examples bee not inough▪ to serue the turne, but that perchance you wil saie, he hath delt better with priuate men. If you can name mee but anie one that he hath raised or aduanced to honor, or that liueth richly or wealthily in his seruice, I wil name you an hundred, that beeing Gentlemen of good houses and of worthie merite, haue consu­med, languished, and beene brought to nothing in his seruice, some of them perished & died for lacke of sustenance. You perchance will name Hugh Ow­en, and in good faith hee is the onely man that euer I knew aduanced, credited, or graced in his seruice. And yet (God wot) all that hee getteth, is no more than to maintain him in a meane estate and shew, with a man onely or two to serue him. Where on the other side I will reckon you vp of those that are onely for want of thinges necessarie, and of pure pouertie consumed and dead, M. Copley, L. Dacers, Michael Tempest, olde Norton, Tremaine, Stradling, Henrie Carew, Edward Allen, Southwell, with sundrie others of good race and credite in their Countrie: Copley being sicke at Beuere, and in vnspeakable di­stresse and calamitie, desired a Gentleman his kins­man, one Lo. Lewkner, to beeseech Pedro de Olane, who then was Treasurer, to paie him vpon an assig­nation which hee had, onely fiue pounds, protest­ing that at that present his lyfe might there with be saued. The Gentleman performed his request with all instance and fidelitie, as he hath often times told me, but coulde not obtaine one pennie. Where­vpon [Page] hee mooued the Duke, but nothing woulde come, so that without finding anie man that tooke compassion of his distresse, his owne Countrie­men beeing vnable to helpe him, he ended his lyfe, though with patience vertuously and well, yet the state of so honourable a Gentleman considered, most pittifully, and in great miserie.

To recite vnto you the names of those that doo yet liue so poorely and vncomfortably in his pension, woulde bee too long, and therefore take them all in generall (Charles Paget onely excepted) and examine them one from another, from my Lord of Westmerland downward, euen to the verie lowest: and if there bee in the whole worlde a more miserable and discontented troupe of Gen­tlemen than they are, let mee neuer bee credited in anie thing else that I shall tell you. And because you shall your selfe the better iudge, I wyll tell you what paiment they haue, of such pensions as the king hath giuen them.

They had granted them at Bruges the first daie of August, in the yeere one thousand fiue hundred eightie and eight, a generall Liberanca, to receyue three moneths paie a peece of their pensions, since that time they haue followed the Duke from Towne to Towne, making vnto him sundrye requestes for the payment thereof. But if they haue vntill this present daie obtayned the same, then let mee not be credited in anie parte of the rest which I shall heere intreate of. In deede some small time past, Cosimo beeing wearyed [Page] with their importunities and lamentations, addres­sed them to Baptista Spinola, a baker dwelling it Ant­warpe, giuing them his Letter, and sending the same by one H. Haselwood, requesting him to relieue those distressed English Gentlemen, and to buy their Li­beranca, which he doubted not but they would sell good cheap, greatly to his profit: the whole summe was ten thousand crownes, which Cosimo promised him should be allowed, and paid in the reckoning he had with the king. Haselwood in the name of the rest, offered him the sayd summe for sixe hundred. But Spinola vtterly refused the same, saying he wold not take it for two hundred, and withall hee desi­red that hee might not medldle anie more with the king, wishing that hee 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 pittyfull sort, that truly my heart grieueth to see it, insomuch that I knew a Gentleman that solde his parte there, being foure and twentie pounds, for three pounds. But perchance you will saie, he giueth great pensi­sions, and entertaineth manye of our Nation: it is true in deede, in shew hee doth so, and therewyth doth bleare the worldes eyes with a shew of greate liberalitie. But his paiment and vsage considered, (God is my iudge and witnesse) I speake vnfained­ly, I account it a farre happier estate to bee a doore­keeper in that your blessed soile, than to be heere a 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, [Page] and examine them vppon their consciences: as for my part, in good faith I cannot imagine cause why he entertaineth vs, vnlesse it be to vse vs as stales, to allure others, considering the hatred that he and his beare vs, and so vnder the dissembled colour of a false affection, to ouerthrow vs all at last.

Thus much I dare boldly saie, because through the conference I haue had with them, I doo know assuredly, that euen those of our nation which doo 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 imagine & 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 onelye reiected and con­temned people that followed the Courte, all men beeing releeued with some moneths paie (they onely excepted) and which is more, whereas they mooued the Duke sundry times to knowe his plea­sure, how hee woulde dispose of them in this iour­ney, telling him besides, that vpon the well vsage of them, depended much matter of importaunce, as [Page] the alluring & drawing vnto them other gentlemen of theyr kinsmen and friendes, who vppon hope of the lyke good vsage, honour, and aduauncement, woulde bee able to doo greate seruice vppon their landing: where contrariwise, in seeing them come ouer so poore in shew, without credite, monie, or armes, lyke lackies, for so were the wordes of theyr request, it woulde bee a cause to terrifie them from vndertaking anie such course. They were by the Duke scornefully and with derision reiected, nei­ther did he vouchsafe to giue them anie other aun­swere, than onely that hee woulde thinke vppon it. But on the night that they thought to embarke, he departed, leauing them all behind, not thinking them anie waie worthie to bee called vppon, or to bee taken with him. Wherevpon the Lord Westmer­land and Paget, and sundrie others, layd their heads together, and made their complaint to the Duke of Pastraua, by whome they were as basely and scorn­fully handled as by the other, insomuch that a great Spaniarde standing by, asked them whether they thought the king of Spaine not puisant inough to winne England, without them and theyr friendes. Vppon which answere the Lord Paget, that verily thought hee shoulde haue beene made one of the priuie Councell, and now finding himselfe to bee had in so small account, conceiued such an inward griefe, that from that time forward hee neuer ioy­ed tyll his dying daie. Sir William Standley also tooke it in such heauie and disdainefull sorte, that he was not called to the counsell of warres, where­as [Page] hee presumed, and so gaue out, that no man in the army knew more, or was better able in this voi­age than himselfe, that he sequestred himselfe from the Country, and came malecontent, and hired an house in Antwarpe, 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 wold haue pro­fessed himselfe into a cloister.

Besides, the loue the Spaniarde beareth vs, ap­peareth by the speeches hee dayly vseth in publyke assemblies concerning vs. Once seeing certayne Englysh-men passe by, as they stood a great manie of them in a ring, (as they vse) together vppon the bridge in Antwarpe, they sayde, They wondered what the king made with such vermine in his coun­trie, one of them swearing a greate 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 anie thing proue vnto­wardly in their seruice, they thinke it straight to be done by our especiall meanes and intelligence. As vpon the taking of Axhil by that braue and wor­thie souldyer Sir Phillip Sidney, of worthie memo­rie, Mondragon presently imprisoned Paget with­in the Castle, tooke awaie all things whatsoeuer that hee had woorth anie thing, and the rest [Page] he caused his men to rifle and steale, saying openly that we are all traitors and spies. To confirme the confidence they haue in vs, tell mee what compa­nies of English they haue trusted within these ten yeeres in garison? I am sure you cannot name one. And whereas sundrie Gentlemen amongst vs haue instantly sued to haue their pensions granted them in the castle of Antwarpe or Gaunt, because the pay­ment is there somewhat better: No one hath he­therto bene able to attaine the same: so vile & base is the reckoning they make of vs. I coulde alleadge vnto you many other examples, of sundry disgraces offered vnto our Nation, whereby we might (if we list) easily discouer the hatred they beare vs, the su­spition they haue of vs, and the danger wherein we stande, to haue one daie our throats cut. But this I hope, which I haue alreadie rehearsed, shall suffice fully to assure and persuade you, that here is no ad­uancement, wealth, or reputation to be gotten, but pouertie, perill, iealousie, and disgrace.

