counsell, about the disposing of all matters, aswell touching the towne and
prisoners, as also concerning all other matters, thought meete of them in
their honourable wisedomes, and in all that meane while did shew such
honourable bounty and mercy, as is not able to be expressed. For not onely
the liues of euery one were spared, but also there was an especial care
had, that al the Religious, as wel men as women, should be well and
fauourably intreated, whom freely without any maner of ransome or other
molestation, they caused to be safely transported ouer to Port Saint Marie,
a towne in a maner as fayre as Cadiz: but at that time, as the case did
stand, certainly knowen to be of no wealth in the world, and it was some
sixe or seuen miles distant ouer against Cadiz, in a maner as Paules is
against Southwarke, on the other side of the Bay, in a part of Andaluzia,
subiect to the territory of the Duke de Medina Sidonio.
Moreouer, at the same instant they did appoint that worthy knight Sir Amias
Preston, and some others in some conuenient Barkes, to transport ouer to
the sayd Towne safely and in good order, a hundred or moe of the better
sort of ancient gentlewomen, and marchants wiues, who were suffered to put
vpon themselues, some of them two, yea, some three sutes of apparell, with
some conuenient quantitie of many Iewels, Chaines, and other ornaments
belonging to their estate and degree. Such was the heroicall liberality,
and exceeding great clemencie of those most honourable Lords Generall,
thereby, as it should seeme vnto mee, beating downe that false surmised
opinion, which hath bene hitherto commonly spread abroad, and setled among
the Spaniards: which is, That the English doe trouble them and their
countries, more for their golde, riches and pearle &c. then for any other
iust occasion. Whereas by these their honourable dealings it is manifest to
all the world, that it is onely in respect of a iust reuenge for the
manifolde iniuries, and most dishonourable practises that haue bene from
time to time attempted by them against vs and our nation, and also in the
defence of the true honour of England: which they haue sought, and daylie
doe seeke, by so many sinister and reprochfull deuices, so much as in them
lieth, to deface.
Vpon Saturday being the 26. Sir Iohn Winkfield knight was buried, in
honourable and warlike manner, so farre foorth us the circumstances of that
time and place could permit. At whose funerals the Nauie discharged a great
part of their Ordinance, in such order, as was thought meete and conuenient
by the Lords Generals commandement.
The twenty seuenth day being Sunday, in the Abbey the diuine seruice was
had, and a learned Sermon was made there by one Master Hopkins, the right
honourable Earle of Essex his Preacher, a man of good learning and sweete
vtterance, and euen there the same day, something before the sermon was
made, these worthie Gentlemen following were knighted by the Lords General.
And here I am to signifie by the way that two of these were knighted three
or foure dayes before, and some three or foure moe were knighted after that
time, vpon certaine occasions: but yet I holde it beste (and I trust
without offence) to recite their names in this place altogether.
The names of such noble men and gentlemen, as were knighted at Cadiz in
Iune 1596 by the two most honourable Lordes Generall.
June 21. Sir Samuel Bagnol. Sir Alexander Clifford.
22. Sir Arthur Sauage. Sir Maurice Barkley.
27. The Earle of Sussex. Sir Charles Blunt
The Lord Harbert. Sir George Gifford.
The Lord Burk. Sir Robert Crosse.
Count Ludowick. Sir Iames Escudamor.
Sir William Howard. Sir Vrias Leigh.
Sir George D'Eureux. Sir Iohn Leigh, alias Lee.
Sir Henry Neuel. Sir Richard Weston.
Sir Edmund Rich. Sir Richard Wainman.
Sir Richard Leuen. Sir Iames Wootton.
Sir Peter Egomort. Sir Richard Ruddal.
Sir Anthonie Ashley. Sir Robert Mansfield.
Sir Henry Leonard. Sir William Mounson.
Sir Richard Leuison. Sir Iohn Bowles.
Sir Horatio Vere. Sir Edward Bowes.
Sir Arthur Throchmorton. Sir Humfrey Druel.
