The Answer.

THree or fower times I laid aside my pen, at such time (Sen̄or Gamarra) as I purposed to answer your blurs: for I thought it a matter very improper to answer to a thing so devoid of rea­son and truth, and that, that was suffi­cient, which time it selfe hath long since answered. But seeing your estate deserves no lesse, I could not excuse my selfe: but first re­ceive from me this counsell for another time; and is, that you shew not your selfe so very a marchant; for if it be law­full for a marchant to lie in his prises, yet is it not, to lie in his writings; and you would be so wholy a marchant, that you have plaied bankrout with truth. It seemeth unto me, that you being a marchant of cloth, will become a mar­chant of wines; and proclaiming wine, you sell vineger, gi­ving very cheape, that which hath cost you so deere: and you sell victorie, being no victor; and you promisé palme, yours being the nettle. You say in your letter, that the Spa­nish Armada woon 46. ships, 20. soonke, and 26. taken, and that this was in Luxaten a port in Scotland. You take an ill course for a Chronicler; for the English Navie was not at also far as Scotland, neither did my Lord high Admiral break the order which he had of hir Majestie, which was, not to [Page 12] leave hir owne ports ungarded: and in this you may know the humilitie of the Queenes Majestie, in that she would not put hir selfe so much to offend, as to defend hir owne; and therefore that befel hir, which Saint Iames mentioneth in his fourth chapter; God resisteth the proud, and giveth his Iam. 4. grace to the humble: and so as God saw the humilitie of his servant Elizabeth, he raised hir up, and gave hir the victorie over hir enimies. The pride of a Pharao in Egypt, God con­founded Exod. 14. by the waters of the red sea, as in Exodus. And the pride of your hautie Armada hath he cōfounded in the O­cean sea. God is he that taketh in hand the cause of his ser­vants. This then being true, you have small reason to say, that you soonke and tooke so many ships. Though when the Egyptians were drowned, there escaped none to carrie newes therof unto Egypt; there are some gone from hence, which have carried the newes of the rest unto Spaine, wher­by yours will be thought of small moment. I purpose not heere to give you a particular account of the ships, which the English Armada tooke and soonke, nor of those which have perished in Ireland, neither the number of prisoners and slaine; bicause it is the doings of the Lord & his works, and from him commeth all goodnes, on whose divine Ma­jestie this whole kingdome hath put and laid his trust, and to him alone do they give the glorie of this victorie, singing to him Psalmes and Hymnes, as they did in the citie of Be­thulia, after the beheading of Holofernes. So, to conclude, Judith 16. neither went the English Armada into Scotland, neither brake they the order of their roial Soveraigne the Queenes Majestie, rather they visited their owne ports, gathering (as it were) under their wings their scattering chickens. This (friend Iohn Gamarra) is true, and sith you knew it not at the beginning, when first you became an Historiographer, meddle not hence forward any more in that office (for it is for you a matter too high) that it befall you not, as unto Icarus, and Phaeton, and occupie your selfe in waight and measures, Burse affaires, and Cash bookes; and if you be wearie of this, then were it best for you to become a crier of figs about the streets; or a cobler, or matmaker, for this [Page 13] shall be easier for you, than to becom a Chronicler. A Chro­nicler ought to consider what he saith, and of whom, to write the certaintie, and to follow the truest authors, and of most credit: You (Sen̄or Gamarra) observe none of all these. If thou didst consider the valor of the Queenes Ma­jestie, hir courage and greatnes; thou wouldest not dare to publish such falshoods. And knowe that it is such and so much, that, for not being able to utter it, I thinke it better to keepe it silent, than to come short therein: for that I should need for such a purpose, not one Angelicall toong, but a thousand. To compare hir with Hester for humilitie; in compassion to an Abigail; in prudencie and valor to a Debora; and in courage to a Iudith. Notwithstanding, of that little light, which I have gotten of hir valor, I will make you partaker, and so accept of these poore verses, made with a greater love and good will, than with knowledge or art. Praieng you (that sith you are resident in Andwerpe in the affaires of the Malvendas) that you write no more such fained letters, using for excuse, to date them from Roan.

The Answer.