Now let vs see, touching the point of conscience, and repose in religion, if the same bee to bee found here, such as you expect. In matter of religion, I wil not take it vppon mee to dispute, because it were to digresse from my purpose, and besides, I neuer stu­died diuinitie: onely making comparison between the comfortable freedome of the one, and the dis­payring slauery of the other, laying on the one side indulgences, pilgrimages, forged relikes, fabulous deuises, and auricular confessions: on the other side, the merites and passion of our Sauiour Iesus [Page] Christ, the inuocation of his holye name, and true penitence proceeding from a contrite heart: on the one side mens traditions, and on the other side, the sincere and holy word of our sauiour. I thinke the choice is not harde to make for him whose heart is not hindered with obstinacle and selfe-will opini­on. But leauing this, and allowing your religion to be good, let vs com [...] to the cōten [...]ment which you might heere receiue in free vsage of the same, toge­ther with the conseruatiō of such other your coun­trie men which here do professe the same religion. First, I thinke you are not ignorant of the broyles, diuisions, seditions, and factions, which are heere a­mong them, some they call Patriots, some Iesuites, some ouer negligent & carelesse in religion, other some ouer pure and hypocriticall, some dunces state men; but the notablest of all these factions, is that betweene our Cardinall Doctor Allen, and D. Lewes Bishop of Casane: on these two parties are all dependant, and so must you be also, if you were here, or otherwise cleauing to neither of them, you shoulde bee counted enemie to them both, and so within short space might put vp your pipes, for you shuld be sure to be put vp for a spye, or at the least so to be crossed in all your matters & pretences, that you wold quickly, I warrant you, be weary of such entertainment: on the other side, imbracing the one, what enuie, what defamation, what slaunder should you not be subiect vnto? On the other side what oathes and solempne depositions must you make? Finally, you woulde thinke there were no [Page] greater purgatorie than to liue among these discen­tions, iarres, and tumults. These two factions I tell you off, haue sought to ouerthrowe one anothers credite in the chiefest courtes in Christendome, tossing to and fro such foule and filthie defamati­ons, that all men almost cryed out agaynst them both. On the other side of the Cardinall, are de­pendant Hugh Owen, with the Iesuites and their re­tinue of fauorites. On the other side the Bishop of Dunglane a Scottish-man, the Lorde Paget whi­lest hee liued, Charles Paget, Thomas Morgan, the two Throgmortons, Ra. Liggins, &c. The beginning heereof arose about the Cardinalshippe, to which both Allen and Lewes were comptitours: each one for the obtaining thereof applyed his friendes to the vttermost, but at length thorough the instant pursuite of the Iesuites, and of theyr faction, were for euer after mortally hated, all those that had bin wayes or fautors to Doctor Lewes, but chiefely and among the rest Thomas Throgmorton, who had bene one of the earnestest in that pursuite. The Iesuites since haue had many a plu [...]ke at him, but Morgan beeing wise, strengthened himselfe alwayes wyth such friendes, that they coulde neuer doo him a­nie hurt, but rather secretly hee galled them: the which they seeing, and perceiuing that that was not the waie to bee reuenged of him, they tooke another course, and that was this: One euening as hee came from the Church, they caused him to be assaulted by a young man called Gage, who giuing him on the sodayne a grieuous blowe vppon the [Page] face, presently made hast awaie, and so for that time escaped, but was afterwardes by my Lorde Pagets meanes and earnest pursuite apprehended. The Iesuites and their parte seemed at the first to denie that they had beene the causers of that fact, but the sequele of theyr proceedinges made it most appa­rant vnto the whole world. For when Morgan, my Lorde Paget, and diuerse of their parte, laboured verie instantlye and with often petitions vnto the Duke, to haue the rigour and seueritie of iustice to proceede against him, of whome they had recei­ued this greate iniurie, they to stoppe theyr mouthes, and to preuent the mischiefe that might insue, found no better meanes than to accuse Mor­gan of treason, laying to his charge sundrie pointes of trecherie touching the Queene of Scotland. Be­sides, they accused him to haue beene a setter on of Gifford & his assistances, in such practises as hee had vndertaken by sir Franc [...]s Walsinghams warrant, and to that end sent Chryton the Scottish Iesuite, to Pa­ris, to take Gyffords examination. And withall, they made some of their adherents to take theyr oth be­fore their Auditour generall, that in theyr consci­ence they thought Morgan to bee a traitour and a spie: vnto the taking of which oath also, they laboured earnestlie with sundrie others, which (they not hauing theyr consciences so saleable as some of them) had refused and vtterlye denyed to doo: yet in the meane time while these thinges were in hand, with their forged accusations they wrought so, that Morgan was apprehended & clapt [Page] vp in close prison, whereas yet hee remaineth. But this broile hath opened such foule matters, both of the one side and of the other, that the whole Nati­on is therewith infamed, and held to be tra [...]tors & spies, and in good faith, in my iudgement, not vn­worthily.

Good sir, take it not in ill parte, that I write thus boldly vnto you: for as neere as I can, my indeuor is to let you knowe what hell, torment, and vexati­on it is to liue heere, among this vnquiet, trouble­some, & traiterous crew. I meane not this by them all, for there are among them some well disposed and honest gentlemen, whom they vse in such ma­litious and wicked sorte, that they make them in a manner wearie of theyr liues. But the pretiest of all is, to see how smoothly they handle the matter with you in England, and how they do abuse your simplicitie. They make you and other Catholykes of England beleeue, that what practises and driftes so euer they take in hand, are all [...]or the zeale of re­ligion and aduancement of the Catholike cause, & the seely souls thinke all they saie is Gospell, wher­as (God wot) religion is the least matter of an hun­dred they thinke vpon. The only point they shoot at, being lost Companies at home; is to make them selues great heere, and to make you hazarde your liues, reputation, and credit: and therefore they are alwais breeding of practises and conspiracies both within and without the realme, caring not what successe they take: if they proue wel, then they wil haue the praise, merite, honor, and reward thereof: [Page] if otherwis [...], then they saie their good will must be accepted, and therewith they thinke to winne the reputation to be counted great state-men, and con­triuers of waighty matters, not caring in the meane time, for the securitie of them by whome they worke, as appeareth by the example and fall of ma­ny braue Gentlemen of England, whome they by theyr trecherous practises haue brought to ruine and destruction. They verie well knew, that when they first began to set abroach the matter of Babing­ton and his disloyall confederates, that the effecta­tion thereof was altogether vnpossible, as Mendoza the Spanish embassador told Ballard the priest, their instrument in contriuing the same, when hee was first brought vnto him in Paris by C. Paget, to desire him with all speed to informe the Kings his master of their intention, & withall, that at a daie appoint­ed they might haue some force and assistaunce of men readie to corespond with them: but that was all one, so they might bee counted men of greate reach, and dealers in such high state matters, they spared not to proceede in inchanting those poore vnexperienced young Gentlemen, in such sorte, as to the whole world is manifest, and need not to be recited. Let all Gentlemen in England, especiallye papists, take heed and beware of their mischieuous broode of caterpillers, for they speake so deuoutly, looke so smoothly, and write with such counterfei­ted grauitie and holines, that it is hard for any man to eschue their deadly baits; vnlesse he thoroughly doo first know their trechery, vnder which they do [Page] colour and shroude them. What hath brought master shellie into these his extreame troubles and perill of lyfe, if her gracious Maiestie of her greate clemency & merciful disposition had not regarded him with the eyes of pittie? Likewise, what hath brought the late Earle of Northumberland into trou­ble and calamitie, and finally to that desperate and miserable end, but onely these outlandish practises, & their conference with counterfeit Mopo, I meane C. Paget, who was sent out of France by this sediti­ous troupe, to vndermine and ouerthrowe both the one and the other? What besides hath beene the cause of bringing so many other Gentlemen to the losse of their liues and liuings, that liued before in ease, repose, and securitie of conscience: and which is more, were it not that that plot contriued the death of the Queene of Scotland, by setting her in continuall practise one vppon another, agaynst the sacred person and royall state of our most gra­cious soueraigne Queene, so that of violent neces­sitie, her Maiestie though vnwilling and with great griefe, at the generall and instant petition of all her Graces most louing and faithfull subiectes, whose onely weale and comfort dependeth vppon her long lyfe and prosperitie, to satisfie them, and to preserue the state of her noble & florishing realme in quyet, was constrained by cutting off that rank­led and infected parte, to yeelde ease, remedie and comfort to the rest of the whole bodie. I saye not this onely of my selfe, though I and all the worlde else doo knowe it to bee verie true: but these their [Page] dealings haue made them hatefull and destable e­uen to those of their owne religion. For that a fresh Iesuite tearmeth them all in generall in a Booke, which hee hath written touching the Queene of Scotlandes death, a viperous, mischieuous, and faithlesse kinde of people, trecherous to those they deale withall, disdainfull, arrogant, ambitious, and worthy to be extermined out of the vtmost bounds of the worlde. Besides many other such goodly epethites, with which hee beautifies them in their colours, his whole booke beeing nothing else but railing against English papistes, wishing all prin­ces, noble men and Gentlemen whatsoeuer, to be­ware and take heed of them: and that in such ear­nest, vehement, and inuectiue manner, that it is not possible to be more.

But some man perchance may demaund of me what theyr meaning heerein maye bee, or what credite, commoditie or gayne might haue allured them to enter into these before sayd, so wicked and detestable imaginations.

For aunswere heereunto: first I tolde you, that so they might bee accounted and reputed for greate state-men, high spirited, and greate of action, to procure that reputation and estimation they care not whose estate they indaunger. But besides all this which wee haue alreadie spoken of, they haue also further meaninges and driftes, as those that doo looke deeplyest and dilygentest into theyr actions, doo verilye imagine, and haue bene by sundrie their procedinges euidently [Page] discouerd, amongest which, the chiefest is, that as they are of all people liuing the most ambitious, so seeing this beggerly seruice dooth not fit theyr hu­mour, they doo feed themselues with an imagina­tion of the time to come, I meane a Spanish or po­pish world in this our countrie, at which time then they doubt not, the long time of their exile, suffe­rance, and lacke of liuing considered (for so is their phrase and manner of speech) to become mightye and great men, and to haue the principall rule, sway dignitie, and great authoritie in our countrie. Mar­rie againe on the other side, considering that they are but base companions of births and liuing, and that there are in England many gentlemen of great qualitie and houses of the same religion, that wold disdain to haue such mates preferred before thē in race, quality or degree: they [...]aue gon (by al means possible they can) aboute by practise or colourable deuises to roote them out, so seruing their turnes two waies: the one to winne reputation of men of seruice: the other, to rid themselues of other com­petitours. But (God be thanked) the chiefest harme their conspiracies haue done hetherto, hath ben to themselues, and they confounded in their own de­uises. And yet for all this, so many tragicall endes of their so many traiterous proceedinges, are they not moued with any sparke of repentaunce. Ney­ther hath the ruine of so many of you their coun­trie-men wrought and contriued by their practise, allurement, and perswasion, bred in them anie feel­ing of remorse of conscience, but rather are thereby [Page] animated & incouraged to set new deuises abroch, with meaning in deed by sowing seditions among you, & by opposing you against the state, to make you the onely instruments of the others ruine, and so to make the waie open to the Spanish tyrant, to which end there is no weeke but they receiue spies and spials from you. Insomuch that (I speake vpon good assuraunce) there are at this instant among you aboue three hundred seditious beggerlye priests, sent ouer by them to no other purpose. A little before the comming of the Spanish fleet, they sent foure priests and two Iesuites, in disguised ap­parell, throughly instructed to sound the meaning of such Gentlemen, as they thought to be of theyr religion, and to incline their minds to the Spanish cause, incouraging them to take Armes against her MAIESTY, to which end they printed in English many hundreds of bookes in Antwarpe, barrelling them vp vntill such time as the Armie should haue bene landed, and then their meaning was to haue dispersed them, full of the most blasphemous spee­ches and proud traiterous menaces, as well agaynst her Maiestie, as against you all in generall, as neuer (I thinke) the like was heard of.

