THE BEGINNING of the Discourse.

BEing forced by the fore remembred oc­casions, to make of a pri­uate Letter a publik dis­course: I am at the verie first troubled, not kno­wing what method to obserue in a matter so a­brupt and full of confu­sion; which I feare mee, is likely to proue to the true English and well minded reader as delightlesse, as it is to me that write it altogether comfortles, in regard of the numbers of our nation wherof I must intreate, & among the rest, of some of good parentage, that haue with full draught swallowed into their intrailes the loathsome dregges of this Spanish infection: being to our nation a thing as fatall and deadly, as euer was the golde of Tholouse, or the horse of Seian to the vnfortu­nate possessors therof. Whose course & actions (thogh the lawe of God, the law of nations, the duetie to our Soueraigne, and the loue to our countrie, bindeth vs [Page]to detest and hate, because they followe an opposite armed enemie that seeketh our subuersion: yet in re­gard they are of the same nation and language which we are of, charitie & kindnes wisheth vs to take com­passion of their abused conceits, and to wish them yet now at length to open their eies, and to beholde the dangerous estate wherein they haue plunged them­selues, the infamie and scorne wherein they liue, yea, vnder those whom they serue as hirelings: and lastly, the reprochful blot that they haue giuen to the noble­nes of our heretofore vnblemished nation, which in former ages, howsoeuer laboring in intestine broiles, yet neuer was detected of such base & wicked treche­ries, as to sell themselues to a forreine prince, to be by him imploied to the ouerthrow of their countrie, and the taking awaie of their Soueraignes life.

This is the vnpleasing subiect I must intreat of, dra­wing forcibly vnto it the recitall of so many conspira­cies, murthers, violences, practises, and treasons, that for the strangenesse thereof, it will rather beare the re­semblance of a tragical fiction, thē of a true discourse.

The method of this insuing Discourse.I will first direct my speeches to such vnexperien­ced gentlemen, as are in desire addicted to the Spanish seruice, shewing them in what point of their hope & expectation they doo faile and are deceiued, laying vnto them before their eies, the fall, miserie, and cala­mitie of as many as haue before them entered within the compas of this inchanted circle.

Secondly, to our credulous Catholikes at home, vp­on whose ignorance & driftles search into these mat­ters, our practising traitors abroad do bulid their che­fest foundations of al their vilanies (whom while they [Page]entertain with vaine expectations, in the meane time, with traitors & spies which they daily send ouer) they abuse with ouer-reaching subtilties, to the irreparable ruine and ouerthrow of them and theirs.

They haue also at their deuotion certaine ambo­dexter felowes, who vpon fained colours and preten­ses passe to & fro, feeding either side with newes, who in regard of some few bad inteligences, which now & then they bring into England, would faine be accoun­ted honest seruiceable men: but they must pardon me a litle, in respect of some experience that I haue had of them, if I conceiue otherwise, thinking them to be in deed farre more dangerous than either the secret spie, or the discouered traitor, and in place where when I shall be askt, I will yeelde my reason. For since I was a scholler, I remember a verse in Seneca, Seneca in Octa­ua Tragedia Agamemnon. Pretio parata vincitur pretio sides: I speake this, because the Prince whome they serue, howsoeuer otherwise, with these fellowes will not sticke to deale most liberally.

Thirdly, because many of our countrymen liuing in great happines at home, yet (like those that cannot take good rest when they lie soft) doo in their conceit mislike (surfetting with to much ease) the quiet estate they liue in, and the maner of her Maiesties most gra­cious & mercifull gouernment, I haue thought it my dutie somewhat to expresse these fewe thinges which haue come to my knowledge touching the benefites and blessings which it hath pleased God so plentiful­ly to poure downe upon her maiesty and her people: together with the flourishing estate of that fortunate realme, since this the time of her Maiesties gouern­ment, so plentifull in peace, so victorious in warres, so [Page]industrious in artes, & so excelling in all sciences, that the verie Spanish enemie himselfe will not stick many times to breake out into admiration thereat, The Spanish e­nemie himselfe admireth the blessed estate and happie go­uernment of England. and som­times in his scoffing or rather blasphemous humour sweare that he thinkes Iesu Christ is become a prote­stant: withall, I will briefly make a short comparison betweene this and the gouernment of the aduersarie, I meane the king of Spaine, his cruell and inhumane vsage of his miserable subiects, his violent abolition & taking awaie of their priuiledges, and in fine, the vn­speakable bondage, constrained seruitude, and pittiful desolatiō in which they liue, or rather despairfully do languish: a matter though farre vnfit for mee to han­dle, but worthie of grauer wits, & men of the highest wisdome and experience, yet considering I shall not presume to treate of matters of great estate & secrets, but such as euerie well affected subiect may finde and picke out of the heroicall actions of the one, and the tyrannicall insolencies of the other, both done in the apparance of the world, I hope, and so with all lowly­nes most humbly desire her most gracious & benigne maiestie to pardon mee, if vndertaking such a taske, I chance to come far short of that, which men fitter for the handling thereof could saie or intreat, and so like­wise most earnestly beseech that I may therin be cen­sured according to the loyall zeale I beare to her Ma­iesties seruice and my countrie, 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 & the rest of your opinion, may cleerely and plainly di­scerne those things, which hetherto your eies blinded with the vaile of partialitie, or perchance misled with [Page]a contrarietie of affection, haue not bin able to view: I will begin with the good vsage, honor, and aduance­ment that you and other Gentlemen addicted to the Spanish seruice are to expect, bringing you for exam­ple sundrie braue and worthie Gentlemen, Captains, & souldiers, that haue taken the like cause before you; whereby you shall perceiue that all is not golde that glistereth faire, but that whatsoeuer shew the Spani­ard make vnto vs, yet in his heart hee mortally abhor­reth vs, & by all meanes possible seeketh our destruc­tion, ruine, and subuersion, as it euidently appeareth by his vsage of such troups and companies of our na­tions as haue serued him.

I will not speak of the crueltie of the Commenda­dor vpon certaine English Gentlemen that had done notable seruices both to him and the Duke of Alua, Eight English­men hanged vp in Antwarp by commande­ment of Don Luis Reque­sence, the Cō ­mendador and Captaine gene­rall of the lowe Countries for the king. of whom neuerthelesse for a meere trifling occasion, he caused eight to be hanged vp after the sacke of Ant­warpe on the Mere brigge.

Neither will I trouble you with the tragicall dis­course of M. Aegrimont Ratcliffe, & M. Grey, who were as the world knoweth, both gentlemen of noble hou­ses, and most faithfully affected both in religion & ser­uice to the Spanish king; neuertheles, vpon I know not what suspition, that they should haue practised the death of Don Ioan, they were both apprehended, and though there neuer was, M. Aegrimon [...] Ratcliffe and M Grey wrong­fully put to death by the Spaniard. nor euer coulde bee anie thing proued against them, and they at their deathes protested thēselues to be most innocent of that wher­with they were charged, yet theyr heads were striken off in the market place of Namures. I touch these things the more sparingly, because they happened be­fore [Page]my time of being there, and in matters deliuered by heresaie I might erre, which (vndertaking to write no thing but that which is true & vnrefutable) I wold be loth to doo, and therefore I will come to things of later time, and such as I doo certainly know.

At the siege of Audenarde, where the D. of Parma laie incamped, there came rendering themselues vnto his seruice, vnder the conduct of Norris, Barney, Cor­nish, and Gibson, Six hundred Englishmen came and ren­dred themselues to the Duke of Parmas seruice, who then laye at the siege of Audenarde. whome they had chosen to be theyr Captaines, a troupe of sixe hundred, the tallest & best appointed souldiers that I remember euer to haue seene in all my life, theyr comming beeing the onelie cause, that the Towne (a matter of greate impor­tance, and on the land side, as it were the verie key of the prouince of Flanders) was so soon deliuered vnto him as it was. The manner of their comming and their vsage. For whereas the Duke of Aniou and the Prince of Orenge laie vnder the walles of Gaunt, with sufficient force and most deliberate resolution to suc­cour the sayd towne of Audenarde, vpon this mutinie of the English, they marched awaie with their whole armie, leauing the enemie now battering the towne: which, seeing it selfe frustrated of the expected suc­cours, presently rendered it self vnto the Duke of Par­ma. Thence they were drawen to Wynoch bergen to serue against the French and English that lay there in­camped, where they behaued themselues with such desperate resolution, that day that Monsieur de Balan­son, brother to the Marquesse of Warambon was taken prisoner, that besides the losse of many of their liues, they were a wonder to the whole armie, which praise of theirs the pride of the Spaniards not induring, The enuy of the Spaniard. dyd vpbraide them that they had serued rather like giddie [Page]headed dronkards, than men wisely valiant. Sir Roger Williams well remembreth this daies worke, for hee was there in seruice of the states, and vnles I am decei­ued, lost a brother in that seruice. Shortly after, vppon the remoue of the Duke of Alansons armie towardes Gaunt, they were likewise brought thether, where also they gaue exceeding testimonie of their valor & cou­rage, namely, the verie daie that sir Iohn Norris made that famous & memorable retreat before Gaunt, The famous [...]e­treate made be­fore Gaunt by sir Iohn Norris. who when the French men fled with a disordered amaze­ment, did with a present courage and excellent direc­tion maintaine the place with such regiments of Eng­lish as were vnder his charge; and withstanding the Duke of Parma in the teeth with al his puissance, who furiously charged him, neuertheles withdrew his men still holding their pikes in the bosomes of the enemy, safely vnder the wals of Gaunt, not without exceeding domage to the enemie: insomuch that the Duke of Parma woulde euer after saie, that hee onely had that daie barred him from crying quittance with the Duke of Alanson, for the retreate which hee had caused him to make from Cambray; which still did sticke in his sto­macke euen to his dying day.

But now to my newcome English that had done these notable seruices to the Spaniard, let vs see howe they were recompensed: within one yeere they were suffered all in a manner to famish, which miserie some of them seeking to releeue by foraging out vp­on the countrie, Eoure & twen­tie Englishmen hanged by the Spaniard in Audenarde, foure & twentie of them were taken by the Spanish prouost, & carried to Audenarde (of the rendering whereof they had bin the chiefest meanes) & openly hanged in the market place. Another troup [Page]of them, being thirty in number, and lying in a village neere Poppering in Flanders, a companie of Spaniards hearing of them, came into the village where they were, and after a friendly and souldierly salutation of each side, as they were all making mery together, on a sodain the Spaniards toke thē at aduantage vnarmed, A most mon­strous murther committed by the Spaniard vp on sundry Eng­lish souldiers y ^t serued among them. & most trecherously and inhumanely murdred them euerie one, rifling them of their clothes, & such other things as they had pilled abroad in the countrie. Sun­drie cōplaintes were made to the Duke by the friends of those that were thus murthered, and by the Cap­taines of the regiment, Amongst y ^e rest that were thus murthered, ther was one Aucrie Crispe, brother in lawe to sir Stephen Thor­nax, likewise a younger sonne of Alderman Starkie: one Norton, &c. but Spaniards being the doers thereof, there could neither bee remedie nor iustice obtained. But to make amends, because they woulde bee the cleanlyer rid of the residue of this poore mise­rable troupe the campe being then before Wynochber­gen, wherein laie a mightie strong garrison of French­men, they made them two little fortes of purpose, in which they willingly placed them in the vtmost quar­ter of the whole campe, and neerest confining to the towne, to the end they might haue all their throates cut, as in deede they had verie fewe nightes after, at which time the enemie assaulting them with great fu­rie, and they defending themselues most manfully a­boue the space of an houre, in such sort as the allarum passed through the whole camp, yet they were neuer releeued with anie succour at all, These English troups ouerthrowen by trechery of the Sqaniard insomuch as the greatest part of them being slaine in the defence, the enemie at last entered, & put the residue to the sword.

To rehearse vnto you the sundrie and seuerall cala­mities that these poore men as well captaines as soul­diers indured, during the time of that their vnfortu­nate [Page]seruice, especially at Gausbecke, Aske, and Gauer, would seeme (I am sure) vnto you for the vnspeaka­ble strangenes thereof, scarcely credible, for they ne­uer receiued in all the time of their seruice, anie one moneths paie, I haue seen Lieutenants & Ensignes of them go vp and downe sickly and famished, begging their bread, couered onely with poore blankets and tikes of featherbeds, that they had rifled in the villages abroade, and haue my selfe releeued some of them: Neither were the ends of their Captaines lesse tragi­call, which I thought good to set downe, to the ende you may perceiue, that such and so great calamities as these, could neuer haue happened without the appa­rant hand of God, whose reuengful iustice neuer cea­sed to pursue the infidelitie of these miserable men, til he had taken them from the face of the earth.

First Norris, chiefe captaine and ringleader of the rest, The strange & tragicall ends of the leaders and captaines of this reuolted regi­ment. after hee had leasure to bethinke himselfe of the foulenes of his fault, and withall sawe the scorne and contempt wherein hee liued vnder the Sraniard, con­ceiued thereof so deep an impression, that he fell dan­gerouslie sicke, and into a kind of lunasie, of which be­fore hee was well recouered, hee stole secretly out of the campe lying then at Varnaton, with intention to conuey himselfe into England, but by the way was ta­ken prisoner and carried to Flushing, Norris died mi­rably at Flush­ing. whereby dying in prison, or as some saie, by laying violent hands on him selfe, hee preuented those torments, that according to the qualitie of his offence, were prepared for him. Gibson at such time as the campe laie before Mening, lying one night with his wife in his cabine, a Spanish horseman comming vpon occasion into his quarter, [Page]chanced to tie his horse to the stake whereunto Gibsons cabbin was fastned, who what with stamping and sha­king the cabbin, did so disquiet him, that he arose thin­king to vntie the horse, giuing withall some harde wordes to the owner, who in requitall thereof ranne him through the bodie with this rapier, Gibson slain so­denly by night. so that hee fell downe in the place starke dead. I sawe his wife many times afterwardes weeping and falling downe vpon her knees before the Duke of Parma for iustice. But English bloud was there of so vile price, especially be­ing shed by a Spaniard, that the matter was not thoght worthie the inquiring after.

Cornish was in the one of the litle forts before mentio­ned, at such time as they were surprised by the French men, within the which both himselfe, his lieutenant, Ensigne, and whole companie were miserablie slaine and mangled. Barnies Companie was with the other likewise defeated, and put to the swoord, but he him­selfe was by his good happe sicke and absent at Saint Homars. Cornish & hys whole company slaine in a forte before Winoc­bergen Neuerthelesse hee escaped not altogether his part and portion of these afflictions, for presently vp­pon his returne to the campe, as hee stood beholding the march of a companie of footmen that passed by, hee was shot at, by an vnknowen man with an hargue­buze, which by chaunce though it missed his bodie, yet it lighted vppon his right arme, in such sorte, as it sheuered all the principall bones thereof to peeces, so that hee hath vtterly lost the vse thereof. Shortly af­ter hee was taken prisoner by the English souldyers of Ostend, where hee was euerie daie in daunger of the gallowes, but vppon promises of great seruices hee was at length set at libertie by Sir Iohn Conway, and [Page]suffered to returne from whence hee came, where­as yet hee liueth but maymed and verie muserable, and in exceeding great distresse, needinesse, and po­uertie.

Two or three yeeres after this foreremembred storie, came one William Pigot, A lost betrayed to the Kinge of Spaine by a regi­ment of Eng­lishmē, of which one Pygot had the comanding. who beeing of a meane man raysed to the degree of a Captaine by Sir Iohn Norris, and in his absence lefte as commander in A­lost, ouer the rest of the Companies, trecherously de­ceiuing him to whome hee was so infinitely behold­ing, rendered the Towne, himselfe, and the whole Regiment, (beeing well neere a thousand as tall and well appoynted men as were in Europe) to the seruice and deuotion of the Spanish King, which seruice, howe meritorious and beneficiall it was vnto the Spa­niard, I leaue to theyr iudgementes that knowe the Countrie. For by this rendition of the towne of A­lost, they were the occasion that hee got Dermounde, the Sasse, the fortes of Leifkins hooke, Saint Anthonies, and Saint Margarets the dole, the best parte of the lande of Wast, and in manner Gaunt it selfe, as the se­quele verie apparantly shewed: notwithstanding all which seruice, they were within two yeeres space, what wyth hunger, the gallowes, and rigorous dea­ling, quite consumed and brought to nothing. And lastly at Stalbrooke, euen agaynst the yeelding vp of Anwarpe, when all other Nations whatsoeuer, were to receiue theyr count and reckoning, they onelye were infamouslye cashierde without anie one mo­nethes paie, receiuing onelie euerie one a Duc­ket.

And which of all others is most monstrous and [Page]scarcely credible, whereas some of the Captaines not long before, had made them of their own purses new and faire Ensignes, those Ensignes were by a Spanish Commissarie called Spinosa (who came with order to dissolue the regiment) taken violently from those that bare them, An exceeding disgrace vsed to the English by the Spaniard. in presence of the Earle of Westmerland, who was Coronell of the regiment, and for a greater disgrace both to him and the rest, though both hee, Captaine Tresham, and the other Captaines complai­ned to the Duke for redres, Captain Treshā a litle before the breaking of the regiment when Tailor was slain had his compa­nie giuen him. which they could not ob­taine: the Spaniard afterwards made his brags, that he turned the English Ensignes into Spanish fieldbeds.

Somwhat before this time, when the whole camp receiued at the siege of Dermounde two moneths pay, they onely though of all others most trauelled in the trenches, wading euerie night from their quarter to the place where they kept their gard, which was vpon a dike or caussey, through waters vp to the bosome, & hauing had more men slaine in that siege, than anie o­ther regiment in the whole campe, could not receiue one penie, notwithstanding that they had passed mu­sters with the rest, yea, and some of the Captaines had bribed the Commissaries to passe them many places, thinking thereby to make a great hand: but in sted of monie when they made sute to the Duke, There are in the kings army two Contadors, whose office is to keepe y ^e Rols and bookes of the armie, to make the Pa­tents of captains and coronels, & to put theyr hands to al such assignations of money as are granted, & ma­ny other y ^e lyke thinges, so that their office is of great re [...]l [...]ning and dignitie. were scorn­fully by him poasted off to the Contadores of the ar­mie, of whom they receued the most base and oppro­brious speeches that were euer giuen vnto souldiers, and that can Lieutenant Butlar well testifie: for he be­ing then Lieutenant vnto Pigot, was one of the num­ber vnto whom they were vsed: he is now in her Ma­iesties seruice, and was lately Lieutenant of sir Iohn [Page]Poolies horsemen, and as I heare, hath done her Maie­stie many good seruices. The conclusion is, they were absolutely reiected, without euer receiuing one halfe­penie. And lastly, vpon casting of the regiment, wher­as the paie of a reformed Captaine, (for so they call them whose companies are cashierd or taken awaie) of what nation so euer he bee amongst them, is fortie crownes a moneth, they gauè onely to our English Captains but fiue and twentie, neither that but in pa­per onely, for I thinke some of them neuer receiued anie pennie at all in mony, and if they did, I am sure it was verie little.

Thus much as touching the vsage which they re­ceiued from the Spaniard, but now keeping the course I beganne, I will acquaint you with the punishment which it pleased God to laie vpon the leaders and first seducers of this miserable forenamed troupe.

Vpon their arriuall in the Spanish campe, they were diuided into seuen companies, The names of y ^e Captaines and commanders of this Regiment, and their mise­rable endo [...]. the one of which was giuen to the Earle of Westmerland, who vpon their humble request and sute, was made Coronell & com­mander of them all, and one Contraras, a Spaniard, ioy­ned with him as his assistant, or rather as a master and commander both ouer him and the regiment: ano­ther was giuen to Pigot, with the title of Lieutenant Coronell: the third to Dalton, with the office of Ser­geant maior: the names of the other four vpon whom the residue of the companies were bestowed, were Tailor, Vincent, Smith, and Walsh. I will begin with Pi­got, The strange ca­lamitie & death of Pigot. because hee onely was the first and chiefe actor & instrument in this trecherie, abusing with the subtiltie of his fair speech the rest of his countrymen, that were [Page]by him drawen into this action. Pigot after hee had stayed a while in the campe, as hee was wilie and full of crafte, The strange ca­lamitie & death of Pygot. so hee quicklye perceiued howe the worlde was likely to go with him and his fellowes, and there­fore leauing the rest to weare themselues out in po­uertie and trauell, he while hee had monie in his purse got him into Spaine, thinking surely with himself, that in regard his seruice had ben so important, hee should there haue bene receiued with crosse and candle, and besides bee mightily recompensed. He would not ad­mit anie other of the Captaines for companion in the iourney, fearing least partnership might haue made the merite of his seruice, (which to himselfe hee attri­buted alone) seeme the lesse, Pygots cold en­tertainment in Spayne. and so consequentlie his reward.

With this craftie intention hee arriued at Ma­drile, where after hee had a while wandered vp and downe vnregarded, at length by meanes of sir Fran­ces Englefield, to whom he was in that behalfe an ear­nest suter, hee was brought by an interpreter, (for hee had no other lāguage but plain English) to the speech of Don Ioan de Ydeaques, being then the kings Secreto­rie, from whom (after he had declared his seruice and cause of comming) hee receiued this answere, that the King had appointed the Duke of Parma to be his lieu­tenant, The answere of Don Iuan De Ydeaques the Kings secretarie. and Captaine generall in the lowe Conn­tries, to whose direction and discretion hee referred the consideration of all such lyke seruices as shoulde there fall out, wishing him therefore with all speede to returne vnto the Duke, who, no doubt, woulde take notice of his seruices: offering him his Letter vnto the Duke in that behalfe.

