News from Breast. A Diurnal of all that Sir john Norreis hath done since his last arrival in Britain  
Also of the taking in of the fort by Croyzon, and the names of such captains gentlemen and others that were slain and hurt in this Service. 1594.  
ET US VEA● BE● VERITAS TVA  
Imprinted at London by Peter Short, for Thomas Millington, and are to be sold at his shop under S. Peter's Church in Cornhill. 1594.   

To my especial and very good friend L. T.  
SIr if virtue and valour were as sure to be commended and magnified of many, as it is spited and maligned of most, I needed not too have troubled myself with the writing unto you the true report of our General S. john Norries his late honourable service in Britain, wherein he hath especially done acceptable service too the french King and greatly honnored her royal Majesty and revived in those parts the reputation of our nation and country, in performing many and sundry valiant exploits there: but chiefly with that lately attempted against the impregnable fort by Croyzon, which the Spaniards made of purpose too countermand the Castle of Breast, and to make themselves masters of that great haven, and to the end you may aparently see how little time he spent in vain, and with what difficulty it was achieved, I send you a jurnall of all that Sir John Norris did, sense his last arrival at Penpole in Britain to this time which I can assure you to be most true: Being myself an eye witness & noting daily every days action. Pardon me if you find me not so eloquent in writing as the discourse requiereth, and the worthenes of the victory doth merit. A soldier hath small rhetoric, for whosover followeth Mars taketh little aquantance of the Muses, yet being loath deserved honour should be obscured and cast in dark oblivion I have bluntly presumed to write y●● the naked truth, hoping you will take my goodwill in good part, and yield honour his due desert, though rudely deciphered. And thus wishing your welfare I end.   

News from Breast.  
THe first of September our worthy General Sir john Norreis, landing with new forces out of England at Penpole received letters presently from Mareshall D'Aumond and Sir Thomas Baskeruil, who commanded in his absence the english troops being then before the castle of Morlayx, in what terms they stood expecting every day to be fought with all by the enemy Duke Mercury who was advanced for the same purpose within three leagues of them, and did but only attend the coming of Mounser Boifdolphin, with some french horse to join with them, but this their temporizinges in the end cost them the castle, for immediately the very next day after she generals landing with great expedition, to wit the second of September, he put himself upon the way to Morlayx, and upon the fift of the same month arrived there, being fourteen leagues distant.  
His coming was generally joyed at by all the Britons but especially by the inhabitants of Morlaix whose good, or ill estate depended on his coming, for both the castle a cruel neighbour held against them, and the Duke Mercury was at hand to rescue the defendants who in assurance of relief from him acquitted themselves manfully. Namely the governor himself Monser Rochempoul, she Count Magnion, and Monser Rostin, with divers other gallants: but the general so amated the enemy that the Duke Mercury not only stayed from marching nearer unto us, but the 10. of the same retired with all his forces both French and Spanish, assuring himself that he could expect of Sir john Norris nothing but blows, They of the castle acquainted therewith: within 2. days after the Duke's retreict yielded up the castle. So that only his presence without the hazard of any of her majesties subjects, both enforced the Duke to retire, and the castle to yield.  
This castle thus rendered, we stayed there 10 days in respect that the Marshal wanted money for the satisfying of his people, whereof at the last he was furnished by those of the town of Morlaix. Then Monsiur de Lyscot a wonderful brave man and the baron of Molac were sent before with some arquebusiers, to the end they might block up the fort of Croyzon by Breast, and preserve the quarters about, who were further assisted with 400 men out of our ships by sir Martin Fourbyssher who commanded the English shippings. And presently the army dislodged to a place called juez thence too a village called La Fou, next to Chastrau-lyn the next day to Lacornan a village three leagues from Quinper-Corentin which was held by the enemy.  
