Before ten of the clock we got toVenta de Cruzes, where live none butMulatto'sandBlack-mores, who belong unto the flat boates that carry the merchandize toPortobel. There I had very good entertainment by that people, who desired me to preach unto them the next Sabbath day, and gave me twenty Crownes for a Sermon, and procession. After five daies of my abode there, the boats set out, which were much stopped in their passage downe the river; for in some places we found the water very low, so that the boats ran upon the gravell; from whence with poles and the strength of theBlack-moresthey were to be lifted off againe; sometimes again we met with such streams that carried us with the swiftnesse of an arrow downe under trees and boughes by the river side, which sometimes also stopped us till we had cut downe great branches of trees. Had not it pleased God to send us after the first weeke plentifull raine, which made the water run downe from the mountaines and fill the river (which otherwise of it selfe is very shallow) we might have had a tedious and longer passage; but after twelve daies we got to the sea, and at the point landed at the Castle to refresh our selves for halfe a day. Certainly theSpaniardstrust to the streames and shallownesse of that river, which they thinke will keep off any forain nation, from attempting to come up toVenta de Cruzesand from thence toPanama, or else they would strengthen more and fortifie that Castle, which in my time wanted great reparations, and was ready to fall downe to the ground. The Governour of the Castle was a notable wine-bibber, who plyed us with that liquor the time that we stayed there, and wanting a Chaplain for himselfe, and Souldiers, would faine have had me stayed with him; but greatermatters called me further, and so I tooke my leave of him, who gave us some dainties of fresh meat, fish, and conserves, and so dismissed us. We got out to the open sea, discovering first theEscudo de Veragua, and keeping somewhat close unto the land we went on rowing towardsPortobel, till the evening which was Saturday night; then we cast anchor behind a little Island, resolving in the morning to enter inPortobel. TheBlack-moresall that night kept watch for fear ofHollanders, whom they said did often lie in wait thereabouts for the boats ofChiagre; but we passed the night safely, and next morning got toPortobelo, whose haven we observed to be very strong with two Castles at the mouth and constant watch within them, and another calledSt. Miguelfurther in the Port.
When I came into the Haven I was sorry to see that as yet the Galeons were not come fromSpaine, knowing that the longer I stayed in that place, greater would be my charges. Yet I comforted my selfe that the time of the yeer was come, and that they could not long delay their coming. My first thoughts were of taking up a lodging, which at that time were plentifull and cheape, nay some were offered me for nothing with this caveat, that when the Galeons did come, I must either leave them, or pay a dear rate for them. A kind Gentleman, who was the Kings Treasurer, falling in discourse with me promised to helpe me, that I might be cheaply lodged even when the ships came, and lodgings were at the highest rate. Hee, interposing his authority, went with me to seeke one, which at the time of the fleets being there, might continue to be mine. It was no bigger then would containe a bed, a table, and a stoole or two, with roome enough besides to open and shut the doore, and they demanded of me for it during the foresaid time of the Fleet, sixcore Crownes, which commonly is a fortnight. For the Towne being little, and the Souldiers, that come with the Galeons for their defence at least four or five thousand; besides Merchants fromPeru, fromSpainand many other places to buy and sell, is the cause that every roome, though never so small be dear; and sometimes all the lodgings in the Towne are few enough for so many people, which at that time doe meet atPortobel. I knew a Merchant who gave a thousand Crownes for a shop of reasonable bignesse, to sell his wares and commodities that yeer that I was there, for fifteen daies only, which the Fleet continued to be in that Haven. I thought it much for me to give the sixcore Crownes which were demanded of me for a room, which was but as a mouse hole, and began to be troubled, and told the Kings Treasurer that I had been lately robbed at sea, and was not able to give so much, and bee besides at charges for my diet, which I feared would prove as much more. But not a farthing would be abated of what was asked; whereupon the good Treasurer pitying me, offered to the man of the house to pay him threescore Crowns of it, if so be that I was able to pay the rest, which I must doe, or else lie without in the street. Yet till the Fleet did come I would not enter into this deare hole, but accepted of another faire lodging which was offered me for nothing. Whilest I thus expected the Fleets coming, some mony and offerings I got for Masses, and for two Sermons which I preached at fifteen Crownes a peece. I visited the Castles, which indeed seemed unto me to be very strong; but what most I wondred at was to see the requa's of Mules which came thither fromPanama, laden with wedges of silver; in one day I told two hundred Mules laden with nothing else, which were unladen in the publicke Market place, so that there the heapes of silver wedges lay like heaps of stones in the street, without any feare or suspition of being lost. Within ten daies the fleet came, consisting of eight Galeons and ten Merchant ships, which forced me to run to my hole. It was a wonder then to see the multitude of people in those streets which the weeke before had been empty.
Then began the price of all things to rise, a fowl to be worth twelve Rials, which in the main land within I had often bought for one; a pound of beefe then was worth two Rialls, whereas I had had in other places thirteen pound for half a Riall, and so of all other food and provision, which was so excessive dear, that I knew not how to live but by fish and Tortoises, which there are very many, and though somewhat deare, yet were the cheapest meat that I could eate. It was worth seeing how Merchants sold their commodities, not by the Ell or yard, but by the piece and weight, not paying in coined peeces of mony, but in wedges which were weighed and taken for commodities. This lasted but fifteen dayes, whilst the Galeons were lading with wedges of silver and nothing else; so that for those fifteen daies, I dare boldly say and avouch,that in the world there is no greater Fair then that ofPortobel, between theSpanishMerchants and those ofPeru, Panama, and other parts thereabouts.
