THe Oliue Tree of Peace (vpon which groweth the happinesse, wealth and prosperitie of euerie Kingdome) hath flourished (e­uen vp to his full height) so long in England, that other Coun­tries and Kingdomes neighbou­ring by her, beholding the bles­sings, benefits and contentation which England hath gathered by tasting the fruites of Peace, haue gotten some braunches of that Tree, and (by our example) planted the same in their owne Do­minions. In doing of which, the French haue filled their Coffers with Treasures, which before were ope­ned by violence, empried by seditious Leagues, and wasted to nothing by the miseries of a tedious and inte­stine warre: the Spanish haue likewise with the same streame safely returned from the Mines of both Indies, and richly vnladed their Argozies of Indian golde, vp­on their owne shoares, of which golde (before Peace in­habited amongst them) they were euer least saue when they approached nearest home, as the bringers of it from thence hither, and the loosers of it there, did in those [Page]times (the one with ioy, the other with madnes and sor­row) openly testifie.

So that these fires (whether of Ambition, of Zeale, or of Rage, I knowe not) which for many late yéeres haue named in the Low Countries, had not bin kindled there, I thinke the very name of Warre had bin almost forgot­ten, and the right pronunciation of it vnknowne to these parts of christendome. The violent heate of which Bel­gicke fires was so lasting, and burned so high, that it ser­ued as a Beacon on the top of a hill, to call vnto their help other forren nations (who before were but lookers on) and inticed them (through the thirst of glory, honour and fame which are gotten in the fires) to become partners and sharers in the variable fortunes of those Battelles of the Dutch and Spanish. Insomuch that the Drumme being vnbraced héere, and hung vp by the walls (as hauing no vse of such thunder amongst vs, vnlesse it were for plea­sure,) and most of our men of Action and of the Sword hearing the sound of theirs, and being drawne thither, I thinke it was then, and is now stil possible to call together 20000. of our english nation into one place, and amongst them all not to find or picke out one Souldier, when in o­ther forren realmes (vext continually with vproares) it hath hin, and to this day is hard to call together 100000. and to cull out of them any other person but a Souldier.

The Schoole of Warre decaying, and being throwne downe in one kingdome, hath from time to time bin exec­ted in another. And as men who professe other Arts and Sciences, will (if they loue them truely) trauell ouer the world to enrich their bosomes with the perfit knowledge of those things with which their soules are inflamed: So the militarie Scholler (whose best learning is Practise,) accounteth euery Land his owne country where this pro­fession of Armes is held in honor: and no loue of parents, wife, children, kinred or friends hath power to kéepe him from those glorious paths of danger.

[Page] By this meanes, many Englishmen that were borne obscurely, and might (otherwise) haue died forgotten, haue by their noble aduentures and seruices in forren realmes (farre hence remoted) not onely won eternall honours to their owne names, but also crowned their nation and na­tiue country with neuer dying glories: And in despite of Enuy & Obliuion (sworne enemies to virtue) who would beat downe the memorie of such high spirits, by throwing them into base and vnknowne graues, Fame does euer­more build vp tombs for them in her immortal chronicles.

Whilest all men here at home sate playing with the Sun-beames of Quietnes, and that all the low Country storms began likewise to be laid downe calme, so that the English souldier had no place to retire to, but to come and lie idlely on the bosome of his own country; behold, a fresh Allarum awakes and calls him from hence into Sweden. In the warres of which kingdome what hath bin done lately, I meane only, forsomuch as I, who was a seruitor in them, and am now the trumpet to proclaime mine own fortunes there, haue had triall, you shall now (déere coun­trimen) receiue afaithfull and honest relation.

Wherein I vow by the honor of a souldier, and by the loue, obedience and loyaltie which I owe to no other than my owne natiue countrey, I will set downe nothing but that of which (for the most part) I haue bin Oculatus te­stis (an eie-witnes.) And albeit in this relation the truth must compell me to deliuer such matter, as happily may terrifie those that neuer bare Armes, nor followed the for­tunes of a Souldier, from euer going into Sweden and to serue in those warres: farre are my thoughts (God beares record of them) from any such disswasion, sithence all men that know what belongs to the field, can tell, that he who vndertakes the life and condition of a Souldier, must en­dure worse and greater miseries, than I or any English­man sent thither can vndergo in Sweden. Omitting ther­fore the ground of their quarrell, and not so much as once [Page]touching the fire that hath now so sately kindled warres betwéene the kings of Sweden and Poland, because the hearthurnings of kingdomes one against an other are dis­eases of State, and not fit to be medled with by me, being beyond my cure, I will write a Storie of my owne for­tunes there only, which begins as followeth.

About a fortnight before Midsomer, which was 1609. a company of Voluntaries to the number of 1200. soul­diers, were at seueral times shipped from England to passe into Sweden, to aide the King of that Countrey in his warres against the king of Poland. To which aid diuers other nations did likewise resort, as Frenill, High Dutch, &c of all whom (as occasion ministreth) mention shable made in their due places. Of the English companies that went thither, the first was commaunded by one Caluine a Scot; who by appointment was made lieutenant Co­lonell and chiefe of the other Captaines ouer the footmen. The names of which Captaines are in this following Discourse set downe.

