the Racke, betweene foure a clocke afternoone, and ten a clocke
at night, having had inflicted upon me three score seven torments:
Neverthelesse they continued me a large halfe houre (after all my
tortures) at the full bending; where my body being all begored with
blood, and cut through in every part, to the crushed and bruised bones,
I pittifully remayned, stil roaring, howling, foaming, bellowing,
and gnashing my teeth, with insupportable cryes, before the pinnes
were undone, and my body loosed.
True it is, it passeth the capacity of man, either sensibly to
conceave, or I patiently to expresse the intollerable anxiety of mind,
and affliction of body in that dreadfull time I sustayned.
At last my head being by their armes advanced, and my body taken
from the Rack, the water regushed abundantly from my mouth; then
they recloathing my broken, bloody, and cold trembling body, being
all this time starke naked, I fell twice in a sounding trance: which
they againe refreshed with a little Wine, and two warme Egges, not
for charity done, but that I should be reserved to further punishment;
and if it were not too truely knowne these sufferings to be of trueth,
it would almost seeme incredible to many, that a man being brought
so low, with starving hunger, and extreame cruelties, could have
subsisted any longer reserving life.
And now at last they charged my broken legs, with my former
eye-frighting irons, and done, I was lamentably carryed on their
armes to the Coach, being after mid-night, and secretly transported
to my former Dungeon without any knowledge of the Towne, save onely
these my [A lamentable remembrance of inhumane cruelty.] lawlesse,
and mercilesse Tormentors: where, when come, I was layd with my head
and my heeles alike high, on my former stones.
The latter end of this woefull night poore mourning Hazier the Turke,
was set to keepe me, and on the morrow, the Governour entred my roome
threatning me still with moe tortures to confesse, and so caused he
every morning long before day, his Coach to be rumbled at his gate,
and about me where I lay, a great noyse of tongues, [A dreadfull
affrighting for more tortures.] and opening of doores: and all this
they did of purpose to affright and distract me, and to make me beleeve
I was going to be rackt againe, to make me confesse an untrueth;
still thus they continued every day of five dayes till Christmas.
Upon Christmas day Mariana the Ladies Gentlewoman got permission
to visit me, and with her licence, she brought abundance of teares
presenting me also with a dish of Honey and Sugar, some confections,
and Rasins in a great plenty to my no small comfort, besides using
many sweet speeches for consolations sake.
Shee gone, and the next morning of Saint Johns day come, long ere
day the Towne was in Armes, the Bells ringing backward, the people
shouting, and Drummes beating; whereat my soule was over-joyed,
thinking that the Moores had seazed upon all: And in the after noone
the Turke comming to me with bread and water, being by chance the
second day, I asked him what the fray was? [Alas too good newes
not to have been true.] who replyed, be of good courage, I hope in
God and Mahomet, that you and I ere long shall be set at liberty;
for your Countrey-men, the English Armado, and mine the Moores, are
joyned together, and comming to sacke Malaga: And this morning Post
came from Allagant to premonish the Governour thereof; whereupon he
and the Towne have instantly pulled downe, all the Cowper shops,
and dwelling houses that were builded without by the shoare side,
adjoyning to the Townes Wall: But yet sayd he it is no matter, the
Towne may easily be surprised, and I hope we shall be merry in Algier,
for there is above a hundred sayle seene comming hither; and therewith
kissing my cheeke, hee kindly left mee.
Indeed, as for such newes from Allagant; the detriment of twenty
eight houses, the shoare-planted Cannon, the suspicion they had of
the English, and the Towne foure dayes in Armes were all true, save
onely the confederacy of the English with the Moores, that was false.
Witnesse Sir Richard Halkins, and the Captaines of his Squader, who
a little after Christmas, comming to the Road, went to the Governour
to cleere himselfe, and the Fleete of that absurd imputation layde to
their charge. The twelfth day of Christmasse expired, they beganne
to threaten me on still with moe Tortures, even till Candlemasse:
In all which comfortlesse time, I was miserably afflicted with the
beastly plague of gnawing Vermin, which lay crawling in lumps, within,
without, and about my body: yea, hanging in clusters about my beard,
my lips, my nostriles, and my eye-browes, almost inclosing my sight.
And for a greater satisfaction to their mercilesse mindes, the
Governour caused Areta, his silver plate keeper, to gather and swipe
the Vermine upon me twice in eight dayes, which tormented me to the
death, beeing a perpetuall punishment; for mine armes being broake,
my hands lucken and sticking fast to the palmes of both hands,
[No payne so grievous, as a lame man to be still tormented with
gnawing vermine.] by reason of the shrunke sinewes; I was unable
to lift mine armes, or stir my fingers, much-lesse to avoyde the
filthy Vermine: neyther could my legges and feete performe it beeing
impotent in all. Yet I acknowledge the poore Infidell, some few times,
and when opportunity served, would steale the keyes from Areta, and
about mid-night would enter my Roome, with stickes and burning oyle,
and sweeping them together in heapes, would burne the greatest part,
to my great Releafe; or doubtlesse I had beene miserably eaten up,
and devoured by them.
And now some eight dayes before Candlemasse, the slave informed me
that an English Seminary Priest, borne in London, and belonging to the
Bishops Colledge of Malaga; and a Scottish Cowper, named Alexander
Ley, borne in Dunbar, and there married; were in Translating all
my Bookes and Observations out of English, in the Spanish tongue,
bringing every other day numbers of wrot Papers to the Governour,
and for their paines had thirty duccats allowed, and that they were
saying, I was an Arch-Hereticke to the Pope and the Virgin Mary.
Having redounded him concealed thankes, I was assured of their bloody
Inquisition, preparing my selfe in God, with Faith, and Patience to
Receive and gane-stand it: for my spirituall Resolution, was surely
founded, being sightlesse of company, and humane faces, I had intirely
the light of my Soule celebrate to God Almighty.
[A politick enquiry of a damnable inquisition.] And hereupon the second
day after Candlemas, the Governour, the Inquisitor a Canonicall Priest,
entered my Dungeon, accompanied with two Jesuites, one of which was
Predicator, and Superiour of the Tiatinean Colledge of Malaga: Where
being Chaire set, Candle-lighted, and doore locked; the Inquisitor
after diverse frivolous questions, demaunded me if I was a Romane
Catholicke, and acknowledged the Popes Supremacy. To whom I answered,
I was neyther the one, nor did the other. And what power (sayd I,)
have you to challenge me of my Religion, since it is a chiefe Article,
of the former concluded peace, that none of our Kings subjects should
be troubled by your Inquisition; but as you have murdered me for
alledged Treason; so you meane to Martyre me for Religion.
And you Governour, as you have Tortured and hunger-starved this
helplesse body, consumed with cold and vermine to the last of my life;
the Almighty God who revealeth the secrets of all things (although I
bee never relieved) will certainely discover it, to my Countrey and to
the World. And is this the best of your good deeds? you repay to our
mercifull King, who then being onely King of Scotland, in the time
of your just over-throw of Eighty Eight, gave secourse to thousands
of your Shipwracked people for many moneths; and in the end, caused
transport them safely to their desired Ports. Leaving to the Worlds
memory an eternall stampe of Christian Bounty, Mercy, and royall
Charity, and your acquittance to him, is an imputation of Treachery
to his Fleete, detayning and mis-regarding his Letters and Seales,
and now imposing to a tormented Innocent, your lawlesse Inquisition.
To which the Governour answered, all that was true, but it was
done more through feare then love, and therefore deserved the lesser
thankes; but (interim) wee will follow the utter-most of our ends. And
the Jesuite Predicator to confirme his words, sayd, there was no
faith to be kept with Heretickes, which directly or indirectly is
the sublime policy of Conquerours, which our mighty and invincible
Nation evermore taketh notice of and observeth.
