AN ANSWER TO THE UNTRUTHS, PUBLISHED AND PRINTED IN SPAIN, IN GLORY OF THEIR SUPPOSED VICTORY achieved against our English NAVY, and the Right Honourable CHARLES Lord HOWARD, Lord high Admiral of England, etc. Sir FRANCIS DRAKE, and the rest of the Nobles and Gentlemen, Captains, and Soldiers of our said Navy. First written and published in Spanish By a Spanish  
Gentleman; who came hither out of the Low Countries from the service of the prince of PARMA, with his wife and family, since the overthrow of the Spanish Armada, forsaking both his country and Romish religion; as by this Treatise (against the barbarous impiety of the Spaniards; and dedicated to the Queen's most excellent Majesty) may appear.  
Faithfully translated by I. L.  
LONDON, Printed by john jackson, for Thomas Cadman. 1589.   

England to her Queen, S. D.  

Eternal years, thee prosper and uphold,  
(My sovereign Queen) the MIGHTY HAND,  
And grant thee morn and evening to behold,  
Health, content, joy, on thee, and me thy land.  
Treasure heaped up, of silver and of gold,  
Both day and night, within thy presence stand.  
And for reward befall upon thy foe,  
punishment and pain, with ever during wo.    

England to her Admiral.  

The Lion white, his looks against the sky,  
His visage grim, his dreadful frowning brow,  
Doth well bewray, my Howard, to the eye.  
Triumphing stands, who rules my Navy now:  
And long mayst thou it rule: far of, thy day to die:  
That frighted foes, may never dare again  
To sail my seas, nor once approach my main.  
I. LEA.    

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE, CHARLES, LORD HOWARD, BARON OF Effingham, Knight of the most Noble order of the Garter, Lord high Admiral of England, and one of her Majesty's most Honourable privy counsel, I. L. wisheth long life in perfect health, with great increase of honour.  
WHen Caesar swayed the dictatorship of Rome, those (right Honourable) that wrote the Roman conquests, offered their papers under his patronage as coveting a martial Maecenas, for works treating of high performed chivalry: Entering into the sight of the Roman method, chancing upon a Spanish Pamphlet, dedicated to the Queen's most excellent Majesty, containing an answer against certain untruths published and printed in Spain: when I noted that virtue could not but be praised, even by a late enemy, (though now reconciled) a stranger, nay a Spaniard, forceced by truth itself, to defend the worthiness of our English Nobility, against his own countrymen: I could not (right Honourable) but (for the benefit and farther encouragement of my country) publish his works in English, and presume to present it to your good Lordship; who, being (most worthily) high Admiral of England, and chief agent, in so honourable a service, did blazon to the Spaniards the matchless resolution, of your knightly prowess. And although Sir Francis Drake be most touched in their invectives, as an enemy chiefly noted for his private prejudice, offered them in Spain, and in the Indies (and as they thought) the chief governor also in this honourable action; Yet now feeling and knowing the valour of your honours worthiness; time shall make your name as fearful to the Spaniards, as was that of high minded Scipio against the Numidians. And somewhat (by comparison) to note (right Honourable) the slackness of Englishmen, in yielding high deservers, (in so honourable and profitable a service) their due: I say, that if the Duke of Medina, (being in the same place for Spain, as your Honour for England) had gotten (as God forbidden) the like glorious conquest against our English Navy, as your Honour won against the Spanish Armada; the chronicles of Spain had been stuffed with his praises, the clergy had song him in, with Te Deum, thorough the streets of Toledo, made him triumphs in his town of S. Lucar, and in fine Deified him, and registered him amidst their catalogue of Saints. If then (right Honourable) the Spaniards setting out such hyperbolical trophies of their conquests, seek by such praises to encourage their nobility: It behoveth us, not to be stained with ingratitude, but to publish the prowess of such worthy men as still with their blood do paint out, the worthiness of their resolutions. Amongst whom your Honour having the chiefest place, as high Admiral of so victorious a fleet, and performing in your own person such honourable service therein: I humbly present this my simple translation to your honours patronage, as the Romans did their martial discourses, to the Dictator, hoping your Honour will bear with the harshness of my style, in that verbally it answers the author's mind, and to accept of my well intended meaning, with that honourable courtesy, that your noble mind hath always extended towards others: In which hope resting, I wish to your lordship, such health and happiness, with such most honourable success to all your attempts, as your Honour can desire, and I imagine.  
Your honours most humble in all obedience JAMES LEA.   

TO THE Queen's MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY ELIZABETH BY THE GRACE OF GOD, QUEEN OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, AND IRELAND, DEFENDER of the faith, etc. all blessedness, good hap, victory, with increase of triumphant reign, and life everlasting.  
SAint john Chrysostom (most renowned Queen) saith in one of his Homilies of the praise of S. Paul, that such is the condition of falsehood, that of itself it cometh to nought; and on the contrary, that truth is knit together with such strength, that well it may be assaulted, but never conquered: and that deceit yieldeth unto her, as having no power to resist hers. I remember to have read in the 3. book of Esdras; being questioned before Darius' king 
Esdras 4.  of Persia, what might be the thing of greatest strength, it was agreed and concluded, that it was truth; which not only overcometh those things that time goeth on consuming, but triumpheth also over time itself: false opinion, for a while, may bear authority, but at length truth prevaileth: whose nature is wonderful, for where most force is opposed against her, there becometh she most strongest, and the more they strive to throw her down to the bottom, and to bury her in the bottomless pit of oblivion, the more she ascendeth aloft, and shows herself in the highest: even as the oil, though it be put under the water, yet strait cometh above it, so is truth, for in case men would put it under falsehood, yet it shall arise to the highest place, for it abideth not to lie long in covert. For even as a comet appeareth for a season, in which it showeth some brightness, but yet endureth not long, because though it seem a star, yet is none: even so is deceit, though it may be believed for a time, by a false appearance of light, yet at length it shall vanish and consume away, when as truth shall endure to the end. Truth is a thing so precious and belooved of God, that all they who seek to excel in virtue, do prefer her before treasure, choosing to be behind in wealth, to go forward with truth: And finally they esteem the hazarding of their life (which soon passeth away) for well employed, for the love of truth which abideth for ever. David, preferring truth before all worldly matters, saith: Take not o Lord thy truth out of my mouth. In ancient histories we read 
Psal. 119.  that Simandrus prince of Egypt, commanded his picture to be engraved on his tomb, and a jewel on his breast, with his eyes fixed thereon, which jewel was the image of truth, as recordeth Diodor. Sicul. Elianus saith, that Pythagoras called truth a thing divine. And of the same Pitha. it is written, that he said, that for a man to make himself a God, he ought to speak the truth. Truth is a centre where virtues repose, the north star of the virtuous, the balm of the wounded, and finally it is the butt whereat many shoot, and the white that few do hit. All these I bring (renowned Queen) that they who shall read my answer may know (that in the defence I make of the truth, which happened in both Navies) that my intent is to deal in truth and not to flatter your Majesty, you being an enemy to adulation: and I knowing it to be as far from the princely nature of your Majesty to hear it, as from mine, to write it. And that you have in memory the saying of S. Jerome; that he that would be accounted worthy of true praise, should not seek it of men. That which here I mean to speak of are certain truths, so clear and manifest, that they publish themselves. For who seethe not the great regard in your Majesty of divine worship, the great devotion to the sacred scripture, the fullness of Religion that shineth in your Majesty, the always opened large hand to the poor: And who seethe not more clearly with his eyes, than I can utter with my words, the singular prudency of your Majesty, your sound justice, your excellent fortitude, your marvelous temperancy, your firm truth, your clemency, your benignity, your good government, your royal condition, and the shining of your works, interlaced with divine love. Your Majesty may be said to be a coffer wherein nature hath laid up her treasure, and her gathering together of those perfections, which were repartederst, amongst many, Such finites answer well to the trunk, from whence your Majesty descends, even from that invincible king, and most christian prince, Henry the 8. whose worthy deeds live in the remembrance of this present age, and shall never die in the times to come. These and many such perfect virtues of your Majesty, have wrought in me such love, that I have been very desirous to do you some service, & determining to effectuate these my desires, which long I have bread in my breast, I purposed to offer to your Majesty this my answer, but I chanced to meet with a new fear, which made me doubt. For perceiving it not, to deserve to appear before so excellent a Queen: I stood in suspense what to do, being driven into many and sundry thoughts, as having experience that boldness without deliberation, most commonly causeth repentance; At length the one and the other considerations felt & weighed together, I found love, to overcharge and way down respect. Thorough which I determined to dedicate it to your Majesty, thereby as well to show the desire I have to serve you, as also that this short answer and poor work, belonging to your Majesty, may receive that authority, which it cannot have in being mine, and the dark mist which it hath on my part, may be banished by the resplendent shining, that it shall receive from your Majesty, whose Royal person the Lord Almighty preserve and prosper in his blessed service,  
Amen.  
Your Majesty's humble and loyal servant which kisseth your Royal feet and hands, D F. R. de M.   