WE would have highly esteemed you (Sen̄or Pedro de Alva) and I would say the dog had not bitten you, had you contented your selfe with the first words of your letter, (where you said, I write no newes of the Spa­nish Armada, for that they be varieng, and I desirous to write nothing but truth) without passing any farther, that it might not have bin seen, how ful of blots you have your understanding, you say that you are a friend to soundnes and truth, and an enimie to varietie, and immediately you shew proofes to the contrary, written with your hand and firmed with your name. Such a thing is called in good Spanish a pressed follie; pardon me heere­in bicause the love I beare you and the respect due to your graie haires, urgeth me to speake so plainelie. And [Page 15] though my wordes scald you, yet I passe not, for if you remember the saieng of Salomon, Better are the wounds of Prov. 27. him that loveth thee, then the false kisses of him that abhorreth thee: You would not take in ill part my maner of speech. But for that I know you to be sound and a friend of truth, I will briefely informe you of the certaintie, and such as is devoid of doubt. For though time hath sufficiently shewed thee the contrarie, of that whereunto thou firmedst, accor­ding as you are massie, sound, and waightie, it shall be well to recount it you, yea and with hammer and naile to beate it into your head. The truth then is, that assoone as it was knowne in this kingdome of the comming of the Spanish Armada, the noble Lord Charles Howard, (Lord high Admi­rall,) went foorth with his navie, who reparted the saide into sundry squadrons (according as time and place affor­ded) at times making two squadrons, and then three, and more or lesse, as was fittest for the purpose, to fight and de­fend themselves, without cumbring one another: In this order they went defending their ports, wherein they not onely observed hir Majesties order, but there was also seen the valor in fight, of the L. high Admirall, who is a man not onely sufficient to rule and governe such a Navie as this of England is, but if all the Christian princes of the worlde should joine, & make by a loving union, an Armada against the Infidels, they might well trust and commit the same to his Honors government, and I doubt that there shall be any found more woorthy. For though it be true that there are some to be found in Christendome most fit for such a charge, yet none so much nor repleat with so many ver­tues; for what is reparted amongst others, is wholie in him. You have in the world soldiers ripe in giving counsell, others to fight and others to governe, &c. But manie of these are gamestars, backbiters, blasphemers, & ill Christi­ans. But in the Lord Admirall, is the feare of God, Christi­anitie, science, government, knowledge, practise, policie, justice, forecast, agilitie, assaulting, perseverance, courage, chollor, patience and suffering, with many other graces. These are things not found in all men. So that then, the [Page 16] English Armada to be governed as is said, was by the order of hir Majestie, and the performance and industrie of this Lord. Observing this order, the Duke of Medina durst not assault thē, dreading the hurt which might ensue: notwith­stāding his Armada was more puissant, greater ships, stron­ger, and more in number & men, though (I beleeve) not in Artillery. The Spanish Armada thē entred the mouth of the chanel, and the English followed by little & little, and tarri­eng the oportunity to worke the effect: and what befell af­terwards, I wil not detaine my selfe in recounting it, aske it of Don Pedro de Valdes (when you see him there) who lost his ship with 400. men, yeelding to Sir Francis Drake, having so fewe men that for the honor of the Spanish nation, I name not the nūber. You may also informe your self of Don Diego Piementel, which was lost with 500. men: and of Don Francis­oode Toledo, which was lost with so many more within the sight of Newport, though it be true that he saved himselfe with thirtie soldiers, in the skiffe, the ship and the rest peri­shing, where none would succour thē: if this suffice not, thē enquire of Don Ieorge Manrique veedor general, who fled out of the Galliasse, which was lost before Callis, a place not far from Roane. I shew you not particularly the matters of Ireland, for it would be long, and greevous to your hea­ring. The losse of the ship called La Rata, and the Ve­nician, and the ship Santa Maria, and many other, and so likewise it will be yerksome for you to heare of so many no­blemen which there are perished: Don Antonio Manrique, Don Beltran de Salto, Don Garcia Davila, Don Gaspar his Bro­ther, Don Alonso Luson, Don Rodrigo Laso de la Vega, of the habite of Saint Iames, and innumerable other, gentlemen and souldiers, some slaine by the Irish, others drowned in the sea. This storie being so lamentable, I proceede no farther therein, but I pray you that this may be a warning for another time, and let that which is said serve you for a rod. And verily if thou knewest who the Admirall is, (un­der whose governmēt the English Navie resteth) I beleeve; that though he had beene taken or lost, that thou wouldst skant credite it, and consequently, not write as thou didst. [Page 17] And know that he is the Lord Howard, Knight of the order of the Garter, and to the end it slip not out of thy memo­rie, I send thee heere this Sonet, lay it up in thy breast, not for that which the Sonet containeth, nor for the arts sake, but for that with a sound intent I present thee therin, some part (though the least) of the valor of this excellent Gentle­man, the Lord high Admirall.

The Answer.

I Would never have thought (Sen̄or Diego Perez) that so wittingly, a man of your account, and Postmaster of Logron̄o, shoulde settle himselfe so lightly to write matters so voide of reason. But I marvell not; for that your post horses are such yerkers, whose plungings have set you quite besides the saddell. In the examining of Notaries, intreating of the manner how to examine them, it is recorded, that one being demanded by the exa­minars, how he would make a false writing, that yet should be available, he answered; By bringing for witnes the dead, and those of strange countries and unknowen: of such an occasion, me thinks you would advantage your selfe: but let us see master Post, how you shamed not to bring for wit­nes of such a falshood, the Governor of Roan, which is not a man of such lightnes, as you paint him to be, sith you lade him with such a lie; for he is rather a man of a verie ripe understanding, a sharpe wit, considerat, and very warie; and finally, accompanied with many perfections; and so you have overseene your selfe, in bringing such a witnes for the making your false writing good; for though he be of a strange countrie, yet he is well knowen, and his vertues, e­very where. I can tell thee one thing, that when the English Armada should have been lost, and the Governor of Roan certainly advised thereof, yet would he doubt, and never have written it; for that it would be hard for him either to write or beleeve it, not so much, in regard that the English [Page 19] Navie should simply be invincible, or more strong than the Spanish, but for that it belongs to a Catholike Queene, and so justly imploied; as, in the defence of Christian religion, their houses, people and subjects, and in defence of the goods of the poore, the lives of the afflicted pilgrims and disinherited strangers. If in many places of the sacred scrip­ture, God commandeth a regard to be had of the widowe, the poore, the pupill, of the orphan and stranger: and if this English Armada, was in defence of all these, and for the propagation of the Christian religion, matters, wherof the Governor of Roan was not ignorant, how then would you have him to write you a thing, which in his opinion is con­trarie to the will of God. You alledge a notable reason to confirme the losse of the English Armada, as to say that Francis Drake is prisoner: I grieve not a little, to see now, how apparantly Spaine is given to lie. For, what Iulius Caesar, what Scipio, or what Alexander, assaulted the Admirall (under whom Drake was) to take him, but a Duke, that knew no better than to flie him, thereby to bereave him of a woon­derfull victorie, yea one of the greatest that had ever beene atchieved in the world, and if thou knowest it not, it is good that thou know, that now Iulius Caesar liveth not, Pompeie is dead, Scipio forgotten, Alexander banished, Iudas Machabeus sleepeth, Hector is slaine, Achilles is no more. Nor none of those whose theaters fame so adorned, live now in remem­brance of this present age: and the reason is; for as the stars shine not by reason of the force of the sunne; so all those aforenamed, in respect of the valor of the Lord high Admirall, and Sir Francis Drake, are of no account. For more than Achilles, Charles; more than Hector, Drake; more than Machabee, Charles; more than Alexander, Drake; more than Scipio, Charles; more than Pompey, Drake; more than Caesar, Charles; and finally, more than al the rest: and for that thou maist comprehend part of the greatnes and valor of Drake, Read this Sonet, seeing you may have read that of the excellent Lord high Admirall.