[A damnable Inquisitor applying false attributs to our blessed
Lady.] Then the Inquisitor arrising, expressed himselfe thus: Behold
the powerfull majesty of Gods mother, Commaunder of her Sonne, equall
to the Father, Wife to the Holy Ghost, Queene of Heaven, Protector of
Angels, and sole Gubernatrix of the earth, &c. How thou being first
taken as a Spye, accused for Treachery, and innocently Tortured (as we
acknowledge we were better informed lately from Madrile of the English
intention) yet it was her power, her Divine power, which brought these
judgements upon thee; in that thou hast wrot calumniously against
her blessed miracles of Loretta: and against his Holinesse, the great
Agent, and Christs Viccar on earth: Therefore thou hast justly fallen
into our hands, by her speciall appointment; thy Bookes and papers,
are miraculously Translated by her speciall providence with thy owne
Countrey-men: wherefore thou maist clearely see, the impenetrable
Misteries of our glorious Lady in punishing her offenders: and for a
humble satisfaction, Repent thee of thy wickednesse, and be converted
to the Holy mother Church. And after many such like exhortations of all
the foure, the Inquisitor assigned me eight dayes for my Conversion:
Saying, that hee, and the Tiatines would twice a day visite mee
in that time, intreating me to be advised againe the next morning,
of these doubts and difficulties that withstood my Conscience.
[A Sicophaniticall Oration from a jugling Jebusite.] Then in leaving
mee, the Jesuite Predicator making a a Crosse upon my crossed breast,
sayd, My sonne, beholde you deserve to be burnt quicke, but by the
grace of our Lady of Loretta, whom you have blasphemed, wee will both
save your Soule and Body: Spewing forth also this Fæminine Latine;
Nam mansueta et misericordiosa est Ecclesia, O Ecclesia Romana! extra
quem non est salus: They gone and I alone, all this night, was I
instant with my God, imploring his Grace, to Rectifie my thoughts,
illuminate my understanding, confirme my confidence, beatifie my
memory, to sanctifie my knowledge, to expell the servile feare of
Death, and to save my soule, from the intangling corruption of any
private ends, illusions, or mundane Respects whatsoever.
The next morning, the three Ecclesiastickes returned, and being placed
with Chaires and Candles, the Inquisitor made interrogation, of what
difficulties, errors, or mis-beliefe I had. To whom ingenuously I
answered I had none, neyther any difficulty, errour, nor mis-beliefe;
but was confident in the promises of Jesus Christ, and assuredly
believed his Revealed will in the Gospell, professed in the Reformed
Catholicke Church; which being confirmed by Grace, I had the infallible
assurance in my Soule, of the true Christian Faith.
To these words, he answered, thou art no Christian, but an absurd
Hereticke, and without Conversion, a member of perdition. Whereupon
I replied, Reverend Sir, the nature of Charity and Religion, doe not
consist in opprobious speeches; wherefore if you would convert me
(as you say) convince mee by Argument: if not, all your threatenings
of fire, Death, nor Torments, shall make me shrinke from the truth
of Gods Word in Sacred Scriptures. [The fury of a mad inquisitor
to have almost slain me.] Whereupon the mad Inquisitor clapd mee on
the face with his foote, abusing me with many Raylings, and if the
jesuites had not intercepted him, he had stobbed me with a knife;
where, when dismissed, I never saw him more.
The third day insuing (and having broake their promise) the two
Jesuites returned, and after a frowning silence, the Superiour asked
me of my Resolution: I told him I was Resolved already, unlesse hee
could show me good Reasons in the contrary. Whereupon having past
with me some few superficial Arguments of their seaven Sacraments,
Intercession, Transubstantiation, Images, Purgatory, Miracles, Merit,
&c. he begun to brag of their Church her Antiquity, Universality,
and Uniformity. Auncient no (sayd I) for the Profession of my Faith,
hath beene ever since the first time of the Apostles; And Christ
had ever his owne Church (howsoever obscure) in the greatest time of
your darknesse.
So Rome foure hundred yeares and upward, was the true Church; but
afterward falling in apostacy by meanes of her corrupt leaders,
wee have left her in nothing, but what shee hath left her former
selfe. Universall no; although shee assumeth a Catholicke name, was
not the Church in the East, a greater Church than yours in the West for
hundreds of yeares, and I pray you what are now the Orientall Churches
in Asia, (besides the Greeks) and the Æthiopian Affricans that doe
not so much as know, or heare of your Pope, far lesse his profession.
With no small adoe, Boniface the third, obtained of Phocas the Emperour
to be called universall Bishop: which was asisted afterward by Puppin
the French King, and ratified by Paleologus, the father of Constantine
who lost Constantinople: [The Romish Church falls short of true
antiquity, universality, and uniformity.] And what long contraversies
about this new power, was betweene your Popes, and the counsells of
Carthage, Calcedon, Ephesus, Alexandria, and Nice. Uniformable no;
some of your Priests give the Sacrament onely in Bread, for reall
flesh and blood, some in Wine without Bread, and some in both.
The Bavarians in their owne language sing the Psalmes in prose at
their Masses, and not else where done: The second Commandement goeth
current amongst some of your Catholicks in France, yet not in Bretagne,
nor Provance; so doth it in Austria and Bavaria, but not in Italy
and Spaine.
It is most evident, what your former Popes have confirmed, the
succeeding Popes have disanulled, and dayly doe, as their present
lives, and your auncient Histories beare a true record.
And was there not at one time, three Popes in three severall
places? and oftentimes two at once: One professing one Heresie,
and another Atheisme: What mutinies and malice, are dayly among your
Monasteries, each envying anothers priviledge, anothers preferment,
anothers wealth: And your order (father) by all the other Monasticks,
is hated and vilipended to death; besides diversities of Doctrine,
betweene your professors and the Dominicans: and hundreds of like
disunities you have both in ceremony and order which now I suspend:
So I pray you (father) where your uniformity, much lesse your
universality, and worst of all your antiquity.
Having thus concluded, the fiery fac'd Jesuits, with boisterous
menacings left mee; and the eight day thereafter, being the last day of
their Inquisition, they returned againe, in a more milder disposition:
where after divers arguments on both sides, the two Jesuits with
teares distilling from their eyes, solidly protested, they were
sorry from their heart, for that terrible death I was to undergo,
and above all the loosing of my soule: [The Jesuits last allurements
for my conversion to their sect.] And falling downe on their knees,
cryed, convert, convert, O deare brother! for our blessed Ladies sake
convert: To whom I replyed, that neither death nor fire I feared;
for I was resolved for both, yet thinking my selfe unworthy to suffer
for Christ and the Gospells sake, considering my vildnesse and my
owne unworthinesse: yet the Spirit of God assureth my faith, it is
his divine pleasure it should be so that I must suffer. Wherefore if
I should divert, trust mee not, for I would but dissemble with you
(through feare, flattery, or force) to shunne present death.
Whereupon they called the Governour, and after their privy consulting,
hee thus spoke; Deare brother, my greatest desire is, to have thee a
good Christian, a Romane Catholick, to which if thy conscience will
yeeld, I will shew thee as great courtesie, as thou hast receaved
cruelty: for pitty it were, that such an invincible spirit, and endued
with so many good parts, should perish in both worlds for ever. Plucke
up thy heart, and let the love of our blessed Lady enter in thy soule:
Let not thy former sufferings dismay thee, (for thy sores being
yet greene and curable) I shall transport thee to a fine Chamber,
and there thou shalst have all needfull things for the recovery of
thy health and strength. Thy money and Patents shall be refounded,
but thy hereticall Bookes are already burned: And lastly sayd he,
I will send thee with my owne Servant to Court, Counsel, and King,
with letters from the holy Inquisition, and from mee, faithfully
promising thou shalt enjoy a Pension of three hundred Duccats a yeare.