Whilest this traffique was, it happened unto me, that which I have formerly testified in my Recantation Sermon atPaulsChurch, which if by that meanes it have not come unto the knowledge of many, I desire again to record it in this my History, that to allEnglandit may be published; which was, that one day saying Masse in the chiefe Church, after the Consecration of the bread, being with my eyes shut at that mentall prayer, which the Church ofRomecalleth theMementofor their dead, there came from behind the Altar a mouse, which running about, came to the very bread or wafer God of the Papists, and taking it in his mouth ran away with it, not being perceived by any of the people who were at Masse, for that the Altar was high by reason of the steps going up to it, and the people farre beneath. But as soone as I opened my eyes to goe on with my Masse, and perceived my God stollen away, I looked about the Altar, and saw the mouse running away with it; which on a suddain did so stupifie me, that I knew not well what to doe or say, and calling my wits together, I thought that if I should take no notice of the mischance, and any body else in the Church should, I might justly be questioned by the Inquisition; but if I should call to the people to look for the Sacrament, then I might bee but chid and rebuked for my carelessenesse; which of the two I thought would be more easily borne, then the rigour of the Inquisition. Whereupon not knowing what the people had seen, I turned my selfe unto them, and called them unto the Altar, and told them plainely, that whilest I was in myMementoprayers and meditations, a mouse had carried away the Sacrament, and that I knew not what to doe, unlesse they would helpe me to find it out again. The people called a Priest that was at hand, who presently brought in more of his Coat; and as if their God by this had been eaten up they presently prepared themselves to find out the thief, as if they would eat up the mouse that had so assaulted and abused their God; they lighted candles and torches to find out the Malefactour in his secret and hidden places of the wall; and after much searching and enquiry for the sacrilegious beast, they found at last in a hole of the wall the Sacrament halfe eaten up; which with great joy they took out, and as if the Arke had been brought again from thePhilistinesto theIsraelites, so they rejoyced for their new found God, whom with many people now resorted to the Church, with many lights of candles and Torches, with joyfull and solemne musicke they carried about the Church in procession. My selfe was present upon my knees, shaking and quivering for what might be done unto mee, and expecting my doome and judgement; and as the Sacrament passed by me, I observed in it the markes and signes of the teeth of the mouse, as they are to bee seen in a piece of cheese gnawne and eaten by it.
This struck mee with such horrour, that I cared not at that present whether I had been torne in a thousand peices for denying publickely that Mouse-eaten God, I called to my best memory all Philosophy concerning substance and accidents, and resolved within my selfe that what I saw gnawne, was not an accident, but some reall substance eaten and devoured by that vermin, which certainly was fed and nourished by what it had eaten, and Philosophy well teacheth;substantia Cibi (non accidentis) convertitur in substantiam alii, the substance (not the accident,) of the food or meat is converted, and turned into the substance of the thing fed by it and alimented; Now here I knew that this Mouse had fed upon some substance, or else how could the markes of the teeth so plainely appeare? But no Papist will bee willing to answer that it fed upon the substance of Christs Body,ergoby good consequence it followes that it fed upon the substance of bread; and so Transubstantiation here in my judgement was confuted by a Mouse; which meane and base creature God chose to convince mee of my former errours, and made mee now resolve upon what many yeeres before I had doubted, that certainly the point of Transubstantiation taught by the Church ofRomeis most damnable and erroneous; for besides, what before I have observed, it contradicteth that Philosophicall Axiome, teaching thatduo contradictoria non possunt simul & semel de eodem verificari, two contradictories cannot at once and at the self same time be said, and verified of the same thing; but here it was so; for here inRomesJudgement and opinion Christs body was gnawne and eaten, and at the same time the same body in another place and upon another Altar in the hands of another Preist was not eaten and gnawne, Therefore here are two contradictories verified of the same body of Christ:to wit, it was eaten and gnawne, and it was not eaten and gnawne. These impressions at that time were so great in me, that I resolved within my selfe, that bread really and truely was eaten upon that Altar, and by no meanes Christs glorious body which is in heaven, and cannot be upon earth, subject to the hunger or violence of a creature. Here againe I desired with godlyDavid, that I might have the wings of a Dove to flie into my Country ofEngland, and there be satisfied upon this point, and be at rest of Conscience. Here I resolved that if I had been questioned for my carelessenesse, or for my contempt of that Romish Sacrament (which I thought would be the judgement of theSpaniards, who knew me to be anEnglishman borne) that I would sacrifice willingly my life for the Protestant truth, which as yet I had been no otherwise taught, but by that Spirit which (asSolomonwell observeth) in a man is the candle of the Lord. I conceived here that this was some comfort to my soule, which my good God would afford mee in the way of my travelling toCanaan, that I might more willingly beare whatsoever crosses yet might befall mee in my way and Journey toEngland. The event of this accident was not any trouble that fell upon mee for it; for indeed theSpaniardsattributed it unto the carelessnesse of him, who had care of the Altars in the Church, and not to any contempt in mee to the Sacrament. The part of the wafer that was left after the Mouse had filled her belly, was laid up after the Solemne Procession about the Church, in a Tabernacle for that purpose, that afterwards it might be eaten up by some hungry Preist. And because such a high contempt had beene offered by a contemptible Vermin to their Bread God, it was commanded throughPortabelthat day, that all the people should humble themselves and mourn, and fast with bread and water