AS eche Countrey and Nations seekes their owne credite and aduauncement , so hardly any forrain soldier rea peth fame in a strange sovle he serueth in : I meane an Englishe man seruyng out of his owne Countrey ( ioyned with straungers in action ) standes at reward of common report , or is subiecte to the affection of the people where he serueth , who regardes more their owne estimation , then the fame of a forraine Soldier , which soldier rather for fame then rewarde , goes from the natiue soile he was borne in , and serueth a straunge people for a small peece of money , but yet a great portion of praise and good renowne . This not spoken nor applied to the discredite , and hindrance of any straungers well doyng , but in the defence and seruice of the Englishe Nation , whose labour , charge , courage , readinesse , and warlike mindes , is not inferiour to the greatest neighbours , ( or furthest of you can name ) nere vs , in any Marciall order , maner , discipline of warre , or hazard of life .

And for a profe of these special pointes herein rehersed , the moste warres of christendome beares suche testimoniall and witnesse of their forewardnesse ( though here at home God bee praised is peace ) that few or none hath been so forward in the feeld , nor more daungerously serued . Then iniurie it were , and cleane against good nature of men , and order of armes , that any nation for their owne glory ( vaine as a shadowe ) should eclips the dezartes and valiauncie , of the Englishe now seruyng in Flanders , drawne thether for fame ( and their owne desires to do well ) and liue from debt of the worlde and daunger of the Lawe . In whose commendation , and for the trothe of matter now penned , vnder good will of the wise , and sounde iudgemente of the world , I enter into a discourse and plaine order of the takyng of Macklin , dispraisyng no Nation at the seruice , nor leauyng out no matter is true , because trothe is to bee embraced , and matter depending of flatterie or affection , is vtterly to be disalowed .

It happened I beyng at the Court ( where the trothe of many thynges is moste certain ) I sawe a letter written out of Flaunders , from the handes of a gentilman , whose eyes beheld the very seruice and enterprise , and the winnyng of the great toune of Macklin , and the letter was so well penned , & went so directly to the matter ( in euery point and order ) touchyng the particulars and generall takyng of the same citie , that I was forced by the credite of the gentilman that wrote ( and by probable confirmation of sonderie other reportes ) to beleue the letter to be moste true , and worthie the rehearsall to the open world . But amased at the strangenesse of the hazard , and wonderyng not a little at the attempt ( which was maruelous ) I bethought me how the Spanyardes vpon a resolution emong themselues sodainly set vpon Antwarp , and in a smal season had the people at their mercie , and toune at their pleasure : and yet me thought this enterprise for the winnyng of Macklin , surpassed all the exploites that euer before I heard of , or in deede throughly vnderstode . Than waiyng how sleightly I had gone ouer the Seruices of Flaunders , in a booke called my Choice knowyng that I had forgotten bothe maister Norris , maister Candish , maister worke , and a nomber of others verie valiaunte gentilmen , that merites more praise then my pen can giue them . I thought to make amendes with the nexte woorke I should set out , and so peisyng in the ballance of an vpright iudgemente , the weight and value of the valiauncie of men , and the inuinsible courages that resolute soldiours dooeth shewe . I tooke an accasion to publishe the letter I haue spoken of , and to stretche out the fame and honour of my countreymen , that otherwise might be darkned by disdaine , or drouned in forgetfulnesse , for want of true recorde that proceadeth from the penne of an honest writer , who iustlie maie be bold without blushyng , to report that he heareth , and maie be proued to be true . In the warrs betwene the Prince of Orrange and the Malle contants , for causes I nede not to touch Mounsire de Fammai , and Mounsire de Temple , beyng as some saie , the drawers of a drift , & to be at some execution of the practice , as appeareth by many mens opinions , the ix . of Aprill earely at a determined howre , by the consentes and deuises of suche as gouerned in Marciall affaires . Maister Ihon Norrice with seuen Enseantes , beeyng but eight hundreth Englishmen ( or somewhat more ) he Collonell of those companies , with the aide of the Scottes and Wallons fower hundreth , approched in orderly marche and manner ( without sound of Dromme ) nere the walles of Macklin , Monsire de Famai promisyng before that the Soldiours ( on his honor ) should haue fiue monethes paie for their further encouragemente to that and all other the like seruices .