The Answer.  
I Marvel good Sir, to see a man of so noble a lineage, and no less endued with the gifts of nature than others, should have your ears so opened to hear the rumours and lies, which the scoffing & gibing flatterers do write you: and I wonder not so much in that you credit them, as at the speed wherewith your Honour doth write them. Truly I am sorry for it. Look into yourself, and you shall see, that they who writ you such novelties, do but fill your sides with sharp darts. Your Honour writeth to Spain, that it is a matter most true, that the Lord high Admiral of England, was come, running away with 25. or 26. ships unto London, and that he had lost his ship that was Admiral, and that this was written for a matter most certain, by persons of credit from London. I know not what men of credit they should be, that wrote a matter of so great discredit. But at leastwise this I know, that if your Honour were in London, we might sing unto you the song of Don Pedro: More enemies than friends have compassed his person. For in truth I know not so much as one in that city, that is your friend. You say farther in your letter, that the Admiral was lost; hardly may a ship be lost that had for her governor so noble a captain, as is, that noble gentleman my L. Charles Howard; who, when fortune should have been so wholly his enemy would rather have chosen to die than fly. But both the Admiral and his ship that was Admiral, entered both together (as together they erst went forth) into the river of London, triumphing in the victory, that the Lord vouchsafed to give them, unto whom they yield all praise and thanks. Your Honour saith farther, that Drake is prisoner: I demand by whom? Know you not that from the 
* The word, Drago which signifieth a Dragon, made the Author thus to run upon Draque, whom the Spaniards do not let to call also Drago.  Dragon the Lion flies, the Bear fears, the Oliphant hides himself, the Lybard trembles, the Tiger retires, the Ounce dismayeth, and the rest of the beasts tremble? If then this be so, who should he be, that should take Drake, that the venom and poison of his sword, bereft him not of his life? It was then an unbridled boldness in him that wrote your Honour this matter. Concerning which, read a short letter, which I make in answer of that of Diego Perez postmaster of Logronio, and therein (although I deal softly with him) you may see, who Drake is, and what he hath done in the Indies and in Spain, and chawing it in the cud, you shall know some part of his valour. Your honour saith, that if he be not prisoner he is slain, in these words. Drake is either taken or dead. The Ginets in Spain deliver themselves flying and hurt the more, so that they do more harm flying then assaulting, but on the sea it is contrary. For if his enemy fled from him, who took him or slew him? If your Honour in saying Drake is prisoner or dead, had added, he is prisoner to her Majesty; then would I be silent, for that he is so loyal a subject unto her, that, though free, yet always in her prison, and sacrificed day and night to do her service, and for and in all to accomplish her will. And in saying dead, had your Honour named the disease whereof he died, we would say that the hour were come, wherein the Lord almighty had called him unto himself: but finally he is both free and alive, and as loyal a vassal to her Majesty as ever. Farther your Honour saith, that, the Queen commanded that there should be no talk of her Navy: giving thereby to understand, that it was in regard of the great damage her said Navy had received. She commanded no such matter; but had she so commanded, it had been a thing both holy and just, for as she is an enemy to all vainglory, even so the spoils of her victory and triumph, she offered it all to God, from whom it came. And if, for not receiving these letters so plenty as at other times, you gathered, that it was ordained by her Majesty, that they should not write, you gathered amiss, for the cause was no other, but that for the general repairing of all people to give thanks to God (at the Churches) from whom all their good proceeded, they became unmindful of all worldly affairs. Great odds between this celebration of victory and that which was used in Spain, where in steed of singing Psalms and praises unto God, they made fire and sports, and blind men in open places, pirkt up, upon fishmonger's stalls, song songs, making the people believe that they were victors: the contrary where of is true. Your letter relates farther, that her Majesty had 30000. men between Dover and Margate, raw soldiers, here to I answer; that this balance runneth too fast: for that her Majesty's camp was hard by Tylberrie, in the province of Essex, a far different place from Dover & Margate. And that her Majesty was with them, it was so; and mark your Honour what I say, that the sight of julius Caesar in his host, wrought not so great effect, as did the sight of her Majesty amongst hers; for she being a valiant Mars, and showing herself a most expert warrior, clad her soldiers with the webs and fells of Hercules, where there was not any that esteemed himself in less than a Hannibal or a Cevola: whereunto they were invited, by the sight of a tender woman, being the first that put herself to such a travel, for Christendom, the peace of her country, and for the quietness of her subjects. And who so had seen her Majesty, I say not, that he should have seen an angry Mars, a julius Caesar, or Charlemagne, for all this is wind in comparison of her: But he should have seen a Deborah, a Hester, a Ruth, and a judith, and finally he should have seen a Valour second to none. You said farther in your letter, that her Majesty went to and from the Camp, because the Catholics had made a mutiny. Your Honour knows that it is an old Proverb, that when you see your neighbour's beard a shaving, prepare yours to the washing basin. And in this country they remember what the Gospel saith, Every kingdom divided against itself, shall be 
Luke 11.  desolate. And the experience hereof, they find in their neighbours the french men, that for not having peace amongst themselves, their poor kingdom is destroyed. Concerning this matter I have heard it questioned in this country, by some persons of no base calling, who say plainly that while your Honour was here, they never had any perfect quietness amongst them, and since your departure they have had no broils nor 
* Save such as he left kindled before his going.  strife: and it may be, that the going of matters in such sort in the kingdom of France, so troubled and kindled as they are, that it is by reason your Honour is there, and that your absence might quench so great a fire. You say farther in your letter, that there was none other ship brought hither but that of Don Pedro de Valdes. Herein is the publishing of victory gainsaid, and loss, evident; the which ship, had your Armada been victors, they had not permitted to be brought hither, neither was Don Pedro de Valdes, so ill a soldier, nor for so little, as to suffer himself to be taken by a people already overcome, and running away; neither the soldiers which he had with him (which were four hundredth at least) of less valour than the rest of those of the Armada, they were rather every man to conquer a kingdom, and to give a thousand victories. But the thrice noble Lord, high Admiral, not flying, but assaulting, and he the captive or slain Drake, his fetters broken, and risen from death; fettered the conquerors, and bereft their life, who lived a little before. In conclusion there were no more ships brought into England but that of Don Pedro, as for the rest (for a better demonstration of the truth) they were contented that their friends and neighbours should participate with them; and so they left a galliass at Calais, wherein amongst others, was slain Don Hugo de Moncada, and Don Georje Manrique, (being Veedor General) escaped to carry the true relation thereof unto Spain. And the Saint Matthew, and S. Philip, being two most strong Galleons, were carried to Flushing, out of one of the which escaped Don Francisco de Toledo, with six and thirty soldiers, which were the remainder of four or five hundredth, which he had with him: and in the other was taken Don Diego Pimentel, with all his men save those that were slain, and many other ships (by divine providence) by force of wind and sea, were destroyed upon the coast of Ireland. If I have been large in answering your Honour, the occasion excuseth me; and the matter which is wider than the sea, makes me think to be worthy reprehension for being so short. Yet notwithstanding, time, which gave an end to these my wearisome reasonings, seemed to call upon me to pass on farther. And having cast about, I fell into consideration with myself, what occasion I might have to enlarge farther, sith (though briefly) I had answered to the letter: and I perceived that the law of love, and Christianity in the Lord, did bind me to admonish you like a true neighbour. The law of love in Christ saith, Love your enemies. And this 
Matth. 5.  said Christ after that he had said, Ye have heard, that it hath been said, thou shalt love thy friend and hate thy enemy; and he passeth on saying, and do good to them that hate you. There is another law which saith: Ye shall not render ill for ill, but good for evil. These and such other, sacred words do bind me to love your Honour: but not your condition & proceed, for if I should have respect thereunto, I should follow the law of old, Thou shalt love thy friend, and hate thy enemy; and I should be more bound to hate then love you. But for that the Gospel commandeth me, To do good to those that hurt me, and to render good for evil, and to love my enemies: I will do both the one and the other, so that I will both love, and do you good. I mean not to do you good, by bestowing treasures upon you, because I have them not, but I will give you of that, which books have given me, which are certain counsels, by mean whereof, it may be, you shall live less troublesome, and not so much abhorred: wheresoever I come I hear, that your Honour is an enemy to peace, & unquiet. To the first I answer, that Et ex consequenti, you are an enemy to God. When Christ our Redeemer departed from his disciples, amongst other gifts which he gave them, and free mercies bestowed upon them, he gave them his peace, and it was neither the peace of the world, nor that of judas, for these are pieces of death and damnation, unwoorthily called peace, but such a peace as was a pledge of blessedness. Blessed are the peacemakers, saith the Gospel. I might allege many places to show, how grateful that peace is 
Matth. 5.  unto God, and they that love it, and how he abhorreth the contemners thereof, and so I admonish your Honour to clothe yourself with peace, and let it be that of Christ which saveth, and not that of judas which betrayeth, nor that of the world which killeth. To the second, that I am informed you are troublesome, I answer, that if for the first you are an enemy to God, that by this you are the like unto Heaven; and for confirmation of this truth, you must understand, that of diverse senses, diverse are the objects. So that (according to Aristotle) one sense cannot judge directly 
Aristotle.  of the object of an other sense, for the taste judgeth not of the colour, nor the sight of the taste, rather beholding Sugar, we judge it to be white, and tasting it, we judge it to be sweet. So they that have the earth for object cannot judge well of Heaven, and they who live according to the flesh, comprehend not the sweetness of the spirit, & they that go entangled in the affairs of the world and seated in their wiles, attain not the delectation of spiritual repose. Such is your Honour, who being entered into the labyrinth of the restless labours of life, you cannot make an end to know the sweetness of the tranquillity of life itself. Open your eyes, and behold that much self trust groweth not but of small knowledge, and you shall see, that the first degree for a man to know little, is, to suppose that he knoweth much. I hold that for a most certainty, which Saint Hierom saith, 
Hierom.  that the acknowledging of imperfection, is, a certain kind of perfection in a man: regard that it is not a small matter for a man to know, that he knoweth nothing. And if your Honour knew this of yourself, you would become peaceable, and live a quiet life, and so be accounted quiet. Where the river goeth stillest, there hath it most water, and is deepest; and where it maketh most noise, there hath it least water: so the quiet and still man is of great depth, and is to be holden and accounted of greatly; and he that prates much is he that doth least, for the ignorant have great sound, and small depth. The wise are free from passions, far from molestations, and full of tranquillity. So then, to have a share in heaven, a good life on earth, and to be accounted wise, it is to be quiet, and a peacemaker. And now let the former turmoils suffice, and the hurt that you have already done unto Spain by your unquietness, giving her so ill counsel, making her to lose Armada, treasure, munition, credit and reputation; and that which is more to be lamented, so many thousands of souls: for verily Spain should have been full both of men and money, were it not for so long and costly wars, and altogether unprofitable. Whereby it had been better for thee, o Spain, to have contented thee with thy tow, than to have desired the hollands of Flanders, where there is scant a span of earth, that hath not been watered with the blood of thy Spaniards. And to have contented thee with thy pots of clay, rather than to have lusted for the silver dishes of English men, which are so hardly gotten. I thought also here to advertise you more at large, than I did in my answer to your letter, concerning the few friends which here you have, rather I put you out of doubt, that you are to make no account of them, no, not to think that you have a friend in London: to prove this to be true, I will avail myself with that saying of Saint Paul, who saith, that Charity well ordered, must begin in himself. If then this be so, who would you have to be such a friend to your Honour, that he should cease to be a friend to himself, his wife, children, and substance. May you be persuaded that your friends here, should open their doors to their enemies, to the end to rob them of their goods? for in very truth, not one in this kingdom (though he had a safe conduct from your Honour) should have escaped from being rob, slain, or dishonoured. If this than be true, how can you hope for any friends here? Rather, in truth, if you would consider and open your eyes, you shall see that all are your mortal enemies. If it be the duty of a friend to deal truly, and he that writes you most news, doth notso, then have you here no friend. As also, he is no friend, that requireth of his friend, what is unjust and unlawful, and this the very Gentiles understood, for so Marcus Tullius teacheth, even as I speak it, in his book of 
Mar. Tu. Pericles.  Friendship, and before him Pericles taught the same, when a certain friend requested him to affirm a lie for him and that with an oath, he answered him saying: It is lawful to be a friend, yet no farther than the altar. And so recordeth 
Plutarch. Aul. Gel. Bruson.  Plutarch, Aulus Gellius, and Bruson: Pericles meant, that friendship was good, and worthy to be conserved, with gifts given and received, but that it should be in such sort that it should not be against the good liking of God. For friends ought not to impugn religion, nor pass the limits of conscience: friends are bound to do one for another, so that their good works pass not the bounds of reason, nor the limits of virtue. Publius Rutilius denied a certain friend a matter, because it was unjust, which made his friend to 
Publius Rutilius.  say; Why should I account of thy friendship, if thou wilt not do as I request thee? And Rutilius replied: But why should I make account of thine, sith thou requestest me that which I ought not to do? Author's hereof are Valerius Maximus in his sixth book, and Brusonius in his first. Sith therefore your Honour demandeth unjust things of English men, as are, to admit entrance to their enemies, and to suffer themselves to be rob, dishonoured, massacred, and to be traitors to their Sovereign: how can you challenge them for your friends? True friends ought to be just, and to love the souls of their friends better than their bodies; to be more affectionate to their souls than to their substance, and more to their consciences than to their lives. To do any good deed to a friend, is also the office of a friend; even as at the play of tennis, it is not enough to reach the ball in the air, but also to strike him, and send it from whence it came: in like sort in friendship, it is not for one friend always to expect good turns of the other, but also to indevor to requite it: there should never be a (take) without a (regive:) and good deeds must result from both parts full of love. And sith your Honour will take and not give (except it be death and dishonour) we will not accept you for a friend. You have men that are altogether sand without lime, all words and no deeds; and in England they account your Honour for one of the number: from which England and your pretended friends therein, remove your bloody hand, so shall you live more in quiet and rest, and then shall you have friends indeed: and one that so meaneth to be your friend, since the victory that this kingdom achieved against the Spanish Armada (or better to say, that God gave them) made this Sonnet in praise of the nobleness of this kingdom, wherein are many Caesars and Pompey's, unto which valour and magnanimity, they are stirred up by the love of her Majesty their Queen: a matter well known to your Honour, insomuch that by none of your practices you have prevailed to pervert them.  

A Sonnet to England.  
PRoud Rome her ensigns, bravely displays  
In cruel sort, thy famous name to blot  
If that she could, but all to weak, God wots,  
envying still thy Crown, as she hath done always.  
The Spanish arm, her instrument to do the feat  
Did furrow up the sea, but all his labour lost,  
Yet marvel not there at, though they were beat and tossed:  
For so had Persia been, and Macedon the great.  
Assault thou mayst, where that thou please and when,  
Though doubtful, sharp, and strong it seem to men,  
And never dread the conquest at the length,  
For from thy feats heroical, is spread both far and near,  
Of famous and renowned deeds, a river great and clear.  
Which fills the earth full of thy praise and strength.   