This answere was colde and contrarie to Pigots ex­pectations, but backe hee must, there was no reme­dye: No replye of his coulde alter the Secreto­ries resolution: Somewhat beefore his vndertak­ing this iourney, hee had married a handsome young woeman of those Countries, whome hee left at Tourney in a Cittizens house, and with her in charge, all whatsoeuer hee was woorth. Shee in the time of his absence, beeing verye fearefull to lye alone, had entertayned into her bedde a younge man of the Towne of her olde acquaintaunce, with whome (hearing of her husbands returne) shee ranne away, selling first whatsoeuer of her husbandes that was not portable, and the rest of the things that remained, beeing of anie value, shee tooke with her. And with this Companion of hers shee got her selfe into Eng­land, knowing that her husbande durst not make pursute thither after her: but comming to Lon­don shee mette with certayne Flaunders Souldy­ours that knewe her and her husbande, who vn­der coulour of yeelding her assistance in a straunge place, coosened her of the greatest parte of such thinges as shee had lefte (beeing of good woorth) as shee had so deceiued her husband of: the rest shee spent in dissolutenesse, and so by degrees, accord­ing to the fortune of such courses, fell into extrea­mest miserie and beggerie that might bee, in the meane time Pygots heart beeing striken dead, with the coldnesse of the entertainment he had in Spayne, and now returning homewardes on the one side, quite frustrated of all his expectations and hopes, and on the other syde pursued wyth the stynges [Page]and terrors of a guilty conscience, yet cheered vp him self with thinking on the comfort of his wiues youth and affections, Aloft solde by Pigot to y ^e king of Spanie for 30 thousand Frēch crownes. and withall of the money that he had lefte in her keeping: for you must consider that hee had not giuen, but solde the towne of Alost for thir­tie thousand French crownes, for payment of which they had hostages, and the same was fully paid before hee deliuered vp the towne. Out of this monie sixe moneths paie was deducted for the souldiers, the rest hee diuided among the Captaines, retaining a great share to himselfe, which, as you heare, hee had left in keeping with his wife, as a certaine remedy in store a­gainst whatsoeuer hardnesse of fortune should after­wardes happen. But beeing vpon his returne to Tor­ney incountered with the newes of his wiues disloial­tie, and withall, which grieued him most, finding his lodgings ransackt, his coffers emptie, and himselfe at once ouerwhelmed with such a heap of scorne & mi­serie; I leaue you to imagine the patience and quiet­nesse wherewith his minde entertained these tidings, being (as before I told you) one that meerely for mo­ney (as for religion hee knew not what it meant) had solde his loialty to his prince and countrie, his faith to his Coronell, (to whome in so many duties he was ti­ed,) and finally his owne person, as likewise he would haue done his soule if hee coulde haue found a chap­man. Sure I am that if by the bodies iestures a man may iudge of the minds vnquiet perturbations, there was neuer anie wretch more violently ouerthrowen with the extremity of an inward affliction & despaire, yet did he not for all this wholy forsake and abandon himselfe, but rather determined to turne, as the pro­uerbe [Page]is, euerie stone, and to attempt fortune once a­new, thereby either to redresse the miseries of his e­state, or at the least, if the worst shoulde fall, to end his lyfe, for finding himselfe already about the shooes, he made no reckning of being aboue the boots, & there­fore following the saying of the Poet, Per scelera sceleri­bus tutum esse itur, he resolued himself by a new treche­rie to amend his olde, & withall his fortune if it were possible, and therefore fell presently a tempering with some of his friendes in Holland and Zeland, and lastly with my Lord of Leicester himselfe, being then newly come ouer to the gouernment of the vnited prouin­ces, to whom he offered, so he might haue his pardon, and withall be rewarded, to betraie the Duke of Par­ma in some notable sorte, besides sundrie other lyttle seruices (of which none could be performed without notable periury and infidelitie) to performe which he made prodigall offers of his best indeuors, which ne­uerthlesse truly I thinke hee had not bene able to per­forme, though hee had neuer beene hindered in the course of his practises, yet from time to time hee sent my Lord ouer such poore intelligences, as the smal­nes of his credit wherein he liued could attaine vnto. The carrier of his letters and the returner of his aun­sweres, was a brokerly felow, an Englishman, that then dwelt in the English house at Antwarpe, called I. G. one that in intelligence, desired to correspond with either side, but with whether he dealt faithfully God know­eth, I will speake the lesse of him, because though his wife remaine still in Antwarpe, yet he himselfe is with­drawen to Middleborough, where some saie he liueth now honestly and well. This fellow whether by care­lesse [Page]conueiance, or by worse practise, as some sus­pected (though truly I thinke him thereof innocent, as Rowland York afterwards assured me) with whome Pigot had at that time intelligence, who had vsed him before in such like practises for himselfe, and by him receiued his pardon and pasport, vppon his first being with the Duke of Parma, from my L. of Leycester, yet in conclusion hee handled his matters so ill, that Mondragon, chiefe Captaine and Lieutenant of the Castles of Anwarpe and Gaunt, came to haue intelli­gence thereof, who presently thereupon caused Pigot to be apprehended & conueied prisoner to the Castle of Gaunt, Pigot sent pri­soner to the ca­stle of Gaunt. where hee had beene presently laide vpon the torture, but that Hugh Owen, who for some causes especially affected him, laboured to the contrarie. And in fine so much preuailed, that after halfe a yeres imprisonment, he got him to be deliuered: Thence poore and penilesse he traueled to Burges, where the Duke of Parma then remained, with intention to sue for somwhat wherewith to relieue himselfe. Nemesis in Ter­go. But whe­ther soeuer he went, still Nemesis followed him in ter­go: Iustice still fol­lowed him at his heeles. for by the way he was taken by certaine English souldiers that laye in ambush on the way, and by them caried prisoner to Ostend, where with the smoth­nesse of his tongue, & the protestation of many great seruices by him intended, hee so enchaunted Sir Iohn Conway then being gouernour of the towne, Pigot taken & carried prisoner to Ostend. that hee forbare to hang him, as he was once determined: and presently by letters aduertised the Counsel of his taking, and withall such seruices, of which he to shift the halter from his necke, had giuen such confidence & assurance, so he might be suffred to escape: al which [Page]notwithstanding, by the Counsels commaundement, he was sent for into England, and committed priso­ner to the Marshalsie: Pigot died so­dainly & strāgely in y ^e marshal­sie. where hauing remained some space of time, being one day wel ouernight, he fell in­to straunge and extreame accidents of his body, and was found the next morning dead. Such after this goodly seruice was his fortune, and such his end, and such bee the like of all other trecherous ill affected Englishmen. But now let vs come to speake of master Dalton, beeing next in the rowe, and see how hee spedde.

This Gentleman, to the end you should the better know him, was one of the craftiest Conicatchers that euer liued, and had all his life time shifted it out with coosening sleightes and practises of vilanie, as all the olde Flaunders souldiers that knewe hym, can well testifie: now by reason of his good experi­ence hee was growne verye weather wise, and did by manye coniectures foresee the stormes and tem­pestes that were comming towardes him and hys followers, and therefore thinking it a great mad­nesse to lye still at Anker in so daungerous and vn­safe a roade, hoysed vpp his sayles and shewed them a fayre payre of heeles, running awaye from them at Torney, where the Duke of Parma then kepte his Courte, into Fraunce, yet because hee woulde not bee in hys absence vnremembred, hee first tooke vp vppon his credite as much wares, as by all his vtmost deuises hee coulde procure, ey­ther of Mercers, Goldsmithes, or anye other sorte of Artificers. Thence hee conueyed himselfe in­to the North partes of Englande: where, as hee [Page]had gotten his goods wickedly, so he spent them as ri­otously: afterwards changing his name, hee betooke him to sea, Dalton hanged in the North Country. and became a pirate, for which, and sundry other such honest parts as hee had plaid, he was of after­wards apprehended, and tied vp to the galowes there in the North, in the yere 1586.

Tailor of all the rest was most to be pittied, for hee was a man of very comely personage, fine qualities, & verie gentlemanly behauior. His father had long ser­ued her Maiestie, as likewise himself had done in some office, as I take it, pertaining to the prouisions of her stable, it was my chance to conuerse much with him, both because we were of acquaintance in England, as also that I liked exceedingly his conuersation, and the manner of his carriage, & truly thus much I must saie of him beeing now dead, that I did neuer know anie man that was striken with a greater apprehension of his owne fault, and that did more euerie waie beat his braines and seeke all occasions how to amend it. The cause that had drawen him into this matter, as sundry times he told me, and sometimes not without teares, were the many debts, with which (being very youth­fully giuen) he had intangled himselfe in England, & withal his marriage, which was most vnfortunate. To rid himself of both which inconueniences at once, he had throwē himself into this headlong action: which surely if God had lent him life, Coronell Mor­gan sent a Let­ter to Captaine Tailor in y ^e hair of an Irish lacky he would haue inde­uored to amend. For I remember once, the camp ly­ing then at a place called Euergham, that coronel Mor­gan sent him a secret Letter, wrapped in the long haire of an Irish lacky that brought it, who not handling his matters with that warines as was requisite, the Letter [Page]was discouered, & Captaine Tailor apprehended: ne­uertheles by the helpe of his owne wit, and the assist­ance of his friends, he was soone set at libertie againe, though with an exceeding suspition, that euer after o­uerlooked his doings, insomuch, that in great griefe of minde he complained vnto me, that the only iealousy held of him in regard of this Letter, would be a great hinderance to that satisfaction which hee had in his minde resolued, which was at least to haue drawen back awaie with him all such English souldiers as ser­ued the king in that regimēt, which in regard of their loue vnto him, he might easily haue done. But it plea­sed the almightie in his iudgements to preuent him, & to take him awaie in the midst of his imaginations, for he and my L. of Westmerland hauing bin one daie in the quarter of the Wallons, The Earle of Westmerlande and Captayne Tailor entered into quarrell. banqueted by a captain of the Count of Egmonts, where according to the vse of that nation, either of them had bin constrained to drinke liberally: as they returned backe together, they two in companie alone towards Euergham, they fel in to contention about a friuolous matter, concerning one Dauies an Irishman, that serued the Earle, and that so far, that the Earle reuiling him in many opprobri­ous names, lighted down his horse, & drew his sword, willing him to doo the like, but Tailor knowing howe extreamly there the law determines of him that should draw his sword against his Coronell, put spurs to his horse, & galloped home before to his lodging: which scorne of his, as the Earle did interpret it, moued him to so great cholar, that getting vp on his horse he pur­sued him, and drew vpon him againe afore the verie doore of his loding, which indignity Tailor not being [Page]able any further to indure, drawing his rapier likewise encountered him, and after some thrusts betweene them, Tailor hurtes the Earle. ranne the Earle verie daungerously into the brest, at which instant Contraras the Spaniard, accom­panyed with many souldiers of the Earles companie, the most parte of the which had halbertes, came run­ning in, Tailor slaine by the Earle of Westmerland, & Contraras a Spaniard. and inuironing Tailor of all sides, most cruel­ly murthered him with aboue twentie woundes, for which cause the Earle was, vpon the complaintes and earnest pursuite of the other Captaines and souldiers, by the Duke of Parma for a time bannished the Regi­ment, and the gouernment thereof giuen to one Ma­na Cardonni, an Italian.

Shortly after another of these Captains called Ed­ward Vincent, was sent out of the lande of Waft, where the Spanish armie laie then incamped, with two hun­dred English souldiers, in companie of an Italian cap­taine with as many more Italians, towardes the forte of Terneuse, where by a sallie made from out the forte, they were all ouerthrowen, Captaine Vin­cent taken pri­soner. sundrie slaine, and among the rest Captaine Vincent taken prisoner, where ne­uerthelesse, in regarde of former acquaintance with Coronell Michael, who was there commaunder for the States, hee found such fauour at his handes, that hee was not presently deliuered ouer to the States, (as hee mortally feared) but set at raunsome at an hundred and fiftie poundes, prouided that the same shoulde bee sent with speed, for otherwise when the matter shoulde bee once knowen to the States in Hol­land, it coulde not bee in his power possible anie lon­ger to vvithholde him, of which desperate estate, Vin­cent did with all speed aduertise his father, being then [Page]a poore olde man, vvell neere seuentie yeeres of age, vvho hauing by present sale of such thinges as his son had lefte vvyth him, raisde some parte of the money, fell dovvne vppon his knees before the Duke, weep­ing and imploring his helpe for the rest, telling him in the Spanish tongue (in the vvhich language he was verie perfect) the great daunger and extremitie of the case his sonne then stoode in, if so bee his raunsome were not presently sent. But in stead of yeelding him releefe, the Duke badde, take awaie the importunate dotard: but vvhen neuerthelesse hee persisted (ouer­come vvith a Fathers affection) to vse many loude and passionate speeches, the Spaniardes by violence thrust him avvaie, calling him foole and dronkarde. The griefe whereof strake the olde man so inwardly to the heart, that hee vvent home to his lodging, and died vvithin sixe dayes after. And his sonne when his raunsome came not in time, Vincents father dyed of sorow, & himself han­ged in chains at Bargenopsome. was by the States com­mandement sent to Bargenopsome, and there hanged in chaines, where his cracasse remaineth yet wauing in the vvinde.

Smith held yet somewhat longer out, though drin­king as deeply in the cup of miserie, or rather deeplier than anie of the rest, for hee fell thorough sicknesse and pouertie into such extremitie of vvantes, that of a Captaine hee was faine to be come a victualler, and to buy butter and cheese, and by making sale thereof a­gaine to helpe to releeue his poore estate. Withall, he fel into so strange & extreme a dropsie, that I scarcely beleeue the like was euer heard of: neither truly doo I speak this to amplifie the matter, for all those that haue seen him beyond sea, will approue my speeches: either [Page]of his legs was swollen to that bignes of a mans mid­dle, his face onely was bare of flesh and miserable, and his eies sunke into his head, in such sorte, that I neuer remember to haue beheld a more pittifull spectacle: in which miserie after he had languished well neere a yeere and a halfe, he died finally in extreame calami­tie, as it is tolde me since, at Gaunt, in the yeere 1588.

Walsh onely had this good hap, that he suruiued all the rest, of whom I will speake the lesse, because there is scarcely anie one in England that professeth armes, but knew both him and his fortunes. After the break­ing of the regiment, from a Captaine he was faine to become a priuate soldier, and yet not thereunto with­out great sute accepted, vnder Canullo de Mounts com­panie of horsemen in the garison of Breda, which issu­ing one daie forth of the towne, was vpon the plaines neere adioyning encountered & defeated by sir Phil­lip Sidneys companie of English lances, Captain Walsh taken prisoner. & among the rest Captaine Walsh in two places grieuously wound­ed, and taken prisoner, & brought into Holland, where my L. of Leicester gaue commandement presently to hang him. Sir Phillip Sidney (being full of true honor) earnestly intreated my Lord for his pardon, & obtay­ned it, in respect that he knew him to bee valiant, and withall, that howsoeuer in this action transported, yet he had euer borne a dutifull regard towards her Maie­iestie. Whereupon beeing recouered of his hurts, hee serued some while in the armie vnder my L. of Leicest­er as a priuate soldier. Afterwards comming into Eng­land, he went with my Lord Willoughbie as Ensigne to one of his companies to the siege of Paris. Lastly, hee followed my L. of Essex into France, as a priuate soul­dier, [Page]where his fortune was to be slaine vnder the wals of Roane: Captain Walsh slaine vnder the wals of Roane. and with his death finished the last act of this tragedie. Of which truly I knowe not what you wyll iudge that reade, but sure I am that I who write it am full of wonder and amazement, when with my selfe I consider in so short a space the fal of so many men of great courage and valour, all taken awaie by violent death. Which vndoubtedly maketh me assure my self that God doth mightily protect the cause of her Ma­iestie, God doeth ap­parātly protect the cause and quarrell of her Maiestie. and wil not suffer the disloialties of her vnfaith­ful subiects to escape vnpunished, as by these most mi­raculous foreremembred examples most euidentlie appeareth.

But now to proceed with my Discourse. Sir W. Stanley and R. Yorke, y ^e one rendering y ^e towne of De­uenter, and the other the forte of Zutphen. Shortly after came sir William Stanley & Rowland Yorke, either of them being a man of great courage, well approued valor, and long experience in the warres, the one ren­dering vnto the king the towne of Deuenter, and the other betraying the fort of Zutphen: the one being co­ronel ouer a regiment of foot, & the other captain of a companie of lances. Let vs see the one & the others prosperitie, and the sequell of their vsage vnder their new chosen master the Spanish king. First sir W. Stan­ley was confirmed gouernor of the towne which hee rendred, & his regiment left there in garison, with the receit of two moneths pay. For a while he liued in the greatest applause that might be: Cardinall Allen was written vnto to Rome, to send down priests to instruct this religious regiment. He informed the Pope there­of, who both wrote ioyntly vnto the king, to be good and gracious vnto this regiment, which being well & liberally intreated, as they had alreadie at Rhemes and [Page] Rome a Seminarie of students and schollers, to praie & write for the Catholike cause of our Countrie, so this being conducted by so worthy and Catholike a Gen­tleman as sir William Stanley, might bee a contynuall nurserie and seminarie of souldyers to fight for the same. A Treatise writ­ten by Cardinal Allen Withall, Cardinall Allen wrote a booke vnto the Captaines and souldiers of this regiment, indeuo­ring therein to satisfie theyr consciences as touching the iustice of this action, and likewise animating them constantly to perseuer in this goodly course into the which they were now entered. Besides, downe came Priestes thicke and threefolde from France and Italie, catechizing these newe souldyers with many Masses and continuall Sermons. Gentlemen that for theyr conscience laye dispearsed in other partes, all drewe downe thether in hope of this good payment and golden world that there was talked of. In the meane time while the matters were thus in handling, there chaunced to arise a great and deadly contention be­tweene sir William Stanley and Rowland Yorke, Quarrell be­tweene sir Wil­liam Stanley & Yorke which as you shall heare, yeelded a verie good and easie occasi­on to ouerthrowe them both, which to the ende you may the better vnderstande, I thinke it not amisse to fetch the matter somewhat farther frō the beginning.

Deuenter, whereof sir William Stanley was made go­uernour by my Lorde of Leicester, is a fayre Citie, chiefe and metrapolitane of the Prouince called Oue­risel, which confineth on Frizeland, scituated vpon the inside of the riuer Isel: not farre thence vpon the same riuer and the same side, standeth a great towne called Zutphen, wherin there was for the king of Spaine a go­uernour called Tassos, a Germane borne, and of ob­scure [Page]parents, but himselfe of notable courage, Tassos gouer­nor of Zutphē. and by degrees and deserts was growen vnto these partes to great reputation and commandement, next in autho­ritie to Verdugo, who was Generall of Frizeland, Oueri­sel, Zutphen, and the bordering places: he had first trai­ned Tassos vp to the warres, Verdugo Lieu­tenant generall of Frizeland. and giuen him from time to time such charges and preferments, as at length he had brought him to bee in a manner equall with him­selfe in dignitie, insomuch that at last hee began to su­spect his greatnes, and would haue clipt his wings, but could not, for the other was passing ambitions, full of courage, and by name and many deserts knowen vnto the king, so that in no sort he would let himself be tou­ched in the lest iot of his greatnes & reputation, wher­upon each of them bare a secret grudge and rancor to the other, which came by this meanes to bee more in­flamed. For sir W. Stanley hauing in his mind fully de­termined the rendition of Deuenter, entred into secret practise with Tassos for the perfourming thereof, who with al gladnes & secrecy intertained his offer til such time as the town was rendered into the hands of Tas­sos, Quarel between Tassos and Ver­dugo vpon such agreements and conditions as between them were concluded, Tassos exceedingly reioyced at the honour of his enterprise, and receiued both from the King and the D. of Parma many thankes & promi­ses of reward, for his diligence and discreet behauiour therein. Then the which nothing could be more dis­pleasing & bitter to Verdugo, who beeing gouernor of the prouince, & hauing the forces in his hand, tooke it as an exceeding disgrace & scorn done vnto him, that an inferior persō, such as he reckned Tassos to be, shuld vnderhand accomplish so great an exploit, & go away [Page]with the honor therof, & he in the mean time remain stale & neglected, as a man vtterly accounted vnwor­thie so much as once to bee acquainted therewith, so that from that time forward he nourished in his heart a deadly hatred against Tassos and sir William Stanley. In the meane time Rowland Yorkes companie of horse­men was confirmed vnto him by the Duke of Parma, and both hee and they sent downe to lie in garison at Deuenter: where of the one side hee taking vpon him more commandement that sir William Stanley thought to be conuenient, & on the other side scorning to liue as a priuate Captaine in a towne of garison, (especially vnder the commaundement of one of his Nation, to whom he iudged himselfe no way inferior in worthi­nes) they began to enter into a great mislike one of the other, and by degrees into deadly quarrels & challen­ges, as some nowe in England can well testifie, who were mediatours betweene them. Neuerthelesse by meane of friends they grew againe to reconciliation, though the same was but from the teeth outward, and continued not long. Yorke practised with Verdugo to dispossesse Sir W. Stanley of the gouern­ment of De­uenter. For Yorke in the meane time ha­uing discouered Verdugos humor, fell secretly to prac­tise with him, a meane whereby to thrust sir William & his companies out of the towne, hoping, (and therein being by Verdugo comforted and confidently assured) that vpon the remoue of sir William, the gouernment of the towne should remaine wholy in himself: wher­upon he ceased not to beate into Verdugos eares (that were of nothing more desirous than of these newes) the wauering inconstant humours of sir William Stan­ley, the offers made vnto him by my L. of Leicester, and his other friends in England, especially of the small af­fection [Page]his souldiers had to the seruice of the Spanish king, who desired nothing more than an occasion to recouer the fauour of their Countrie, which by no meanes they should so soone procure, as by redeliue­ring the towne. Assuring him that there were to this end great practises in hand, which could not but turne to a dangerous issue if they should not be in time pre­uented. Presently thereupon Verdugo wrote vnto the D. of Parma, aggreuating the matter with so many ad­ditiōs of his own, that the D. counted the town as half lost alreadie, though in truth I thinke there was neuer anie such matter pretended, and presently sent downe a straight commission to Verdugo, to draw three of the sixe companies, ouer which sir William Stanley was go­uernor, out of the towne, vnder colour of succouring Monsieur de Haultpen, brother to the Earle of Barla­mont, who was in the fieldes with some few forces, ta­king in certaine places of Gelderland. Verdugo was no­thing slow to execute this Commission, but caused it to bee accomplished with all speed, thrusting in theyr place certaine companies of his owne into the town: and within a while after he so practised, that sir Willi­am Stanley with his other three Companies, were vn­der the like colour of seruice cōmanded also to come forth, Sir W. Stanley & his compa­nie drawen out of Deuentre being told that he should presently returne into it againe, which as yet to this day he neuer did. But by this fine deuise was eased of his gouernment, and such goods as he and his soldiers left, were spoiled & made bootie of, euen as though they had pertained to pub­like enemies: since which time this regiment of semi­narie soldiers with all their religion, were neuer trust­ed in anie towne, nor as I beleeue, euer shall be. Being [Page]now ioyned with the troups of Haultpenne, they chan­ced to incounter the enemie harde by Balduke, where the Italians & Burgonians, ouer which Captaine Hault­penne had charge, playing exceedingly the cowardes, they onely behaued themselues, though with losse of many of their liues, so manfully, and with such cou­rage, that they grewe ouer the whole countrie into a maruellous reputation of good souldiers. But leauing here Haultpenne their general wounded to death, they marched downe into Brabant, Haultpen slain in an incounter not farre from Balduke where for recompence of their late good seruice, they were wintered in the field, without monie, and in such great misery, naked­nesse, and pouertie, that tenne weekes together theyr chiefest food and sustenaunce in Turnot, was dried a­kornes that they found in sellers, which diet the priests not liking of, came to their Coronell to Antwarpe, who to auoid the lamentations and complaints of his souldiers, had gotten him thether before, where one Oliuer Eustace, an Irish Gentleman, told him to his face that he was the author of these poore mens miserie, & therefore bound in conscience to procure them some releefe. Sir William bit his lip, knowing well that hee had told him truth, & their calamitie went to his very heart, but how to remedie it he knew not, and there­fore absented himselfe in Antwarpe, where you should neuer haue founde his table without foure or fiue priests, some of the which were in their behauiour & wordes farre more insolent and sausie than the meek­nesse of their vocation required, insomuch that the Captaines and Gentlemen tooke such griefe & scan­dall at their controlling humour, that they left sir Wil­liam Stanley wholye abandoned and vnfrequented. [Page]Some did much wonder howe a Gentleman of his worthinesse and courage could indure these indigni­ties, as to suffer himselfe to be directed and gouerned by them, especially in such matters as concerned not their vocation. I wit not touch for some respects here­in anie particulars, but if you speake with Captaine Hart, who was then sir Williams Lieutenant, or wyth Captaine Salsburie, who are nowe both in England, they will satisfie you farther in this matter, none can better speake it than they, especially the last named, because hee opposed himselfe, and had sure sunke vn­der the burthen, if that his wit and courage had not carryed him thorough. Once sir William Stanly began to looke it, and to auoide both that and other incon­ueniences, tooke (some yeres since) his iourney into Spaine, Sir W. Stanley tooke his iour­ney into Spain partlye to secure vnto himselfe some estate of liuing, of which hee nowe (considering this dealing) beganne to doubt, partly by the inuitation of the Ie­suites, wyth which order hee is exceedinglie inchan­ted, Sir William Stanley wholie drected by the Iesuites and to them wholye subiected, who dealte for him in such sorte wyth the Cardinall, that hee pre­sently sent Parsons awaye into Spaine, to infourme the King of his worthynesse and vertue: and wyth­all, He tooke with him into Spain Hugh Owen, & George Parsons brother to Par­sons the Iesuit. He sent E: Crisp before to Rome to solicite his matters with y ^e Cardinal, who returning thēce met him after­wards in Spain. of his experience of the sea coastes of Englande, but especially of his intelligence about Ireland, which in truth he presumeth to be verie great. Parsons plaid his parte in such forte, that sir William Stanley was presently sent for, who vppon his arriuall dyd what hee couide to perswade the King to sende forces for Ireland, but belyke there was not such greate credite giuen him as he expected there should be, insomuch that hee wrote Letters to Holte the Iesuite, beeing [Page]in Brussels, (which is his countriman, and one vppon whom he chiefly relieth) of great discontentment, sig­nifying that his intertainment was far colder than hee expected. Sir W: Stanley sent to Coronia Within short space after he was sent downe to the kings nauie, lying at Coronia, where a while hee remained with the Adelantado. In the meane time his regiment began to drop and droup away, in such sort, that what for lack of sustenāce, & through ill vsage, the number of them was so melted, that they were not in all aboue an hundred and fiftie: & for the chifest cap­taines, leaders, and gentlemen, they did both so much mislike the base handling of matters, & also the prac­tises there dayly set abroch against their countrie, Sir W: Stanley forsaken by his Captaines that they made (by means) intercession to her maiestie for their pardon, which of her mercifull and roiall benig­nitie she granted, so that such of them as remain aliue, do inioy their Countrie, and can testifie this which I haue sayd to be true. But now to returne to Yorke, whō I lefte in Dauentre, assured both by Verdugos promises and his owne hopes, of the towns gouernment: when he sawe Graue Harman make his enterie as new crea­ted gouernour by the Dukes appointment, you must imagine that it grieued him to the verie gall: but for­ced he was to dissemble it with his best patience. Ne­uertheles hauing in the towne a gallant companie of lances, in despite of them he florished & bare his head aloft, ranging and scouring ouer the whole countrie, bringing in dayly great booties, & growing rich. This prosperitie of his was a great blemish in their eie, for they knew him to be discontented and of a dangerous humour, so that they did not greatly trust him: him therefore fairely one daie at dinner they caused to bee [Page]poisoned, where likewise poisoned with him yong Richard Souch, and Robert Fenne priest, Yorke poisoned by y ^e Spaniard. Richard Souch and Robert Fen priest but he be­like hauing swallowed the chiefe substance, they one­ly met with the drams, so that he died miserably, and they fel sicke & brake out into many pustules & biles, yet afterwards recouered, and did giue this testimo­nie, his breath was no sooner out of his body, but Tri­as, a Spanish Captaine, and Graue Harman, the newe gouernor, rusht into his lodging, to breake vp his cof­fers, in which being withstoode by Yorkes Lieutenant Iohn Bowcer, and by Edward Bowcer his brother, I: Bowcer and his borther Ed­ward Bowcer murthered by the Spaniard they caused their gardes at noone daies to enter in vppon them, and most inhumanely and barbarously to mur­ther them both in their own presence: which worthie exploit beeing perfourmed, they brake vp his coffers, tooke out his iewells, plate, and monie, of which they found great store, appropriating the same to their own vse, as likewise they did his horses, armes, & furniture, though he by testament had bequeathed them to a li­tle youth, his brothers sonne, called Edmond Yorke, be­ing then in those partes with him. Lastly, they chased his whole companie out of the towne, Yorkes compa­nie barbarously intreated by the Spaniard and spoyled their baggage at the gates, who (poore men) seeing their Captain poisoned, their Lieutenant murthered, and themselues so vnchristanly dealt withall, repaired to Verdugo, imploring his helpe and assistaunce in so hard an extremitie, who for recompence, verie chari­tably cashierd them al without the receit of one peny.

