THE Quenes Maiestie consyderyng the returne of no small numbers of her faythfull Subiectes , hauyng truely and valiauntly serued at Newhauen , and beyng many of the same sicke , or touched with infection of such sickenes as reigned there : hath thought meete , because the same numbers shall returne to sundry places of her Realme , beyng clere from such contagious sickenesse , to wyll and require her sayd Capteynes and souldiours , and euery of them , to haue charitable and neyghbourly regarde to the preseruation of theyr neyghbours from infection , and to forbeare for some season to be conuersaunt with any mo then of meere necessitie they ought . And for such souldiers as be poore , and haue any contagious sicknes vpon them , beyng no otherwyse prouided for , her Maiestie earnestly requireth , and in Gods name chargeth , the principall officers , aswell Ecclesiasticall as Ciuill , of all Cities , Townes , and Paryshes , where the same poore sicke souldiours shall of necessitie come , to prouide some remote places , where the same poore and sicke persons may be seperated from conuersation with other beyng whole , and haue reliefe by common prouision and almes to be ministred and geuen by the rycher , which besyde that christian charitie requireth it , the same is also requisite and expedient to be done by them whiche be whole and ryche , for theyr owne preseruation : For otherwyse , they may feele the sharpe hande of God ouer them for theyr vnmercifulnes .

And because no persons shoulde of malice or ignoraunce , haue any mislykyng of such faythfull capteynes and souldiours , as shall returne to theyr countreys and habitations , because the Towne where they were in garryson , is left by composition to the Frenche kyng , as it was alwayes so intended , vppon reasonable conditions : It is to be knowen and vnderstand , that there wanted no trueth , courage , nor manhood in any one of the sayde garryson , from the hyghest to the lowest , who were fully , yea rather as it were obstinatly , determined with one full assent , to haue abydden the whole force of Fraunce and theyr helpers , to the vttermost of theyr lyues . But when it pleased almyghtie God , agaynst whose wyll there is no standyng , to permit the sayde garryson to be visited with so great and incessable plage of infectuous mortall sickenesse , as heretofore great noble armies haue ben , and therby forced to yelde and decline from theyr enterprises : It was thought the part and office of Christian wysdome , not to tempte the Almightie , nor to contende with the ineuitable inwarde mortall enemie of plage , assayling all sortes , aswell the strongest as the weakest , the armed as vnarmed , the captaynes as the labourer , neyther repulsable by weapon , shot , nor ingin , and therefore ioynyng therwith the enemies offers , not vnreasonable , proceadyng of the opinion which they had conceaued by the sundry ouerthrowes geuen to them by the Capteynes and souldiours of the garryson , that they shoulde neuer gette the Towne without great effusion of bloud on both partes , wherof they had lamentablye loste for theyr parte this last yere , in theyr cyuill tumultes , more then in any warres , as it is esteemed .vii. yeres before . The Quenes Maiestie being aduertised that the Constable of Fraunce had by messages sollicited the Earle of Warwyke , her Maiesties lieuetenaunt , a Captayne right nobly renowmed , to come to some communication , for the delyuery of the sayde Towne , with honorable conditions , whereby Christian bloud myght be saued on bothe partes , quietnes & peace might the rather folowe betwixt both the Realmes : was contented that the sayde Earle and the counsell of that Towne , should not thus lamentably contende and stryue any longer with the plague , with the which they had nowe for the space of .v. or .vi. monethes continually fought , leesyng dayly more and more great numbers therby : but should ( consideryng he and his company had so nobly acquited them selues ) accorde to common with the sayd Constable , and hearyng his conditions to be ( as they were reported ) honorable , ( which were , a free & quiet departure in conuenient tyme for the sayde Lieuetenaunt , Capteynes , souldiours , and people , with all theyr artyllery , munitions , shyppes , vesselles , vittell , armure , weapon , and goodes , any wyse belongyng to her Maiestie , or to any Englyshe person ) the said Lieuetenaunt should accorde thervnto .

Whervpon the said Liuetenaunt beyng with all the whole garrison ( of theyr owne disposition ) of a contrary determination , rather to hazarde the rest of theyr liues with the plague , and with the assaultes of thennemy , whereof they had abidden and repulsed some , then to leaue the Towne by treatie , comettyng with the counsell and Captaynes there , and consideryng her Maiesties Princely mynde and intention towardes the preseruation of her subiectes , wherof he had charge , beyng in dede manyfestly and ineuitably subiect styll both to the plague , and to the enemyes approche , by the whiche they had possessed the entry of the hauen , and made sundry Bulwarkes by large breaches saltable , and were entred into the diches : was contented at length , to set apart theyr owne great stomakes , and by enclynyng to wysdome , to open theyr eares to the Constables motions and offers . And so by treatie and honorable compact , accorded to deliuer the Towne to the frenche king , after the space of eyght dayes , or more , yf tyme so required , wherein he myght honorably , safely , freely , and warlykely retyre by Sea the whole garrison vnder his charge , with all maner of ryches , artyllery , munition , & other thinges belongyng to any Englyshe person . For the doyng wherof , beyng hym selfe hurt in the thygh with a shot at a breache , he committed the principall charge therof to sir Hugh Pawlet , sir Maurice Denis , knyghtes , and the knyght Marshall maister Randolph , who at this present are therin occupyed . And this is the trueth of the iust and necessary cause of returne of the sayd Lieuetenaunt , Capteynes , and garrison : Such a cause as hath constrayned both Heathen and Christian Emperours , to do the lyke , or sometymes thynges of lesse aduauntage to them selues . And therefore the courrages and actiuities of the sayde garrison , hauyng ben such , as thennemies haue not let by many meanes to recommende beyonde theyr accustomed maner : And sythen it can not be denyed , but that the plage in the Towne hath herein brought that to passe , that by mans force was eyther not possible , or otherwise not lykely : Her Maiestie doubteth not , but all these her true , good , and valiaunt subiectes , hauyng thus serued , and nowe returnyng to theyr habitations , shall fynde at this tyme ( as they haue well merited ) fauour , helpe , and charitable succour , accordyng to theyr estates , and hereafter honor , loue , and prayse of theyr countrey , whylest they lyue .

Yeuen at Richemond the fyrst day of August , the fyfth yere of her Maiesties reigne .