Peeke, Three-to-One: Being an English-Spanish combat (1625)

A personal account of a combat between Richard Peeke (Tavistock, Devon), and three Spanish rapiermen. The event happened on 15th November 1625. Peeke documented his account in July 1626. 

Three-to-One: Being an English-Spanish combat performed by a Western Gentleman of Tavistock in Devonshire, with an English quarterstaff, against three Spaniards [ at once ] with rapiers and poniards; at Sherries [ Xeres] in Spain, the 15th day of November 1625 : in the presence of Dukes, Condes, Marquises, and other great Dons of Spain; being the Council of War.

The author of this book, and the actor in this encounter;
R[ICHARD] PEEKE.

Printed at London for I. T. and are to be sold at his shop.

THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY.

ΤΟ THE KING’S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY.

GRACIOUS SOVEREIGN,
IF I were again in Spain, I should think no happiness on earth so great as to come into England ; and at your royal feet, to lay down the story of my dangers and peregrination : which I tell , as a late sea-wrecked man, tossed and beaten with many misfortunes ; yet, setting my weary body at last on a blessed shore : my hands now lay hold on your altar, which is to me a sanctuary. Here I am safe in harbour.

That psalm of kingly DAVID, which I sang in my Spanish captivity,

When as we safe in Babylon &c . [ Psal. cxxxvii. ]

I have now changed to another tune; saying, with the same prophet,

Great is Thy mercy towards me, O LORD ! for Thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest grave ! [ Psal. xvi. 16. ]

And, as your Majesty hath been graciously pleased both to let your poor soldier and subject behold your royal person, and to hear him speak in his rude language : so if your Majesty vouchsafe to cast a princely eye on these his unhandsome papers : new sunbeams shall spread over him, and put a quickening soul into that bosom, which otherwise must want life for want of comfort. Those graces from your excellent clemency already received being such, that I am ashamed and sorry not to have endured and to have done more in foreign countries for the honour of Yours : whenfrom so high a throne, my Sovereign deigns to look down on a creature so unworthy, whose life he prostrates before your Highness.

Ever resting Your Majesty’s
Most humble and loyal subject.
RICHARD PEEKE.

THREE TO ONE. BEING AN ENGLISH-SPANISH COMBAT.

THE CONVERTINE ATTACKS PUNTHAL.

LOVING Countrymen ! Not to weary you with long preambles, unnecessary for you to read and troublesome for me to set down ; I will come roundly to the matter : entreating you, not to cast a malicious eye upon my actions nor rashly to condemn them, nor to stagger in your opinions of my performance ; since I am ready with my life to justify what I set down, the truth of this relation being warranted by noble proofs and testimonies not to be questioned.

I am a Western man ; Devonshire my country, and Tavistock my place of habitation. I know not what the Court of a King means, nor what the fine phrases of silken Courtiers are. A good ship I know, and a poor cabin ; and the language of a cannon : and therefore as my breeding has been rough, scorning delicacy ; and my present being consisteth altogether upon the soldier (blunt, plain and unpolished) so must my writings be, proceeding from fingers fitter for the pike than the pen. And so, kind Countrymen ! I pray you to receive them.
Neither ought you to expect better from me, because I am but the chronicler of my own story.

After I had seen the beginning and end of the Algiers’ voyage ; I came home somewhat more acquainted with the world, but little amended in estate : my body more wasted and weather-beaten ; but my purse, never the fuller, nor my pockets thicker lined. Then the drum beating up for a new expedition, in which many noble gentlemen and heroical spirits were to venture their honours, lives and fortunes ; cables could not hold me : for away I would, and along I vowed to go ; and did so.

The design opening itself at sea for Cadiz, proud I was to be employed there ; where so many gallants and English worthies did by their examples encourage the common soldiers to honourable darings. The ship I went in was called the Convertine, one of the Navy Royal. The captain, THOMAS PORTAR.

On the two and twentieth day of October, being a Saturday, 1625 ; our fleet came into Cadiz, about three o’clock in the afternoon : we, being in all, some 110 sail.

The Saturday night, some sixteen sail of the Hollanders , and about ten White Hall Men (who in England are called Colliers) were commanded to fight against the Castle of Punthal, standing three miles from Cadiz : who did so accordingly; and discharged in that service, at the least, 1,600 shot.