After the first company was gone, a second number of 300. men (of which I the relater of this, was one) were put into one shippe belonging to Swoden, and came from thence for vs. We being thus aboord, sailes were present­ly hoisted, anchors weighed, and by the assistance of God, wherewith the dexteritie of the mariners was furthered, in a short time had we gotten into the maine sea and with a prosperous gale went forward on our voiage. But mans security oft-times changeth Gods fauors into sodaine in­dignation; for when euery one at the parting from his owne country had a mery and fearelesse heart to runne to the certaine dangers that stood ready to méet him in ano­ther forren region: Behold (to put vs all in minde, that God was the God of Hostes, and that whether we went foorth to fight, or laied vs downe to sléepe, whether we were on the seas, or on the land, our safeties and dangers lay all in his disposing) behold, I say, in the height of all [Page]our iolity, séeing so prowd a saile swelling with the winds to carry vs) the heauens on a sodaine altered their lookes, storines fell vpon the waters, the waters threatned de­struction to our ship, and we that were in her, stood wauer­ing betwéene the hopes of an vncertaine life, & the dread­full terrors of a most iminent death. In this horror of the seas, were we lossed so long, that all our victualles wers almost spent: the misery of which, threw vs into more desperate feares: now were we assaulted by double deaths (Famine or Shipwracke) what course to take for our re­liefe no man presently knew. Continue without foode it was impossible, and as impossible was it for vs to reco­uer the land in any short time, without the assured destru­ction of vs all. At this season, our commanders were these. viz

• Lieutenant Benson.
• Lieutenant Walton, who was Prouost Martiall of the field.
• And an Ancient of the Colonels company.

These our Commanders were by our rashnesse droue into worss feares than those were that laid hold vpon our selues; for whereas they were resolued (blow the winds how they could) to continue still at sea, and not to land, till they set footing at their appointed shores, the cemmon Souldiers had on the contrary part vowed and resolued to compell the mariners (seeing the present miseries. and no hopes promising better) to set vs all on shore vpon the first land that could be discouered. Our Commaunders did what they could by disswasion to alter this general re­solution, because they feared it would be the losse of the greatest part of our Companies, if they came once to be scattered: and besides, they knew that it would re­dound to their dishonour and shame, if they should not dis­charge the trust imposed vpon them by our Captaines, which trust was to conduct vs & land vs before, whilst our [Page]Chieftaines remained a while behind in England, to take vp the rest of our Companies. Yet all this notwithstan­ding, Land being discouerd, there was no eloquence in the world able to kéep vs aboord our ship, but euery man swore if the master of the ship would not set vs on the shore, the sailes should be taken into our own hands, and what was resolued vpon (touching present landing) should in despite of danger be effected. Vpon this, the master of the ship and the mariners told vs, that if we put to land in that place, we should all either perish for want of victualles, which were not to be had in that country or else should haue our throates cut by the people. But the dangers in which we were, and which we felt, being more certaine (as we ima­gined) than any other could be, of which we had yet no sence or féeling, & our hopes perswading vs that we could not fall into worse, than those we tasted already: besides, all of vs construing the words of the mariners, as not spo­ken by them, but as if they had bin set on to do so by our commanders in the ship, who by all means fauored to kéep vs all aboorde: At the last we resolued rather to try our bad fortunes on the land, and to famish there (if that kind of death must néedes attend vpon vs) than to perish on the seas, which we knew could affoord vs no such mercie as the land was likely to lend vs. So that in the end, we got so neare the shore side, as the sailes durst venter with­out dauger to the ship: and there casting anchor, our small boat was hoisted out, & on shore we went, as fast as possi­bly we could. When our Officers sawe, that there was no remedy, nor force to detaine vs aboord, they then dis­heartned vs no longer, but to our great comforts told it, that the master of the ship (which thing he himselfe like­wise openly confessed) knew both the Land and the Go­nernour thereof (as indéed we proued afterwards he did:) and therefore desired they all our companies not to misse­behaue themselues toward the people, for that it was an Iland called Iuthland, vnder the dominion of the king of [Page] Denmarke, but subtect to the command of a Lord, who vn­der the king (as his substitute) was the gouernor.

And that we might be the better drawne to a ciuill be­hauiour towards thinhabitants, our officers further told vs, that they would repaire to the Lord Gouernour of the country, and acquaint him with the cause of our vnexpec­ted landing there; vpon which we all promised to offer no violence to the people; neither was that promise violated, because we found the inhabitants tractable, and as quiet towards vs, as we to them: yet the greater numbers of them ran away with feare, at the first sight of vs, because (as afterward they reported) it could not be remembred by any of them, that they euer either beheld themselues, or euer heard any of their ancestorsreport, that any strāge people had landed in those places and partes of the Iland: for they thought it impossible (as they told vs) y ^e any ship should ride so néere the shore, as ours did, by reason of the dangerous Sands.

Our officers so soone as they were at land, went to the gouernor of the Iland, whilst the souldiers (who staid be­hind them) ran to the houses of the Ilanders, of purpose to talke with the people, and at their hands to buy victu­alls for a present reliefe: but when we came among them, they could neither vnderstand vs, nor we them; so that the market was spoiled, and we could get nothing for our mo­ney: yet by such signes as we could make, they vnderstood our wants, pittied them, and bestowed vpon vs (fréely) a little of such things as they had. Yet in the end, a happie means of our reliefe was found out by a souldier amongst vs, who was a Dane by birth, but his educatiō hauing bin in Engl. no man knew him to be other than an englishmā.

This Dane made vse of his owne natiue language, to the good both of himselfe, and vs, certifying the people (who the rather beléeued him because he spake in their knowne tongue) of the cause that compelld vs to land vp­on their ceast, and that we intended no mischiefe, violence, [Page]or mony: to which report of his they giuing credit, stood in lesse feare of vs than before, and thereupon furnished vs with all such necessaries, as the countrey affoorded to sustaine our wants. The food which we bought of them was only fish, and a kind of course bread, excéeding cheap. Of which food there was such plentie, that for the value of [...]. d. we had as much fish as xx. men could eate at a meale, and yet none of the worst sorts of fish, but euen of the ve­ry best and daintiest, as Mackrels and Lobsters, and such like. In which our trading with the poore simple people, we found them so ignorant, that many, yea most of them regarded not whether you gaue them a counter, or a shil­ling; for the bigger the péece was, the more fish they would giue for it: but besides fish wée could get no other suste­nance from them, or at least, could not vnderstand that they had any other. But obserue what happened in the meane time that we were thus in trafficke with the I­landers for victualls, our Officers as before is said) be­ing gone to the lord Gouernor, who lay about xij. english miles from the sea side, the maister of our ship on a sud­den hoised vp sailes, and away he went, leauing one of his owne men at shore, who accompanied our Officers as their guide, through the Iland. The cause of the ships departure, did so much the more amaze vs, by reason it was so vnexpected, & the reason thereof vnknowne to vs: But we imagind the master of the ship and mariners fea­red to receiue vs into the vessel again, because some of our men at their being at sea, threatned the sailers, and offred thē abuses before they could be brought to set vs on land.