The copy of a letter sent unto Spain by ivan de Gamarra, a Spanish merchant, dated the 31. of September 1588.  
THat the English have lost 40. ships at 
Ho, ho, master liar, not too fast I pray you, for 40. is much at one clap for them to take which still ran away.  one encounter, where they could not fly, the which was in Luxaten, a port of Scotland, unto which place the English had followed the Spanish Armada from before Calais; and they thinking that our Armada had gone to take this port, got before ours to defend it: but ours seeing themselves so near the English, (and that they could notretire, as they had often done before, running for succour to the English ports) had them now as they would; and set upon them so strongly, that they sunk 20. ships, and took 26. safe and sound. And the rest perceiving their destruction, fled without men, all rent and torn; and then (it is reported) that our Armada took the said port, where they are in very good harborough, as all affirm. Thus is the news, God grant them such success as is needful; and this is understood by a Post that is come from Calais: and that it is commanded in England, upon pain of loss of life and goods, that none write news to any place, which is a confirmation of the aforesaid.   

The Answer.  
THree or four times I laid aside my pen, at such time (Senor 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 itself hath long since answered. But seeing your estate deserves no less, I could not excuse myself: but first receive from me this counsel for another time; and is, that you show not yourself so very a merchant; for if it be lawful for a merchant to lie in his prizes, yet is it not, to lie in his writings; and you would be so wholly a merchant, that you have played bankrupt with truth. It seemeth unto me, that you being a merchant of cloth, will become a merchant of wines; and proclaiming wine, you sell vinegar, giving very cheap, that which hath cost you so dear: and you sell victory, being no victor; and you promisé palm, yours being the nettle. You say in your letter, that the Spanish Armada won 46. ships, 20. sunk, and 26. taken, and that this was in Luxaten a port in Scotland. You take an ill course for a Chronicler; for the English Navy was not at also far as Scotland, neither did my Lord high Admiral break the order which he had of her Majesty, which was, not to leave her own ports ungarded: and in this you may know the humility of the Queen's Majesty, in that she would not put herself so much to offend, as to defend her own; and therefore that befell her, which Saint james mentioneth in his fourth chapter; God resisteth the proud, and giveth his 
jam. 4.  grace to the humble: and so as God saw the humility of his servant Elizabeth, he raised her up, and gave her the victory over her enemies. The pride of a Pharaoh in Egypt, God confounded 
Exod. 14.  by the waters of the red sea, as in Exodus. And the pride of your haughty Armada hath he confounded 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 sunk and took so many ships. Though when the Egyptians were drowned, there escaped none to carry news thereof unto Egypt; there are some gone from hence, which have carried the news of the rest unto Spain, whereby yours will be thought of small moment. I purpose not here to give you a particular account of the ships, which the English Armada took and sunk, nor of those which have perished in Ireland, neither the number of prisoners and slain; because it is the doings of the Lord & his works, and from him cometh all goodness, on whose divine Majesty this whole kingdom hath put and laid his trust, and to him alone do they give the glory of this victory, singing to him Psalms and Hymns, as they did in the city of Bethulia, after the beheading of Holofernes. So, to conclude, 
Judith 16.  neither went the English Armada into Scotland, neither broke they the order of their royal Sovereign the Queen's Majesty, rather they visited their own ports, gathering (as it were) under their wings their scattering chickens. This (friend john 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 occupy yourself in weight and measures, Burse affairs, and Cash books; and if you be weary of this, than were it best for you to become a crier of figs about the streets; or a cobbler, or matmaker, for this shall be easier for you, than to become a Chronicler. A Chronicler ought to consider what he saith, and of whom, to write the certainty, and to follow the truest authors, and of most credit: You (Senor Gamarra) observe none of all these. If thou didst consider the valour of the Queen's Majesty, her courage and greatness; thou wouldst not dare to publish such falsehoods. And know that it is such and so much, that, for not being able to utter it, I think it better to keep it silent, than to come short therein: for that I should need for such a purpose, not one Angelical tongue, but a thousand. To compare her with Hester for humility; in compassion to an Abigail; in prudency and valour to a Deborah; and in courage to a judith. Notwithstanding, of that little light, which I have gotten of her valour, I will make you partaker, and so accept of these poor verses, made with a greater love and good will, than with knowledge or art. Praying you (that sith you are resident in Andwerpe in the affairs of the Malvendas) that you writ no more such feigned letters, using for excuse, to date them from Rouen.  

SONNET.  
GReat Elizabeth, whose fame at this day  
From th'one, to tother pole, is spread so and known,  
By having encountered fierce Mars in his way,  
That now not a God, his Godhead is flown.  
The glorious deeds, which the world had raised  
To the highest room; when viewing thy acts  
Start back, and gave place, as things all amazed,  
Undoing the done, and hiding their facts.  
To say that thou dost, surpass and excel  
All the whole world; thy battles and deeds  
Do say now the same, thy standards it tell,  
To search for antiquities, which prove now but weeds,  
Is for to go warm us, by smoke of wet straw:  
Thou winnest more glory, than yet any saw.    

The copy of a letter which Pedro the Alva (a Spanish merchant) wrote from Rouen unto Spain, the first of September 1588.  
I Writ no news of the Spanish Armada, for that they be varying, and I desirous to write nothing but truth. Now by news which run from many places, from Calais, Deep, Holland, & by some presupposing, from England and other places, it is held for a matter most certain, that they have fought with the English, spoiled & sunk many of them, and taken others, and that the rest, (reported to be 27. ships) are returned spoiled, to the river of London being all that could escape. With this post there goeth one from George Seguin of Calais, who saith that Masters and mariners of Zealand, have affirmed to the governor of Calais, Monseur de Gordan: that the Armada is in a port or river of Scotland called Triffla, where they say, there may ride two thousand ships; this is 
No lie.  the common report.   

The Answer.  
WE would have highly esteemed you (Senor Pedro de Alva) and I would say the dog had not bitten you, had you contented yourself with the first words of your letter, (where you said, I writ no news of the Spanish Armada, for that they be varying, and I desirous to write nothing but truth) without passing any farther, that it might not have been seen, how full of blots you have your understanding, you say that you are a friend to soundness and truth, and an enemy to variety, and immediately you show proofs to the contrary, written with your hand and firmed with your name. Such a thing is called in good Spanish a pressed folly; pardon me herein because the love I bear you and the respect due to your grey hairs, urgeth me to speak so plainly. And though my words scald you, yet I pass not, for if you remember the saying of Solomon, Better are the wounds of 
Prov. 27.  him that loveth thee, than the false kisses of him that abhorreth thee: You would not take in ill part my manner of speech. But for that I know you to be sound and a friend of truth, I will briefly inform you of the certainty, and such as is devoid of doubt. For though time hath sufficiently showed thee the contrary, of that whereunto thou firmedst, according as you are massy, sound, and weighty, it shall be well to recount it you, yea and with hammer and nail to beat it into your head. The truth than is, that assoon as it was known in this kingdom of the coming of the Spanish Armada, the noble Lord Charles Howard, (Lord high Admiral,) went forth with his navy, who reparted the said into sundry squadrons (according as time and place afforded) at times making two squadrons, and then three, and more or less, as was fittest for the purpose, to fight and defend themselves, without cumbering one another: In this order they went defending their ports, wherein they not only observed her Majesty's order, but there was also seen the valour in fight, of the L. high Admiral, who is a man not only sufficient to rule and govern such a Navy as this of England is, but if all the Christian princes of the world should join, & make by a loving union, an Armada against the Infidels, they might well trust and commit the same to his honours government, and I doubt that there shall be any found more worthy. For though it be true that there are some to be found in Christendom most fit for such a charge, yet none so much nor replete with so many virtues; for what is reparted amongst others, is wholly in him. You have in the world soldiers ripe in giving counsel, others to fight and others to govern, etc. But many of these are gamestars, backbiters, blasphemers, & ill Christians. But in the Lord Admiral, is the fear of God, Christianity, science, government, knowledge, practice, policy, justice, forecast, agility, assaulting, perseverance, courage, choler, patience and suffering, with many other graces. These are things not found in all men. So that then, the English Armada to be governed as is said, was by the order of her Majesty, and the performance and industry of this Lord. Observing this order, the Duke of Medina durst not assault them, dreading the hurt which might ensue: notwithstanding his Armada was more puissant, greater ships, stronger, and more in number & men, though (I believe) not in Artillery. The Spanish Armada then entered the mouth of the channel, and the English followed by little & little, and tarrying the opportunity to work the effect: and what befell afterwards, I will not detain myself in recounting it, ask it of Don Pedro de Valdes (when you see him there) who lost his ship with 400. men, yielding to Sir Francis Drake, having so few men that for the honour of the Spanish nation, I name not the number. You may also inform yourself 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 himself with thirty soldiers, in the skiff, the ship and the rest perishing, where none would secure them: if this suffice not, them inquire of Don jeorge Manrique veedor general, who fled out of the galliass, which was lost before Calais, a place not far from Roan. I show you not particularly the matters of Ireland, for it would be long, and grievous to your hearing. The loss of the ship called La Rata, and the Venetian, and the ship Santa Maria, and many other, and so likewise it will be yerksome for you to hear 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 habit of Saint james, and innumerable other, gentlemen and soldiers, some slain by the Irish, others drowned in the sea. This story being so lamentable, I proceed 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 Admiral is, (under whose government the English Navy resteth) I believe; that though he had been taken or lost, that thou wouldst scant credit it, and consequently, not write as thou didst. 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 memory, I send thee here this Sonnet, lay it up in thy breast, not for that which the Sonnet containeth, nor for the arts sake, but for that with a sound intent I present thee therein, some part (though the least) of the valour of this excellent Gentleman, the Lord high Admiral.  

THE SONNET.  
THe Lion fierce, his eyes against the sun  
Like Eagle bold, for pray prepared to flight,  
And round about the noble garter done  
With sword and crown to show the more his might.  
From end to end he throweth down, and levels all,  
Famous is his ensign bright on earth and brackish wave,  
And Mars the jarring God, resigns his right and all,  
Both honour, arms, and resteth as his slave.  
Neptune, now afraid, and scared in his flood,  
By view of noble Charles, and his famous fleet,  
Resigns his name of God, his rule, and all his good,  
To Howard he, that of the same was meet,  
With everlasting name and sceptre he remains,  
For serving so his Queen, in hazard great and pains.    

The copy of a letter which Diego Perez, Postmaster of Logrono wrote in confirmation of the victory against England in the Ocean sea, dated the 2. Septemb. 1588.  
THis day is the English news confirmed, by a letter from the governor of Rouen, who writeth that he hath in his power the chief Pilot of captain Drake, and that he knoweth that all the English Navy was utterly discomfited, 25. ships sunk, and about 40. taken, and Francis Drake prisoner, having chased them as far as Abspurg, and put many to the 
* Herein they show their pretence, if they had had their will.  sword: saying, that there was found in Drakes ship a piece of 25. spans, of one quintal of munition, made of purpose, with one only shot to sink the Admiral of Spain, but it pleased God (though she was hurt therewith, yet she was repaired again) and overcame the English fleet.   