onely. Although I saw I was not questioned for the case, yet I feared where there were so many Souldiers, and forain people, that by some or other I might bee mischiefed out of their blind zeale, wherefore I thought it not amisse for a day or two to keepe within my lodging.Don Carlos de Ybarra, who was the Admirall of that Fleet, made great haste to bee gone; which made the Merchants buy and sell apace, and lade the ships with silver wedges; whereof I was glad, for the more they laded, the lesse I unladed my purse with buying deare provision, and sooner I hoped to be out of that unhealthy place, which of it selfe is very hot, and subject to breed Feavers, nay death, if the feet bee not preserved from wetting when it raineth; but especially when the Fleet is there, it is an open grave ready to swallow in part of that numerous people, which at that time resort unto it, as was seene the yeare that I was there when about five hundred of the Souldiers, Merchants, and Mariners, what with Feavers, what with the Flux caused by too much eating of fruit and drinking of water, what with other disorders lost their lives, finding it to bee to them notPorto bello, butPorto malo. And this is usuall every yeare; and therefore for the reliefe and comfort of those that come sick from Sea, or sicken there, a great and rich Hospitall is in the Towne, with many Fryers calledDe la Capacha, or by othersDe Juan de Dios, whose calling and profession is onely to cure, and attend upon the sick, and to beare the dead unto their graves. The Admirall fearing the great sicknesse that yeare, made haste to be gone, not fearing the report that was of some three or fourHollandorEnglishships abroad at Sea, waiting (as it was supposed) for some good prize out of that great and rich Fleet. This news made mee beginne to feare, and to thinke of securing my selfe in one of the best and strongest Galeons; but when I came to treat of my passage in one of them, I found that I could not bee carryed in any under three hundred Crownes, which was more then my purse was able to afford. With this I thought to addresse my self to some Master of a Merchants ship, though I knew I could not bee so safe and secure in any of them, as in a Galeon well manned and fortified with Souldiers, and Guns of Brasse; yet I hoped in God, who is a strong refuge to them that feare him, and in this occasion provided for mee, a cheap and sure passage. For meeting one day with my friend the Treasurer, hee againe pitying me as a stranger and lately robbed, commended me to the Master of a Merchant Ship, called St.Sebastian, whom hee knew was desirous to carry a Chaplaine with him at his own Table. I no sooner addressed my selfe unto him, using the name and favour of his and my friend the Treasurer, but presently I found him willing to accept of my company, promising to carry me for nothing, and to board mee at his own Table, onely for my prayers to God for him and his; offering farther to give mee some satisfaction for whatsoever Sermons I should preach inhis Ship. I blessed God, acknowledging in this also his Providence, who in all occasions furthered my returne toEngland. The Ships being laden wee set forth towardsCarthagena, and the second day of our sayling wee discovered foure Ships which made the Merchant Ships afraid, and to keepe close to the Galeons, trusting to their strength more then their own. The Ship I was in, was swift and nimble under sail, and kept still under the wings either of the Admirall or of some other of the best Galeons; but all the other Merchants Ships were not so, but some slowly came on behind, whereof two were carryed away by theHollandersin the night, before ever wee could get toCarthagena.
The greatest feare that I perceived possessed theSpaniardsin this Voyage, was about the Island ofProvidence, called by themSta Catalina, or St.Catharine, from whence they feared lest someEnglishShips should come out against them with great strength. They cursed theEnglishin it, and called the Island, the den of theeves and Pirates, wishing that their King ofSpainwould take some course with it; or else, that it would prove very prejudiciall to theSpaniards, lying neer the mouth of theDesaguadero, and so endangering the Frigats ofGranada, and standing betweenPortobelandCarthagena, and so threatning the Galeons, and their Kings yeerely and mighty treasure.
Thus with bitter invectives against theEnglishand the Island ofProvidencewe sayled on toCarthagena, where againe wee met with the foure Ships, which before had followed us and had taken away two of our Ships, and now at our entering into that Port, threatned to carry away more of our company; which they might have done, if they would have ventured to have come upon the Ship wherein I went, which at the turning about the land point to get into the Haven, ran upon the shore, which if it had been rocky, as it was sandy and gravelly, had certainly there beene cast away by keeping too neere unto the land, from which danger by the care of the Mariners, and their active paines we were safely delivered, as also from the ships which followed us as far as they durst for fear of the Cannon shot of the Castle; and thus we entered into the Haven ofCarthagena, and stayed there for the space of eight or ten dayes; where I met with some of my Country men their Prisoners, who had been taken at Sea by theSpaniards, and belonged unto the Island ofProvidence; among whom was the Renowned CaptaineRouse, and about a dozen more, with whom I was glad to meet, but durst not shew them too much countenance, for feare of being suspected; yet I soon got the good will of some of them, who, being destined toSpain, were very desirous to goe in the ship, wherein I went; which desire of theirs I furthered, and was suiter unto my Captaine to carry foure of them in his ship, which for my sake he willingly yeelded unto; amongst these was oneEdward Layfield, (who afterwards setting out of St.LucarforEngland, was taken Captive by theTurkes, and since fromTurkeywrit intoEnglandunto mee to helpe to release him) with whom both atCarthagena, and in the way in the ship I had great discourse concerning points of Religion, and by him came to know some things professed inEngland, which my conscience (whilst I lived inAmerica) much inclined unto. I was much taken with his company, and found him very officious unto mee, whose kindnesse I requited by speaking for him in the ship to the Masters and Mariners, who otherwise were ready and forward to abuse him and the rest of theEnglishcompany as prisoners and slaves.