On the next day following the Lord Gouernor of the Iland came to vs, bringing our Officers along with him, yet not being so confident of vs, but that (for auoiding of any dangers that might happen) he came strongly guarded with a troope of Horsemen well armed. And (vpon his first approach) demaunding where our Ship was, it was folde him in what strange manner it stole away and for­sooke [Page]vs: he then asked what wée intended to doe, to which wée all answered that we would bée ruled by our Offi­cers: hereupon hee inquired of them what they would haue him to doe in their behalfes, they requested nothing else at his handes, but onely his fauorable Passe through the Country, and a Ship to cary vs forward into Sweden: to which request hée made answer, that he could grant no such licence vntil he had made the king of Denmarke ac­quainted with our being there, for the Iland belongd to the King he sayd, and he was no more but an Officer or Substitute vnder him. Yet in consideration that our Ship had so left vs in a strange land, hée promised to do all that lay in his power to effect our good: but withal told vs that the people had inward feares and were possess with suspitions, that our intents of landing vpon such a coast (were not as wée our selues affirmed, onely to get foode, but rather to make spoyle of the poore inhabitants. And therefore to remoue all such feares and Ielosies out of the peoples hearts, he held it most conuenient for the gene­rall safeties of both parties, to seperat our numbers, and to spread vs abroad in the Country, one and one in a house, where it was agréede that we should receiue both a lodg­ing, and meate, and drinke, vntill he had sent to the King of Denmarke, some of his owne men with our Officers, to vnderstand his Maiesties pleasure and what should be­come of vs.

To this we all agréed, and accordingly for that purpose, were by the Lord Gouernor, safely by this Armed horse­men which were his guard, conducted to his owne house. To that place were all the people of the Iland summond together, they came at the appointed day to the number of fiue or sixe hundred, circling vs rownd with Bills Hol­berds two-hand swords and diuers other weapous: And at the first sight of vs grew into such rage, that present­ly they would haue cutt all our throates, and hewed vs to pieces but that the Authority, of the gouernor kept them [Page]from offring violence, yet was he fayne so vse the fayrest meanes of perswation to allay their fury. For they would not belieue but that our ariuall there was to destroy them, their wiues and children and make a conquest at last of their Iland, Yet the Gouernor shewed vnto them all our number, which was but 300. men, and those all vn­weaponed, and so consequently, neither likely, nor able to vndertake any mischiese against them.

Then stoode vp some bolder than the rest, and teaching the rest to be more cruell by swearing to haue our blouds ere they stirred from thence, because (as they alleadged) our yéelding to be disarmed, was done but in policy to be­guile them, with securenesse, whereas they rather doub­ted that some second supplies were not farre behinde vs, that would likewise land on their coasts, and ioyne in the same conquest. But the Gouernor looking vpon the con­dition of men so miserable as we appeared, with an ete of clearer iudgement and pitty, than the common people could, who were euen blinded with their owne fury, inss­lence and madnesse, shewed the true nature of a wise ma­gistrate, by mingling threats with milde speaches, charg­ing the vnruely multitude, vpon paine of death, not to touch the least fluger of vs, but to diuide vs equally into seuerall villages, as it thould séeme best vnto them, and to bestow kind and louing entertainment vpon vs til they heard farder from him, which command of his they accor­dingly performed.

Inimediatly vpon this setling of them and vs in quiet­nesse, one of our officers with two of the Gouernors men, were sent away to the king of Denmarke, to vnderstand his Highnesse pleasure, which Menengers were no soo­ner dispatched about the busines, but the Ilanders grow­ing more and more suspitious, came againe to the Gouer­nor and neuer would cease or giue ouer troubling him, vn­till they had gotten him to make proclamation (in hearing of vs all) That if any of vs would fréely discouer the true [Page]cause of our landing vpon that coast, and reueale the plots of any daungerous enterprise intended against them, he should not onely be rewarded with great store of money, and haue new apparell to his backe, but also should with­out tortures, imprisonment, or death be set frée, and sent backe againe into his owns countrey This proclamation strucke vs all with feare and astonishment. because albeit we to our selues were not guiltie of any plot, or villanie intended to the place or people, yet we knew this might be a meanes to endanger all our liues, how innocent soe­uer. Our suspition of daunger fell out according to our feares, for one Thomas Griffyn a Welch man, one of our owne company, but a person as it appeared, of a base and diuellish condition, being tempted with the baite of gold, resolued to enrich himselfe, albeit it were by the she­ding of innocent bloud: And thereupon like a false traitor to all the rest of his fellowes, he went and knéeled before the Gouernor, and with a face counterfeiting a guiltines and fearefull destruction, told him, that if he might be for­giuen for his part, and haue his life warranted, he would discouer such a secret, that the opening of the same should be good to all the Country, and the concealing thereof the Ilands vtter ruine, with the confusion of the people. The Gouernor being glad of this discouery so promised, assu­red Griffyn both of his life, and of the reward, willing him not to feare any danger, but boldly, and with a constant bosome to lay open what he knew: vpon which wordes, the traiterous Iudas told him for certaine, that we came thither onely and for no other purpose than to surprise the Iland, kill the inhabitants, make spoile of their wiues and goodes and hauing set fire of their townes and villages to flie to sea againe. Yet for all this would not the Gouer­nor beléeue him, celling him it was a matter very vnlike­ly, that so small a number, so distressed for want of food, so weather-heaten and so disarmed, should venture vpon an enterprise so full of dangerous euents, but the villaine re­plied, [Page]that all these complaints of want, were but songs to beguile the people, for that vpon the least Allarum gi­uen, other shippes that lay houering at sea, and furnished both with men and armor, would on the sodaine, and that very shortly land for the same desire of spoile, as these their fellows had done, and therefore councelled the Gouernor to preuent such imminent mischiefes betimes.