Afterwards when the fame of this poisoning grew rife abroad, they gaue out & published, that some one had done it suborned thereunto by the Councell of England, but if there had bin no other proofe (as there [Page]were infinit) yet the sequell of their doings, their mur­thering of his friends, and the robbing of his treasure, shewed by whom it was done, & wherat they aimed. Thus much as touching the vsage which they receued from the king and his ministers: nowe keeping the course I began, let vs see with what prosperitie it plea­sed God to blesse this action of sir William Stanleys, & those whom he vsed as instruments therein.

After his comming into the kings seruice, he diui­ded his regiment, which was the greatest part Irish, in­to sixe companies. The leading of his owne company he gaue to Peter Winne, The names of sir W. Stanleys Captaines in which roome afterwardes, (master Winne discharging himselfe) hee placed one Hart, an olde souldier and follower of his. The other fiue companies he gaue to Gwin, Salsburie, Eaton, Rei­nolds, and Harrison, the sargeant maiorship hee gaue to one Simon Scurlocke, an Irish Gentleman, but aboue all the rest, he himself conuersed most in kindnes of loue and affection with one R. Ashton, who had bin his bed­fellow, and the greatest furtherer of him in this enter­prise. The foure first named, after humble suite made vnto her Maiesties honourable councell for their par­don, returned into England, and imployed themselues with great commendation in her Maiesties seruice.

Gwin went first with my Lord of Essex, & lastly with sir Roger Williams ouer into France, as sargeant maior of his regiment, Captaine Gwin slaine before Roane where beeing wounded in a skirmish before the wals of Roane, hee languished thereof grie­uously some three or foure weekes, and finally ended his daies at Diep.

Peter Winne likewise went ouer with my L. of Essex into France, & now lastly hearing of the Turkes desent [Page]into Hungarie, Captain Peter Win slaine in Hungary by the Turkes obtained leaue to go serue in the Chri­stian armie against him, where hee was exceedingly well intertained, and honoured with the leading of a companie of footmen. But now in the late ouerthrow giuen by the Turke to Archduke Mathias, it is repor­ted that he was slaine. I could wish the reporte to bee vntrue, for he was a man of singular good partes, and might haue done her Maiestie much good seruice. Captain Eaton died in the Por­tingall voiage

Iames Eaton went the Portingall voiage with sir Fran­ces Drake, where with the extremitie of sicknes he died on the waie.

Onely Captaine Salsburie liueth, but hath tasted his part of as much aduerse fortune, as truely I thinke, his verie enemies could wish him.

Captain Rey­noldes died at Brussels of a bloudie flix Reinolds laboring with al instance by his friends here in England for his pardon, was preuented of his return by a cruel bloudie flix, of the which he died in Brussels.

Harison was one morning, as the companies march­ed, run thorough the bodie & slaine, Captaine Hari­son slaine by a souldier of the regiment by a baggage fel­low of the regimēt, whō he had strikē the night before

Scurlocke the sargeant maior, stragling with certain of the soldiers abroad, was incountred by the pesants, Scurlocke the Sargeant maior burnt aliue by the pesants & chased vp into a Church steeple, where finally both he and they, refusing to submit themselues to the fury of the clownes, were burnt aliue.

Roger Ashton comming lately into England, was ap­prehended & executed at Tiburne for treason. Roger Ashton executed for high treason If God himself lay it down as one of his blessings, that he will giue the righteous long & many happy daies on the earth, surely then the taking of these men away in the best of their yeeres by such violent ends, in my iudge­ment is an apparantargumēt of his wrath, from which [Page]of his diuine and inestimable mercie, I beseech him to deliuer vs.

Neither were it onely the Captaines that thus pe­rished, but in a manner all the rest, though I trouble you not with their particular names and discourses, in so much, that lately (the olde English and Irish souldi­ers being worne out, sir W. Stanley was faine to fill vp his regiment with Wallons and Dutchmen) appointing new Captaines ouer them, Iaques, Lieute­nant Coronell to sir W. Stāley & making one Iaques Fran­cesco his Lieutenant Coronell: one borne in Antwarp of Italian parents, but from his infancie brought vp in England, and in many dueties tied both to the nation, and to sundry Gentlemen of the same, for many their loues and liberalities towardes him, especially to the late Lord Chancelor, whom he serued, and who had alwayes bin his especiall good friend and fauorer. He followed a while the warres of Ireland, where hee be­haued himself so well, that he was aduanced to honest degrees in her Maiesties seruice, such as among soul­diers are accounted honourable and of reputation, at length beeing brought thence, not without great su­spition of ill carrying himselfe in matter of allegeance to her Maiestie, yet he found such assured friends, that he did not onely recouer his libertie and freedome, but also tasted verie deeply of their liberalities, such, as I thinke some of them, though verie honourable, scarcely euer vsed the like to anie, and ingaged wyth these curtesies, which for euer wold haue tied a thank­full minde, he was suffered to depart the realme. All which notwithstanding, it is reported, that there is not anie beyond the sea, that doth run a more violent and vnreuerent course against the person of her Maiestie, [Page]and the state of our Countrie than he doth, at which truly I do much wonder, how a minde not altogether void of reason and humanitie, can suffer it self to sinke into so deepe a degree of ingratitude. Let him yet at length looke into his owne conscience, and if so ma­ny benefits receiued claime not his fidelity & seruice, yet at least let them keepe him from attempting villa­nie, I speake this in respect of his owne good, and not that hee nor ten thousand more such as he is, is able to doo her Maiestie or her realme a halfepenie worth of harme, for the mightie hande of God, and the appro­ued valour of her faithfull subiectes are able, and wyll alwayes defend and protect her against whatsoeuer violence of whosoeuer her malitious enemies, who hetherto haue done her no farther harme, than them­selues to perish, and to bee confounded in their owne deuises, and I hope it shall neuer be otherwise. But as for Iaques, if he will needs run on his desperate course, forgetfull of the oaths & protestations he made when hee departed out of England, let him likewise attend that scourge and punishment which euer followeth such infidelitie.

As for the other Captains & Gentlemen that haue anie true English bloud in them, let them yet (for they are those to whom I chiefly intend my speeches) look with a discreeter iudgement into the depth of their e­states, let them not tire out their yeres and youth in so comfortles and vnrewarded a seruice, the end wherof is neuer other than vntimely death, desolatiō, or beg­gerie, let them not trust themselues to sleep in the bo­some of a flattering stepmother, that holdeth a knife in her hand to cut their throates, when they may secure­ly [Page]throw themselues into the armes of a louing natu­rall mother, that will receiue them, comming like pe­nitent and obedient children, with true teares & per­fect ioy. Let them cast backe theyr eyes vpon the glo­rie and greatnesse of her Maiestie, theyr soueraigne Princesse, who in deed is a true and louing mother to vs all, let them but looke into the happie and blessed estate of their natiue Countrie, and finally consider the dutie they doo owe vnto them both. They are not yet so farre past, but that their submission may bee re­ceiued: yea, and such seruices they may do, highly re­warded too.

But leauing these digressions, to which I know not what zeale transporteth me, iudge now (I praie you) what reward, honor, & aduancement you may expect of the king of Spaine, that neuer deserued of him anie fauour or good vsage, when you see these men suffe­red to perish, and that in so miserable estate, that haue done him so many, so great, and so waightie seruices. But perchance you will saie that hee hath dealt better with priuate men thā he hath done with those tumul­tuous militar troups: if you can name me but anie one that he hath raisd or aduanced to honor, or that liueth richly or wealthily in his seruice, I will name you an hundred that being Gentlemen of good houses & of worthie merit, haue consumed, languished, and bene brought to nothing in his seruice, yea, & some of thē perished & died for lack of sustenance. You perchance will name Hugh Owen, & in good faith he is the onely man that euer I knew aduanced, Hugh Owen credited, or graced in his seruice: and yet (God wot) all that he getteth is no more than to maintain him in a meane estate or shew, [Page]with a man onely or two to serue him: where on the other side, I will recken you vp of those that are onely for want of things necessarie, & of pure pouertie, Sundry English Gentlemen of good houses y ^t haue perished in the King of Spaines seruice. con­sumed and dead, M. Dakers, Michael Tempest, old Nor­ton, Israel Harman, Markenfield, Tremaine, Stradling, Hen­rie Carew, Edward Allen, Fleming, Suthwell, Bulmer, with sundry others of good race & credit in their countrie.

But to recite vnto you the names of those that doo yet liue so poorely & vncomfortably in his pension, would be a matter too tedious, & therefore take them all in generall, C. Paget onely excepted, who came wel furnished with crownes out of England, & likewise in­herited many good things that my L. Paget lefte vnto him at his death, and examine them one from another from my L. of Westmerland downe euen to the verie lowest, and if there be in the whole world a more mi­serable and discontented troupe of Gentlemen, let me neuer be credited in anie thing else that I shall tel you. And because you shall your selfe the better iudge, I will tell you what paiment they haue of such pensions as the king hath giuen them.

They had graunted them at Bruges the first daie of August, in the yeere one thousand fiue hundred eigh­tie eight, a general Liberanca, to receue three moneths paie a peece of their pensions. But first before I goe anie further, I thinke it verie necessarie to let you vn­derstand what manner of thing this Liberanca is, of which I speake, to the end that you may bee acquain­ted with the inuentions and craftie delayes that they vse in this matter of payment: for if you haue not e­speciall fauour, it will bee sixe moneths after the grant thereof, do what you can, afore it will be fully signed, [Page]and in estate, [...] manner of paiment that is that is grant­ed by waie of Liberanca for you to demand your monie. A Libe­ranca, is a bill of assignation for the receite of monie graunted to some one in particular, or to two or three ioyntly, or a hundred or more, as occasiō shal require, it is first drawen, and vnderneath signed by the chiefe Secretory that attendeth on the generall: it is directed by the Duke vnto the treasurer general, commanding him to paye the same of whatsoeuer monie hee shall haue within his charge, but first to see that the same be perused and registred in both the offices of the two Contadors of the armie, and signed with their names & rubrikes, and then that it be likewise registred, perused & rubrikt by the Veedor generall, and signed with his name. The Veedor is as it were a cen­sor or ouerseer of all the other officers, and is a man of great & principall dig­nitie After this he expresseth the causes that moueth him to grant the summe of monie to the partie that bringeth the Liberanca, with many other particulari­ties. This is the manner of a Liberanca, without which there is not there anie paiment made of monie to any man, vnlesse it be by secrete billets from the generall, which are but seldome, and that vpon secret & sodain causes, as trecherie, intelligēce, or espial, or some such base matter as requireth secrecie, and not to be delaid. The wordes of such billets, Paiment by se­cret billets. are to command the trea­surer to paie vnto the bringer for secrete seruices, so much monie as is therein expressed: which without more words, being signed with the Dukes hand, is pre­sently dispached. But vnles it haue bin to some nota­ble spie, fewe such billets haue fallen to anie English­mans share. As for the Liberanca, which is the ordina­rie and vsuall kind of paiment, after that by tedious la­bor and solicitation, a man hath in sixe moneths space gotten all their hands, yet in a manner he is neuer the [Page]neerer, for some of thē are neuer paid, & scarcely anie til they be two or three yeres old, if in the meane time the partie loose his Liberança, there is no recouerie of a new by anie meanes possible: if hee die, no benefite thereof riseth to his wife, children, or heirs, for a Libe­rança is neuer paide but personally to him in whose name it is first granted. If it be with long carriage fret­ted, or the names of those that signed it obscured, it is a sufficient cauill to frustrate the payment, inso­much that one Camell, A pretie iest of one Camell, a Scotchman a Scotchman, came with a faire peece of parchment in his hand, to Cosmo the Secreto­rie, humbly desiring that his Liberança might be there­in ingrossed, for in paper he was sure it wold be worne out before he should recouer the payment.

Such a Liberança (I saie) as this was graunted to the English pensioners in the yeere abouesayde, for three moneths paie, of which till October in the yere 1590. I am sure they had not receiued one penny, how long they staid without it afterwards I know not; for of la­ter time I cannot giue anie so certaine assurance, one­ly the commō report is, that things there are not much bettered, but now especially since the Duke of Parmas death much impaired.

Their necessitie was great, and they followed the Duke from towne to towne, importunatly requiring paiment, but especiallye they neuer lefte Cosmo, the Dukes Secretorie in quiet, who to rid himselfe of their troublesome importunities, addressed them to Bapti­sta Spinola, a Genouese Banker dwelling in Antwarpe, giuing them his Letter, and sending the same by one Henry Haslewood, requesting him to releeue those di­stressed English Gentlemen, and to buy their Liberan­ça, [Page]which hee doubted not but they woulde sell good cheape greatly to his profit: the whole summe was ten thousand crowns, which Cosmo promised him should be allowed and passed in the reckoning which he had with the king. Haslewood in the name of the rest offered him the sayd summe for sixe thousand: but Spinola vt­terly refused the same, saying he would not take it for two thousand: and withal, he desired that hee might not meddle anie more with the king, wishing that hee had not medled with him so much. So that they were faine to returne poore and pennylesse, and did in that instant of which I speake, liue in so poore and pittifull, a sort, that truly it was a griefe to see it: insomuch that I knew a Gentleman that solde his part there, amount­ing to 24. pounds, for three poundes. But perchance you will saie hee giueth great pensions, & intertaineth many of our nation. It is true in deed, in shew he doth so, and therewith doth bleare the worlds eies, with an apparance of great liberalitie. But his paiment & vsage cōsidered, (I protest vnto you that I speak vnfainedly) I do not know anie estate of life in England so meane, which I do not much prefer before being here a pen­sioner to the king of Spaine. I leaue the iudgement of the truth heereof to those that haue tried it: you haue many of them amongst you, conferre with them, and examine them vpon their conscience. As for my part, in good faith I cannot imagine the cause why hee in­tertaineth vs, vnlesse it be to vse vs as stales to allure o­thers, cōnsidering the hatred that he and his beareth vs, and so vnder the dissembled colour of a false affec­tion, at length to ouerthrow vs all.

Thus much I dare boldly saie, because through the [Page]conference that I haue had with them I doo knowe it assuredly, that euen those of our natiō which do most serue his turne, howsoeuer in outward apparance they seeme for some particular causes to magnifie and ex­toll his liberalitie, yet in theyr owne secret conceites they doo imagine and knowe nothing in the worlde to bee more reproachfull, base, and contemptible, than to be an Entretenido in the king of Spaines seruice, especially if hee serue not in the warres, and haue his entertainment assigned him in some companie or o­ther, which fewe or none of our Countrymen haue, chiefely those of the better sorte. As for those that haue their pensions granted them to follow the court without anie obligation of seruice, as in a manner all the pensions granted to the Englishmen are, the Spa­nish souldier maketh the most base and contemptible reckoning of them that may bee, euen as of men that liue by charitie, as our poore knightes doo at Wind­sore. English pensio­ners there vtter­ly scorned and vnregarded But to the end you may in this point cleerly di­scerne the manner of their vsage, you must vnderstand that the king granteth two manner of pensions or ex­traordinarie paies, bestowing vpon men of desert ey­ther of them, as the occasion and the qualitie of theyr seruice shal require: the one called by the name of En­tertainment, and the other Ventaja in the Patents wher­in they are granted. The difference betweene two kindes of pensi­ons or paimēts, which the king giueth to such as serue him, y ^e one called En­tretenumēto, y ^e other Ventaja. The first which they call Enter­tainment, is such as is graunted to our Countrymen, & to stragling Italians, and to some cashierd Captaines, such as are of best regard, and to strangers of other na­tions, who are neuer paid till the whole armie be satis­fied, & al other occasions defraid, then if any ouerplus remaine, which seldome happeneth, somwhat therof [Page]perchance may come to their share. This pension is verie casuall, and hath often bin abolished & taken a­waie quite, as well from the English as from all other nations: witnes Charles Browne, Hugh Owen, and Ralfe Ligons, that were faine foure yeres since, vpon that oc­casion to go into Spaine, where after long & great sute, they brought downe order again to haue the same re­nued, yet still commonly once a yeere there comes an allarum among thē, that the king will not be any lon­ger at the charge of so many pensions, and in danger to be turned out of paie. And some three or four yeres agone they were all commanded to go downe to the armie, and to put themselues in seruice vnder some companie, or otherwise not to expect anie pension or paiment: which how vnfitting it is, and vnworthie to men brought vp in other courses, as most of them are, I leaue to your iudgement, yet the misery of that bon­dage to which they haue subiected themselues, must indure al: and which is most miserable, must not com­plain when they are striken. The other paimēt or pen­sion which is called Ventaya, as it is much more hono­rable, because (though verie vsuall among the Spani­ards and all other nations, ours excepted) yet they are neuer granted but vpō pretence of good seruice don, or some duenes of desert: they that haue thē are more respectiuely regarded and better paid than the other, and they are neuer taken from them, so long as they follow the kings seruice. Many of our nation haue ser­ued among the Spaniards, yet to this daie did I neuer knowe anie one graced with one of these Ventayas, though they are cōmon to all other nations, yea, euen to the Germanes, though granted to thē by the name [Page]of Sobrepagas, which in effect is all one.

If I were guiltie to my selfe, that this which I doo write were vntrue, I should greatly feare the shame of reprofe in a matter so manifest, especially there being now in England many that are as well or better ac­quainted with these matters than my selfe, & can con­tradict me where I erre. But grounding my selfe vpon the confidence of an assured truth, I cannot but won­der, these things being so, how anie that hath the true feeling of that which pertaineth to the honor of a gen­tlemā, cā indure an vsage so scornful & contumelious as this which daily they receiue from the Spaniard: of which if you desire one example for all, this may satis­fie you which followeth. The most con­temptible vsage of the English at Bruges At such time as the Duke of Parma lay at Bruges, busie about his preparations for England, & attending the Spanish fleet, when they all expected to be made knights, Coronels, Captaines, & conducters of the armie, & to be filled with crownes, they were so far from those matters with which they flattered themselues, that in sted of being honored and aduanced, they were the only reiected & contemned people that followed the court, all nations els beeing releeued with some moneths paie, they onley except­ed. And which is more, wheras they moued the duke sundrie times to know his pleasure, how he would di­spose of them in that iourney, telling him besides, that vpon the well vsage of them depended much matter of importance, as the alluring & drawing vnto them other Gentlemen of their kinsmen & friends, who vp­on hope of the like good vsage, honor, & aduancemēt, would be able to do great seruice vpon their landing, wheras contrariwise seeing them come ouer so poore [Page]in shew, without credit, money, or armes, like lackies, (for so were the words of their request) it would be a cause to terrifie them from vndertaking of anie such course: they were by the Duke scornfully & with de­rision reiected, neither did he vouchsafe to giue them anie other answere, than only that he would think vp­on it. But on the night in which vpon the hurly burlie of the comming of the Spanish nauie, they thought to imbarke, he departed towards Donckerk, leauing them all behind, not thinking them any way worthy to bee called vpon, or to be taken with him. Wheruepon the Earle of Westmerland, the L. Paget, & sundry of the bet­ter sort, laide their heads together, & made their com­plaint vnto the D. of Pastrana, (who was newly come out of Spaine with great fauors from the king, The D. of Pa­strana supposed to be the kinges bastard & there liued in great honor and applause among the Spani­ards) but by him, some saye, they were as basely and scornfully handled as by the other. The Spaniards did much disdaine their aggrauation of their abilitie and meanes to facilite the kings enterprise for England, in­somuch that one Don Ambrosio, a man of principal qua­litie, asked them in cholar whether they thought the king of Spain not puisant inough to win England with out them & their friends. This euill intreatie wrought so great an apprehension in my L. Paget (who both in regard of his fathers especiall credit in times past with the king, The L: Paget died at Brussels as also of his owne qualitie and carriage, had presumed vpō much better vsage) that he retired him selfe to Brussels, where what with the conceit of this griefe, & what with other accidents, he shortly ended his life. Sir W. Stanley tooke it also in such disdainfull sort, that he was not called to the counsell of the wars, [Page](whereas he presumed & gaue out, that no man in the armie knew more, or was better able in this voiage thā himself,) that he sequestred himselfe from the court, & cōming discontented to Antwarp, there hired a house, where foure or fiue moneths hee liued full of melan­choly & passion, making euident shew that his mind was vtterly vnable to beare the burthen of so great an indignitie.

But whosoeuer liueth there, must bee con­tented to indure this and a great deale more, for the Spaniards will not be by anie meanes perswaded, that those of our nation liuing there with them are gentle­men of good houses, qualities, & liuing in England but rather take them to be such as the Banditi of Italy, men fled out of their Countrie for theft, debt, robbery, or manslaughter, The speeches of a Spanish Cap­taine to sir W: Stanley as a Captain of them spared not plain­ly to tel sir W. Stanley in the passage boat between Ant­warpe and Brussels, saying that he could not but excee­dingly wonder what should moue a man, being rich, well descended, and of good liuing in his Country, to change the same for the seruice of an opposite forren Prince, swearing a great oath that al the religion in the world should not make him to do the like.

The monstrous hateful speeches of y ^e Spaniards, condemning such of our na­tion as serued a­mong themLikewise a great companie of them standing round together in a ring (as their manner is) vpon the mere Brigge in Antwarpe, and seeing certaine English gen­tlemen passe by, one of them, and hee a Captaine, by name Lucas, well knowen by his redde beard, balde head, and maymed armes, sayde that hee wondered what the King made with anie such vermine in his Countrie. Another of them sware a greate oath, that looke howe manie English men there were in the [Page]kings seruice, there were so many spies & traitors: the third said it were an almes deed to put them al in sacks and to throw them into the riuer: but the fourth verie gently replied, that it would be a better course to send them downe to the kings gallies, where in regarde of their big ioynts and broad shoulders, they could not but proue good tuggers at an oare. But these beeing but the speeches of priuate men, might the better bee borne, Speeches of the treasurer gene­rall to Thomas Throckmortō. were they not confirmed by men of greater sort: which whether it be so or no, aske T. Throckmor­ton, who talking with Iuan de Lasture, the kings treasu­rer general, one day vpon the wals of Brussels, wondred why the king hauing such pretēces for England, made no more reckoning of such Englishmen as followed him, who in regard of their parentage and inteligence might bee able to doo him great seruices, if they were hartned with somwhat better vsage: whereas now by reason of their póuertie and drouping, they were not fit for anie thing. To which the treasurer replied, that he was not ignorant of the estate, qualitie, and condi­tion of all such Englishmen as followed the king, but for his part (swearing a Spanish oath or two) he knew not anie one of thē in regard of abilitie to do the king seruice, worth the straw that lay vnder his foot.

The like answere in a manner was giuen by Francesco Blancocauallo, his vize treasurer in Antwarpe, to captaine Pernay & other Gentlemen, who being denied by him the paiment of certaine monie they demaunded, and speaking of the seruices they had done vnto the king: he answered that he knew not what seruices they had done, or were able to doo, vnlesse it were to spend the kings monie in tauernes and brothell houses. The like [Page]they receiued from, Sammariba, the Veedors chiefe of­ficer, but that the same was accompanied with worse effects. For Captaine Barney laying hand on his rapi­er, making proffer to reuenge the hardnes of such spee­ches as were offered him, was presently inuironed a­mong them, and run thorough the doublet in a place or two, not without exceeding danger of his life.