And these whole companies approched , and deuidyng them selues some for the skalle in one place , and some in an other , the one parte with Boates well manned , and the other wadyng verie depely to enter vpon the skalyng Ladders , some negligence or haste by some not spoken of , had almoste discouraged the whole attempte : And in the ende failed their footyng , and forced Maister Norrice and the power with hym , to aduaunce theim selues towardes the enemie , and dwell vppon their gard ( with the losse of sometyme ) before the face of the Toune , whiche by meanes of noyes and Alarum the daie beyng come , was in a readinesse for defence , and shotte of their peeces to their moste aduauntage , and the assailantes discourage , defendyng a Courtaine verie stoutly , against the whiche Courtain maisier Ihon Norrice was faine to drawe fiue hundreth shotte , not meanyng thereby to enter . For the Boates by mischaunce of vnladyng of them were drouned , and the fiue hundred shot was drawne to this one place , to procure the people in the toune to repaire thether , whiles some apointed for purpose , at an other place should enter with more ease and lesse daunger . But those that were putt to the plonge for to wade , found the water so deepe , that it came aboue their shulders : a matter to bee marueled at , a harde aduenture , and a sore escape : But by that meanes thei found awaie to enter by Ladder at a Gate , where thei passed fiue seuerall tymes with some small power , but could enter no more but one persone at once . Yet hap serued so well , no resistaunce in that corner was made , till three hundreth of the Englishe soldiours had possessed a peece of the toune : And then the Albanoies horse menne , thinkyng to breake through the force of footemen , charged them . So suche as foolishely aduentured to farre of the footemen , fell into the daunger of the Albanoies , whereon the horsemen gaue an other charge , and tastyng with their boldenesse the pushe of the Pike , and seeyng the Englishe stande stoutly at defence , the Albanoies wheeled about , and forsooke that maner of fighte , with the losse of diuers of their horsemen .

After which repulce the Albanoies had no mynde any more to come so nere daunger , whereby the Burgoes of the toune beganne to quaile , and stoode in a little mase and doubt of the matter . Then the whole tounes men and soldiours forsooke the rampiers and manned bothe brigges and streates as well as thei might : in this season and hard fight bothe doubtful and dangerous . The Englishe , Scottish , and all the other Soldiours for that attempt presente , hauyng passed ouer the gates , walles , and places of readiest entrie , marched forewardes ( criyng a noble woorde ) and founde great resistaunce at the ende of euery streate by whiche sharpe encounter thei were faine by little and little ( as Fortune serued their hopes ) to winne their ground with some losse of Soldiours who mynded more victorie , then cowardlie to retire , and at the laste with mutche a doe and long bickeryng ( the tounes menne for their libertie and liues , and the assailantes for fame and conqueste ) thei came in vewe of the Market place , where the tounes men and their stoutest companies stood in order of battaile , euery waie flancked with ordinaunce : But as the French man faieth , Il falloit aualler cela , the Soldiours meanyng to trie what Fortune durste dooe , gaue a lustie charge , and by Gods helpe , and the greate courage of sonderie stoute gentilmen , and officers of credite and value , thei had the vpper hande of their enemies , with whom thei made as short worke as thei might : But in deede before apparaunte victorie could any waie bee knowne , greate struggling and stoute sturre on bothe sides was seen ▪ and maister Ihon Norrice was matched with a lustie Limlifter , a breachlesse Freer called Brother Peter , the onely manne that made and maintained all the broile and businesse , who had put on a resolute mynde , either to kille Maister Norrice , or els to bee slaine hym self , and dealt blowes so brauelie in this his determination , that he hitt maister Norrice with a Halbert two full thwackes on the Curate , whiche blowes wer sone reuenged by maister Norrice , who dispatched the Freer , and gaue hym a dedde paie in recompence of his paines . This gallaunte Freer thus slain , ended all the strief and biodie braule : for then euery one cried Misericorde , and fell pitifully at the feete of the Soldiours , who findyng victorie vsed not mutche extremitie . For the nomber of all those that were slaine were not aboue twoo hundreth persones : one letter declareth that the gouernoure with the Albanoizes , dispairyng a little before the ouerthrowe fledde ( out at a backe Porte or Posterne ) to Louaiu and so saued their liues : another letter saith the gouernor was taken prisoner . Oure Englishe Nation loste in their companie a fifteene Commoners , but as I beleeue thei were all gentilmen Soldiours . For to the nomber of thirtie Englishe men were slaine , and fower score sore hurte : whiche argues of eight hundreth , one hundreth and more were likelie to haue paied their liues for their enterprise . And further the losse or hurtyng of so many oure Nation , manifestly declares that thei did most of the seruice , and deserues therefore the moste honor : how so euer the printyng of the firste newes bee taken and vnderstoode , one Maister Smithe , twoo valiaunte Lieutenantes , Maister Humfrey Turner an Enscante , Maister Iones a gallant yong Soldiour , were worthely seen serue , and slaine in the action . By a misfortune after the fight Maister Whitchurche , and Maister Heddleis brother of the Garde was slaine : and of all the other Nations that came with the English , as yet can be knowne was but twoo persones slaine in the enterprise .