The Gouernour being thus farre vrged, presently cal­led before him lieutenant Walton, whose lodging was appointed in his house, and hauing related to him all that Griffin had discouered, and withall, demaunding of lieu­tenant Walton what he could say to this matter of trea­son and conspiracy: the lieutenant at the first stood ama­zed, and vtterly denied any such intended villany, prote­sting by the faith of a Souldier, that this report of the Welch man procéeded fom the rancour of a vile traitors heart, and therefore on his knées intreated the Gouer­nor, not to giue credite to so base a villaine (who for the gréedinesse of alittle money, went about to sell all their liues) and to make all thinhabitants of the Iland become murderers:) adding further, that if the Gouernor would but giue him leaue, he would make the treacherous slaue before his face there presently confesse that he had belyed his fellowes, and that there was no such Conspiracie a­mongst them. The Gouernor gaue him authority to vse his best meanes to trie a traytor, because it was not he said, his desire to haue the bloud of any Christians, shead wrongfully: but if he should find the Welch mans words to be true, he could do no otherwise than apprehend vs as traitors to his King and the Country and to lay such pu­nishment vpon vs, as should be sound due by their lawes. But lieutenant Walton earnestly intreating the Gouer­nor, that if he had any such ill thought of vs, he would be pleased to hold him in setters as prisoner for vs all, till the trueth might be found out: And that traiterous vil­laine Thomas Griffyn being opposed face to face with the [Page]lieutenant still continuing in his first resolution, and most boldely perseuering in his accusations against his poore countrymen that lay scattred in seuerall houses about the Iland, not hearing of any such matters: Behold how all that Griffyn had discouered, were by a strange accident strongly confirmed to passe for currant, and whatsoeuer lieutenant Walton had vttered in opposition of Griffyns slaunders, were held as vntruths, and traps to betray the Country. For, iust as the traitor had told the Gouernor, that more ships were not farre off, but were ready to se­cond vs vpon our arriuall, it chanced that in the very heat of this businesse, and their feares of daunger where none was, two other ships full of armed souldiers came to the same place of the Iland where our ship put in: These two ships had brought souldiers out of the lowe Countries (a cessation of warres being there) and were going into Swethland, as we were, but by crosse windes and fowle weather, lay so long at sea, that wanting victualls, they were driuen in hither for succour. Whose sodaine approch and ariuall being signified to the L. Gouernor, the welch mans words were then thought true; all the fland was presently vp in Armes to resist the strength and fucie of a most dangerous supposed enemy: and so secretly did the Inhabitants put on Annes that we who were kept like prisoners amongst them knew nothing of these vproares. But night approaching, the Generall gaue speciall charge that secret watch should be set and kept ouer euery soul­dier that lodged in any mans house which by the common people was as narrowly performed, for they did not only watch vs as the Gouernor commaunded, but amongst themselues a secret Conspiracie was made, that in the dead of night, when we should be fast asleepe they should come and take vs in our beds, and there to binde vs with cords: it being an easie thing to do so, when our company were diuided one from another ouer the whole Iland. At the houre agréed vpon, the plot was put in force, for they [Page]entred our Chambers, and bound euerie Souldier as he lay, making them all ready like so many shéepe, marked out for the slaughter. For mine owne part, I had fiue men and thrée women to binde me, who so cunningly ty­ed me fast with cordes, whilst I slept, and felt nothing, nor dreamt of any such matter, that with a twitch onely I was plucked starke naked out of my bed, and laide vp­on the colde earth vnderneath a Table, with my armes bound behinde me, so extreamely hard, as foure men could drawe them together, my féete tied to the foote of the Table, and my necke bound to the vpper part or boord of the Table.

In these miserable tortures lay I, and all the rest (in seuerall houses) all that night, and the most part of the next day, our armes and legges being pinched and wrung together in such pittilesse manner, that the verie bloud gushed out at the singers ends of many.

The enduring of which torments was so much the more grieuons, because none knew what we had done that could incense them to this so strange and spitefull cru­elty, neither could we, albeit we inquired, learne of our tormentors the cause, because we vnderstoode not their language. But to me whilst I stood thus vpon the racke, the old woman mine Hostesse came often running in and cryed in her language to me Traue vp Iesus, which was as much to say, Pray to Iesus: by which wordes of her I perceiued they meant to kill me: And still she mumbled out a storie, which I could not interpret, of one William, who lay at the next house I knew, so that I guessed her meaning was, that William, and all the rest of our com­pany were in fetters too, like my selfe. Yet my priuate thoughts fréed all the rest, because I was perswaded they had doue nothing to deserue such tyrannous handling: Mary of my selfe, and my neighbour William I stoode somewhat in a perillous doubt, that they punished vs for a knauerie committed the very selfe same euening, after [Page]which we were intangled in the net, and could by no strugling get out. And that was this