But by the waie I thinke it not amisse to tell you a merrie accident that fell out betweene the treasurer & one Captain Smith, an Englishman, A pretie iest be­tweene captain Smith and the tresurer general spoken of before in this Treatise: who being one daie well tipled, came in all hast to demand his monie of I. de Lasture. He see­ing him come in that vnreuerent sorte, grew so farre gone with cholar as the other was with wine, & reui­led him by many foule names, as Perro, Luterano, Bora­chio, &c. Smith had not a word of Spanish, nor anie o­ther language but a little Dutch, wherein he requited the treasurer in as snarling tearmes as he could, calling him Honscont, Schellam, & Turke. Wherewith the trea­surer came in a great rage, and would haue thrust him downe the staires, but Smith drew out his dagger, and had without doubt mischieued him, if Coronell Boid & other Scottish Gentlemen that were there present as sutors for monie had not come between them. The matter came before the Duke, who as alwayes haring I. de Lasture exceedingly, made but a iest of it, & Smith being sober submitted himselfe, imputing his fault to the wine, and so the matter was ended.

I could recite vnto you a thousand the like thinges as these, but they are not worthie the remembring. Returning therefore to my purpose: They are so iea­lous and suspitious of vs, that if anie thing proue vnto­wardly [Page]in their seruice, they think it straight to be don by our especiall meanes and intelligence, as vpon the taking of Axhill by that honorable and worthie soul­dier sir P. Sidney, The exceeding ielousie of the Spaniards ouer the English that erue amongst h [...]em. Mondragon presently imprisoned Pi­got within the castle of Gaunt, tooke away all thinges whatsoeuer he had worth anie thing, and the rest hee caused his men to rifle and steale, saying openly, that we were all traitors & spies. And if you desire further confirmation of the good opinion & confidence they haue of vs, tell mee what Companies of English they haue trusted within these ten yeeres in garrison, I am sure you cannot name one. And wheras sundrie Eng­lish Gentlemen haue instantly sued to haue their pen­sions granted them in the castles of Anwarp or Gant, because the paiment is there somewhat better, no one hath hetherto bin able to obtaine the same, so base & of no regard is the estate in which they liue. I coulde alleadge vnto you many other examples of mightie wrongs & disgraces offered vnto our nation, wherby they might (if they list) easily discouer the hatred the Spaniard beareth them, the suspitious iealousie with which they ouerlooke them, and the danger wherein they stand to haue one daie all their throats cut. And that this hard dealing and hatred of theirs proceedeth not of anie demerit of the English but of a rooted and ingrafted malice of the Spaniards to our whole nati­on, may by many actions of theirs be proued & made manifest. Eor whensoeuer the fortune of the warres hath deliuered anie of vs into their hands, it is strange to thinke with what greedie and vnsatiable thirst they haue desired to shed English bloud. The crueltie of the Spaniards at Rosendale As for example: At Rosendale, where sundry English regiments being [Page]by the Marshall Biron abandoned and betraied, were by them defeated and ouerthrowen, it is scarcely cre­dible what barbarous crueltie they vsed vpon men rē ­dred, and demanding mercie vppon their knees. But admit all cruelty tollerable during the furie of an exe­cution (though among christians, & men of noble and valorous minds, there is yet a moderation to be vsed) what bloudie inhumanitie was euer heard the like to that which they vsed the next daie. For whereas the I­talians & Burgonians (moued with a souldierly com­passion) had taken many English prisoners, and saued them from the former slaughter: vpon the next morn­ings march, as they brought them foorth, thinking to leade thē quietly home to their quarter, the Spaniards with a hellish furie, crying Matta, Matta, drew their ra­piers, and murthered with many wounds these poore naked men, Matta, Matta, Kill, Kyll not suffering a man of them to scape aliue.

Likewise in that trecherous & sinonicall practise of Graueling, Their trecherie and crueltie at Grueling wherein they thought to haue intrapped noble sir P. Sidney, how cruelly & tiranously did they vse those poore men of ours, that were sent before to discouer it. Al were safe, according to promise, whom after they had receiued into their gates with friendly salutations, and intertained a good space in the town, in the end when they sawe the successe of the enter­prise aunswered not their bloudie, traiterous, and vn­manly expectation, they disarmed & vnclothed them in the market place, and finally, like cruell butchers, & not like honorable souldiers, murthered them euerie one.

Wee haue not (thankes bee to God) wanted occasion many times since to crie quittaunce with [Page]them, as namely at the fort of Bergues, where by Grim­stones practise they were brought to the trappe. There were gentlemen of good worth there present, that ad­uised my L. Willoughby to serue them with the same measure as they had serued the poore Englishmen at Graueling. But he hauing euer in all his actions follow­ed the waie of honour, disdained vnnobly to imbase his hands with the vnworthy bloud of men rendred & vnable to resist. Likewise after the ouerthrow of that their late fleetes (which before hand they tearmed In­uincible) when such numbers of them were taken, that the prisons of London were not capable of them, if her Maiestie would haue followed the example of theyr owne nation, shee might haue vsed them as Don Iuan did the Wallons after the battell of Ieblours; The crueltie of the Spaniardes towards y ^e Wal­lons after y ^e bat­tell of Ieblours where ta­king verie neere 2000. of them prisoners, the next day after the battell he caused them to be bound two and two together, and to bee tumbled headlong ouer the bridge of Namures into the riuer of Meuse. But her ma­iestie like a Christian princesse, full of roiall magnani­mitie (though the mischiuous intention of their com­ming, and the horrible cruelties they that pretended were not vnknowen vnto her) yet caused them to bee dispersed into seuerall conuenient places, & there vp­on her charge to be prouided for: and lastly, to be sent ouer into Flanders, The noblenesse & mercie of her maiesty towards the Spanish pri­soners accompanied with ships, artillerie, and sufficient conuoy of men to warrant their safetie by the way. Likewise she permitted those that had bin cast a land in Scotland, quietly to passe along her nar­row seas, yea, & accompanied them with her safecon­duit, though she wel knew that their ariuall in the low Countries could not but be a great reenforcement to [Page]the weakned troups of her armed enemy the Duke of Parma.

The affection then of the Spaniard being such to­wards vs and our nation as you haue heard, I hope those before remembred examples, shall be sufficient to assure and perswade you, that vnder the k. of Spains dominion & gouernment there is not any wealth, ho­nor, or aduancement to bee gotten, but contrariwise, pouertie, perill, ielousie, and disgrace.

Now let vs see touching the pointes of conscience & repose in religion, if the same be to be found heere, such as you expect. In a matter of religion I will not take vppon mee to dispute▪ but will leaue the decision thereof to men of greater abilitie. Onely for this time allowing your religion to bee good (which surely if it bring not forth better fruits, will hardly be proued to be the true tree) Let vs now come to the contentment which you might heere receiue in free vsage of the same, together with the conuersation of such other your countrymen as are heere of the same profession and religion.

Diuisions, fac­tions, & partia­lities among the fugitiuesFirst, I thinke you are not ignorant of the diuisions, partialities, and factions that are betweene thē, which surely are such, that I thinke scarcely in the world ther is to be found such a diuided sorcerie of men, I speake it not in respect of priuate quarrells and contentions, wherein they haue often wounded, maimed, & slaine one another: but I meane in regard of different and long induring factions, Foure factions or sortes of hu­mors among y ^e fugitiues wherein great partes of them are most malitiously opposite one against another, to the great preiudice and slaunder of them all. For you must consider that there are amongst their foure sorts [Page]of humours, of which each sortes himselfe to his sem­blable. The one, (and I name them first, for otherwise they would not take it well) pretend to be great state-men and deepe polititians, Men of state & pollicie. these will not vouchsafe to looke on anie other booke but such as treate of high matter, pollicy, and gouernment, as Bodins Common­wealth, Machiuels Prince, Lipsius his Politikes, Manu­tius his Lawes, and such like. Neither is there anie of these, no not the least, but thinks himselfe sufficient to be a Magnifico of Venice. There is a second sort, who­ly deuoted to the folowing and faction of the Iesuits, Iesuitisted seruing them as their espials and instruments in what­soeuer they imploy them: these are verie hatefull to the rest, and are dangerous to conuerse withall, not so much in regard that anie of thē are able to do a chips worth of harme, as of their willingnesse to do it if they were able. There are others, whome the rest general­ly in dirision call by the name of Patriots, which is to saie, Patriots: these men desire an alteratiō in our country, but do not desire that y ^e same shoulde bee doone with the Spaniardes. louers and affecters of their Countrie. These in deed, among all the rest, are men of the greatest tem­perance and best behauiour, who, howsoeuer they are in religion contrarilye affected, yet you shall neuer heare them speake vnreuerently of her Maiestie, ney­ther truly do I thinke that in their hearts they wish her anie harme, at least-wise they are verie respectious in bewraying it either in worde or action, I haue heard some of them saie, that so they might bee suffered to returne into England, & to inioy the libertie of theyr conscience, they would be contented to be confined within the compasse of a poore cottage, & bee bound neuer to come out of it while they liued.

But of all the rest, the fourth and last are the best [Page]fellowes, for they flie but a verie low pitch, being men vtterly voide both of learning, wit, and ciuilitie, these the rest esteeme no otherwise of, Idiots & dūce [...]. than as of verie dun­ses, not fit for anie imployment. The farthest drifte of their religion is, to speake ill of the Queene, to say the Pope is a good man, and to thumpe their breasts hard when they come to Church: I knew one of them that hauing sometimes beene a pettie merchant in Eng­land, solde all that euer hee had, and putting two hun­dred poundes in his purse, went to Hierusalem to buy a pound of waxe candles, which hee brought home vpon his back, and withal as much earth of the mount Oliuet as hee was able to carrie: imagining that eue­rie dram thereof was able to cast out a legion of de­uils. In regard of which reliques, vppon his returne to Brussels, hee obtained a pension, where hee still re­maineth: and truely hee may bee a good man, for I thinke hee liueth in as great pouertie as euer did anie of the Apostles, though perchance not so voluntarie, but the best is, he will not giue his best friend the least mite of his holye thinges, saying that hee reserueth them to furnish the Churches in England, when they shall come one daie to bee Catholique, and hath al­readie appoynted what Churches they bee that hee meanes to make beholding vnto him for this high benefite.

I would haue named the particular names of eue­rie one according to the factions to which they are af­fected, but that I feare this last remembred sort would haue beene angrie with me, and withall, there is an­other respect or two besides: but aboue all these, there is one ouer-ruling faction, that hath drawen [Page]them into mightie partialities and strange extremities one against another. The originall whereof sprong out of the Romish Seminary betweene the English & the Welch: either partie had for fauourer and protec­tor a man of great authoritie, to which leaned Doctor Allen for the one, and Doctour Lewes for the other, a man verie wise and learned, Contention be­tween D: Lews and D: Allen and by reason of his age, grauitie, and long continuance in those parts, of great authoritie in the court of Rome, and since in the later end of Pope Gregorie, created Bishop of Casano in Na­ples, but alwayes a verie bitter enemie to the Iesuites. In fine, each nation with all vehemencie laboured for the presidentship and superioritie one ouer the other. The Welchmen pretended the first foundation of the Colledge to haue bin by a British king, for the perpe­tuall behoofe of his Countrymen. The Englishmen likewise alleadging their reasons: but in the end doo what they could, they were by the Welchmen caused to auoid the house. Wherupon (with their fardles vp­on their neckes, as being readie to depart the towne) they presented themselues vnto Pope Gregorie, whom with a lamentable Oration they moued to take such compassion of them, that he caused them to returne, taking (to theirfull contentment) order between thē and their aduersaries. Notwithstanding which recon­ciliation, there still remained a great hart-burning & dislike. Shortly after Pope Sixtus determining to make a Cardianall of our Nation, Cōpetencie be­tween D: Lews & D: Allen for y ^e Cardinalship there grewe for the same great competency between Doctor Lewes & Doctor Allen, each one for the obtaining thereof applying his best friendes to the vttermost. But in the end tho­rough the instant pursuite of the Iesuites, who spared [Page]no trauel nor expence, they procured vnto D. Allen such mightie friends, that the lot and preheminence of this dignitie fell vpon him, of whom, & of the Iesuites, and of their faction, were for euer mortally hated, all those that had bin anie waie fauorers or well-willers to D. Lewes: but chiefly & among the rest one Thomas Morgan, Morgan hated of the Iesuites a man not inferior to anie of them all in driftes of pollicie, who had bin sometimes secretorie to the Scottish Queene, & in deed had instantly labored in the behalfe of D. Lewes. The Iesuites since haue had many a plucke at him, but Morgan being wise, strengthned himselfe alwaies with such friends, that they could neuer do him anie hurt, but rather euer now and then he gaue them a secret blow: he drew wholly vnto his faction the L. Paget, the Bishop of Dunglane, a Scotchman of great credit and grauity, C.Pa­get, T.Throckmorton, Ralfe Liggons, and sundry other that esteeme themselues to be of the better sort. The names of those that held part w ^t Morgan Notwithstā ­ding all which, so effectuall and forcible were the means with which they practised against him, that they got him to bee imprisoned in Paris, laying to his charge that hee was an intelligencer for sir Frances Walsingham, a traitor to the seruice of the Queen his mistres, and from time to time a discouerer of her practises, and withall procured the sayd queene to conceiue exceedingly ill of him, and taking the receiuers ship of her dowrie in France from him, to bestow the same vpon the Bishop of Rosse. Yet for all this Morgan found such friends in the court of Rome, that by the Popes expresse commandementes directed from time to time to his Nuntio then resident at Paris, he was set at libertie, and therupon began to make his iusti­fications to the world, and withall bitterly to inueigh a­gainst his aduersaries, & the wrongs which they had don him. Likewise at that instant there was a booke printed [Page]in Paris, publikely accusing the Iesuites of many wicked practises and most malitious impieties, of which they su­spected Morgan, and sure I thinke it was his worke, but they could neuer apparantly proue it against him. Ther­fore seeing that they had in this failed, they determined to take their reuenge by another course: to effect the which, they vsed as an instrument a young Gentleman called Gage, whom by many pratises they suborned & incensed thereunto: the manner whereof was as follow­eth. Morgan being come downe into the low countries in company of the L. Paget, & his brother Charls, hauing bin one night late at euening seruice in the Church of Saint Gudala at Brussels, was as he came down the church staires encountered in the darke by Gage, Morgan woun­ded by Gage, suborned there­vnto by the Ie­suites & by him grie­ously wounded in the face. Who thereupon presently fled, thinking that he had slaine him, but afterwardes by the means and earnest pursuit of the L. Paget, was appre­hended. The Iesuites and their partie seemed at the first stifly to deny that they had bin the causers of this fact, but the sequel of their proceedings made it most apparant to the whole world. For when Morgan, the L. Paget, and di­uerse of his friends labored verie earnestly & with petiti­ons vnto the duke, to haue the rigor & seueritie of iustice to proceed against him by whom this great violence was offred, they first labored for reconciliation, which being flatly refused, Morgan accu­sed by the Iesu­ites of treason. then to stop the plaintifes mouthes, and to preuent such mischiefes as they feared might insue, they found no better meanes than once again to accuse Mor­gan of treason, laying to his charge sundrie points of tre­cherie, as well in former matters concerning the Scottish queen, as also the seruice & person of the d.of Parma. Be­sides they accused him to haue bin a setter on of Gilford & his confederates, in such practises as they had vnderta­ken [Page]by sir Frances Walsinghams warrant & setting on, & to that end they sent Chriton the Scottish Iesuite to Paris, to take Giffords examination, whose imprisonment they had there procured: and withall, they caused all such as anie way relied vpon them, to take their oath before the audi­tor generall, that in their conscience they though Morgā to be a traitor and a spie: vnto the taking of which oath also they laboured earnestly with sundrie others, which (they not hauing their conscience so saleable) refused & vtterly denied to doo: yet in the meane time while these things were in hand, they wrought so with their forged accusatiōs, that Morgan was clapt close prisoner in a mise­rable dungeon, called the Truerenborche, where til the D. of Parmas death he remained: at which time, as it is said, he was set at libertie, and liueth now with the Bishop of Cusano. Vpon his apprehension there were aboue thirtie seuerall ciphers found in his closet, in which, abroade in the world he corresponded with great personages: and withall a Letter which hee had newly written to the Bi­shop of Dunglane, verie defamatory against the person of the D. of Parma: which incensed the Duke exceedingly against him, & was, without doubt, the chiefest cause of his long imprisonment, for otherwise it is thought hee wold easily haue ouerpassed the calumniation of the Ie­suits. In fine, these two factiōs haue sought to ouerthrow one anothers credit in the chiefest courts of christēdom, opening of either side such foule matters, and tossing to & fro such filthie & slanderous defamations, that al men crie out against them both, holding thē to bee traitors, & men of no fidelitie. So that vndoubtedly I cannot but thinke him distracted of his wits, that hauing meanes to lieu else where quietly, wil make himself a partie in these partialities and contentions, which whosoeuer liueth [Page]there must needs doo, or else like an enemy to them both be rusht like a ship betweene two tempests.

But the pretiest of all is, to see how smoothly they han­dle the matter with you in England, abusing your sim­plicitie with the subtiltie of their words, and the holynes of their, apparance. They make you and the other Ca­tholikes of England beleeue, that what practises & drifts so euer they take in hand, are all for the zeale of religion and aduancement of the Catholike cause. And you silly soules thinke all they saie to bee Gospell; whereas (God wot) religion is the least matter of a thousand that they thinke vppon. The onely point they aime at, beeing lost companions at home, The drifte of y ^e English traitors abroad: is to make thēselues great where they are, & that by making you hazard your liues, repu­putations, and credits, and to that ende they are alwayes breeding of practises and conspiracies, both within and without the realme, caring not what successe they take: if they proue well, then they will haue the praise, merite, honor, and rewarde thereof: if otherwise, then they saie their good will must bee accepted, in greate matters the attempt is sufficient. And thereby they thinke to win the reputation to be accounted great state men, and contriuers of waightie 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 by their treacherous practises they haue brought to ruine and destruction. They verie well knew that when they first began to set abroach the matter of Babbington & his disloiall confederats, that the effecting thereof in such sorte as they had plotted it, was altogether vnpossible, Babington and his confederats. as Mendoza the Spanish Embassa­dor, told Ballard the priest, their instrument in contriuing the same, when he was at first in Paris brought vnto him [Page]by C.Paget, to desire him to informe the king his master of their intention, and withall, that at a daie appointed, there might be a force & assistance of men readie to cor­respond with them. But that was al one, so they might be accounted men of great reach, and dealers in such high state matters, they spared not to proceede in inchanting those poore vnexperienced yong gentlemen, neuer lea­uing till they had brought them to their ends, to the vt­ter ruine of them and their houses, in such sorte as to the whole world is manifest, and needs not to be recited.

Let therefore all the gentlemen of England, especial­ly the Catholiks, (who in regard of their religion & cre­dulitie, are by them likeliest to be insnared) take heed & beware of hauing any thing to do with this pestilent and factious race of people, for they speak so deuoutly, looke so smoothly, and write with such counterfeted grauity and holines, that it is hard for anie man to eschue theyr deadly baits, vnles he do first knowe the falshood & tre­cherie vnder which they doo colour and shroud them. What else hath intangled M. Shelly in these extreame ca­lamities? M.Shelly What likewise brought the late Earle of Nor­thumberlāà, (who neuer before was once detected of the least disloialtie towards his Prince or Countrie) into so great troubles and distresses, The lāte Earle of Northum­berland and finally to so tragicall & despairful an end, but onely these outlandish practises, & their conference with counterfeit Mope, Charles Paget▪ who was sent out of France by this seditious troup, to the end to ouer­throw both the one and the other?

What besides hath bin the cause of bringing so many other Gentlemen to the losse of their liues and liuinges, that liued before in ease, repose, and securitie of consci­ence. And which is more, were not they the only contri­uers of the death of the Q. of Scotland, by setting her in [Page]continuall practise one vpon another against the sacred person and roiall estate of our most gracious Soueraign, The Queen of Scotland the Queenes maiestie, so that of violent necessitie, her maiestie, though tardif, vnwilling, and with great griefe, at the generall and instant petition of all her most louing and faithfull subiectes (whose onely weale and comfort dependeth vpon her long life and prosperitie) to satisfie them, and to preserue the estate of her noble and flouri­shing realm in quiet, was constrained to secure the scep­ter in her own hands, by taking away the life of her that sought to wrest it from her: thogh how much the noble­nes of her mind was therwith agrieued, the whole world that hath knowen anie thing of her proceedings therin, either before or after, can be a witness. I saie not this on­ly of my selfe, though I and all the world else do know it to be true, that these their dealings haue made thē hate­full and detestable euen to those of their owne religion, insomuch that a French Iesuit tearmeth them all in ge­nerall, in a book which he hath written touching the Q. of Scotlands death, a viperous, mischieuous, and faithles kind of people, The censure of a French Iesuite concerning the English Fugi­tiues trecherous to those they deale withal, dis­dainfull, arrogant, ambitious, and worthie to be extermi­ned out of the vtmost bounds of the world: besides ma­ny such other goodly epithetes, with which he beutifies them in their colours: his whole booke being nothing but railing against English fugitiues, wishing all princes, noble men, and gentlemen whatsoeuer, to beware and take heed of them, and that in such earnest, vehement, & inuectiue manner, that it is not possible to be more.

And yet for all so many tragicall ends of their bloudie and traiterous indeuours, are they moued with anie the least sparke of repentance. Neither hath the ruine of so many of you their countrimen, wrought and contriued [Page]by their practise, allurement, & perswasion, bred in them anie feeling of remorse or conscience, but rather thereby animated & incouraged to set new conspiracies & trea­sons abroach, with meaning in deed by sowing seditions among you, and by opposing you against the state, to make you the onely instruments one of the others ruine, & so to make the way opē to the Spanish tyrant. I wil not speak any thing of their infinit former practises, as wel in Ireland as within this realme, against the person of her maiestie, the quietnes of either country, wherin stil their instrumēts haue by violēt ends miserably perished: which desolatiōs procured by their only practise (but that they are vtterly voide of all christian humanitie) might haue serued to perswade them, that God is not pleased with their action, or at least the bloudie quarters of so many Gentlemen as the swoorde of iustice from time to time, (constrained by their horrible attēpts) hath diuided & dispersed about the wals & turrets of London, and other places in this Realme, might haue stroken a terrour into their mindes, neuer more to hazard the liues of their countrymē, in so wicked & tragical an enterprise. But no whit at all are their vncharitable & stonie harts herewith touched, but rather stil incensed more & more to practise the desolation of this noble realme, and the death of our most deare and dreaded Soueraign, no whit at all regar­ding the greatnes of her maiesty, the same being of all o­ther nations had in such regard & reuerence, nor the ten­dernes of her sex, which euen amongest the most barba­rous nations, hath bin alwais a safegard against violence: nor lastly the shining brightnes of her vertue, which hath moued y ^e remotest regions of the world to admire her, & the greatest princes liuing, some by themselue [...], some by their ambassadors, to offer herall honor, seruice, & reue­rence.

All this notwithstanding, these men, according to the confession of their instruments lately executed, keepe a solemne councell table, Holt the Iesuite chiefe president of this damna­ble crew. wherein nothing is handled but new & daily practises for the shortning of her Maiesties most glorious life, though they see how miraculously God blesseth and defendeth her, and that as the giants which did shoote against heauen, The obstinacie of the English traitors they are still wounded with the fall of their owne arrowes.

What folowed of their late practise with that worthy and honorable gentleman, Ferdinando late Earle of Dar­by, but onelie that it brought poore Heskits, their instru­ment for execution thereof, Heskits sent by thē to practise with Ferdinādo Earle of Darby to the gallowes, who bitter­ly with teares bewailed their acquaintance, and naming sir William Stanley and others, cursed the time that hee e­uer had knowen anie of them?

But all had bin wel, if his death onely, or the death of a thousand more such traitors, had concluded the trage­die, so that the noble Earle had not likewise with his fall giuen all England cause to crie out vpon them, for when they had once fully discouered the loyaltie of his affec­tion towards her Maiesty, and the hatred that he bare to them and their faction, either of which he well testified by the apprehension of Heskits, hee came shortly after­wards to the end of his life, whether by their practise or no, God knoweth, & time wil discouer. But that so it was (the circumstance of the matter, & the accidents of his sicknes considered) there is nothing more likely.

