IN the Moneth of August, 1586. There was taken by the Spaniards a tall Ship called the Barke rowe, now belonging vnto the Towne of Newcastell vpon Tine, the Maister of which Ship at that time was one Iohn Harrison, borne in Cornwall, and foure others with him, which be­cause they were found to be men of reputation, and of good experience in their Arte, were had in more regarde then the rest. And whereas the company were all condemned to the Galleyes, where some of them yet serue. They were com­mitted vnto the custody of a Caualier, who had charge to vse them with great curtesie. One whole yeare remained they in the keeping of this their first Hoaste, with very great en­tertainment, where they were often visited with Friers and other religious persons, which very earnestly laboured to drawe them both from God, and their allegiance to their Prince, which howe earnest so euer they were solicited, it pleased God to strengthen them, so that their hearts were hardened against their religion and them, who scorned to how to any Idols, knowing that they bee but stones, and the [Page] workes of mens hands, and therefore vtterly refused to giue the glorie of the Omnipotent God, to such trash as they ho­noured. These shauelings, when as they sawe no hope to winne those soules as they terme it, conferring together tou­ching their obstinacie, thought to prooue if some hasher v­sage might make them yeelde: wherefore the Cardinall of Lishborne, Viceroye to the King of Spayne, at whose com­maund they were: being enformed by such as he sent, howe they aunswered to such demaundes which were required of them, commaunded that the sayde Iohn Harrison, and his foure companions, should all bee ommitted vnto the Inqui­sition or Holy house, and there to abide such punishment as theyr manner is to laye vpon the Children of GOD, which was presently doone as he gaue in charge, and they all se­uerally imprisoned, in such loathsome places as it would haue pittied a man to haue seene theyr estate, during the time of their durance there.

Twise euerye weeke would they sende vnto them, villaines disguised in the counterfaite attire of a Deuill, which cruelly, like him that he represented, would scourge them with whips of Wyer, so that theyr fleshe was most greeuouslye torne with those tormentors, liuing with no o­ther vyandes, but onely with boiled Barlye, and faire water. of which they scantly had theyr bellyes full. Thus by Gods fauour, who strengthneth his seruants, continued those our Countreymen stedfast in the faith of Christ, refusing all the vanities of the worlde, to beare the Crosse of their Redee­mer (Christ Iesus.)

Two yeares spente they in these extremities, in which time two of them by Gods visitation dyed, whom these Ca­niballes would not allowe Christian buriall vnto, for that they dyed not in their faith.

Well, their great Fleete beeing prepared for England, men of skyll for the Coast was greatlye wantnig, so that there was great meanes made for all men of what nation so [Page] euer that would take charge, Amongst which there was sent for, this Iohn Harrison, and his two consorts Peter Bryan his Mate, a verye good Marriner, and William Ma­thewes, the Gunner, braue men, and of stoute Courage.

Those men being brought vnto the presence of the Car­dinall, humbling themselues as to the Kinges Viceroye one their knee▪ The Cardinall came to take them vp, and blessed them with his hand, making on their heads the signe of the Holy Crosse, speaking two or three wordes in Lattin, which they vnderstood not, this William Mathewes, see­ing how he vsed the other two, when as he offered to blesse him, thrust away his hands, and tolde him, that his blessing was rather a cursse, (to them that beleeued it was of anye force) then a blessing: Which wordes vnderstoode by an English Frier, appointed to be theyr interpreter, and reuea­led vnto others standing by.

The sayde Mathewes was greeuously buffeted, in the Cardinals presence, whereat he seemed to be very discon­tent. Well after some outragious wordes offered to Ma­thewes for refusing this Holy Fathers blessing. The Cardi­nall began againe to worke such meanes and perswasions as he hest could, to drawe them vnto his will, protesting that hee was such a fauourer of their causes, that hee was gree­ued to see or heere of their miserye: yet (quoth hee) I haue intreated those Holy Fathers. Seniors of the Church of Rome, cheefest in commission for his Holinesse, to mitti­gate the extremitie of the lawes, for the punishment of He­retikes prouided, so that yee will bee reformed, and become Catholikes, and liue like Christians, forsaking your damna­ble opinions, which vnlesse you doo, you cannot be saued. (It may be) quoth this Holy Cardinall, that your desire to liue in your Countrie with your freends, maye cause you stande vpon more pointes then willinglye you would. If that be the cause stande not one such tearmes, for on mine honour you shall haue sufficient maintenance out of the Kings [Page] treasurye. Be ruled, and you shall liue in so good [...] with vs, as the best men in England. You haue heard how the Catholike Princes, haue ioyned their forces to abate[?] the pride of your Countrie, and to make them know the liuing God, for which entended voyage our prouision is all ready, and knowing by reportes of such Matriners whome in secret I haue sente to conferre with you, that you are men of sufficiencie, to take the charge of good [...]hippes, for that you are borne in that damned Countrey, I haue thought good to make you offers of fauoure such as your owne Countrie shall neuer afforde mell [...] simple birthe.