AND if this suffice not to make thee knowe the valour of Sir Francis, fixe then your eies on that he did at Cales, where the feare of him remai­neth yet to this daie: and in Sancto Domingo, where, onely with 1200. men which he lāded, did put to flight two squadrons of light horse, & two of footemen, and no other horse, nor foote men, but Spa­niards, & sackte the citie, & the same he did in Saint Augu­stine, and in Santiago and in Carthagena: And I intreat no far­ther of this historie, bicause there be others that have writ­ten and intreated thereof at large. And if to this you an­swer me, that it was not he onely that did it, but also the valiant gentleman M. Christofer Carelile, campmaster, and Powell the sargent maior, and sundrie other captaines, and that Drake went not a shore. To this I answer, that a gene­rall doth more in governing and conserving then in fight­ing, and I do not onely thus answer you, but I tell thee, that Drake both governeth, conserveth and fighteth, and [Page 21] knoweth how to prevent. You say farther in your letter, that the Spanish Armada gave chase to the English, unto Ab­spurge. To this I answer you nothing, bicause the ambassa­dor in France doth, and sets downe the contrarie, calling the place Trapena Euxaten: and Iuan de Gamarra, gaine-saith the ambassador, calling it Luxaten: and Pedro de Alva, gain­saith him, being his neighbor of Roane, no great distance from Andwarp, and saith that the port is called Triffla: at­tone me these measures. It is a great desperatenes of Spaine, to consent a matter to be imprinted so apparant fabulous. But Spaine will answer me and saie, that none of these au­thors disagree in calling the port by such sundrie names (as are Abspurge, Trapena, Euxaten, Luxaten, Triffla) and that though there be a difference in the names, yet that there is none in the place, and signification, and that the writers are of sundrie nations and so speake with sundrie toongs, & everie one rather useth his mother toong, then a strange language, for some are Arabians, others Hebrewes, others Galileans, others Parthians, and Caldees, and everie one named the port in his owne language. You (Sen̄or postma­ster) whose speech is Arabian, call it Abspurge; the ambas­sador, who is a Galilean, Parthian, and Meede, saith Trape­na Euxaten: Gamarra, is a Caldean (though he be indeed a Burgales) and saith Luxaten; Pedro de Alva who is a Iewe, saith Triffla. To this loose answere of Spaine, I will answer, and rid them of doubt, giving them to understand, that as well in the place, as the signification and name, there is in all, difference and error. For why Abspurge, which Diego Perez writeth should be called Ausburgo, which is in Al­manie, and not in Scotland; Luxaten, which Gamarra na­meth, is called Newcastell, and is no port of Scotland, but of England: Triffla, which Pedro de Alva nameth, is called Tasfill, and is hard by the Brill: Trapena, or Euxaten, which the ambassador rehearseth, Trapena is called Traport, a lit­tle port of France hard by Deepe, (if he will not have it to be Trapena in Levante) And Euxaten is the said Newcastel a port in England. Let us see then whether the ships were Angelicall spirits, to be at one instant in sundrie and divers [Page 22] places, there being distance off many leagues one from an­other; so heereby I proove it manifest, that the errour is both in the name and place: If it so be not, then the pur­pose of the Chroniclers, is, under those unknowne and dis­consorted names, to give to understand the successe of their Armada, interpreting them thus, Abspurge, an Armada, disperst; Luxaten, an Armada of weeping: Triffla, an Ar­mada that trembles; Trapena, an Armada which bringeth sorrow: and Euxaten, an Armada of sighes: and so the consort is good, for God shewing his arme of power and wrath against them, he scattered them, he gave them weep­ings, tremblings, sorow and sighes, such as Spaine never had. You saie farther (Sen̄or postmaster) that there was found a peece of 25. spans in the ship of Drake, of a kintall of muni­tion: In the ship of Sir Francis Drake, there were no other peeces but those, which she had in time before, and this peece that you speake of, should be of your Armada, which peradventure you threwe overboord, to make you more light to flie away, as some did. And concerning that you saie, that your Admirall was shot with this peece, but that God pre­served hir: In good sooth she preserved hir selfe by flight, not daring abide the musket and caliver shot, and indeed they wished for the wings of a bird to flie the faster, and I thinke all the whole companie fell a blowing in the sailes to give the ship more waie. But now, seeing you have prooved so ill, leave the office of a Chronicler, and be that of Marfodius or Pasquin, if you be weary of being a post, but if you be not, follow your function, and another time laie not the fault on him that hath it not, neither write that which is unlaw­full, seeing you shal get nothing else therby, thē hethat spits against Heaven, which spittle fals againe back on his eies.

The Answer.

THe toong of the slanderer is the pen­sill of the divell, and as the Psalmist saith, their throte is an open sepulcher, Psal. 5. they flatter with their toongs.