The Answer.  
I Would never have thought (Senor Diego Perez) that so wittingly, a man of your account, and Postmaster of Logrono, should settle himself so lightly to write matters so void of reason. But I marvel not; for that your post horses are such yerkers, whose plungings have set you quite besides the saddle. In the examining of Notaries, entreating 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 witness the dead, and those of strange countries and unknown: of such an occasion, me thinks you would advantage yourself: but let us see master Post, how you shamed not to bring for witness of such a falsehood, the Governor of Rouen, which is not a man of such lightness, as you paint him to be, sith you lad him with such a lie; for he is rather a man of a very ripe understanding, a sharp wit, considerate, and very wary; and finally, accompanied with many perfections; and so you have overseen yourself, in bringing such a witness for the making your false writing good; for though he be of a strange country, yet he is well known, and his virtues, every where. I can tell thee one thing, that when the English Armada should have been lost, and the Governor of Rouen certainly advised thereof, yet would he doubt, and never have written it; for that it would be hard for him either to write or believe it, not so much, in regard that the English Navy should simply be invincible, or more strong than the Spanish, but for that it belongs to a Catholic Queen, and so justly employed; as, in the defence of Christian religion, their houses, people and subjects, and in defence of the goods of the poor, 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 widow, the poor, the pupil, 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, whereof the Governor of Rouen was not ignorant, how then would you have him to write you a thing, which in his opinion is contrary to the will of God. You allege a notable reason to confirm the loss of the English Armada, as to say that Francis Drake is prisoner: I grieve not a little, to see now, how apparently Spain is given to lie. For, what julius Caesar, what Scipio, or what Alexander, assaulted the Admiral (under whom Drake was) to take him, but a Duke, that knew no better than to fly him, thereby to bereave him of a wonderful victory, yea one of the greatest that had ever been achieved in the world, and if thou knowest it not, it is good that thou know, that now julius Caesar liveth not, Pompeie is dead, Scipio forgotten, Alexander banished, judas Machabeus sleepeth, Hector is slain, Achilles is no more. Nor none of those whose theatres 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 sun; so all those aforenamed, in respect of the valour of the Lord high Admiral, 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 all the rest: and for that thou mayst comprehend part of the greatness and valour of Drake, Read this Sonnet, seeing you may have read that of the excellent Lord high Admiral.  

SONNET.  
SO was the name of Solomon, dispersed and spread at large,  
By winged fame, in voice and stately song,  
So that no wight alive, but gladly was at charge  
And took the pain, to see him still among.  
From countries far the Saba Queen did pass  
Of purpose for to see, that prudent youth and sage,  
Whose sacred breast, a perfect closet was  
Where wisdom sat, in young and tender age.  
A temple huge both fair and gilded well:  
A justice great that in the child did dwell,  
Did blaze him thus with everlasting name:  
To Francis Drake, his government likewise,  
With greater praise and triumph hath lift him to the skies,  
And by the raging sea augmented is his fame.   
AND if this suffice not to make thee know the valour of Sir Francis, fix then your eyes on that he did at Cales, where the fear of him remaineth yet to this day: and in Sancto Domingo, where, only with 1200. men which he landed, did put to flight two squadrons of light horse, & two of footmen, and no other horse, nor foot men, but Spaniards, & sack the city, & the same he did in Saint Augustine, and in Santiago and in Carthagena: And I entreat no farther of this history, because there be others that have written and entreated thereof at large. And if to this you answer me, that it was not he only that did it, but also the valiant gentleman M. Christofer Carelile, campmaster, and powel the sergeant mayor, and sundry other captains, and that Drake went not a shore. To this I answer, that a general doth more in governing and conserving then in fight, and I do not only thus answer you, but I tell thee, that Drake both governeth, conserveth and fighteth, and 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, because the ambassador in France doth, and sets down the contrary, calling the place Trapena Euxaten: and ivan de Gamarra, gainesaith the ambassador, calling it Luxaten: and Pedro de Alva, gainsaith him, being his neighbour of Roan, no great distance from Andwarp, and saith that the port is called Triffla: atone me these measures. It is a great desperatenes of Spain, to consent a matter to be imprinted so apparent fabulous. But Spain will answer me and say, that none of these authors disagree in calling the port by such sundry 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 sundry nations and so speak with sundry tongues, & every one rather useth his mother tongue, than a strange language, for some are Arabians, others Hebrews, others Galileans, others Parthians, and Caldees, and every one named the port in his own language. You (Senor postmaster) whose speech is Arabian, call it Abspurge; the ambassador, who is a Galilean, Parthian, and meed, saith Trapena Euxaten: Gamarra, is a Chaldean (though he be indeed a Burgales) and saith Luxaten; Pedro de Alva who is a jew, saith Triffla. To this lose answer of Spain, 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 Newcastle, and is no port of Scotland, but of England: Triffla, which Pedro the 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 Deep, (if he will not have it to be Trapena in Levant) And Euxaten is the said Newcastel a port in England. Let us see then whether the ships were Angelical spirits, to be at one instant in sundry and diverse places, there being distance off many leagues one from another; so hereby I prove it manifest, that the error is both in the name and place: If it so be not, than the purpose of the Chroniclers, is, under those unknown and disconsorted names, to give to understand the success of their Armada, interpreting them thus, Abspurge, an Armada, dispersed; Luxaten, an Armada of weeping: Triffla, an Armada that trembles; Trapena, an Armada which bringeth sorrow: and Euxaten, an Armada of sighs: and so the consort is good, for God showing his arm of power and wrath against them, he scattered them, he gave them weepings, tremblings, sorrow and sighs, such as Spain never had. You say farther (Senor postmaster) that there was found a piece of 25. spans in the ship of Drake, of a quintal of munition: In the ship of Sir Francis Drake, there were no other pieces but those, which she had in time before, and this piece that you speak of, should be of your Armada, which peradventure you threw overboard, to make you more light to fly away, as some did. And concerning that you say, that your Admiral was shot with this piece, but that God preserved her: In good sooth she preserved herself by flight, not daring abide the musket and caliver shot, and indeed they wished for the wings of a bird to fly the faster, and I think all the whole company fell a blowing in the sails to give the ship more way. But now, seeing you have proved 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 lay not the fault on him that hath it not, neither writ that which is unlawful, seeing you shall get nothing else thereby, them he that spits against Heaven, which spittle falls again back on his eyes.   

By a letter from the postmaster of Bordeaux written to the Ambassador in France, the 2. of December 1588.  
SInce the writing hereof, here is arrived a Scottishman, who saith, that all the Spanish Armada, are harboured in Scotland, and that the Scots have taken arms against England.   

The Answer.  
THe tongue of the slanderer is the pencil of the devil, and as the Psalmist saith, their throat is an open sepulchre, 
Psal. 5.  they flatter with their tongues.  
These be they of whom Saint Paul speaketh, that evil speakers shall not inherit 
1. Cor. 6.  the kingdom of God. The tongue of a wicked person hath power to unburie the dead, and to bury the living: Death and life are in the hands of the tongue, saith Wisdom: an ill tongue hath power to altar cities and towns, to bring hosts into mutiny, to move the people, to trouble kings and disquiet souls. Such was your pretence (Sir postmaster of Bordeaux) with your ill tongue to have engendered hatred and sowed dissension between us and our brethren the Scottishmen, to banish us out of the world (whereunto I will answer farther hereafter.) Now I will produce certain humane histories for confirmation hereof. Hermodorus being virtuous, and that beyond all those of Ephesus (whereof he was natural) he was so persecuted of ill tongues, and so much, that they banished him the city, their venom exceeding his virtue. The like did the athenians to Aristides, to Cimon and Themistocles; and the Siracusans to Hermocrates and Dion: and the Romans 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 heroical virtues, are envied and wounded by the evil tongue: for even as the shadow accompanieth the body, so doth envy pursue virtue, and from hence it groweth that the virtuous 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 thyself persecuted and murmured at by so many, an evident sign and probable token, that thou art the city of the most highest. To those whom God loveth he sendeth troubles, proving them as Gold in the furnace: And to his beloved people in Egypt he sent many and sundry scourges, and this because he loved them. The troubles of the 
Psal. 34.  just (saith David) are great, and addeth forthwith, but the Lord delivereth him out of them all. Even so thee (O England) hath the Lord delivered from all thy troubles: from so mighty an Armada, from so much death, from so many and sundry kinds of torments, as having been overcome, thou must of necessity have tasted: from these tribulations hath he delivered thee by his strong hand, giving thee such valiant captains: If he gave to the people of Israel, for they bringing out of Egypt, a Moses, an Aaron, and a Marie; To thee he hath given, a most Christian and puissant Queen, adorned with sundry virtues, a Charles Howard, a Francis Drake, and many others, whom the Lord had ordained & kept long before, for the defence of his universal church & this particular kingdom, which all he yet still preserveth for greater matters: and what these thy worthies (o England) made not an end of, in performing thy total deliverance, the rest did the wind, the sea, the rocks, the sand, the heavens, the fowl, and the fish: and now lastly he delivereth thee, of the untruths wherein thine enemies boasted and slandered thee; putting time for the unfolding of deceit, fame for the proclaimer, and truth, for the certain proof; and so their slanders and false publications remain all 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 himself; so the malicious and murmurer that would persecute and infame the just, doth first persecute himself, and remains infamed, and desirous to bite the fame of another, slayeth his own soul: for there is no biting of Viper or Asp so poisonsome, as the malice of the perverse; But this cannot sink into their understanding, which murmur at virtue, & charge her with vice, and with falsehood, make that which is good seem ill, and of stocks make stones, like to the fountain in Almain whereof Albertus Magnus maketh mention. Of the number of these, me seemeth, that the Postmaster is, seeing, of the peace and affinity, which is between the English and the Scots, he will make wars, saying, that the Scottishmen had taken weapon against the English: a most inconvenient thing, and utterly unworthy to be believed; for it were the very instrument for the Scots to strike off their own heads withal, to favour their enemies 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 stayed till they had been Lords also of Scotland; and who can doubt it, for the only blazon, now adays amongst Spaniards, is nothing else but NON SUFFICIT 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 therewith he meant to stir up the minds of English men, that there might be wars between two kingdoms, borne of one belly, brethren in religion, confederate in perfect peace, and of one language (in a manner:) 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 contrary to reason. In this prevention, the King of Scots showed plainly, that he knew the kindled and lofty 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 soon have reached the crown, not so much to depose the King, as to become Lords of the whole world, and to show their greatness and courage. Now in fine, he that will see clearly, who these glossers are, let him behold what they say, and be attentive to their speeches, and he shall see their putrefied hearts laid open. Saint Ambrose saith, that most commonly the looking-glass of the soul shineth in the words. Saint Hierom saith, that the words which issue forth, are the signs of that which remaineth within: this is also asentence of Aristotle. Saint Bernard saith, that the mouth is a gate and servant of the heart. Socrates saith, that such as the man is, such is his talk. Themistocles compareth men that be silent, unto pictures rolled up and enclosed; and those who talk and use speech, to pictures spread abroad and laid open. If thou wilt know what pictures there are in a linen cloth painted in Flaunders, spread it abroad: would you know whereof the heart of a man is painted, be conversant with him. What need we more? Christ our Saviour saith, that Of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh, and that by our words we shall be justified or condemned. Well known and 
Matth. 12.  manifestly do the writers of these letters show here, their want of charity, and as to the sons of leazing it may be said unto them; You have the Devil for your father. This seemeth unto me, like that which we reading the sacred Scripture, where the incontinent mistress of chaste joseph condemned him of incontinency: and the proud Hebrews 
Gen. 39  condemned divine Moses of pride: and the unruly Absalon 
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 favour being conquerors, they accuse them for vanquished; and they being those that disquiet this kingdom, and make war against it, lay the fault upon the Scottish men, publishing them for our enemies, and that they took arms against English men, and they being the swift inventors of these novelties so false, they accuse the Governor of Rouen of an inventor and lightness, and the like they lay upon George Seguin of Calais. To all this I say, that it is better to be slandered by the wicked, for being virtuous, than by being evil, 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 blind man, the tongue and publisher of them) only putting Spain in mind of a marvelous policy observed by the Lacedæmonians, who, the better to conserve themselves, established a law, that none should be so bold to invent any novelty in the Common weal. And as this law was upon a time broken, by a famous musician (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 six: a novelty offending none, neither did it good or harm to the Commonweal, neither altered it the minds of the citizens, for all this, him they banished the Commonweal, and broke the instrument in pieces. With how much more reason than (dear Spain) mayst thou bereave the lives of these inventors of false novelties, written so much in thy prejudice, and the pen, inkhorn and paper, which served to that use, to burn them in the market place. Receive this, o Spain, from him that bewails thy weepings, widows, morning attire, and thy scattered small orphans remaining without their father's aid; and consider how far better it had been for thee, to have employed such a puissant Armada against infidels, than against Christians, baptised in the name of the Father, the Son, and the holy Ghost, & redeemed by the blood of Christ, from whom cometh all our weal, and to whom we yield infinite thanks and praise for ever and ever,  
Amen.   

