A Continued August 17 JOURNAL OF ALL THE PROCEEDINGS of the Duke of BUCKINGHAM his Grace, in the Isle of Ree, a part of France. In whom are combined Religion, Fortitude, and Clemency; being the true Characters of a noble General.  
Published by Authority.  
LONDON Printed for Thomas Walkley, and are to be sold at his Shop at the Eagle and Child in Britaines-Bursse. 1627.   

A journal of the proceedings of my Lord DUKE in his Voyage.  
IVne the 24. 1627. being Sunday after Divine Service and Sermon, the Lord General took his Barge, and enjoined all the Officers and Commanders to attend him to the Fleet, lying then at Anchor in Stokes Bay, which he weighed the same day, and fell down towards Saint Hellnes point, where he cast Anchor again, and stayed there for want of wind till the 27. of june. The same night hearing there were some Commanders behind in the Town, who kept disorder; he went a shore himself, and searched all the houses in the Town, where he found some Captains that had been disorderly: Amongst the rest there was one that gave an unmannerly answer, who was cashiered for his labour.  
That night the Lord General lay a shore: the next morning betimes he went a board. On Wednesday the 27. we weighed Anchor with 100 sail of Ships, and tacked to and again until we recovered the Point East of the I'll of Wight.  
Thursday the 28. we stood on our course towards the West, until we were come to the height of Plymouth, about eight of the clock at night: we stood West, and East, and by South. And on Friday the 29. we sailed with a slack wind; but before night we got sight of land on our Larboard, seeming to be 12. leagues off, a part of France, called the Vshant, in 47. degrees or thereabouts. We stood on to Sea that night, with a fresh jail of wind, which served us until the next morning at two of the clock, and then we were becalmde till Monday the first of july, at four of the clock. At which time we sent a Boy to the top of the main Mast, to see what he could discover, he spied on the head of us 14. sail of Ships some four leagues off, and very fortunately within a quarter of an hour after there arose a good jail of wind fully with us, so that the Admiral and all the rest made haste to hoist up sail and chase these Ships. Before nine of the clock at night a Catch of his Majesties overtook them, which was commanded by Captain Dunning, he called to them and asked what they were, they told him a contrary tale: he desired then to wind about, and come aboard and speak with our Admiral. They bid him go before to their Admiral, and what he did they would follow: he came to their Admiral and desired him to wind about and speak with our Admiral. Their Admiral asked Dunning what Fleet it was, he told him it was the King of England's Fleet, he asked what they were doing there: he told them they were Tacking to and again to scour the Seas. No (saith he) I know you are going to Burdeanx, but there you will find them prepared for you, and they will give you hot service. He asked who was our Admiral, he told them my Lord Duke of Buckingham. Whereupon he fell in railing, and called us all Ro●gues and Rascals, and commanded the Gunner to shoot; he shot half a dozen shot at him, and shor him twice though the sail, hard by the middle of the main Mast: so that Dunning fell a stern of him, and tacked about to us, and told us what had passed, and that he conceived them to be Dunkirks men of War, very well appointed, which did much comfort our General, and all the rest. We chased them all night: and on Tuesday the 20. of july at light day, we had got near unto them with some of our Ships. The Lion had got the Winde-ward of them. Three of the Colliers, and the Maria, with the Catch, was got almost within sho● of them; but in this time they were throwing out their Ballest, and making themselves light: and when they had done that, they hoist up studding Sails, and after outsailed us quite; We followed them so far, as there was no hopes, and then wound about to our intended course: At four of the clock the same day, my Lord caused to send up the main Mast, to tell how many Ships we were in company, and we found we were then no more than three score; for we had lost in that Chase my Lord Harvey, with forty sail of Ships, who met not with us till wednesday the 11. of july.  
We were kept from the place where we intended (with contrary winds and calms) till tewesday the 10. of july; About two of the clock, than fell a violent storm, with a thick mist, so that we were put into great danger.  