Sir Miles Corbet Sir Amias Preston.
Sir Edward Conway. Sir Robert Remington.
Sir Oliuer Lambert Sir Iohn Buck.
Sir Anthony Cooke. Sir Iohn Morgan.
Sir Iohn Townesend. Sir Iohn Aldridg.
Sir Christopher Heydon. Sir Iohn Asshindon.
Sir Francis Popham. Sir Matthew Browne.
Sir Philip Woodhouse. Sir Iohn Acton.
Sir Thomas Gates. Sir Iohn Gylbert.
Sir Gilly Mericke. Sir William Haruie.
Sir Thomas Smith. Sir Iohn Gray.
Sir William Pooley. Don Christ. prince of Portingall.
Sir Thomas Palmer. Sir Iohn Vanderfoord,
Sir Iohn Stafford. Admirall of the Hollanders.
Sir Robert Louel. Sir Robert Duley. 8. August.
[_In the preceding List, the last name should undoubtedly be Sir Robert
Dudey._]
I am not curious in placing these gentlemen, but put them downe at a
venture. Only I haue obserued, as neere as I could, the iust day and time
when they were created. And I trust where the place of it selfe is so
worthy and equall, there the bare naming and placing of the parties, shal
brede no offence, or make a disparity. The two gentlemen that were last
knighted receiued their knighthood in the way of our returne from Cadiz:
the one of them vpon the sea, not farre from the Bay of the Groyne, at what
time our ships stood vpon their staies for a space while certaine Pinnasses
were sent to descrie what shipping was at the Groine: The other at
Plimmouth in the open streete, when the Lords Generall came from the
Sermon. The one a man of long seruice, and good desert among the Dutch: the
other of so many good parts of a worthy gentleman, as the like are seldome
seene to concurre in any.
I spake in the beginning of her Majesties praier, which I presumed (though
vnworthy) to translate into Latine: and nowe at this very time there was
some opportunity offered, for to make some vse of that translation. For
nowe being in Cadiz, attending vpon my most honourable good Lord, I talked
with certaine of the Religious men, such as I found learned, whereof indeed
there were some, though not very many. I talked also with the Bishop of
Cusco there, a graue aged comely man, and being of late chosen to that
Bishopricke, he was as then to have gone to the Indies had not we then
taken him prisoner, and so stayed his iourney for that time. With these men
euer as occasion did serue, I did seeke nowe and then to spende some
speech, and to entertaine time withall, I would breake with them of this
our victorie, and of the iniuries and bad dealings of their Prince and
Countrey offered to her Maiestie, whereby shee was prouoked, and in a
manner drawn to this action: though otherwise of her own most excellent
princely good nature, she was altogether giuen to peace, and quietnes. And
alwayes in some part of our conferences, I would shew them a copie of her
Maiesties praier in Latine, which I had alwayes of purpose ready about me;
whereby it might the better appeare vnto them, how vnwillingly, and vpon
how great and vrgent occasions her Maiesty was, as it were enforced to
vndertake this action: and therewithall I did vse now and then to bestow
vpon them a copy of the same in writing. They seemed in all outward shew to
allow of my speeches, and to praise her Maiesties good inclination; and
earnestly to wish that there might be a firme concord and peace againe.
It pleased the Lords general to deale exceeding fauourably with this said
Bishop of Cusco: for it was their good pleasure to giue him his free
passage without any ransome, and therewithal to let him to vnderstand, that
they came not to deale with Church-men, or vnarmed men, or with men of
peace, weaklings and children, neither was it any part of their meaning to
make such a voyage for gold, siluer, or any other their wealth and riches,
&c. But that, their only comming was to meet with their dishonorable
practises, and manifold iniuries, and to deale with men of warre and
valour, for the defence of the true honour of England: and to let them to
vnderstand, that whensoeuer they attempted any base-conceited and
dishonorable practise to their soueraigne Queene, their Mistresse, that it
should be reuenged to the vttermost, &c.