On the Sunday morning following, the Earl of ESSEX going up very early, and an hour at least before us, to the fight ; commanded our ship, the Convertine, being of his squadron, to follow him the Castle playing hard and hotly upon his Lordship.

Captain PORTAR and the Master of our ship whose name is Master HILL, having upon sight of so fierce an encounter an equal desire to do something worthy of themselves and their country ; came up so close to the Castle as possibly men in such a danger either could or durst adventure, and there fought bravely. The Castle bestowed upon us a hot salutation (and well becoming our approach) with bullets ; whose first shot killed three of our men, passing through and through our ship ; the second killed four ; and the third two more at
least; with great spoil and battery [ battering] to our ship : the last shot flying so close to Captain PORTAR that with the windage of the bullet, his very hands had almost lost the sense of feeling, being struck into a sudden numbness.

THE HOT MUSKETRY FIRE.

Upon this, Captain PORTAR perceiving the danger we and our ship were in, commanded a number of us to get upon the upper deck ; and with our small shot [ musketry fire] to try if we could not force the cannoniers from their ordnance.

We presently advanced ourselves, fell close to our work and plied them with pellets [ bullets]. In which hot and dangerous service, one Master WILLIAM JEWELL behaved himself both manly and like a noble soldier, expressing much valour, ability of body, and readiness : with whom and some few more ( I , among the rest) stood the brunt which continued about three hours.

Our ship lay all this while with her starboard side to the fort ; which beat us continually with at least two hundred muskets, whose bullets flew so thick that our shrouds were torn in pieces, and our tacklings rent to nothing and when she came off, there were to be seen five hundred bullets, at the least, sticking in her side. I, for my part (without vain- glory be it spoken) discharged at this time, some threescore
and ten shot ; as they recounted to me, who charged my pieces for me.

In the heat of this fight, Sir WILLIAM SAINT LEGER, whether called up by my Lord of ESSEX or coming of himself I know not, seeing us so hardly beset ; and that we had but few shot upon our deck in regard of the enemy’s numbers which played upon us came, with a valiant and noble resolution, out of another ship into ours ; bringing some forty soldiers with him.

Who there with us, renewed a second fight as hot or hotter than the former : where in this fight, one of our bullets [cannon-balls] was shot into the mouth of a Spanish cannon ; where it sticketh fast and putteth that roarer to silence.

Upon this bravery, they of the fort began to wax calmer and cooler and in the end, most part of their gunners being slain, gave over shooting ; but yielded not the fort until night.

Whilst this skirmish continued, a company of Spaniards within the castle, by the advantage of a wall whose end jutted out, they still as they discharged retired behind it, saving themselves and extremely annoying us : I removed into the forecastle of our ship, and so plied them with hailshot, that they forsook their stand.

What men on our own part were lost by their small shot I cannot well remember, but sure I am, not very many: yet the Spaniards afterwards before the Governor of Cadiz , confessed they lost about fifty ; whose muskets they cast into a well because [in order that] our men should not use them, throwing the dead bodies in after.

THE CASTLE OF PUNTHAL SURRENDERS.

My hurts and bruises here received, albeit they were neither many nor dangerous, yet were they such that when the fight was done; many gentlemen in our ship, for my encouragement, gave me money.

During this battle the Hollanders and White Hall Men, you must think, were not idle ; for their great pieces went off continually from such of their ships as could conveniently discharge their fire, because our ship lay between them and the fort and they so closely plied their work that at this battery, were discharged from their ordnance, at least four thousand bullets [cannon balls] .

The castle being thus quieted, though as yet not yielded ; the Earl of ESSEX, about twelve at noon, landed his regiment close by the fort, the Spaniards looking over the walls to behold them. Upon the sight of which, many of those within the castle (to the number of six score) ran away ; we pursuing them with shouts, halloings and loud noises, and now and then a piece of ordnance overtook some of the
Spanish hares, and stayed them from running further.