Hauing herein failed, presently they set newe instru­ments aworke, as Cullen the Irishman, Yorke, & Williams, promising great rewards, Cullen, Yorke, and Williams. & giuing thē instructions how they shuld behaue themselues vpon the landing, for the better accomplishing thereof, but the end was, that after hauing confessed al the circumstances of this hateful act, [Page]and the names and meanes of them that laboured them thereunto, and cursed the authors and contriuers of the horrible treason by them intēded, they ended their liues at Tiborne, and their quarrters were dispersed about the gates of London. But some may perchance demand of me what their meaning herein may be, or what credite, commoditie, or gaine might haue allured them to enter in these beforesayd so wicked & detestable inclinations. For answere hereunto: first I told you that so they might be accounted and reputed for great state-men, high spi­rited, and of deepe action, to procure that reputation & credit, they care not whose estate of life they indanger. But besides this also which we haue alreadie spoken of, they haue also farther meanings and driftes, Another drifte of the English fugitiues. as those that do looke deepliest & with greatest heedfulnes into theyr actions do verily imagine, hauing by sundrie their pro­ceedinges euidently discoured the same: of which the chiefest is, that as they are of all people liuing the most ambitious, so seeing this beggerly seruice doeth not fit their humors, they do feed themselues with an imagina­tiō of the time to come, I mean a Spanish or Romish world in our Countrie, at which time the doubt not the long time of their exile, sufferance, & losse of their liuings con­sidered (for so is their phrase & manner of speech) to be­come mightie and great men, and to haue principall dig­nitie, swaie, and authoritie in our countrie. Marie againe on the otherside, considering that the most part of them are but base defamed companions, of no birth or liuing, and that there are in England many Gentlemen of the same religion of great qualitie and houses, that wold dis­dain to haue such mates preferred before them in quali­tie or degree. They haue gone by al means possible they can, about with their practises and colorable deuises to [Page]root them out, so seruing their onwe turnes two waies: the one to win vnto themselues the name and reputation of men of seruice, the other to rid out of the waie those that they imagine wold stand in competencie with thē, but (God be thāked) the chifest harm their conspiracies haue done hetherto, hath bin to perish in their owne de­uises. Spies sent by them into Eng­land A little before the cōming of the Spanish fleet, they sent their espials, & among them some that were priests, in disguised garmēts, with instructiōs to sound the mea­ning of such Gentlemen as they thought to be fauorers of their religion, & to incline their minds to the Spanish cause, incouraging them to take armes against her maie­stie: to which they printed in the English tong many hū ­dreds of books in Antwarp, barreling them vp vntil such time as the armie should haue bin landed, Seditious books printed in Ant­warpe. and then their meaning was to haue dispersed them, expryssing therin many great promises and large rewards to such as shuld assist or do any maner of seruice to the Catholike party, terrifying the rest with bitter menaces. In fine, the whol being ful of traiterous and proud threatning speeches, as well against her maiestie, as against all such her faithfull subjects as should haue taken her part. Likewise they ob­tained of the Pope & the king, that as many as had theyr voices in the parliament house at such time as the queen of Scotland was adiudged to die, of what degree soeuer they were, should be depriued not onely of their liues & liuings, but that their posteritie also should bee for euer disinherited and disnobled. The like also they threatned in their bookes, to all such, as well noble men as others, that shuld after the landing of the catholike armie persist in armes against the same. But all this by the goodness of God, hath but serued to discouer their wicked intentiōs, and to animate all true Englishmen to persist with the greater loue, vnitie, & corage in obediēce to her maiesty.

Turning therefore my speeches to you, O vnnaturall & degenerated Englishmē, to those whom you shuld obey trecherous & vnfaithfull, and of those that you do obey, cōtemned & made slaues: How can you indure to thirst after the destruction of so sweet a country, in which you receiued your being, & that gaue you nouriture when you were yong? Why do you abuse religion, in making the same a maske to your intended treasons? How can you find in your harts to seeke the destruction of so be­nigne a prince, & the subuersion of so glorious an estate, by bringing into the bowels therof the barbarous armes of so insolēt an enemie, who where he is victorious, stai­neth the earth with bloud, the aire with blasphemy, and the heauens with his abhominable & luxurious inconti­nēcies, let Flanders, Portugal, Hispaniola, & the other prin­ces of India be witnes. The old worthy Romanes thoght it the most heroicall thing that might be, to vowe them­selues somtimes to death for their countrie, The two Decij. Tit. Liu. and euen to spend their liues in defēce of their altars, temples, & mo­numents of their elders: but you seek to see your coūtry bathing in the bloud of your parents, kindred, & friends, to see your cities, graues, & temples of your predecessors consumed with fire, to see your virgins defloured, your women rauished, and finally to bring the noblest of nati­ons to a perpetuall slauerie & seruitude, yea, and that of the most cruell nation that liueth, a nation not fullie an hundred yeres since wholy they receiued christianity, & as yet are in their harts Pagans & Moores, frō profession of which they are onely restrained by the seuere bridle of their cruel & sanquinary inquisitiō: which paganisme of theirs, thogh in their speeches they dare not manifest, yet do they in their abhominations discouer the same. If the Numantines, Saguntines, and Nessatians burnt their towns, slew their wiues and children, & finally thēselues, [Page]rather than they would receiue the yoake of worthie & vertuous nations that assailed them. What shoulde wee then do, whō our vertuous ancestors haue left honored with the inuincible trophes of so many victories ouer great and mightie nations, yea ouer Spanie it selfe, rather than to indure the insolent, wicked, & tiranous gouern­ment of that nation, whom al Europe hath in horror, lea­uing to our posteritie after vs a perpetuall seruitude and bondage, as an euerlasting memorie of our cowardise.

But leauing this vntill a fitter time, I hope that his al­redy said shal be sufficient to make you cleerly & plainly vnderstand, that there is not to be found among these di­sentions, partialities, conspiracies & treasons, that sweet­nesse, libertie, and tranquilitie of conscience which you expect & looke for, but rather turmoile, griefe, & distrac­tion of minde, with a perpetuall grudging & remorse of conscience, scandalized with infinite examples of euill life, impietie, defamation, & periurie, on the one side of­fensiue to her Maiestie and the state of your countrie, & on the other side subiected to the disdain & bitter scorn of the Spaniard, The Spaniarde esteemeth y ^e ser­uice, but scorn­eth the traitour who howsoeuer hee respect the seruice, yet neuer regard the person of a traitour, as a great noble man in Spaine spared not to tell Charles the fift, when by him he was commanded to lodge the Duke of Burbon in his house at Madryle, saying that he would willingly obey his Maiesty, The answere of a noble man to Charles the fift but protesting withal by a great oath, that he would set it a fire so soone as the Duke should be out of it, for his predecessors had not built it to be an harbor for traitors. Likewise when Christian var de Veque had betrai­ed, The kings recō ­pēce to Christiā var de Veque, for betraying to him the castle of S. Iohns in Portugal for a promised great pension, the castle of S.Iohn, be­ing one of the most important fortresses for Portugal, to this k. Phillip that now is: how & with what reward was he honored? Euen truly with such as a traitor deserueth, [Page]for being intertained a while with hope, till such time as the king saw himselfe absolute master of all, he was then for his paines banished, & confined to the wars of Affrica for ten yeres. The like vsage in a manner, receiued all his fellows that had betraied their lawful king, by deliuering such places as they held in gouernment, or by doing the king of Spaine anie other seruice to the preiudice of Don Antonio. Who when they came afterwards to demand recompence, were answered that the king did not vse to buy that which was his owne, and therefore wisht them to take heed how they mentioned any such matter, least thereby they came to be called further into question.

Not much more pleasing was the speech that sir W.Stanley receiued from Verdugo, The speech of Verdugo to sir W:Stanley who hearing him one day with passiō transported into violent speeches against his countrie, wished him to vse moderation, for though hee had offended his coūtry, his country neuer offēded him.

Likewise R.Yorke at dinner one daie with Count Charls of Mansfet, at his house in Brussels, Count Charles of Mansfet to R:Yorke beginning to vse vnbe­seeming speeches of her Maiestie, was commanded by the Count to holde his peace, praying him thence for­ward to be better acquainted with the customes of his table, which did not giue anie man priuiledge to speake vnreuerētly of Princes. So that (as I said) there is nothing more apparant than the scornfull account the Spaniard maketh of our persons, howsoeuer for his owne purpose he imbraceth our seruices. Two Semin̄a­ries erected by y ^e king in Spaine, one at Valla­dolid, the other at Ciuil [...] & two in the low coū ­tries, the one at Doway & the other at Saint Homars. But perchance some of you will say, it is not your intentions to serue him in his wars, or to meddle with anie matter of estate, but whereas hee hath now charitably & liberally erected four Seminaries for the behoofe of English students, there quietly to passe your time, & to apply your booke in one of them, not comming among these contentious fellowes I speak [Page]of, nor so much as once to think of them. I do not much mislike the simple sincerenes of your intention, but yet if I might counsell you, I would wish you to looke a litle better into the matter, before you ingage your self in any such course. Wise men are not carried awaie with the ap­parance of things, but in matters that are doubtfull, doo alwaies suspect the worst. The worst wine hath alwayes the fairest Iuy bush: the foulest serpēts lie vnder the best and rankest grasse: and the birdes that flie vnto the bait without regarding the lime twigs, are easiliest intangled. The Troians seeing the faire and fertill fieldes of Sicilia, bended their oares thither, but Alchimedes cried vnto thē to lanch awaie, for Poliphemus was there. Vndoubtedly the loue and zeale which the king seemeth to beare vnto those of our nation is great, in inuiting them to studie in his countries, & to that end preparing such conuenient places for them. But I haue often heard saie, that the fau­ning flatteries of an enemy are farre more dangerous thā the frouning apprehension of a friend. The flatterie of an enemy more dangerous than the reprehensiō of a friend Ioab killed Abner when he imbraced him, and the Syrensings when she al­lures to death. For to what else can I liken these fauours of the king of Spain, than to the songs of a Syren, or to the kisses of an enemie, vnder which he shadoweth the deep and deadly mischiefe that he intendeth to our nation, & to none deardlier than to those that imbrace his offers, such I meane as do plant themselues in his new erected colledges, of which (if we were not altogether blinded, or rather cruelly bewitched with some magical sorcery) the proofes are to apparant. For if it be for their good he allureth thē thether, why then (if they attaine to such de­grees of learning as are fit for dignitie & promotiō) doth he not aduance them to Bishopricks, The cause why y ^e king allureth Englishmen to his Seminaries. Deanries, Abbies, Chanonries, & other such spirituall dignities as they are [Page]capable of? Oh no, there is no such matter, he hath other waies in which he must imploy them, which are such as he well knoweth cannot cost them lesse than their liues, which thogh he shadow vnder other pretēces, yet whē I haue declared the order therof, I will leaue the reader to iudge of as it shall please him, for my part I conceiue as I haue written. First, whosoeuer commeth to applie his time in studie in any of these Seminaries, must promise to take vpon him the orders of Priesthood, when he shall be called vpon so to do, for I assure my selfe that the same rules are obserued in his two Seminaries of Spaine, as were at that of Doway & Rhemes, which were by his pensions there maintained. Likewise he must solemnly make a vow of obediēce to his superior, directly & with­out any contradiction, to go whether soeuer he shal send him, & to gouerne himself according to such instructiōs as he shal receiue frō him, & frō the same not to swarue, though it should cost him his life. This superior is alwais one that absolutely dependeth of the k.of Spaine, as did cardinall Allen and Parsons, who being absolutely at his comandement, and so by consequence also are all the in­feriors, of which as any growth to greater perfection than his fellows, so is he soonest chosen out to be sent in to England, there to parturbe the quiet of the realme, to sow sedition, to practise reuolts, and to alienate the mind of the subiects from obedience to her maiestie, therby to prepare a bridge for him, wherby he might make his en­terie into the realme, in which action the poore instru­ment is assured still to perish: of which we haue seen but too many examples, & I would to God we might neuer see more. But that our Countrymen whome God hath blessed with such excellent giftes of learning and elo­quence as sundrie of them, would, if not turne the same to the seruice of theyr Prince and Countrie, and [Page]the comfort of their friende, yet at least not suffer them­selues to the drawen into such violent courses against it, wherein they see God prospers them not, iustice con­foundēth them, and finally howsoeuer they be there ca­nonized for marti [...]s, our Chronicles, and al the stories of our time, wil for euer, to the shame of their stocke & pa­rentage, record them fortraitors.

Here now you see the drifte of the king of Spaine in e­recting these his Seminaries, and to what end he allureth you ouer, assuring himself, that so long as he can with his faire shewes drawe anie of you thether, hee shall neuer want instruments to sow sedition in our Countrie, and to take vpon them the execution of whatsoeuer his mis­chieuous indeuors. Fly therefore from the inchanted snares, you that will not bee transformed into monsters. Those that beheld the head of Medusa were only turned into stones, but these that are insorcered with these Spa­nish inchantments, are transformed into shapes much more horrible and monstrous: their hearts are alienated from their prince and countrie, their hands made instru­ments to write hatefull slanders, and defamatorie libels against persons of great nobilitie and honor, yea & som­times to hold a dagger wherewith to murther the Lords annointed, their tongues into trumpets, to arme men to rebellion, bloudshed, and warres, and finally, whereas e­uerie age hath held it, according to the saying of the Po­et, Decorum mori pro patria, to be a comly thing to die for ones Countrie. The Spanish dissēbled frind­ship intendeth greater mischief vnto vs, than e­uer did the ha­tred of anie o­ther nation Their liues (with such furie are they pos­sessed) are vpon euerie Spanish commandement, readie to be offered vp against the same as a sacrifice.

And this assure your self, that this dissembled Spanish friendship intendeth greater mischief vnto vs, than euer did the apparant hatred of anie nation else whatsoeuer.

Bee wise therefore in time, and come not within the fatall enterie of this dedalian labirinth, out of which on­ly Theseus by good hap escaped, all the rest that euer en­tered, were deuoured by the minotaure. The Italyans haue a saying, which me thinks may very wel be applied to our nation, for such Spaniardes as the king sendeth to the warres of Flaunders, because they are needy bare wretches, at the first taking vp, he sendeth them to his garrisons of Naples and Mylain, there to be hartned and fashioned a yeare or two, and then sending a new sup­ply of the like into their places, he passeth them awaie in­to Flaunders: & after when they are consumed, for com­monly they holde not aboue a yeare or two, then hee supplieth them with his Italyan garrisons, and so success­siuely seconds still one with an other, To make them fat in Italie, to kill thē in Flan­ders. whereupon the I­talyans haue a prouerbe: In Italia gli ingrassano, in Fian­dragli amassanos. Which surely can be better applied to none then to our fugitiues, whom he keepeth to no other end then to send to the slaughter. I could vrge this point farther, confirming it with infinite proofs and examples, but that this alreadie spoken may suffice to let you know the daunger of putting your selfe into this Spanishe coope, which whosoeuer knoweth, and yet will go the­ther, it is greatly to be feared, what innocencie so euer he pretēd, that he beareth with him the mind of a traitor.

Now to the third point of my discourse, concerning the mislike which sundrie of you haue of her maiesties gouernment, and the state of our country at this present, pretending that to bee the cause why ye transport your selues into the king of Spaines dominions, who in your conceit, are gouerned with much more mildnesse and tranquilitie: I will by comparing the one with the other, as neere as I can, let you see the difference betweene [Page]them both, and so consequently your owne error.

As neere as I can gesse, this your disliking proceedeth of two points, The causes of theyr dislykyng the gouerment, the one that your laws are too rigorouslie & seuerely executed against such as professe the Catho­like religion: the other, that the aduersarie hath buzzed a feare into your heads, making you beleeue that the for­ces of our state are too feeble to resist so mightie and pu­issant an enemie as the Spanish king: whose mighty trea­sures, many dominions, and armies of men, they magni­fie to the skies, & therfore perchance you couet to ioyne betimes with that partie which you do thinke aduanta­gious, for your future securitie and aduancement. First touching the persecution of Catholikes, which our fu­gitiues doo so much exclaime vppon, filling whole vo­lumes therewith, and aggrauating the same in tearmes most bitter and lamentable, to forrein nations: let vs see what reason they haue. I would faine demand one que­stion, If euer they did reade, heare, or knowe of anie one king or queene, that did with greater mildnes or lenitie tollerate or suffor within his or their dominion, a sect of religion opposite to the lawes by him or thē established, especially the same hauing sundrie times made rebelli­ous attempts against their crowne, estate, and dignitie.

Let them looke, if they be men of iudgment, into the ages passed, euen amongest the Heathens, and into the present time among al y ^e princes of Europe, whether ther be anie to be found that hath dealt with the like lenitie as her maiestie hath done. Why then doo they so falsely slander her? Do they not knowe that she is their sacred and annointed Queene, appointed by God to rule ouer them? If they do, why doo not they then with all reue­rence and humility, loue, honour, and obey her, praying God to conuert her, (seeing such is their desire) and not [Page]by traiterous indeuour seeke to murther and depriue her. They learned not that of the ancient Christians, in the Primitiue Church, who praied for the Empe­rours and Princes vnder whome they liued, yea, and though they were idolaters and heretikes, beseeching God that it would please him to graunt them Vitam prolixam, The fathers of y ^e primitiue church praied vnto God for theyr prynce, yea, euen such as persecuted thē, y ^t it wold please hym to giue thē alōg life, a secure Empyre, theyr howse safe, theyr armyes strong, theyr Counsell faythfull, theyr people true, and finally, a peace­ble world imperium securum, domum tutam, exercitus for­tes, senatum fidelem, populumprobum, orbem denig quietum.

Now let our fugitiues examine the secret of theyr owne consciences, and I doubt not but theyr shall find them guiltie of another manner of mattins.

But they will saie, shee hath executed many Semi­narie Priests, I confesse in deed that the law hath had his course with many of them, as likewise it hath had with many other malefactors for their crimes. But yet her maiestie hath alwaies proceeded therein in so gra­cious and mercifull a sort, that she hath witnessed suf­ficiently to the world, how loth shee is to come vnto bloud, so long as there was anie other remedie to bee vsed.

For her Maiesty knoweth, her honorable Councel knoweth, yea, and I & the whole world knoweth, that the comming of these Seminaries, Priests, and Iesuits, to reconcile men (as they tearme it) to the obedience of the Romane church, is directly and absolutely to a­lienate and diuert their mindes from her maiestie, and to incline them to be readie to assist anie enemy either within or without the realme, that shall colour his cause vnder the pretext of religion. Her maiesty, I say, and counsell, and all good subiects knowing this, and foreseeing the danger that might thereof insue, forbad by act of Parliament, these sortes of seditious people [Page]to enter into her realme, or to vse or exercise any such vnquiet doctrine. Limiting therewithall to such as were within the realme, a time to depart out of the same.

But this lenitie wrought rather contempt then o­bedience, for these men contemning the grauitie of our lawes, and not thinking any to be obeied, but such as they make themselues, came still into the realme as fast as before. Great numbers of them were taken and emprisoned, whom though her maiestie deseruedly, and with greate Iustice, (especially the daily mischiefe stirred vp within the realme, by their malitious practises considered) might haue executed as Traytors and Rebels, yet the greatenesse of her princely clemencie and compassion, was so vnwilling to come vnto extreames, that she caused them al once more to be pardoned, and to be put out of the realme but with expresse commaundement, neuer to returne in the like sorte: in doing otherwise, they should not attend any other than the rigor of the lawes. All this would not serue their tourne, but in despite of her maiestie, and contempt of her lawes, sundry of them returned, of which some of them beeing taken, haue receiued the hyre and iust recompence of their diso­bedience.

But that her maiestie seeketh not their blood, as they most falsely giue out, appeereth by her clemen­cie vsed to sondry of them, taken by her souldiors in the Low-countries, who though they were of Sir William Stanlyes crew and adhaerentes, yet seeing they were not taken within England, shee graciously pardoned them all, and caused them to bee set at li­bertie, [Page]in giuing some little recompence to those that had taken them prisoners.

Where is then this rigour you speake of? I hope the king of Spaine keepeth another manners of reuell in his dominions, The cruelty and persecutions of the Spaniard in matters of Con­science. ouer all Spaine, Portingall, Lom­bardie, Naples, and Sicilia: whosoeuer speaketh a worde, or maketh the least signe in the world to mis­like his religion there established, or anie point or ce­remonie therof, his cruell & bloudie ministers, the In­quisitors, cause thē without remission to be presently burnt aliue: of which the death of poore Doctour Augustine Cacalla can giue good witnesse. Who for a small point in difference of religion, was at Valla­dolid in Spain apprehended for a Lutheran, and with him thirtie, of such as had giuen him audience: ma­ny of which were Gentlemen and Ladies, and among the rest the two sonnes of the Marquesse of Poza, the greatest parte of which were presentlye burnt aliue, the rest submitting themselues, were pardoned their liues, but condemned to perpetuall prison, wyth the confiscation of all their goods: and all theyr life time to weare the Sambenito, which is a yeolow garment, The Sambenito wyth a red crosse before and another behinde, pain­ted all ouer full of deuils faces: a thing of the grea­test reproch and dishonour there that possiblie can bee.

But seeing these, of which wee haue spoken, are his subiectes, and are of force tied to the iurisdiction of his lawe, howe cruell so euer, I will not heere trouble you anie farther with the recitall of the ca­lamities and miseries layde vppon them from time to time, howe sundrie of them for the breache [Page]of his constitutions in matter of ceremonie, haue bin cruelly committed to the flames. But what reason hath he, I would faine knowe, to extend the like rigor and crueltie against strangers, who owe him no obe­dience, but come onely into his Countrie in regarde of machandise, or other theyr occasions, and neuer­thelesse haue beene apprehended, their goods taken awaie, and theyr themselues cruelly executed.

Among innumerable other examples hereof that I could alleadge, I will onely acquaint you with one. At execution of which, a Gentleman of good credite in the lowe Countries, sware vnto mee that hee was present, and that it was in manner as followeth.

There was one Giles Rat, a Citizen of Antwarpe, The execution of a Dutchman & an English­man in Spaine for religion and by his occupation a shoomaker, who some fewe yeeres since going into Spaine about some businesse pertaining to his trade, was apprehended & brought before the inquisitors, onely for that hee had smiled at the image of our Ladie, which as they sayde he had done in derision, and therefore presently condemned him to the fire, amd with him likewise an Englishman for the like cause, whose name the Gentleman that sawe them burned, knew not: but hee tolde mee, that at the time of their execution there mounted vp into a scaffolde there by two Iesuites, forbidding the peo­to, vppon paine of excommunication, to praie for them, saying that they had deliuered them both ouer inbodie and soule to the deuill, as those that died ob­stnate and wilfull heretikes.

Surely by these examples it appeareth, that hee would bee loth to tollerate in Spaine anie that should go about to seduce his people with anie contrarie do­ctrine, [Page]especiallye ministers, of which if anie such should fall into his handes, it is likely he would not so often pardon them as the Queene hath done the o­ther. As for his lowe Countries, They were takē in the towne of Dermounde three yeres since I neuer knew but of two taken, and they were both put in sackes by the Spaniards, and throwen into the riuer.

This is in deede extreame tyrannie, and not that which her maiestie vseth, who is alwaies readie to re­ceiue into grace and fauour, those of whome she hath anie hope that they will become good subiectes, The mercifull offer of her ma­iestie to Catho­likes after theyr condemnation. and hath, as I haue heard, offered (after that by lawe they were condemned) her princely mercie and fauour to some of them, if they wold haue promised to become good subiect.

O howe different is this proceeding from that, whose mildnesse and clemencie they so highly com­mend! But it is the nature of men, especially of those whose iudgementes are wauering and vnsetled, al­waies to mislike and loath those things to which they are accustomed, deeming other, to them vnknowen, much better.

But perchance you will saie that in their so greate commendation, they do onely meane his manner of gouernment in the Lowe Countries. True in deede it is, that hee hath not yet planted there his inquisitiō, though the same be much against his wil. Neuertheles if you did but see the manner of his gouernment in those parts, I thinke you wold iudge them worthie of small beliefe, that haue so highly commended the same vnto you. First, in matter of religion and consci­ence, I doo not thinke that it is possible for anie peo­ple bee more hardly any vncharitably dealt withal, [Page]then they are vnder the seruitude of the cleargie, but especially of the Iesuits.