The same night the Marshal with 400 french and Sir John Norris with as many English marched to Quinpar-Corantin, and on a sudden surprised the suburbs & poscessed them with small resistance. The town was willing to yield but that the garrison would not suffer them. But Sir John Norries whose mind was still to do some exploit against the Spagniardes at the fort of Croyzon, leaving this town invested by the Marshal and three of our English regiments, ●●●maunded by his brother sir Henry Norris our Lieutenant General, himself only with his own regiment, and his own company of horse, marched towards the fort, and lodged that night at Croyzon. And the next day sat down before the fort. Three days were spent in unshipping; and bringing up the artillery, which were 14 péecis (whereof the Marshal furnished but 2 culverins) and in making of approaches, which was greatly hindered by the want of Gabions pioneers, and other provisions for the making of platforms, which we hoped by promise to have had in a readiness sent us from the governor of Breast but our General could procure almost nothing from thence but with many difficulties by reason of the weather,  
The 5 of this month we had news that the Marshal and sir Henry Noreis had Quimper yielded unto them.  
The 6 of this month the enemy made a sally out upon our trenches but were very bravely beaten home again with the loss of 7 or 8 of their men, but yet this their loss was very unfortunately answered by the death of Captain Anthony wingfield our Sergeant Mayor general being shot with a Cannon out of the fort, as he stood by the gabions with his rapier drawn the which with the shot was beaten through his bowels. This man with great reputation had long time served her Majesty both in the wars of the low Countries, Portugal, and France: and at his last going into Britain, so disposed of his estate as if he were never to return; and the same day or the day before his death, took such order for his debts as if he had a presage of his end.  
The next day the Marshal D'Aumonde and sir Henry Norries with our English regiments, came to us from Quimper and were quartered at Croyzon and thereabouts. After whose coming 4 days were spent in mounting of the artillery; planting of our ordinance and making of platforms for them to play. On the 12 the enemy made a sally upon the french trenches, who having not the leisure to arm themselves lost between 30 and 40 men and as many hurt, and from thence they advanced themselves towards our trenches, where we lost in their defence ten or twelve men but we did put them again in possession of their trenches.  
Having now all things ready for the battery, I will as well as I can describe unto you the fort.  
You shall understand that more than 2 parts of the fort was defended by the water, the rest was made so exceeding strong as either by art or charge could be done.  
On the south front thereof on each corner were too exceeding strong bastions that on the west side was 17 passes in the front, that on the east 10 passes: the curtain between both was 37 foot thick at the top; and within these they had made a very large entrenchment, and the bastions were exceeding well flanked from the rock by the water side planting both on the flankers and bastion some great ordinance. We lay entrenched within three or four paces of their counterscarp: the french men on the East side and we on the west side, the battery lay in the midst between the trenches. These things thus providently ordered by the Marshal and our General; on the 23 our artillery began to play, and continued some 700 cannonodos but did so little harm by reason of the strength of the place as scarce any show of a breach appeared, only we did beat away their parrapete and some of their flankers whereupon some hundred men commanded by Captain Lyster, were sent to view and see it they could hold the counterscarp. Then many of our brave men and gallants thirsting after honour: desirous to do somewhat farther having possessed themselves of the enemy's counterscarp, which onelb they were commanded to attempt undertook the breech which they performed so well as that notwithstanding the unaccessablenes of the place, and the gerat resistance the enemy made. Yet the most part of them attained to the very top thereof which they held for a while but were afterwards repulsed. This enterprise was with wonderful great resolution and valour seconded by sir Thomas Basqueruille, who likewise got so far as the point of the breach.  
There were lost in this attempt many brave men namely, 

