The king was marched with his army towards Monftreuil; but what he would attempt, was unknown, till the Duke DE BOUILLON's return from England. The Duke DE NEMOURS was lately come to the king with 2000 foot and 300 horse; and the Duke D'ESPERNON daily expected. The king's hopes were greatly from her majefly and the States General, efpecially for munitions, of which he had little or none at all. The Duke DE MONTPENSIER earnestly perfifted in his purfuit of the king's fifter, who was not long fince ftrongly follicited by the king in the duke's behalf. But she disavow'd him wholly, and faid, that fhe would never marry him, tho' fhe were to live a maid during her life: upon which the king using fomewhat of his authority, made her weep very bitterly. There were flying rumours, that the king of Spain was treating a fecret intelligence of peace with the ftates, and that the cardinal of Toledo was to come to promote a peace between France and Spain.

The enemy's army extremely vex'd the king, and ftruck a great terror into the French; and whatever place, it was imagin'd, would be befieg'd by the Spaniards, was confider'd by the French as loft, before it was invefted. Immediately upon the taking of Ardres, the enemy fent a drum to fummon Boulogne to furrender, and to threaten it with their cannon upon refufal. Which the French king took as a great bravado, and proper to have been ufed only against a burgh or flight-walled. village.

Sir ANTHONY STANDEN, in his letter from Plymouth of the 23d of May 1596*, inform'd mr. BACON, that the fhips were all arrived in that haven, and now no more was to be done but to embark the army, which was to be begun on the Wednesday following; fo that within fix days after, if the wind fhould ferve, they might be under fail. "The army, fays he, is very fair, as by a third thereof yesterday in "battle I faw to my content, as well for the armour as the countenance and "promptness of the men. They might be fome 4000 at the leaft; fo that I take "we shall be 12,000 good men embarked here. Sir ANTHONY SHERLEY departed "hence the 21ft in the morning with five fhips only, the rest being shrunk, and these "had come to nothing neither, if the earl of Effex with both purfe and credit had not “in time supplied. Thus falls it farther with people, that prefumed, and with all, that "without experience enter into matters, namely thofe of the fea, wherein this poor "gentleman hath been notably cut-throated and confumed. I would fain have fpoken with him, but came too late. By the judgment of moft, he is gone to run a defperate courfe, his firft intent being utterly alter'd and frustrated.'

66

Sir WALTER RALEGH came to Plymouth two days before the date of this letter, and brought with him CH. CHESTER. Before his coming fir ANTHONY STANDEN found there two of mr. BACON's kinfmen, fir EDWARD and mr. ANTHONY COOKE, the first a follower of fir WALTER RALEGH, between whom and the lord marshal, fir FRANCIS VERE, "yefternight, fays Sir ANTHONY, at table "in drink, in the prefence of my lords generals and the Flemings of the Low "Country fleet, there paffed fome words, the matter being taken against the marshal by ARTHUR THROCKMORTON, a hot-headed youth, who defborded in fuch

Vol. XI. fol. 3.

" words,

e words, as my lords commanded him from the table: fo that for all this voyage "I fee already the fire kindled, that muft confume us inwardly, this fcandal-itone

being the fubject of the quarrel." He afterwards remarks, that tho' the quarrel was between ARTHUR THROCKMORTON and the lord marfhal, RALEGH was the caufe; adding, "I rejoice, that you are rid of the Arragonefe [ANTONIO PEREZ] "which by mr. FULK GREVILL, arrived here two days ago, I understand; who "tells me he is gone with the duke DE BOUILLON."

Sir ANTHONY Wrote another letter to mr. BACON the next day, taking notice, that thro' the haste, that was made from above, the lords generals intended to be under fail by Saturday at the fartheft; and that the rich apparel, which the night before was fhewn there at Plymouth, was beyond all the fights, which he had ever seen, for at least five hundred gentlemen were covered over with filver and gold lace. "The matter, fays he, between the lord marshal and fir WALTER RALEGH "hath been by the generals accommodated; but ARTHUR THROCKMORTON still "prisoner, and difmiffed from the army. This night will both the lords generals "lie aboard, to give beginning and example. They had jointly yefternight a "letter from her majefty of licenfe to depart, befides comfortable encouragement. "But ours in particular had one fraught with all kind of promises and loving "offers, as the like fince he was a favourite he never had."

