MY good cussen , I cannot but muse at the sundry vntrue reports which ( as I heare ) is bruted in England concerning the English forces now remaining in Fraunce : For controlement wherof according to your request , I sende you the truth of all that hath happened since our departure , to the end you may make other of your friends acquainted with the same .

Know therefore that after the right Honorable the Earle of Essex , had taken his leaue of her Maiesty then lying at Greenwich , he went from thence by water to Graues-end , where being landed he tooke horse to Douer , meane while the ships passed the lands end , and so came to Douer , wher his Honor soone after went aboord , who together with the whole fleete set sayls for Deepe , wher we arriued on munday being the seuenth day of August 1591.

At his Honors first landing , all the great ordinance on both sides the hauen ( at Deepe ) was discharged , and the Townes men stood ( ready souldier like ) with drums , phifes and Ensignes , and in token of loue and ioy sounded their Trumpets , & in all curteous maner receiued him , who together with the Gouernour of the sayd Towne , named Mounsier de Chartres marched into the Towne , where he was royally feasted and most honorably entertained .

After the Earle our Generall had taken order for the landing and placing of his souldiers , he remayned at Deepe about foure dayes space , and after went to Arques , which is about foure miles from thence , where he encamped and mustred vp his men , taking aduice of the saide Gouernour what was best to be done .

Meane while that his Honor remained at Arques , hee had certaine intelligence brought him , that the Kings Maiesty was greatly busied about the taking of Noyan , and that by meanes thereof the King coulde not easelye departe thence , before he had receiued full possession of the sayde Towne , which was perfourmed , on the nineteenth of August last past .

The Honorable Earle of Essex our generall , vnderstanding of the Kings good succes , and hauing receiued certaine intelligence from his Maiestye , that he would meete with him at Gisors , set forward thither on the one and twenty of August , taking with him all his horse men , leauing his footmen still at Arques , , where they continued vntill wednesday , being the second of September last past , as heareafter is expressed .

On the 27. of August , about the number of 400. English foote men went from Arques , with two hundred and fifty horse men of Deepe , these marched forth at midnight towards the riuer of Some in Picardy , and went to a towne walled with mud . neare to Saint Valeri , holden by such as were neyther in obedience to the King , nor in league with the Leaguers . Into this towne they entred the next morning early , where they tooke the towne & about three hundred horse and wagons , which they conducted to Arques .

The Earle being come to Gisors , attended there for his Maiestie , who came the next day , and receiued the Earle most louingly , to whom he gaue so great entertainment , as best beseemed so honorable a personage . And first greatly thanking the Queenes Maiestie of England , for her highnesse most gracious and louing kindnes towardes him , and then gaue thankes vnto the Earle for his great curtesie , forwardnes , and paines taking , in attempting to hazard his owne person in so tedious a iourney .

After that the king had honorably entertained the Earle , according to the manner and custom of this country , he departed towardes the Germaine Armie , consisting of eighteene thousand both of horse and foot , who then staide about Champaigne for the comming of his Maiestie . But the Earle of Essex accompanied with the Lord Marshall Biron , departed from thence to Pont-de-larche , where hee yet remaineth .

This Towne of Pont-de-larche standeth about ten mile from Roan , in like sorte as Kingstone standeth from London , which Towne is holden for the King , and hath a bridge ouer it as Kingstone hath , hauing a Castle on the other side thereof , standing as her Maiesties Manor of Hampton Court , which together doth now keepe the riuer , and doth cutte off all the prouision that can goe to Roan by water , by reason that the vessels of prouision sent by water , must first passe vnder that bridge , before it can come to Roan .

The aforesaid bootie came in verie good time , by reason they greatly wanted horses and wagons for the carriage of their prouision , which soone after stood them in great stead , when the whole Armie remooued from Arx , which was on Wednesday being the first of September last , on which day the armie arose , and laded their ordinance , and so departed , marching towardes the place where the Generall staide , being accompanied with Sir Thomas Leighton knight , who is lately landed at Deepe with great prouision of ordinance . To which place also there came ordinance from Amsterdam , and sundrie other places , so that shortlie it is likely that there will be some notable seruice performed against Roan , when the kinges forces , consisting of French men , English men , and Germaines , doe meete and ioine altogether , which will bee forthwith God willing .

God bee blessed for it , there is plentie of good victuals in the countrie , whereof we want not , and the same sold at a reasonable rate . A man may buie a good quarter of mutton for two shillinges : a capon for eighteene pence , and twentie pence the best . Of bread , butter , cheese , and fish there is plentie : Salt fishe is there verie good cheape . A man maye buye a good Salt fish for three halfe pence , which will serue foure men to their dinners : and of this and such like prouision , the countrie doth bring in great abundance .

And wheras the report runneth , and hath been spred almost euer since my Lords departure , that sundry Captaines hath beene lately drowned through their owne wilfull negligence , and that there hath also many English men died out of the English Army since their comming ouer , by reason of pestilent sicknesse which hath risen amonge them : all this God be thanked is meere false , for neyther hath there any Captaines at all bin drowned , nor yet any such extreame sickenes happened among our Army as is reported . For of certainety there hath not aboue ten or twelue persons dyed by sicknesse at the moste of that great multitude , and the most part of those that haue so died ( or are now sicke ) is such as being riotously giuen , haue spent and consumed their money at dice , or in dronkennes , and such like vnmeet exercises , who , when they want money , run and feede on greene fruit , whereof there is great store , by which means some doe surfet and fall sicke , to the great indaungering of their owne liues .

Thus my good kinsman , I haue discouered vnto you the true newes of all that hath happened since our departure from England . Other newes I haue not as yet to send you , but so soone as anye thing is perfourmed , you shall receiue certain intelligence .