Part of our men being thus landed, they marched up not above a slight [musket] shot off, and there rested themselves. Then, about six at night, the castle yielded upon composition to depart with their arms and colours flying, and no man to offend them ; which was performed accordingly. The Captain of the fort, his name was Don FRANCISCO

; who, presently upon the delivery, was carried aboard the Lord General’s ship, where he had a soldierly welcome and the next day, he and all his company were put over to Puerto Real upon the mainland, because they should not go to Cadiz, which is an island.

THE AUTHOR’S JOURNEY AFTER ORANGES.

On the Monday [ October 24th] , having begun early in the morning ; all our forces, about noon, were landed : and presently marched up to a bridge between Punthal and Cadiz. In going up to which, some of our men were unfortunately and unmanly surprised ; and before they knew their own danger, had there their throats cut. Some had their brains beaten out with the stocks of muskets ; others, their noses sliced off ; whilst some heads were spurned up and down the streets like footballs ; and some ears worn in scorn in Spanish hats. For when I was in prison in Cadiz, whither some of these Spanish picaroes [robbers] were brought in for flying from the castle, I was an eyewitness of Englishmen’s ears being worn in that despiteful manner. What the forces being on shore did or how far they went up I cannot tell , for I was no land soldier ; and therefore all that while kept aboard. Yet about twelve o’clock, when they were marched out of sight, I (knowing that other Englishmen had done the like, the very same day) ventured on shore likewise, to refresh myself: with my sword only by my side ; because I thought that the late storms had beaten all the Spaniards in, and therefore I feared no danger.

On therefore I softly walked, viewing the desolation of such a place for I saw nobody. Yet I had not gone far from the shore, but some Englishmen were come even almost to our ships ; and from certain gardens had brought with them many oranges and lemons. The sight of these sharpened my stomach the more to go on; because I had a desire to present some of those fruits to my Captain. Hereupon I demanded of them, ” what danger there was in going ?” They said, ” None, but that all was hushed ; and not a Spaniard stirring. ” We parted ; they to the ships, I forward. And before I had reached a mile, I found (for all their talking of no danger) three Englishmen stark dead ; being slain, lying in the way, it being full of sandy pits, so that I could hardly find the passage : and one, some small distance from them, not fully dead. The groans which he uttered led me to him ; and finding him lying on his belly ; I called to him, and turning him on his back saw his wounds, and said, “Brother! what villain hath done this mischief to thee ? ” He lamented in sighs and doleful looks ; and casting up his eyes to heaven, but could not speak. I then resolved, and was about it, for Christian charity’s sake and for country’s sake ; to have carried him on my back to our ships, far off though they lay; and there, if by any possible means it could have been done, to have recovered him.

ENCOUNTER WITH DON JUAN.

But my good intents were prevented. For on a sudden, came rushing in upon me, a Spanish horseman, whose name, as afterwards I was informed, was Don JUAN of Cadiz, a Knight. I seeing him make speedily and fiercely at me with his drawn weapon, suddenly whipped out mine, wrapping my cloak about mine arm. Five or six skirmishes we had ; and for a pretty while, fought off and on. At last, I getting, with much ado, to the top of a sandy hillock, the horseman nimbly followed up after. By good fortune to me (though bad to himself) he had no petronel or pistols about him : and there clapping spurs to his horse’s sides ; his intent, as it seemed, was with full career to ride over me, and trample me under his horse’s feet. But a providence greater than his fury, was my guard. Time was it for me to look about warily and to lay about lustily ; to defend a poor life so hardly distressed. As therefore his horse was violently breaking in upon me, I struck him in the eyes with a flap of my cloak. Upon which, turning sideward, I took my advantage; and, as readily as I could, stepping in, it pleased GOD that I should pluck my enemy down, and leave him at my mercy for life which notwithstanding I gave him, he falling on his knees, and crying out in French to me. Pardonnez- moi, je vous prie, je suis un bon Chrêtien. ” Pardon me, Sir ! I am a good Christian. ” I , seeing him brave, and having a soldier’s mind to rifle him, I searched for jewels but found none, only five pieces of eight about him in all, amounting to twenty shillings English. Yet he had gold, but that I could not come by. For I was in haste to have sent his Spanish knighthood home on foot, and to have taught his horse an English pace. Thus far my voyage for oranges had sped well ; but in the end, it proved a sour sauce to me and it is harder to keep a victory than to obtain one. So here it fell out with mine.