Besides, they haue obtained of the Pope, and of the king, that as many as had their voices in the par­liament house, at such time as the Queene of Scot­land was adiudged to die, of what degree so euer they were, should be depriued not onely of theyr liues and liuings, but that their posteritie also shuld be for euer dis-inherited and disanulled. The lyke [Page] also they threatned in their bookes to all such, as well noble men as others, that should after the lan­ding of the Spaniards armie, persist in arms against the same. But all this by the goodnesse of God hath but serued to discouer their wicked intentions, and to animate all true Christian Englishmen, to persist with the greater loue, vnitie and courage in their o­bedience to her Maiestie.

But returning againe my speeches to you, (O vnnatural English-men) to those whom you should obey trecherous and vnfaithfull, and of those that you doo obey contemned and made slaues! how can you indure to thirst after the destruction of so sweete a countrie, in which you receiued your be­ing, and that gaue you nuriture being yong? What religion must that be, that animateth you to seeke subuersion of so benigne a princesse and of so glorious an estate? The olde worthie Romanes thought it the most heroycall thing that might bee, to vowe themselues sometimes to death for their countrie, and euen to spend their liues in de­fence of their alters, temples, and monumentes of their Elders: and you seeke to see your Countrie bathing in the bloud of your parents, kindred, and friendes, to see your cities, temples, and auncient monuments flaming in the fire, to see your virgines defloured, and further, to bring the noblest nations to perpetuall slauerie and seruitude, yea, and that of the most base, wicked, proude and cruellest na­tion that liueth, a nation not yet fully an hundred yeeres since wholie they receiued Christianitie, [Page] and as yet are in their heartes a greate number of them, pagans & moores, from profession of which, they are onelye helde by the seuere bridle of the sanguinarye and most cruell Heathen Inquisi­tion.

But that Paganisme of theirs, which in theyr profession they dare not shew, they do in theyr ty­ranie, blasphemie, sodomie, crueltie, murther, adul­terie, and other abhominations sufficiently disco­uer. If the Nunamantines, Saquntines, and Nessa­tiagis burnte their townes, slewe theyr wiues and children, and familie themselues, rather than they woulde receiue the yoake of worthie and vertu­ous Nations that inuaded them, What should we then doo, whome our vertuous auncestours haue lefte honoured with the innumerable trophies of many victories, rather than to indure the insolent, wicked, and tyrannous gouernment of that Na­tion, whome all Europe hath in horrour, leauing to our posteritie after vs a perpetuall seruitude and bondage, and an euerlasting memorie of our cowardise.

But leauing this vntill a fitter time, I hope this that is alreadie sayde shall bee sufficient to make you cleerely and plainely vnderstande, that there is not to bee obtayned the sweetnesse, ly­bertie, and tranquilitie of conscience which you expecte and looke for, but rather turmoile and griefe of minde, with a perpetuall grudging and remorse of conscience, scandalized with infinite and innumerable examples of ill lyfe, impietie, [Page] sodomie, blasphemie, defamation, and periurie. On the other side, towardes her Maiestie and the state of your country, you shall be helde & reputed as a traitor, and of those whom you shal here serue, no better, who make no further reckning of any of vs, than as of base people, fugitiues out of our cun­trie for debt, theeuerie, or some one hainous crime or other, thinking it a matter impossible (howsoe­uer we disguise the same vnder pretext of religion) that anie man beeing in his countrie of honest cal­ling or meanes to liue, should be so senselesse as to exchange the same for a condition so base, begger­ly, and infamous, as that which wee doo heere in­dure: And so did a Spanish Captaine in playne tearms signifie [...]o sir William Standley, as they passed in the ordinarie boote betweene Antwarp and Brus­sels.

But now to the third point of my Discourse, concerning the mislike which sundrie of you haue of her Maiesties gouernment, and the state of your countrie at this present, to seeke to transport your selues hether as into a hauen of blis & securitie. I will by comparing the one with the other, as neere as I cā, let you see the difference between thē both, and so consequently, your errour, as neere as I can gesse, & by report of sundrie cōming thence infor­med, this your disliking proceedeth of two points: The one, that your lawes are too rigorously and se­uerely executed against such as professe the catho­like religion: The other, that the aduersarie hath buzzed a feare into your heades, making you be­leeue [Page] that the fortes of your state are too feeble to resist so mightie and puisant an enemie as the Spanish king, whose mightie treasures, many domi­nions, & armies of men they magnifie to the skies, and therefore perchaunce you couet to ioyne be­times, with the partie which you doo thinke most aduantagious for your future securitie & aduance­ment.

First, touching the persecutions of Catholikes, which our traitors heere so much exclaime vpon, filling whole volumes therewith, and aggreuating the same in tearmes most bitter and lamentable to foraine Nations. Let vs see what reason they haue. I would faine demand one question, If euer they dyd reade, heare, or knowe of anie one King or Queene, that dyd with greater mildnesse of lenitie tollerate or suffer within his or her dominion a sect of religion opposite to the lawes by him or her e­stablyshed, especiallye the same hauing sundrye times rebelliously attempted against their crown, state, and dignitie.

Let them looke (if there be men of iudgement) into the ages passed, euen amongest the Heathen, and into the present time among all the Princes of Europe, and if there bee not anie to be found that hath dealt with the lyke lenitie as her Maiestie hath done, why then doo they so falselye slaunder her? Doe they not knowe that shee is the sacred and an­nointed Queene appointed by God to gouerne them? If they doo, why doo they not then with all penitencie and humilitie, loue, honor, and obey [Page] her, and praying to God to conuerther (seeing such is theyr desire) and not by traiterous mischiefe seek to murther and depriue her. They learned not that of the ancient Christians in the primitiue church. But they will saie, she hath executed many semina­ry priestes: I confesse she hath in deed by cutting them off preserued her realme from many diseases that rankled within the same. But yet hath shee proceeded therein in so gracious and mercyfull a sorte, that shee hath witnessed sufficientlye to the worlde, howe loth shee is to come vnto bloud, so long as there is anie other remedie in the world to bee vsed. For her MAIESTY knoweth, her coun­cell knoweth, you and I, and the whole worlde knoweth, that the comming of these Seminaryes, priestes, and Iesuites, to reconcile men, as they tearme it, to the obedience of the Romane church, is directlye and absolutely to alienate and diuerte their minds from her Maiestie, and to incline them to bee readie to assist anie enemie eyther within or without the Realme, that shall colour his cause vn­der the pretext of religion. Her Maiestie, I saie, and Councell, and all good subiectes knowing this and foreseeing the daunger that might thereof insue, forbadde by Act of Parliament these Seminaryes to enter into her Realme, or to vse or exercise anye such seditious doctrine, limiting there withal a time to such as were within the Realme, to departe out of the same. But this sufficed not, these good fel­lowes thinke no lawes good or to bee obeyed, but such as they make themselues.

[Page] In they came as fast as before, greate numbers of them were taken and imprisoned, whom though her Maiestie deseruedly and with great iustice, (e­specially the daylye mischiefe stirred vp within the Realme by theyr seditious practises considered) might haue executed as traitours and rebelles, yet the greatnesse of her princely clemencie and com­passion was so loth to come vnto bloud, that shee caused them all once more to bee pardoned, and to bee put out of the Realme, but with expresse commaundement neuer to returne in lyke sorte: in dooing otherwise they should bee sure to finde no fauour. All this woulde not serue theyr turnes, but in despight of her Maiestie and contempt of her lawes, sundrie of them returned, of which some of them beeing taken, haue receiued the hire of theyr gracelesse disobedience and rebellious attempte.

But that her Maiestie seeketh not bloud, as they most falsely giue out, appeareth by her clemencie vsed to sundrie of them, taken by her souldiers in the Lowe Countries, who though they were of sir William Standley his crewe and adherents, her most professed enemies, yet seeing they were not taken within England, shee graciously pardoned them, and caused to be set at libertie, in giuing some litle recompence to those souldiers that had taken them prisoners. Where is then her rigour you speake of? I hope the king of Spaine keepeth another manner of rule in his Countries, ouer all Spaine, Portugall, Lombardie, Naples, and Cicilia, whosoeuer speaketh a word, or maketh the lest sign in the world to mislike [Page] his religion there established, or anie one pointe or ceremonie thereof, his cruell ministers the Inqui­sitours, cause without remission to bee burnt aliue: as for example, There was this last yeere a Citizen in Antwarpe, one Gyles Rat a shoomaker, that go­ing into Spaine about some busines, was apprehen­ded for smiling at the Image of our Ladie, brought before the Inquisitours, and by them presentlye condemned to fire, and with him an English-man for the lyke cause, whose name the Gentleman that sawe them burned knew not: but hee tolde mee that at the time of their execution, there mounted on a scaffolde thereby two Iesuites, forbidding the people vpon paine of Excommunication to praie for them, saying that they had deliuered them both ouer in bodie and soule to the deuill, as those that died obstinate and wilful heretikes. I woulde faine knowe how hee would doo with Ministers, if hee shoulde catch them in Spaine, as the Queene hath done priests in England. As for his Lowe Coun­tries, I neuer heard but of two taken, and that was at the siege of Dermond, and they were both put in to sackes by the Spaniardes, and throwen into the riuer.