An end to the answer of the Letters, with a brief, true, and Christian relation of that which was done in England after the departure of the Armada.  
THis victory thus obtained, the whole kingdom of England (by the commandment of her Majesty) was employed in spiritual plays, wherein was nothing else represented than thanksgiving to God, singing of Psalms, and preaching the Gospel, and to this spiritual exercise repaired all, both small and great, poor and rich, and this endured for certain days, and at the length the Queen's sacred Majesty, accompanied with the Nobles, as Earls, Lords, Barons, Knights, and Gentlemen of the land, came unto the church of Saint Paul, where she was received of the Bishops and other Ministers; in whose presence, with great reverence, solemnity, and devotion, there was giving of thanks to God, preaching the divine word, & singing sundry Psalms, of which I will only name this hymn.  

The Hymn. Te Deum laudamus, and so forth.  
WE praise thee O God: we knowledge thee to be the Lord.  
All the earth doth worship thee: the father everlasting.  
To thee all Angels cry aloud: the heaven and all the powers therein.  
To thee Cherubin and Seraphin: continually do cry.  
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Sabaoth.  
Heaven and earth are full of the majesty: of thy glory.  
The glorious company of the Apostles: praise thee.  
The goodly fellowship of the Prophets: praise thee.  
The noble army of Martyrs: praise thee.  
The holy Church throughout all the world: doth knowledge thee.  
The father of an infinite majesty.  
Thy honourable, true, and only son.  
Also the holy Ghost: the comforter.  
Thou art the King of glory: O Christ.  
Thou art the everlasting son of the father.  
When thou tookest upon thee to deliver man: thou didst not abhor the virgin's womb.  
When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death: thou didst open the kingdom of heaven to all believers.  
Thou sittest on the right hand of God: in the glory of the father.  
We believe that thou shalt come to be our judge.  
We therefore pray thee help thy servants: whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood,  
Make them to be numbered with thy saints in glory everlasting.  
O Lord save thy people: and bless thine heritage.  
Govern them: and lift them up for ever.  
Day by day we magnify thee.  
And we worship thy name: ever world without end.  
Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this day without sin.  
O Lord have mercy upon us: have mercy upon us.  
O Lord let thy mercy lighten upon us: as our trust is in thee.  
O Lord in thee have I trusted: let me never be confounded.   
THere were also said sundry prayers, some of thanksgiving for so great benefits received from the Lord; others for the life and prosperity of the Queen's Majesty, and for peace, others for the increasing of our zeal, and the holding of his holy hand over us, and for his church universal. To him be all praise, honour and glory for ever and ever, Amen.  
FAr otherwise, o, Spain, they celebrate here such victories, than they do in thy kingdoms and provinces; for there they pass all in worldly sports, as maskings, dancings with bells, hurling of canes, lancing of bulls, justs and torneys, and with these feasts, o, Spain, thou givest the glory of thy victories to the world, as though the world had given them unto thee; but from hence forth take my counsel and give them to God, and turn to him. But if thou wilt be obstinate and still give them to the world, here I present thee a Hymn, which thou mayst sing to the head of this world.  

The Hymn.  
TE Papam damnamus.  
Te confusum confitemur.  
Te confusionis Patrem, omnis terra arbitratur.  
Tibi Ecclesiastici & seculares incessabili voce proclamant. 
Mundanorum mundo gratiarum actio.   
Confusus, Confusus, Confusus dominus Babaloth.  
Vacui sunt coeli & terra: operibus gloriae tuae.  
Te gloriosus, Theologorum chorus.  
Te Medicorum laudabilis numerus.  
Te Philosophorum candidatus, vituperat exercitus.  
Te per orbem terrarum omnis confitetur schola.  
Patrem Mentis aegestatis.  
Reprobandum tuum falsum & innorme Collegium.  
Malum quoque tuum spiritum  
Tu rex gloriae vanae.  
Tu superbiae sempiternus es filius.  
Tu ad regendam suscepturus Ecclesiam, confudisti mundum.  
Tu injuncto mortis juramento, clausisti tibi credentibus Regna coelorum.  
Tu ad dexteram Diaboli sedes: in pena Luciferi.  
judicatus crederis esse venturus.  
Te ergo quae sumus tuis Scholis subveni, quas ligitioso furore perdidisti.  
Aeterno fac cum sociis tuis igne numerari.  
Damna Papatum hunc Domine, & maledic haereditati suae.  
Et doma eum & humillia illum usque in aeternum.  
Per singulos dies Papam maledicimus tibi.  
Et vituperamus nomen tuum in seculum, & in seculum seculi.  
Dignare Domine die illo, Peccatorem hunc damnare.  
Nèmiserearis ejus Domine, nè miserearis ejus.  
Fiat maledictio tua Domine super eum, quemadmodum speravimus in te.  
Tibi Domine peccavit, confundatur in aeternum, Amen.   

The same in English.  
WE condemn thee o pope. 
A thanksgiving of worldlings to the world.   
We knowledge thee to be confounded.  
All the earth judgeth thee to be the father of confusion.  
To thee the clergy and laity continually docrie  
Confounded, confounded, confounded: Lord of Babaloth.  
Heaven and earth are void: of the works of thy glory.  
The glorious company of divines: dispraise thee.  
The goodly society of Physicians: dispraise thee.  
The noble army of Philo sophers: dispraise thee.  
Every school throughout the world doth knowledge thee:  
The father of the poverty of mind to be.  
Thy counterfeit and enormous college to be reprobate.  
Also thine evil spirit.  
Thou art the king of vain glory.  
Thou art the everlasting son of pride.  
When thou tookest upon thee to govern the church, thou disorderedst the world.  
Thou by an enjoined oath of death, hast shut the kingdom of heaven to all that believe thee.  
Thou sittest at the right had of the devil: in the pain of Lucifer.  
Thou art believed that thou shalt come: to be judged.  
We therefore pray thee, help thy colleges: which thou hast cast away by contentious fury.  
Make them to be numbered with thy fellows: in fire everlasting.  
O Lord, condemn this papacy:  
And curse his inheritage.  
Subdue him: and cast him down for ever.  
Day by day o pope we curse thee.  
We dispraise thy name: ever world without end.  
Vouchsafe, o Lord, that day, this sinner to condemn.  
O Lord have no mercy upon him, have no mercy upon him.  
O Lord let thy curse lighten upon him: as we have trusted in thee.  
O Lord, against thee hath he sinned: let him for ever be confounded.    

An answer to the songs of Christovall Bravo, of Cordova, blind of body and soul, in praise of the victory, which the Spanish Armada had against the English the year of our Lord God, 1588.  

The first song.  

O Emperor most high, jesus Christ consecrate,  
Son of the virgin pure, without 
a The virgin in her song calling God her Saviour, confesseth to be a sinner.  sin begat:  
Which wouldst for our sin, suffer and die  
upon the cross, whipped, crowned, and hung on high,  
Give me thy grace, thou crowned king of kings  
to sing and recount, these memorable things,  
Which in England 
b There passed no such thing in England, it was at sea.  passed, as told 
c False witness, is no proof.  I have been,  
and thou blessed virgin, divine-garden and Queen  
Of Christ 
d An error to call on any saving Christ, of whom Saint Paul saith we have an advocate with the father Christ jesus.  get me favour, sith he is thy son,  
that my tongue may well end, what I have begun:  
Since our Armada went forth, as is proved at last  
from the city of Lisbon in May that is past:  
Sailing with diligence, care, and all speed  
passing by the Groin, a good harborough at need.  
Hear begin the plagues  
of Egypt.  
And after few days, great 
e Because they came not in the service of God but to destroy his Church.  storms there arose  
that unto the Groin the fleet again goose.  
Pharaoh his heart is hardened.  
And the three and twenty of julie, this year yet in hand,  
they purpose to prosecute, their voyage began.  
Now begin the lies.  
The second of August, the Armada of 
f The Army was not under the government of Sir Francis Drake, but under the Lord high Admiral.  Drake  
that pestilent man, towards ours did make.  
A lie.  
On whom ours set, with courage not thought,  
and strait seven & twenty, to the bottom were brought:  
And four more, without yards there were stayed  
when all the rest fled, they were so afraid,  
Towards Dover in haste, as written I found,  
to enter the Thames, (their fortune so frowned)  
to live in their harbour, more safe and more sound.    

The Answer to the first Song.  

Blind fool, liar, unbaptised and scald  
why thus devoid of fear, on Christ hast thou called,  
To give and repart, of his bountiful glory,  
to thee the treasure, of his grace (thou unhollie)  
Saying, thou wilt sing, a matter strange and true,  
which was a loud lie, as every man knew:  
Proclaiming (dog) truths, yet sellest thou lies,  
giving victory to the vanquished, and the victor's despies,  
Abasing the victor, and exalting the slain,  
And the glory of England thou givest to Spain.  
Monster of nature, borne in some lake,  
'mongst flags, the son of a toad or a snake,  
Lucifer thy father, and Satan thy brother,  
a vassal of hell, Leasings thy mother,  
Thou wantest thy three powers, and in steed thou hast got  
lying and blindness, and of asses brains a pot,  
I call thee Lope, the Vylde, blind ass, and dolt,  
Ram, ape, parrot, monkey and colt:  
Oystridge, and ape, clad in a coat,  
of green and sundry colours, thy lightness to note.  
Mutinous, perverse, shameless in all things,  
enemy to see peace, amongst Christian kings:  
Say, how dared thou sing, the king of Spain had destroyed  
the English Navy, (and yet he the annoyed.)  
Thou infamest thy worthy king, and dispisest his decree,  
thou overthrowest his crown, sceptre and degree:  
And tell me bold bayard, more fowl than horse gall,  
why such words thou usest, 'gainst a soldier so tall,  
As is Sir Francis Drake, of God's temple a prop,  
a defender of faith, and to Britain a hope:  
Of whom, the universal, trembles at his name,  
the Indies for witness, can speak of his fame:  
Galicia, Cales, San. Domingo, Cartagena, fear him at this day,  
San. Augustine, Santiago, and the fierce Ocean sea:  
The duke of Medina, feared, and durst not abide him,  
Valdes that fled not, may say how he tried him:  
He lost his strong ship, and his soldiers stout,  
but he lost not his honour, by fight it out:  
They (blind) who blindfold fled, are of thy side,  
whose ships are lost, displanckt, and opened wide.  
Who came out of the Groin, in month of julie last,  
of munition full, of men, powder shot, and good repast:  
These are the lost, the English have the best,  
for God was on their side, who now doth give them rest.   
The end of the answer to the first song.   

The blind man's second song, wherein he prosecuteth his untruths and injuries.  