AtCarthagenawee heard a report of threescore saile of ships ofHollanderswaiting for the Galeons, which struck no little feare into theSpaniards; who called a councell whether our Fleet should winter there, or goe on toSpain. It proved to be but a false report of the Inhabitants ofCarthagena, who for their own ends and lucre would willingly have had the ships and Galeons to have stayed there; butDon Carlos de Ybarrareplyed, that hee feared not a hundred saile ofHollanders, and therefore would goe on toSpain, hoping to carry thither safely the Kings treasure. Which hee performed and in eight dayes arrived atHavana, where we stayed eight dayes longer, expecting the Fleet fromVera Cruz. In which time I viewed wel that strong Castle manned with the twelve Guns, called the twelve Apostles, which would doe little hurt to an Army by land, or marching from the River ofMatansos. I visited here the mother of that Mulatto, who had taken away all my meanes at Sea; and spent much time in comforting my poore Country men the prisoners; but especially that gallant CaptaineRouse, who came unto mee to complaine of some affronts which had been offered unto him bySpaniards, in the ship wherein he came; which hee not being able to put up,though a Prisoner unto them desired to question in the field, challenging his proud contemners to meet him if they durst in any place of the Havana, (a brave courage in a dejected and ImprisonedEnglishman to challenge aSpaniardin his Country, a Cock upon his own dunghill,) which as soone as I understood byEdward Layfield, I desired to take up, fearing that many would fall upon him cowardly and mince him small in peices. I sent for him to the Cloister where I lay, and there had conference with him, prevailing so far as that I made him desist from his thoughts of going into the field, and shewing his manhood in such a time and place, where his low condition of a Prisoner might well excuse him. The rest of my poore country men were here much discouraged and in some want; whom I relieved (especiallyLayfield) and incouraged as much as I was able. I chanced here to have occasion to take a little physick before I went again to Sea, & thereby I learned what before I never knew, to wit, the dyet which on such a day the best Physitians ofHavanaprescribe unto their patients. Whereas after the working of my physick, I expected some peece of Mutton, or a fowl, or some other nourishing meat, my Physitian left order that I should have a peece of rosted Porke, which seeming unto mee a Dyet contrary to that daies extremity, I began to refuse it, alleadging to my Doctor the contrary course of all Nations, the naturall quality of that meat to open the body. To which he replyed, that what Porke might worke upon mans body in other Nations, it worked not there, but the contrary; and so he wished me to feed upon what hee had prescribed, assuring mee that it would doe mee no hurt. Now as Hogs flesh there is held to be so nourishing, so likewise no other meat is more then it, and Tortoises, wherewith all the ships make their provision forSpain. The Tortoises they cut out in long thin slices, as I have noted before of the Tassajos, and dry it in the wind after they have well salted it, and so it serveth the Mariners, in all their voyage toSpain, which they eate boyled with a little garlicke, and I have heard them say that to them it tasted as well as any Veale. They also take into their ships some fowles for the Masters and Captaines tables, and live hogs, which would seem to be enough to breed some infection in the ship, had they not care to wash often the place where such unclean beasts lie. In the ship where I was passenger, was killed every weeke one for the Masters, Pilots and passengers table. Thus all things being made ready for the ships provision toSpain, and the Merchants goods and the Kings Revenue being shipped in nine dayes that we abode there; we now wanted nothing, but onely the company of the Fleet fromVera Cruz, which should have met us there upon the eight day ofSeptember. ButDon Carlos de Ybarra, seeing it stayed longer then the time appointed, and fearing the weather, & the New Moon of that moneth which commonly proveth dangerous in the Golf ofBahama, resolved to stay no longer, but to set out toSpain. On a Sabbath day therefore in the morning we hoised sails, (being in all seven and twenty ships with those which had met with us there fromHondurasand the Islands), and one by one we sailed out of Havana to the main Sea, where we that day wafted about for a good wind, and also waiting for our guide, which was not yet come out of the Havana to guide us through the Gulfe ofBahama. But that night wee wished our selves againe in the Havana, thinking that we were compassed about with a strong Fleet ofHollanders; many ships came amongst us, which made us provide for a fight in the morning. A Councell of War was called, and all that night watch was kept, the Guns prepared, red Clothes hung round the ships, Orders sent about both to the Galeons and to the Merchants ships what posture and place to bee in. That which I was in, was to attend the Admirall, which I hoped would bee a strong defence unto us; Our men were couragious and ready to fight, though I liked not such Martiall business and discourse; but for mee a place was prepared where I might lie hid, and be safe among some barrels of bisket; I had all the night enough to doe, to heare the confessions of those in the Ship, who thought they could not dye happily with the shot of aHollandBullet, untill they had confessed all their sinnes unto mee, who towards morning had more need of rest, then of fighting, after the wearying of my eares with hearing so many wicked, grievous and abominable sinnes. But the dawning of the day discovered our causelesse feare; which was from friends, and not from any enemies orHollanders; for the ships which were joyned unto us in the night were as fearefull of us, as we of them, and prepared themselves