This is in deede tyrannie, and not that which her Maiestie doth, who is alwaies readie to receiue into grace and fauour those of whome shee hath a­nie hope that they will become good subiects, and hath (as I haue heard) offered euen at the houre of their death her princely mercy and fauour to some of them, if they woulde haue promised to become [Page] good subiects.

Oh how different from this is their proceeding heere which you see so highly commended! But it is the nature of men, especiallye of those, whose iudgements are not setled as they shoulde bee, al­waies to mislike and loath those thinges to which they are accustomed, thinking other to them vn­knowen far better. If you did but once see the tyra­nous vsage & explication that is vsed in matter of religion to the poore people vnder the Spanish go­uernment in this Countrie, I doubte not but you would be of another opinion, especially the woful slauerie considered in which the cleargie, or rather the rauening multitude of Iesuites, Friers, Monkes and priests doo keepe their minde subiected. It is not sufficient that they holde their mindes in a per­petuall despaire, pronouncing vppon euerie friuo­lous point damnation vnto them: but withal, they compell them perforce to offeringes, to buying of pardons and indulgences, to giue them money to­wardes the reparation of their Churches, pictures, images, and waxe candles, alwaies hauing one de­uice or other in hand to robbe them, and to drawe from them their substance: for whosoeuer yeeld­eth not to euerie of these demands, is presentlie an heretike.

The best houses in the Towne they take vio­lently from the true owners, and appropriate vnto themselues, saying it is meete that God should first be serued before man. There is no one daie but the poore citizens are punished and pestered with one [Page] or other of their orders of Friers, Monkes, Mendi­cants, Capuchines, Candles, and monie towardes the reparation of their Churches, and which they must not bee denied, vnlesse you will bee presently accused for an heretike.

But the best is, to see how busie and diligent they are when they heare of a wealthie man that lyeth sicke, and is in danger of death▪ This is their chiefest haruest and most optima praeda: then they commend vnto him the pouertie of their cloister, and the me­rite that hee shoulde gaine, as beeing for euer to be remembred in theyr masses, as one of theyr bene­factors: the Iesuits and Cordelleres are at this pre­sent in processe in Spaine about this matter of visi­tation of sicke men, in articulo mortis. The Iesuites saie that it appertaines vnto them, because theyr profession is actiue, and alwaies stirring among the flocke, and to doo good in the worlde abroade, whereas that of the Cordelleres is contemplatiue, and so by consequence, most decent that they shoulde containe themselues within theyr cloy­sters.

The Cordelleres on the other side replie, that theyr profession is meeknesse, innocencie, and po­uertie, and to doo good vnto all men. As for the Iesuites, that they are proude, ambitious, aspiring, medlers in matters of state, men of great riches, and couetous of more, and therefore by no meanes to bee admitted to such as lye at the article of death, The matter hath beene much argued of, and great­ly debated in Spaine, and besides, the Iesuites haue [Page] openly inueighed agaynst them in the publyke schooles of Louaine: yet notwithstanding how e­uer the crie goeth agaynst them, they holde theyr owne. But this by the waie, seeing it comes so well to our purpose, I cannot choose but tell you a pre­tie ieast that happened this last Summer in these partes.

A Marchant of Antwarpe, whose name was Hamiel, beeing sicke of a consumption or feauer e­thike, the Iesuites knowing him to bee a man of great possessions, and without children, presentlye repayred vnto him vnder colour of spirituall con­solation, laying before him the vanitie of this lyfe, and the certaintie of the worlde to come: wyth sundrie other perswasions, as of all men lyuing they haue their tongues most at will, withall, com­mending vnto him their order, as of all other the most meritorious, perfect, and acceptable to God, and to which our holye father the Pope and his predecessors haue granted more indulgences than to anie other order whatsoeuer: they brought the poore man, being of himselfe simple, into their so­cietie, thinking that there was no other waie to bee saued, and withall, before hand infeoffed their col­lege with his land, which was two hundred pound a yeere, giuing them besides, much goods and riche moueables, and when he had so done, died within three moneths after the same: his next heires, by counsell of their friends, put the Iesuites in sute, a­gaynst which, though they opposed themselues withall vehemencie, yet to their great shame and [Page] reprehension, sentence was giuen agaynst them. Notwithstanding they woulde not giue ouer, but by the meanes, aid, and support of president Pame­ley, who is one of theyr best children, they appea­led from thence to the councell of Brussels, getting the cause after sentence giuen to bee remooued, a thing vnusuall or scarcely euer heard off before, as yet there the processe hangeth, by hooke or by crooke it is thought they will haue it in the ende. Another time a riche and wealthie Marchaunt of Antwarp, but one in that point whose deuotion and scrupulocitie ouer-went his wisdome, comming to them in confession, and telling them of some vn­iust gaine with which he felt his conscience touch­ed, they presently with sundrie terrifieng speeches, tolde him that hee was in the state of damnation, out of which hee coulde not bee deliuered, vntyll such time as hee had made restitution as well of that confessed, as of all other monie and goods that hee had by vsurie vnlawfully gotten, laying before him, Quod non dimittitur peccatum nisi restituatur ob­latum: with sundrie other such sentences, of which they had store: in fine, they put the poore man in­to such feare of conscience, that he yelded to make restitution, if so the same might bee done without his vndooing, discredite, or shame. Whereupon to comfort him againe, but in deede fearing least that if they dealt too rigorouslie with him they shoulde get nothing, they tolde him, that if in stead of all such interest and iniuries, with which hee felte his conscience burdened, hee would onely be content [Page] to deliuer vnto them some such summe of monie, as without his vndooing, he thought conuenient­ly he might spare, they woulde take it vppon their soules to see the said summe imployed vpon good, vertuous, and charitable vses, to the greater bene­fite and merite of his soule, and as a thing more ac­ceptable to God, and lesse scandelous to the world than if he should make restitution to whome it ap­pertained, and that were by that his vsurie interes­sed. Whereupon the Marchant beeing well satisfi­ed in conscience, gaue them the monie, and they him their absolution.