The Nonesuch in this storm had spent her Foremast, and many of the other Ships lost their Longboates, being tied at the Stern. About eight of the clock the storm broke up, and it grew to be clear; Then we discerned the Isle of Ree to be within three leagues of us, whither we steered our course; And about ten of the clock cast anchor over against Saint Martin's, the prime Town in that Island. The Next morning being wednesday, we weighed anchor, and sailed down lower to a point of the Island next to the maine-Land and over against Rochel. There we cast anchor, and placed our Ships round about the Island, that the Enemy might neither export nor import any thing for their advantage.  
That done, being the 11. of july, we had very good sport in chase those Barks and Hoys which were offering to go from the Island to the maine-Land, and from the maine-Land to the Island: We took many of them, and there were none that got either in or out. About six of the clock that day, my Lord Harvey appears with his forty sail of Ships, which was unto us a great comfort: About eight of the clock the same day, the Lord General called a Cou●cell, and resolved to land our Men the next morning, upon that point which lay just to us, as being the most safe place; At which time he gave order to some Ships to batter a Fort, which lay a league off on the right hand, & continued the battering till ten of the clock the next day; then we found there was no resistance in the Fort, whereupon, the Lord General commanded to give over.  
On tewesday the 12. the L. General was up and ready by three of te clock in the morning, and received the Communion that morning at five of the clock, and after took his Barge and went aboard the Nonsuch to Monsiure Subeesa, and returned from thence at six: At seven of the clock, Monsiure Sabuesa, Monsiure Blancarte and Sir William Becher went to Rochel: At eight of the clock, the L. General sent Master Grymes (the Gentleman of his Horse) with a Footboy of his that could both run and swim well, and six Muskatieres' (to the point of the Island, where they were to land their Men) to see if they could discover any Men or Ordnance, that they had planted there to encounter us: When he came to the shore, he caused the Footboy to strip himself, and to run along, and he run three quarters of a mile into the Country, and found all that Coast clear, saving three Horsemen, that the Enemies had set out to be Scouts, which chased him back to the Sea side; The Boy was relieved by the Ship Ordnance and the Muskets in the Boat: At ten of the clock, he turned back to the Triumph, and gave the L. General an account what he had discovered; Whereupon, the L. General gave present order for all Officers to be in a readiness, and to meet him aboard the King's good Ship (called the Lion) lying next the Point, where they were to land their Men, for there he would keep his Rendezvous for that time: At twelve of the clock, he took his Barge, accompanied with Sir George blundel Sergeant Mayor, attended by M. Grymes and M. Ashburneham, and went to all those Ships that had Land Soldiers, and commanded them that they should presently draw themselves as near that point of the Island as they could; After that, he went to all the Ships, and appointed the Captains of them, how and where to attend with their Ships, and commanded them presently to provide their Barges and long Boats, to land their Land Soldiers, and to send them to the Lyon. He then made choice of ten Ships of lesser burden, and directed them to draw their Ships as close as they could to either side of the point of the Island, where the Soldiers were to be Landed, and commanded them that if the Enemy did appear within shot, they should presently play upon them.  
He being aboard at the same time of one of these Ships, went up to the top of the main Mast, and discovered of the Enemies three Troops of Horse, and 16. or 18. hundred Foot, all ready in Battalia some English mile or more off the place, where we were to land our men: he came presently down and told us what he had discovered, and shot at them himself two or three Pieces of Ordnance, and commanded the rest of the Pieces to play upon them still: with that took Barge and went to the Lion, where he found all the Officers ready with their long Boats to land their men.  
In this time came back from Rochel Monsieur Sabuesa, and Sir William Beecher, who stayed there till Saturday following. Monsieur Saint Blancart dissuaded the Lord General to forbear the Landing of his men until the next morning: but the Lord General fearing it would give time to the Enemy to strengthen himself. He would by no means hear of any delay. Whereupon Monsieur Saint Blancart like a brave man, choosed himself a Pike, and put himself into Sir john Burrowes Regiment.  
By this time it was three of the clock when the Lord General commanded to land two Regiments, that were of the old Companies, where of Sir john Burrowes and Sir Alexander Brett were Commanders, he went with them himself on shore, and appointed the two Colonels in what place they should land their men. And being landed, commanded them to put their men in Battalia with all speed, fearing the Enemy would give them a sudden assault.  