AUTHOR A PRISONER AT CADIZ

For fourteen Spanish musketeers spying me so busy about one of their countrymen, bent [aimed] all the mouths of their pieces to kill me ; which they could not well do, without endangering Don JUAN’S life. So that I was enforced (and glad I escaped so too) to yield myself their prisoner.
True valour, I see, goes not always in good clothes. For he, whom before I had surprised , seeing me fast in the snare ; and as the event proved, disdaining that his countrymen should report him so dishonoured ; most basely, when my hands were in a manner bound behind me, drew out his weapon, which the rest had taken from me to give him, and wounded me through the face, from ear to ear: and had there killed me had not the fourteen musketeers rescued me from his rage.

Upon this, I was led in triumph into the town of Cadiz : an owl not more wondered and hooted at ; a dog not more cursed. In my being led thus along the streets, a Fleming spying me, cried out aloud ” Whither do you lead this English dog? Kill him ! Kill him ! he is no Christian . ” And with that, breaking through the crowd, in upon those who held me ; ran me into the body with a halbert, at the reins [groin] of my
back, at the least four inches.
One Don FERNANDO, an ancient Gentleman, was sent down this summer from the King at Madrid, with soldiers : but before our fleet came, the soldiers were discharged ; they of Cadiz never suspecting that we meant to put in there. Before him , was I brought to be examined : yet few or no questions at all were demanded of me ; because he saw that I was all bloody in my clothes, and so wounded in my face and jaws that I could hardly speak. I was therefore committed presently to prison , where I lay eighteen days : the noble gentleman giving express charge that the best surgeons should be sent for : lest being so basely hurt and handled by cowards, I should be demanded at his hands.
I being thus taken on the Monday when I went on shore ; the fleet departed the Friday following from Cadiz, at the same time when I was there a prisoner. Yet thus honestly was I used by my worthy friend Captain PORTAR. He, above my deserving, complaining that he feared that he had lost such a man; myLord General, by the solicitation of Master JOHN GLANVILLE, Secretary to the Fleet, sent three men on shore to enquire in Cadiz for me; and to offer, if I were taken, any reasonable ransom. But the town thinking me to be a better prize than indeed I was ; denied me, and would not part from me.

IS CARRIED TO XERES FOR TRIAL.

Then came a command to the Terniente or Governor of Cadiz to have me sent to Sherrys, otherwise called Xerez, lying three leagues from Cales. Wondrously unwilling, could I otherwise have chosen, was I to go to Xerez, because I feared I should then be put to torture.
Having therefore a young man (an Englishman and a merchant, whose name was GOODROW) , my fellow prisoner who lay there for debt, and so I thinking there was no way with me but one (that I must be sent packing to my long home) ; thus I spake unto him, ” Countryman ! what my name is , our partnership in misery hath made you know ; and with it, know that I am a Devonshire man born, and Tavistock the place of my once abiding. I beseech you ! if GOD ever send you liberty, and that you sail into England ; take that country [ Tavistock] in your way. Commend me to my wife and children, made wretched by me ; an unfortunate husband and father. Tell them and my friends (I entreat you, for GOD’s cause) that if I be, as I suspect I shall be, put to death in Sherris [Xerez] , I will die a Christian soldier : no way, I hope, dishonouring my King, country, or the justice of my cause, or my religion. ”

Anon after, away was I conveyed with a strong guard by the Governor of Cadiz and brought to Xerez on a Thursday about twelve at night.
On the Sunday following, two friars were sent to me ; both of them being Irishmen, and speaking very good English.

One of them was called Padre JUAN (Father JOHN) . After a sad and grave salutation, ” Brother,” quoth he, ” I come in love to you and charity to your soul to confess you ; and if to us, as your spiritual ghostly fathers, you will lay open your sins, we will forgive them and make your way to heaven : for to-morrow you must die. ”

I desired them that they would give me a little respite that I might retire into a private chamber ; and instantly I would repair to them, and give them satisfaction. Leave I had; away I went ; and immediately returned. They asked me “if I had yet resolved, and whether I would come to confession ? ”
I told them, that “I had been at confession already.” One of them answered ” With whom ? ” I answered, ” With GOD the Father. ” “And with nobody else, ” said the other.
“Yes,” quoth I, ” and with JESUS CHRIST My Redeemer; who hath both power and will to forgive all men their sins, that truly repent. Before these Two have I fallen on my knees, and confessed my grievous offences ; and trust They will give me a free absolution and pardon.