In this meane space, while the Lords general continued at Cadiz, there came
to them certain poore wretched Turks, to the number of 38, that had bin a
long time gally-slaues, and either at the very time of the fight by sea, or
els immediately thereupon, taking the opportunity, did then make their
escape, and did swim to land: yeelding themselues to the mercy of their
most honorable Lordships. It pleased them with all speed to apparel them,
and to furnish them with money, and all other necessaries, and to bestow on
them a barke, and a Pilot, to see them freely and safely conueied into
Barbary, willing them to let the countrey vnderstand what was done, and
what they had seene. Whereby I doubt not, but as her Maiesty is a most
admirable Prince already, ouer all Europe, all Africk, and Asia, and
throughout Christendome: so the whole worlde hereafter shall haue iust
cause to admire her infinitely Princely vertues, and thereby bee prouoked
to confesse, that as she hath bin mightily protected from time to time, by
the powerful hand of the almighty, so vndoubtedly, that she is to be iudged
and accounted of vs, to be his most sacred handmaide, and chosen vessel.
And therefore, whatsoever wicked designement shalbe conspired and plotted
against her Maiesty hereafter, shalbe thought to be conspired, plotted, and
intended against the almighty himselfe: and for that cause, as I trust,
shalbe by the infinite goodnes and mercy of that almighty, mightily
frustrate and ouerthrowen.
The 28. day being Munday, the L. Admirall came aboord the Arke againe,
minding there to remaine for a space, as indeed he did, and vpon the aduise
of his Physition, to deale something in Physicke, for that his L. found his
body something out of frame. At that time it pleased his L. to write
certain letters to the Duke of Medina Sidonia, for the deliuerance of
English captiues, who were remaining in the gallies. For by this time, it
was reported, that the said Duke was come downe in person with some power,
and that he was either at Port S. Mary, or els at Rotta, or thereabout. His
L. did endite the letters himselfe, but his pleasure was, they should be
turned into Latine by another: and so to be sent (as indeed they were) in
the latine tongue vnto the Duke.
A copie of the Lord Admirals letters to the Duke of Medina Sidonia.
Illustrissimo Principi Duci de Medina Sidonia.
Illustrissime Princeps, ex nonnullis quibusdam Hispanis intelligimus,
Excellentiam vestram iam nunc esse apud portam S. Mariæ. Et quoniam in anno
Domini 1588. id nobis tunc muneris assignatum erat à sereniss. nostra
Regina domina mea, vt contra vos, vestrásque copias, Ego solus pro eo
tempore Generalis essem constitutus: Idcircò non opinamur vobis ignotum
esse, quàm mite quoddam, et humanum bellandi genus, tum hîc iam in hoc ipso
tempore, aduersus huius loci populum atque incolas vsurpauerimus: tum etiam
sæpius antehac quâm humaniter, benignèque eos omnes tractauerimus, quos ex
vestris iure belli captiuos acceperimus. Ex quorum numero quàm multa milia
etiam gratis, nullo accepto pretio, libertate donauerimus, id putamus
omnibus esse testatius, quàm vt à quoquam denegetur. Quocirca, neque vllo
modo nobis in mentem venire potest, vt dubitemus, quin parem etiam in vobis
humanitatem aduersus nostros captiuos simus reperturi. Cum igitur nobis
compertum iam sit, habere vos in vestris galeris, ex Reginæ nostræ
serenissimæ Dominæ meæ subditis vnum et quinquaginta captiuos: non equidem
dubitamus, quin eos omnes sitis relaxaturi, et ad nos missuri: ea lege, ac
conditione, vt totidem ex vestris hîc captíuis eiusdem loci atque ordinis,
melioris etiam fortassis notæ, ac conditionis, homuncios, ad os vicissim
remittamus. Id quod nos facturos data fide spondemus, quàm primùm nostros
captiuos ex vestris manibus acceperimus. Hac in re si nostro desiderio ac
voluntati parùm satisfactum erit, aliud profectò tunc posthac belli genus
ingrediemur, aliúmque bellandi morem cogemur, etiam inuiti, et contra
voluntatem prosequi. Ex Regia Anglicana classe apud Cadiz vltimo Iunij,
stilo antiquo. 1596.