The men being weary in lying on Shipboard, lingered washing their hands in the Sea; but the Lord General with a Cudgel run to and fro amongst them, beating some, and threatening othersome, and got them thrust up three Pikes length to the skirt of the bank, where they were to be.  
There was a third Regiment that was ready to land: in the mean time came Sir William Courtney to the Lord General and told him, that unless he should do the same courtesy for him which he did for the other two Colonel's, he should not get his men landed, and that his were old Soldiers, and would do good service if the Enemy made assault.  
Whereupon my Lord called Sir William Courtney, & went into his Barge, with an intention to hasten a shore his Regiment, and as soon as he had gone about fourscore from the shore, he presently heard the fight begun, and turning back, he saw three Troops of French Horse, charging our Foot with all the fierceness that might be: And the third Regiment, those that were unlanded, pressing themselves amongst the Ships to succour themselves: the rest of that Regiment that were landed he saw pressed into the water by the French Horse; and Sir William Haydon being carried violently to the Sea by the Revolters, was there drowned.  
Whereupon he set S. William Courtney into another Boat, with command to make all expedition to get his Men landed; And very bravely himself drew his Sword and turned his Barge (attended by Master Grymes and M. Ashburneham) and thrust himself upon the Revolters; and rebuking some, and encouraging others, told them, he hoped they came not with any intent but to adventure themselves so far as he would lead them: Whereupon, he thrust himself on to the shore, (and they followed slowly) and animating of the other Foot which were run into the water, they most of them leapt out of the water, and upon the Lord General's words threw themselves forwards as if they would have fought bravely, but before we could get where the blows were, the Battle was ended.  
My Lord General had ordered certain Ships to scour the Landing place with their Ordnance, but the assault was so sudden as they did little hurt to the Enemy; and in very heat of the combat, it fell out, that one of our own Ships had entangled himself between our Battering ships and the Land, by which means they were hindered in performing of their charge.  
If the French Foot had come on to have charged presently upon the discharge of the Horse, it had been impossible that we could have withstood them; But as God would have it, the Horsemen made more haste than in judgement they should have done: Before the Foot came we had killed most of their Horses; But when the Foot did come, they came very orderly and bravely, being 1500. coming within a Pike and a half of our Men before they discharged; and the Leader of the Foot (being a brave and goodly Gentleman) took off his hat, whereupon all their Foot discharged their Muskets, and after they fell to it with Swords and push of Pike, until they were breathless on both sides: The French finding our Pikes to be longer than theirs, threw away their Pikes, and went to it with Stones, and so did our Men, but ours beat them out, and made them fly away very disorderly, that happy was he that got first off his Armour to betake him to his heels.  
This Battle did not continue in all much above half an hour, but our Horse were not yet landed; But if we had had twenty Horse to have followed them, we had killed them up every Man. That night we entrenched ourselves in that place, fearing the Enemy would give us an assault in the night. My Lord General spent that evening in viewing of the dead Bodies, and visiting those that were hurt on our side, and giving great charge to the Surgeons to take special care of them.  
We took four of the French Gentlemen, but they were all hurt before; two of them died the next day, one of them is alive yet in the Triumph, his thigh being shot to pieces, the other, being a Page, the Lord General sent him to his Master.  
The next morning very early, the Lord General came on shore again, and spent all the whole day there, calling the Commanders to him, and ordering them to bring him notes of every several Company, how many they were, and how many were perished in the conflict; By which we found, there was nineteen Captains, Ancients and Lieutenants killed, and twelve other Officers hurt, but in no danger of death, and some thirty five common Soldiers drowned, but none killed; for the French men discharged all on our Gentry, and never looked at the Common sort. Our Gentry (when the common Soldiers began to rout) clapped themselves together, and showed themselves the bravest Men in the world, especially Sir john Burrowes, Sir Alexander Brett, Sir George blundel, and a Brother of Sir Alexander Bretts: There was not one Gentleman of our Nation in the field that did not act his part bravely.  