EXAMINATION BEFORE THE DONS AT XEREZ.

“What think you of the Pope ?” said Father JOHN. I answered ” I knew him not.” They, hereupon, shaking their heads ; told me “they were sorry for me: ” and so departed.

Whilst thus I lay at Xerez, the Captain of the fort [at Punthal] , Don FRANCISCO BUSTAMENTE, was brought in prisoner for his life, because he delivered up the castle ; but whether he died for it or not, I cannot tell . My day of trial being come ; I was brought from prison into the town of Xerez, by two drums [drummers] and a hundred shot [ musketeers], before three Dukes, four Condes or Earls, four Marquises ; besides other great persons. The town having in it, at least, five thousand soldiers.

MEDINA,
Duke of
Duke of
Duke FERDINANDO
Marquis De
MACADA,
GIRON
ALQUENEZES &c.

At my first appearing before the Lords ; my sword lying before them on a table, the Duke of MEDINA asked me, ” if I knew that weapon.” It was reached to me. I took it and embraced it with mine arms ; and, with tears in mine eyes, kissed the pummel of it. He then demanded, ” how many men I had killed with that weapon ?” I told him, ” If I had killed one, I had not been there now before that princely assembly for when I had him at my foot, begging for mercy, I gave him life : yet he, then very poorly, did me a mischief.’

Then they asked Don JOHN (my prisoner) “what wounds I gave him?” He said ” None.” Upon this he was rebuked and told ” That if upon our first encounter, he had run me through ; it had been a fair and noble triumph : but so to wound me, being in the hands of others, they held it base. “Then said the Duke of MEDINA to me, ” Come on! Englishman ! what ship came you in ? ” I told him ” The Convertine.” “Who was your Captain ? ” ” Captain PORTAR. ”
“What ordnance carried your ship ? ” I said ” Forty pieces .”
But the Lords looking all this while on a paper, which they held in their hands ; the Duke of MEDINA Said, ” In their note, there were but thirty- eight.”
In that paper-as after I was informed by my two Irish interpreters there was set down the number of our ships ; their burden, men, munition, victuals, captains, &c. , as perfect as we ourselves had them in England.

SPANIARDS’ KNOWLEDGE OF THE EXPEDITION.

“Of what strength, ” quoth another Duke, ” is the fort at Plymouth ? ” I answered, ” Very strong.” What ordnance in it ? ” Fifty,” said I. “That is not so,” said he, “there are but seventeen. ” ” How many soldiers are in the fort ? ” I answered, ” Two hundred . ” “That is not so, ” quoth a Conde, “there are but twenty. ” The Marquis ALQUENEZES asked me ” Of what strength the little island was before Plymouth ? ” I told him, ” I knew not.” ” Then, ” quoth he, “we do.”
Is Plymouth a walled town ? “Yes, my Lords.” “And a good wall ? ” ” Yes,” said I , ” a very good wall. ” ” True, ” says a Duke, “to leap over with a staff ! ” ” And hath the town,” said the Duke of MEDINA, ” strong gates ?” “Yes.”
“But,” quoth he, ” there was neither wood nor iron to those gates ; but two days before your fleet came away.”
Now before I go any further, let me not forget to tell you, that my two Irish confessors had been here in England the last summer; and when our fleet came from England, they came for Spain : having seen our King at Plymouth when the soldiers there showed their arms, and did then diligently observe what the King did, and how he carried himself.
“How did it chance,” said the Duke GIRON, that “you did not in all this bravery of the fleet , take Cadiz as you took Punthal? ” I replied, ” That the Lord General might easily have taken Cadiz, for he had near a thousand scaling ladders to set up, and a thousand men to lose ; but he was loth to rob an almshouse, having a better market to go to. ” ” Cadiz,” I told them , ” was held poor, unmanned and unmunitioned. ”

“What better market ? ” said MEDINA. I told him, ” Genoa or Lisbon.” And as I heard there was instantly, upon this, an army of six thousand soldiers sent to Lisbon.