But I will holde you no longer with the recitall of these things, of which, if I would intreate, theyr impietie would yeeld mee too much matter. My principall meaning and intention onely, beeing to let you see, that vnder heauen there is no state so wickedly, impiously, and deuouringly gouerned in matter of religion and conscience, as these here vn­der the Spaniard. I thinke the recitall of their mise­ries woulde rather breede in you admiration than beleefe, so farre doth the same exceed the compasse of all other tyrannies that euer were vsed, there be­ing no calamitie in the worlde of which they haue not tasted of. Their noble men & rulers, in whose vertue and courage consisted their chiefest refuge in times past, when they were wronged and tyran­nized, haue bene murthered, strangled, poysoned, and slaine by the bloudie ministers of theyr cruell king: they are taxed in great summes, and numbers of men sent violently into France and forren wars, [Page] and the relikes of their nobilitie forced to go wyth them in person, to their apparant slaughter, leauing in the meane time theyr countries in praie to the e­nemie, theyr villages flaming in fire, & theyr towns battered about theyr eares with the Cannon, theyr priuiledges are by wrong and tyrannie taken from them, their cities that sometimes striued with op­pulencie and glorie with the goodliest and greatest of the world, are gouerned by base and barbarous Spaniardes, bridled with theyr garrisons and ca­stles, and forraged and spoiled by them, at such time as their payment faileth. No face of iustice in theyr common-wealth, but the same is pliable to the wil of such strangers as are gouernors of their towns, & captaines of their castles, theyr goodly hauens, har­bouring sometimes with innumerable shippes la­den with marchandise from all partes of the world, are now frequented euen of the fisher-boates, their trafficke ceased, and theyr townes almost desarte: in the most of which, of tenne houses together, there are scarse three inhabited, theyr villages a­broade burned and ouergrowen with bushes, their goodlye meddowes and fruitefull pastures drow­ned many miles wide and longe, by letting in of sluses, and cutting downe ditches. The mansion houses and castelles of theyr Nobilitie abused and throwen downe, they errable grounde waste and vntilled, insomuch that there a man maye haue as much lande as hee will, and thankes withall, for the onely manuring thereof. As for the poore labou­ring people of the countrie, for the most parte they [Page] are al starued and consumed with hunger, of which disease, I my selfe haue knowen two thousand die in one summer, so that you may ride in some pla­ces an hundred miles without seeing of a man, wo­man, or childe, vnlesse it be some poore silly soule that commeth creeping out of the woodes hunger starued, more lyke confusitated ghostes, than a ly­uing christian creature. And yet all these in a ma­ner happier, because they are at an ende of theyr miseries, than such as doo liue within the inhabi­ted places of the countrie, as Cempine and the land of Wast: and these of all the people in the worlde I take to be the most wretchedst. Ouer euerie village of these are appointed certain horsemen, to whom they are all to paie monethly contribution, some ten poundes, some twentie, and some thirtie, some more and some lesse, I knew one village that paide an hundred poundes euerie moneth, called Tur­nolt: but they paide it so long, till all the dwellers ranne awaie, and haue now in a manner left it void of inhabitauntes. Ouer this village and the whole Countrie is appointed a Comissarie called Sygo­nio, for the payment of theyr contributions, of all tyrantes liuing the most cruellest, and of least con­science. Who if they faile, and doo not bring in theyr moneie at the last daie of the moneth, hee sendes foorth troupes of horse-men to take the best of them prisoners, and withall, to driue home to their quarters or garrisons such sheepe, oxen, or cattell whatsoeuer as they finde in those villages, which hee causeth, if the money followe not [Page] within fiue or sixe daies at the furthest, to be sold at the drum or Trumpet, and with [...] forceth them to paie a great fine, the one halfe [...] [...]hich he retayn­eth to himselfe, and the other to the souldiers, for their out-roades and forberance of the monie. But the miserie of these poore people endeth not here, for besides all this, they are forced many times to lodge soldiers in their houses, as they march along the countrie vpon seruice, at which time it is incre­dible what outrages they receiue, theyr cattell kil­led, their corne threshed out and giuen to horse, their chests broken vp, their goods euen to the very sheetes and tikes of beds, stollen and carried awaie by the soldiers when they march, themselues bea­ten, and their wiues and their daughters abused: and in fine, what else is to the nature of man grie­uous and intollerable, they are constrained to in­dure. Neither is the condition of the poore citizens or townes-men any better, who being forced to re­ceiue garrison, and to lodge souldiers in their hou­ses, imparting to them the best chambers and com­modities of the same, neuer hearing from them a­nie other word, especiallie if they please not them in all their exhorbitant demands, than Perhamengo, Lutherano, Borchio, &c. Yet besides, they are daylye wearyed out with continuall exactions and taxati­ons, as the hundreth pennie, the tenth pennie, and once a yeere without faile, the fifthly pennie of all their goods and landes, besides infinite other pilla­ges and gatherings towardes the making of ram­pires, bulwarkes, ballasadowes, countercerpes, and [Page] the reparation of theyr wals, and to giuing of mu­nition, bread, beere, and cheese, to such souldyers as shall passe by theyr townes distressed of victualles, with infinite such like. I haue knowen (I speake it of my faith) poore people of Antwarpe forced to sell their beddes they lie vppon, to satisfie their tyran­nous exactions, which if they should not doo, exe­cution of their goods, attachment of their persons, shoulde presentlye followe. But which is most be­yond reason, whereas within the townes the most part of their houses are vacant and vnhired, yet the owners of them are taxed according to the value in which they were wont to bee hired. Insomuch, that in Antwarpe and other townes, it is a matter ve­rie vsuall for men to disclaime, and quit their owne houses, thereby to be exempted of such payment as otherwise by reason of thē they are charged with, and that they do iurisdicially before the magistrate, at which time the Ainan entereth in, aud ceaizeth vpon them to the kings vse. Besides, when as sun­drie Gentlemen and other the inhabitants of this countrie, hauing certaine annuall rents issuing out and charged vpon the kings demaines in the Dut­chie of Brabant, at least to the yeerelye value of ten thousand poundes, some of the which rents haue bene by themselues bought of the states generall, some left vnto them by their parents and predeces­sours. The king vniustlye and by tyrannie disanul­ling the said rents, hath, and doth, without forme of iustice, take into his owne hands the sayd demains, appropriating the vse, commoditie, and reuenue [Page] thereof to the maintenance of his troupes of horse men. But what shall I trouble you anie longer with recounting vnto you the assize, impositions, taxes, extortions, pillages, and heauie intollerable bur­thens laid vpon this afflicted poore people, by their vniust and cruell king. Compare now (I praie you) heerewith, your estate of gouernment at home, and tell mee which of them two you thinke to bee most fortunate. Doth her MAIESTY deale in this order with you, whose gouernment you so much mislike? Oh God, how can you be so peruerse, see­ing the blessednesse wherein shee maintaines you, as not to acknowledge the same? How gentle are the helpes and subsidies which she exacteth of you, without the vndooing or hinderance of anie man of whom they are exacted? And on the otherside, how profusely spendeth shee her owne treasure for the maintenance of your wiues, and children, and parents, in repose, iustice and securitie. Oh praie to God for her long life and prosperous estate, for in her consisteth the tipe of your felicitie!

But nowe to the other pointe of your mislike. Whereas the aduersarie hath beaten into your heads, that the state standes daungerous, as beeing farre to feeble and not sufficient to withstande and resist so mightie and opposed an enemie as is the king of Spaine, terrifieng with millions of gold and innumerable nations ouer whome hee command­eth, I hope by the cleere and euident reasons I shal shew you, to make you vnderstand that the same of him is farre greater than his force, and that there is [Page] no prince this daie in the world whose estate stan­deth more tickle and readie to ruine than his, and that there is no cause why we should feare him, but many why he should feare vs, First, that hee is the most mightie and oppulent prince of Europe, I doo not denie, if hee had vsed moderation in his great­nesse, and acknowledged the benefites which God hath bestowed vpon him with thankfulnesse. But such is the state whereunto his ambitious aspiring hath at this present brought him, or rather the re­uengefull hande of God which hangeth ouer his head for his horrible tyrannies and odious offen­ces, especiallye for his wicked pariacide and mur­ther committed vppon the person of his wife, his sonne, and sundrie others of his best and truest sub­iects: that he is in the middest of these his riches, in­digent, poore, and indebted, vnable to giue satisfa­ction to such souldiers as he maintaineth, to which end he is forced to extort vpon his poore subiectes, and tyranize ouer them. Of this his indigency and beggerie, we see euerie daie experience here before our eies, his owne naturall subiects, the Spaniards, being the best disciplined souldiers he hath, and of whom he maketh greatest account, are forced for want of their paiment, which is now three yeres be­hind, to cease his townes and artillery, to contemne his commandements and proclamations, & finally, to bend their armes & display their Ensignes vpon the wals against the Duke. To remedie which mu­tinie, there was post vpon post sent into Spaine, yet in seuen moneths there could no monie be found. [Page] Notwithstanding many and most important detri­ments, he receiued by occasion of this mutinie, as the losse of Breda, the retardaunce of the Frenche succours, the danger of Numigen, &c. whereas the whole summe they demaunded was not much a­boue fifteene thousand. Besides, doo but looke into the manner of his proceedings in these Low coun­tries with his souldiers, (of which because I haue best experience I will chieflie speake) and you shall finde nothing in the world more beggerly and in­digent. Neither (as I heare) is it better in his other prouinces, which verily I beleeue, seeing of all o­thers it importeth him to vse them best, as being his eldest, perfectest in discipline, and best experien­ced troupes, and in fine, those vnto whom he chief­liest reposeth, as the onely vpholders and maintay­nance of him in his tyrannie. Yet was there neuer in the worlde, I dare vndertake, king nor prince, how base, banquerout, or needie so euer, in whose seruice so many braue souldiers haue died of hun­ger, or that haue vsed such coosning trickes & shifts to stoppe necessities, and to deceiue his souldiers as he hath done.