But having satisfied his bewitching policy with a Christian constancy;
they all three left mee in a thundering rage; vowing, I should that
night have the first seale of my long sorrowes: And directing their
course to the Bishop and Inquisitor (for the Governour had wrested
the Inquisition upon mee, to free him of his former aspersion layd
upon the English Fleet, and my tryall therefore, converting it
all to matters of Religion) the Inquisition (I say) sat forthwith,
[A condemnatory sentence to death by the Inquisition.] where first I
was condemned to receave that night eleven strangling torments in my
Dungeon: and then after Easter Holy dayes, I should be transported
privatly to Grenada, and there about mid-night to be burnt body
and bones into ashes, and my ashes to be flung into the ayre: Well,
that same night the Scrivan, Sergeants, and the young English Priest
entered my melancholly staunce: where the Priest in the English tongue
urging mee all that he could (though little it was hee could doe)
and unprevailing, I was disburdened of mine irones, unclothed to
my skin, set on my knees and held up fast with their hands: where
instantly setting my teeth asunder with iron Cadges, they filled my
belly full of water, even gorgeing to my throat: Then with a garter
they bound fast my throat, till the white of mine eye turned upward;
and being laid on my side, I was by two Sergeants tumbled to and
fro seven times through the roome; even till I was almost strangled:
This done, they fastned a small cord about each one of my great toes,
and hoysing me therewith to the roofe of a high loft (for the cords
runne on two rings of iron fastned above) they cut the garter, and
there I hung, with my head downward, in my tormented weight, till
all the gushing water dissolved: This done, I was let downe from the
loft, quite senslesse, lying a long time cold dead among their hands:
whereof the Governour being informed, came running up stayres, crying,
Is he dead, O fie villanes goe fetch me Wine, which they powred in
my mouth, regayning thereby a slender sparke of breath.
[A Turkish slaves charity in the bowels of compassion.] These
strangling torments ended, and I reclothed, and fast bolted againe
they left mee lying on the cold floore praysing my God, and singing
of a Psalme. The next morning the pittifull Turke visiting mee with
bread and water, brought me also secretly in his shirt sleeve, two
handfull of Rasins and figges, laying them on the floore amongst
the crawling vermine, for having no use of armes nor hands, I was
constrayned by hunger and impotency of time, to licke one up with
another with my tongue: This charity of figs the slave did once every
weeke or fortnight, or else I had long or then famished.
After which sorrowfull distresse, and inhumane usage, the eye-melting
Turke taking displeasure, fell five dayes sicke, and bedfast: but
the house Spaniards understanding his disease made him beleeve I was
a Divell, a Sorcerer, a Nigromancer, and a blasphemous miscreant,
against their Pope, their Lady, and their Church; giving him such a
distast, that for thirty dayes, he never durst looke me in the face,
being affraid of witchcraft.
All this time of his absence, one Ellinor the Cooke, an Indian
Negro woman, attended mee, for she being a Christian drudge, had
more liberty to visit mee, than the slavish Infidell: who certainly
(under God) prolonged then my languishing life, conveighing me for
foure weekes space, once a day some lesse or more nourishment, and in
[The deceitfulness of female inconstancies.] her pocket a bottle glasse
of Wine. Being no wayes semblable to the soule betraying teares of
her Crocodilean sex which the Spanish Proverbe prettily avoucheth:
las mugeres, engannan a los hombres, dellas lastimandoles, con sus
lagrimas fingidas; dellas hallagandoles, con Palabras lesongeras:
to wit, Women deceave men, some of them, grieving them with their
fayned teares, and other fawning on them with flattering words. But;
Kind Ellenor though blacke by nature borne,
Made bounty (not her beauty) to adorne
Her new chang'd Pagan life (though vail'd by night
Of Romish shades) to shine on mee more bright,
Then Sun scorched Æthiope beames; Art-glancing spangles:
Or that Ægyptian Bird, mans sight intangles
With rarest colours: for her loving sight
Though black as pitch, gave me transparent light:
Food, and stolne-food, though little, yet enough;
(The finer soile, the ebber tilles the Plough,)
Second with Wine, a mutchkin, thrice a weeke
Pack'd in her pocket, for it might not speeke:
Thus Females have extreames, and two we see,
Eyther too wicked, or too good they be;
For being good no Creature can excell them,
And being bad, no ill can paralell them:
But sure this gift, from course of nature came,
Rais'd up by Heaven to be my nursing Dame;
For she a Savage bred, yet shew more Love
And humane pitty, then desert could moove:
Wherein shee stain'd the Spaniards; they did nought
But what revenge, on slaughter'd sorrow wrought:
Thus, they who turn'd her, went themselves astray,
And shee though ignorant, trac'd the Christian way:
For which great God reward her make her Soule
As white within, as she without is foule;
And if I might, as reason knowes I would
Her love, and praise, my deeds should crowne with gold.
Now about the middle of Lent, Hazier, my former Friend, was appoynted
to attend me agayne, suspecting Ellenors compassion; but as my miseries
were multiplied, my Patience in God was redoubled: For men are rather
killed with the impatience they have in adversity, then adversity
it selfe: And of all men, that man is most [An impatient man in
trouble is a triple torture.] unhappy, to whom God in his troubles
hath not given Patience; for as the violent enemy of age is griefe,
so is the mindes impatiency, the arch-corruptor of all our troubles:
But indeede in the weakenesse of judgement, when men seeme lost by long
affliction to themselves, then they are often and ever neerest to God:
for who would have thought, that I who had seene so many sects and
varieties of Religion, dispersed over the face of the earth, could
have stucke fast to any religion at all; Travailers being reputed to
be Ubique et omnibus parati. But I will tell thee Christian, it was
the grace of God in me, and not mine: For as fire lying hid under
ashes, and touch'd will flame; so I seeming to my selfe carelesse of
Christianity, then God pricking my Conscience made tryall of my Faith:
For Christ forbid, that every Shippe which coasteth the rockey shoare,
should leave her ruines there.
This I speake not for any selfe-prayse, but to glorifie God, and to
condemne the rash censures of opinion, and with Phocion, I mistrust
my selfe, because of popular applause: Erubuit quasi peccasset
quod placuerit: But now to abbreviate a thousand Circumstances
of my Lamentable sufferings, which this Volume may not suffer to
containe: By Gods great providence, about a fortnight before Easter,
Anno 1621. there came a Spanish Cavaliere of Grenada to Malaga, whom
the Governour one night invited to Supper, being of old acquaintance:
where after Supper to intertayne Discourse, the Governour related and
[Gods great mercy in my first discovery by a stranger.] disclosed to
the stranger (God working thereby my discovery and deliverance) all
the proceedings and causes of my first apprehending, my Confessions,
Torments, starvings, their mistaking of the English Fleete, and finally
the wresting of the Inquisition upon me, and their Condemnatory
Sentence seeming also much to Lament my mis-fortunes, and praysing
my Travailes and Deserts.
Now all this while, the Gentlemans servant, a Flandrish Fleming,
standing at his Maisters backe, and adhering to all the Governours
Relations, was astonished, to heare of a sakelesse Stranger, to have
indured, and to indure such damnable Murther and Cruelty. Whereupon,
the Discourse ending and mid-night past, the stranger returned to his
Lodging; where the Fleming having bedded his Maister, and himselfe
also in another Roome, he could not sleepe all that night, and if hee
slumbered, still hee thought hee saw a man Torturing, and burning in
the fire: which hee confessed to M. Wilds when morning came.
Well, he longed for day, and it being come, and hee cloathed,
hee quietly left his Lodging, inquiring for an English Factor, and
comming to the House of M. Richard Wilds, the chiefe English Consull:
Hee told him all what hee heard the Governour tell his Master, but
could not tell my name: only Maister Wilds conjectur'd it was I,
because of the others report of a Traveller, and of his first and
former acquaintance with me there.
[These are the English Factors which first wrought my
reliefe.] Whereupon the Fleming being dismissed, he straight sent for
the other English Factors, Mr. Richard Busbitche, Mr. John Corney,
Mr. Hanger, Mr. Stanton, Mr. Cooke, Mr. Rowley, and Mr. Woodson:
where advising with them, what was best to be done for my reliefe;
they sent letters away immediatly with all post dilligence, to Sir
Walter Aston, his Majesties Ambassadour lying at Madrile: Upon which
hee mediating with the King and Counsell of Spaine, obtained a strait
warrant to command the Governour of Malaga, to deliver mee over in
the English hands: which being come, to their great disliking, I was
released on Easter-satturday before midnight, and carryed uppon Hazier
the slaves backe to Master Busbitches house, where I was carefully
attended till day light.