AFter the great battle, was ended (as before)  
the second of August, a fight most fierce and sore,  
Our Armada retired, to place most apt and meet,  
to know if any hurt, had chanced to our fleet:  
One ship alone was missed, which burned was at sea,  
by slight regard, hard mishap, and luckless day:  
But all the men were saved, and not a man was lost,  
and other harm was none, for that was all and most.  
And on the sixth day, of month I named last  
our Armada going on, thorough narrow channel past:  
And so did the contrary, proceed the self same way:  
as near unto England, as either of them may,  
And the English thought, the wind of us to get,  
but God would it not so, their purpose he did let:  
And when the darksome night, was come upon the sky,  
the adverse part prepared, at anchor where they lie,  
Eight ships all burning bright, which seemed to the view,  
each ship of them a hell, all what I sing is true:  
Of powder full and stones, with timber huge and great,  
with engens many more, which I can not repeat,  
That they on our Armada, at unawares might drive  
to burn our ships and men, not leaving one alive:  
But he the king of Heaven, which rules the world wide,  
permitted not th'effect, their treazons put a side.  
For he inspired our Duke, of that his foe had wrought,  
and then the prudent Duke, to prevent the treason sought,  
Or else they burned must be, wherefore the Duke doth send,  
and wills each man his cable cut, and all away to wend  
Unto the sea, where larger scope they had.  
his grace did so command, which made them also glad,  
Every one did go, the way that he thought best,  
and then the flaming ships came burning from the rest,  
They came with lofty pride, with fire which they brought,  
but our Armada gone, behind they leaving nought.  
And their pretended ill, on us took no effect,  
for all their hidden harm, in vain flew up direct.  
Now all this past and done, and that the night was spent,  
and the resplendent Pheb, his beams abroad had sent:  
There blew a pleasant gale, great joie unto all,  
but chiefly our 
a To fly.  Armada, did need it most of all.  
So 
b Assaulting the Spanish.  came the adverse ships, that were not far behind,  
and at this very time, as fortune had assigned,  
Both Armadas went, with power and courage brave,  
by a channel strait, made by the brackish wave:  
And in the sight of Dunkerck, appeerd another fleet,  
and the gallion S. Martin, for the duke a ship so meet,  
Knew that they were of England, the fleet which all descry,  
and all the rest do know them to, by flag that stands on high:  
And in this sort, they sailed on their way,  
until the twelfth of August, after which said day  
Befell, as hereafter, my pen shall you declare,  
that day into Calais, a ship arrived there,  
Which said, they saw together, the two Armadas fierce,  
and after her another ship, which did the same rehearse,  
And that he saw much stuff, and riches cast in sea,  
and that in boats 
c They of the galliass threw themselves into the sea, without boats to escape ashore.  to shore, the English ran away  
To save themselves from harm, which came on them so fast.  
and then the thirteenth day, more news there came in haste  
From the kingdom of England, most certain and most sure,  
by our spies and tongues, which there for us endure,  
That fifteen of their ships, were sent unto the ground,  
and that the Gallion, wherein our duke was found,  
Called the Saint Martin, which is her proper name,  
had grappled with the ship, wherein the great thief came,  
Called Francis Drake, who brought in his consort,  
of all the men of England, those of the highest sort,  
marquesses, 
d There are no Dukes in England.  Dukes, Counts, and men of honour great:  
and our great duke him took, and did him ill entreat.  
And then towards Scotland, because he thought it well,  
he went, with wind in poop, as I do hear tell:  
These (lordings) are the news, which hitherto we know,  
of the estate of war, that this our church doth follow,  
Beseech we jesus, & blessed Marie divine,  
to give us victory, for she can do it fine,  
And preserve our great mornarch, Don Philip of Spain,  
and give us his grace and glory, for that must be our gain.   
The end of the second song.   

The Answer.  

BY saying the furious sea, and Phoebus shining bright,  
by calling policy treason, (which is not so in fight.)  
A blind dolt and fool, a fool in highest degree,  
doth now become a Poet, his verse that we may see:  
A perfect jew, by due descent, borne in Cordova,  
which is a City in the kingdom of Andaluzia.  
And to give us to understand, that verse he could devise,  
he writs in ragged rhyme, approved filthy lies:  
And singeth them in streets, with music, in his lays,  
the people clapping hands, then in his song he says.  
After the great battle, was ended (as before,)  
the second of August, a fight most fierce and sore.  
How much better mightest thou say, (unprofitable blind,)  
(sith that there was no battle, but flying with the wind.)  
After that our Armada, the English had descried,  
they began themselves to lighten, and fast away they hied,  
Cables cut, and sails they hoist, to scape away with vita,  
their backs they turn to death, the soldiers of Medina,  
While Charles and his many, to death do turn their breast,  
like valiant & stout champions, brought up in Mars his nest.  
And there like men courageous, esteeming life in little  
preferring first their honour, before a thing so brittle,  
The duke flies, Drake follows, by order that he had  
of Charles the great Admiral, whose sight the Drake did glad,  
With whose only presence, Drakes valour did increase,  
doing immortal deeds, which I cannot rehearse,  
And so the worthy Drake, like eagle high that lay,  
closing his two wings, falls down upon his pray,  
In this same manner and sort, on Spainyard he layeth load,  
he closeth up his wings, his talons are abroad:  
The talons that he opens, are courage and attempt,  
his closed wings are fear, from which he is exempt.  
His wings he doth resign, his talons serve him best,  
wherewith he takes or kills, all them that do resist.  
Let Valdes hereof be witness, and those with him that were,  
also Don George Manrique, which fled away for fear,  
The Saint Philip, and S. Matthew, ships of great account,  
and all those who ruled them, whose fame in Spain did mount:  
If such be Drakes valour, why then, (thou tongue of snake)  
dost thou defame for thief, and of no account him make:  
But he that is base, can never defame the valorous man,  
nor yet the coward, the bold, nor king, the rustic swain.  
If thou this hadst known, thou wouldst not be so bold,  
so openly to speak, and such foul lies have told.  
The good tree, good fruit doth yield, with blossoms fair & gay,  
the ill yields none but leaves, worms, and webs alway:  
Thou art an evil tree, thy root all rotten lies,  
the fruits that come from thee, are false and shameless lies.  
The English Navy to be overcome, I say it is a lie,  
thou liest in saying in boats, the English then did fly,  
Thou liest in calling thief, him that deserves so much,  
and him that by his courage, hath gotten honour such:  
Thou liest in saying you took prisoners that same day,  
fourteen English ships, and all they brought to sea.  
Thou liest both loud and low, at first and in the midst,  
thou liest all in all, thou liest in all thou didst:  
Dogs eat thy tongue, the ants eat thine ears,  
hungry ravens eat thy guts, as hellish griffen tears.  
Thy head upon a gibbet, in heat, and whorie frost,  
let stand in desert place, like one forlorn and lost.  
Thy hands chopped off alive, thy feet and eke thy knees,  
thy shoulders all bewhipt, thy belly burnt, and thighs.  
The rest of thy members, consumed to dust and Ash,  
the eyes which thou dost want, let them remain as trash.    
The end of the Answer to the second song.   