These be they of whom Saint Paul speaketh, that evill speakers shall not in­herit 1. Cor. 6. the kingdome of God. The toong of a wicked person hath power to unburie the dead, and to burie the living: Death and life are in the hands of the toong, saith Wisdome: an ill toong hath power to altar cities and townes, to bring hoasts into mu­tinie, to moove the people, to trouble kings and disquiet soules. Such was your pretence (Sir postmaster of Burde­aux) with your ill toong to have ingendred hatred and so­wed dissention betweene us and our brethren the Scottish­men, to banish us out of the world (whereunto I will an­swer farther heereafter.) Now I will produce certaine hu­maine histories for confirmation heerof. Hermodorus being virtuous, and that beyond all those of Ephesus (where­of he was naturall) he was so persecuted of ill toongs, and so much, that they banished him the citie, their venom exceeding his virtue. The like did the Atheniens to Aristi­des, to Cimon and Themistocles; and the Siracusans to Her­mocrates and Dion: and the Romanes to Camillus and Ruti­lus, and to Metellus. And Cato Vticensis, being nothing cove­tous, nor Hercules at any time a coward, Plutarch mentio­neth, that they noted Cato for covetous, and Hercules for a coward: Finally, all men of great and heroicall vir­tues, are envied and wounded by the evill toong: for even as the shadow accompanieth the bodie, so doth envie pur­sue vertue, and from hence it groweth that the vertuous are so murmured at and persecuted by the wicked. O Eng­land, England, and how art thou bound to give immortal thanks to God, in seeing thy selfe persecuted and murmu­red at by so many, an evident signe and probable token, [Page 24] that thou art the citie of the most highest. To those whome God loveth he sendeth troubles, prooving them as Gold in the for­nace: And to his beloved people in Egypt he sent many and sundry scourges, and this bicause he loved them. The troubles of the Psal. 34. just (saith David) are great, and addeth foorthwith, but the Lord delivereth him out of them all. Even so thee (O England) hath the Lord delivered frō all thy troubles: from so migh­tie an Armada, from so much death, from so many and sundrie kinds of torments, as having bin overcome, thou must of necessitie have tasted: from these tribulations hath he delivered thee by his strong hand, giving thee such vali­ant captaines: If he gave to the people of Israell, for they bringing out of Egypt, a Moyses, an Aaron, and a Marie; To thee he hath given, a most Christian and puissant Queene, adorned with sundrie vertues, a Charles Howard, a Francis Drake, and manie others, whom the Lord had ordained & kept long before, for the defence of his universal church & this particular kingdome, which all he yet stil preserveth for greater matters: and what these thy woorthies (ô Eng­land) made not an end of, in performing thy totall delive­rance, the rest did the wind, the sea, the rocks, the sand, the heavens, the fowle, and the fish: and now lastly he delivereth thee, of the untruthes wherein thine enimies boasted and slandered thee; putting time for the unfolding of deceit, fame for the proclaimer, and truth, for the certaine proofe; and so their slanders and false publications remaine al un­twisted. But returning to my purpose, Saint Anastasius saith, that even as he who taketh up a viper in his hands to throw to another (to bite him) is first bitten of the viper himselfe; so the malicious and murmurer that would persecute and infame the just, doth first persecute himselfe, and remaines infamed, and desirous to bite the fame of another, slaieth his owne soule: for there is no byting of Viper or Aspe so poisonsome, as the malice of the perverse; But this cannot sinke into their understanding, which murmur at vertue, & charge hir with vice, and with falshood, make that which is good seeme ill, and of stocks make stones, like to the fountaine in Almaine whereof Albertus Magnus maketh [Page 25] mention. Of the number of these, me seemeth, that the Postmaster is, seeing, of the peace and affinitie, which is be­tweene the English and the Scots, he wil make wars, saieng, that the Scottishmen had taken weapon against the English: a most inconvenient thing, and utterly unwoorthie to be belee­ved; for it were the very instrument for the Scots to strike off their owne heads withall, to favor their enimies in arms and religion, whereby to make them Lords of their houses and possessions. And without all doubt, had the Spaniards taken sure footing in this land, they would never have staid till they had beene Lords also of Scotland; and who can doubt it, for the onely blazon, now adaies amongst Spani­ards, is nothing els but NON SVFFICIT ORBIS, as if they should say, All the world is too little, and they cannot see, that their grave sufficeth them. But such was the malice of him that wrote this letter, that therwith he meant to stir up the minds of English men, that there might be wars be­tweene two kingdoms, borne of one bellie, brethren in re­ligion, confederate in perfect peace, and of one language (in a maner:) and the health of the one, depending in not damaging the other. And this the Scottishmen knowing well, when the Spanish ships passed by their coasts, the King commanded to take weapon against them, forbidding to permit any Spaniard to land: this is the truth; go not then about to make of stocks, stones; neither to give us to un­derstand things so contrarie to reason. In this prevention, the King of Scots shewed plainly, that he knew the kindled and loftie minds of the Spaniards, who, if they had landed, (imitating the Goads, of whom they descend) though it had been under the title of peace, they would soone have reacht the crowne, not so much to depose the King, as to become Lords of the whole world, and to shew their great­nes and courage. Now in fine, he that will see cleerly, who these glosers are, let him behold what they say, and be at­tentive to their speeches, and he shall see their putrified harts laid open. Saint Ambrose saith, that most commonly the looking-glasse of the soule shineth in the words. Saint Hierom saith, that the words which issue foorth, are the [Page 26] signes of that which remaineth within: this is also asen­tence of Aristotle. Saint Bernard saith, that the mouth is a gate and servant of the hart. Socrates saith, that such as the man is, such is his talke. Themistocles compareth men that be silent, unto pictures rold up and inclosed; and those who talke and use speech, to pictures spred abroad and laid o­pen. If thou wilt know what pictures there are in a linnen cloth painted in Flaunders, spread it abroad: would you know whereof the hart of a man is painted, be conversant with him. What need we more? Christ our Saviour saith, that Of the abundance of the hart the mouth speaketh, and that by our words we shall be justified or condemned. Well knowen and Matth. 12. manifestly do the writers of these letters shew heere, their want of charitie, and as to the sonnes of leazings it may be said unto them; You have the Divell for your father. This see­meth unto me, like that which we reading the sacred Scrip­ture, where the incontinent mistresse of chaste Ioseph con­demned him of incontinencie: and the proud Hebrewes Gen. 39. condemned divine Moses of pride: and the unruly Absolon Num. 16. 2. King. 15. reprehended David of ill government: and the mischievous Rabshaketh living by deceit, accused the innocent king He­zechiah, 4. King. 18. of deceit: Even so the writers of these fabulous let­ters, they being the vanquished, publish themselves victors, and the Englishmen by the divine favor being conquerors, they accuse them for vanquished; and they being those that disquiet this kingdome, and make war against it, lay the fault upon the Scottish men, publishing them for our eni­mies, and that they tooke armes against English men, and they being the swift inventors of these novelties so false, they accuse the Governor of Roan of an inventor and lightnes, and the like they lay upon George Seguin of Callis. To all this I say, that it is better to be slandered by the wic­ked, for being vertuous, than by being evill, to be hated of the good. I will put an end to the answering of these five Letters; for that I have sufficiently done it (and for that I may have some time to answer the blinde man, the toong and publisher of them) onely putting Spaine in mind of a marvellous policie observed by the Lacedemonians, who, [Page 27] the better to conserve themselves, established a lawe, that none should be so bold to invent any noveltie in the Com­mon weale. And as this law was upon a time broken, by a famous musicion (called Tependarus) whose transgression was, that his instrument whereon he used to play, being of five orders, he added a string, and made it of sixe: a novel­tie offending none, neither did it good or harme to the Commonweale, neither altered it the minds of the citi­zens, for all this, him they banished the Common-weale, and brake the instrument in pieces. With how much more reason then (deere Spaine) maist thou bereave the lives of these inventors of false novelties, written so much in thy prejudice, and the pen, inkhorne and paper, which served to that use, to burne them in the market place. Receive this, ô Spaine, from him that bewailes thy weepings, wi­dowes, moorning attire, and thy scattered small orphans remaining without their fathers aide; and consider how far better it had been for thee, to have imploied such a pu­issant Armada against infidels, than against Christians, baptized in the name of the Father, the Sonne, and the ho­lie Ghost, & redeemed by the blood of Christ, from whom commeth all our weale, and to whom we yeeld infinite thanks and praise for ever and ever,

Amen.