This being Friday, the day after the Battle, the 13. of july, Monsieur de Thorax, Governor of the Island, sent the Baron Amblevile with a Trumpet to speak with the Lord Geverall: His Message was, to desire my Lord's favour to give them leave to fetch away their dead bodies: they being so suddenly demanded by them, my Lord made scruple in granting it. Whereupon the Gentry made means by some of our Officers to buy the bodies, and offered for one 1000 pounds. When my Lord General had considered, he gave leave that they should take them away.  
Within four hours the Governors sent another Trumpet, with one of his Pages, to give him thanks for his favour, and to report to him that he would never after harbour an ill thought of the English, for he judged the Gentry of them to be the bravest men in the world. Although before the Battle he made no more account of us then if we had been all Beefs: and enquiring what number we were, we told him 6000. He said he would kill us and salt us, as we did Oxen in England.  
At the same time he sent my Lord General word, that he would wait on him himself, so that we made full account that he would give us Battle. The same day we put ourselves in Battalia, and expected them all that day, yet he came not. The next day being the 14. of july, we made ourselves ready to March, and at 6. of the clock we marched an English mile further into the Country, leaving Sir Peregrine Bartue in the place with some Companies.  
The 15. by 6. of the clock in the morning, we marched on to a village within an English mile, and took in that without any disturbance. Then we marched on two English miles further, to a Town called St. mary's, when we came near to the Town, the Protestants came out and yielded the Town to the Lord General, so he went with some Gentlemen with him, and took possession, and made the Soldiers march by, and not suffer them to come to the Town, fearing they would pillage and disturb the people; so we marched on the same day, to a Town called La Float. In the mid way the Enemy appeared with 120. horse and 1500. Foot, the which were left unkilled. We did verily think they would have given us Battle, but it did not prove so: for as soon as they viewed us, they returned back again.  
We were ready for them, for our men were very forward to fight, so we marched on within half a mile of La Float where the Protestants of that Town met us, and surrendered the Town and themselves with a suit they had to the Lord General, which was that he would for their sakes show favour to the Romish Catholics: for that they had lived long together in that Town, and ever received good Quarter and usage from them: And that now seeing he was become Master of both, he would requite it on their behalf to the Catholics, which he very Nobly consented unto, and went with them to the Town, and took possession, and presently turned back to the Soldiers, and Encamped them round about the same, and would not suffer any of them to go into it, fearing they would make Pillage, and that night lay amongst them in the open Field, with no other bedding, save one Cloak under his head, and another upon him.  
The next day being the 16 he went into the Town, accompanied with Monsieur Subesa, and some other Lords, to bury Sir William Heydon, and returned into the Field at night, and lay as he did before. But that night about two of the clock, there fell very miserable weather, with Thundering and Raining, and continued so till twelve of the clock the next day.  
The next day, being the 17. we marched on towards St. martyn's, though it Rained very fearfully: and about 12. of the clock it grew fair; at which time we were within three English miles of the Town.  
By that time we had marched a mile further, we could see the Enemy sally out of the Fort with Horse and Foot: so they marched towards us, and were within the distance of an English mile: and we thought they would take the advantage of our weary Marching, and give us Battle.  
Therefore it was holden fit by the Lord General, that we should take all advantage we could in that place, which was only to gain the Sun and the Wind of them. We marched on toward the end of the Town, that lay next unto the Sea side, and furthest from the Fort. And by that we had advantage both of Sun and Wind. Within less than an Euglish mile of the end of the Town, we could see the Horse approach very fiercely, as though they would come suddenly upon us.  
Whereupon the Lord General gave order to the Master of the Ordnance, to shoot some of our Drakes at them; which he did, and killed a Gentleman and two Horses, and put all the rest in fear and disorder.  
Here Captain Coningham (Lieutevant of the Horse) advanced himself on horseback, and proffered a single combat, but no Man answered him. Whereupon they presently put out a Flag of Truce, and sent some of the Protestants to us to render the Town, without any condition; So that we presently marched into it in Battalia, and quartered all our Soldiers therein. The Lord General road to every Company, and desired them to be careful of themselves and not to wrong the Town, and that they should take nothing but what was given them and what they paid for, and that he would go aboard the victualling Ships, and told them they should want nothing, which contented them very well, and thanked God with a loud voice that they had such a worthy Lord General.  