Carolus Howard.
These letters were sent by a Spaniard, and an answere was brought from the
Duke with al conuenient speed, and as it should seeme by the L. Admirals
next answere returned to him in writing, which immediately hereafter
foloweth, the Duke de Medina Sidonia his letters were honorable, and with
good regard.
A Copie of my L. Admirals second letter to the Duke of Medina Sidonia.
Illustrissimo Principi Duci de Medina Sidonia.
Illustrissime Princeps, literas ab excellentia vestra hodiè accepimus: quæ
verò nostra sit ad illas responsio, nobiles isti viri, qui vestras literas
ad nos pertulerunt: pleniùs declarabunt. Hoc interim cupimus esse penitùs
persuasum Excellentiæ vestræ; nos sedulò operam daturos, vt in omni
honorificæ benignitatis humanitatisque genere, expectationi vestræ omni ex
parte respondeamus. Quod ad Anglicos nostros captiuos attinet, quos ab
Excellentia vestra huc ad nos crastino die missum iri expectamus, in ea re
pollicemur Excellentiæ vestræ, quòd plenius à nobis vestræ voluntati
satisfactum erit: et quòd pro illis captiuis tales nos captiuos vobis
remittemus, quales tum ab ipso Dom. Mendoza, tum ab alijs illustrib. viris,
qui à Dom. Porta Carero in illorum ad nos fauorem mittebantur, communi cum
consensu erant ab ipsis approbati. Si verò quis alius iam captiuus est vel
posthac futurus erit in nostra potestate, pro cuius redemptione nondum
plenè conuentum est et stipulatum de certo pretio persoluendo: concedimus
Excellentiæ vestræ, vt in hoc etiam casu vos, vestro pro arbitrio, de illis
quicquid velitis, imperetis. Ex Regia classe Anglicana, apud Cadiz, 3. die
Iulij stylo antique. 1596.
Carolus Howard.
The next day after, being the 4. of Iuly, the L. L. generall caused the
towne of Cadiz to be set on fire, and rased and defaced so much as they
could, the faire cathedral Church, and the religious houses only being
spared, and left vnblemished. And with the town al such prouision for
shipping, and other things, as were seruiceable for the K. vse, and yet
were not either so conuenient for vs to be caried away, or els such as we
stood no whit at all in need of, were likewise at the same instant consumed
with fire. And presently therupon, their Lordships, with as conuenient,
speed as they could, and the whole army in such good order and leisure, as
they thought best, came aboord.
The next day being the 5. of Iuly, the L. L. generall with all the armie
being vnder saile and now making for England, and but as yet passing the
very mouth of the Bay of Cadiz, a galley full of English prisoners, with a
flag of truce, met vs from Rotta, sent by the D. of Medina Sidonia, and
sent as it should seeme, one day later then his promise: but yet their flag
being either not big enough, or not wel placed in the galley, or not wel
discerned of our men, or by what other mischance I know not: but thus it
was: by one of our smallest ships that sailed formost, assoone as the said
galley came within gunshot, there was a great peece discharged vpon her,
and at that instant there was one man slaine outright, and 2. other
grieuously hurt. The error being espied and perceiued, our ship gaue ouer
immediatly from any farther shooting. Assoone as the galley came neere vs,
my L. Admirall caused a gracious salutation to be sounded with his
trumpets, and willed the captains forthwith to come aboord his ship: which
they did, and then he feasted them with a very fine and honorable banket,
as the time and place might serve. And then by them vnderstanding of that
unfortunate mischance that had hapned by the shot of the said ship, he was
very sory for the same, and yet such was the merciful prouidence of
almighty God, that euen in this mischance also, he did hold his holy hand
ouer the English. And al the harme that was done did light onely vpon the
poore Turk, and the Spaniard himselfe. When this Lorde had well banqueted
them, hee presently called for his barge, and did accompany the said galley
to the Lorde general the Earle of Essex, who then did ride with his ship a
good distance off: and there they being in like maner most honorably
receiued, and intertained, the Spanish gentlemen deliuered vp their
prisoners the English captiues, of whom some had bin there 6 yere, some 8,
or ten: yea, and some 22. yeere, and vpward, and some of them but lately
taken in S. Francis Drakes last voiage to the Indies. The number of the
prisoners deliuered were but 39, and no mo, and were brought in, and
deliuered by Don Antonio de Corolla and his brother, and, by Don Pedro de
Cordua, and certaine others. If you demaund why, of one and fiftie
Captiues, there were no moe deliuered then was, I presuppose, (and I thinke
it true to) that at that time the residue were farther off in some remote
places of Spaine bestowed, and so by that meanes, not able at this time to
bee in a readinesse, but yet like enough that there is some good order
taken for them hereafter, to be redeemed, and sent ouer into England.
