An Unhappy VIEW OF THE Whole behaviour of my Lord Duke of BUCKINGHAM, AT THE French Island, called the Isle of RHEE  
Discovered By Colonel William Fleetwood, an unfortunate Commander in that untoward SERVICE.  
LONDON, Printed for R. Smith. 1648.   

AN Unhappy view of the whole behaviour of my Lord Duke of Buckingham, at the French Island, called the Island of REE.  
AT a private assembly at the Council Table by the King and the Lords, and to extinguish the ignominy of the former service of Cales, an attempt into France was concluded on, and the Duke designed for General, who took the honour indifferently gladly, presuming to recover his lost honour and credit by his own Prowess in his Exploit.  
Hereupon began a strong press of Soldiers, so large a provision of Victuals, and other maintenance for them, as could not but in common reason promise a boon voyage to come, if the intent were closely carried.  
But before any Soldiers were embarked, the Duke ouc of an evil will to the weal-public, divulged the plot at Court very freely, without any fear or wit, whereby the worst of our ill-willers wheresoever (taking but the pains to address themselves thither) might know all for an easy attention, which must needs be half a prevention of the hopes in question.  
Upon the point of our first setting to Sea, the Duke out of a distrust of some miserable death that might befall himself in the voyage, as of the consideration of being for a time estranged from his effeminate pleasures here at home, from which no warlike service could ever withdraw him, would willingly have relinquished his Charge; without any allegation, either of the weakness, unexperience, or insufficiency of his own person, but that he was pricked and spurred on to it afresh, by the only persuasion of his Majesty: For that the eyes of all the Troops, were fixed on him for their Chieftain.  

Upon this we put forth to Sea, and inclined ourselves by the Duke's direction to the Island of Rhee, or St. Martin's.  
Where, as well every Mechanic and common Soldiers, as Captains, and Colonels in our Company, knew, where our Journey was to end. But, Lord! the Duke's carriage at Sea was obstinate and ridiculous, and altogether backward to his faith and credit, laid to pawn here at home in his absence; for whatsoever the circumspect Commanders under him had propounded, as behooveful, he would be sure to gainsay it, under a vile penalty, to command, that no Invention should be so much as set on foot, but what proceeded from his study and approbation, so to be wholly enriched & dignified with the Attribute of compassing all the good fortune that could any way attend the Enterprise, as he now, contrariwise, surfeits of the disgrace.  
The Islanders, through the largeness of the Duke's tongue, being too inquisitive after their fortifications of divers plaguy Passengers at Sea, were acquainted with our meanings, long before they saw us, and we arrived not there without an unlucky expectation, and entertainment.  
After we had viewed the Fort and Situation, we began to demand of the Duke, wherein our Country could be advantaged, by suppressing such a vast strong, ill-favoured place, in that the maintenance thereof after our conquest, would yearly expend very near as much, as the profit could amount unto.  
To this he replied, that through his own Entreaty, upon His Majesty's Signing of his Commission, he was only put upon this Island, which, if he should but recover, at his return, it would redeem all his lost honour at home; and so commanded us to entrench ourselves.  
We all being confident, that the Expression could not but proceed from an undaunted heart, some of us presently in a desperate manner, went on shore (expecting the Duke and his Retinue at our heels) where we were suddenly unawares encountered very sharply by some Troops of French Horsemen (which by means that the Duke kept at Sea, and came not in to our succour) so oppressed us with their multitude, that many of our company in our return to our ships, were hewn to pieces, or drowned in the water, as Sir William Hayden, Mr. Temple of Lincoln Inn, and many other of good parentage.  
The third day after the repulse, we renewed our strength, and went all again on shore, and there fortified ourselves for our most advantage, and in short time after, so furiously summoned the Island, that the Inhabitants were constrained to retire to their Fort, as their last refuge, to the gates whereof we pursued them with great terror, and took some prisoners.  
Then perceiving the strength and compass of the Fort, and understanding that it was well Victualled for a lingering Siege, we recoiled back, and entrenched ourselves anew from the annoy of their Cannon, and by degrees we came at last to environ it almost round (as far as it was any way needful) and yet kept out of the danger of their Ordinance still, and for a good while deprived them of all succours, both by Sea and land, and so planted our Battery.  
Thus fare we sped indifferently well, having, in recompense of our first overthrow, gained the Island, and put ourselves in possession of it.  
The honour and applause whereof detesteth the Duke and his best merits in the whole action, and, next under God, reflects on the Ever-having fame and memory of that Right Valiant, and Heroic Gentleman Sir John Burrows, by whose only reach it was compassed, and whole act herein, since in a calm season, he was afterwards treacherously slain, deserves, if one may say so without presumption, to immortallize his Soul.  