First from your imprisonment you shall be [...], next shall you be conducted to all places where our forces are, where euery of you shall make choise of what [...] [...]lly­asse, Pinnis, or other, you will serue in as Maister: where [...] dooing your true entents, like faithfull Souldiers of the li­uing God, and his Catholike Churche of Rome. And God shall giue those miscreants into your handes, whereof there is no doubt, you shall be there aduansed to what honours you will require, and 500. Duckets monthly to be paide you of the King, if you thinke well of this my offer, let me see your willingnesse to confirme my request.

Those faithfull seruants of God, whose comfort is the great God of Israell, hauing hearkened vnto the alluring speeches of the Cardinall, as meanes to pull them from the trueth calling to minde howe Christ himselfe was tempted[?] of the Deuill by worldly promotions, Iob tryed and persecu­ted, yet remayned constant in Christ Iesus, took [...] [...] on that God which comforteth the distressed, who feeling the fleshe weake and willing, hardeneth theyr heartes a­gainst their offers, and the Popishe Doctrine preached vnto them. And Mathewes in the name of the rest [...] aunswered.

[Page] Your grace hath said sufficient in mine opinion, [...] your [...]est Catholick from his allegiance, both from Ante­christ whom you serue, and the Kings seruice: yet shall your grace know, we are Englishmen, who not obstinatly refuse your gracious offers, but in that they are offered to the ende [...] shoulde fall from GOD, forsaking the true doctrine of Christ, to cleaue to your damnable opinions: from good sub­ [...], you woulde drawe vs like Rebels, to beare Armes a­gainst our Countrey where we receiued life, seeking to shed the blood of Christians, (a damnable rase) bereauing our own bloodes with the Enemies sword, by whom we were nouri­shed, thereby to heape the vengeance of God vpon vs. No, no, my Lord, (quoth he) rather then it shall be saide that an English man shall deliuer his Countrey into the hands of the deuill, (for no better I account you, nor none of your Religi­on, whose mindes be butcherlike, delighting in nothing but [...]) let me die, and my bretheren with me, or inflickt such punishments on vs as you please, that God, which deliuered Deuell from the Lyons, the three innocent children from the burning Ouen, and many other wonders hath shewed for his [...] shall deliuer vs from your tiraunie, or giue vs the like patience to endure it.

The Cardinall hearing his offers so reiected, was gréeued not a little, wherefore he commaunded them away to pryson, whether going, they were by such as heard theyr aunsweres, [...] and abused, as it might gréeue a man to think on it. Thys purpose fayling, the Cardinall tooke order that they were sent vnto the Duke of Sauoy, to serue in hys Gallyes, where two of them remained euer since, vntill Christmas [...] there came from Sauoy a power of men, with Mu­nition and victuals, to goe for Brittaine as it is supposed, in which Fleete came those two which were left liuing, name­lie, Iohn Harison and William Matthewes, who on the xxiiij. day of Ianuary, (after theyr computation) were sent for a­gaine before the Inquisition, and in like manner as before with great fauours offered libertie, if now they would serue, [Page] and larger offers then before.

But Matthewes in the name of the other and for himselfe, aunswered, that necessitie could not draw him from the ioyes of heauen, to liue in pleasure on the earth, and therefore per­swaded them, that they shoulde no more vrge him vnto it; for it was friuolous, and rather then he would hold vp his hand, or giue the least worde of aduise to preiudice his Prince and Countrey, he would willingly yeeld to what torment soeuer.

The States of Holly-house demaunded of Harison, if his minde were so resolute as that damned. Here [...]ique his com­panion? Who aunswered, in no damnable opinions he wold be ruled by him, but if hee remained in those opinions which he did professe, he would confirme with his blood what Mat­thewes had spoken. When they sawe that no perswasions might auaile them, nor misery which gréeuously they had en­dured, mooue them to forsake theyr true God, they were cō ­mitted againe to pryson, and the Prelates called a counsell what to doo with them, who hauing debated thereon suffici­ently, determined to burne them to the ensample of others.

The next day they were againe called before them, when after some spéeches vsed in like manner: to winne them from theyr opinion, and that it woulde not preuaile, with rayling spéech they recounted vnto them, how fauourably it had plea­sed the Cardinall to deale with them, and to spare their liues, willing that they shoulde liue: but since nothing might pre­uaile, they were now eyther to receiue theyr former [...], or to prepare themselues to die.

These spéeches could not terrifie them, but as men desi­rous for Christ and his truth, to bee freed from the torment which they endured, craued no fauour, but wished them to proceede.