If any man presume here so farre, as to enquire how it chanced, that the
Lords generall rested so long at Cadiz, and went no farther, and why Port
S. Mary being so faire a towne, and so neere to them, was forborne? and why
Sheres aliàs Xeres? And why Rotta and the like? And why this or that was
done? And why that or this left vndone? I will not answere him with our
common English prouerbe, as I might, which is: That one foole may aske moe
questions in one houre, then ten discrete men can wel answere in fiue
dayes.
But that graue auncient writer, Cornelius Tacitus, hath a wise, briefe,
pithy saying, and it is this: "Nemo tentauit inquirere in columnas
Herculis, sanctiúsque ac reuerentius habitum est de factis Deorum credere,
quàm scire." Which saying, in my fancy, fitteth marueilous well for this
purpose: and so much the rather, for that this Cadiz is that very place,
(at least by the common opinion) where those said pillers of Hercules were
thought to be placed: and, as some say, remaine as yet not farre off to be
seene. But to let that passe, the saying beareth this discrete meaning in
it, albeit in a prety kind of mystical maner vttered: That it befitteth not
inferiour persons to be curious, or too inquisitiue after Princes actions,
neither yet to be so sawcy and so malapert, as to seeke to diue into their
secrets, but rather alwayes to haue a right reuerend conceite and opinion
of them, and their doings: and thereon so resting our inward thoughts, to
seek to go no further, but so to remaine ready alwaies to arme our selues
with dutiful minds, and willing obedience, to perform and put in execution
that which in their deepe insight and heroicall designements, they shall
for our good, and the care of the common wealth determine vpon.
This, and much lesse to, might suffice to satisfie any honest minded man.
But yet if any will needs desire to be a little farther satisfied, albeit
it neede not, yet then, this much I dare say and affirme, that vpon my
knowledge, the chiefest cause why Port Saint Mary, and the rest were left
vntouched, was this: For that it was most certainly knowen, that they were
townes not woorth the saluting of such a royal companie, in which there was
no maner of wealth in the world left, more then bare houses of stone, and
standing walles, and might well haue serued rather as a stale, perchance,
to haue entrapped, then as a meanes to haue enriched. And it had bin more
then a suspicion of follie, for such an army as this, to haue sought to
fight with the aire, and to haue laboured with great paine and charges,
yea, and with some euident danger too, to haue ouerthrowen that, which
could very litle or nothing haue profited, being destroyed: and yet nowe,
can doe as little harme being left, as it is, vntouched.
And thus much for our iourney to Cadiz: for the accidents that happened by
the way, for the winning, spoiling, and burning of the saide towne, for the
ouerthrowe of the Spanish Fleet there, and for al other by-matters that
happened, as appendances to the same, both in the time of our abode there,
as also at the very last houre of our comming from thence.
As for our returne home, and our entrance into a part of Portingal by the
way, with the taking, spoyling, and burning of the towne of Faraon there,
and marching into the Spanish confines therabouts, &c. I minde to leaue it
to some other, whose chance was to be present at the action, as myselfe was
not, and shalbe of more sufficient ability to performe it.