likewise to fight in the morning, which shewed unto us their colours, whereby wee knew that they were the Fleet which wee expected fromVera Cruzto goe alongwith us toSpain. They were two and twenty Sail, which little thought to find us out of the Havana, but within the Haven lying at Anchor, waiting for their comming, and therefore in the night feared us much more then wee them. But when the day cleared our doubts, feares and jealousies, then began the Martiall colours to be taken down; the joyfull sound of Trumpets with the helpe of Neptunes Kingdomes ecchoed from ship to ship, the boates carryed welcoming messages from one to another, theSpanishBrindis withbuen Viaje, buen passaje, was generally cried out, the whole morning was spent in friendly acclamations and salutations from ship to ship. But in the midst of this our joy, and Sea greetings, wee being now in all two and fifty Saile, (yet wee not knowing well how many they were fromVera Cruz, nor they how many wee were from the Havana) two ships were found amongst us, whetherEnglishorHollanderswee could not well discover, but theEnglishPrisoners with mee told mee they thought one was a ship ofEnglandcalled theNeptune, which having got the wind of us, singled out a ship of ours, which belonged toDunkerk, and from St.LucarorCaleshad beene forced to the Kings service in that voyage to theIndia's, laden with sugars & other rich commodities to the worth of at least fourscore thousand Crowns; and suddainly giving her a whole broad side (receiving a reply onely of two Guns) made her yeeld, without any hope of help from so proud and mighty a Fleet, for that she was somewhat far straggled from the rest of the ships. The whole businesse lasted not above half an houre: but presently shee was carryed away from under our noses; theSpaniardschanged their merry tunes intovoto a diosandvoto a Christo, in raging, cursing, & swearing, some reviling at the Captaine of the ship which was taken, and saying that he was false & yeelded on purpose without fighting, because he was forced to come that Voyage; others cursing those that tooke her, and calling thembijos de puta, Borrachos, infames Ladrones, Bastards, Drunkards, infamous theeves, and Pyrates; some taking their swords in their hands, as if they would there cut them in peeces, some laying hold of their Muskets as if they would there shoot at them, others stamping like mad men, and running about the ship, as if they would leap over board, and make haste after them; others grinning their teeth at the pooreEnglishprisoners that were in the ship, as if they would stab them for what (they said) their Country men had done. I must needs say, I had enough to doe to hold some of those furious and raging brains from doingLayfieldsome mischief, who more then the rest would bee smiling, arguing and answering their outragious nonsense. Order was presently given to the Vice-Admirall and two more Galeons to follow and pursue them; but all in vaine, for the wind was against them, and so the two ships laughing and rejoycing as much as theSpaniardscursed and raged, sailed awaycon Viento en Popa, with full Sail, gallantly boasting with so rich a prize taken away from two and fifty ships, or (as I may say) from the chiefest, and greatest strength ofSpain.
That afternoone the Fleet ofVera Cruz, tooke their leave of us, (not being furnished with Provision to goe on toSpainwith us,) and went into the Havana; and we set forwards towardsEurope, fearing nothing for the present but the Gulfe ofBahama; through which wee got safely with the help and guidance of such Pilots, which our AdmirallDon Carloshad chosen, and hired for that purpose.
I shall not need to tell thee my Reader of the sight which wee had of StAugustine, Florida, nor of many stormes which we suffered in this Voyage, nor of the many degrees wee came under, which made us shake with cold more then the Frost ofEnglanddoe in the worst of winter; onely I say, that the best of our Pilots not knowing where they were, had like to have betrayed us all to the Rocks ofBermudaone night, had not the breaking of the day given us a faire warning that we were running upon them. For which theSpaniardsin stead of giving God thankes for their delivery out of that danger, began againe to curse and rage against theEnglishwhich inhabited that Island, saying, that they had inchanted that and the rest of those Islands about, and did still with the devill raise stormes in those Seas when theSpanishFleet passed that way. From thence when wee had safely escaped, wee sailed well to the Islands calledTerceras, where faine wee would have taken in fresh water, (for that which we had taken in at Havana now began to stink, and look yellow, making us stop our noses, whilst wee opened our mouthes,) but rigidDon Carloswould not pity the rest of his Company, who led us by the Islands; and that night following wee all wished our selves in some harbour of them; for (though in their conceiptthose Islands were not inchanted byEnglishmen, but inhabited by holy and Idolatrous Papists) wee were no sooner got from them, when there arose the greatest storme that wee had in all our voyage fromHavanatoSpain, which lasted full eight dayes, where wee lost one Ship and indangered two Galeons, which shot off their warning peeces for helpe, and made us all stay and wait on them, till they had repaired their Tacklings and maine Mast. We went on sometimes one way, sometimes another, not well knowing where wee were, drinking our stinking water by allowance of pints, till three or foure dayes after the storme was ceased, wee discovered land, which made all cry out,Hispania, Hispania, Spain, Spain; whilst a Counsell was summoned by the Admirall to know what land that was, some sold away barrels of bisket, others of water, to those that wanted (every one thinking that it was some part ofSpain,) but the result of the wise Counsell was, after they had sailed neerer to the land, and had layed and lost many wages