First, the countrie not beeing yet fully consu­med, wasted, and destroyed, he authorized his sol­diers to spoyle and steale the goods and cattell of the poore pesants, forcing them to raunsome theyr houses from fire, and their persons from murther, by which meanes the souldiers lingered in such sort, that I haue knowen them remaine three yeres together without one moneths paie. But afterward [Page] Antwarpe being rendered, and by reason of the ge­nerall deuastation of the countrie, the souldiers fai­ling to finde their wonted reliefe and praie, grewe into so great and miserable extremitie, that it was a great matter to finde twentie souldiers vnder anie Ensigne. The Spaniardes mutined vpon the Staun­da, whome they founde meanes to appease wyth some few moneths payment. The Wallounds mu­tined in Laiskine, Hou [...]ke, and the lande of the Wast, the Almaines went by hundreds begging vp and downe the streets of Antwarpe bare legged and bare footed, or in manner naked, the Italians starued in their quarters, and diuerse of them being in garison in Breda, ranne thence to Huisd [...]n, & to other towns of the enemie. To remedie all which inconuenien­ces, he found meanes to deale with the Italian Ba­kers of Antwarpe for cloth and silke, as Northerne kersies, pack clothes, baies, refuse Italian silkes, ta­king vp the same vpon excessiue interest yeerely to a certaine summe: for receit of which, and deliue­rie out againe, he appointed a Spaniard, one Chri­stopher Cras [...], a man of most wicked conscience, to be his Treasurer. Then he began to grant paiments to the whole campe, horse and foot, and vnto such Gentlemen and pensioners as were in great extre­mitie, and had ben long sutors: which they hauing receiued, were forced for want of monie presently to make sale thereof for the thirde of that value in which they receiued it: so that a souldier hauing foureteene shillings a moneths paie, receiued only [Page] foure shillings and sixe pence. And he hath his fac­tors and broakers abroad to buy those sayd clothes and silkes again, which he deliuereth presently out of the first price to the next that comes, and so styll foorth deliuering and buying the same againe for the third parte of the price, insomuch that with an hundred pounds he maketh ten thousand poundes in a yeere, and yet sometimes he maketh them stay foure or fiue moneths before he will deliuer them cloth, or anie contentment at all. And sometimes hee neuer troubleth himselfe with the deliuerie of the cloth, but causeth their assignation to be boght, as now at this instant sir William Standley before his departure had obtained a Liberanc [...] for two mo­neths for his Regiment, amounting to an hundred and fiftie poundes, the payment thereof hath bene deferred till this present, and is nowe solde in Ant­warpe to one of his factors for three score poundes, and yet hee that solde it made a good bargaine. I haue knowen diuerse that haue solde diuerse such Liberancas for thirtie poundes, and eight and twen­tie pounds in the hundred. Yet this payment how bad so euer hath somewhat con [...]ented the souldy­ers foure or fiue yeeres, rather hauing that than no­thing. But now also the same is dryed vp and come to nothing. Paymentes haue bene this halfe yeere verie scarse and with much difficultie, for the mar­chants haue at this instant vtterly refused to furnish him with anie more wares, both because the same wherein he standeth alreadie indebted vnto them [Page] amounteth to an excessiue matter, as also he begin­neth to wrangle with them, aboute the interest of which hee craueth moderation: seeing besides be­fore their eies so many presidents of men ruined, vndone, and dishonored, such as he hath delt with­all, of which, what more apparaunt example maye there be than that of S. Siueres a Portugal marchant, and one of the chifest & best respected marchant of Antwarpe, both for the wealth and credit which he possessed, as also for the securitie and vprightnesse which he handled: the Duke of Parma reducted of Antwarpe, the passage of the riuer shut vp, and the countries and townes afflicted with great dearth & scarcitie of corn, at which time rie was at 44. S. ster­ling the virendell in Antwarpe, & withall being dai­ly cried vpon by the generall of Vibres for muniti­on & come to victual the camp, the old store being cleane consumed: knewe no other meanes than to deale earnestly with this S. Siueres, and other mar­chants that had trade with Hanborough, Lubeck, and the Easterlings, which countries were replenished with corne, to make some aduenture thether for the releefe of the countrie: he amongst the rest shewed not himselfe vnwilling to enter into an action so charitable and vertuous, if so be his pains might be requited, and hee sufficiently warranted and kept free from such danger as might insue, either by pe­ril of sea, taking of the enemies, or losse in the same: when it came to this end, the duke sent into Spaine, and procured him the kings Letters of assurance in [Page] the most ample manner possible, incouraging him with much thanks and many promises to proceed, which hee did with the aduenture of most part of his credite and goods, insomuch, that hee laded three shippes, of which one was scattered by tem­pest, and cast awaie vpon the coast of Scotlande, the other two came safely home to Callice, but at that time such was either the ill luck of him, or the good lucke of the countrie, that vpon a new plentie har­uest which they had, corne was abated from fortie foure shillinges the Virendell, to sixe shillinges, at which price the Duke, by the kings appointment, bought his prouision and munition, vtterlye refu­sing that of Syueres, so that hee was faine, whilest he made his sute to the king, to keepe the same so long vpon his owne hands, that it venowed and waxed mustie, in such sorte, that he was faine to throw the greatest parte awaie, without euer to this daie bee­ing able to receiue of the king one pennie of re­compence, insomuch that hee was forced, to the wonderfull griefe, shame and confusion of him, his wife, his children and friends, hauing before time liued in the greatest honour and magnificence of anie Marchant in the Towne, to breake banque­rout, and is at this present suing to the Duke, and the priuie Councell at Brussels, for a protection to keepe his bodie from attachment.

These are the rewardes and recompence that this mightie Monarch giueth to those that imploie their indeuours in his seruice. Of which if you doo [Page] desire to haue better experience, looke but into the office of his Treasurer at Brussels, and there you shal dayly and hourely see a token sufficient of his op­pulencie and great magnificencie, there shall you finde a miserable troupe of sutours, with assignati­ons for monie, graunted them by the Duke, some of which haue lost a legge or an arme, eyther tho­rough age or infirmitie, that hath gotten their Li­sence and Pasport to depart into theyr Countries, some pretending one cause and some another, but no one man able in two yeeres folowing to get one pennie: so that there is no yeere but a greate num­ber of them die in the pursuite for hunger, yea, and some of them euen at his gates. Of my sauation I speake it, I haue knowen some poore people, that for the some of sixe poundes haue followed him three yeeres: when eyther hee goeth out or com­meth into his house, hee is faine to goe thorough gardens and buy-wayes, to deceiue his poore su­tors, who otherwise assayed him, though in vaine, with such ruthfull cryes, that it would pearse anie mans heart to heare them. Which beggerlynesse and miserie, sundrie worthie souldiers of straunge nations seeing, especially the base and vnworthie vsage which they themselues receiued, haue aban­doned that banquerout seruice, as Iohn Baptista de Monte, and Camillo de Monte, two warlike Cap­taines, but now retained vnder two mightie States, the one Generall to the Duke of Florence, the o­ther to the Venetians, who both lie in waite to crie [Page] quittance with him, and by Gods grace shall one daie haue meanes to accomplish their desire. Then sir Martine Skinke, of whose iust discontentment and valerous reuenge, you your selues in England are witnesse. Where are then the mountains of trea­sure that the mightie king possesseth? Or if yee saie he spareth them to some other end, I praie you tell me to what, and when he will vse them? If not now the danger of the losse of his countrie, fame, & reli­gion, and the greatnesse of the causes hee hath vn­dertaken and considered. No, no, it is pure want & extreame indigences that forceth him to deale so, though he be rich, yet the greatnesse of the cause he is entered into, doth farre exceede the meanes hee hath to maintaine the same. Vppon the comming downe of this last fleete hee set vp his rest, and lost it, not onelie his owne, but that also of his friendes, the pope, the Duke of Sauoy, the Geneoises, &c. which set him into such arrerages, that I thinke hee wyll not easily come out of them.

As for the treasure of his Indians, where in deede consisteth the verie marrowe, strength, and substance of all his puissance, I confesse the same to bee greate, yet his charges considered, making an estimate betweene the one and the other, it can no waie bee able to aunswere and counteruayle them. And yet the same hath beene reasonable well impayred also, since such time as sir Fraunces Drake and other of your worthie English captaines by sea, haue begunne to firke him in those. For [Page] whereas before hee was woont vsually to waite his Indyan fleete home-warde with a Gallyasse or two, onelye theyr returne accustomed to bee eue­rie sixe moneths, hee is nowe forced to mayn­tayne a great and mightie Nauie of many shippes and gallyes, to his inestimable and continuall char­ges. Notwithstanding all which, his returne is sel­dome aboue once a yeere, and that oftentimes minglingly as may bee, and yet they are sometimes met withall, some of them scattered, some sunke, and some of them also taken by our Englyshe shippes.

If you will knowe what these his great charges are, on which hee is inforced to imploye them. First, consider that he scarcely holdeth anie coun­trie in which hee is not constrayned to holde gar­risons of souldyers. As for these Lowe countries, I knowe it vppon good and assured grounds, there hath beene no yeere these twentie yeeres, but they haue cost him one with another two millyons and more yeerely aboue the reuenewe and other com­modities receyued thereout, and yet howe beg­gerlie his souldyers are vsed, you haue heard be­fore.

The rest, for Naples, Cicilia, Portugall maiorque, minorque, the frontires of Arragon and Nauarre, and Lombardie; hee is fayne to bee at charge of many strong and mightie garrisons by lande, and in the most of them manye Gallyes or other shipping in the Hauens, and all along the Sea­coasts, [Page] none of which hee can for his life diminish, for his gouerment is so hatefull, that none of these prouinces are his anie longer than hee hath their heades in the bridle. And besides, his prouinces stande so seuered and disunited, that the transpor­ting of his Nauie from one to another is infinite chargeable vnto him, insomuch that I haue heard some of his Commissioners here sweare, that there is no crowne of his that commeth from Spaine in­to these Countries by lande, but standeth them in fiue roialles, so infinite is the charge of carriages, conuoyes, and commissaries, to deliuer and receiue the same.

Besides all this, hee disburseth yeerely mightie summes of monie to the Presian, to the end to keep the Turke occupied, of whome hee standeth migh­tily in feare: and truely he hath reason, if her Maie­stie would condescend to such conditions as haue beene by this Turke to her proposed. But she lyke a christian princesse, how greatly so euer to her ad­uantage the same might be, will not doo anie thing whereby Christianine might heereafter seeme to receiue anie detriment.

As for Polonia, the same hath beene incredible chargeable vnto him, as well for the mightie bribes bestowed vpon the nobles of the countrie, as also the charges of a great armie of Rewtiers: hee sent his kinsman Maximilian of Austria, what by force and what by helpe of the parte which he had gained, & with his treasures, thought to inuest him in the [Page] kingdome. The successe of which enterprise I wold not write, being to the whole world notorious and knowen. In the consistorie of Rome hee is faine to entertaine a great number of those hungrie Cardi­dinals in pension and fee, therby to gaine their voi­ces when need requireth, which liberalitie of his he cannot by anie meanes withdrawe, for in so dooing he should be assured to haue them his enemies, and contrarie to his proceedings.

Lastly, for conclusion, he maketh at this instant open warres with France, England, and the Lowe countries: What deme you then hereof? Hath he not (trow you) vent for his treasures? His father was a better souldier and a greater man of warre than he is, and as mightie a prince euerie deale (his Por­tugall Indians only excepted) in place of which he quietly inioyed these his Lowe countries, which in respect of their great oppulencie, abundance of ri­ches, & conuenientnes of scituation, were to them accounted nothing inferior. And yet he neuer da­red attempt to make warres vpon France alone, but he first sought by all possible meanes to assure him­selfe in friendship with England, giuing to that end great and mightie presents to Cardinal Wolsey, and others of the councel, that in those daies were with her Maiesties father of worthie memorie K. Henrie the eight: whereas his sonne makes war with all the world carelesly at once, but the Italians haue a true prouerbe, Cum tutto abracci [...]nes iun (que) string. And so I hope it shall fare with him.