The Author yields the reasons that moved him, to answer matters so fabulous and base.  
Lest any man should blame me for employing my pen in answering matters so base (as are these five letters, and especially the blind man's songs) and should say that it had been better employed in matters of greater moment. Not gainsaying him that shall thus correct me, I give him to understand, that the good tennis player, labours as much, and useth as great diligence, to reach that ball which cometh aloft in the air, as for that which cometh close by the ground: 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 mind, not to dismay in great matters, nor to be ashamed of the lesser, so I disdain not to answer this (though short) for that the mind wherewith I do it doth greaten the same. And that Spain (which not being faulty in this mischief) suffer not unpunished the blindman and his authors, the disturbers of the common wealth, nor to consent to be deceived henceforth with such light vanities, chiefly their descent being from Tubal the son of Noah, and of the Goads and Vandals, nations so worthy that at this day the memory of their noble deeds endures, and shall endure for ever, and being endued with so good and marvelous wits, & having so good a king as they have, of whose friendship all Christian kings are glad, chiefly in respect of his great power and treasure, also for his worthy and political government, experience, learning, and due administering of justice. I have also taken this labour to show unto Spain, that ill counsellors & flatterers, destroy her: and so that it is convenient to avoid them, or better, to punish them, that the punishing of these may be a scaring to those that shall come hereafter. I have also charged myself with this burden, to show in short reasons, how contrary things have happened, to that as was there published and given to understand. It was divulgated in Spain, that they were victors, they being then vanquished, as well is seen. They also thought in Spain not to have left an English man alive. O blind imagination, and, o, sorrowful Spain, how far better were it for thee to employ this imagination (that it might take effect) against Infidels, (setting all thy rest, and calling all Christian kings to thy aid, and it should not be a small succour which thou mightest have out of this kingdom of England) rather then against Christians, which do nothing day nor night, but serve God and give him thanks. There, there, o Spain, shouldst thou show thy power to the enlarging of Christendom, and not here in diminishing thereof. Thou persecutest English men, as thine enemies, to maintain the opinion of men, & thou persecutest not the Turk, to maintain and defend that of God. Thou persecutest Englishmen, poor in goods & rich in faith, & thou persecutest not the Turk rich in substance, and altogether without faith. Thou troublest the minds both of us and thy own common weal, and thou causest tranquillity amongst the Turks, enemies to us all: thou makest wars against Christianisme, and givest peace unto Paganism. Finally that which results hereof is, that Christianity weary, and Gentility laugheth; Christianity troubled, and Gentility at quiet; Christianity in wars and the Gentiles in peace: Christians in torments, Gentiles in contentments: Christians in mourning weeds, Gentiles in feasts; and Christians in burials, and the Gentiles in sports. Behold here, Spain, whereto thou hast made this great and costly Armada, to discontent thy friends, and pleasure thy enemies: and the better to pleasure them, thou wouldst not content thee with less than the bereaving of the life of those of this kingdom. And put case it had fallen out according to thy thoughts, dost thou not consider how dear it would have cost thee, and that thou shouldest have remained only with the lordship of earth and stones, mountains and brambles, and not of men? And if it seem unto thee an easy matter, to people it a new: thou hast not people to do it, unless thou wilt leave thyself desert. For if thou look well into it, thou shalt see how lost, thou art already, which loss consisteth not in sacks of wool and other merchandise, and money, but of thy men: Now for Naples, now Cicilia, for Lombardy, Flanders (which is thy Sepulchre) for the Indies, Portugal, and the Terceras, for thy own coasts, for Barbary, for the Islands of Mayork and Menorcke, for Sardenia, & the galleys, & finally for the frontiers of thy own kingdom. And if thou couldst decern the people that every hour 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 compass to conquer this kingdom, thou must leave thy own to the moors; who if the knew the few men that thou hast, they would not sleep so long, neither leave thee at such rest; though peradventure their rest, is for our unrest; as one should say, let now Christians break one another's heads, let one kill another, and after we will enter to keep the peace, and so remain lords of all. Who doubteth but that the Turk rejoiceth at the troubles in France. And no less would he rejoice, that thou, o, Spain stoodst in the like estate; yea, that there were no Christianity in the world. You see then hereby, 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 arm of God oppose itself, that thou mightest not pass on therewith, hindering thy so ill a thought, and punishing thy (so great a) folly: punishing thee, as thou wouldst have punished us. Content thyself Spain with that thou hast, & desire not to embrace more within thy arms, than thou art well able to compass, for he that so doth cannot hold it fast: and he that murmurs at many is hated of many, and he that disquieteth many, is persecuted of many. O dear Spain, and if thou didst but know and consider, how dangerous a thing it is, to procure kingdoms and Signiories, by unlawful means, and by prejudicing thy neighbours and brethren; how shouldest thou then withdraw thy hands from so many wars, excuse thee of so many hard labours, and persecutions, and loss of men and money: how much more, I know thou art not ignorant of that old proverb 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 heir shall never enjoie. Open thy eyes, o, Spain, and see what best complieth thee. Example hereof we have in the sacred Scripture. That Herode Ascolonita, which tyrannically and against reason and 
Luc. 3.  justice, had usurped the kingdom of judea, had his eyes scant closed up, when his kingdom was divided into four parts, and in the principal part thereof, which was judea, succeeded a Gentile for precedent, called Pilate.  
The tribes which jeroboam tyrannically usurped is a matter 
3. King. 12.  well known, that all his sons enjoyed them not. And king Achab (which unlawfully possessed another's heritage) his house was destroyed by jehu. Neither should it better 
4. King. 10.  befall thee, o, Spain, than it did unto Achab, jeroboam, and Herode; for hadst thou gotten thy pretence, yet shouldest thou not have enjoyed it, for being il gotten. But me thinks I hear thee, o, Spain to say, that if the heirs of these enjoyed not the goods and possessions which they got, it was because they got it against reason, justice, and the will of God. But that thou camest with thy mighty Armada, by the ordinance of God and government of the holy Ghost, and therefore thou camest to destroy and kill, and that thou shouldst have enjoyed that which thou hadst gotten. If, of so vain a presumption, thou couldst allege any place of the sacred Scripture in thy defence; then neither would I call thy presumption vain, nor gainsay thee. But I gainsay thee, because thou hast no reason, & I call it vain, because they are smokes of thy vainglories, like those of them (of whom Moses speaketh) that would build a tower, 
Gen. 11.  whose top should reach unto heaven, who, (in reward of their pride) were punished and destroyed. When the Lords people went forth of Egypt, remaining in the wilderness, amongst other things that the Lord spoke unto Moses their guide and captain general, this was one (as appeareth:) 
Exod. 23.  That they should not incline to the Gods of the Gentiles, but that they should destroy and break their altars. And afterwards the Lord saith unto Moses: Take heed to thyself that thou make no 
Exod. 34.  compact with the inhabitants of the land, whether thou goest, lest they be the cause of ruin amongst you. But you shall overthrow their altars, and break their images in pieces, and cut down their groaves. God commanded joshua to destroy the city of jericho, 
joshua 6.  even to the overthrowing of the walls. All the inhabitants of Ai were destroyed and the city laid waste. God 
joshua 8.  commanded Gideon to destroy the altar of Baal, and he did it. So then these, (and others which I might allege:) If they conquered kingdoms, slew the people, and razed cities unto the ground, it was by the commandment of God. For such kingdoms, people, and provinces lived, prejudicial to the honour of God. But who commanded thee, o, Spain, to come to make war upon Englishmen? If it were by the commandment of God, and for their idolatry; give us testimony and show us the place where God spoke, and show us thy Moses, thy joshua, or thy Gideon: and if it were by ill counsellors, punish them, and repent thee of that which is done, and amend from hence forth. I would gladly know which of these two causes stirred up this war, whether the commandment of God, or ill counsel. To the first I say (if thou sayest it was by the commandment of God) that thou errest in so saying, sith heaven & earth shall fail, but the word of God shall never fail: and so, had his divine Majesty commanded thee to come, he had given thee victory: he gave it thee not; then he was not pleased with thy coming. He promised the land of promise to the children of Israel, and though the country was strong, and the defenders strong and many, and they weak and weary; yet he gave it them: and to thee would he have given this Island, had he promised it thee. Besides this, thy coming could not be acceptable to God, neither was it with his consent: For God now, is not a bloody God, but a God of love; he punisheth not now in a strong arm, (as he was wont under that hard law) but with a hand of compassion: and thy coming was, throwing lightnings, thunders, and thunder bolts, and saying; let them die, let them die, let not a man remain alive; a matter most abominable to God, ergo, without his consent. That God commanded the captains of his people, to destroy the gods, altars, walls, and groves of their enemies, and to put them to the sword, the cause was (as I said a little before) because God was offended and dishonoured by them. But we according to the poverty of our strength, bless, & give God thanks, and the honour that is his, we give it not to creatures: Then it is likely he would not command us to be destroyed by thy wrathful hand. When his people of Israel committed idolatry, he put them into his enemies hands, and when they acknowledged their sin, he delivered them: But God delivered not his people of England into the hands of the Spaniards: then God commanded them not to come against England, neither is this kingdom an enemy to God. The Gentiles had many gods, but Englishmen, only one God, Father, Son, and holy Ghose, three persons, and one only true God, omnipotent, and creator of the universal. And in such sort we believe in this God, that we confound not the persons: for one person is of the Father, another of the Son; another of the holy Ghost; and so we believe three persons, that yet we make not three Gods, but one God, as the scripture doth teach us, where he saith; Hear, o, Israel, the Lord our God, is Lord only. He nameth God 
Deut. 6.  three times, because he consisteth of three persons: and because these three persons are one God, and not three gods; he saith, is Lord only: and for that of this blessed Trinity, the second person was incarnate, and clothed himself with our humanity (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, clothed himself with our miseries for our salvation, and reconciled us with the everlasting father, whom (according to our small power) we worship, and serve and obey him according to his laws, and not after the laws of men: Then we have not many gods, with the Gentiles, neither are we idolaters, 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 moved you: Which is ill counsellors; who moved by some secret hatred, deceiving their king, and destroy his kingdom: The destroyers of kings and kingdoms are ill counsellors. Three hundred years the Romans made wars upon thee, yet never wert thou overcome of them, but always victor, till such time as ill counsellors deceived thee, sowing in thee hatred and division. The ill counsels of the false prophets, destroyed jezabel, Achab, and others. And so thee, o, Spain, have thy ill counsellors, and false prophets, washed and destroyed. One of the chiefest causes why, thou hast obtained so many victories against Turks, moors, the French, and other nations, hath been because of thy good counsellors: the conservation of the prince and people depends upon good counsel. And so, many honourable personages, have exalted many for their good counsel, and utterly rejected ill counsellors 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 Statue to be erected, which might remain for a memory for the celebration of his name, for the excellency of his learning, and good counsels, as recordeth julius Capitolinus. The Emperor Domitian made Scillus oftentimes Consul for his good counsel, as may be gathered, by certain verses of Martial. Trajan carried with him in his chariot triumphal Dion Prusio, as affirmeth Suidas, for his good counsels, which he obeyed. The Emperor Constantine made Ablabius of his Royal counsel, 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 counsel with the weight of money, (for in good counsel consisteth the peace and conservation, of the king & kingdom) & so did many other most honourable men: the which for not to be tedious, I repeat not, contenting myself with those rehearsed. If then Spain and his king have good counsellors, let them take view of the success of their counsels received. Good counsels pacify and increase, and ill counsels trouble and diminish. And so it appeareth plain that poor Spain and his king for having ill counsel, is so troubled, and diminished of people and honour. Being now poor of people, and rich in enemies: poor of money and rich in expense: empty of peace and full of war, and heavily laden with offenders, and well lighted of defenders. O poor Spain, and what a perfect picture is every one of thy counsellors, of a king Herode, who, to kill Christ and triumph over him, slew both his own and the children of his subjects, diminishing the fruit of his kingdom: even so hath it befallen thee, who to destroy the English and triumph over them, hast lost both thy substance and subjects: And as Christ remained free from the bloody hands of Herode, so have the English escaped (by the divine favour) from thine. Banish (sacred king) thy ill counsellors, and behold how they are deceivers and flatterers which destroy thee and with their feigned words deceive thee. joab came 
2. Kings 20.  smoothly to his friend Amasa, and stabbed him thorough. Thy ill counsellors come smoothly to thee (sacred king) flattering thee with their adulations, and destroy thee. Sawsin by trusting to the sweet words of Dalila, was put into his enemy's hands. Thou hast trusted (sacred king) in 
jud. 16.  the flatteries of those who are about thee, whereby thou hast delivered thy treasures to the custody of thy enemies: O, lamentable case, that so mild a king should be in vironed with so many flatterers. Note (king) that our ancestors were voont to call the tongues of flatterers, a sword anointed with honey, which proverb, S. Jerome useth in an Epistle. God commanded the children of Israel, that they should not touch the tabernacles of the ungodly, nor any thing of theirs, that they might not be defiled. And also, that at their entering the land of Canaan, that they should 
Num. 33.  destroy and banish all the inhabitants of that province, to the end that they might not be infected with their ill manners and customs. For even as the hands (though never so white) by handling of coals, become black and polluted; even so, be a man never so good, if he be conversant with ill counsellors, shall also become ill. Solomon saith, that he that toucheth pitch, shall be defiled therewith. Depart then, o, king, and most worthy prince, from such ill counsellors which waste and consume thee, and trouble and destroy thy kingdom. They fell themselves unto thee for true friends, being deceitful enemies. Take heed (mighty king) for if these flatterers follow thee; it is not for thy royal persons sake, nor for thy virtues, but only for thy great riches. For in like sort as the wood breedeth the worm which eateth & consumeth it; even so rich men bring up flatterers which by little & little destroy them. This understood 
Psal. 141.  well the Psalmist when he said. Let the righteous rather smite me friendly, & reprove me. But let not their precious balms break mine head. There he calleth the flattery of the wicked, precious balms: My people, (saith Isaiah) they that call thee blessed, even they deceive thee. More hurt (saith S. Jerome) doth the tongue of the flatterer, than the sword of the enemy. By admitting (most worthy king) the balm of thy ill counsellors, thou hast deceived thyself: They call thee most mighty, and the only deserver of all the kingdoms of the world. They warrant thee, that thou mayst raise a thousand tributes in thy country, wherewith to conquer others kingdoms: and they have done thee more harm than the swords of thine enemies. Flatterers are so prejudicial, that Antisthenes saith, it is better to fall into the power of Ravens, then of flatterers, for the Ravens eat the eyes of the dead, but the flatterers corrupt the minds of the living: so record Laertius and Brusonius, though others attribute this saying to Diogenes. And the same Laertius saith, that Bias, the philosopher being asked, what beast was most poisonsome, he answered, of wild beasts the tyrant, and of tame beasts the flatterer. AEneus Silvius reporteth, that the Emperor Sigismond, was such an enemy to flatterers, that on a time not being able to suffer the flatterings of one that praised him overmuch, he gave him a blow, who saying, why dost thou strike me Emperor? He answered; flatterer, why dost thou bite me? And with this (most valorous king) I conclude and make an end of this particular matter: That men of high spirits, give not their ears to flatterers, neither accept ill counsellors. Behold it here proved, that the arming of Spain, was not by the commandment of God, but through ill counsel, and therefore it perished. Besides this, the Spaniards gave out (the more to prick their people forward in fury) that if the English should take any of them, that they would kill him, and not leave any alive that should fall into their hands. Truly, though the English had been of that mind, yet had they offered no injury to the Spaniards: for if they came proclaiming death; had it been much that English men should proclaim death? The Echo answereth still unto the voice without changing the words. If you say evil; it answers evil; if good, good; if pain, pain; if glory, glory; the Spaniards come then, saying, fire, the Echo answers in Englishmen, fire; Spaniards say blood, Englishmen say blood; Spaniards say death, Englishmen say death; Spaniards say war, Englishmen say war; and when they shall say peace, than Englishmen will answer peace: But now if Englishmen should kill all their prisoners, they should do them no injury, nor break jus Gentium, neither that which is de jure belli, for this war deserves not the name of a good war, because it was moved by covetousness and tyranny, and not for valour and increase of honour. There were wars between the Emperor Charles the fift & Francis king of France; but the original was neither of tyranny, nor covetousness: and this was seen apparently; for Francis being prisoner by the Emperor, near unto Pavia, in the year 1525. and from thence carried into Spain: the Emperor never willed him to resign his crown, 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 bravery than tyranny. But in this war of Spain against England, Spain coming with armed hand, to deprive her Majesty of Sceprer and crown, what injustice should she do, in causing all to be slain, that shall come to hand? for tyrants deserve no less than death: And sith Spaniards in this war show themselves tyrants, (
* My author is a Spaniard and therefore whatsoever you think or know to the contrary, yet you must bear with his parenthesis in this point.  though naturally they be not so) they should have no wrong done them, had they all been slain. But in fine, such as the fountain is, such are the streams, if the fountain be sweet, the streams are sweet, and if the fountain be brackish, the rivers are brackish. The fountain of England, which is the sacred Majesty of Queen Elizabeth (whom the Lord long preserve) is a sweet fountain, full of love, compassion, clemency, and benignity, and so are her subjects; for such as the Lord is, such is the vassal. This is verified in the sacred Scripture. Herademas troubled and all jerusalem with him. And Achab and 
Mat. 2. 4. King.  jesabel being wicked, so were the people: so that a good king hath good subjects; and so as her Majesty is merciful, so are her subjects; and hence it groweth, that the Englishmen not respecting the tyranny of this war, nor the bloody hands of the soldiers; but using clemency with the prisoners, they have not taken their lives, but rather as though the wars had been such, as was between Charles and Francis, so have they been well entreated and succoured with meat, with apparel, hose and shoes, shirts, firing and other necessaries, Englishmen seeming to be sorry, and to bewail the poor Spaniards, which perished in Ireland, by the hands of the savage Irishmen; and to serve for meat, some in the sea for the fish, and others on the land, for the carrion Crows; so that they sorrow the loss of the dead, and secure the necessity of the prisoners. And all this, for being her Majesty full of love and not of rigour, and so abundant in clemency, and not in revenge, a greater friend to pardon, then to punish: and using more of mercy then justice, she shows herself most Christian, and fearing God: Unto whom, his divine Majesty grant, long years of life, augment and prosper her estate, as is needful for the holy church sake, (she being a true defender thereof) and as her humble and loyal subjects desire, Amen.   