about it, that it was the Island ofMadera, which made some curse the ignorance of the Pilots, and made us all prepare our selves with patience for a longer voyage. It pleased God from the discovery of this Island, to grant us a favourable wind toSpain, where within twelve dayes we discoveredCales; and some of the ships there left us, but most of them went forward toSan Lucar, as did the ship wherein I went; when wee came neere to the dangerous place, which theSpaniardscallLa Barra, wee durst not venture our ships upon our Pilots own knowledge; but called for Pilots to guide us in, who greedy of their lucre came out in boats almost for every ship one. Upon the eight and twentyeth ofNovember, 1637. we cast Anchor within St.Lucar de Baramedaabout one of the clock in the afternoon, and before evening other passengers and my selfe went a shore (having first been searched) and although I might presently have gone to the Cloister of St.Dominick, where my old friend FryerPablo de Londreswas yet living, whom I knew would bee glad of my coming from theIndia's, yet I thought fit the first night to enjoy my friends company bothSpaniardsandEnglish, (who had come so long a voyage with me) in some Ordinary, and to take my rest better abroad then I should doe in a Cloister, where I expected but a poore Fryers supper, a hard and mean lodging, many foolish questions from old FryerPablo de Londresconcerning theIndia's, and my abode there so many yeeres, and finally the noise of Bells and ratlers to rouse up the drowsie Fryers from their sleep to Matines at midnight. That night therefore I betooke my selfe to anEnglishOrdinary, where I refreshed my selfe and my poore prisoners, (who by the Master of the ship were committed to my charge that night and forwards upon my word, so as to bee forth comming when they should bee called) and the next morning I sent my honest friendLayfieldwith a letter to the Cloister to oldPablo de Londres, who upon my summons came joyfully to welcome mee from theIndia's, and after very little discourse told mee of ships in the Haven ready to set out forEngland. The old Fryer being of a decrepit and doting age, thought every day a yeere that I stayed there, and suspended my Voyage forEngland, and (not knowing the secrets of my heart) judged already that the Conversion or turning of many Protestant soules to Popery waited for my comming, which made him hasten mee, who was more desirous then hee to bee gone the next day, if I might have found wind, weather, and shipping ready. But God, who had been with me in almost ninety dayes sailing fromHavanatoSan Lucar, and had delivered mee from many a storme, prepared and furthered all things in a very short time for the last accomplishment of my hope and desire, to returne toEnglandmy native soil, from whence I had been absent almost for the space of foure and twenty yeers.
My first thought here in St.Lucar, was to cast off now my Fryers weed, that outward sheepskin, which covers many a wolvish, greedy, and covetous heart under it; which doubtlesse is the ground, why inGermanyin the Protestant andLutherantowns, when the boyes and young men see a Fryer goe along their streets, they cry out to the neighbours, saying, a Wolfe, a Wolfe, shut your doores; meaning, that though what they weare seeme to beepellis ovina, orAgnina, a sheep or Lambeskin and their condition of mortified, humble, and meek men, yet under it lyethcor Lupinum, a Wolves heart, greedy of some prey, either worldly, of wealth and riches, or spirituall, of seducing, deceiving and misleading poore soules. Such was the habit, which now I desired to shake off, which was a white Coat or gown hanging to the groundgirded about with a leathern belt, and over it from the shoulders downward a white Scapulary (so called there,) hanging shorter then the gown both before and behind, and over that a white hood to cover the head, and lastly, over that a black cloak with another black hood; both which together, the black and white make the Fryers of that profession look just like Mag-pies, and is acknowledged by the Church ofRomeit self in a verse which they faine of Mr.Martin Luther, (with what just ground I know not) saying of his former life and profession before his Conversion,Bis Corvus, bis Pica fui, ter fune ligatus. I was twice a Crow, twice a Magpie, and thrice was bound or tyed with a Cord; by a Crow meaning an Augustin Fryer, who is all in black; by a Magpie, meaning a Dominican, and by bound with a rope or cord, meaning a Franciscan, who indeed is girded about with a cord made of hempe. Though the Dominican Magpie by this his habit make such a glosse and understanding, which is contrary to his life and conversation; for by his outward black habit, hee saith, is signified an outward shew of deadnesse and Mortification to the world, and by his inward white habit, an inward purity and chastity of heart, thoughts and life; both which truely are little seen in those Fryers especially, who outwardly are worldly, and living to the world, covetous and ambitious of honours, preferments, Bishoprickes, and places of publique reading and preaching; and therefore have by favour obtained many places of authority, as by the laws ofAragonto be the King ofSpainhis Ghostly father, to bee Masters of the Popes Palace, and there to read a lesson of Divinity, to be chief heads of the Inquisition, and from these places to bee promoted to sit in the Councell of the State inSpain, or to bee Cardinals inRome, and so Popes, or to injoy the richest and fattest Bishopricks and Arch-Bishopricks inSpain, Italy, andIndia's, which sheweth how little they are dead to the world, nay how they are living to the world and its preferments, contrary to the black and dead colour of their habits. So likewise doe they not live according to the whitenesse of their inward habits, whose lives are found impure and unchast, as I could exemplify at large, shewing what base and unclean acts have been committed by some of that