Now as touching those his mightie and puisant [Page] numbers of men, which they say he is able to make, I take vpon me to know the state of his forces aswel as other, and I herein of all other men know him to be most needie and wanting. For as for Spain, Na­ples, and Lombardie, of which his only force con­sisteth, and which are his chiefest store-houses of men, it is sufficiently knowen, that his drums haue gone a whole yeere beating vp and downe, accor­ding as their maner is, to get together six thousand men, and those all shepheardes, hedgebreakers, and such idle trewantly rogues, the most parte of which he is forced to put in garrison for a yeere or two to fashion them, before he send thē to seruice. I saw about two yeres agone a fresh leuie that came out of Pastrauia, who put them presently in the ca­stle of Antwarp, drawing out the olde garrison, the most silly naked snakes that euer I sawe in my lyfe, such, as in my conscience, a man in deed wold beat ten of them.

As for Germanie, out of the which heereto­fore he hath drawen greate numbers, and by theyr helpe done great matters before Mastrig in Freisland and those places, his vsage hath bene so base and mi­serable vnto them, that the old souldiers are all star­ued and consumed in his seruice, whose calamitie hath so terrified the rest at home, that no prince in Europe hath lesse credite to raise men there than hee. And though there were no such matter, yet they are no waie bound vnto him more than to an other, theyr profession beeing to serue onely him that will best paie them best, and yet if hee shoulde [Page] raise anie of the alliaunces of her Maiestie, and the scituation of their Countrie considered, it shoulde be a matter of great difficultie to ioyne them wyth his other troups. Where are then his innumerable legions with which hee meanes to ouercome the world? Alliance he hath none, vnlesse it bee wyth the rebellious league of France: of them he can re­ceiue no aide nor comfort, themselues being mise­rable and distressed, by reason wherof most burde­nous vnto him, & yet there is no man liuing in the world lesse beholden vnto them than he. For not­withstanding all his assistance, they woulde neuer yeeld to receiue his forces into their townes or for­tresses, seruing onely their turns on him for the pre­sent time.

As for the pope and the Princes of Italye, what fayre weather so euer they doo beare him, he both trusteth them, and they him, and great reason they haue so to doo. And withall, this malediction hangeth vpon him, that as hee is of all forraine na­tions distrusted, doubted, and abhorred, so both he and the very name of a Spaniard, is most loathsome and hatefull to the rest of his owne subiectes. Inso­much, that in Millaine the young Gentlemen haue a pastime by night, which they call Caccia Marran, that is, putting on a visard on theyr face by night, they goe with theyr long rapiers or picked basti­nadoes vnder they cloakes out in the Towne to seeke Spaniardes in the stewes or anie other place where they thinke they are lykely to finde anie of them, vnto whome they giue as manye stabbes [Page] and blowes that they can laie vpon them, insomuch that the Spaniards dare not for their eares abide out of the castle after shutting in of the gates. As for his dealing in Portugall, who knowes not his cruell ty­ranie, and the hatred they beare him?

But now come to her MAIESTY, and you shal find another manner of state of matters: her realme plentifully abounding in men of warlike dispositi­on, of whom she is loued & adored: her warres are iust, charitable, godly, & defensiue, for maintenance of which, besides the trust that she reposeth in God, who hath hetherto mightily and miraculously de­fended her, she is alied in straight league, friendship & confederation with the most victorious & chri­stian king of France, with the kings of Denmarke & Scotland, with the Switzers, and with sundrie prin­ces and states of the Empire, al being her neighbors dominions, vnited with hers, and thereby ready to assist, aid, & succor one another in all such occasions as shall or may happen. Al this then considered, tell me, I praie you, what occasion of feare or misdoubt you haue. If you thinke the English valor not to be compared with that of the Spaniard, reade but the Chronicles, and you shall finde how much you are deceiued: you shall finde that a smal armie of Eng­lish-men, vnder the conduct of that worthie prince of Wales, eldest sonne to Edward the third, passed in despight of them thorough Cauarre into Spaine, and there in the middest and bowels of their owne countrie, ouerthrew at Nadres their vsurping king, Henry the bastard (of whose rase this man is descen­ded [Page] by his grandmother) being accompanied with the nobilitie of the countrie, and 60000. of the bra­uest fighting men in Spaine, & so vtterly ouerthrew him, that they erected king in his place Don Pedro, their iust & lawfull prince of that kingdome, whom by maine force they constrained all their cities and noble men of the country to receiue. Read besides the valerous conquestes atchieued by Iohn Duke of Lancaster, brother vnto the sayd prince, in Gallicia, against Don Iohn, sonne of the sayd Henrie the vsur­ping bastard: besides, the chronicles of Portugal are full of the materiall prowesse of the English & glo­rious victories obtained in seruice of their king, to whose aide they were called against the saide king of Castile

But what need I run backe into the passed ages to seeke examples? Looke but into the incounters that haue bene of late daies betweene them and vs either by sea or land, and you shall finde that they haue alwaies carried the blowes. As by land, at the encountering of Grane and that of Sutphen, where the honor of the world and ornament of England, sir P. Sidney by his aduenturous valor was slaine, be­sides many other bickerings and skirmishes of lesse moment needles to recite. Of sea matters I account it bootlesse to speake, so greatly and aboue measure glorious is the same, & bruited through the world, of the worthie voiages of sir F. Drake, sir I. Haukins, sir M. Frobisher, C. Raiman, and the rest of the braue and couragious Gentlemen, who for the benefit of their countrie haue not spared to make aduenture [Page] of their liues and fortunes.

But if you desire one example of all, let that then serue of his huge late fleet, with which, Golyas like, hee threatned heauen and earth, & with which he thought to haue circumuented and surprised at vn­awares her Maiestie, whilest falsely, wickedly, and a­busiuely, hee entertained her Graces Commissio­ners in Flanders with a treatie of peace. To which her Highnesse lyke a Christian princesse, and for to auoide the effussion of Christian bloud, was verie vnclinable. But God, as he hath alwaies done, so at this time did hee miraculously protect her Maiesty in such sort, that through the great, careful, and ex­ceeding valorous resolution of that most worthie and renowmed Gentleman the Lorde Admirall of England, of whose couragious behauiour and ter­rour, with which he amazed them, the verie enemy himselfe, though agaynst his will, makes worthie mention. They were with a small number of Eng­lish so fiercely and vigorously encountered, that their resistance not preuailing them, they were scat­tered, chased, and vtterly discomfited, in such sorte as the whole world knoweth, so that Lucans verse, me thinkes, may verie fitly bee applyed vnto them, Territa quaesitis ostendunt terga Britannis.

Besides, what better triall can you haue of the valour of their nation than this, being thirtie thou­sand, the creame of all theyr forces, and aboute the assembling of which he had bene three yares busi­ed, yet when they came vpon the coast of England, dared not to lande a man: whereas wee the nexte [Page] yeere following, with a little Nauie, containing not aboue eleuen thousand men, vnder the conduct of the two most renowmed Captaines, sir Iohn Nor­ris and sir Frances Drake, landed in Spaine, burnt his shipping, put his people to the sword, & his townes to the fire, and coasted thence along into Portugal, and there landing, marched in his countrie, euen to his gates of Leisbone, with drums sounding, and en­signes displayed: from whence wee returned vn­fought withall by anie of his forces either by sea or land.

These things well considered, me thinkes you haue greater reason to hope one daie to see Eng­lish Ensignes displayed in Madrill, together wyth the vtter ruine of that proude tyrant of Spaine and his holy Father the pope, with all their rabble, than anie waie to feare him or his proceedings. And yet there is one point besides all the aboue rehearsed, out of which we may receiue singular comfort, as that of which all other most deepelye vexeth and afflicteth his cogitations, and which, no doubt be­fore it be long, wil giue vs a great aduantage against him, and that is, the contention which hee seeth to spring vp in his owne house, of which I will briefly discourse vnto you the occasions, because you shall vnderstand the same the better.

Hee hath by seuerall wiues three children li­uing, two Daughters and one sonne, the Sonne young of yeeres, sicklie of bodie, pale and weake of complexion, of wit poore and vnfurnished, in a manner a very idiot.

[Page] His eldest daughter, whom they cal La Infante of Spaine, a woman as by birth great, so proud excee­dingly, haughtie minded, and aboue measure aspi­ring, prudent, in her speeches maiesticall, in her countenance and actions couragious: her he hath alwaies norished vnder his own wing, acquainting her euen from her cradle with matters of state and gouernment. In which now, by reason of her long traine and experience therein, shee is exceedinglye practised and ripe. With her, what waightie matter so euer hee vndertaketh, hee participateth the same before, demanding her aduice and counsell, spend­ing sometimes whole halfe daies they two in com­munication together. Vpon her (the youths weak­nesse & simplicitie of the yong prince considered) are the eies of all men throwen, vppon her depend the nobilitie, gentilitie and commons, and innume­rable troupes of sutors, into whose harts she hath so insinuated her selfe, that they doo beare an exceed­ing loue and reuerence towards her, many mighty men haue bin offered her in mariage, as the Empe­ [...]our Rodolph, the king of Scotland, and diuers other, but she vntil she see what wil become of her father, whom shee seeth olde, oppressed with infinit cares, and not likely long to liue, vpon whose death, her actions and manner of life doth assuredly shew, that shee is not of mettall sufficient to giue place to the yong idiot her brother, but at least shee meanes to part stakes with him.