As for the other orders of religion, as Monks, Friers, &c. though they are exceedingly exhausted by them in matter of charge, as beeing compelled to reedifie their ruined cloisters, to furnish them with costly ima­ges and rich furnitures, & daily to supply theyr wants, as well in yeelding them victualls, as in satisfying all their other exorbitant demandes, which are infinit, (of which who so denieth anie, is presently reputed to be an heretik) Yet al this is nothing in comparisō of that which by the Iesuites they are constrained to indure, The Iesuits growen to an excee­ding authoritie in the Lowe Countries. who haue nowe gotten that hand ouer them, that the chief magistratships & places of dignitie, are not gran­ted but vnto such as shal be by their liking allowed, & by their authoritie confirmed. Neither without theyr aduice and councel dare they determine of anie great matter, concerning either gouernment or pollicie. There is not anie mans busines but they must haue an oare in it: The greatnes magnificence, and the delici­ousnesse of the Iesuites they neuer plant themselues in anie places but in the middest of goodly cities, where they wring themselues into the fairest pallaces, in some of them dispossessing by violence those to whom they apper­tained. Their colledge at Antwarp be­longeth to the societie of the marchauntes of Aquisgrane, whō they haue excluded. Like­wise their col­ledge at Brus­sels, is vsurped & detained frō the true heires Their churches are rich and sumptuous, their moueables and householde stuffe magnificent, rather than decent, their gardens pleasant, spacious, and de­lightfull, their garmentes fine and comely, theyr fare plentifull and of the best: and in fine, they are not ti­ed to anie risings in the night, or anie the like hardnes, to which other religious orders are subiected. Their first masse doth neuer at any time begin before eight of the clocke, vnto the which you shal see him come [...] [Page]attended on with nouices, in as great a grauitie as the Pope himselfe when hee is in all his pontificalibus: The politique institution of y ^e Iesuits, they are accounted to bee the greatest intelligencers and state-men of the world. They may not according to their orders, receiue anie higher officer or dignitie: wherein of all other things they haue the greatest pol­licie, for otherwise theyr old polititians should be frō them aduanced to higher promotions, which would bee great diminution to their dignitie, which as they now order the matter, is of such credite and reputati­on, that they take the name of a Iesuit, not to bee anie whit inferiour to the title of a Bishoppe, they are not subiect to anie ordinarie, nor to the controlment of a­nie Bishoppe or Legate whatsoeuer, but onely to the prouincial or general of their order, who neuer light­ly comes amongst them, and if he doo, he is a brother of the societie, and will finde no faultes for feare of scandall.

But the best is, to see howe busie and diligent they are when they heare of a wealthie man that lieth sicke and in daunger of death. They bestir thē ­selues whē they heare of a riche man that lieth in daunger of death. This is their chiefest haruest and most Opimapraeda. Then they commend vnto him the pouertie of their Colledge, and the merite that he shall gaine by dealing liberally with them, as beeing for euer to bee remembred in their masses, as one of their benefactors. The Cordeliers and they are at this presēt in processe together in Spaine, about this visita­tion of sicke men in articulo mortis. The Cordeliers are such as in England we cal­led Grey friers, of the order of Saint Frances. The Iesuites saie, that it appertaines vnto them, because their profession is actiue, and to be alwaies stirring among the flocke, and to doo good to the worlde abroad: whereas that of the Cordeliers is contemplatiue, and so by conse­quence [Page]most decent, that they should conteine them­selues within their cloisters. The Cordeliers on the o­ther side do replie that their profession is meekenesse, innocencie, pouertie, & to do good vnto all men. As for the Iesuites, that they are proude, ambitious, aspi­ring, entermedlers in matters of state: Men of greate riches and couetous of more, and therefore by no meanes to be admitted to such as lye at the point of death. The Iesuites haue beene in­ueighed against in the publike schooles of the vniuersitie of Louaine. The matter hath beene much argued of and greatly debated in Spaine. All the other Doctors of religion are vehemently against them, and they haue bene openly inueiged against in the publike schooles of Louaine: yet notwithstanding they are so strongly backt by the king (whose turne they serue againe in other matters) that howsoeuer the crie go against them, they holde their owne still.

The policie of the Iesuites in teaching of children.Among all their other policies, they haue one, that in my iudgment is no whit at all inferior to anie of the rest. For wheresoeuer they remaine, they take vpon them to teach and instruct the children of chiefe men and magistrates, professing to doo the same freely and without reward: wherein they deale so carefully, that the parents doo not account their childrens time mis­spent: they in the meane time making hereof a dou­ble benefite. For first they binde the fathers and pa­rents of their children to be their friendes and fauou­rers: secondly, as for the schollers, they strike into their tender capacities such a reuerence of them­selues, and withall doo distill into their mindes such pointes of doctrine, and such an opinion of their ho­lynesse and integritie, that the same seldome weareth awaie, but rather increaseth with theyr yeeres, which [Page]is vndoubtedly of no small moment, to the strength­ning and the vpholding of their societie and faction. Likewise they haue so cunningly wrought, that wher soeuer they are, they onely are the generall hearers of all confessions, diuing thereby into the secretes and driftes of all men, acquainting themselues with theyr humours and imperfections, and making thereof, as time and occasion serues, their owne vse and bene­fite.

But by the waie, seeing it comes so wel to our pur­pose, I cannot choose but tell you a pretie storie that happened lately in the low Countries.

A storie of the Iesuits impietie.A marchant whose name was Hamyel, beeing sicke at Antwarpe, of a consumption or feauer, Ethicke the Iesuite knowing him to be a man of great possessions, and without children, presently repaired vnto him, vnder colour of spirituall consolation, laying before him the vanitie of this life, and the glorie of the world to come: With sundrie other perswasions, as of all men liuing they haue their tongues most at will: and withall, commending vnto him their order, as of all o­ther the most meritorious, perfect, and acceptable to God, and to which our holy Father the Pope and his predecessours haue granted more indulgences than to anie other order of religion whatsoeuer: insomuch that they brought the poore man (being of himselfe simple) into such a fooles paradise, that hee professed himselfe into their societie, thinking that there was no other waie to bee saued: So as before hande hee infeoffed their colledge with his land, which was two hundred poūds a yere, giuing thē much goods & rich moueables, & when he had so done, died within three [Page]moneths after the same. His next heires, by counsell of their friends, put the Iesuites in sute. Against which though they opposed themselues with all vehemen­cie, yet to their great shame & reprehension, sentence was giuen against them by the roial councel of Mack­lin. It is called Mag­num, regium, consilium, and hath authoritie to determin de­finitly both in ciuil & criminal causes without appeale. Notwithstanding they wold not so giue ouer, but by the meanes, aide, and support of President Pamele, a chiefe fauorite of theirs, they appealed from thence to the councell of Estate at Brussels, getting the cause, after sentence giuen, to be remoued, a thing there vn­usuall, and scarcely euer heard of before. There I lefte the processe hanging, what became of it afterwards I know not, but by hooke or by crooke it was thought they woulde carrie it awaie in the end.

Another time a rich & wealthie merchant of Ant­warp, An other y ^e like historie. but one in that point whose deuotion and scru­pulotitie 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 terrifying speeches) tolde him that he was in the state of damnation, out of which he could not be deliuered vntil such time as he 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 ablatum, with sundry other such sentences, of which they had store. In fine, they put the poore man into such a seare of conscience, that hee yeelded to make restitution, if so the same might bee done without his vndooing, discredite, or shame▪ Whereupon to comfort him agayne, but in deed fea­ring least if they dealte too rigorously and roughlye [Page]with him, they shoulde get nothing, they tolde him that if in steed of all such interests and vsuries, with which he felt his conscience burthened, he on­ly would bee content to deliuer vnto them some such summe of money, as without his vndooing, he thought hee might conueniently spare, His name is John Baptista Spinila, a man known in most marchāt townes of christeodom. they would take it vppon their soules to see the summe imployed vpon good, vertuous, & charitable vses, to the grea­ter benefit and merite of his soule, & as a thing more acceptable vnto God & lesse scandalous to the world, then if he should make restitution to whome it apper­teined, and had bene by his vsurie interessed: where vpon the marchant being wel satisfied in conscience, gaue them the mony, and they him their absolution. It was a greate speech for a while about the towne, that this great marchant would become a Capuchine and make a distribution of his goods among them: he himselfe made greate shewe thereof a while, but it the end he deceiued them, and falling to his olde by­as, did not sticke to tel vnto some of his priuate friends this fore remembred tale.

But I will holde you no longer with the recitall of these their politique and vnconscionable practises, which truly, in my opinion, are very vnfitting for men that professe themselues to be of the society of Iesus, who being the fountaine of all purenesse, will surely neuer associate himselfe with deceiuers, and false wordly politicians. But let them take heede: for this the intrusion of themselues into temporall matters, their subtilties and vnquiet stirring wittes hath made them odious to most parte of the worlde: I meane e­uen to such as professe their owne religion. The tem­plers [Page]were as mightie as euer they were, and in out­ward apparance of greate holines and integritie, yet for their hypocricie God sodeinly ouerthrew them, The Templers greater than e­uer they were, yet sodainly for their hypocrisie ouerthrowen. tooke awaie their liues and possessions, & made their memorie infamous. Let them beware, that the like punishment hang not ouer their heades, for I can as­sure them they are growen odious to the world, and to none more odious, then to some of their owne re­ligion, who do wel forsee the scandal and slander that by their behauiour ariseth to the Romaine Church. I could here in particular touche some of thē by name: with matters that they would be ashamed to here of. But I am not so vncharitable or malitious as to libell the names of any men, or to defame them publique­ly, especially for matters of frailtie: though amonge them, nothing is more common and vsuall, then vp­on the dislike of any mans humor or action, presently to publish his name to the world, in some malicious pamphlet or other: vpbraiding him therein, yea euen with theverie errors and frailties of his youth, if they can touch him with any such, if not then imputing to him fained falshoods and vilanies: which how false, wicked, or improbable soeuer they be, they knowe they haue customers that will receiue them for cur­rant. They haue da­red in their Li­bels to touch y ^e maiestie of princes, & the dig­nitie of great & honorable coū ­sellers. Yet all were well, so they would content them­selues to deale onely with priuate men in this sorte. But such is their respectlesse, audatious, and vnbride­led insolence, that they haue dared to lift their damn­ed and rebellious pennes, dipped in stronger poison than the arrowes of Hercules, against the soueraigne and sacred maiestie of Princes, and against the high & ancient dignitie of great and mightie counsellors, yea [Page]euen of such as sit at the helme of gouernment, taking out of the foulest sinkes of hel it self, false, defematorie, periured, & abhominable speeches, thereby to dispos­sesse the worldes minde of the opinion, which theyr constant course in long continued virtue and inte­gritie hath gained them. But in fine they loose theyr labor, and get no more than he that defiled his owne face with spitting into the winde: or the other that kicking against a thorne, made his owne heeles blou­die. For howsoeuer in theyr commonwealth, which they deliniate according to the guiltinesse of theyr owne feeling and gouernment, or their Philopater, which name they giue themselues by a figure called Antiphrasis: But howsoeuer in them or anie other pamphlet they raile or bewraie their owne mallice, they can no whit at all impeach the honour and repu­tation of these noble personages, who like mightie and well grounded rockes, contemning the forcelesse windes that blowe against them, are so surely seated vpon the safe ground of loyaltie to their Prince, and loue to their Countrie, that albeit they please the humor of a few, whom they leade like Buphals by the noses, forbidding them to looke into the light, least they should perceiue their iugling: yet those that haue anie wisdome or discourse of reason, will the more re­uerence, honour, and esteeme them, and admire their happines in hauing deserued so well of the realme, as that therby they shuld procure vnto them the hatred of those that are such deadly & desperate enemies to the state, & safetie of the same. And as for some of thē, no succeeding age can euer bee so vnthankfull, as not for euer to remember their names with an infinitenes of honor.

But in the meane time, iudge with your selues how miserable and enthralled these people must of necessitie be in matter of conscience, The miserable wretchednes & calamitie of the Low-countries vnder y ^e gouern­ment of the Spaniards. whose leaders religion is nought els but ambition, periurie, pollicy, and defamation. But if you will tourne your eyes from thence to their temporall gouerment: surely I do thinke the recitall of their miseries, would rather breed in you admiration then beliefe, so far doth the same exceed the compasse of all their tyrannies that euer were vsed. Count Eg­mont: Count Horne: mar­quis of Bergues: Monsieur de Montigni, Mon­sieur de Strale: The Lord Gis­bert and Thery of Battenburg: Monsieur de Hares, Pierre de Andelot: The Lord Peter and Philip of Alts &c. This was at such time as the yong coūt of Egmond went with a force of Low­cuntri-men into France, where he was slain at y ^e battaileof Yury, leauing in the meantime New­megen besieged by y ^e states, and brought to the greatest misery that might bee. There is no calamaitie in the world, of which these miserable people hath not tas­ted: their countrie being as a stage, vpon which for the space of this twentie yeeres, there hath bene no­thing acted, but bloodie tragedies. Their noble men and rulers in whose vertue & courage consisted their chiefest refuge in times past (when they were wrong­ed and tyrannized) haue bene murthered, strangled, poysoned, and slaine: by the bloodie ministers of their cruell king. They are taxed in greate summes of money, and numbers of their men sent violently into Fraunce and forreine warres; and the reliques of their nobilite, forced to go with them to their appa­rant slaughter, leauing in the meane time theyr owne Countrie in praye to the neighboring ene­my, their villages flaming in fire, and their Townes battered about their eares, with the cannon: Their priuiledges taken from them, their cities that some­times striued in opulence and glory with the goodli­est and greatest of the world, are gouerned by base and barbarous Spaniards, bridled with their garri­zons and Castels, and sackaged and spoiled by them at such time as their paiment faileth. I could at length [Page]recite vnto you the histories and declarations of these seuerall pointes here briefely touched, but that I shoulde trouble you with matter altoge­ther tragicall and delightlesse: and withall, they being so common, apparant, and lately done, that there is scarcelye anie one vnacquainted there­with, at least of such as haue had anie the least de­sire to looke into the estate of forraine matters. In fine, there is no face of iustice in their common­wealth, the same beeing wholy pliable to the will of such strangers as are gouernors of their townes, and Captaines of their Castles. Their common­wealth iustly now resembling the Turkish gouern­ment, The Turkish gouernment. where the peaceable estate obeyes the mili­tar, and where there is no lawes but such as armes prescribe.

Their goodly Hauens beautified sometimes with the concourse of innumerable shippes laden with rich merchandise, from out all partes of the worlde, are nowe vnfrequented euen of fisher­boates. Theyr trafique ceased, theyr townes aban­doned and made desart, of which some are vtter­lye dispeopled, and in most of the rest, of tenne houses searsely three inhabited. Their villages a­broad burned, and ouergrowen with bushes, their goodly meddowes and fruitefull pastures drow­ned many miles wide and long, by letting in of sluces and cutting downe diches. The mansion houses and Castels of their Nobilitie, abated and throwen downe: Some by furye of the Cannon, some by violence of the souldiers, for couetous­nesse [Page]of the Lead, Iron, Glasse, Marble, &c. And some by standing long forsaken and aban­doned of their owners: theyr errable ground ly­ing manye large miles waste and vntilled, inso­much that there a man may haue as much land as hee will, and thankes withall, for the onely manu­ring thereof.

As for the poore labouring people of the Countrie, (whome the Spaniarde neuer calleth but Villanos) for the most parte they are all starued and consumed of hunger, of which disease, (bee­ing according to the saying of the Greeke Poet, of all deathes the most miserable) I haue my selfe knowen twentie thousand to die in one Summer, and God knoweth how many more: namely, the yeere that Marshall Biron laie incamped wyth the French armie at Rozendale, and the Englishmen at Oudenbesech: so that you maye ride an hundred miles without seeing of anie man, woman, or childe, vnlesse it bee some poore sillye soules that come creeping out of the woodes hunger-starued, more like resuscited ghostes, than liuing Christian creatures. And yet all these in a manner happyer, (because they are at an end of theyr miseries) than such as doo liue within the inhabited places of the Countrie, as the lande of Wast, the Kempine, &c. For I take them of all the people in the worlde to bee the most wretched and miserable. Ouer e­uerie village of these are appointed certaine horse men, The miserie of the inhabited places. to whome they are constrayned to paie monethly by contribution, some tenne crownes, [Page]some twentie, some fortie, some more, and some lesse: I knew one that paide an hundred crownes euerie moneth, called Turnolt: but they paide it so long, till all the dwellers ranne awaie, and haue now in a manner lefte it voide of inhabitants. O­uer this village and the whole Country is appoin­ted a Commissarie called Sygonio, Sigonio, chiefe Commissary of y ^t contributions for the distribu­ting and ordering of these contributions, of all ty­rants liuing the most cruel, and of least conscience. Who if they faile, and doo not bring in their mo­nie at the last daie of the moneth, hee sendes forth troupes of horsemen, to take the best of them pri­soners, and withal, to driue home to their quarters or garrisons such sheepe, horses, oxen, or cattell whatsoeuer, as they finde in theyr villages, which hee causeth, if the monie followe not within fiue or six daies at the farthest, to be solde ta the Drum or Trumpet: and withall, forceth them to paie a greate fine, the one halfe of which hee retain­eth to himselfe, and the other he giueth to the soul­diers for their out-roades and forbearance of their monie.

But the miserie of these poore people end­eth not heere. For besides all this, they are for­ced and compelled many times to lodge souldy­ers in their houses, as they march along the Coun­trie vppon seruice, at which time it is scarcelye credible what outrages they receiue. They haue theyr cattell killed, to the vse of theyr vnthanke­full guestes, theyr corne thresht out, and some [Page]carryed awaie, the rest giuen to horses, theyr chestes broken vp, theyr goods, euen to the ve­rie sheetes, and the tykes of theyr beddes, (the feathers beeing tourned out,) stollen and car­ried awaie by the souldiers when they marche; themselues beaten, and besides constrayned to giue money, theyr wiues and daughters abused: and in fine, what else is to the nature of man most grieuous and intollerable, The barbarous crueltie of the Spanish soldier. they are constrayned to indure: yea, insomuch that I haue seene the rude and barbarous souldier cut off the fingers of women to come to their ringes, which otherwyse woulde not come off with such speed as they de­sired.

Neither is the condition of the poore Citi­zen or Townes-man anie better, who beeing constrayned in places of garrison to lodge soul­dyers in theyr houses, imparting to them the best lodgings and commodities of the same, neuer hea­ring from them anie other woorde, especiallye if hee please them not in all theyr exorbitaunt de­maundes, than Perro, Flamenco, Luterano, Bora­chio, &c.

Yet besides all this, hee is daylye wearyed out with continuall exactions and taxations, as of the hundreth pennie, the tenth pennie, and once a yeere without faile, the fifth pennie of valure of all his goods and landes whatsoeuer: besides in­finite other pillages and gatheringes towardes the making of rampires, reuelins, bulwarkes, palisa­dos, countrescargres, casamats, pertayning ey­ther [Page]to the reparation of theyr walles, or the fortification of theyr Townes, and besides to gi­uing of munition, bread, breere, and cheese, to such companies of souldiers shall passe by theyr Townes distressed of victualls, with infinite such lyke. I haue knowen it (I speake it on my faith) poore people of Antwarpe forced to sell theyr beddes they lye vppon, A strange exac­tion of the king of Spaine. to satisfie these yrannous exactions, which if they shoulde not doo, exe­cution of theyr goods, and attachment of theyr persons shoulde followe. But which is most be­yonde reason, whereas within the Townes ma­nye of the houses lye vacant and vnhired, yet the owners of them are taxed according to the value in which they were wont to be rented. In­somuch that in Antwarpe and other Townes, it is a matter verye vsuall for men to disclaime, and quite theyr owne houses, thereby to bee ex­empted of such payment, The Amptmā is a magistrate for the King, whose chief au­thoritie consist­eth in the execu­tion of ciuil cau­ses, after sentēce giuen, which y ^e Dutchmen call Vonnysse Like­wise in matter of confiscation and forfaiture. as otherwise by reason of them they are charged with, and that they doo formally before the magistrate, at which time the Amptman entereth in, and ceazeth them to the kings vse.

But besides, whereas sundrie Gentlemen, and others the inhabitants of these prouinces, hauing certaine annuall rentes issuing and growing out, and charged vppon the Kinges demaines in the Dutchie of Brabant, at least to the yeerely value of tenne thousande poundes, some of which rentes haue beene by themselues bought of the [...] [Page]states generall, some lefte vnto them by theyr parents and predecessours, the King (without all conscience) most vniustly and wrongfully dis­anulling the sayde rentes, hath and doeth with­out all equitie or forme of iustice, take into hys owne handes the sayde demaines, appropriating the vse, commoditie, and reuenue thereof to the maintenance and keeping of his troupes of horse men.

Lykewse, what bondage can be greater than that of theyr Assises, which constrayneth them to paie for theyr wine and beere as much in e­quall portion to the King, as they doo to the Vintner or Brewer, from which the poore beg­ger is not free, but if hee will drinke, hee must paie as much vnto the King, as hee doeth to the victualler. Neyther doe they eate their bread or flesh without yeelding and paying dueties to the King.

Compare nowe (I praie you) heerewith, your estate of gouernment at home, and tell me which of the two you doo thinke to bee most fortunate. Doth her Maiestie deale in this or­der with you, whose gouernment you so much mislyke?

Oh good God, howe can you bee so per­uerse, seeing the greate happynesse and securi­tie wherein shee keepeth and maintaineth you, as not to acknowledge and confesse the same? [Page]Howe gentle are the helpes and subsidies which shee exacteth of you, without the vndooing or hinderance of anie man of whome they are ex­acted? And on the other side, how profusely spendeth shee her owne treasure for the main­tenance of you, your wiues, and children, in qui­etnesse, iustice, and freedome? Oh praie vnto God therefore, that shee may long and prospe­rously liue, for in her consisteth the type of your felicitie.

THE METHOD OF the insuing Discourse.

THE method and manner that I in­tend to vse in this Discourse, shall bee after this sorte. First, I will directe my speeches to the vn­experienced Gen­tlemen, desirous to serue here in Spaine, shewing them in what point of their hope and ex­pectations they doo faile and are deceiued.

Secondly, to our credulous Papistes at home, vpon whose grosenesse and simplicitie, our rebelli­ous traitors heere abroade doo build their chiefest foundations of all their villanies, whom while they entertaine with vaine expectations, in the meane time with spies, Priests, and traitours, which they daily send ouer, they abuse with trecherous practi­ses, to the irrepiable ruine and ouerthrowe of them and theirs. Thirdly, because many of our countrie [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 manner of her Maiesties most gracious and mercifull go­uernment, I haue thought it my dutie somewhat to expresse these few things which haue come to my knowledge, touching the innumerable benefites & blessings with which it hath pleased God to adorn her royall Maiestie, together with the flourishing e­state of that noble soyle, since the time of her Ma­iesties raigne, so flourishing with peace, prosperitie, and abundance in glorie of warres, so renowmed and victorious in artes, so curious and excellent in iustice, euen to the verie enemie, so admirable, and (which surpasseth all the rest) in the free, sweet, and comfortable vse of the true religion: so aboue all o­thers blessed and fortunate, that I haue hearde the verie Spaniardes themselues saie, they feare Iesus Christ is become a protestant. Withal, I make some comparison betweene this and the tyrannicall go­uernment of the Spanish tyrant, his cruell and in­humane vsage of his miserable subiects, theyr abo­lition of their priuiledges, and in fine, the vnspea­kable bondage, slauerie, and desolate despayre in which they liue languishing. A matter though farre vnfit for mee to handle or treate, but worthie of the most graue and experienced men of qualitie and highest degree, yet considering I shall not presume to treate of matters of high state or secrets, but such as euerie good subiect may find and pick out of the heroicall actions of the one, and the tyrannicall in­solence [Page]of the other, both don in the appearance of the world, I hope and so with all lowlynesse most humblie desire her gracious and most benigne Ma­iestie to pardon mee, if I come farre short of that which men fitter for the handling therof could saie or intreat. And so most humbly also make petition, that I may therin be censured according to the loi­all zeale I beare to her most princely Maiestie, and not to the basenesse and simplicity of my stile or the handling thereof.