An end to the answer of the Letters, with a briefe, true, and Christian relation of that which was done in England after the departure of the Armada.

THis victorie thus obtained, the whole kingdom of England (by the commandement of hir Ma­jestie) was imploied in spirituall plaies, wherein was nothing els represented than thanks-gi­ving to God, singing of Psalms, and preaching the Gospell, and to this spirituall exercise repaired all, both small and great, poore and rich, and this endured for cer­taine daies, and at the length the Queenes sacred Majestie, accompanied with the Nobles, as Earles, Lords, Barons, [Page 28] Knights, and Gentlemen of the land, came unto the church of Saint Paule, where she was received of the Bishops and other Ministers; in whose presence, with great reverence, solemnitie, and devotion, there was giving of thanks to God, preaching the divine word, & singing sundry Psalms, of which I will onely name this himne.

THere were also said sundrie praiers, some of thankes­giving for so great benefits received from the Lord; others for the life and prosperitie of the Queenes Majestie, and for peace, others for the increasing of our zeale, and the holding of his holie hand over us, and for his church universall. To him be all praise, honor and glorie for ever and ever, Amen.

FAr otherwise, ô, Spaine, they celebrate heer such victories, then they do in thy kindomes and provinces; for there they passe all in worldly sports, as maskings, dauncings with bels, hurling of canes, launcing of buls, Iusts and torneies, and with these feastes, ô, Spaine, thou givest the glorie of thy victories to the world, as though the world had given them unto thee; but from hence foorth take my counsell and give them to God, and turne to him. But if thou wilt be obstinate and still give them to the world, heere I present thee a Himne, which thou maist sing to the head of this world.

An answer to the songs of Christovall Bravo, of Cordova, blinde of bodie and soule, in praise of the victorie, which the Spanish Armada had a­gainst the English the yeere of our Lord God, 1588

The Author yelds the reasons that mooved him, to answere matters so fabulous and base.

LEast anie man should blame me for imploieng my pen in answering mat­ters so base (as are these five letters, and especially the blind mans songs) and should saie that it had bin better imploied in matters of greater mo­ment. Not gainsaieng him that shall thus correct me, I give him to under­stand, that the good tennis plaier, la­bors as much, and useth as great diligence, to reach that ball which commeth aloft in the aire, as for that which commeth close by the grounde: So that neither for the height, it passeth from his sight, neither for the lownes it escapeth him: the consideration of this comparison, hath lifted up my minde, not to dismaie in great matters, nor to be ashamed of the lesser, so I disdaine not to answer this (though short) for that the minde wherewith I do it doth greaten the same. And that Spaine (which not being faulty in this mischeefe) suffer not unpunished the blindman and his auctors, the disturbers of the common wealth, nor to consent to be deceived hencefoorth with such light vani­ties, chiefely their descent being from Tubal the sonne of Noah, and of the Goads and Vandals, nations so woorthy that at this day the memorie of their noble deeds endures, and shall endure for ever, and being endued with so good and marvellous wits, & having so good a king as they have, of whose friendship all Christian kings are glad, chieflie in respect of his great power and treasure, also for his worthie and politicall government, experience, learning, and due administring of Iustice. I have also taken this labor to shewe unto Spaine, that il counsellers & flatterers, destroy hir: and so that it is convenient to avoide them, or better, to punish them, that the punishing of these may be a scaring to those [Page 39] that shall come heerafter. I have also charged my selfe with this burthen, to shew in short reasons, how contrarie things have hapned, to that as was there published and given to understand. It was divulgated in Spaine, that they were vic­tors, they being then vanquished, as well is seene. They also thought in Spaine not to have left an English man a­live. O blinde imagination, and, ô, sorrowfull Spaine, howe farre better were it for thee to emploie this ima­gination (that it might take effect) against Infidels, (set­ting all thy rest, and calling all Christian kings to thy aide, and it should not be a small succor which thou migh­test have out of this kingdome of England) rather then a­gainst Christians, which do nothing daie nor night, but serve God and give him thanks. There, there, ô Spaine, shouldst thou shew thy power to the enlarging of Christen­dome, and not heere in diminishing thereof. Thou persecu­test English men, as thine enimies, to maintaine the opinion of men, & thou persecutest not the Turke, to maintaine and defend that of God. Thou persecutest Englishmen, poore in goods & rich in faith, & thou persecutest not the Turke rich in substance, and altogither without faith. Thou troublest the minds both of us and thy owne common weale, and thou causest tranquilitie amongst the Turks, enimies to us all: thou makest wars against Christianisme, and givest peace unto Paganisme. Finally that which results heerof is, that Christianitie weepeth, and Gentilitie laugheth; Chri­stianitie troubled, and Gentilitie at quiet; Christianitie in wars and the Gentils in peace: Christians in torments, Gentils in contentments: Christians in mourning weeds, Gentils in feasts; and Christians in burials, and the Gentils in sports. Behold heer, Spaine, whereto thou hast made this great and costly Armada, to discontent thy friends, and pleasure thy enimies: and the better to pleasure them, thou wouldest not content thee with lesse than the bereaving of the life of those of this kingdome. And put case it had fal­len out according to thy thoughts, dost thou not consider how deere it would haue cost thee, and that thou shouldest have remained onely with the lordship of earth and stones, [Page 40] mountaines and brambles, and not of men? And if it seem unto thee an easie matter, to people it a newe: thou hast not people to do it, unlesse thou wilt leave thy selfe desert. For if thou looke well into it, thou shalt see how lost, thou art alreadie, which losse consisteth not in sacks of wool and other merchandise, and money, but of thy men: Now for Naples, nowe Cicilia, for Lumbardie, Flanders (which is thy Sepulchre) for the Indies, Portingall, and the Terceras, for thy owne coasts, for Barbarie, for the Ilandes of Mayork and Menorcke, for Sardenia, & the gallies, & finally for the frontiers of thy owne kingdome. And if thou couldest de­cerne the people that everie hower goeth out of thee, thou shouldest see how-soon thou art like to lie waste, for though thou hast much ground, yet is it not all peopled, and that which is inhabited, hath want both of men and women, but specially of men, and so if thou shouldest compasse to conquer this kingdome, thou must leave thy owne to the Moores; who if the knew the few men that thou hast, they would not sleepe so long, neither leave thee at such rest; though peradventure their rest, is for our unrest; as one should saie, let now Christians breake one anothers heads, let one kill another, and after we will enter to keepe the peace, and so remaine lords of all. Who doubteth but that the Turke rejoiceth at the troubles in Fraunce. And no lesse would he rejoice, that thou, ô, Spaine stoodest in the like estate; yea, that there were no Christianitie in the world. You see then heereby, that the desire which you had, to bereave Englishmen of their life, was to consent with that of the Turks. Against this thy wicked desire, did the mighty arme of God oppose it selfe, that thou mightest not passe on therewith, hindring thy so ill a thought, and punishing thy (so great a) follie: punishing thee, as thou wouldest have punished us. Content thy selfe Spaine with that thou hast, & desire not to embrace more within thy armes, then thou art well able to compasse, for he that so doth cannot hold it fast: and he that murmures at many is hated of many, and he that disquieteth many, is persecuted of many. O deere Spaine, and if thou didst but knowe and [Page 41] consider, how dangerous a thing it is, to procure king­domes and Signiories, by unlawfull meanes, and by preju­dicing thy neighbors and brethren; how shouldest thou then withdraw thy hands from so many wars, excuse thee of so many hard labors, and persecutions, and losse of men and money: how much more, I know thou art not igno­rant of that old proverbe which saith; That which is well got­ten is lost: but that which is ill, both it, and the getter. It is a rule of right, That of goods ill gotten, the third heire shall never enjoie. Open thy eies, ô, Spaine, and see what best complieth thee. Example heerof we have in the sacred Scripture. That He­rode Ascolonita, which tyrannically and against reason and Luc. 3. justice, had usurped the kingdome of Iudea, had his eies scant closed up, when his kingdom was divided into fower parts, and in the principall parte thereof, which was Iudea, succeeded a Gentile for president, called Pilate.