Mr. ROLSTON not being yet able, on account of his ill health, to fet out upon his return towards England, wrote from Fontarabia on the 24th of May 1596, in a letter to mr. BACON, that the king of Spain had been of late extremely fick in a monastery near Toledo called Seca, and from thence was gone to Toledo, where he ftill remained very weak, which had stopped the prince's journey to Lisbon. The ships in port Paffage were ready, and had provifion, but wanted artillery, which was to come from Lifbon, and expected daily. The foldiers were yet in Old Caftille. Of mariners there was ftore, fuch as they were. There was come provision of powder to the value of 1000 quintals, and 100 quintals of match. An account was brought of the death of fir FRANCIS DRAKE of the bloody-flux; which greatly contented the Spaniards. Some time before, certain Irishmen, who had been in prifon in Madrid three years, were fentenc'd, one, whofe name was capt. BUTLER, and who was chief of the reft, to be hang'd; one TAYLOR to pay 100l. and never to depart from Spain; and two others to be whip'd about the town with 200 ftripes, and to be fent to the gallies for fome years. Mr. ROLSTON was of opinion, that the king of Spain had rather hear of a good peace than of war; "as more at large, fays "be, if GOD please I meet with you, you shall know, and if my strength will permit me, very fhortly."

Dr. HAWKYNS in his letter from Venice of the 24th of May 1596, complain'd to mr. BACON, that an old proverb was verified in him, that the good man is ever the last in understanding the misfortunes of his own houfhold. Sir GRIFFITH "MARKHAM, Jays he, hath affured me, by letters written both to my lord of Rut"land, and others written to Florence by my moft honourable good lord's own

1

< Vol. XI. fol. 2.

Vol. XI. fol. 59.
C 2

Vol. XI. fol. 130.

"hand,

"hand, that his lordship was already departed general in this great voyage by fea; "whereof I could hitherto receive nothing from yourself. Yet the reconciliation " mention'd in your letter of cypher gave me fome caufe of fufpicion.. And altho "the enterprize muft needs be honourable to himself, and glorious to our nation, yet it is fcant fit, that fuch a pilot fhould be abfent from the ftern in these trouble"fome times. And for myself, res eft folliciti &c. efteeming it my greatest unhap"piness not to be in eâdem navi, in eâdem fortuna, where all hopes of this my poor "life confift. I befeech you, fir, let me be advertised of thefe in particular by your "first without fail, that accordingly I may difpofe of myself, who by reason of fome "neceffary defences of her majefty and our nation, taken upon me both publickly "and privately against the Spaniards, who fwarm here in Venice, and are at this "prefent ftronger in faction than ever before, find myself in fome danger, without "either her majefty's letters of credence to the fignory, or my lord's private letter to fome one of the grandi here for my better protection.--Thefe letters of cre"dence, besides my fecurity of negotiating here, would purchase mine acquaintance "with the grandi, by whofe converfation I might understand many particulars of "eftate, which I now want." Among other articles of intelligence he mentions, that a gentleman, fent from the French king to the Turk, departed from Venice three days paft." What office he may do there I cannot, fays he, guess; but I affure you, I understand the credit of the French is of late greatly decayed in that court.

86

"

f

Mr. TYNDALE, a gentleman, who had been obliged to the earl of Effex, wrote about this time from Paris a letter to his lordship's fecretary, mr. REYNOLDES, concerning the state of France at that time. He conceived from the difpofition of that nation and the bent of things, that the king was far from the end of old business, and towards the beginning of new; for all their late reconciliations and compofitions had their confiderations private, refpecting particulars, general refpecting the caufe, fo that, inftead of one, mr. TYNDALE expected two leagues fhortly in France; " for abfolutely, fays he, "the one must fink, if the other fwim: and to a man and means, which are almoft "as before, there feems to want but an occafion apt to ftir a public affection; a thing "eafier than is thought, and cannot want a head, if once on foot, worse than the "former. I feel no way to prevent this, and work the king's certain good, but a "full force to conftrain, which I perceive not, but with a mifchief in likelihood, "breeding greater danger. Yet without this he will be in time forced against his "inclination, honour, and profit, unlefs fome alteration in Spain by death, faction, "or conqueft."

Mr. TYNDALE mentions the king's being gone to Ardres, and prays, that he might come in time, and that while he warr'd in thofe parts, he might not lofe elsewhere; and that thofe, who wifh'd well to the public, wifh'd, that his forces were increas'd in Bretagne, the fortune of which would be follow'd by many places in Normandy. Spanish practices, fays he, lurk, and work almoft ocularly entertain'd, which any difafter will difcover with a mifchief. "Till then the wifer

66

Vol. XI. fol. 94. This letter is dated the 27th of May; but there must be a mistake in the

date, fince it appears from it, that Ardres was not then taken, as it was on the 23d of that month, N. S:

"will keep clofe; yet fome will play the fools. The king fees, yet feeth not, conftrained first to what importeth moft. So as the end of one action beginneth "another; whereby an everlasting trouble feems decreed upon this state to keep the fame unfettled, and the king occupied, Spain's policy in this concurring with "the defire of thofe, who rule in this realm. Had nature made the king as fit for "counfel, as inclined to arms, he had not continued to credit his crown to their "devices, that work their own good by his harm. And furely fuch are the diffo"lutions of clergy, corruption of juftices, infolence of governors, fubtilties of trea"furers, diforders in all degrees, as I judge it is rather a fpecial providence from "above, than any the reafons of hunian counfel, that holds that monarchy on foot. "The reformation depends upon peace, and it upon an univerfal union; which the "three cabals, mafs, laws, and finances joined hinder by all devices. My best "hope of this ftate, I proteft, is, that it may temporife, but never recover but by "the means aforefaid. In the mean time I wifh Calais had no haven eafy enough "to fpoil, ere they be provided of fhipping, and we willing; and inftead of a prefent fiege, that all forces united may make a general ravage in Flanders and Artois with fire and fword, and continued the next year would force the country "to a mutiny, or the Spaniard to a reasonable peace, making him unable to live at home, and unfurnished to invade elsewhere. No doubt and in reafon of war they defire to fee our forces joined to the fiege of a town, that freely they may gather in their harveft, the neceffarieft provifion towards maintenance of war. "Some affectioned Spanish do fear the reconcilement of the Scottish lords unto their "king by our means, whereby they might recover honour, and that faction decay. "It is reported here these two days, that a chance of fire hath confumed all the "powder at la Capelle, and done divers hurts. The king hath fent letters to 400 "perfons in this town, requesting the prefent loan of 400,000 crowns; but they "make their wants their anfwer. It would feem ftrange to those, who know not "the reafons, how the king fhould want men for his wars, feeing the infinite multi"tudes of people; and that he lacks money for needful ufes, confidering the yearly "general receipt rifeth to almost fix millions of fterling pounds."

Mr. BACON on the 29th of May 1596, wrote to dr. HAWKYNS, defiring him to thank JACOMO MARENCO for his letter to him, and to excufe his not anfwering it, till he fhould hear from the earl of Effex concerning the bufinefs, upon which MARENCO had written to him; which mr. BACON was perfuaded would be betwixt that and the next Saturday; promifing to give fpecial charge for the providing of thofe things, which MARENCO defir'd, in fuch fort, as he should have caufe to thank dr. HAWKYNS for finding his recommendation fo effectual. For the conveyance of the doctor's letters, he wifhed it to be rather continued by the way of Colen than that of Antwerp, or in the French packet addreffed to ANTONIO PEREZ, confidering that he was returned to France from England the laft week, utterly difcontented, and determined not to make any long abode in the French court. He mention'd the league offenfive and defenfive concluded between the queen and the French king; and that it was, among other things, agreed, that neither of them fhould treat of any peace with Spain without the confent of each other; that 4000 men should be

Vol. XI. fol. 20,

fent over and defray'd for fix months; fo that the duke DE BOUILLON and monf. DE SANCY had not loft their labour: that the court made full account that the matters of Ireland were appeafed: and that the earl of Crawford was like to be fent embaffador by the king of Scots to aflift at the coronation of the king of Denmark.

Mr. FRANCIS BACON being at court, wrote from thence on the 30th of May 1596, to his brother the following letter".

"Good brother,

"Yefternight fir JOHN FORTESCU told me, he had not many hours before imparted to the queen your advertisements and the gazette likewife; which the queen "caufed mr. JOHN STANHOPE to read all over unto her; and her majefty con"ceiveth they be not vulgar. The advertisements her majefty made estimation of,

as concurring with other advertisements, and alike concurring alfo with her "opinion of the affairs. So he willed me to return to you the queen's thanks. "Other particular of any speech from her majesty of yourfelf he did not relate to 66 me. For my lord of Effex's and your letters, he faid, he was ready and defirous "to do his belt. But I feemed to make it but a love-wifh, and paffed presently "from it, the rather, because it was late in the night, and I mean to deal with him t at fome better leifure after another. manner, as you fhall hereafter understand from me.

"I do find in the fpeech of fome ladies, and the very face of the court, fome " addition of reputation, as methinks, to us both; and I doubt not but God hath "an operation in it, that will not fuffer good endeavours to perish.

"The queen faluted me to-day, as fhe went to chapel.

"I had long fpeech with fir ROBERT CECIL this morning, who feemed apt to 4 difcourfe with me: yet of yourself ne verbum quidem, not fo much as a quomodo " valet?

"This I write to you in hafte, aliud ex alio. I pray fet in a courfe of acquaint*ing my lord keeper what paffeth, at firft by me, and after from yourself. I am 36 more and more bound to him.

"Thus wishing you good health, I commend you to GOD's happy prefervation. From the court this 30th of May.

Your entire loving brother,
FR. BACON."

Sir ANTHONY STANDEN being embarked on board the Due Repulfe in Plymouth found, wrote to mr. BACON on the fame day, once again to take leave of him; "our matters here, fays be, growing now to a ripenels; for this day my lords the generals have given beginning to the embarking of their army, five regiments

Vol. XI. fol. 29.

Vol. XIII. fol. 1,

"" whereof