But to come to my Discourse, to the end that you and the rest of your opinion, may cleerely and plainly discerne those things which hetherto your eyes blinded with the vaile of partialitie, haue not bin able to view: I will begin with the good vsage, honor and aduancement that you and other Gen­tlemen addicted to this seruice are heere to expect, bringing vnto you for example, sundrie braue and worthie Gentlemen, Captaines, and souldiers, that haue taken the lyke course before you, wherby you shal perceiue it is not all gold that glistreth, but that whatsoeuer shew the Spaniard maketh vnto vs, yet in his hart he mortally abhorreth vs, & by all means possible seeketh our destruction, ruine, & subuerti­on, as it euidently appeareth by his vsage of troupes and companies of our nation that haue serued his. For example: at the siege of Antwarpe there came vnto him vnder the conduct of Norris and Cornish, a troup of six thousand, the tallest and best appointed souldiers, that euer I remember to haue seene in all my lyfe, theyr comming beeing the onely cause [Page]that the towne was so soone deliuered vnto him as it was. For whereas the Duke of Aniou laie vnder the walles of Gaunt, with sufficient force and most deliberate resolution to succour the sayd towne of Antwarpe vpon his mutinie, fearing further incon­uenience, he marched awaie with his whole camp, leauing the enemie now battering the towne, who seeing themselues frustrate of their expected hope, presently rendered the same to the Duke of Parma. But how were they recompenced? VVithin one yeere they were l [...] all to [...]am [...]h for hunger, which some of them seeking to releeue, by foreranging out vpon the Countrie, foure and twentie of them were taken and carried to Antwarpe, of whose be­ginning they were the chiefest, and there openlye hanged in the market place. Whereas all other na­tions had libertie to robbe and steale, and do what they list. Another troupe of them of thirtie, bee­ing foorth, and lying in a village neere Poppering in Flanders, a company of Spaniards hearing of them, came into the village where they were, and after friendly and souldierlye salutation of each side, as they were all making merrie together, on a sodayne the Spapiardes tooke them at aduauntage vnar­med, and most trecherously and inhumanely mur­thered them euerie one. Sundrie complaints were made to the Duke by the friendes of those that were thus murthered, and by the Captaines of the Regiment, but there could bee no remedie nor iu­stice obtained. But to make amendes, because they would bee the cleanlier ridde of the residue of this [Page]poore miserable troupe, the campe beeing then be­fore Winockbergen, they made them two little sortes of purpose, in which they willingly placed them in the vtmost quarter of the whole camp, and neerest confining to the towne, to the end they might haue all their throates cut, as in deed they had verie few nightes after. At which time the enemie assaulting them with great furie, and they defending them­selues most manfully aboue the space of an houre, in such sort as the alarum passed through the whole campe, yet they were neuer releeued with any suc­cour at all, insomuch that the greatest part of them beeing slaine in defence, the enemie at last entered and put the residue to the swoord.

To rehearse vnto you the sundrie and seuerall calamities that these poore men, as well Captaines as souldiers endured, during the small time of that theyr vnfortunate seruice, especiallye at Ganskecke, Aske, and Grauer, would seeme (I am sure) vnto you for the vnspeakable straungenesse thereof, scarcely credible, for they neuer receiued all the time of their seruice anie one moneths paie. I haue seene Lieutenants and Ensignes of them go vp and down the campe begging their bread, couered only with olde mantles about their shoulders, and haue my selfe releeued some of them. Shortly after came Pi­got, who brought with him sir Iohn Norris his regi­ment, beeing well neere a thousand, as tall and well appointed men as were in Europe, whose seruice, how meritorious and beneficiall it was vnto the Spaniardes, I leaue to their iudgementes that know [Page]the Countrie. For by rendering of Alost vnto him, they were the occasion that he got Darmounde the Sasse, the fortes of Leiskins hooke, Saint Anthonies, and Saint Margarets, the best part of the land of Wast, & in manner Gaunt it selfe, as the sequel shewed. Not­withstanding all which seruice, they were wythin two yeeres space, what with hunger, the gallowes, & rigorous dealing, consumed and brought to no­thing. And last at Stalbrooke, euen against the yeeld­ing vp of Antwarp, when all other nations were to receiue their count and reckoning, they onely were infamously cashierd without anie one monethes pay. And which of all other is most monstrous and scarse credible, whereas some of the Captaines, not long before had made them of theyr owne purses new and fayre Ensignes, those Ensignes were vio­lently taken awaie from those that bare them, and detained: Which abuse and wrong, though captain Tresham and the other Captaines complained off to the Duke with great protestations, yet they coulde neuer obtaine anie restitution.

Somewhat before this time, when the whole campe was at the siege of Dermound paide two mo­neths, they onely though of all others most trauel­led in the trenches, wading euerie night bosome high to theyr wast, and hauing had more men slaine in that siege than anie other regiment in the whole campe, could not receiue one pennie, notwithstan­ding they had passed in muster with the rest, and some of the Captaines bribed the Commissarie, thinking thereby to make a great hand. But in stead [Page]of money, when they shewed the Duke, they were scornfully by him turned of to the Contadores, of whom they receiued the most base & opprobrious speeches that euer were giuen soldiers, & were in fine reiected without euer receiuing one halfpeny. And lastly, when the Regiment was cast, whereas the pay of a reformed Captaine amongst them, of what Nation soeuer he bee, is fortie crownes, they giue onely to our English captaines fiue and twen­tie a moneth. Not long before it chanced that one of the Captains, whose name was Edward Vincent, was taken in a skirmish by the enemie at Pernence, and set at ransome at a hundred and fiftie poundes, to make which raunsome, his father being then in Flanders, a poore olde man of seuenty yeres of age, fell vpon his knees before the Duke, weeping and imploring his help. But in sted of yeelding him re­leefe, the Duke badde take awaie the olde dronken foole: the griefe whereof strake the old man so to the heart, that he went home and dyed within sixe dayes, and his sonne for lacke of his raunsome was shortly after hanged at Perges. Pigot himselfe being some three yeeres since taken, and Barne, betweene Gaunt and Bruges, were neuer releeued with anie one pennie towardes their charges or raunsomes, Pigot was suffred miserably to end his daies in pri­son, and so had Barne also, but that his wife, by her solicitation, found such fauour among his priuate friends, that she got as much as paide his raunsome, but neuer could obtaine one pennie of the Duke, though shee were an importunate sutor vnto him.

Lastly, came sir W. Standley and R. Yorke rende­ring vnto the King the towne of Deuenter, & fort of Sutphen, the one with a regiment of foote, the other with a company of lances. Let vs see howe the one and the other was vsed. First, sir William Standley was confirmed gouernour of the Towne, hee rendered, and his regiment left there in garri­son, with the receit of two moneths pay. For a while he liued in the greatest applause that might be: Cardinal Allen was written to to send downe Priests to instruct this religious regiment: hee in­formed the Pope thereof, who wrote ioyntly to the king to be good vnto this regiment. VVhich being well and liberally intreated, as they had al­ready at Rhemes and Rome, a Seminary of schollers to pray and write for the catholike cause of our Country, so this conducted by so worthy and ca­tholike a Gentleman as sir William Standley was, might be a continuall nursery, and seminary of souldiours to fight for the same. Downe came Priestes thicke and three fold, from France and Ita­ly, many Masses, and much preaching there was: Gentlemen from all parts drew downe thither, in hope of this good payment, and golden world that thē was talked of. But what folowed? within short space, to weaken then number, three of their com­panies vnder colour of seruice, were cunningly drawen out of the Towne by Verdugo Haaltephen, neuer from that time after being suffred to returne to it againe: & within a while after sir William him selfe with the remnant, was commanded vnder the [Page]lyke colour of seruice, to come foorth, beeing tolde that hee shoulde presently returne into it againe. And by this fine meanes was cased of his gouern­ment, and such goods as he and his souldiers lefte, were spoiled & made bootie of. And sithence that time, his seminary soldiers, with al their religion, were neuer trusted in any towne, nor neuer 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 their chiefest foode and sustenaunce in Turnolt, was vn­poudered acornes, which they founde in cellers. VVhich diet the priests not liking of, came to their Coronell to Antwerpe, who to auoid the lamen­tations and complaints of his souldiers, had gotten him there a lodging, where you should neuer haue foūd his table without a squadron of Priests. Some did wonder, so worthy a souldier could suffer their indignities, which to auoide, some yeeres since hee went into Spaine: partlye to secure vnto himselfe some estate of liuing, of which he now considering this dealing, began to doubt: partly by the inuitati­on of the Iesuites, with which order hee is excee­dingly inchanted, & to thē wholy subiected: who dealt for him in such sort with the Cardinall, that he presently sent Parsons away 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 he 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 Iesuit in Brusels (which is one of those on whom he chiefly relyeth) of great discon­tentmēt, signifieng, that his entertainment was far colder than he expected. VVithin short space after, he was sent downe to the kings nauie, lying at Co­conia where as 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 Captains seeing, espe­cially abhorring the trecherous practises of their 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 their base vsage, stil flouri­shed & bare his head aloft, ranging ouer the whole countrie 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 poisned with him yong Rich­ard Souch, & Robert Fen priest: but he belike hauing swalowed the best Boncon, they only met with the drams, so that he died 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 being withstoode by Yorkes lieu­tenant Edward Boncer, and his brother, they caused their gards at noone dayes to enter in vpon them, and to murther them both in their owne presence: which done, they brake vp his coffers, took out his iewels, plate and mony, of which they found great store, appropriating the same to their townes vse, which he by Testament had giuen to a little youth his nephew, being now at this present in England. Lastly, they chased his whole companie out of the towne, and spoiled their 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 receit of one pennie.

Afterwardes they gaue out and published, that Yorke was poisoned by subornation of the counsel 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 aymed.

If these examples bee not inough to serue the turne, but that perchance you will say, he hath delt better with priuate men. If you can name me but any one that he hath raised or aduanced to honor, or that liueth richly or welthily 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 maintaine him in a meane estate and shew, with a man only or two to serue him. VVhere on the other side I will recken 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, old Norton, Tremaine, Stradling, Henrie Carew, Edward Allen, Southwell, with sundry 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 beseech Pedro de Olane, who then was treasurer, to pay him vpon an assig­nation which hee had, onely fiue pounds, protest­ing that at that present his life might therewith be saued. The Gentleman performed his request with all instance and fidelitie, as he hath oftentimes told me, but coulde not obtaine one pennie. VVhere­vpon [Page]hee mooued the Duke, but nothing woulde come, so that without finding any man that tooke compassion of his distresse, his owne Countrie-men being vnable to helpe him, hee ended his life, though with patience vertuously and well, yet the state of so honorable a gentleman considered, most pittifully, and in great misery.

To recite vnto you the names of those that doe yet liue so poorely and vncomfortably in his pen­sion, would bee too long, and therefore take them all in generall ( Charles Paget onely excepted) and examine them one from an other, from my Lord of Westmerland downeward, euen to the very low­est: and if there bee in the whole worlde a more miserable and discontented troupe of Gentlemen than they are, let me neuer be credited in any thing else that I shall tel you. And because you shal your selfe the beteer iudge, I will tell you what pay­ment they haue, of such pensions as the king hath giuen them.

They had graunted them at Bruges the first day of August, in the yeere one thousand fiue hundred eighty and eight, a generall Liberanca, to receyue three moneths pay a peece of their pensions. Since that time they haue followed the Duke from Towne to Towne, making vnto him sundrie requestes for the payment thereof: but if they haue vntill this present day obtayned the same, then let mee not be credited in any part of the rest which I shall heere entreate of. In deede some small time past, Cosimo beeing wearyed [Page]with their importunities and lamētations, addres­sed thē to Baptista Spinola a baker dwelling at Ant­werp giuing them his Letter, and sending the same by one H. Haslwood, 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 crowns, which Cosimo promised him should be allowed, and paid in the reckoning he had with the king. Haslewood 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 meddle anie more with the king, wishing that he had not medled with him so much. So that they were fain to returne pennilesse, and doo at this instant liue in so poore and pitifull sort, that truly my hart grieueth to see it, insomuch that I knew a Gentleman that solde his part there, being foure and twentie pounds, for three pounds. But perchance you will saie, he giueth great pensi­ons, and entertaineth manie of our Nation: it is true in deede, in shewe hee doth so, and therewith doth bleare the worldes eyes wyth a shew of great liberalitie. But his payment and vsage considered, a (God is my iudge and witnesse) I speake vnfained­ly, I account it a farre happier estate to bee a doore­keeper in that your blessed soile, than to be heere pensioner to the king of Spaine. I leaue the iudge­ment of the truth thereof, to those that haue tryed it: you haue many amongst you, confer with them [Page]and examine them vppon their consciences: as for my part, in good faith I cannot imagin cause why he entertaineth vs, vnles it be to vse vs as stales, to allure others, considering the hatred that he & his beare vs, and so vnder the dissembled colour of a false affection, to ouerthrow vs all at the last.

Thus much I dare boldly say, because through the conference I haue had with them, I doe know assuredly, that euen those of our nation which doe most serue his turne, howsoeuer in outward appa­rance they seem for some particular causes to mag­nifie and extoll his liberalitie, yet in their owne se­cret conceits they do imagin & know nothing in the world to be more reprochfull, base, and con­temptible, than to be an Entertain do in the king of Spaines seruice. As for example: you shall easilie see what account is made of them. At such time as preparation was made at Brussels for the voyage of Englande, when they all expected to bee made knights, coronels, captaines, and conducters of the armie, and to be filled with crownes, they were so farre from those matters with which they flattered themselues, that in stead of being honored and ad­uaunced, they were the onelie reiected and con­temned people that followed the Court, all men beeing releeued with some moneths paie (they onely excepted) and which is more, whereas they mooued the Duke sundry times to know his plea­sure, how hee woulde dispose of them in this iour­ney, telling him besides, that vpon the wel vsage of them depended much matter of importaunce, as [Page]the alluring & drawing to them other gentlemen of their kinsmen and friends, and vpon hope of the like good vsage, honour, and aduancement, woulde bee able to doe great seruice vpon their landing: where contrariwise, in seeing them come ouer so poore in shew, without credit, mony, or armes, lyke lacke is, for so were the words of their request, it would be a cause to terrifie them from vndertaking any such course. They were by the Duke scornefully and with derision reiected, ney­ther did hee vouchsafe to giue them any other an­swere, than onely that hee would thinke vpon it. But on the night that they thought to embarke, he departed, leauing them all behind, not thinking them any way woorthy to be called vppon, or to be taken with him. VVherupon the lord Westmer­land and Paget, and sundry others, layd their heads together, and made their complaint to the duke of Pastrana, by whom they were as basely and scorn­fully handled as by the other, insomuch as a great Spaniard standing by, asked them whether they thought the king of Spaine not puisant enough to winne England, without them and their friends: Vpon which answere the Lord Paget, that verily thought hee shoulde haue beene made one of the priuy Councell, and now finding himselfe to bee had in so small account, conceiued such an inward griefe, that for that time forward hee neuer ioy­ed till his dying day. Sir William Standley also tooke it in such heauy and disdainefull sorte, that he was not called to be counsell of warres, wher­as [Page]hee presumed, and so gaue out, that no man in the army knewe more, or was better able in this voiage than himself, that he sequestred himselfe frō the Country, and came malecontent, and hired an house in Antwerpe, where hee liued a most melan­choly lyfe foure or fiue moneths, and oftentimes would burst out into such impassionate speeches, that the world verily imagined he would haue pro­fessed himselfe into a cloyster.

Besides, the loue the Spaniarde beareth vs, ap­peareth by the speeches hee dayly vseth in publike assemblyes concerning vs. Once seeing certayne English-men passe by, as they stoode a great many of them in a ring, (as they vse) together vppon the bridge in Antwerpe, they sayde, They wondered what the king made with such vermin in his coū ­try, one of them swearing a great oath, that looke how many English-men there were in the Lowe countries, there were so many spies and traitours. Another sayd, it were an almes deede to put them all in sackes, and throw them into the riuer. I could recite a thousand more such speeches, but that they are not worth the remembring. They are so ielous and suspitious of vs, that if any thing proue vnto­wardly in their seruice, they think it straight to be done by our especiall meanes and intelligence. As vpon the taking of Axhil by that braue & wor­thie souldier Sir Philip Sidney, of worthie memo­rie, Mondragon presently imprisoned Paget with­in the Castle, tooke away all things whatsoeuer that hee had woorth anie thing, and the rest [Page]he caused his men to ryfle and steale, saying openly that we all are traitors and spies. To confirme the confidence they haue in vs, tell mee what compa­nies of English they haue trusted within these ten yeares in garison? I am sure you cannot name one. And whereas sundry Gentlemen amongst vs haue instantly sued to haue theyr pensiōs granted them in the castle of Antwerpe or Gaunt, because the pay­ment is there somewhat better, no one hath hi­therto been able to attayne the same: so vile & base is the reckoning they make of vs. I could alledge vnto you many other exampls, of sundry disgraces offered vnto our nation, wherby we myght (if we lust) easly discouer the hatred they beare vs, the sus­pition they haue of vs, and the danger wherein we stand, to haue one day our throates cut. But this I hope, which I haue already rehearsed, shall suffice fully to assure and persuade you, that here is no ad­uancement, wealth, or reputation to be gotten, but pouerty, peril, iealousie, and disgrace.

Now let vs see, touching the point of conscience, and repose in religion, if the fame be to be found here, such as you expect. In matter of religion, I will not take it vpon me to dispute, because it were to digresse from my purpose, and besides, I neuer stu­dyed diuinity: only making comparison between the comfortable freedome of the one, and the dis­payring slauery of the other: laying of the one side Indulgences, pilgrimages, forged relikes, fabulous deuises, and auricular confessions: on the other side, the merites and passion of our Sauiour Iesus [Page]Christ, the Inuocation of his holy Name, and true penitence proceeding from a contrite heart: on the one side mens traditions, and on the other side, the syncere and holy word of our sauiour. In thinke the choyse is not hard to make for him whose heart is not hindered wyth obstinacy and selfe will opini­on. But leauing this, and allowing your religion to be good, lets come to the contentment which you might here receyue in free vsage of the same, toge­ther with the cōseruatiō of such other your coun­try men which here do professe the same religion. First, I thynke you are not ignorant of the broiles, diuisions, seditions, and factions, which are here a­mong them: some they cal 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 Doctour 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 neyther of them, you shoulde bee counted enemy to them both, and so within short space might put vp your pipes, for ye should be sure to be put vp for a spie, or at least so to be crossed in all your matters & pretences, that you would quickly, I warant you, be weary of such entertaynment. On the other side, embracing the one, what enuy, what defamation, what slaunder should you not be subiect vnto? On the other side, what oathes and solemne depositions must you make? Finally, you would thinke there were no [Page]greater purgatory than to liue among these discen­tions, [...]arres, and tumults. These two factions I tell you of, haue sought to ouerthrowe one another [...] credite in the chiefest courts 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 & their re­tinue of fauorites. On the other side the Bishop of Dunglane a Scottish-man, the Lord Paget whi­lest he 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 competitours: each one for the obtayning thereof applyed his friendes to the vttermost, but at length through the instant pursuite of the Iesuites, and of theyr faction, were for euer after mortally hated, all those that had bin waies or fautours to Doctor Lewes, but chiefly and among the rest Thomas Throgmorton, who had bin one of the earnestest in that pursuite. The Iesuites since haue had many a plucke at him, but Morgan beeing wise, strengthened himselfe alwayes wyth such friendes, that they coulde neuer doe him any hurt, but rather secretly hee galled them: the which they seeing, and peceyuing that that was not the way 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 bee assaulted by a young man called Gage, who giuing him on the sodayne a grieuous blowe vppon the [Page]face, presently made haste away, & so for that time escaped, but was afterwardes by my Lorde Pagete meanes and earnest pursuite apprehended. The Iesuites and their part seemed at the first to deny that they had beene the causers of that fact, but the sequele of their proceedings made it most appa­rant vnto the whole world. For when Morgan, my Lord Paget, and diuerse of their parte, laboured very instantly and with often petitions vnto the Duke, to haue the rigour and seuerity of iustice to proceede against him, of whome they had recey­ued this great 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 sundry points of treachery touching the Queene of Scotland. Be­sides, they accused him to haue bene a setter on of Gifford & his assistances, in such practises as he had vndertaken by sir Frances Walsinghams warrant, & to that end sent Chryton, the Scottish Iesuite, to Pa­ris, to take Gyffords examination. And withall, they made some of their adherents to take their oth be­fore their Auditour generall, that in their consci­ence they thought Morgan to be a traitour and a spie: vnto the taking of which oath also, they la­boured earnestly with sundry others, which (they not hauing their consciences so saleable as some of them) had refused and vtterly denyed to doe: yet in the meane time while these thinges were in hand, with their forged accusations they wrought so, that Morgan was apprehended, and clapped [Page]vp in close prison, whereas yet he 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 traitors & spies: and in good faith, in my iudgment, not vn­worthily.

Good sir, take it not in ill part, that I write thus boldly vnto you: for as neere as I can, my endeuor is to let you know, 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 sort,, that they make them in a manner wearie of theyr lyues. 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 for the zeale of re­ligion and aduancement of the Catholike cause: & the seely souls thinke all they say 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 otherwise, then they say 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 mean time, of the seueritye 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 very well knew, that when they first began to set abroach the matter of Babing­ton and his disloyall confederates, that the effecta­tion therof 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 al speed to informe the Kings his master of their intention, & withall, that at a day appoint­ed they might haue some force and assistaunce of men ready to correspond 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 forte, 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 counterfet­ted grauity and holines, that it is hard for any man to eschue their deadly baits, vnlesse he thoroughly do first know their trechery, vnder which they do [Page]colour and shroude them. VVhat hath brought master Shellie into these his extreame troubles and perill of life, if her gracious Maiestie of her great clemency & merciful disposition had not regarded him wyth the eyes of pitty? Likewise what hath brought the late erle of Northumberland into trou­ble and calamity, and finally to that desperate and miserable end, but only these outlandish practises, & their conference with counterfet 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? VVhat 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 security of conscience: and which is more, were it not that that plot cōtriued the death of the Queene of Scotland, by setting her in continuall practise one vpon an other, against the sacred person and royal state of our most grati­ous soueraigne Queene, so that of violent necessi­ty, her Maiesty though vnwilling and with great griefe, at the generall and instant petition of al her Graces most louing and faithfull subiects, whose onely weale and comfort dependeth vppon her long lyfe and prosperity, to satisfie them, and to preserue the state of her noble & florishing realme in quiet, was constrained by cutting off that rank­led and infected part, to yeelde ease, remedy and comfort to the rest of the whole body. I say not this onely of my selfe, though I and all the world else doe knowe it to be very true: but these their [Page]dealings haue made them hatefull and detestable e­uen to those of their own 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 boūds of the worlde. Besides many other such goodly epethites, with which hee beautifies them in their colours, his whole booke being nothing else but railing agaynst 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 their meaning heerein may bee, or what credite, commoditie or gaine might haue allured them to enter into these before sayd, so wicked and detestable imaginations.

For aunsweare 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 doe looke deepelyest and diligentest into theyr actions, doe verilye imagine, and haue bene by sundrie their proceedinges euidently [Page]discouered, amongest which the chiefest is, that as they are of all people liuing the most ambitious, so seeing this beggarly seruice doeth not fit their hu­mour, they doe 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 theyr phrase and manner of speech) to become mightie and great men, and to haue the principal rule, sway dignity, 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 disdaine to haue such mates preferred before thē in race, quality or degree: they haue gon (by all means possible they can) about 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 hitherto, 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 therby [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 way open to the Spanish tyrant, to which end there is no weeke but they receyue 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, encouraging them to take Armes against her MAIESTY, to which end they printed in English many hundred of bookes in Antwerpe, barrelling them vp vntill such time as the Army 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, & 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 posterity also shuld be for euer dis-inherited and disanulled. The like [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 goodnes of God hath but serued to discouer their wicked intentions, and to animate al 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 vnnaturall English-men) to those whō you should obey trecherous and vnfaithfull, and of those that you doe 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, & that gaue you nuriture being yong? VVhat religion must that bee, that animateth you to seeke subuersion of so benigne a princesse and of so glorious an estate? The olde worthie Romans 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 altars, 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 virgins 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 great number of them, Pagans and Moores, from profession of which, they are onely held by the seuere bridle of the sanguinary and most cruell heathen Inquisiti­on.

But that Paganisme of theirs, which in theyr profession they dare not shew, they do in their ty­ranny, blasphemy, sodomy, cruelty, murther, adul­tery, and other abominations sufficiently disco­uer. If the Nunamantines Saquntines, and Nessa­tiagis burned their townes, slew their wiues and children, and families themselues, rather than they would receyue the yoke of worthy and vertuous Nations that inuaded them. VVhat should wee then do, whome our vertuous auncestours haue left 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 posterity after vs a perpetuall seruitude and bondage, and an euerlasting memory of cowar­dise.

But leauing this vntill a fitter time, I hope this that is alreadye sayde shall bee sufficient to make you clearely and plainely vnderstand, that there is not to bee obtayned the sweetnesse, li­berty, and tranquility of conscience which you ex­pect and looke for, but rather, turmoyle and griefe of minde, wyth a perpetuall grudging and remorse of conscience, scandalized wyth infinite and innumerable examples of euill life, impietie, [Page]sodomye, blasphemye, defamation, and periurie. On the other side, towardes her Maiestye 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 cun­try for debt, theeuery, of some other hainous crime or other, thinking it a matter vnpossible (howsoe­uer we disguise the same vnder pretext of religion) that any man beeing in his country 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 doe heere in­dure: And so did a Spanish Captaine in playne tearms signifie to sir William Standley, as they passed in the ordinary boote betweene Antwerp and Brus­sels.

But now to the third point of my Discourse, cō ­cerning the mislike which sundry of you haue of her Maiesties gouernement, and the state of your countrie at this present, to seeke to transporte your selues hether as into a hauen of blisse & security. 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 sundry cōming thence infor­med, this your disliking proceedeth of two points: The one, that your lawes are too rigorously & 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 mightye and puisant an enemye as the Spanish king, whose mighty treasures, many domi­nions, & armies of men they magnifie to the skies, and therefore perchaunce you couet to ioyne be­times, with the partie which you doe thinke most aduantagious for your future security & aduance­ment.