Nowe yet I praie you , heare what an other man of good credite wrote of this matter , who stoode and plainely behelde the seruice from the beginning to th ende . The power of twelue hundreth in all , whereof eight hundreth were Englishemen , set forward from Filforde and came to Macklin , as eager as Haukes that seeketh their praie , wadyng to the chinne , and climyng ouer Iron gates , as men that cared not for life , so fame might be gotten . Yea surely saieth he , the strengthe of the toune considered , there was neuer vnder the cope of heauen , suche an enterprise taken in hand , and brought to so glorious a victorie . For saieth he though very good captaines might after long fight & hurtes forsake the assault , these soldiers wer so desirous of seruice , that thei would not in any cace at no tyme retire , and beeyng entered the toune but a very fewe , thei fought it out so manfullie , that maister Roulande Yorke s●ept into the water , wadyng after them to their succour : And at the present displaiyng of his Enseant , he loste his Lieutenant , his Sergeante , and Maister Iones his Enseante bearer , and he hym self shotte through his Dublette , and Maister Norrice not as a Collonell , but as a common Soldiour , ledde his Soldiors the waie through thicke and thin , where moste daunger appeared . And encountered Frier Peter , who was cheef leader of all the Priestes in the toune , he was in daunger to be slaine , for the Frier firste shotte of his peece , then he tooke him to his Pike or Halberte , and laste fell to his sworde , and so like a couragious Confessour valliauntly lost his life . And when all the broyle was in a maner ended , he saith that looked vpon all these dooynges , Mounsire de Temple , & Mounsire de Fammai came to the toune , or were peraduenture about the toune nere the seruice , for the aunsweryng their hope , and furthering of the matter expected . Yet haue thei no sutche cause to bee written of , as those that wer the onely executioners of the seruice in deede : wher fore the firste printed booke of this newes must be wayed , accordyng to the trothe and vmore of the matter .

After the toune was wonne , Maister Norrice did what he might too keepe his people from pillage , but in the meane while Temples men ioynyng with the Scottes gotte the best booties : wherevpon the Englishmen fell to take that easely might bee had , either of Churchmen or Cloister houses , but especially thei searched the Cloisters and Religious places , saiyng thei were Inquisitors for to seeke out Copes , Surpleses and Uestinentes , and to take so good an order by their Commission , that no Masse should bee songe nor saied in Macklin many a long yere after , for wante of gilted Challices , and golden Copes .