Meanewhile (by great fortune) there being a Squader of his Majesties
Ships lying in the Road, Sir Richard Halkins came earely a shoare,
accompanied with a strong trayne, and receaved mee from the Merchants:
Whence I was carryed on mens armes in a payre of blanquets, to [I
durst not stay a shoare for feare of the Inquisition.] the Vangard
his Majesties ship. And three dayes thereafter, I was transported to
a ship bound for England, the Fleets victualler, named the goodwill
of Harwich; by direction of the Generall Sir Robert Maunsell: where
being well placed, and charge given by Sir Richard Halkins to the ships
master William Westerdale, for his carefulnes toward the preservation
of my life, which then was brought so low & miserable. The foresaid
Merchants sent mee from shoare (besides the ships victuals) a sute
of Spanish apparrell, twelve Hennes, a barrell of Wine, a basket
full of Egges, two Roves of Figges and Rasins, two hundred Orenges
and Lemmons, eight pounds of Sugar, a number of excellent good Bread,
and two hundred Realls in Silver and Gold; besides two double Pistolls
Sir Richard Halkins sent mee as a token of his love.
The kindnesses of whom to bury in oblivion, were in me the very shame
of ingratitude, I being then a lost man and hopelesse of life, which
argued in them a greater singularitie of kindnesse and compassion. Yet
I remember [Religious Sir Richard Halkins my speciall friend.] for
all my lamenes and distraction, I intreated Sir Richard Halkins to
goe a shoare to the Governour, and demand him for my gold, my eight
Patents, my Booke of Armes, and his Majesties Letters and Seales; the
which he willingly obeyed, (being accompanied with Captaine Cave, and
Captaine Raymond) but could obtaine nothing at all, save blandements
and leying excuses.
And now on the twelfth day of our lying in the Road, our ship weighing
her Anchors, and hoysing her Sailes, wee passed through the straits
of Gibelterre, or fretum Herculeum; for this was the furthest Land
that Hercules could attayne unto; which made him erect a Pillar,
and indent thereon, nil ultra; but when Charles the fift, returned
from that untoward voyage of Algier, hee caused to set up in the same
place, Plus ultra.
Here in this Channell, I remarked a perpetuall current; flowing from
the Ocean to the Mediterrene Sea without any regresse: which indeed
is admirable the Mediterranean Seas being hembd in, and environed
with the mayne Continent of South Europe; the North and North west
coasts of Asia, and the Northerne parts of Affricke; save onely the
narrow passage of Hellespont, which from Mare Propontis bendeth his
course to Mare Euxinum: And yet the Euxine, or blacke Sea, hath no
affinity with any other moving waters, being likewise incompassed with
the mayne continent: And from it also runneth a continuall current,
through Bosphorus Thraicus, to the Mediterraneum.
[The strait of Gibelterre five leagues broad.] This narrow Sea on
Affricke, or side of Fez, consisteth betweene Cap di Sprat, and the
Promontore of Sewty, and upon the coast of Spayne, betweene Cap de
Trafolger, and the butting forehead-land of Gibelterre, or Jubile
Tauro; the passage being five leagues broad, and nine in length.
And to be briefe, upon the fifty day after my departure from Malaga, I
arrived at Datford upon Thames; whence the next morning I was carried
to Theoballs on a feather-bed, and brought to the privy Gallery,
for the Kings comming from Parke. Witnesse all the Court of England,
even from the King to the Kitchin, what a martyrd anatomy I was, at
then of me their first sight; and what small hope was either expected
of my life or recovery.
Where, when immediatly having made my most humble and grievous
complaints unto his sacred Majesty, his gracious consideration (in
the meane time) was such, for the recovery of my health, that I was
twice sent to the Bath at the charges of his Royall love, during
the space of twenty seven weekes, where by the Divine providence,
and his Princely clemency, I have recovered for the time in a large
measure, the health and strength of my body, although my left Arme,
and crushed bones be incurable.
Meane while, in the first Weeke of my Arrivall in England, I was
conveyed from Theobalds (by his Majesties direction) to Don Diego
Surmento de Gundamore, the Spanish Ambassadour, then Resident in
Holborne. [A false promise unperformed.] Where he votally undertooke,
before then the two Lord Marquesses, Hammilton and Buckingham,
(confirming it the day following to his Majesty at Greenewich) that
after a condigne tryall had from Spaine, concerning my grievances:
I should have all my money, Cloathes, Observations, Testimoniall
Patents, and his Majesties Seales restored me agayne, with a thousand
pound sterling also, (beeing modified by his Royall pleasure) of
the Governour of Malagaes meanes, for the maintayning of my Lame and
Racked body.
These promises were made the sixt of June 1621. and were to be
performed againe Michaelmasse day insuing: But this day come, hee
continued his drifts to the Prima vera; and it also arrived, he
deferred time, with new protestations, onely to Easter or Pascua:
And that Season come, he turned my Pascua to Prison: For a little
before his departure (seeing his policy too strong for mine oppressed
patience) I told him flatly in his face, from the griefe of my soule,
what he was, and what he went about; which afterward proved true:
Whereupon in the Chamber of Presence, before the Emperours Ambassadour,
and diverse Knights and Gentle-men, his Majesties servants: [A single
combat betweene a Spanish Earle and a Scottish Traveller.] he rashly
adventured the credite of Leager honour, in a single Combat against
me a retorted Plaintive: Where indeed his Fistula was contra-banded
with a fist, and for Victory, favour lent him authority; because of
my Commitment, for I lay nine Weekes incarcerate in the Marshall-Sea
at Southwarke: Whence I returned with more credite, then hee left
England with honesty; beeing both Vanquish'd and Victor. And my Muse
left to mourne for my Liberty, deplored thus.
Low levell'd lie, my lofty staring aymes,
Low droupes the flight, of my swift wing'd designe;
Low bowes that top, whose hight true merit claimes:
Low head-long fals the scope of my Engine:
Low turnes my round, harsh grow the sacred nine;
Low sinke my joyes, pale griefe, converts in care:
Low lurkes Ambition, in this breast of mine:
Low stoupe these smiles, that Fortune wont to share;
Low rest my drifts, my curious Travailes rare:
Low scude the limits, of my high-bred thought:
Low plunge my hopes, in darke deepes of despaire;
Low I o'erthrowne, with crosses low am brought:
Low live I here, in sad restraint and strife:
Low then the lower of the lowest life:
Low as I am, I'le lowly Sacrifice:
Low deep fetch'd sighes, to heaven on my low Knees.
But I remember in the aforesayd time of this my [A false aspersion
laid on me by Papists.] imprisonment, there were two Papists my
Countrey-men, who wrot to me a Letter; not like to a familiar
Epistle of Cicero: No, but they would have fastned an untruth upon
me; affirming that I was a Romane Catholicke in my heart; and that
they would justifie it, that I received the Sacrament at Rome, in
the first yeare that Paulus (Burgesius) Papa Quintus, came to his
triple Crowne: to whom in a true and Christian defence, my serious
and approbable reply was thus:
This is your Papall marke,
that as you runne astray,
You eyther would, or needes will have,
Christs Flocke to loose their way:
Can you avouch this point,
and dare you blaze your shame,
Thus Painter-like to portray'd so,
a figure for a name:
Shall Symbolizing I,
by Paragraphs defind,
In Paradoxicke passages,
Equivocate my minde.
No tincture shall ingrosse,
my Senses so delude,
To maculate my Splendant path,
with positives intrude:
In this Aversion I,
I more then Victor live,
Let Crittickes sterne aspersions spew,
this project I'le Atchieve:
My words shall Seale the truth,
my heart reserves the stamp,
Wherein my Characters of Faith,
as zealous shall incampe:
That desuetude of Soule,
I never did imbrace,
Nor shall; nor did, God is my Judge,
Such was his Heavenly grace:
No secondary meane,
shall aggrevate my hope,
The auncient Rule of Primacy,
shall be my moderne scope:
Can such occurrents stand,
as ominous in me,
When you detract and falsly wrest,
the truth in perjury:
It is your lineall straine,
Collusions to induct,
With Misticke Contradictories,
your implies you Construct:
No inference can prye,
nor strange illation proove,
In your exorbitanting braines,
my period I did moove:
This microcosmos mine,
such imputation scornes;
And turnes this grim demoniat spight,
on your Hell-forked hornes.