“Then,” quoth one of the Earls, ” when thou meetest me in Plymouth, wilt thou bid me welcome ? ” I modestly told him, ” I could wish they would not too hastily come to Plymouth ; for they should find it another manner of place, than as now they slighted it . ”

THE HUMAN BULL- FIGHT BEGINS.

Many other questions were put to me by these great Dons ; which so well as GOD did enable me I answered. They speaking in Spanish, and their words interpreted to me by those two Irishmen before spoken of ; who also related my several answers to the Lords. And by the common people, who encompassed me round, many jeerings, mockeries, scorns and bitter jests were to my face thrown upon our nation : which I durst not so much as bite my lip against, but with an enforced patient ear stood still, and let them run on in their revilings.
At the length, amongst many other reproaches and spiteful names; one of the Spaniards called Englishmen, Gallinas (hens) . At which the great Lords fell a laughing. Hereupon one of the Dukes, pointing to the Spanish soldiers ; bade me note how their King kept them-and indeed they were all wondrously brave in apparel ; hats, bands, cuffs, garters, &c. and some of them in chains of gold-and asked further,
” If I thought these would prove such hens as our English ; when next year they should come into England ? ” I said , ” No.” But being somewhat emboldened by his merry countenance, I told him as merrily, ” I thought they would be within one degree of hens.” “What meanest thou by that ?” said a Conde. I replied, ” They would prove pullets or chickens. ” “Darest thou then,” quoth the Duke of Medina, with a brow half angry, ” fight with one of these Spanish pullets ? ”
“O my Lord! ” said I , ” I am a prisoner and my life at stake ; and therefore dare not to be so bold as to adventure upon any such action. There were here of us English, some fourteen thousand ; in which number, there were above twelve thousand better and stouter men than ever I shall be : yet with the license of this princely assembly, I dare hazard the breaking of a rapier. ” And withal told him, ” He is unworthy of the name of an Englishman, that should refuse to fight with one man of any nation whatsoever.” Hereupon my shackles were knocked off; and my iron ring and chain taken from my neck.

ONE SPANIARD KILLED ; TWO DISARMED.

Room was made for the combatants ; rapier and dagger were the weapons. A Spanish champion presented himself, named Signior TIAGO : when, after we had played some reasonable good time, I disarmed him, as thus. I caught his rapier betwixt the bars of my poniard and there held it, till I closed with him ; and tripping up his heels, I took his weapons out of his hands and delivered them to the Dukes. I could wish that all you, my dear Countrymen ! who read this relation had either been there, without danger, to have beheld us : or that he with whom I fought were here in prison, to justify the issue of that combat. I was then demanded , ” If I durst fight against another ? ”

subjection, I esteemed better than an ignoble conquest .
Upon these thoughts I fell to it. The rapier men traversed their ground ; I , mine. Dangerous thrusts were put in, and with dangerous hazard avoided. Shouts echoed to heaven to encourage the Spaniards : not a shout nor hand to hearten the poor Englishman. Only heaven I had in mine eye, the honour of my country in my heart, my fame at the stake, my life on a narrow bridge, and death both before me and behind me.
It was not now a time to dally. They still made full at me; and I had been a coward to myself, and a villain to my nation, if I had not called up all that weak manhood which was mine to guard my own life, and overthrow my enemies.
Plucking up therefore a good heart, seeing myself faint and wearied ; I vowed to my soul to do something, ere she departed from me : and so setting all upon one cast , it was my good fortune (it was my GOD that did it for me) , with the butt end, where the iron pike was, to kill one of the three ; and within a few bouts after, to disarm the other two ; causing the one of them to fly into the army of soldiers then present, and the other for refuge fled behind the bench .
I hope, if the braving Spaniards set upon England as they threaten ; we shall every One of us, give repulse to more than Three. Of which good issue for the public, I take this my private success to be a pledge. Now was I in greater danger, being, as I thought, in peace; than before when I was in battle. For a general murmur filled the air, with threatenings at me the soldiers especially bit their thumbs, and was it possible for me to escape ?

NOBLENESS OF MARQUIS DE ALQUenezes.