The Fort now remaining unyeelded, and standing betwixt us and a reasonable Conquest, by the powerful and searching persuasion of Sir John Burrows, as well common Soldiers as Captains protested to have too, or else to die in the field, which promise, the very Flower of all our Commanders there, were enforced in the end to make good, to the very effusion of their dearest blood: And thus we continued our Battery for above two month's space; and yet in all that time, through the extraordinary strength of the place, by reason of the Rampires, and Barracadoes, that the defendants had new erected within, we could make no breach, nor take other opportunity to give an assault.  
Whereupon for that our provision held out well, it was determined by Sir John Burrowes (whose weakest advice at this time, the multitude were readier to follow than the best of the Dukes) that we should beleagure the round Fort still as we had begun, and without a surrender thereof by a long siege, should starve up the defendants, and (all things considered) this was the only way to surprise so impregnable a place.  
The Duke was infinitely incensed with this sway of Sir John-Burrowes, and his own neglect, and therefore by degrees he endeavoured to allure the hearts of the Soldiers from him, which bare words could not do, nor bring to pass till he privately had distributed to some of them assenting, the pay of the rest discenting, whereupon such a murmuring discontent arose betwixt the faction of Sir John Burrowes and the Duke, that had not Sir John suddenly quieted all by his wisdom, we had certainly mutined amongst ourselves to all our confusion, and so have given the Enemy an occasion of advantage, but they seemed to be reconciled, and new celebrated the amity, the same night, by a private Supper in the Duke's Tent  
But such is the malice of a vindicative heart, that it is never appeased, but remains still inexorable and devilish.  
For the next morning Sir John Burrows (according to his daily wont) surveying his own Trenches and being clear out of all danger of the Fort, was in an instant stricken dead in the place with a musket, shot by an unknown hand, and so gives up his spotless soul into the joys of Heaven, that had never done but good on earth.  
The news and manner of this bred a new hurly burley in the Camp, and ready we were to die again upon each others swords, but through fresh rewards from the Duke to some, and Lord like means to other some that had been formerly rewarded, all were once more quieted, and our provision was much lessened, whereupon my Lord of Holland was sent to for our relief but came not.  
About this time there was news, that the French King approached with relief for the Fort, and to raise our seig whereupon the Duke for the safeguard of his own person (whereas his retinue were the strongest already, withdrew two of the best Regim. from the sure places where Sir John Burrows had formerly allotted them for his own defence in particular, and so left all manless, which the French Convoys perceiving, entered there the same night, & releived the Fort in abundance both with fresh soldier and provision, and so nightly for a week together came under our noses with the like stuff, and yet the Duke would not suffer us to encounter them, pretending that he feared the French King at his back; when (alas) there was neither King nor French Army there.  
When the Fort was as well manned as victualled, the defendants began divers times to confront and brave us, before their main sally out, yet this our General would neither permit us to encounter them, nor at last to continue our battery, so that in a very discontented manner we lay idle, riotously consuming the remainder of His Majesty's allowance, without attempting any thing worth the while: Insomuch that I myself impartially demanded of the Duke what he would do with us, whether he longed to enthral us to his own ignoble pleasure, or to starve us up instead of the defendants, but could draw no other answer from him, but that he was our General, and so we should know it by the strict hand he would carry over us.  
And for our further proceed against the Fort, we should go on in our idleness till we heard further from him.  
We that were Colonels and prime Officers under him could hardly brook this his untoward carirage (as raw meat on our stomaches) yet for quietness sake, to repel mutinies in the Camp, we smothered our grudge, without any appearance of heart burning to the multitude, and so lay expecting a miserable success of all our undertake. Afterwards the Duke told us, that he had secret intelligence out of the Fort, that most of their best Soldiers had conveied themselves away by night, for fear of a new supply by my Lord of Holland, and that the Remnant (if we lay still entrenched) would shortly become our Vassals, which news being confirmed with as large protestations as could proceed from the heart of any Christian man, made us so fare to credit him, as to lie secure, and to presume, that this, once done, would make us all as happy, as our confidence in his word, could any ways make us miserable by the contrary.  
The very next morning after this consultation, which fell out to be the day of doom to most of us, the Duke being sensible of his perfidious deal, & that was the day the Defendants would encounter us to death, notwithstanding what his engagement for our safety had formerly been to the contrary, privily in his Tent, by the help of his faction; attired one of his own followers, every way much resembling himself, in his warlike habit & colours, with instructions suitable to the deceit, and then disguised, as a faint and impotent soldier, got himself a Shipboard, and not only left us ignorant of the bloody intent towards us, but also made us uncapable to prevent it, when we should.  