First, touching the persecutions of Catholikes, which our traytours here so much exclaime vpon, filling whole volumes therewith, & aggreuating the same in tearmes most bitter and lamentable to foraine Nations. Let vs see what reason they haue. I would fayne demande one question, If euer they did reade, heare, or knowe of anye one King or Queene, that did with greater mildenesse of lenity 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 crowne, state, and dignity.

Let them looke (if there be men of iudgement) into the ages passed, euen amongst the Heathen, and into the present time among all the Princes of Europe, and if there bee not any to be founde that hath dealt with the like lenity as her Maiesty hath done, why then doe they so falsely slaunder her? Doe they not know that shee is the sacred and an­nointed Queene appoynted by God to gouerne them? If they doe, why doe they not then with all penitencye and humility, loue, honor, and obey [Page]her, and praying to God to conuert her (seeing such is their 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 say, she hath executed many semina­ry priests: I confesse she hath indeede 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 mercifull a sort, that shee hath witnessed sufficiently vnto the worlde, howe loath shee is to come vnto bloud, so long as there is any other remedy in the worlde to bee vsed. For her Maiesty knoweth, her councell knoweth, you and I, and the whole world know­eth, that the comming of these Seminaries, priests, and Iesuites, to reconcile men, as they tearme it, to the obedience of the Roman Church, is direct­ly and obstinately to alienate and diuert theyr mindes from her Maiesty, and to encline them to bee ready to assist any enemy eyther within or without the realme, that shall colour his cause vn­der the pretext of religion. Her Maiesty, I say, and Councell, and all good subiects knowing this, and foreseeing the danger that might thereof insue, forbade by Acte of Parliament these seminaries to enter into her realme, or to vse or exercise anye such seditious doctrine, limiting therwithal a time to such as were within the realme, to depart out of the same. But this sufficed not, these good fellowes thinke no lawes good or to be obeyed, but such as they make themselues.

In they came as fast as before, greate numbers of them were taken & imprisoned, who though her Maiestie deseruedly and with great iustice, (e­specially the daylye misciefe stirred vp within the Realme by their 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 be pardoned, and to bee put out of the Realme, but with expresse commaundement neuer to returne in like sort: in dooing otherwise they should bee sure to finde no fauour. All this would not serue their turnes, but in dispight of her Maiestie and contempt of her lawes, sundrie of them returned, of which some of them being taken, haue receiued the hire of theyr gracelesse disobedience and rebellous attempt.

But that her Maiestie secketh not bloud, as they most falsely gaue out, appeareth by her clemencie vsed to sundrie of them, taken by her souldiers in the Low 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, VVhere is then her rigor you speake of? I hope the king of Spaine keepeth another maner of rule in his Countries, ouer all Spaine, Portugall, Lombardie, Naples, & Ciciliae, whosoeuer speaketh a word, or makes the lest sigh in the world to dislike [Page]his religion there established, or any one poynt or ceremonie thereof, his cruell ministers the Inqui­sitours, cause without remission to be burnt aliue: as for example, There was this last yeere a Citizen in Antwerpe, one Gyles Rat a shoomaker, that go­ing into Spaine about some busines, was apprehen­ded for smiling at the Image of our Lady, 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 knewe 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 wilfull heretikes. I would faine knowe how hee would doe 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 Spaniards, and throwne into the riuer.

This is indeede Tyrannie, and not that which her Maiestie doth, who is alwaies readie to receiue into grace and fauour those of whome shee hath a­ny 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, especially 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 vn­known far better. If you did but once see the tyra­nous vsage & explication what is vsed in matter of religiō to the poore people vnder the Spanish go­uernment in this Countrie, I doubt 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, Monks and priests doe keepe their minde subiected. It is not sufficient that they hold their mindes in a per­petuall despaire, pronouncing vppon euerie friuo­lous point damnation vnto them: but withal, they compell them perforce to offerings, 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 euery of these demaunds, is presently 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 be 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 sick, 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 should gaine, as beeing for euer to bee remembred in their masses, as one of theyr bene­factors: the Iesuits and Cordelleres are at this pre­sent in processe of 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, & alwaies stirring among the flocke, and to doe 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 replye, that theyr profession is meekenesse, innocencie, and po­uertie, and to doe 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 against them in the publike schooles of Louaine: yet notwithstanding how e­uer the cry goeth against them, they holde theyr owne. But this by the way, seeing it comes so wel to our purpose, I cannot chuse but tell you a prety ieast which happened this last Summer in these partes.

A Marchant of Antwerpe, whose name was Hamiel, being 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 certainty of the worlde to come: wyth sundry 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 any other order whatsoeuer: they brought the poore man, being of himselfe simple, into their so­ciety, thinking that there was no other way to bee saued, and withall before hand infeoffed their col­lege with his land, which was two hūdred 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 suite, a­gaynst which, though they opposed themselues with all vehemencie, yet to theyr great shame and [Page]reprehension, sentence was giuen agaynst them. Notwithstanding they would not give 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 wealthy Merchaunt of Antwerp, but one in that point whose deuotion & scrupulocity ouer-went his wisdome, comming to them in confession, and telling them of some vn­iust gaine with which he felt his conscience touch­ed, they suddenly with sundry terrifiyng speeches, tolde him that hee was in the state of damnation, out of which he could not bee delyuered, vntyll such time as hee had made restitution as well of that confessed, as of all other mony and goods that hee had by vsury vnlawfully gotten, laying before him, Quod none dimittitur peccatum nisi restituatur oblatum: with sundry other such sentēces, 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 sane might bee done without his vndoing, dyscredite, or shame. VVhereupon to comfort him agayne, but in deede fearing least that if they dealt too rigorously with him they should get nothing, they tolde him, that if in steade of all such interest and iniuryes, with which hee felt 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 imploied upon 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. VVhereupon the Marchant beeing well satisfi­ed in conscience, gaue them the monie, and they him their absolution.

But I will hold you no longer with the recitall of these things, of which if I would entreate, their impiety would yeelde me too much matter. My principall meaning and intention onely beeing to let you see, that vnder heauen there is no state so wickedly, impiously, & deuouringly gouerned in matter of religion and conscience, as these here vn­der the Spaniard. I thinke the recital of their mise­ries would rather breede in you admiration than beleefe, so far doth the same exceede the compasse of al their tyrannies that euer were vsed, there be­ing no calamity in the world of which they haue not tasted of. Their noblemen & rulers, in whose vertue and courage consisted their chiefest refuge in times past, when they were wronged & tyran­nixed, haue beene murdered, strangled, poisoned, and slayne by the bloudy ministers of their cruell king: they are taxed in great summes, and numbers of men sent violently into France & forrein wars, [Page]and the relikes of their nobility forced to go with thē in person, to their apparant slaughter, leauing in the meane time their countries in pray to the e­nemy, their villages flaming in fire, & their towns battered about their eares wyth the canon, their priuiledges are by wrong and tyranny taken from them, their cities that sometimes striued with op­pulency and glorie with the goodliest and greatest of the world, are gouerned by base and barbarous Spaniardes, brideled with their garrisons and ca­stels, and forraged & spoyled by them, at such time as their payment faileth. No face of iustice in their common-wealth, but the same is pliable to the wil of such strangers as are gouernors of their towns, & captains of their castles, their goodly hauens, harboring sometimes with innumerable ships la­den with marchandise from all parts of the world, are now frequented euen of the fisher-boates, their trafficke ceased, and their townes almost desarte: in the most of which, of tenne houses together, there are scarse three inhabited, their villages a­broade burned and ouergrowen with bushes, their goodly meddowes and fruitfull pastures drow­ned many miles wide and long, by letting in of sluces, and cutting downe ditches. The mansion houses and castels of their Nobilitie abused and throwen downe, the errable ground waste and vntilled, insomuch that there a man may haue as much land as hee will, and thankes withall, for the onely manuring thereof. As for the poore labou­ring people of the country, for the most part they [Page]are all starued and cōsumed with hunger, of which disease, I my selfe haue knowne 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 bee some poore sillie soule that commeth creeping out of the woodes hunger starued, more like 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 doe liue within the inhabi­ted places of the countrie, as Cempine and the land of VVast: and these of all the people in the world I take to be the most wretchedst. Ouer euery village of these are appoynted certaine horsmen, to whom they are all to pay monethly contribution, some ten pounds, some twentie, and some thirtie, some more and some lesse, I knew one village that paide an hundred poundes euery moneth, called Tur­nolt: but they payde it so long, till all the dwellers ranne away, and haue now in a manner left it void of inhabitauntes. Ouer this village and the whole Countrie is appoynted a Commissarie called Sygo­nio, for the payment of theyr contributions, of all tyrants liuing the most cruellest, and of least con­science. VVho if they faile, and doe not bring in theyr money at the last day of the moneth, hee sendes forth 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 withal, forceth them to pay a great fine, the one halfe of which hee retay­neth to himselfe, and the other to the souldiers, for their out-roads and forbearance of the money. 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 receyue, their cattell kil­led, their corne threshed out and giuen to horse, their chests broken vp, their goods euē to the verie sheetes and tikes of beds, stollen and carried away 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 towns-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 worde, especially if they please not them in all their exhorbitant demand,, than Perhamengo, Lutherano, Borchio, &c. Yet, besides, they are daylye wearied out with continuall exactions and taxati­ons, as the hundred pennie, the tenth pennie, and once a yeere without faile, the fiftly 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 their wals, and to giuing of mu­nition, bread, beere, and cheese, to such souldiers as shall passe by their townes distressed of victualles, with infinit such like. I haue knowen (I speak it of my faith) poore people of Antwerpe forced to sell their beddes they lie vppon, to satisfie their tyran­nous exactions, which if they should not doe, exe­cution of their goods, attachment of their persons, shoulde presently 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 Antwerpe & other townes, it is a matter ve­rie vsual for men to disclaime, and quit their owne houses, thereby to be exempted of such paiment as otherwise by reason of thē they are charged with, & that they do iurisdicially before the magistrate, at which time the Ainan entereth in, and 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 yeerely 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 vniustly and by tyrannie disanul­ling the said rents, hath, & doth, without forme of iustice, take into his owne hands the said demains, appropriating the vse, commoditie, and reuenue [Page]thereof to the maintenance of the troupes of horse men. But what shall I trouble you any longer with recounting vnto you the assise, impositions, taxes, extortions, pillages, and heauie intollerable bur­thens laid vpon this afflicted poor people, by their vniust and cruell king. Compare now (I pray you) heerewith, your estate of gouernment at home, and tell me 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 any man of whom they are exacted? And on the other side, how profusely spendeth shee her owne treasure for the maintenance of your wiues, and children, and parents, in repose iustice and securitie. Oh pray to God for her long life and prosperous estate, for in her consisteth the tipe of your felicitie!

But nowe to the other point of your mislike. VVhereas the aduersarie hath beaten into your heads, that the state standes daungerous, as beeing farre too feeble and not sufficient to withstand and resist so mightie and opposite an enemie as is the king of Spaine, terrifying with millions of gold & innumerable nations ouer whome hee commaun­deth, I hope by the cleer and euident reasons I shal shew you, to make you vnderstand that the fame of him is farre greater than his force, and that there is [Page]no prince this day in the world whose estate stan­deth more tickle and ready to ruine than his, and that there is no cause why we should fear him, but many why he should feare vs. First, that hee is the most mighty and oppulent prince of Europe, I do not deny, 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 hand of God which hangeth ouer his head for his horrible, tyrannies and odious offen­ces, especially for his wicked pariacide and mur­ther committed vppon the person of his wife, his sonne, and sundry others of his best and truest sub­iects: that he is in the midst 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 subiects, and tyrannize ouer them. Of this his indigency & beggery, wee see euery day experience here before our eyes, his owne natural subiects, the Spaniards, being the best disciplined souldiers he hath, and of whom he maketh greatest account, are forced for want of their paimēt, which is now three yeres be­hind, to cease his towns and artillary, 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 Spain, yet in seuen moneths there could no monie be found. [Page]Notwithstanding many & most important detri­ments, he receyued by occasion of this mutiny, as the losse of Breda, the retardaunce of the French succours, the danger of Numigen, &c. whereas the whole summe they demaunded was not much a­boue fifteen thousand. Besides, do but looke into the maner of his proceedings in these lowe coun­tries with his souldiers, (of which because I haue best experience I will chiefly speake) and you shall find nothing in the world more beggarly 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, & best experien­ced troupes, and in fine, those vnto whom he chief­liest reposeth, as the onely vpholders and maintai­nance of him in his tyranny. Yet was there neuer in the world, I dare vndertake, King nor Prince, how bankerout, or needy soeuer, in whose seruice so many braue souldiers haue died of hunger, or that haue vsed such coosning trickes and snifts to stoppe necessities, and to deceiue his souldies as he hath done.

First, the countrey not being yet fully consu­med, wasted, and destroyed, he authorized his sol­diers to spoyle and steale the goodes 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 with out one months pay. But afterward [Page] Antwerpe, being rendered, & 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 any Ensigne. The Spaniards mutined vpon the Staun­da, whome they found meanes to appease wyth some few months paiment. The VVallounds mu­tined in Laiskine, Houlke, and the land of the Wast, the Almaines went by hundreds begging vp and downe the streets of Antwerp bare legged, and bare footed, or in manner naked, the Italians starued in their quarters, and diuers of them being in garison in Breda, ran thence to Huisden, and to other towns of the enemy. To remedy all which inconuenien­ces, he found meanes to deale with the Italian Ba­kers of Antwarp for cloth and silke, as Northerne kersies, packe-clothes, baies, refuse Italian silkes, ta­king vp the same vpon excessiue interest yerely to a certayne summe: for receit of which, and deliue­ry out agayne, hee appoynted a Spaniard, one Chri­stopher Craesa, a man of most wicked conscience, to be his treasurer. Then he began to grant payments to the whole campe, horse and foote, & vnto such gentlemen and pensioners as were in great extre­mity, & had bin long sutors: which they hauing receiued, were forced for want of mony presently to make sale thereof for the third of that value in which they receiued it: so that a souldier hauyng foureteene shillings a moneths pay, receiued onely [Page]foure shillings and sixe pence. And he hath his fac­tors and brokers 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 still forth deliuering and buying the same againe for the third part 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 any contentment at all. And sometimes hee neuer troubleth himselfe with the deliuery of the cloth, but causeth their assignatiō to be boght, as now at this instant sir William Standly before his departure had obtained a Liberanca for two mo­neths for his regiment, amounting to an hundred and fifty pounds, the payment thereof, hath beene deferred till this present, and is now solde in Ant­werpe to one of his factors for three score poundes, and yet hee that solde it made a good bargaine. I haue knowen diuers that haue solde diuers such Liberancas for thirty pounds, and eight and twen­ty pounds in the hundred. Yet this payment how bad soeuer, hath somewhat contented the souldi­ers foure or fiue yeeres, rather hauing that than no­thing. But now also the same is dryed vp and come to nothing. Payments haue beene this halfe yeere very scarse, and with much difficulty, for the mar­chants haue at this instant vtterly refused to furnish him with any more wates, both because the same wherein he standeth already indebted vnto them [Page]amounteth to an excessiue matter, as also he begin­neth to wrangle with them, aboute the interest of which he 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 chiefest & best respected marchāt of Antwerpe, 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 Antwerpe, the passage of the riuer shut vp, and the countries and townes afflicted with great dearth & scarcity of corn, at which time rie was at 44. s. ster­ling the virendel in Antwerpe, & withal being dai­ly cried vpon by the generall of Vibres for muniti­on & corn 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 corn, 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 enimies, 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 thankes & 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 away vpon the coast of Scotlande, the other two came safelie home to Callice, but at that time such was either the il luck of him, or the good lucke of the countrey, 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 he 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 some sort, that he was faine to throw the greatest part away, without euer to this day bee­ing able to receyue of the king one penny 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 any 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 imploy their indeuours in his seruice. Of which if you doe [Page]desire to haue better experience, looke but into the office of his treasurer at Brussels, and there you shall 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 their Countries, some pretending one cause and some another, but no one man able in two yeres folowing to get one pennie: so that there is no yeere but a great num­ber of them die in the pursuite for hunger, yea, and some of them euen at his gates. Of my saluation I speake it, I haue knowen some poore people, that for the summe of sixe poundes haue followed him three yeeres: when eyther hee goeth out, or com­meth into his house, hee is faine to go thorough gardens and by-wayes, to deceyue his poore su­tors, who otherwise assayed him, though in vaine, with such ruthfull cryes, that it would pearse anie mans heart to heare them. VVhich beggerlinesse, 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 cry [Page]quittance with him, and by Gods grace shall one day haue meanes to accomplish their desire. Then sir Martine Skinke, of whose iust discontentment and valerous reuenge, you your selues in England are witnes. VVhere are then the moūtains of trea­sure that the mightie king possesseth? Or if yee say he spareth them to some other end, I pray you tell me to what, & 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 farte 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 onely 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 will 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 great, 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 impaired also, since such time as sir Fraunces Drake and other of your worthy English captaines by sea, haue begunne to firke him in those. For [Page]whereas before hee was wont vsually to waite his Indian fleete home-warde with a Gallyasse or two, onely their returne accustomed to be euery sixe moneths, hee is nowe forced to maintayne a great and mighty Nauy 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 be, and yet they are sometimes met withall, some of them scattered, some sunke, and some of them also taken by our Englishe shippes.

If you will knowe what these his great charges are, on which hee is enforced to employ them. First, consider that he scarcely holdeth any coun­trey in which hee is not constrained to holde gar­risons of souldiers. As for these lowe Countries, I knowe it vppon good and assured grounds, there hath beene no yeere these twenty yeeres, but they haue cost him one with another two millions and more yeerely aboue the reuenue and other com­modities receyued thereout, and yet howe beg­garly his souldiers are vsed, you haue heard be­fore.

The rest, for Naples, Cicilia, Portugall maiorque, minorque, the frontires of Arragon and Nauarre, and Lombardie: hee is faine to be at the charge of many strong and mighty garrisons by lande, and in the most of them maine Gallyes or other shipping in the Hauens, and all along the Sea­coasts, [Page]none of which he can for his life diminish, for his gouernment is so hateful, that none of these prouinces are his any longer than hee hath their heades in the bridle. And besides, his prouinces stand so seuered and disunited, that the transport­ing of his nauie from one to an other 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 land, but standeth them in fiue rialles, so infinite is the charge of carriages, conuoyes and commissaries, to deliuer and receiue the same.

Besides all this, he disburseth yeerely mighty summes of mony to the Persian, to the end to keep the Turke occupyed, of whom he standeth migh­tily in feare: and truely he hath reason, if her Maie­sty would condescend to such conditions as haue beene by this Turke to her proposed. But shee like a christian Princesse, how greatly soeuer to her ad­uantage the same might be, will not do any thing whereby christianity might hereafter seerne to re­ceiue any detriment.

As for Polonia, the same hath beene incredible chargeable vnto him, aswell for the mighty bribes bestowed vpon the nobles of the country, as also the charges of a great army of Rewtiers: he sent his kinsman Maximilian of Austria, what by force and what by help of the part which he had gained, and 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 Cardi­nals in pension and fee, thereby to gain theyr voi­ces when need requireth, which liberalitie of his he cannot by anie meanes withdrawe, for in so doing, he should be assured to haue them his enemies, and contrarie to his proceedings.

Lastly, for conclusion, hee maketh at this instant open warres with France, England, and the Lowe counties. What deeme you then heereof? 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 Por­tugal Indians onely excepted) in place of which he quietly inioyed these his Lowe countries, which in respect of theyr 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 Cardinall Wolsey, and others of the councell, 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 abraccianes 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 aswell as other, and I herein of all other men know him to be most needie & wanting. For as for Spaine, Na­ples, and Lombardie, of which his onely 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 theyr maner is, to get together six thousand men, and those all shepheardes, hedgebreakers, and such idle trewantly rogues, the most part of which hee is forced to put in garrison for a yeere or two to fashion them, before hee send them to seruice. I saw about two yeeres agone a fresh leuie that came out of Pastrauia, who put them presently in the ca­stle of Antwarpe, 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 would beat ten of them.

As for Germanie, out of the which heeretofore hee hath drawen greate numbers, and by theyr help 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 terrfied the rest at home, that no prince in Europe hath lesse credite to raise men there than hee. And although there were no such matter, yet they are no waie more bound vnto him than to an other, theyr profession beeing to serue onely him best that will pay them best, and yet if hee shoulde [Page]raise anie of the allyaunces 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 hee 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 beholding vnto them than he. For not­withstanding all his assistance, they woulde neuer yeeld to receiue his forces into their townes or for­tresses, seruing only their turnes on him for the pre­sent time.

As for the Pope and the Princes of Italy, what fayre weather so euer they do beare him, he neither trusteth them, nor they him, and great reason they haue so to do. And wythall, this malediction hang­eth vppon him, that as hee is of all forraine Nati­ons distrusted, doubted, and abhorred, so both hee and the very name of a Spaniard is most loathsome and hatefull to the rest of his owne subiects. 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 their cloakes, out into 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 ty­rannie, and the hatred they beare him?

But now come to her MAIESTIE, & you shall 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 readie to assist, aid, & succor one another in all such occasions as shall or may happen. All 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 small 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 race 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 countrie to receiue. Read besides the valorous conquests atchieued by Iohn Duke of Lancaster, brother vnto the sayde prince, in Callicia, 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 sayde king of Castilo.

But what neede 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 lande, 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 yeres 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, mee 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 wee may receiue singular comfort, as that which of all other most deepely 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 beeter.

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

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 owne 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 exceedingly 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, gentility, and commons, and innume­rable troups of sutors, into whose hearts she hath so insinuated her selfe, that they doo beare an exceed­ing loue and reuerence towards her, many mightie men haue bin offered her in marriage, as the Empe­rour Rodolph, the king of Scotland, and diuers other, but she vntil she see what wil become of her father, whome she seeth olde, oppressed with infinit cares, and not likely long to liue, vppon whose death, her actions and manner of life doth assuredly shew, that shee is not of mettall sufficient to giue place to the young idiother brother, but at least she 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 eies, she feedeth her mind with high and ambi­tious desyres, 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 hee presently caused to keepe his court a part, send­ing him sundrie of his councell, and commanding the nobilitie to bee attendant on him, acquainting him, as much as in them lyeth, with managing of matters of waight, estate, and gouernment. Besides, it is heere bruited for certaine amongest vs, that the president of Artois Richardol, whō the Duke of Par­ma had sent into Spaine, to make his excuses and iu­stifications agaynst 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, thereby 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 vppon the Duke of Sauoy, with absolute promise & solemn vow betweene him and her, to leaue her a kingdom for her dowrie. She is a princesse in ambition and high desire nothing ynequall to her sister, but in wit & courage far her inferior, she & her husband both alreadie take vpon them in their manner, stile, and [Page]vsage, a state and title far beyond their dignity, con­uenient onely vnto kings. 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 theyr 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 Vrbine, 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, and reputation. But aboue al, 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 deepe in his stomacke, Ma­net alta monte repostum, and wee doubt 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 dutiful zeale and loue I beare to the state of my Countrie, as to all faithfull members thereof, in participating vnto them such things as by painful 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 mee, though I doubt not but the same shall bee by some malitiously censured, and my selfe subiect to abide the brunt of their mallice, beeing 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 and infamous pamphlets, princes, noblemen, & 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 be 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] [...] [Page] [...] [Page]and assayres 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 anie dan­gers in forain parts, I haue thought good therein to let you vnderstand, that albeit I must confesse, that I haue in those things 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, attayne 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 anie wise counteruaile, were they such as might answere your 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 bin 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 councel, of the loosenes of ma­ny of her subiects, and small respect they had to her Highnes & country, & as litle to their owne safety, his Maiestie hath caused to be published & set forth diuerse lawes, ordinances, proclamations, and inhi­bitions, whereby all her subiects, (except knowen marchants and straungers) are straightly forbidden to passe the seas into anie forraine parts without e­speciall lisence of her Maiestie at this time. There­fore if you or anie other her Graces subiectes, 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 laws and iustice, & to be holden guiltie of cases capitall, especially such as shall serue vnder so open and professed an enemie to the crowne and state.

Further, I praie 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 imploied 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 bee most inward with him, & who for his sake haue made shipwracke not only of their ho­nor and credit, but also of their loialtie, duetie, & al­legeance to her Maiestie and their natiue country. Examples whereof are infinite, & partly touched in my Discourse before set downe.

Besides, ther is of late crept into that nation a vipe­rous brood of Iesuits & 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 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.