Which the noble Duke of MEDINA SIDONIA seeing, called me to him; and instantly caused proclamation to be made that none, on pain of death, should meddle with me : and by his honourable protection I got off, not only with safety but with money. For by the Dukes and Condes were given me in gold, to the value of four pounds, ten shillings sterling : and by the Marquis ALQUENEZES himself, as much ; he, embracing me in his arms, and bestowing upon me that long Spanish russet cloak I now wear ; which he took from one of his men’s backs, and withal, furnished me with a clean band and cuffs. It being one of the greatest favours a Spanish Lord can do to a mean man to reward him with some garment, as recompense of merit.
After our fight in Xerez, I was kept in the Marquis ALQUENEZES’ house ; who, one day, out of his noble affability, was pleasant in speech with me : and, by my interpreter, desired I would sing. I , willing to obey him (whose goodness I had tasted) , did so : and sang this psalm,

When as we sate in Babylon , &c.

The meaning of which being told ; he said to me “ Englishman comfort thyself ! for thou art in no captivity. ” After this, I was sent to the King of Spain, lying at Madrid. My conduct [guard] being four gentlemen of the Marquis ALQUENEZES’ : he allowing unto me in the journey twenty shillings a day when we travelled, and ten shillings a day when we lay still.

At my being in Madrid, before I saw the King, my entertainment by the Marquis ALQUENEZES’ appointment, was at his own house ; where I was lodged in the most sumptuous bed that ever I beheld : and had from his noble Lady a welcome far above my poor deserving, but worthy the greatness of so excellent a woman. She bestowed upon me whilst I lay in her house a very fair Spanish shirt, richly laced : and at my parting from Madrid, a chain of gold and two jewels for my wife, and other pretty things for my children.
And now that her noble courtesies, with my own thankfulness, lead me to speak of this honourable Spanish Lady; I might very justly be condemned of ingratitude, if I should not remember with like acknowledgement, another rare pattern of feminine goodness to me a distressed miserable stranger: and that was the Lady of Don JUAN of Cadiz. She, out of a respect she bare me for saving her husband’s life , came along with him to Xerez ; he being there to give evidence against me : and, as before when I lay prisoner in Cadiz, so in Xerez, she often relieved me with money and other means. My duty and thanks ever wait upon them both!

Upon Christmas Day, I was presented to the King, the Queen, and Don CARLOS the Infante. Being brought before him: I fell , as it was fit, on my knees. Many questions were demanded of me ; which, so well as my plain wit directed me, I resolved .

THE AUTHOR REACHES ENGLAND.

In the end, His Majesty offered me a yearly pension (to a good value) if I would serve him either at land or at sea. For which his royal favours, I ( confessing myself infinitely bound and my life indebted to his mercy) most humbly intreated , that with his Princely leave, I might be suffered to return unto mine own country : being a subject only to the King of England, my Sovereign.

And besides that bond of allegiance, there was another obligation due from me to a wife and children : and therefore I most submissively begged that His Majesty would be so Princely minded as to pity my estate, and let me go. To which he, at last, granted ; bestowing upon me one hundred pistolets [ = £25 = £150 in present value] to bear my charges.

Having thus left Spain, I took my way through some part of France. Where by occasion, happening into company of seven Spaniards ; their tongues were too lavish in speeches against our nation . Upon which, some high words flying up and down the room ; I leaped from the table, and drew. One of the Spaniards did the like, none of the rest being weaponed ; which was more than I knew. Upon the noise of this bustling, two Englishmen more came in : who, understanding the abuses offered to our country ; the Spaniards, in a short time,
recanted on their knees, their rashness. And so hoisting sail for England, I landed on the three and twentieth day of April 1626, at Foy in Cornwall.

And thus endeth my Spanish pilgrimage. With thanks to my good GOD, that in this extraordinary manner preserved me, amidst these desperate dangers. Therefore most gracious GOD ! Defender of men abroad! and Protector of them at home ! how am I bounden to thy Divine Majesty, for thy manifold mercies ?

On my knees I thank Thee! with my tongue will I praise Thee ! with my hands fight Thy quarrel ! and all the days of my life serve Thee !
Out of the Red Sea I have escaped ; from the lion’s den been delivered, aye rescued from death and snatched out of the jaws of destruction, only by Thee ! O my GOD! Glory be to Thy Name for ever and ever ! Amen.