profession in the Low Countries, inSpain, in theIndia's, inItaly, nay here inEnglandby oneDadethe Superior of them, by onePophamwell knowen to bee a good fellow, and still at this day abiding in theSpanishhouse, by oneCraftsand others, which would bee too too long a digression from the whitenesse of their habit. But I applying the Allegory of this black and white habit otherwise unto my selfe, and in the outward black part of it seeing the foulenesse and filthinesse of my life and Idolatrous Preisthood in the exercise of that profession, and Orders which fromRomeI had received; and in the white inward habit considering yet the purity, and integrity of those intentions and thoughts of my inward heart, in pursuance whereof I had left what formerly I have noted, yea allAmerica, which, had I continued in it, might have been to mee a Mine of wealth, riches and treasure; I resolved here therefore to cast off that hypocriticall cloak and habit, and to put on such Apparell whereby I might no more appeare a Wolfe in sheepskin, but might goe boldly to my Country ofEngland, there to shew and make known the Candor of my heart, the purity and sincerity of my thoughts, which had brought mee so farre, by a publik profession of the pure truths of the Gospell, without any invention or addition of man unto it. With the small meanes therefore which was left mee after so long and almost a whole yeeres journey fromPetapato St.Lucar(having yet about a hundred Crownes) I gave order for a sute of Cloathes to bee made by anEnglishTaylor, which I willingly put on, and so prepared my self forEngland. Three or four ships were in readinesse, who had onely waited for the Fleet, to take in some Commodities, especially some wedges of silver, of which I was with oldPablo de Londres, in doubt which to choose. The first that went out was thought should have beene my lot, in the which my friendLayfieldimbarked him selfe (for all theEnglishprisoners were there freed to goe home to their Country) and from which the great providence of God diverted mee, or else I had beene this day withLayfielda slave inTurkey; for the next day after this ship set out, it was taken by theTurkes, and carryed away for a rich prize, and all theEnglishin it for Prisoners toArgell. But God (who I hope had reserved mee for better things,) appointed for mee a safer convoy home in a ship (as I was informed) belonging to SirWilliam Curtin, under the command of an honestFlemming, namedAdrian Adrianzenliving atDoverthen, withwhom I agreed for my passage and dyet at his Table. This ship set out of the Barre of St.Lucarthe ninth day after my arrivall thither, where it waited for the company of foure ships more, but especially for someIndianwedges of silver, which upon forfeiture of them it durst not take in within the Barre and Haven.
And thus being now cloathed after a new fashion and ready to lead a new life; being now changed from anAmericaninto the fashion of anEnglishman, the tenth day after my abode inSan Lucar, I bad adieu toSpainand allSpanishfashions, factions, and carriages, I bad farewell my old FryerPablo de Londres, with the rest of my acquaintance, and so in a boat went over the bar to the ship, which that night in company of foure more set forward forEngland. I might observe here many things of the goodnesse ofAdrian Adrianzen, and his good carriage towards mee in his ship, which I will omit, having much more to observe of the goodnesse of God, who favoured this our voyage with such a prosperous wind, and without any storm at all, that in thirteen dayes wee came toDover, where I landed, the ship going on to theDownes. Others that landed atMargaretwere brought toDover, and there questioned and searched; but I, not speakingEnglish, butSpanish, was not at all suspected, neither judged to be anEnglishman; and so after two dayes I tooke post in company of someSpaniardsand anIrishColonel, forCanterbury, and so forward toGravesend. When I came toLondon, I was much troubled within my selfe for want of my Mother tongue, (for I could onely speak some few broken words) which made mee fearefull I should not bee accknowledged to bee anEnglishman born. Yet I thought my kinred (who knew I had beene many yeers lost) would some way or other acknowledge mee, and take notice of mee, if at the first I addressed my selfe unto some of them, untill I could better expresse my selfe inEnglish. The first therefore of my name, whom I had notice of, was my LadyPenelope Gage, widow of SirJohn Gage, then living in St.Jones; to whom the next morning after my arrivall toLondon, I addressed my selfe for the better discovery of some of my kinred; whom though I knew to bee Papists, and therefore ought not to be acquainted with my inward purpose and resolution; yet for feare of some want in the mean time, and that I might by their means practice my selfe in the use of my forgotten native tongue, and that I might enquire what Childs part had beene left me by my father, that I might learn some fashions, and lastly, that in the meane time, I might search into the Religion ofEngland, and find how farre my conscience could agree with it, and bee satisfied in those scruples which had troubled mee inAmerica, for all these reasons I thought it not amisse to looke and inquire after them. When therefore I came unto my LadyGage, shee beleeved mee to bee her kinsman, but laughed at mee, telling mee, that I spake like anIndianorWelchman, and not like anEnglishman; yet shee welcomed mee home, and sent mee with a servant to a Brothers lodging inLong Aker, who being in the Country ofSurrey, and hearing of mee sent horse and man for mee to come to keepe Christmas with an Uncle of mine living atGatton; by whom as a lost and forgotten Nephew, and now after foure and twenty yeeres returned home againe, I was very kindly entertained, and from thence sent for toCheam, to one Mr.Fromandanother kinsman, with whom I continued till after twelfth day, and so returned againe toLondonto my brother.