I happened that night, when this coniuring was to binde vs like wicked spirites in such damnable circles, to suppe with the said William at his lodging: and whilest we sate merrily at our meate, not mistrusting what Spi­ders were weauing ouer our heades, to catch vs like flies in their cob-webs, and then to kill vs, into our rowme comes stumbling a pedlar, with a packe and a boxe at his backe: We hauing so fit an Anuile to breake ieasts vpon, forgot our selues where we were, and brganne to growe merry in English with Seignior Mountebanke our Med­lar, but he gabling in his language to vs, as fast as we did in ours to him, both laughed at one another, yet knew not for what. At last downe throws he his packe and box on the Table, and being a merry lad, and a customer to the house, went out of our rowme to visite the houshold. In the meane time my pew fellow William spying his op­portunity. opened the Pedlars box, which he thought had bin crammed with swéete meates, but in stead of Sugar plummes he sonnd nothing there but Sope, the purchase of which scowring booty, make Williams heart leape for ioy, for (quoth he) my linnen thou séest is fowle, and this Sope shall make me to morrow a cleane gentleman. And thereupon like a conscionable Chaundler tooke out some halfe a pound and gaue great weight: the one halfe of which prize I shared in, because I had as much néede as he to be washed, yet none of vs both had néede of the shauing which we mette withall an one afterwards. But note how iustly I was plagued: The selfe same Peolar was one of the men that helped to binde me; the knaue was lesse mercifull in tying his knottes than a Beadle or Hang-man, and more nimble to bind my hands behind me, than to binde vp his packe. I seeing what ware the Pedlar made of my body, and how villainously the rest of his Consort played vpon these hempen strings, that [Page]were wownd vp about my armes, legges, and necke, thought verily that he and his crew had found me guilty for his Sope, and so conuemning me behinde my backe, came likewise to punish me both behind my backe, and to my face.

But crying out to them, because I saw they ieasted not with me, that the Soape was in my pecket, all the pittifull signes I could deuise were made, to shew I had thrust it there, but they for all the noise I made, plyed their trussing me vp in halters worse than fiue hangings, neither regarding the cries of the poore, imitating therein many worldly rich men, nor vnderstanding whether I cursed them to the pit of Well, for so hard binding me, or whether I prayed them to vnloose me, neither did Mon­sieur Pedlar misse his halfe pound of Sope, so that I was worried by a sort of curres, I knew how, and where, but I knew not why.

Whilest thus the whole Iland was full of the cries of wretched men, and that euery house séemed a shambles, ready to haue Innocents there butchered the next day, and that euery Ilander had the office of a common cutte­throate or executioner, Gods wonderfull working tur­ued the streame of all their cruelty: For the two shippes that came out of the Lowe Countries, and whose ar­riuall draue so many miserable soules almost vpon the rockes of destruction, hauing in that dolefull and ruinous night, gotten some prouision aboord, weighed Anchor, and departed towards Swethland.

Which happy News béeing serued vp at breakefnst to the Lord Gouernour betimes in the morning, and that the Shippes had offerd no violence to the Country, but had payd for what they tooke: About eleauen of the clocke the very same day at noone, wée were all like vnto so ma­ny dead men cutt downe, and bidden to stand vpon our legges, although very few had scarce legges that could stand.

[Page] Of one accident more that befell, I thinke it not a­misse to take note, which began merily, but ended tragi­cally, and in bloud; and that was this: Foure of our company being lodged in one village, and they being bound to the peace, as you may perceiue the rest were; it happened that an honst where one of them lay, had tippled hard, and gotten a horses disease, called the Staggers: In comes he stumbling to the roome where the poore Eng­lishman was bound to the table, hand and foote: which thing the drunken Sot beholding, drew his Hatchet, which he wore at his girdle, according to the fashion of the country, and because he would be sure his prisoner

should not escape; with his hatchet he cleft his head And thin­king [Page]in that drunken murderous humor, he had done a glorious act, away he réeles out of his owne house to that house where the other thrée Souldiers lay bound, where beating at the doores and windows, and the hoast asking what he meant to make such a damnable noyse, he told him so well as he could stammer it out, that the Lord Gouernour had sent him thither to put the thrée English

[Page]men to death. Vpon this the diuell and he (hand in hand) were let in, the one standing so close at the others elbow, that he neuer left him till he had cleft two of their heads, that lay bound: and being then weary (it should séeme) with playing the butcher, he neuer ceased swearing and staring, and flourishing with his bloudy axe about their heads, till the people of the house had hung the third man vpon a beame in y ^e roome. But they hauing lesse cunning in y ^e Hang-mans trade, then will to practise it, tyed not y ^e halter so fast about his neck, as to strangle him: so that after he had hung an houre, he was cut downe, reuiued, againe, was well, and afterwards was slaine in Russia.

This bloudy feast being thus ended, and all stormes as we well hoped, being now blowne ouer to our frée­dome, and sitting at liberty from our tormentors; on the necke of these former miseries fell a mischiefe more dan­gerous to vs then all the rest: for tidings were brought to the Gouernour, that our Ancient, who trauailed with the Gouernours two men to the King, had traiterously murdered those his guides, and then ran away himselfe: vpon this rumor, nothing but thundring and lightening flew from the common peoples mouthes: there was no way now with vs but one, and that one was, to haue all our throats cut, or our heads cleft with their axes. But the gouernour pittying our misfortunes, laboured both by his authority, and by faire spéeches, to kéepe that many-headed dogge (the multitude) from barking. And in the end, when he saw nothing but the bloud of vs poore Engishmen would satisfie their thirst, because they still held vs in suspition and feare, he most nobly, and like a vertuous Magistrate, pawned to the inhumane Ras­cals, (to my knowledge) his honour, all that euer he was worth, yea his very life vnto them, that within thrée dayes the messengers sent to the King, should returne home, and that during those thrée dayes we should bée of good behauiour to the Islanders: and besides that [Page]they did not returne in such a time, that then he would deliuer vs vp into their hands, to be vsed (or rather misse-vsed) in what manner they best desired.