My name you presse to staine,
by base abortive leyes,
To circumcise my recent fame,
with sharpe edg'd Calumnies:
And labour to depresse,
that Confluence I have
From Heaven ascrib'd, confirmed by Grace,
the pledge my Spirit doth crave:
That strife can not avayle,
I so assume the right;
Your doubled darkned eies perceive,
I triumph in the light:
It's not your bloody Priests,
nor Tortures can prevaile,
I past your Purgatory ones,
the rest must you impale.
For what by dread or straine,
you can not worke nor do,
You wrest, you leye, you paint, you faine,
and add illusions too:
These Latent Forgeries,
annexed to your Faith,
As pendicles precipitate,
inhaunce your Soules to death:
With shrew'd Acerbious speech,
you Anathematize
My will Reciprocall to yours,
such guile you Moralize:
But this reflexing heart,
in a transparent flame,
Can by experience conster well,
your Churches Sire and Dame:
No Tort I introduct,
to damnifie your Sexe,
Whose empty Sculles (illuding feare)
your selves perverstly vexe:
I Organize the Truth,
you Allegate the Sense,
Disbending cominous defects,
in your absurd pretence:
Your immateriall proofes,
I wish you would detect,
My Processe craves Sedulity,
for what you Gulles Suspect.
After this, their sequell answere being mortified, and I set at liberty
by a just favour of the Privy Councell, my formalists durst never
attempt any further dispute with me, neither any passing countenance
in our rancounters: But what shall I say concerning my grievances,
Sed qui Patitur vincit: Since there is no helpe or Redresse to bee had
for wrongs past, no, neither (alasse) for any present in either meane,
or mighty falls: for when the Starres of great states, decline under
the selfe-same constellation of my sorrowes, and made the deplored
for spectacles, of the inconstancy of fortune; what shall I then in a
privat life, and publicke pilgrimage expect, but the common calamity
of this age, and the irrevocable redresse of my miseries sustayned,
for this Crowne and Kingdome of England, which shall be presently
cleared: yet would to God, I might doe, as Xerxes the Persian King
did, that when the Greekes had taken Sardis, the Metropole of Lydia,
he commanded one of his servants to stand before him everyday at
dinner, and cry aloud, saying; the Grecians have taken Sardis:
whereby he was never at quiet, till it was recovered.
[Incompatible griefe without deserved reliefe.] So would I, oppressed
I, by mighty powers; (though not a King, yet the faythfull subject
of a King) cry dayly from the heart-broken sorrow of my incompatible
injuries; O barbarous, and inhumane Malaga! when shall my soule be
revenged on thy cruell murther, and when shall mine eyes see thy
mercilesse destruction? But tush, what dreame I? now a dayes griefe
can find no reliefe, far lesse compassion, and meaner revenge,
and so farewell satisfaction, when flattering feare dare challenge
obsequiousnesse, to the alteration of any thing.
But afterward when death, Heavens fatall messenger, and enemy to
nature, had darted King James of matchlesse memory; who sometimes
(besides my soveraigne) in some respects, and for the former cause,
was a father to me; then was I forcibly (I say) constrayned to
preferre a bill of grievance to the upper house of Parliament Anno
1626. which I dayly followed 17. weekes: Well; my grievances were
heard and considered, and thereupon an order graunted me (bearing the
Lords reference and pleasure concerning my suite) unto Sir Thomas
Coventrey, Lord keeper of Englands great Seale; and through whose
office my businesse should have passed: which order was delivered
unto him, by Mr. James Maxwell Knight of the blacke Rode, and one
of his Majesties Bed-chamber, in behalfe of the Lords of the upper
house: The order thus being reserved then with the Lord-keeper for
a moneth, hee appointed me to fetch him (because of a Warrant to his
[A direction for Certificats by the Lord Keeper.] State office) the
Certificats of Sir Walter Aston, Sir Robert Maunsell, and Sir Thomas
Button, to cleare my sufferings, and the causes wherefore: which I
gladly obeyed, and brought all their three Certificates unto him:
yea, and Sir Walter Aston, (besides his hand-writ) spoke seriously
face to face with him thereanent.
Meane-while the house breaking up abruptly (because of soveraigne
disliking) their order for my suite could take none effect as then,
nor yet since, in regard it was no Session Parliament; and so my
order and reliefe lyeth suspended till some hapy time.
But now to confound the calumnious and vituperious Papists, the
miscreant and miserable Atheists, the peevish and selfe-opiniating
Puritanes, the faithles misbeleeving Mungrells of true Religion, and
of this trueth: And the very objections have beene sayd sometimes
in my face, by irreligious and disdainefull Nullifidians: who have
sayd and thought that I could neither be so constant, nor they so
cruell: I thinke it not amisse, to set downe verbally one of their
Certificats here, being all of one style, and to one purpose; and
thus it followeth.
To the Right Honorable, Sir Thomas Coventry Knight, Lord Keeper of
the great Seale of England, &c.
May it please your Honour: I have taken boldnesse to certifie your
good Lordship, of the trueth concerning the grievous sufferings of
this heavily injured man, William Lithgow: true it is, that this
bearer, being bound for Alexandria in Egypt, having with him Letters
of safe Conduct, under the Hand and Seale of his late Majesty King
James of blessed memory; ran-countred with us, and our Fleete at
Malaga: Whereof I was imployed as Vice-Admirall against the Pyrats
of Algier; where he repayring a Boord of us, and frequenting our
Company a shoare, was presently (after we had set Sayle) apprehended
by Command of the Governour and Magistrates there as a Spie; whom
they suspected, had of purpose beene left behind by our Generall,
and us of the Counsell of Warre, for the Discovery of that place,
and other adjacent parts: Whereupon beeing secretly imprisoned in the
Governours Palace; and after serious examination of our intention;
hee was without any cause done, or offered by him, most unjustly put
to the cruell Racke and tortures; besides all other his unspeakable
miseries, which for a long time he sustained thereafter: whereof I
was credibly and infallibly informed by M. Richard Wilds, to whom
he was first discovered, and by other English Factors of good note
then resident there: in my repayring diverse times to the Roade of
that towne with my Squadron of shippes, during the time of his long
imprisonment, and after his deliverance. And afterward the Governour
there beeing better informed of our loyall proceedings in those parts,
and to colour their former cruelties, and suspition had of us, hee
did wrest the Inquisition upon him, where being condemned to Death,
he had doubtlesse undergone (as I was likewise truely informed by the
afore-said Merchants) the finall Sentence of their Inquisition: if it
had not beene, for the Religious care, and speedy prevention of Sir
Walter Aston, then Leiger Ambassadour there: By whose earnest mediation
he being delivered, and afterwards sent home by direction of Sir Robert
Maunsell Generall: I now commend his grievous and lamentable cause,
unto your Lordshippes tender and Religious Consideration. Resting,
Your Lordships to Command,
to serve You:
From Fulham this tenth
of July. 1626.
Sir Thomas Button.
And now to conclude this Tragicall discourse, the Religious eye, may
perceive Gods compassionate love, foure wayes here extended. First,
his powerfull providence in my long and admirable preservation
in Prison: hunger, Vermine, and Tortures, being my comfortlesse
Companions. Secondly, the pittifull kindnesse of his All-seeing [Gods
miraculous mercy in my deliverances.] Eye, in the miraculous Wonder
of my Discovery, when the perverted policy of subtile Serpents, had
sceleratly suggested my concealement. Thirdly, his unspeakable mercy
in my unlooked-for deliverance, beeing by hopelesse me, not thought,
nor sought; and yet by his munificence was wrought. And lastly,
his gracious goodnesse, in the recovery (after some large measure)
of my health and use of body againe; all prayse and glory be to his
infinite Majesty therefore.