The tribes which Ieroboam tyrannically usurped is a mat­ter 3. King. 12. well knowne, that all his sonnes enjoied them not. And king Achab (which unlawfully possessed anothers heritage) his house was destroied by Iehu. Neither should it better 4. King. 10. befall thee, ô, Spaine, then it did unto Achab, Ieroboam, and Herode; for hadst thou gotten thy pretence, yet shouldest thou not have enjoied it, for being il gotten. But me thinks I heare thee, ô, Spaine to saie, that if the heires of these en­joied not the goods and possessions which they got, it was bicause they got it against reason, justice, and the will of God. But that thou camest with thy mightie Armada, by the ordinance of God and government of the holie Ghost, and therefore thou camest to destroy and kill, and that thou shouldst have enjoied that which thou hadst got­ten. If, of so vaine a presumption, thou couldst alleage anie place of the sacred Scripture in thy defence; then neither would I call thy presumption vaine, nor gainsaie thee. But I gainsay thee, bicause thou hast no reason, & I cal it vain, bi­cause they are smokes of thy vainglories, like those of them (of whom Moyses speaketh) that woulde builde a tower, Gen. 11. whose top should reach unto heaven, who, (in rewarde of their pride) were punished and destroied. When the Lords [Page 42] people went foorth of Egypt, remaining in the wildernes, amongst other things that the Lord spak unto Moyses their guide and captaine generall, this was one (as appeereth:) Exod. 23. That they should not encline to the Gods of the Gentils, but that they should destroy and breake their altars. And afterwards the Lord saith unto Moyses: Take heede to thy selfe that thou make no Exod. 34. compact with the inhabitants of the land, whether thou goest, least they be the cause of ruine amongst you. But you shall overthrowe their altars, and breake their images in peeces, and cut downe their groaves. God commanded Ioshua to destroy the citie of Ie­richo, Ioshua 6. even to the overthrowing of the wals. All the inhabi­tants of Ai were destroied and the citie laid waste. God Ioshua 8. commanded Gideon to destroy the altar of Baal, and he did it. So then these, (and others which I might alleage:) If they conquered kingdomes, slew the people, and raced ci­ties unto the grounde, it was by the commandement of God. For such kingdomes, people, and provinces lived, prejudiciall to the honor of God. But who commanded thee, ô, Spaine, to come to make war upon Englishmen? If it were by the commandement of God, and for their idola­trie; give us testimonie and shew us the place where God spake, and shew us thy Moyses, thy Ioshua, or thy Gideon: and if it were by ill counsellers, punish them, and repent thee of that which is done, and amend from hence foorth. I would gladly know which of these two causes stirred up this war, whether the commandement of God, or ill counsell. To the first I saie (if thou saiest it was by the cōmandement of God) that thou errest in so saieng, sith heaven & earth shall faile, but the word of God shall never faile: and so, had his divine Majestie commanded thee to come, he had given thee victorie: he gave it thee not; then he was not pleased with thy comming. He promised the land of promise to the children of Israel, and though the countrie was strong, and the defenders strong and many, and they weake and weary; yet he gave it them: and to thee would he have given this Iland, had he promised it thee. Besides this, thy comming could not be acceptable to God, neither was it with his consent: For God now, is not a blouddy God, but a God of [Page 43] love; he punisheth not nowe in a strong arme, (as he was woont under that hard lawe) but with a hand of compassi­on: and thy comming was, throwing lightnings, thun­ders, and thunder bolts, and saieng; let them die, let them die, let not a man remaine alive; a matter most abhomina­ble to God, ergo, without his consent. That God comman­ded the captaines of his people, to destroy the gods, altars, wals, and groves of their enimies, and to put them to the sword, the cause was (as I saide a little before) bicause God was offended and dishonored by them. But we according to the povertie of our strength, blesse, & give God thanks, and the honor that is his, we give it not to creatures: Then it is likely he would not command us to be destroied by thy wrathfull hand. When his people of Israell committed idolatrie, he put them into his enimies hands, and when they acknowledged their sin, he delivered them: But God delivered not his people of England into the hands of the Spanyards: then God cōmanded them not to com against England, neither is this kingdome an enimie to God. The Gentiles had many gods, but Englishmen, onely one God, Father, Sonne, and holie Ghose, three persons, and one on­lie true God, omnipotent, and creator of the universall. And in such sort we beleeve in this God, that we confound not the persons: for one person is of the Father, another of the Sonne; another of the holie Ghost; and so we be­leeve three persons, that yet we make not three Gods, but one God, as the scripture doth teach us, where he saith; Heare, ô, Israel, the Lord our God, is Lord onely. He nameth God Deut. 6. three times, bicause he consisteth of three persons: and bi­cause these three persons are one God, and not three gods; he saith, is Lord onely: and for that of this blessed Trinitie, the second person was incarnate, and clothed himselfe with our humanitie (for our salvation) therefore he saith in the second place, our God. If then we have one God, whose pur­sons we confound not, and whose substance we separate not; and say that this God, cloathed himselfe with our mi­series for our salvation, and reconciled us with the ever­lasting father, whom (according to our small power) we [Page 44] worship, and serve and obeie him according to his lawes, and not after the lawes of men: Then we have not manie gods, with the Gentiles, neither