Certain Verses written by a friend
in commendation of the Author,
RICHARD PEEKE.

SELDOM DO clouds so dim the day,
But SOL will once his beams display ;
Though NEPTUNE drives the surging seas,
Sometimes he gives them quiet ease :
And so few projects speed so ill ,
But somewhat chanceth at our will.
I will not instance in the great,
Placed in Honour’s higher seat ;
Though virtue in a noble line
Commends it, and the more doth shine.
Yet this is proved by sword and pen,
Desert oft dwells in private men.
My proof is not far hence to seek ;
There is at hand brave RICHARD PEEKE,
Whose worth his foes cannot revoke :
Born in the town of Tavistock
In Devon ; where MINERVA sits
Shaping stout hearts, and pregnant wits.
This well-resolved and hardy spark
Aiming at fame, as at a mark ;
Was not compelled against his will,
In MARS his field to try his skill :
As voluntary he did go
To serve his King against his foe.

If he had pleased, he might have spent
His days at home in safe content ;
But nursing valour in his breast
He would adventure with the best :
Willing to shed his dearest blood,
To do his Prince and Country good.
Thus bent, he, adding wings to feet,
Departed with the English fleet.
There was no rub, no stay at all,
The ships sailed with a pleasant gale :
In setting forth they by their hap,
Seemed lulled in AMPHITRITE’s lap.
At length they did arrive at Cales ;
Where restless PEEKE against the walls
Made fourscore shot towards the shore,
Making the welkin wide to roar :
He kept his standing in this strife,
Setting a straw by loss of life.
Into a vineyard afterward
He marched, and stood upon his guard ;
There he an horseman did dismount,
By outward port of good account :
But did on him compassion take,
And spared his life , for pity’s sake.
The next assault uneven he felt,
For with twelve Spaniards he dealt
At once, and held them lusty play ;
Until through odds, theirs was the day :
From ear to ear, they pierced his head,
And to the town him captive led.

In prison, they him shut by night,
Laden with chains of grievous weight ;
All comfortless, in dungeon deep,
Where stench annoys, and vermin creep :
He grovelled in this loathsome cell,
Where ghastly frights and horrors dwell.
Yet nothing could his courage quail,
Hunger, nor thirst, nor wound, nor gaol ;
For being brought before a Don,
And asked “Why England did set on
A scraping, no a pecking hen ?
He answered ” Stain not Englishmen !
“That England is a nation stout,
And till the last will fight it out;
Myself could prove by chivalry,
If for a captive this were free. ”
“Why, ” quoth the Duke, ” durst thou to fight
With any of my men in sight ? ”
” Of thousands whom in war you use ;
Not one,” quoth PEEKE, ” do I refuse. ”
A chosen champion then there came ;
Whose heels he tripped, as at a game :
And from his hand his rapier took,
Presenting it unto the Duke.
Then Three at once did him oppose ;
They rapiers, he a long staff chose :
The use whereof so well he knows,
He conquered them with nimble blows :
One that beside him played his round
He threw as dead unto the ground,

The noble Duke who this did see,
Commended PEEKE, and set him free.
He gave him gifts, and did command
That none should wrong him in their land.
So well he did him entertain ,
And sent him to the Court of Spain.
There he was fed with no worse meat
Than which the King himself did eat ;
His lodging rich, for he did lie
In furniture of tapestry.
The King what of him he had heard,
Did with his treasure well reward.
Our then Ambassador was there,
PEEKE’S pike and praise he doth declare :
At Spanish Court while he attends,
He thrives for virtue’s sake : as friends,
Foes sent him in triumphant sort,
Home from a foe and foreign port.
If thus his very foes him loved,
And deeds against themselves approved ;
How should his friends his love embrace
And yield him countenance and grace ?
The praise and worth how can we cloke
Of manly PEEKE of Tavistock.
FINIS.

J. D.

AN ENGLISH GARNER: STUART TRACTS 1603-1693: WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY C. H. FIRTH. FELLOW OF ALL SOULS COLLEGE, OXFORD. pp.275-297