And finally, merit beeing masked, with the darkenesse of ingratitude,
and the morning Spring-tide of 1627. come: I set face from Court for
Scotland, suiting my discontents, with a pedestriall Progresse, and my
feete with the palludiat way; where fixing mine eyes on Edenbrugh,
and prosecuting the Tennor of a Regall Commission (which partly
beeing some where obeyed, and other-where suspended) it gave mee a
large sight of the whole Kingdome, both Continent, and Iles. The
particular Description whereof, in all parts, and of all places,
besides Ports and Rivers: I must referre to the owne Volume already
perfected, Intitulated Lithgowes Surveigh of Scotland: which this
Worke may not Containe, nor time suffer to publish till a fitter
occasion. Only Commenting a little upon some generalls. I hasten to
be at Finis. Traversing the Westerne Iles (whose inhabitants, like to
as many Bulwarkes, are abler and apter to preserve and defend, their
libertie and Precincts from incursive invasions; then any neede of
Forts or Fortified places they have, or can be required there: Such is
the [The kindnes I received from the illustrious Lord the Marques of
Hammilton.] desperate courage of these awfull Hebridians:) I arrived
(I say) at the Ile of Arrane, Anno 1628. where for certayne dayes, in
the Castle of Braidwicke, I was kindly intertayned, by the illustrious
Lord, James Marquesse of Hammilton, Earle of Arrane and Cambridge, &c.
Whom GOD may strengthen, with the liveliest Heart,
And fearelesse Minde, of all, e'vr fac'd that Art
For Bohems Queene: Heavens prosper His intent!
With Glorious Successe, and a Brave event:
That by a King beene Sped, for a Kings Sake,
To helpe a King; all Three from Him may take
Auspicuous Service, Friendship, Faithfull Love,
'Gainst whom, and his, no time can breach improove.
Let then (great God) blest Sparkes of Favour fall
On his Designes, and Theirs, our Friends, and All;
And Angels Guard Him, let Thy Mighty hand
(Partition-like) 'twixt Him, and dangers stand:
That Martiall ends, and Victory may Crowne
His happy Hopes, his Life, with Love Renowne.
This Ile of Arrane, is thirty miles long, eight in breadth, and distant
from the Maine, twenty foure miles; beeing sur-clouded with Goatfield
Hill: which with wide-eyes, over-looketh our Westerne Continent, and
the Northerne Countrey of Ireland: bringing also to sight in a cleare
Summers day, the Ile of Manne, and the higher Coast of Cumberland:
A larger prospect no Mountaine in the World can show, poynting out
three Kingdomes at one sight: Neither any like Ile or braver Gentry,
for good Archers, and hill-hovering Hunters. Having agayne re-shoared
the Maine, I coasted Galloway even to the Mould that butteth into
the Sea, with a large Promontore, being the South-most part of the
Kingdome. And thence footing all that large Countrey to Dumfries, and
so to Carlile: I found heere in Galloway in diverse Rode-way Innes,
as good Cheare, Hospitality, and Serviceable attendance, as though
I had beene ingrafted in Lombardy or Naples.
[The nobility and commodities of Galloway excell in goodnesse.] The
Wooll of which Countrey, is nothing inferiour to that in Biscai of
Spaine: providing they had skill, to fine, Spin, Weave, and labour it
as they should. Nay, the Calabrian silke, had never a better luster,
and softer gripe, then I have seene and touched this growing wooll
there on Sheepes backes: the Mutton whereof excelleth in sweetnesse. So
this Country aboundeth in Bestiall, especially in little Horses,
which for mettall and Riding, may rather be tearmed bastard Barbs,
then Gallowedian Nagges.
Likewise their Nobility and Gentry are as courteous, and every way
generously disposed, as eyther discretion would wish, and honour
Command: that (Cunningham being excepted, which may bee called the
Accademy of Religion, for a sanctified Clergy, and a godly people)
certainly Galloway is become more civill of late, then any Maritine
Country, bordering with the Westerne Sea. But now to observe my former
Summary condition, the length of the Kingdome lyeth South and North:
That is, betweene Dungsby head in Cathnes, and the afore-sayde Mould
of Galloway; beeing distant per rectam lineam, which my weary feet
troad over from poynt to poynt (the way of Lochreall, Carrick, Kyle,
Aire, Glasgow, Stirveling, St. Johns Towne, Stormount, the Blair of
Atholl, the Bra of Mar, Badeynoh, Innernes, Rosse, Sutherland, and so
to the North Promontore of Cathnes) extending to three hundred twenty
miles: which I reckon to be foure hundred and fifty English miles:
Confounding hereby the ignorant presumption of blind Cosmographers,
who [Scotland is 120. miles longer than England.] in their Mappes
make England longer than Scotland; when contrariwise Scotland out
strippeth the other in length, a hundred and twenty miles. The breadth
whereof I grant is narrower than England; yet extending betweene the
extremities of both Coasts in divers parts to threescore, fourscore,
and a hundred of our miles: But because of the Sea ingulfing the
Land, and cutting it in so many Angles, making great Lakes, Bayes,
and dangerous Firths, on both sides of the Kingdome, the true breadth
thereof can not justly be conjectured, nor soundly set downe.
Our chiefest fresh water Lakes are these, Lochlomond, contayning
twenty foure Iles, and in length as many miles: divers whereof are
inriched with Woods, Deere, and other Bestiall: The large and long
Lake of Loch-Tay, in Atholl, the Mother and Godmother of Headstrong
Tay, the greatest River in the Kingdome: And Lochnes, in the higher
parts of Murray, the River whereof (that graceth the pleasant and
commodious situation of Innernes) no frost can freize: The propriety
of which water will quickly melt and dissolve any hard congealed
lumps of frozen Ice, be it on Man or Beast, stone or timber.
The chiefest Rivers are Clyde, Tay, Tweed, Forth, Dee, Spay, Nith,
Nesse, and Dingwells flood-ingorging Lake, that confirmeth Porta
salutis; being all of them, where they returne their tributs to
their father Ocean portable; and as it were resting places for
turmoyled seas and ships: And the principall Townes are Edenbrugh,
Perth, Glasgow, Dundie, Abirdene, St. Andrewes, Aire, Stirveling,
Lithgow, Dumfries, Innernes, Elgin, Minros, Jedbrugh, Hadington,
Leith, &c. and for antiquity, old Lanerk, &c.
So the most delicious soiles of the Kingdome are these following:
first, the bounds of Clyde, or Cliddisdale, betweene Lanerk and
Dunbertan, distanced twenty sixe miles; and thence downeward to Rossay
that kisseth the devulgements of the River: the beginning whereof is
at Arick stone sixteene miles above Lanerk, whose course contendeth
for threescore miles: All which, being the best mixed Countrey for
Cornes, Meeds, Pastorage, Woods, Parks, Orchards, Castles, Pallaces,
divers kinds of Coale, and earth-fewell, that our included Albion
[Cliddisdale is the Paradice of Scotland.] produceth: And may justly
be surnamed the Paradice of Scotland: Besides, it is adorned on both
borders along, with the greatest Peeres, and Nobility in the Kingdome:
The Duke of Lennox, the Marques of Hammilton, the Earle of Angus, the
Earle of Argyle, and the Earles of Glencairne, Wigton, and Abircorne.
And for Lord Barons, Semple, Rosse, Blantyre, and Dalliell:
The chiefest Gentry whereof are the Knights and Lairds of Luce,
Skellmurelie, Blakhall, Greenock, Newwark, Houston, Pook-maxwell,
Sir George Elpingston of Blythswood, Minto, Cambusnethen, Calderwood,
the two Knights of Lieye, and Castel-hill, Sir James Lokharts elder &
yonger, Lamington, Westraw, his Majesties Gentleman Sewer, Blakwood,
Cobinton, Stanebyres, and Corhous, &c. All which in each degree,
as they illuminat the soyle with grandure, so the soyle reflecteth
on them againe with beauty, bounty, and riches.