He took his Barge, and accordingly went, and as he was going, there was a poor Englishman in distress in a Sand-bed, where the Tide had locked him about, and had no means to save himself, but must run towards the Fort, where the Enemy was retired with all his Forces: My Lord hearing him so cry out, caused to stay his Barge (although the Bargemen told him he would endanger the casting away of himself; and the Gentlemen persuaded him also, that he should not hazard himself in the danger, yet would he not stir before he had relieved this Man and got him into his Barge; So after went aboard of the Victualling Ships, and saw all the proportions of the Victuals sent to the Soldiers; and after went aboard the Triumph. And on wednesday the 16. made a dispatch for England, to acquaint the King with his fortunate proceedings.  
The Enemy was retired into the Fort a Musket shot, with 1500. Men, of which number, there was 120. Horse left; they had neither Water nor Wood in their Fort, and had but some eight or nine Pieces of Ordnance, and the Fort too little for so great a Company, so that it was not likely that they could hold it long, and we hope to be Masters of it, as well as of the Island, within a very short time.  
Thursday and Friday, we were raising a Mount to plant our Ordnance against it.  
Saturday the 21. we planted twenty one pieces of Ordnance, and eleven Drakes, and the Master Gunner was very confident to batter them from the Fort in a very short time: We were working with our Pyoniers, and our Soldiers trenching against the Fort.  
This is all I was an Eye witness to. So God send them good success, and I for England, in his Majesty's Good Ship, called the Charles.  
There was slain that day in (the Battle) of the French 125. Horsemen, dead on the ground, besides a great many that were deadly hurt, of which number, there were 23. Marquesses and Barons; all the rest Knights and Gentlemen, of the best quality in all France: Some Commanders of their Foot were killed, with 100, or 120. Common Soldiers.  

Received at Court the 15. of August.  
THe Citadel in the Isle St. martin's, holds out still, the Walls and Fortifications thereof being made so strong and substantial, that our Cannon that beat on it perpetually could do little hurt to it, in so much as my Lord wrought by Mynes, and hath cut off two Pipes that carried water to the same, but finds that part of the ground which is penetrable near the Citadel, to be loose sandy ground, which will not Mine, and the foundation of the Citadel and the part near the same is Rocky, not to be wrought: so as my Lord having beaten the Enemy out of his outworks into the Fort, is resolved to endeavour to recover the same by famine, there being 3000. men in the Castle, and they wanting Firing and Water. My Lord hath planted above 20. Pieces of Ordnance by Sea and Land against the Citadel: and the third shot that the Kings Cananere made, killed 41. French men, as some who were then in the Fort related.  
My Lord lately intercepted two small Vessels laden with Victuals, and one laden with Munition, which were in the night, passing from the main over the River to relieve the Citadel, that which was laden with Munition, was in the taking sunk with a Shot, and 37. French men in one of the other Vessels slain, which made the third yield without resistance.  
My Lord walks the round most nights, to see the Watch perform their Duty: And Sunday last was seven days lay in our Trenches all night, upon advertisements, that the Enemy would sally, and assault the men in our Works.  
My Lord Montioy (chief Commander of the Horse) very happily surprised 28. of the best of the Enemies Muskatieres', who were sent out of the Fort for a guard to some who were sent to fetch water at a Well, not far distant from the Fort: as soon as they perceived our Horse to approach, they ran into a Mill, and there (upon quarter demanded and granted) they yielded.  
My Lord hath by Proclamation given permission to the Inhabitants of the I'll to make Salt, with which Commodity his Grace intendeth to satisfy the Dutch men (who were taken up to transport Horses and Provisions for the Army) for the hire of their Ships, and likewise to furnish England with Salt.  