But God (whose helpe is most ready, when wretched man hath most need of him) put foorth a hand of mercy, and preserued vs: for our Ancient with the Gouernors two men, came home vpon the third day, to the Gouer­nours house, and brought from the King of Denmarke his licence, to carry vs not onely through the country, but commanding that we should be allowed shipping also, at connenient place, to carry vs to Sweueland, whither we were to go: And according to this lycence the Gouer­nour caused vs to be called all together the very next day; at which time, Thomas Griffin the Welsh Iudas, who had all this while lyen feasting in the house of the Lord Go­uernour, began to tremble and to repent him of his villan­ny, begging most base forgiuenesse on his knées, both from the Gouernour, and vs his countrimen and fel­low Souldiers, protesting that what he did came out of his feare to saue his owne life. But our Officers (vpon hearing him speake thus) had much adoe to kéepe the companies from pulling downe the house whore Griffin lay, because they would in that rage haue hewed the vil­laine in péeces.

But leauing him and all such betrayers of mens bloud to the hell of their owne consciences, let vs set forward out of this infortunate Iland, & not stay in any place else, till in small boates we come by water to Elzinore in Denmarke, where wee ioyfully got aboard once more; and are hoysing vp sailes for Sweueland. Yet euen in this sun-shine day a storme falles vpon vs too: for our Officers not hauing sufficient money to fur­nish vs with victuals, we were enforced to pawne our Ancient and Lieftenant Walton, for the safe returne of the ship, with condition that they should not be released vntill a sufficient summe of money was sent to defray all [Page]charges. So that we left our Officers behinde vs; but the King of Sweueland did afterwards release them, and then they came to vs. But before their comming, we hauing a good winde, landed at a place called Newleas in Sweue: and from thence were carryed to Stockholme, (the Kings seate) and there was the King at the same time: betwéene which two places it was a dayes march on horsebacke.

Vpon this our arriuall at Stockholme, we met with the rest that had gone before vs, and with diuers others of our countrymen, that came out of the Low-countries, as before is related. In this place we lay so long, and had such poore meanes, that wanting money to buy soode, we wanted foode to maintaine life, and so a number of vs were ready to sterue: till in the end, our miseries ma­king vs desperate, we fell together by the eares with the Burgers of the towne: in which scambling confusion and mutiny, euery man got one thing or other, of which he made present money to relieue his body withall: yet lay we at the walles of the citty, crying out continually for money, money, till our throates grew hoarse with bal­ling, but the stones of the walles gaue more comfort to vs, then the inhabitants. One day (aboue all the rest) we heard, that the King was to ride a hunting; and wée imagining that all the abuses, wrongs, and miseries, which we endured, procéeded from some vnder-hand hard dealing, and packing of our Captaines and Officers, re­solued to gather about the King at his comming forth, & to cry out for mony: but the King being angry (as we supposed) came riding amongst vs, drawing his pistoll from the saddle bow, as if he purposed to haue shot some of vs: but seeing none of vs to shrinke from him, nor to be dismaied, he rode backe againe, we following him, & desiring; he would either giue vs money, or else to kill vs out-right; one amongst the rest (whose name was William Attane) spake to the King aloud, thus: I hold it [Page]honor to dye by the hands of a King, but basely to sterue to death, I will neuer suffer it. Vpon these our clamors, the King looking better vpon our necessities, sent money the next day, and immediatly after gaue vs a moneths meanes in mony, and two mone ths meanes in cloath, to make vs apparrell.

Of the cloath we receiued some part, but the money being paid, was by our Captaines sent into England, to their wiues; no part of it euer comning to the poore com­mon Souldiers hands: for presently vpon this, we were commanded aboord the ships, with promise that when we were aboord we should haue our money. But being in y ^e ships vnder hatches, away were we carryed with proui­sion onely of one moneths victuals, when by reason of the weather we were forced to lye eight wéekes at sea: in all which time we had nothing but pickelled herrings, and salt stremlings, with some small quantity of hard dryed meates: by which ill dyet, many of our men fell sicke and dyed. In the ship wherein I was, wée liued fouretéene dayes without bread, all our best foode being salt herrings, which we were glad to eate raw; the best of vs all hauing no better sustenance.

At the last it pleased God to send vs to a place called Vfrasound in Fynland, where we landed, ( Fynland be­ing subiect to the King of Sweueland.) From Vfrasound we were to goe to Weyborough, a chiefe towne in the country of Fynland: where we no sooner arrriued, but our Souldiers ran some one way, and some another, so long that the Captaines were left alone with the ships. This running away of them, being done onely to séeke foode, so great was their hunger.

By this carelesse dispersing themselues, they lost the command of the whole country, which they might easily haue had, if they had bene vnited together: and not one­ly were depriued of that benefite, but of horses also which were allowed by the King for them to ride vpon.

[Page] So that, what by the reason of the tedious iourney, (which we were to trauell, being fourescore leagues) and what by reason of the extreme cold, being a moneth be­fore Christmas, at which time the snow fell, and neuer went off the ground vntill Whitsontide following, but all the raine and all the the snow that fell, fréezing continually, diuers of our men were sterued to death with the frost.

Some lost their fingers, some their toes, some their noses, many their liues: insomuch that when wee all met at Weyborough, we could make no make no more but 1400. able men; and yet when we were landed at [Page] Vfrasound we were 2000. strong, the extremity of the cold country hauing killed so many of our Souldiers in so little time.

At our landing at Weyborough we had good hopes to receiue better comforts, both of money and victuals: for the inhabitants told vs, the King had allowed it vs, and in that report they spake truth: yet contrary to our ex­pectation, we lay there about 14. dayes, and had no­thing but a little Rice, of which we made bread, and a little butter, which was our best reliefe. Drinke had we none, nor money: our Captaines gaue vs certaine le­therne pelches onely made of shéeps skinnes, to kéepe vs from the cold.