But least I partiall prove, because my breath
First sprung from Lanerk, so my christian faith;
Where thence (O natall place) my soule did coyle,
Blood, sprit, and sense, flesh, birth, life, love, and soyle;
I'le leave Clydes fragrant fields, resplendant banks,
Bedeckt with Silvans, stately beauteous ranks
Of Pandedalian sparks; which lend the sight
Of variable colours, best Natures light;
And close these silver shades, that dazeling bloome
Mongst thickest Groaves, with many brae-fac'd broome;
Strict in the records of eternall fame,
For sight, for gaine, for birth, for noble name.
And now the second soyle for pleasure, is the platformd [Carse
and Murray two pleasant Soyles.] Carse of Gowry, twelve miles long
(Wheat, Rye, Cornes, Fruit yards, being its onely commodity) which
I may tearme for its levelld face, to be the Garden of Angus; yea,
the Diamond-plot of Tay, or rather the youngest Sister of matchlesse
Piemont: The Inhabitants being onely defective in affablenesse,
and communicating courtesies of naturall things, whence sprung this
Proverbe, The kearlles of the Carse.
The third, and beautifull soyle, is the delectable planure of Murray,
thirty miles long, and sixe in breadth: whose comely grounds,
inriched with Cornes, Plantings, Pastorage, stately dwellings,
overfaced with a generous Octavian Gentrye, and topped with a Noble
Earle, its chiefest Patrone; it may be surstyled, a second Lombardy,
or pleasant Meaddow of the North.
Neither may I (abandoning eye-pleasing grounds) seclude here that
sudaick bottome, reaching thirty miles twixt Perth and Minros;
involving the halfe of Angus, within a fruitfull, populous, and
nobilitat planure, the heart whereof saluting Glames, kisseth Cowper:
So likewise, as thrice divided Louthiane, is a girnell of graine,
for forrane Nations; and Fiffe twixt Carraill and Largo, the Ceren
trenches of a Royall Camp, the incircling coast a nest of Corporations;
and Meandring Forth from tip-toed Snadoun, the prospicuous mirrour
for matchlesse Majesty: Even so is melting Tweed, and weeping Tiviot,
the Ægyptian Strands, that irriguat the fertile fields, which imbolster
both bosomes, sending their bordering breath of dayly necessaries to
strengthen the life of Barwick.
[The Nobility and Gentry of Scotland, are the best house-keepers, and
generous Gentlemen in the World.] Now as for the Nobility and Gentry
of the Kingdome; certainely, as they are generous, manly, and full
of courage; so are they courteous, discreet, learned Schollers, well
read in best Histories, delicatly linguishd, the most part of them,
being brought up in France or Italy: That for a generall compleat
worthinesse, I never found their matches amongst the best people of
forrane Nations: being also good house-keepers, affable to strangers,
and full of Hospitality.
And in a word the Seas of Scotland, and the Iles abound plentifully
in all kind of Fishes, the Rivers are ingorged with Salmond, the
high-landish mountaines overcled with Firre-trees, infinite Deere,
and all sorts of other Bestiall, the Valleyes full of Pasture,
and Wild fowle; the low layd Playnes inriched with beds of grayne;
Justice all where administred, Lawes obeyed, malefactors punished,
Oppressors curbed, the Clergy religious, the people sincere Professors,
and the Country peaceable to all men.
The chiefest commodities whereof, transported beyond sea, are these,
Wheat, Cornes, Hides, Skins, Tallow, Yearn, Linnen, Salt, Coale,
Herrings, Salmond, Wooll, Keilling, Ling, Turbet and Seaths. And last,
and worst, all the Gold of the Kingdome, is daily Transported away with
superfluous posting for Court. Whence they never returne any thing,
save spend all, End all, then farewell Fortune: So that numbers of
our Nobility and Gentry now, become with idle projects, downe-drawers
of destruction, upon their owne neckes, their children, and their
estates: and posting Postilions by dissolute courses, to [Prodigall
and superfluous posting from Scotland to Court.] inrich Strangers,
leave themselves deservingly desolate, of Lands, Meanes, and Honesty
for ever. Doing even with their former Vertue, long continuance, and
memory of their noble Ancestors, as M. Knoxe did with our glorious
Churches of Abbocies, and Monasteries (which were the greatest beauty
of the Kingdome,) knocking all down to desolation; leaving nought
to be seene of admirable Edifices, but like to the Ruines of Troy,
Tyrus, and Thebes, lumpes of Wals, and heapes of stones.
So do our ignoble Gallants (though nobly borne) swallow up the honour
of their famous Predecessours, with posting foolery, boy-winding
Hornes, cormandizing Gluttony, Lust, and vaine Apparrell; making a
Transmigration of perpetuity to their present Belly, and Backe. O
lashivious ends: which I have condignely sisted, in my last Worke
Intitulated Scotlands welcome to King Charles: with all the abuses
and grievances of the whole Kingdome besides.
But now leaving Prodigalls to their Purgatoriall Postings, I come to
Trace through Rosse, Sutherland, and Cathnes: Soiles so abundant in all
things, fit to illustrate greatnesse, Resplendour Gentry, and succour
Commons; that their fertile goodnesse far exceeded my expectation, and
the affability of the better sort my deservings: beeing all of them the
best, and most bountifull Christmasse-keepers (the Greekes excepted)
that ever I saw in the Christian World: Whose continuall incorporate
Feastings one with another, beginning at Saint Andrewes day, never
end til Shrovetide: which Ravished me, to behold, such great and
daily cheare, familiar fellow-ship, and joviall chearefulnesse; that
me thought the whole Winter there, seemed to me, but the Jubilee of
one day. And now beeing arrived at Maii, to imbarke for Orknay, sight,
[A dutifull remembrance of two Noble persons.] time, and duty, command
me to celebrate these following Lines, to gratifie the kindnesse of
that noble Lord, George Earle of Cathnes, with his Honorable Cousing,
and first Accadent of his House, the Right worshipful Sir William
Sinclair of Catboll Knight, Laird of Maii.
Sir! sighting now thy Selfe, and Pallace Faire,
I find a novelty, and that most rare,
The time though cold and stormy, sharper Sun,
And far to Summer, scarce the Spring begun;
Yet with good lucke, in Februar, Saturnes prey
Have I not sought, and found out Fruitfull May,
Flank'd with the Marine Coast, prospective stands,
Right opposite to the Orcade Iles and Lands:
Where I for floures, ingorg'd strong grapes of Spaine,
And liquor'd French, both Red and white amaine:
Which Pallace doth containe, two foure-squar'd Courts,
Graft with brave Works, where th' Art-drawne pensile sports
On Hals, high Chambers, Galleries, office Bowres,
Cells, Roomes, and Turrets, Plat-formes, stately Towres:
Where greene-fac'd gardens, set at Floraes feet,
Make Natures beauty, quicke Appelles greet:
All which surveigh'd, at last the mid-most gate
Design'd to me, the Armes of that great state,
The Earles of Cathnes; to whose praise inbag'd,
My Muse must mount, and here's my pen incadg'd:
First then their Armes, a Crosse, did me produce
Limbd like a Scallet, trac'd with fleur du Luce;
The Lyon, red, and rag'd, two times divided
From coyne to coyne, as Heraulds have decyded:
The third joynd Staunce denotes to me a Galley,
That on their sea-rapt foes, dare make assailley:
The fourth a gallant Ship, pust with taunt saile
Gainst them, their Ocean dare, or Coast assaile:
On whose bent Creist, a Pelican doth sit
An Embleme, for like love, drawne wondrous fit:
Who as shee feeds her young, with her heart blood
Denotes these Lords, to theirs, like kind, like good:
Whose best Supporters, guard both Sea, and Land,
Two sterne drawne Griffons, in their strength to stand:
Their Dictum beares this verdict, for Heavens Ode
Ascribd this clause; commit thy worke to God:
O sacred Motto! Bishop Sinclairs straine,
Who turnd Fiffes Lord, on Scotlands foes agayne:
Loe! here's the Armes of Cathnes, here's the Stock!