* * * * *
The Most Honourable Tragedie of Sir Richard Grinuile, Knight. 1595.
[Footnote: At London, printed by I. Roberts, for Richard Smith, 1595.
(Written by Gervase Markham--KTH).]
That time of yeare when the inamored Sunne
Clad in the richest roabes of liuing fiers,
Courted the Virgin signe, great Nature Nunne,
Which barrains earth of al what earth desires
Euen in the month that from _Augustus_ wonne,
His sacred name which vnto heauen aspires,
And on the last of his ten trebled days,
When wearie labour new refresh assayes.
Then when the earth out-brau'd the beautious Morne,
Boasting his cornie Mantle stird with aire,
Which like a golden Ocean did adorne,
His cold drie carcasse, featurelesse, vnfaire,
Holding the naked shearers scithe in scorne,
Or ought that might his borrowed pride empaire,
The soule of vertue seeing earth so ritch,
With his deare presence gilds the sea as mitch.
The sea, which then was heauie, sad, and still,
Dull, vnapplyed to sportiue wantonnesse,
As if her first-borne _Venus_ had beene ill,
Or _Neptune_ seene the _Sonne_ his loue possesse,
Or greater cares, that greatest comforts kill,
Had crowned with griefe, the worlds wet wildernesse,
Such was the still-foot _Thetis_ silent paine,
Whose flowing teares, ebbing fell backe againe.
_Thetis_, the mother of the pleasant springs,
Grandam of all the Riuers in the world,
To whom earths veins their moistning tribut brings,
Now with a mad disturbed passion hurld,
About her caue (the worlds great treasure) flings:
And with wreath'd armes, and long wet hairs uncurld,
Within her selfe laments a losse vnlost,
And mones her wrongs, before her ioyes be crost
Thus whilst churning sorrowe ceaz'd her hart,
_Grinuile_ (ô melt my spyrit in that name,)
As sings the Swan her funerall depart,
And waues her wings the ensignes of her fame,
So he, with vertue sweetning bitter smart,
Which from the seas long toyling seruice came:
For why, sixe Moones, and so oft times the Sunne
Was past, and had one halfe the signes ore-runne,
Ere he the earth, our common Mother saw;
Now earlie greets black _Flores_ banefull Ile,
(_Flores_, from whence afflictions selfe doth draw
The true memorialls of a weeping stile;)
And with _Caisters_ Querristers[1] which straw
Descant, that might Death of his darts beguile,
He tunes saluting notes, sweeter then long,
All which are made his last liues funerall song.
Skillesse in deaths great Parliament he cals
His fellow mat's, and minions to his fame,
Shewes them long lookt for land, and how it brauls,
Repulsing backe the billowes as they came,
Much he triumphes, and passed griefe for-stals
With present ioy (sorrow lights pleasures flame:)
And whilst his hopes of _Happy-Fortune_ sings,
_Misfortune_ by, controls them with her wings.
Desir'd reliefe, and euer welcome rest,
The elements that forme the wearie man,
Began to hold a counsaile in his brest,
Painting his wants by sicknes pale and wan;
With other griefes, that others force opprest,
Aduising stay, (as what is but they can,)
Whilst he that fate to come, and past, nere feard,
Concludes to stay till strength decayd repaird.
Then casts he Anchor hulling on the maine,
And all his shyps poore Citizens recounts,
And hundred iust were free from sicknes paine,
Fourscore and ten death their redress accounts;
So that of all both sicke and sound vnslaine,
Vnto two hundred wanting ten amounts.
A slender armie for so great a guide,
But vertue is vnknowne till it be tride.
Those whom their harts enabled to attempt,
He puts a shoare to make supplie for neede;
Those whom long sicknes taught of death contempt,
He visits, and from _Ioues_ great Booke doth reede
The balme which mortall poysen doth exempt;
Those whom new breathing health like sucklings feed,
Hie to the sands, and sporting on the same,
Finde libertie, the liues best liuing flame.