The Governor of the Citadel and I'll of St. Martin's, sendeth every day some Messenger to speak with my Lord: And about ten days since under colour of a Parley, sent a Disciple of the Jesuits to have mischieved his Grace: the Villain being come to act his Villainy, when he began to speak to my Lord, changed his colour, and so trembled, that he could scarce speak: whereupon his Grace commanded one that was with him, to search him, & there was found in the Sleeve of his Doublet, a long Ravilliack-like Knife poisoned, which at the first he said he carried for his defence: but that being no place to carry a Weapon for defence, he was that night committed, and being threatened to be tortured, he desired to be brought before the Lord General, which was granted; and then he confessed that the Governor had dissiplined, and hired him to murder my Lord: and being questioned how he durst undertake such a mischievous work, since he could not hope to escape death, or enjoy the reward he was to have: he said he did believe it would cost him his life; but being persuaded, it was a meritorious work, and promised, his Wife and Children for it should be advanced, he undertook the same; and falling down at my Lords feet, besought his pardon. My Lord sent him back to the prison, and after three days pardoned him, and sent him over into the main.  
All Soldiers cry out against the Governor for this treachery, and say, he deserves not to have any Quarter, that would offer the same to one who hath in all points carried himself so Nobly towards him, and all the French that have been at his mercy, for my Lord sent him back his Brother's Page, which was taken in the day of Battle; and having found the Governors' brother's Gentleman of his Horse wounded in the Field, caused him to be sent a board his own Ship, and looked unto by his own Chirurgeon.  
Sir George blundel is lately dead of the wounds he formerly received in the day of Battle.  
There is News from Paris the French King is very ficke, and no man dares tell him of his Graces landing in that Island; he lies at Villeroy, and Monsieur (that King's Brother) at Paris.  
The Duke of Savoy, and Count of Soissons, are in Arms upon the Froutiers of Dauphin, and the Dukes of Rouen and Mountmoreney are in Arms in Languedoc.  
Monsieur, the Marshal Crequi (Governor of the Dauphin) sent Post to Paris for a Commission and money to leavy men; returned with a Commission but without any money.  
I must add this, which (I believe) makes my Lords actions to prosper, that his Grace doth duly every morning and evening serve God, either privately in his Chamber, or publicly in the whole Army, and hath caused a strict course to be held with such as neglect the service of God.  
Thus endeth the Journal at this time.    

Received at Yorke-House. August 15.  
THE RELATION OF Mr. Garetson, Master of the Ship called the Bread and Beere-pott of Horn in Holland, made and taken at Plymouth the 12. of August 1627.▪ by Sir james Bag, knight, who reporteth the same as followeth. Videlicet.  
THat he was that day chased with a Ship, (as he supposed, to be a Man of war of Dunkirk) and to free himself, did put into the port of Plymouth, this present evening, being the 12. aforesaid, and that he was at Bordeaux about the 29. of july last, where the Governor and People were taken with such a fear of the approach of the English, that they destroyed the Cloisters and Warehouses, and all the Suburbs of the said City, to the end the approach of the English might be the more difficile.  
And from Bordeaux he went to Southers, and from thence to Rochel, where he arrived the first of August; And from thence he went to St. Martin's, where his Excellency was besieging the Citadel, and making a Trench to impeach the sallying forth of the Horse; And for as much as all passages by water were stopped, (except the intercourse between Rochel and St. Martin's.)  
He was enforced to return for Rochel, and from thence went over land to Southers, where he laded his Ship with Salt; And sailing from Southers, came within half a League of St. Martin's, where being by the lee, there came out three English Ships to understand what he was, and finding him to be a Hollander, gave him relation, that the 5. day of this month the Citadel was by his Grace taken, & the French men permitted to depart thence, only with Bastinadoes in their hands: And the Captains of those Ships told him, that the 6. of this month there was an English Ship dispatched, with information of his Excellencies full proceedings, and conquest of that Island.  
He further sayeth, that at Southers it was reported, that the French King sent to Rochel to require them to declare whether they would abandon the English, and serve him or not: To give answer to which, the Rochelers desired seven day's respite; But he sayeth, that diverse of the Principal and others of Rochel, daily repair to his Majesty's General.  
He also sayeth, that there is a command given, that none speak with the French King, and it is muttered, that he is dead.  
He sayeth, that there was a French man apprehended in the Duke's presence, with a Knife in his sleeve, who weighted an opportunity to attempt the murder of his Grace.  
FJNJS.