At this place we receiued Armes to defend vs against the enemy, and sixe companies that were allowed by the King for horsemen, receiued horses there. From thence we were to march into Russia, where our enemies con­tinued. But the iourney was long and vncomfortable: for we marched from Newyeares day vntill Whitson­tide, continually in snow, hauing no rest, but onely a lit­tle in the nights. So that the miseries and mis-fortunes which we endured vpon the borders of Fynland, were al­most iusufferable, by reason the number of them séemed infinite. For all the people had forsaken their houses long before wee came, because they were euermore op­pressed by Souldiers: by which meanes wee could get neither meate nor drinke, but were glad to hunt cats, and to kill them, or any beast wee could lay hold on, and this we baked, and made them serue for dayly suste­nance.

The greatest calamity of all was, we could get no wa­ter to drinke, it had bene so long frozen vp, and the snow so déepe, that it was hard to say, whether we marched o­uer water, or vpon land. So that we were compelled to digge vp snow, and with stones red hot, to melt in tubs. and then to drinke it.

[Page] This affliction continued about 12. or 14. dayes, till we came into Russia. Vpon our very first entrance into which kingdome, we marched ouer an Arme of the Sea, that was 8. leagues ouer, many of vs steruing to death in that passage, by the cold fréezing winds that blew the same day. In which frosty iourney, I saw so much bread as a man might buy for twelue pence, sold away in little bits for the value of forty shillings.

But this misery ended the next day, at our setting foot into Russia, where we found plenty both of corne and cattle; onely the people of the country ran away, leauing all their goods behinde them, but so cunningly hidden, that the best pollicy of ours could hardly finde them out.

By this meanes of the peoples running away, wée were glad to play the Millers, and to grinde all our corne our selues, to bake our bread, and to dresse our owne vi­ctuals. Then marched we vp to Nouegrade, (a chiefe citty in Russia) where we were to receiue all our meanes y ^e rested behind vnpayed: but our Captains beguiled vs, and kept it for themselues: yet to st op our mouthes, they told vs we should go into Muscouy, and there all recko­nings should be made euen.

Wée had scarce marched aboue thrée dayes towards Muscouy, but that newes came, how a certaine number of our enemies lay in a sconce by the way; the strength of them was not perfectly knowne, but it was thought they were not aboue 700. And y ^e we must vse some strat agem to expell them fro thence: vpon which relation, our Cap­tains drew forth to the number of 300. English horsmen, and 200. French horsemen: so that in all we were about 500. that were appointed to set vpon the supposed 700. Polanders (our enemies) that so lay insconced: vpon whom we went. Our chiefe Commander in that seruice was Monsieur La Veile, a French man, who so valiantly led vs on, that the enemy hearing of our comming, fled o­uer a water that was by the seonce; yet not with such [Page]spéede, but that we slew to the number of 400. of their side, and lost onely thrée men of our owne: but we tooke the sconce.

About the sconce stood a faire towne called Arioua, with a riuer called the Volga, running through the middle, but no bridge ouer it: onely a few boates and sloates, (made & cut out of trées) were there, to carry the people ouer from the one halfe of the towne to the other.

This sconce furmshed vs not only with great store of riches, but also with a number of Polish horses: and as many armes as serued to arme 500. men, our want of that commodity being as much as of any thing besides: for of those fiue hundred men that went vpon the seruice, there were not 300. fixed armes; yet through the hand of him that deales victories, or ouerthrows, as it pleaseth hun best, the day was ours.

Ouer this riner Volga the enemies were neuer driuen before, either by the Emperour of Russia, or by the King of Sweueland: for which cause (as afterward we heard) the next day when they departed from the other side of the riuer, they burnt that halfe of the town on which side they were themselues, and in most bloudy, barbarous, & cruell manner, made hauock both of men, women, & chil­dren, albeit (not aboue halfe a yeare before, y ^e inhabitants on that side had reuolted from their owne Emperour, & turned to thē. In which tyrannical vprore, their custome was, to fill a house full of people, & then (the doores being locked vpon them, that none might issue forth) the house was fired about their eares: and oftentimes were yong children taken by the héeles, and cast into the middest of y ^e slames. This inhumane tyrranny being practised not onely, by the Poles, that were our enemies, but euen by those Russes that were traytors to their owne Empe­perour, & serued vnder the Poles, and were called Cas­sakes, whose cruelty farre excéeded the Polish.

The towne being thus burnt to y ^e earth, all the 6000. [Page](which as I said before, fled ouer y ^e riuer, out of y ^e sconce, & were by vs supposed to be but 700.) came down in full battalion to y ^e riuers side with such fiercenesse, as if pre­sently they and their horses would haue swom ouer, to fight with vs, which being perceiued, our poore 500. stood ready to resist them. But whether they feared our num­bers to be greater then they were, and y ^e we had some o­ther secret forces, I know not: but away they marched, y ^e selfe same day in which they came downe in that brauery not doing any thing; of which we for our parts, were not much sorry; because if the battailes had ioyned, we knew our selues farre vnable to withstand them. And this was the seruice of the most note that we went vpon.

Two or thrée other sconces & towns we tooke from our enemies, they not once daring to resist vs, because they knew nothing of our numbers & force. But the dishonest dealings of our Captaines, made the whole army discon­tent; insomuch y ^e our Souldiers would often times deny to go forth vpon seruice, because they had béene almost a yeare in the land, and had receiued no more but one Rub­ble, (amounting to the value of 10. s̄. English.) So that vpon these discontents, 50. of our men ran away to the e­nemy at one time, & discouered to them our strength. Af­ter which we durst not be so bold as before we had béene.

The fire of a new conspiracy was likewise kindling, but it was perceiued, and quenched with the bloud of y ^e conspirators, of which the chiefe were hanged. On there­therefore wée went: when wée came within 40. leagues of Muscouy, newes was brought that the enemy had be­leaguerd 7000. Russes that were our friends, and that vnlesse we forced the siege to breake vp, the 7000. Russes would euery man bee sterued where they lay. This sad report, (albeit wée had resolued neuer to go vpon any more seruice, vntill wée had our pay) so wrought in our hearts, that we much pittyed the miseries of others, be­cause we our selues had tasted of the like.