Immediately upon this, we suspecting as little this treachery (as that which came of it) the defendants numberless sallied out, and with such violence, and fury assailed us in our Trenches (they taking most of us unarmed, and daunted with the sight of the multitude) that we were glad to fly for our lives.  
Which retreat cost most of us our lives (as the assault and both fell out in the end) to make up a conquest to the French, & an absolute overthrow to us.  
The wildness of my Lord Mountjoyes horse was the cause of his surprisal, and as well of the death of some of our own men, for that he not only avoided the Enemy's charge, but confusedly ran upon, and beat back divers of our best horses, which otherwise to the very death would have stood it out  
In our flight we aimed at a certain narrow bridge, over agreat River, which if we could have recovered and passed, we had stopped the pursuit of our Enemies, but through their policy we were prevented by their overturning a loaded Cart there beforehand which we must either climb over, or leap into the River, or salt-pits, which most of our Company being unable to do, were instantly hewn in pieces, Sir Charles Rich and others of great esteem, who in the very deadly extremity were offered quarter; but would not, rather choosing to die honourably, then longer to live with infamy and torment, I myself perceiving the folly of resisting any longer, having one of the best Horses in the Company, was forced to take an infirm Salt-pit, where both myself and my horse stuck fast in the ground, and where I had suddenly a ghastly wound in the leg with a Bullet, and so I lay struggling for life, Lord, Lord, (me thought) what pain it was to die so, and divers of our Company and Commanders were in the like distress, But in the end the French horsemen, wanting shot to reach us in the water, by the valiancy of the poor remainder of our soldiers, that were gotten over the Cart, we were dragged a shore, and so being at that time unpursued, were conveyed out of danger.  
During the time of our conflict, our counterfeit General fought very resolutely, and got a gash or two in his shoulder for his pains and labour, which (before we knew the deceit) made us, notwithstanding our losses, to commend him for a valorous Commander, but through the Duke's back wardness, some of those that were trusted with the knowledge of this Villainy, we understood it all in two days after, in our comfortless journey homewards, and we had thereupon presently mortalized his carcase for amends, but that, upon a more mature deliberation, we thought it fit to let him die at home, by the inquestionable hand of the Parliament, so he himself could not take this as his preservation, but as his reservation to a more infamous end. And truly should the revenge of the Parliaments almost extremity seize upon him, it would be but correspondent to his merits, that would find in his heart to lie secure himself, and all the while to see us, that were his charge, knocked down, and slaughtered like dogs: O let him go to the grave and let no man stay him, for it is a sin to pity him in his worst estate.  
My Lord Mountjoy, was the only man of note of our party, that accepted Quarter, and was since very honourably ransomed, and sent home again, which proceeded more from the Heroic clemency of the French King, then for any desert, either of his own or ours.  
One of our French prisoners that we have taken at our first encounter, confessed to me, in our return homewards, that had Sir John Burrowes lived one two days longer, the Defendants were concluded to have given up the Fort, and all the treasure in it, to our disposure, in respect they had so miserable experience of his vigilant intercepting of all their convoys, and stopping of their passages; And therefore this reach could not but redound to their utter confusion in the end, unless they submitted themselves betimes, but the news of his death was joyous unto them, as it was grievous unto us, and made them resolve to die in their own defences, but the mistake at last cost most of us our lives.  
And this is the whole description of our misfortunes, which upon a due consideration (I think) must needs provoke the poorest affected of our nation, to endeavour a revenge to be done; In all our future Voyages, he must and will be still our General, and then to thrive (at least) after the old fashion, we must assure ourselves.  
We have not been a little famous in France, for Conquest heretofore with a few, but God Almighty is omnipotent and just, and we now see it is his pleasure, to make us all to suffer for the sin and lascivious life of this one man: His will be done in all.  
And if we can, we must be content (besides too notwithstanding) he hath been the death of divers of the nobility, the unlucky overthrow of all our late voyages.  
The unknown consumer of our Treasury, and the utter confusion of the poor Protestants in France, now daily massacred without all pity, through their needless defence of their Religion.  
Yet it is the King's pleasure still to afford him his wont grace and connivance for all this; And Treason it is apparent to denounce him faulty in any thing; But let his Majesty look to it, for his longer sheltering of this rich Traitor, and falsehearted man, both to God and his Country, which will be the ruin both of himself and his kingdom at last, yet than I have hope (out of the integrity of his heart, now whilst it is called to day, and before the evil day come) he will give him over to the Parliament, whilst it is of strength to punish him; And that they for their parts will send him to H. without any more ado.  
If any hereafter shall malign, or go about to disprove me in any one of these points (so I may be unquestionable for this presumption) I will, notwithstanding my lameness, maintain all upon notice to his face, to the expense of my dearest blood; In the interim, I expect good news from the Parliament, by the next fair wind.   
FINIS.