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Theyr aunswere giuen, Don Fredericke chiefest in the Comission stoode vppe, and as he was pronouncing the sen­tence of death against those innocents, a suddaine feare fell vpon them all that were present, and Don Fredericke was striken dumbe, that hys tongue foltering in his mouth, hee could not speake a word. Thys strooke a terror in them all.

[Page] Don Frederick béeing carried away, Don Francisco chiefe Ambnere to the Cardinall stoode vp, & rayling against those pooremen, told them, that they wrought by sorcery & witch­craft, calling them deuils, and vsing other bad spéeches, for­getting God was of power, to showe his might in punishing those miscreants, vpon whom it pleased him to shew the like example, by taking from him, not onely the vse of his tongue, wherewith he abused those seruants of GOD, but also his lymbes, to the great admiration of the company, so that hee was carried away likewise from the iudgement place.

Then fell the people generally to rayling on them, and with gréeuous strokes to lay vpon them, so that if GOD had not mooued one of the State to pittie them, they had béen pre­sently slaine amongst them. From thence they were againe committed to pryson, where they endured all the extremities possible for men to abide, whom God for his mercies sake strengthen, and release at his pleasure.

Within two dayes following, another example worth the noting happened. There were ryding in the Harbour cer­taine Hulkes, to the number of 26. sayles, some of Lubicke, some other of Austerdame, and of other places of the East Countries, into which harbour also came two small Barkes of S. Mallowes in Fraunce, loden with Corne for prouision of the Kings Fleete, which is expected to come for Brittaine. Those two French ships, hauing mored themselues a starne a Hulke of Austerdame called the Fortune, chaunced to haue her Anckors come home, and thwarted the French­man so, that it put him in some daunger, that betwixt them grew some hote speeches. The next day the Frenchman are­sted the Hulke for his damage, and accused vnto the Inquisi­tion sixe of those Hulkes, that theyr traffique was for Eng­lishmen, and that the goods were all Englishmens, where­vpon they were stayed to the Kings vse, and theyr men im­prisoned, which the Duchmen denied, as iustly they might. But the Frenchman on his oath auerred the same, so that there was no remedie but to loose theyr goods and endanger [Page] themselues. Yet God who séeth the secrets of all mens harts, and canat hys pleasure lay them open to the world, to shewe hys wonders on earth & make his name more feared, shewed thys most gracious and wonderfull miracle, within 6. dayes after the conuiction of those Flemmings.

The Frenchman hauing taken order for vnloding of their Corn [...], as the Maister of the Barke which accused them, was busted with his companions, a suddain Lightning with grée­uous weather happened, in which storme, a Thunderstone as[?] it is supposed, slew the Maister, who had before fersworne himselfe, dashing his braynes about the shyp, and fired both the Shyps of Corne, which could not be quenched by all the meanes they coulde make, nor saue one penniworth of the same, to the great wonder of all the beholders.

After which example, the Flemings suing by their friends for theyr libertie, caused certaine of the companie on theyr oathes to be examined, touching the accusation giuen by the Maister of the Barke against them, who affirmed before the Cardinall, that the Maister had confest amongst them diuers times, that he did it but for reuenge, and would often reioyce in the misery of the men, who by his meanes were in danger both of goods and life. Vpon whose reports they were all dis­charged, and theyr goods deliuered, but not without great charge and hinderaunce.

Thus gentle Reader, haue you heard the works of God, in reuenging hys seruants on those of authoritie, who oppres­sed them, which lye still in most pittifull manner, without re­medie, albeit they haue not wanted for the counsels of the ap­proouedst Phisitions in the whole Land. But God, is iust, and will be knowne, I pray God thys example prooue of suffici­ent force, to turne their deuilish mindes to the knowledge of the true God, who defendeth hys children, and will punish those stifnecked miscreants that dishonour his name.

In thys Pamphlet also mayst thou sée the reward of per­iurie, and the iust iudgement of God, in bereauing hys lyfe, [Page] that sought the liues and destruction of those hee had neuer séene, for a small offence by casualtie committed, for which they offered him large amendes which might not suffise, as also if Gods iudgements might be coniectured by men, howe God was angry, in releeuing those which séeke to dishonour his Name, with that Corne which would haue doone good a­mongst that famous King of Fraunce his Campe where it is needed, yet purloyned by those Rebels of his own Countrey, to maintaine his enemies. God make euery man to amende his owne faultes, and to feare, that God will inflict the lyke plague vpon our Countrimen, that for gaine rob the Com­mon wealth of victuals, and maintaine the Enemies of God and our Country. God giue euery man grace to forbeare so desirous a minde of couetousnes, and make vs thankfull for all his benefits, which thorow his mercies we daily receiue. Amen.