In Spaine she knowes there is no lawe Salike, to bridle her ambitious thoughtes, but women maye [Page] succeed as men, for so grandmother Iouina did Fer­dinando her father. Hauing these examples before her eyes, she feedeth her minde with high & ambi­tious desires, of which she hath made so cleere and euident demonstrations, that her Father to preuent this mischiefe that hee feareth, was forced this last yeere to assemble the whole estates of Spaine, & to make them sweare to be true vnto his sonne, whom he presently caused to keepe his Court apart, send­ing him sundrie of his councell, and commanding the nobilitie to be attendant on him, acquainting him, as much as in them lyeth, with ma [...]aging of matters of waight, estate, and gouernment. Besides it is heere bruited for certaine among vs, that the president of Artois Richardol, whō the Duke of Par­ma had sent into Spaine, to make his excuses and iu­stifications against certaine pointes of treason, of which he was by the Duke of Pastrauia and prince of Ascoly accused to the king, is now returned with commission to assemble the nobles & states of these Countries, and to cause them to take the like oath to his sonne, therby to preuent as well his daughter as the Duke of Parma of their conceiued hopes.

But now to come to his second daughter, whom he hath long sithence bestowed in marriage vpon the Duke of Sauoy, with absolute promise & solemn vow between him and her, to leaue her a kingdome for her dowrie. She is a princesse in ambition and high desire nothing vnequal to her sister, but in wit & courage far her inferior, she & her husband both alreadie take vppon them in their manner, stile, and [Page] vsage, a state and title far beyond their dignitie, con­uenient onelye vnto kinges. Altessa is the meanest phrase they will be spoken in vnto, refusing any let­ters that are not so intituled, for such is the will and pleasure of the king her father. Naples & the Dut­chie of Millaine they haue alreadie deuoured in their hopes, which if her Father at his death leaue not quietly vnto them, they will be so bold as strain curtesie with his son, to get them perforce if he can. On the other side, the states of Italy like not such a mightie neighbor amongst them, and therefore to preuent both him and his father in lawes desseign­ment, haue made a most straight secret league & al­liance among themselues, tearming the same Ra­goyne de Stato: in which are comprised the pope, the Venetians, the Duke of Florence, the Duke of Par­ma, the Dukes of Vrbin, Mantua, and Ferrara: the duke of Parma dared not to enter in among them, but is forced, though none more agreed to dissem­ble and temporize than he for a while, he knoweth that the king hath bene exceeding ielous, and seek­eth, though slily and dissemblingly, his life, honour, & reputation. But aboue all, the dissention of Por­tugall, to which hee perswadeth himselfe to haue right, as in truth his title is better than that of the king of Spaines, sticketh deep in his stomacke, Ma­net alta monte repostum, and wee doubte not but one daie when occasion shall serue, hee will make the worlde witnesse of his discontentment, which the king well knoweth, and greatly feareth, but he must haue patience, for he can hardly remedie it, vnlesse [Page] the duke will wittingly ouerthrow himselfe, especi­ally hauing these meanes in his handes which hee hath, not onely to worke his owne securitie, but to crie quittance also when time shall serue.

But hauing now exceeded the limits of a letter, it is time I refraine my pen, hoping that these alled­ged demonstrations shall, if not to worke the good effect which I desire in you & other Gentlemen of my countrie, yet at the least to manifest the dutifull zeale & loue I beare vnto the state of my Country, as to all faithfull members thereof, in participating vnto them such things as by painfull and dangerous experience I haue gathered, and do thinke necessa­rie to be knowen, wherein I haue vsed such truth, that I hope no man liuing shall be able to disproue me, though I doubte not but the same shall bee by some malitiously censured, and my selfe subiect to abide the brunt of their mallice, being assured that I shall not auoid the poisoned rancor of their infa­mous defaming tongues and pens. For seeing they spare not in their traiterous speeches & infamous pamphlets, princes, noble men, & counsellors, men of great authoritie & vertue, it were folly for me to looke to scape scot-free. But such is the ioye I con­ceiue in my good meaning, that I shal receiue com­fort thereof, as a thing greatly redounding to my credit, of such men as they are to bee ill spoken of.

Now lastly for conclusion, whereas you write that if there were no other benefite to be gotten in these partes, but attaining the languages of foreine nations, with the knowledge of militarie discipline [Page] and affaires of matter of state, wherein you heare my selfe & others your country-men haue in these parts greatly profited themselues, it were a motion sufficient not onely to make you leaue your coun­trie for a time, but to hazard your selfe to any dan­gers in forain parts, I haue thought good therein to let you vnderstand, that albeit I must confesse, that I haue in those thinges profited more perchaunce, (without ostentatiō be it spoken) than others of our nation, for the most part haue done: yet as the time now serueth, and the case now standeth at this pre­sent, there is no possibilitie that you or anie other may in farre longer time than I haue spent, attaine to the like: and if you could, yet the dangers that in aduenturing the same you shoulde indure, were farre greater than the benefites you could possibly reape might in any wise counteruaile, were they such as might answere you expectation. In which respect, I praie you first consider, that when I came first ouer hether, the wars then here vndertaken see­med & were in apparance to all the manner sort of men in the worlde. But intestine warres betweene the prince and his subiects, such as no other foraine prince, and most especially our most noble Queene & Soueraigne was then nothing interessed: where­as since it hath ben made manifest to the world that these wars and iniuries offered by the king of Spaine to those of the Low countries, whose laws, customs and priuiledges he hath most violently, tyranously, wrongfully and periuredly broken, whereby hee hath freed them from his subiection, yoake, and ty­ranie, [Page] and iustly and deseruedly for euer lost al such preheminences, prerogatiues, authoritie, and iuris­diction as he pretended ouer them, as more amply appeareth in the ancient records of the priuiledges of these nations, which both he & his predecessors at their entrie of gouernment into these prouinces haue solemnly vowed and sworne to maintaine all in generall, and euerie in particular inuiolate, & vp­pon that couenant and condition they haue reci­procally sworn to him due fidelitie and obeisance, he fayling in the one, they to be exempted from the other. Noreouer, her Maiestie seeing the lamenta­ble and most pittifull cause of her distressed neigh­bours and allies, finding no other possible meanes by laborers, sutes, messages, & sundrie Embassadors which she most honorably sent to the king of Spain for pacifieng the sayd troubles, and reconciling the sayd king and those: sometimes his sayd subiectes haue bene inforced to take pittie and commiserati­on of their most miserable and afflicted estate and distresse, and for their reliefe, to her excessiue & al­most importable charges, to vndertake a most iust, godly, and charitable defensiue warre against those that daily seeke the bloud, liues, goods, lands and li­berties of the inhabitants of the sayd distressed na­tions. Since which being published, I thinke it not onely vnlawful, but also a most hainous and capital crime and offence for any her Maiesties subiectes to serue on the contrarie part.

Besides, it shal be good for you & all other good subiects of her Maiesties, to remember that consi­deration being had by her Maiestie and her most [Page] honorable prudent councell, of the loosenes of ma­ny of her subiects, and small respect they had to her Highnes & countrie, & as litle to their owne safety, hir Maiesty hath caused to be published & set forth diuerse lawes, ordinances, proclamations, and inhi­bitions, whereby all her subiectes (except knowen marchants and strangers) are straightly forbidden to passe the seas into anie forraine partes without e­speciall lisence of her Maiestie at this time. There­fore if you or anie other her Graces subiects, shall nowe attempt to passe the seas without lawfull li­sence, there is no reason why you shuld expect anie other than the rigor of the lawes & iustice, & to be holden guiltie of cases capitall, especiallye such as shall serue vnder so open and professed an enemie to the crowne and state.

Further, I praye you to haue in consideration, that when I came ouer hether, the case so stoode as all Gentlemen of anie quality or merit, were grate­fully receiued, and emploied in good & honorable seruices: whereas since the Spaniard hath professed himselfe open enemie to her Maiestie and the state of her realme, he hath had all English-men in verie base account, beeing ielous & extremely suspitious of those that be most inwarde with him, & who for his sake haue made shipwrack not only of their ho­nor and credit, but also of their loialty, dutie and al­leageance to her Maiestie and their natiue Coun­trie. Examples whereof are infinit, and partly tou­ched in my Discourse before set dowue.

Besides, there is of late crept into that nation a vipe­rous brood of Iesuits and priests, most dangerous & [Page] malitious enemies to her Maiestie, and to their owne countrie vile and pernitious, instruments of the pope and his adherents, who daily (as it is manifest to them that haue knowledge and experience of them & their actions) seeke nothing more than the vtter ruine, pul­ling downe, and destruction of her Maiestie and theyr countrie, which bred and nourished in them, & al true professors of the Gospell and christian religion tho­roughout christendome, he therefore that thinketh to liue amongst these pernitious people in anie credit or account, let him, as he worthily doth deserue, bee ac­counted besides his wits, or els disobedient and traite­rous to God, her Maiestie, & his countrie.

As for my part, seeing the impietie of this place and the wicked and detestable end whereto their drifts & practises are directed, I haue long since retired my self, liuing aloofe from them, abandoning and vtterly re­iecting the merit of my long seruice, & all such hopes and prefermentes, which I might as well as anie man else of my qualitie of my nation haue pretended and should haue as soone obtained. And haue euer since by all possible meanes, as well by my selfe as by my friends, laboured with her Maiesties most honourable priuie councel about my returne, which by the speci­all grace & benignity of my Soueraigne, I am in com­fort shortly to obtaine, desiring to spend my poore ta­lent, and the residue of my life in the seruice of her Maiestie, my most honorable princesse & soueraigne Ladie, whom God of his euerlasting goodnesse blesse with many yeres, & endles prosperity, to the ioy of hir subiects, and all faithfull christians dispersed through­out the whole world.