The translator.  
I Am to request thee, (courteous Reader) to bear with the translations of the blind man's songs and their answers, for I know the verse will seem somewhat harsh unto thee, wherein I was overshot, in tying myself so much to the Spanish, (at the author's request) as you may see, the English to answer verse for verse with the Spanish: to avoid which inconvenience, receive these verses following (I humbly beseech thee) in good part, (with the rest of the translation) which verses follow (almost) verbally, though not in meeter: in stead whereof, I pray thee also, accept with good will, certain verses of my own to the same effect, wherein thou shalt both pleasure and encourage me, far well.  
Thine in good will I. L.   

A song in the praise of the English Nobility.  

Arrayed, in sundry colours, white, red, and incarnation,  
blue, green, yellow, and murrey colour fine:  
Plumes of feathers brave, displaying forth their minds,  
streamers fringd with gold, and silver round about,  
Armour shining, white helmets, fine and graven,  
swords broad and sharp, daggers strong and large,  
Lances great and long, and sharpened steel at end,  
targets fair of steel, jacks of proof, of male,  
Ensigns brave advaunst, with red cross in field white,  
and a rose for devise, set out in colour read,  
With letters which do say, 
* I think he meaneth the posy of the gatter.  Let him be punished and correct,  
which evil thinks, & doth not do, all what, that he is bound  
For to defend, & enlarge his country & faith unto the death.  
From great Britain, issueout, gentlemen of fame,  
Youths, desirous of honour, and used the same to win,  
do take their leave of friends, with many a brace & kiss,  
From Father, from mother, from brothers, and from sisters,  
from kindred, & from neighbours, & from their household cheer:  
They go towards the sea, their enemies to seek,  
to die, or overcome, regarding life in little,  
They go thinking upon war, and upon deeds of old  
of their fathers, grandfathers, and others of their blood,  
They print in their memory, the facts of their forefathers,  
to show themselves no cowards, but bold, fierce, and stout,  
And they, who thus do go are Gentles passing brave,  
the Earls of Oxford, Northumberland, & Cumberland,  
Of valour, force, and courage, they bear the prick and prize,  
three famous worthy Earls, well known and tried at arms,  
Lord Dudley, Henry Brook, Arthur Gorge and Gerard,  
which to assault & win, are four worthy soldiers,  
The valorous Cicill, which Thomas hath to name,  
who in affairs of wars, did never fear his foe,  
Charles Blunt, William Hatton, two soldiers noted well,  
Walter Raleigh, not the least, nor used less in arms,  
Robert Cicill, and William, that is his brother's son,  
whose valour goes beyond, that of the wrathful Mars,  
Two famous Roberts eke, Carie and Harvie called,  
of whom Fame proclaims, affairs strange and great:  
Of Darcy the valiant, whose name is called Edward,  
Heaven beareth witness, and all the British Isle:  
And Horatio Palavezino, a gentleman well used,  
in letters, counsel, and arms, a gallant knight of strength.  
These and many other, with Charles the Lord Admiral,  
accompanied with Drake, in arms are all as brethren,  
One body, one resolute mind, the one hath care of tother,  
and one doth courage each, in such so brave a case,  
Now my hearts, go to, they say, remember we are bound  
rather to die then fly, for flight belongs to base:  
Better to die with honour, then live long dishonoured,  
'tis life to a gentleman, to die in such a quarrel:  
To serve God and his prince, the loyal subject fights,  
and for his dear country, the citizen yields his life,  
To this then and more, we present all are bound,  
sith that we be gentlemen, and serve so brave a Queen,  
In such conversation, the sail, and pass the time  
when suddenly with sails, they see the sea bespread,  
They know it to be the Armada, of the mighty Spaniard  
whose ships are like strong castles, full of artillery,  
Provided well with men, and loaded with munition  
in despite of raging sea, they part in two the waves,  
Reparted into squadrons, and marching in good order,  
and with their pleasant music rejoicing sky and sea,  
They put fear and dread, on all that them behold,  
such a number of ships, as furrow up the sea,  
France fears, and Almany, the force of Spanish king,  
so doth the turk and all the world, save England fair:  
If France fear, it is for civil wars,  
and Almany hath not her Signiories unite:  
And the turk because great Can, doth make him wars,  
and if the world be afraid, the world is a coward:  
But famous England which, in peace hath all estates  
and full of martial men, her cities and her towns,  
Which live one with another, as faithful loving brothers,  
they fear at all no force, nor Spanish mighty arm,  
But with boldness, valour and force that is seldom seen,  
regarding them in nought, to foe they set their breast,  
And with fewer men and ships to sea themselves commit,  
determined all to die before they fly a foot:  
And like to Tigers fierce, and Lions fraught with ire  
they press unto the fight, armed with armour brave:  
And this determination, perceived by the foe,  
they fly like little conie, before the cruel graiehound,  
And better for to fly, they hoist sails and cut cables,  
and of their treasure rich, yield part unto the sea:  
They fly without all order, like soldiers young and raw,  
some here, some there, as best may serve their turn,  
And the nobles of England, do follow at their heels,  
chase and charging, glory and honour they gain,  
Winning from them their ships, and captiving their men,  
returning with great victory, unto their English I'll,  
Whereas they land with joie, their banners brave advanst  
and with heavenly music, their trumpets sound aloud,  
Crying with voice most shrill, long live our royal Queen,  
live, live, and God preserve, her from all foreign foes,  
That all her subjects true, may long her grace enjoie,  
and that almighty God, augment her lands and state.  
Then all the spoil which in the war, they gained have,  
they offer it unto the Lord, their triumph and their joie,  
And in the church they yield him thanks, as is their due,  
for so great grace on them bestowed so free.  
Sundry songs they sing to him, and David's Psalms in verse,  
which lives for ever and ever, and reigns without all end.   
FINIS.   

The translator to the same effect.  

WHen from the Hesperian bounds, with warlike bands,  
the vowed fomen of this happy I'll,  
with martial men, drawn forth from many lands:  
'gan set their sail, on whom the winds did smile:  
the rumours ran of conquest, war, and spoil,  
and hapless sack of this renowned soil.   

From forth his channels glide: the Ocean gasd,  
To see the furrowing keels, beat on his breast:  
And 
* The Lady of the sea.  Thetis wept, her tides as one amazed,  
To see her watery bosom overpress.  
The spreading pendents, and the flags from far,  
With braying trumps, so threaten baleful war.   


* The goddess of war.  Dictimne, wakened by their bitter threats:  
Armed with her tools, and weapons of defence:  
Shaking her lance, for inward passion, sweats,  
Driving the thought of wonted peace from hence.  
And gliding through the circuit of the air,  
Unto 
* Under the name of Elisa is meant, our gracious Queen Elizabeth.  Eliza's palace did repair.   

As when the flames amidst the fields of corn,  
With hideous noise, awakes the sleepy swain:  
So do her threatenings, seldom heard before,  
Revive the warlike courtiers hearts again:  
So forth they press, since Pallas was their guide.  
And boldly sail upon the Ocean glide.   

The Admiral with Lion on his crest, 
L. Admiral.   
Like to Alcides on the strand of Troy:  
Armed at assay, to battle is addreast:  
The sea that saw his frowns, waxed calm and coy,  
As when that Neptune with three forkedmase,  
For Trojans sake, did keep the winds in chase.   

De-Vere whose fame, and loyalty hath pierced, 
Earl of Oxford.   
The Tuscan clime, and through the Belgike lands,  
By winged Fame, for valour is rehearsed:  
Like warlike Mars upon the hatches stands,  
His tusked Boar 'gan foam for inward ire,  
While Pallas filled his breast, with warlike fire.   

Percy whose fame the northern Alban kings, 
Earl of Northumberland.   
With bleeding crest report and publish forth:  
priest then in place, him Pallas armour brings,  
And bids him boldly to avow his worth:  
Laying her lip upon his Ivory brow,  
Enjoining Fate, his fortunes to allow.   

Adown his shoulders hang his ambar locks,  
Like Phoebus' golden tresses featly spread:  
Manly he stands to bide the Spaniards shocks,  
Awarlike helmet fixed upon his head,  
May 
* God of Physic.  Aesculapius with his cunning charms,  
Preserve the toward Lord, from future harms.   

Next him the matchless Clifford shakes his sword, 
Earl of Cumberland.   
(Like to 
* Hercules the son of jupiter and Alcmene.  Alcides, fair Alcmena's son)  
His looks are stern, his locks do fear afford,  
Within his breast doth manly courage won,  
Upon his crest the dragon list to frown,  
Empaled and compassed with a golden crown.   

On sudden 'gan haught Howard press in place:  
His argent lion couched at his feet: 
L. Thomas.   
Oft looked he back, and from his honoured face,  
The trickling tears dropped down, so ambar, sweet,  
That fair Elisa viewing of his will,  
Avowd, my Howard will be faithful still.   

Seymor the chieftain next supplied his room,  
A wreath of Bay his temples did adorn, 
L. Honrie.   
His arm to war Minerva first did dumb,  
His pen by proof brought foreign styles in scorn,  
Phoebus so shine upon his courage now,  
As each his skill and poems do allow.   

What need I writ of Brook, or George's praise, 
M. Henry Brooke. M. Gorge. Sir William Hatton. L. Dudley. M. Gerard. Sir Thomas Cicill. M. William Cicill. M. Darcie. M. R. Harvie. Sir Walter Raleigh. M. Robart Carie.   
Of hatton's will, of dudley's skill in arms,  
Of Gerard's hope, of Cicils haught assays,  
Of Darcies' power, of Harvies' hot alarms,  
Of Rawleighs' art, of carries skill in lance:  
Of haught Horatio's stately check of chance.   

From forth the 
* Oxford. Sir Charles Blunt.  Oxens' tract, to courtly state,  
I see the treasure of all Science come:  
Whose pen of yore, the Muse's style did mate,  
Whose sword is now unsheathd to follow drumbe,  
Parnassus knows my Poet by his look,  
Charles Blunt, the pride of war, and friend of book.   

Mourn not thou matchless paragon of war, 
Sir Francis Drake.   
In these descriptions, to be placed last:  
Thy glories take their essence from a far,  
Haught Drake himself the brunt of war hath past,  
Enough to arm these nobles to the deed,  
Whilst matchless thou command, advise, and lead.   

Help Muses now, with fruitful lines to note  
This warlike work: the fleets are both in sight:  
The canons roar, makes ring the trembling float:  
The armies join, and grapple to the fight:  
As he that sees the winds with bitter blast:  
The stately towers in winter time to taste.   

Nought sounds or ecchoeth in the wondering air,  
But noise of death and dreadful drirement:  
As when the sons of Cham sought heavens repair,  
Each neighbouring regions hears of languishment,  
Thus opened 
* Goddess of discord.  Pandora's box of scathe,  
That filled the seas with blood, with spoils and wrath.   

At last the heavens 'gan clear, the foes 'gan fly,  
Jehovah's hand assisted England's right:  
Our thankful peers lift up their hands on high,  
Avowing still in country's cause to fight:  
Blessing our God that on his people spreads  
His grace, and heaps his ire on envious heads.   

And home returned (the dastard Spaniards gone)  
They humbly bend at fair Eliza's feet,  
Whose prayers mean while, had piersd the heavenly throne,  
Each one with duty do their Princes meet,  
Whiles midst their joie true peace 'gan soon return,  
Intending with Zabetha to sojorne.   

Long mayst thou rest sweet 
* Peace.  Nymph within her bower,  
Whilst foreign country's wonder at her wit,  
That sways her Sceptre with a matchless power,  
Sweet muse now cease, though scarcely wakened yet,  
That when her fame by virtues conquest shines,  
Thou mayst eternize her, within thy lines.    
FINIS.