The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques, and Discoveries of the English Nation, vol 7 | Page 9

might therefore in those daies haue seemed
superfluous to extend any mans commendations by particular
remembrances, for that then all men were ready to giue enery man his
due. But I hold it most necessary in these daies, sithence euery vertue
findeth her direct opposite, and actions woorthy of all memory are in
danger to be enuiously obscured, to denounce the prayses of the action,

and actors to the ful, but yet no further then with sinceritie of trueth,
and not without grieuing at the iniury of this time, wherein is enforced
a necessitie of Apologies for those men and matters, which all former
times were accustomed to entertaine with the greatest applause that
might be. But to answere the reports which haue bene giuen out in
reproach of the actors and action by such as were in the same: let no
man thinke otherwise, but that they, who fearing the casuall accidents
of war had any purpose of returning, did first aduise of some occasion
that should moue them thereunto: and hauing found any whatsoever did
thinke it sufficiently iust, in respect of the earnest desire they had to
seeke out matter that might colour their coming home.
Of these there were some, who hauing noted the late Flemish warres
did finde that many yong men haue gone ouer and safely returned
souldiers within fewe moneths, in hauing learned some wordes of Arte
vsed in the warres, and thought after that good example to spend like
time amongst vs: which being expired they beganne to quarrell at the
great mortalitie that was amongst vs.
The neglect of discipline in the Armie, for that men were suffered to be
drunke with the plentie of wines.
The scarsitie of Surgions.
The want of carriages for the hurt and sicke: and the penurie of victuals
in the Campe:
Thereupon diuining that there would be no good done: And that
therefore they could be content to lose their time, and aduenture to
returne home againe.
These men haue either conceiued well of their owne wits (who by
obseruing the passages of the warre were become sufficient souldiers in
these fewe weeks, and did long to be at home, where their discourses
might be wondred at) or missing of their Portegues and Milrayes
[Footnote: Coins current in Spain and Portugal.] which they dreamed
on in Portugall, would rather returne to their former maner of life, then
attend the ende of the iourney. For seeing that one hazard brought
another; and that though one escaped the bullet this day it might light
vpon him to morow, the next day, or any day; and that the warre was
not confined to any one place, but that euery place brought foorth new
enemies, they were glad to see some of the poore souldiers fal sicke,
that fearing to be infected by them they might iustly desire to go home.

[Sidenote: Answere to the first.] The sicknesse I confesse was great,
because any is too much. But hath it bene greater then is ordinary
among Englishmen at their first entrance into the warres, whithersoeuer
they goe to want the fulnesse of their flesh pots? Haue not ours decayed
at all times in France, with eating yong fruits and drinking newe wines?
haue they not abundantly perished in the Low countreys with cold, and
rawnesse of the aire, euen in their garrisons? Haue there not more died
in London in sixe moneths of the plague, then double our Armie being
at the strongest? And could the Spanish armie the last yeere (who had
all prouisions that could be thought on for an Armie, and tooke the
fittest season, in the yeere for our Climate) auoyd sicknes among their
souldiers? May it then be thought that ours could escape there, where
they found inordinate heat of weather, and hot wines to distemper them
withall?
But can it be, that we haue lost so many as the common sort perswade
themselues wee haue? It hath bene prooued by strickt examinations of
our musters, that we were neuer in our fulnesse before our going from
Plimouth 11000. souldiers, nor aboue 2500. Marriners. It is also euident
that there returned aboue 6000. of all sorts, as appeareth by the seuerall
paiments made to them since our comming home. And I haue truely
shewed you that of these numbers very neere 3000. forsooke the Armie
at the Sea, whereof some passed into France and the rest returned home.
So as we neuer being 13000. in all, and hauing brought home aboue
6000. with vs, you may see how the world hath bene seduced, in
belieuing that we haue lost 16000. men by sicknes.
[Sidenote: Answere to the second.] To them that haue made question of
the gouernment of the warres (little knowing what appertained
thereunto in