Slain in the assault.  
Captain Barker.  
Captain Prudder.  
Captain jackson, Sergeant Maior of Ostend. who had no charge there.  
Haynes. Ensign to sir Henry Noreys.  
Corporal Essix,  
M. Throgmorton, and some 16 or 18 sodiors.   

Hurt in the assault.  
Captain Audley.  
Captain Bartley.  
Captain Coutch.  
Captain goodwin's Lieutenant.  
Captain William's Lieutenant.  
Captain Bucks. Lieutenant,  
And other private men.   

Burned with powder.  
Sir Thomas Knowles.  
Captain Ashendon.  
Captain Bishop.  
Lieutenant Larkeley.  
Captain Lopeley.  
Master Waineman, and divers others.    
You are to understand that this attempt was only made by the Englishmen on the bastion of the west side, for the French men never attempted any thing against their Bastion, alleging that it was not Assaltable.  
The marshal and our General seeing the little effect that our artillery wrought, devised to make a mine on one of the bulwarks, namely on the east bastion towards the french trenches in perfecting thereof some 17 or 18 days were spent.  
But on the 30 being an exdéeding wet morning whereby our powder and match were not fit for service the enemy again found thereby opportunity to fall out upon the french trenches, and killed between 20 and 30 of them at the least, among whom was Monsieur Lyscot a very brave gentleman one of the Marshals of the Camp, who was abandoned by the french and their trenches wholly possessed by the enemy, but our English men did presently repossess them of their trenches and killed seem of the Spagniardes. Our nation lost an exceeding great friend of this Monsiear Lyscot he exceedingly loved our General as if he had been his own father, and generally favoured all english men and gave us the reputation to be very brave soldiers.  
By the 7 of Noveember our mine was reasonable well perfected and a determination held again to begin the battery with a resolution that so soon as the mine should be blown up which was made towards the bulwark by the French trenches, that the frenchmen should assail that part and the english men their Bastion, and that others with scaling ladders should make attempts in every corner so that the defendants should be on every part assailed. But the Mareshall being that day sick sent in the morning for our General and showed him his letters from the Govournor of Rennes and from divers others by which he was advertised that Don joan de l'Auquilar general of the Spagniards was marching towards Croyzon with all his spanish forces to rescue the fort and was already advanced to Lacornan a village within five leagues of us, and therefore advised our general to desloge to Croyzon thinking it not fit to hazard any men having so strong an enemy at hand ready to join battle with them. But sir I. Norreis having his courage nothing daunted with the approach of the enemy, his heart serving him both to win the fort by assault and to encounter his enemy in the field, showing what a dishonour and disreputation it were to habandon the siege, and also what little cause the enemy should have to advance himself farther if the fort were gotten, his coming being only to rescue it. He so much importuned the marshal that he gave him wholly the ordering of that days service. Immediately our Gennerall gave order to the canoneers for the battery and caused the artillery to play. Every man was assigned his charge, some to the assault, other with scalodos to attempt, to enter, and by 12 of the clock he caused fire to be set to the mine, which albeit it did not so much as was looked for, yet it made the access so easy unto the French as that a man might have ridden up upon horseback, and our men namely: Captain Latham, Captain Smith, and Captain john Norreis, with divers other gallant gentlemen gave upon the other bulwark, and continued the assault without losing onepase of the height until half an hour past four, and in the end first entered the same, and seized upon three ensigns that were there, and put every man they found in the fort saving one alferezes to the sword, some of the Spaniards leapt from the rock to the water, but our Mariners with their small bowls met with them and slew them: some three or four others being taken escaped with their lives, no man was found, slain Au sang Froyd.  
Sir Thomas Baskeruill served this day with great valour and industry to the admiration of all men. Our sea men and Mariners this day acquitted themselves wonderful bravely: and were exceeding forward in all attempts, as may well appear by that valiant Knight Sir Martin Fourbisher, who in the assault receiving a hurt, is thereof now dead.  
The chiefest of the French men, namely such gentlemen as serving a horseback, did put themselves that day a foot, did exceeding gallantly, namely Mounser Roumege, un Maistre du Camp, a man of great courage, and who most entirely loved our general was slain, upon the rampear, and his ensign by him, who if they had been well seconded undoubtedly they had carried it first, and had got the reputation of the first entry. As for the rest I hold them nothing worthy of commendations in this action.  

slain in the assault.  
Captain Edge once Captain of our generals guard.  
Lieutenant Flood.  
Captain Smith's Lieutenant.  
Ensign to Captain Brett.  
VIII. Gent. of our generals own company.  
Many other gentlemen and between 20. or 30. private men   

Hurt in the assault.  
Sir Thomas Baskeruille.  
Sir Martin Fourbisher who is now dead.  
Captain john Norreis'  
Captain Brett.  
Captain Smith.   
The victory being thus gotten by the great virtue and admirable industry of our general, the fort being appointed to be raised, we dislodged the next day to Croyzon, to join with she rest of our troops, to attend there what the enemy durst do, who within two days after, found reason to retire themselves five leagues further from us.  
Thus have I finished I assure you truly, although not largely: all that was most remarcable in this days service.  
It may be I give not namely to every man the honour he deserved, but therein I excuse myself with my shortness in writing, and also myself being herein an actor, my eye was not at leisure to note every man's desert. There was found in the fort 29. barrels of powder, some mach, and very few small shot: and of meat, biscuit, wine and beef reasonable good store. I must a little commend the defendants for an enemy, deserveth his just praise, especially the chief ommander. He never in all these attempts showed himself daunted, he made sundry sallies, but most upon the French, to his great advantage and reputation. He lost before this last days service 60. men, some at his sallies, some with our cannon, and some at our first attempt upon the breach, also this very last day our cannon playing incessantly upon the main curtain, between the two bastions flew fifty of his men. This last assault continued almost five hours without intermission, they never quailed until he was slain, which was a small time before the entry, and then the greater part being slain the rest overtired and hurt, wear forced by our gallants to retire, and so there were slain of Spagniards in this fort almost 400. I note another sign of his great resolution, for if he found any willing only to speak of yielding, he would cause him to be bound to some stake or post, and exposed him to the breach, leaving his arms at liberty to fight for his defence. I hope no man will mislike if I commend the valour of the enemy which was conquered, for the greater is the honour of them that were the conquerors. This their vain resolution might well have served their turns, if they had not dealt with our general who was as resolute as they, and there in overmacht them. For the next day, Don joan de l'Aquilar sending a trumpet for the redeeming of prisoners, our general sent him answer that their ransoms were paid, and that he was now as ready and at leisure to fight with him. This victory achieved, he sent the three Spanish ensigns into England, and presented them to her Majesty, who as a most sacred and grasious prince, most highly esteemed, and lovingly accepted them. God of his infinite mercy send her daily so to triumph over her enemies, and that it will please him to protect our general for her greater services.  
FINIS.