On which branch'd-boughes relye, as on a Rocke.
But further in, I found like Armes more patent;
To kind Sir William, and his line as latent;
The Primier Accade, of that noble race
Who for his vertue, may reclayme the place;
Whose Armes, with tongue and buckle, now they make
Fast crosse, signe ty'd, for a faire Lesslyes sake.
The Lyon hunts o're Land, the Ship, the Sea,
The ragged Crosse can scale high walles wee see;
The wing-layd Galley, with her factious oares
Both Havens and Floods command, and circling shoares:
The feathred Griffon flees, O grim-limbd beast!
That winging Sea and Land, upholds this Creist:
But for the Pelicans, life-sprung kind Story,
[Sir William Sinclairs Motto.] Makes honour sing, Virtute,
et Amore.
Nay, not by blood, as she her selfe can do,
But by her paterne, feeding younglings too;
For which this Patrones Crescent stands so stay,
That neither Spight, nor Tempest, can shake Maii:
Whose Cutchions cleave so fast, to top, and side,
Portends to mee, his Armes shall ever bide.
So Murckles Armes are so, except the Rose
Spred on the Crosse, which Bothwels Armes disclose;
Whose Uterine blood he is, and present Brother
To Cathnes Lord; all three sprung from one Mother.
Bothwels prime Heretrix, plight to Hepburnes Race,
From whom Religious Murckles Rose I trace,
This Countries instant Shrieve: whose Vertue rais'd
His honoured worth, his godly life more prais'd.
But now to rouze their Rootes, and how they Sprung,
See how Antiquity, Times triumph Sung.
This Scallet, worth them blanch'd, for endeavour
And Service done, to Englands Conquerour;
With whom from France, they first to Britaine came,
Sprung from a Towne St. Claire, now turn'd their name.
Whose Predecessours, by their Val'rous hand,
Wonne endlesse Fame, twice in the Holy Land:
Where in that Christian Warre, their blood beene lost,
They loath'd of Gaule, and sought our Albion Coast.
Themselves to Scotland came, in Cammoires Raigne
With good Queene Margret, and her English traine.
The Ship from Orknay Sayl'd, now rul'd by Charles,
Whereof they Sinclairs, long time, had beene Earles.
Whose Lord then William, was by Scotlands King,
(Call'd Robert Second, First, whence Stewarts spring)
Sent with his second Sonne, to France, cross'd James
Who eighteene yeares, liv'd Captivate at Thames.
This Prisner last turn'd King, call'd James the First,
Who Sinclairs Credit, kept in Honours thirst:
The Galley was the Badge of Cathnes Lords,
As Malcome Cammoirs raigne at length Records:
Which was to Magnus given, for Service done,
Against Mackbaith, usurper of his Crowne.
The Lyon came, by an Heretrix to passe,
By Marriage; whose Sire, was surnam'd Dowglas.
Where after him, the Sinclair now Record,
Was Shirefe of Dumfreis, and Nidsdales Lord:
Whose wife was Neece, to good King James the Third;
Who for exchange, 'twixt Wicke and Southerne Nidde
Did Lands incambiat: whence this Cathnes Soile
Stands fast for them, the rest, their Friends recoile.
Then Circle-bounded Cathnes, Sinclairs ground,
Which Pentland Firth invirones, Orknayes sound;
Whose top is Dunkanes Bay, the Roote the Ord;
Long may it long, stand fast for their true Lord:
And as long too, Heavens grant what I require,
The Race of Maii, may in that Stocke aspire;
Till my Age may last, Times glasse be runne,
For Earths last darke Ecclipse, of no more Sunne.
Forsaking Cathnes, I imbraced the trembling Surges (at Dungsby)
of strugling Neptune, which ingorgeth Pentland or Pitland Firth
with nine contrarious Tides: each Tide over-thwarting another with
repugnant courses, have such violent streames, and combustious waves,
that if these dangerous Births be not rightly taken in passing over,
the Passengers shall quickely loose sight of life and land for ever:
yea, and one of these tides so forcible, at the backe of Stromaii,
that it will carry any Vessell backward, in despight of the winds,
the length of its rapinous current.
[A dangerous place in Pentland Firth.] This dreadfull Firth is
in breadth betweene the Continent of Cathnes, and the Ile of South
Rannald-shaw in Orknay twelve miles: And I denote this credibly, in a
part of the North-west end of this Gulfe, there is a certaine place of
sea, where these destracted tydes make their rancountering Randevouze,
that whirleth ever about: cutting in the middle circle a devalling
hole, with which if either Ship or Boat shall happen to encroach,
they must quickly either throw over some thing into it, as a Barrell,
a piece of timber, and such like, or that fatall Euripus shall then
suddenly become their swallowing Sepulcher. A custome which these
bordering Cathenians and Orcadians have ever heretofore observed.
Arriv'd at South Rannaldshaw an Ile of five miles long, and thwarting
the Ile of Burray, I sighted Kirkwall, the Metropole of Pomonia, the
mayne Land of Orknay, and the onely Mistresse of all the circumjacent
Iles being thirty in number. The chiefest whereof (besides this
tract of ground, in length twenty sixe, and broad five, sixe and
seven miles) are the Iles of Sanda, Westra, and Stronza: Kirkwall it
selfe is adorned with the stately and magnifick Church of St. Magnus
built by the Danes, whose Signiory with the Iles lately it was; but
indeed for the time present, more beautified with the godly life of
a most venerable and religious Bishop Mr. George Grahame: whom now I
may tearme (Soveraignity excepted) to be the Father of the Countries
government, then an Ecclesiasticke Prelat: The Inhabitants being left
void of a Governour, or solid Patrone, are just become like to a broken
battell, a scattered people without a head: having but a Burges Shreive
to administer Justice, and he too an Aliene to them, and a Resider in
Edenburgh: So that in most differences, and questions of importance,
the Plaintives are inforced to implore the Bishop for their Judge,
and hee, the adverse Party for redresse.
[Zetland mightily impoverished by corrupt governement.] But the more
remote parts of this auncient little Kingdome, as Zetland, and the
adjacent Iles there; have found such a sting of deoccular government
within these few yeares; that these once happy Iles, which long agoe
my feet traded over, are Metamorphosed in the Anatomy of succourlesse
oppression, and the felicity of the Inhabitants, reinvolved within
the closet of a Cittadinean cluster.
But now referring the whole particulars, and dividuall descriptions
of these Septentrion Iles, the mayne Continent, and the Gigantick
Hebridian Iles, to my aforesayd worke to be published, intitulated
Lithgows surveigh of Scotland, I send this generall verdict to
the World:
Now having seene most part of thy selfe glore
Great Kingdomes, Ilands, stately Courts, rich Townes,
Most gorgeous showes, pomp-glory deckt renownes,
Hearbagious fields, the Pelage-beating shoare
Propitious Princes, Prelats, potent Crownes:
Smoake shadow'd times, curst Churles, Misers, Clownes.
Impregnate Forts, devalling floods, and more
Earth-gazing heights, Vayle-curling Plaines in store:
Court-rising honours, throwne on envies frownes;
Worme-vestur'd workes, Enamild Arts, wits lore:
Masse-marbled Mansions, Mineralls, coynd Ore,
State-superficiall showes, swift-glyding Moones:
I loath thy sight, pale streames, staine wattry eyne,
Whose glorious shades evanish, no more seene.
And now to conclude, as a Painter, may spoyle a Picture, but not
the face; so may some Stoicall Reader misconster and misconceave
some parts of this eye-set History, though not able to marre the
trueth of it: yet howsoever, here is the just relation of nineteene
yeares travells, perfited in three deare-bought voyages: The generall
computation of which dimmensious spaces, in my goings, traversings,
and returnings, through Kingdomes, Continents, and Ilands, which my
paynefull feet traced over (besides my passages of Seas and Rivers)
amounteth to thirty six thousand and odde miles, which draweth neare
to twice the circumference of the whole Earth. And so farewell.