are we idolators, why God should send you to make war upon us: and hence I conclude, that seeing God sent you not, that it is the se­cond cause that mooved you: Which is ill counsellers; who mooved by some secret hatred, deceiving their king, and destroie his kingdome: The destroiers of kings and king­domes are ill counsellers. Three hundred yeeres the Ro­manes made wars upon thee, yet never werst thou over­come of them, but alwaies victor, till such time as ill coun­sellers deceived thee, sowing in thee hatred and division. The ill counsels of the false prophets, destroied Iezabel, Achab, and others. And so thee, ô, Spaine, have thy il coun­sellers, and false prophets, washed and destroied. One of the chiefest causes why, thou hast obtained so many victo­ries against Turkes, Moores, the French, and other nati­ons, hath bin bicause of thy good counsellers: the conser­vation of the prince and people depends upon good coun­sell. And so, many honorable personages, have exalted manie for their good counsell, and utterly rejected il coun­sellers and flatterers. Octavius Augustus gave the dignity of Consulship, to the philosopher Frontonius, with sundry other dignities, for giving good counsel. Marcus Antonius caused a Statua to be erected, which might remaine for a memorie for the celebration of his name, for the excellencie of his learning, and good counsels, as recordeth Iulius Capitolinus. The Emperor Domitian made Scillus oftentimes Consul for his good counsell, as may be gathered, by certaine verses of Martial. Trajan caried with him in his chariot triumphall Dion Prusio, as affirmeth Suidas, for his good counsels, which he obeied. The Emperor Constantine made Ablabius of his Royall counsell, for his good counsel; so saith Eutropius, and Volatteran. Petrus Crinit. saith, that Theodosius the Emperor gave the prefectship & charge of war, to the excellent Poet Aurelius Prudentius, for the good counsels which he gave him. And Artaxerxes king of Persia, bought good counsell with the waight of money, (for in good counsell consisteth [Page 45] the peace and conservation, of the king & kingdome) & so did manie other most honorable men: the which for not to be tedious, I repeate not, contenting my self with those re­hearsed. If then Spain and his king have good counsellers, let them take viewe of the successe of their counsels recei­ved. Good counsels pacifie and increase, and ill counsels trouble and diminish. And so it appeereth plaine that poor Spaine and his king for having ill counsell, is so troubled, and diminished of people and honor. Being nowe poore of people, and rich in enemies: poore of money and rich in expence: emptie of peace and full of warre, and heavilie laden with offendors, and well lighted of defenders. O poore Spain, and what a perfect picture is everie one of thy counsellers, of a king Herode, who, to kill Christ and tri­umph over him, slew both his owne and the children of his subjects, diminishing the fruite of his kingdome: even so hath it befallen thee, who to destroie the English and tri­umph over them, hast lost both thy substance and subjects: And as Christ remained free from the bloudie handes of Herode, so have the English escaped (by the divine favour) from thine. Banish (sacred king) thy ill counsellers, and be­hold how they are deceivers and flatterers which destroie thee and with their fained words deceive thee. Ioab came 2. Kings 20. smoothly to his friend Amasa, and stabbed him thorowe. Thy ill counsellers come smoothly to thee (sacred king) flattering thee with their adulations, and destroy thee. Sawsin by trusting to the sweete words of Dalila, was put into his enemies hands. Thou hast trusted (sacred king) in Iud. 16. the flatteries of those who are about thee, whereby thou hast delivered thy treasures to the custodie of thy enimies: O, lamentable case, that so milde a king should be in viro­ned with so many flatterers. Note (king) that our ancestors were voont to call the toongs of flatterers, a sworde an­nointed with honie, which proverbe, S. Hierome vseth in an Epistle. God commanded the children of Israell, that they should not touch the tabernacles of the ungodly, nor anie thing of theirs, that they might not be defiled. And also, that at their entring the land of Canaan, that they should Num. 33. [Page 46] destroy and banish all the inhabitants of that province, to the end that they might not be infected with their ill ma­ners and customes. For even as the hands (though never so white) by handling of coales, become blacke and pollu­ted; even so, be a man never so good, if he be conversant with ill counsellers, shall also become ill. Salomon saith, that he that toucheth pitch, shall be defiled therewith. Depart then, ô, king, and most woorthy prince, from such ill coun­sellers which waste and consume thee, and trouble and de­stroie thy kingdome. They fell themselves unto thee for true friends, being deceitfull enimies. Take heede (mightie king) for if these flatterers follow thee; it is not for thy roy­all persons sake, nor for thy vertues, but onely for thy great riches. For in like sort as the woode breedeth the woorme which eateth & cōsumeth it; even so rich men bring up flat­terers which by litle & litle destroie them. This understood Psal. 141. wel the Psalmist when he said. Let the righteous rather smite me friendly, & reproove me. But let not their precious balms break mine head. There he calleth the flatterie of the wicked, precious balmes: My people, (saith Isaiah) they that call thee blessed, even they deceave thee. More hurt (saith S. Hierome) doth the toong of the flatterer, then the sword of the enimie. By ad­mitting (most woorthie king) the balme of thy ill coun­sellers, thou hast deceived thy selfe: They call thee most mightie, and the onely deserver of all the kingdomes of the world. They warrant thee, that thou maist raise a thousand tributes in thy countrie, wherewith to conquere others kingdomes: and they have done thee more harme then the swords of thine enimies. Flatterers are so prejudiciall, that Antistenes saith, it is better to fal into the power of Ravens, then of flatterers, for the Ravens eate the eies of the dead, but the flatterers corrupt the minds of the living: so record Laertius and Brusonius, though others attribute this saieng to Diogenes. And the same Laertius saith, that Bias, the phi­losopher being asked, what beast was most poisonsome, he answered, of wilde beasts the tyrant, and of tame beasts the flatterer. AEneus Silvius reporteth, that the Emperor Sigis­mund, was such an enimie to flatterers, that on a time not [Page 47] being able to suffer the flatterings of one that praised him overmuch, he gave him a blowe, who saieng, why dost thou strike me Emperor? He answered; flatterer, why doest thou bite me? And with this (most valorous king) I conclude and make an ende of this particular matter: That men of high spirits, give not their eares to flatterers, neither accept ill counsellers. Behold it heer prooved, that the arming of Spaine, was not by the commandement of God, but through ill counsell, and therefore it perished. Besides this, the Spanyards gave out (the more to pricke their people forward in fury) that if the English should take any of them, that they would kill him, and not leave anie alive that should fall into their hands. Truely, though the English had bin of that mind, yet had they offred no injurie to the Spa­niards: for if they came proclaiming death; had it bin much that English men should proclaime death? The Eccho an­swereth still unto the voice without changing the words. If you saie evill; it answers evill; if good, good; if pain, paine; if glorie, glorie; the Spanyards come then, saieng, fire, the Eccho answers in Englishmen, fire; Spanyards say bloud, En­glishmen saie bloud; Spanyards saie death, Englishmen saie death; Spanyards saie war, Englishmen saie war; and when they shall saie peace, then Englishmen will answer peace: But now if Englishmen should kill all their prisoners, they should do them no injurie, nor breake jus Gentium, neither that which is de jure belli, for this war deserves not the name of a good war, bicause it was mooved by covetousnes and tyrannie, and not for valour and increase of honor. There were wars betweene the Emperor Charles the fift & Francis king of Fraunce; but the originall was neither of tyrannie, nor covetousnes: and this was seene apparantly; for Fran­cis being prisoner by the Emperor, neer unto Pavia, in the yeere 1525. and from thence carried into Spaine: the Em­peror never willed him to resigne his crowne, neither was his thought such, or ever went he about it; but rather set both him and his free, for in fine, they were rather wars of braverie then tyrannie. But in this war of Spaine against England, Spaine comming with armed hand, to deprive hir [Page 48] Majestie of Sceprer and crowne, what injustice should she do, in causing all to be slaine, that shall come to hand? for tyrants deserve no lesse then death: And sith Spanyards in this war shew themselves tyrants, ( My author is a Spanyard and therfore whatsoever you thinke or know to the contrary, yet you must beare with his parenthe­sis in this point. though naturally they be not so) they should have no wrong done them, had they all bin slaine. But in fine, such as the fountaine is, such are the streames, if the fountaine be sweete, the streames are sweete, and if the fountaine be brackish, the rivers are brac­kish. The fountaine of England, which is the sacred Maje­stie of Queene Elizabeth (whom the Lord long preserve) is a sweete fountaine, full of love, compassion, clemencie, and benignitie, and so are hir subjects; for such as the Lord is, such is the vassall. This is verefied in the sacred Scripture. Herademas troubled and all Ierusalem with him. And Achab and Mat. 2. 4. King. Iesabell being wicked, so were the people: so that a good king hath good subjects; and so as hir Majestie is merciful, so are hir subjects; and hence it groweth, that the English­men not respecting the tyrannie of this war, nor the bloud­die hands of the soldiers; but using clemencie with the prisoners, they have not taken their lives, but rather as though the wars had bin such, as was betweene Charles and Francis, so have they bin well intreated and succoured with meate, with apparell, hose and shooes, shirts, firing and other necessaries, Englishmen seeming to be sorie, and to bewaile the poore Spanyards, which perished in Ire­land, by the hands of the savage Irishmen; and to serve for meate, some in the sea for the fish, and others on the land, for the carrion Crowes; so that they sorrowe the losse of the dead, and succour the necessitie of the prisoners. And all this, for being hir Majestie full of love and not of rigor, and so aboundant in clemencie, and not in revenge, a greater friend to pardon, then to punish: and using more of mercie then justice, she shewes hir selfe most Christian, and fearing God: Vnto whom, his divine Majestie graunt, long yeeres of life, augment and prosper hir estate, as is needfull for the holie church sake, (she being a true defen­der thereof) and as hir humble and loiall subjects desire, Amen.

The translator.

I Am to request thee, (courteous Reader) to beare with the translations of the blinde mans songs and their an­swers, for I know the verse will seeme somewhat harshe unto thee, wherin I was overshot, in tieng my selfe so much to the Spanish, (at the authors request) as you may see, the English to answer verse for verse with the Spanish: to avoide which inconvenience, receive these verses following (I humblie beseech thee) in good parte, (with the rest of the translation) which verses follow (almost) verballie, though not in meeter: in stead whereof, I pray thee also, accept with good will, certaine verses of my owne to the same ef­fect, wherein thou shalt both pleasure and incourage me, fare well.