[Page] Our Generall (whose name was Euerhorne) was a Fynlander, and with a company of Fynland blades (as they tearme them,) well appointed on horsebacke, was by the King of Sweueland, sent after vs, as our Conuoy, vntil we should come to Pontus le Guard, who was chiefe Generall ouer the whole army of strangers that came into the land: so that according as he was sent and char­ged by the King, he ouertooke vs before we came to Ari­oua. By the intreaty therefore of this Fynlander, and the flattering promises of our owne Captaines, we were contented to go vpon this seruice, and to deliuer the Rus­ses, or to dye our selues in the action. Yet with conditi­on, that (as they promised to vs) wee should by the way, méete our chiefe Generall (Pontus le Guard) who with certaine numbers of English, French, & Dutch, (which the yeare before were come into the land) was vpon a march out of Muscouy, not onely to méete vs, but to ioyne with vs, and pay vs all our money which remai­ned good to vs; prouided likewise, that so soone as euer we should release the 7000. Russes, our money should be payed downe. On these conditions (I say) we yéelded to to go vpon the businesse.

At length Pontus le Guard met vs (according to the promise:) and with him was money brought to pay vs, and his word giuen that presently wee should receiue it. But the lamentable estate, in which the poore besieged Russes were (within the sconce) being at the point of death for want of food, required rather spéedy execution, then deliberation: so that the necessities of their hard for­tunes crauing haste, on we went, hauing about 19. or 20000. Russes, that were people of the same country, ioyned to our army, to aide them in this enterprize. But as we all were vpon a march, the enemy hauing receiued intelligence of our approaching, set forward to the num­ber of 8000. Lanciers and more, to intercept vs by the way: and being within one dayes march of the place to [Page]which we were likewise going, they set fire vpon thrée or foure villages hard by the place where we lay at gcasse with our horses, for a token that they were comming. And this was done vpon Midsommer day last in the morning, by breake of day. Then came they thundring with shouts and cryes to set vpon vs: but no sooner was the Alarum giuen, when the greatest part of those 19. or 20000. Russes, that were ioyned to vs as our aide, fled most basely, before any blow was ginen. This sodaine cowardize of theirs, somewhat amazed vs: but the houre being now come, wherein we were not to talke of dan­gers, but to go méete dangers, with our sixe companies of English horse, we brauely resisted the Holanders, and with great hurt to them, but with little losse vpon our part, charged them thrée seuerall times.

At last Pontus le Guard (our chiefe Generall) tooke his héeles and fled too, leauing vs vtterly destitute of all di­rection: which much astonished vs, as not well vnder­standing what to do: for our greatest strength (being by their flight) taken from vs, none but we strangers were left in the field, and of vs there was not in all, aboue two thousand, and of that number there were aboue sixe hun­dred French horsemen, who séeing both the Generall gone, and the Russes fled, turned their backes vpon vs, and ran away too most valiantly, yet not out of the field, but to the enemy.

Then were we not aboue twelue or rouretéene hun­dred at the most left to resist eight thousand at the least: vpon whom notwithstanding, our sixe companies of English horsemen, charged thrée seuerall times, with­out any great losse, but with much honour: And at the fourth time, for want of powers to second them (which the French should haue done) all our sixe companies were scattered and ouerthrowne with the losse of few of our colours. The captaines ouer these sixe companies of horse, were these.

[Page] Viz.

• Captaine Crale, of whose company I was.
• Captaine Kendricke.
• Captaine Benson.
• Captaine Carre.
• Captaine Colbron.
• Captaine Creyton.

Which sixe Captaines had not in all their companies, aboue 500. men.

In this battaile, Captaine Creyton was slaine in the field; Captaine Cràle was shot in the knée, and within a short time after, dyed of that wound; not aboue twelue of his company escaping. Captaine Kendricke was wounded in diuers places of the head, and dyed. Cap­taine Benson was shot in the hand, and wounded in the head, and yet escaped, and liued: onely Captaine Carre and his Cornet escaped, but all his company scattered & lost. Diuers other Officers were slaine, whose names I cannot remember.

Thus were all our English horsemen dispersed and o­uerthrowne, to the number of 500. and vpwards: Our Generall Euerhorne with his companies of Fynland, or Fynsco blades, were also put to retraite: so that there was not left in the field, aboue 6. or 700. which were foot­men. And of these, one halfe was English, one halfe Dutch, who kept onely a certaine place by a wood side, barricadoed about with Wagons, hauing with them foure field péeces, with which they did great spoyle to the enemy. But their number being but few, neither durst they venture on the enemy, nor durst the enemy enter vpon them, but kept them still (as it were besieged) in that place only, because they could no wayes escape. The inconuenience of which cooping vp in so narrow a roome, being looked into, and the dangers on euery side well con­sidered, it was held fittest for safety, to summon the ene­my to a parlée. In which parley, the enemy offered, that if they would yéeld, and fall to their sides, they should [Page]haue good quarter kept. And if any man had desire to go for his owne country, he should haue liberty to go with a pasport, from the King of Poland. Or if any would serue the King of Poland, he should haue the allowance of ve­ry good meanes duly paid him. Vpon thiese compositions they all yéelded, and went to the enemy; only Captaine Yorke & his Officers, with some few of their Souldiers, went backe into the country, and came not to the enemy; as the rest had done: who from thence marched vp to y ^e Polish Leaguer, being ten miles distant from the place, and there they continued. But such as desired to tra­uaile to their owne ceuntries, were sent to the King of of Polands Leaguer, which lay at that time, at a place called Smolensco, and there accordingly had their Passe, to the number of 100. of which number I my selfe was one. What became of the rest, I know not: but I with fiue more, held together in trauaile, vn­till we came to Dantzicke, a great towne in Prussia, being distant from Smolen­sco, one hundred leagues.