And the Shrine of Sainct Tomball was so terriblie handeled , that it was bothe remoued out of his place , and left not worthe a pennie . And the Soldiours were so wealthie , that the olde custome of the Spaniardes was taken vp againe , for Dice plaie began so merrilie on the toppe of Drommes heddes , that money could not tarrie in the bothome of mens purses . Men that haue by their forwardnes found sutche good Fortune , are to bee excused though thei merrilie passe a little money a waie at Dice : Declaryng by that pastime whiche standeth on good happe to winne , or euill lucke to lose . The whole 〈◊〉 of manne standeth but on hazarde and chance : a matter that soldiours doe mutche marke , and the worlde can not denie . But for all their plaiyng at Dice ( whiche Soldiours will not bee varred from ) their Capitaines and Leaders , as it is reported , had more regard to that whiche was so hardly gotten , and yet to redeeme a Capitaine out of prison , maister Norrice hath paied a greate somme of money , whiche money was moste noblie employed : my freende good Capitaine Morgane that now is in Macklin , will I warrant you confesse the same when he is asked . An other poincte of honor is to bee spoken of . For when a Nonrie in the toune was readie to be spoiled , Maister Norrice hearyng that some Englishe women were emong the Noonnes , defended theim from harme , and sette them free , and vsed other courtesies more , that is worthie the noting . When I heard of this noble parte of a Soldiour , I remembred how a greate conquerour , in a maner of the moste parte of the worlde , hauing Darius wife and a nomber of gallaunte Ladies vnder his mercie : vsed hymself so honourably towardes his captiues , that for feare to bee tempted with their beauties , he would not scarce come where thei were , and yet were the prisoners so reuerentlie and honestly vsed ( beyng women of greate callyng and birth ) that Darius thought hym self happie ( though vnfortunate Prince he was ) to bee conquered of sutche a noble kyng as Alexander , who could not onely conquer his owne affections , but winne his enemies hartes by his fauourable and Princelie dealynges : And surely greater honor is gotten by vsyng victorie wiselie , then by ouerthrowyng a multitude with manhoode , without shewyng mercie and gentilnesse . A conquerour by repressyng crueltie by courtesie , is hadd in admiration of his verie enemies , and a victor without vertue and pitifull consideration , is hated emong his freendes , and despised generally emong all kinde of people . Nowe you muste note that the Englishemen , and suche as entered the toune by hazard , furie of shotte , danger of sworde , and pushe of the Pike , are not a little to bee honoured and praised , and more to bee commended then thousandes of those that stood a farre of , and gaue but the lookyng on . And you maie see by the same some menne are happie , not onely to passe through many perilles , but likewise to liue long , and make theim selues and their soldiours ritche : and cause the fame of their Countrie to be spred as farre as the winde can blow , or the Sunne maie shine . And the more happie be our Englishemen and Scottes men , with all the reste of this attempte , that thei dwell as yet in the place thei haue taken , and mynde not to parte there fro , till the poore Soldiours bee pleased . And the keepyng the saied Toune in their handes all this while , argues thei haue deserued too haue the charge thereof , though Mounsire Fammai beare the name to bee the Gouernour of Macklin .

Thus haue you heard the effecte & rehersall of two letters , sent into Englande from those in Flaunders , that sawe Macklin bothe wonne and loste , which commyng to light and to the open eye of the worlde , showes that all tounes , fortresses , and holdes ( bee thei neuer so strong ) are subiect to sodain ouerthrowes , and in the deuine disposition of the Almightie , who visiteth a nomber of our neighbours , with many kindes of callamities , to make vs beare in mynde his Omnipotente power , and our owne dueties to GOD and our Prince . This peece of seruice I haue touched , because euery Nation prefarres their owne Countriemen , and the Englishe doe thei neuer so well , and be the first at a breach ( or at the saulte of a Toune ) thei are the last shal be spoken of , and the worst rewarded ) especially where best thei deserue , and moste should be made of . I feare it is some mennes Deastenie , neither at home nor abroade to reape no benefite of their labours . So for this season I bid you farewell , myndyng hereafter to shewe other seruises that are forgotten in my booke of Choice , that was ouer hastely Printed , and must be runne ouer againe , bothe for the fame of some therein lefte out , and the troth of some matters I was wrong instructed of . And to keepe the people in some good likyng of me and my woorkes . I am presently settyng out a discourse of the late yeartquake , not touched of any writer in Englishe here tofore : Though some haue touched many good pointes to bee noted , bothe learnedlie and louynglie with duetifull order , declared to God and the worlde . Thus once againe crauyng your pacience and iudgemente . to read before you condempne , I bid you adue , and goe aboute the Printyng of my booke presently promised .