Thus my good Reader, thou seest anAmerican, through many dangers by Sea and Land, now safely arrived inEngland; and thou maiest well with mee observe the great and infinite goodnesse and mercy of God towards mee a wicked and wretched sinner. How I have answered to this Gods gracious calling mee from so farre and remote a Country, to doe him service here, I will shew thee in the Chapter following, and conclude this my long and tedious History.
Now Reader, as the stone that is falling, the neerer it cometh to its Center, more haste it maketh; So I the neerer I am coming to the conclusion of this my History, more haste I desire to make in this last Chapter, for the compleating and finishing of it. With brevity therefore I will relate some of my travels inEurope, in which I will yeeld to many of my Nation, but forAmerica, and my travels and experience there, I dare boldly challenge all travellers of my Country. After my return toLondon, fromSurrey, I began to expostulate with my younger Brother (knowing hee had been present at my Fathers death, and had a chief hand in the ordering and executing his last Will and Testament,) concerning what childs part was left unto mee. To which hee made mee answer, that my father had indeed left him, and my Brother the Colonell, and two other sons by a second wife, and my owne sister, every one somewhat, but to mee nothing, nay that at his death he did not so much as remember mee; which I could not but take to heart, and called to minde the angry and threatning letter which I had received from him inSpain, because I would not bee a Jesuite. Though for the present I said nothing, yet afterwards in many occasions I told my Brother I would have the Will produced, and would by course of law demand a childs part; but hee put me off, assuring me I should never want amongst other my friends and kindred, with whom hee knew I should bee well accommodated as long as I continued inEngland. After few dayes that I had been inLondon, my kinsman atCheam, desired me to come to live with him; where I continued not long; for my Uncle atGattoninvited mee to his house, offering mee there meat, drink, lodging, horse and man, with twenty pound a yeare, which hee promised in other waies to make as good as thirty. Here I continued a twelve moneth, refining my self in my native tongue, and (though altogether unknown to my Uncle and kindred) searching into the Doctrine and truth of the Gospel professed inEngland; for which cause I made many journeys toLondon, and then privately I resorted to some churches, and especially toPaulsChurch to see the service performed, and to heare the Word of God Preached; but so, that I might not be seen, known or discovered by any Papist. When inPaulsChurch I heard the Organs, and the Musick, and the Prayers and Collects, and saw the Ceremonies at the Altar, I remembredRomeagaine, and perceived little difference between the two Churches. I searched further into the Common-Prayer, and carryed with me a Bible into the Country on purpose to compare the Prayers, Epistles, and Gospels with a Masse Book, which there I had at command, and I found no difference but onely English and Latin, which made mee wonder, and to acknowledge that much remained still ofRomein the Church ofEngland, and that I feared my calling was not right. In these my scruples coming often toLondon, and conversing with oneDade, Popham, andCrafts, ConnelandBrown, EnglishandIrishDominican Fryers, I found their wayes and conversations base, lewd, light and wanton, like theSpanishandIndianFryers, which made me againe reflect upon the Popish Church, upheld by such Pillars. I came yet to the acquaintance of onePrice, Superiour to the Benedictine Monkes, whom I found to be a meer States-man, and a great Politician, and very familiar, private, and secret with the Archbishop ofCanterbury William Laud; in conversion with my Brother, (who belonged then unto one SigniorCon, the Popes Agent, and was in such favour at the Court, that hee was sent over by the Queen with a rich present to a Popish Idol, named our Lady ofSichem, in theLow Countries) I heard him sometimes say, that hee doubted not but to bee shortly Curate and Parish Preist ofCoven Garden, sometimes that he hoped to bee made Bishop inEngland, and that then I should want for nothing, and should live with him, till hee got mee another Bishoprick; by which discourse of his, and by his and other Preists favour at Court and with the Archbishop I perceived things went not well,SpanishPopery was much rooted, Protestant Religion much corrupted, and the time not seasonable for me todiscover my secret intents and purpose or heart. At this time comming once fromSurreytoLondon, I chanced to bee discovered and knowne to one of the State Officers, a Pursevant, who had a large Commission for the apprehending of Seminary Preists and Jesuites, namedJohn Gray, who meeting mee one day inLong Aker, followed and dogged me as far asLincolns Innewall, where he clapped mee on the shoulders, and told me, that he had a Commission against mee, to apprehend mee, and carry me to the Councell Table or to one of His Majesties Secretaries. To whom I spoke inSpanish(thinking thereby to free my selfe out of his hands for aSpaniard:) but this would not doe, for he replyed hee knew mee to bee anEnglishman born, and by the name ofGage, and Brother to ColonelGageand Mr.George Gage, and that before he left mee I must speake inEnglishto him, he carryed mee to a Tavern, and there searched my Pockets for Letters and mony, which in discourse he told me was too little for him (not being above twelve shilling) and that I must goe with him to answer before one of His Majesties Secretaries. I told him that I would willingly goe before the Archbishop ofCanterbury, or before SirFrancis Windebanke; at which he smiled, saying: I knew well whom to make choice of to favour and protect mee, but hee would carry mee to none of them, but to SecretaryCooke. I fearing the businesse might goe hard with me, and knowing him to be greedy of money, told him that I would give him any thing that might content him, and so offered him twelve shillings then about mee, and my word to meet him in any place the next day, with a better and fuller purse. Hee accepted of my money for the present, and further offer for the day following, and appointed theAngelTaverne inLong Aker, (knowing that I lodged thereabout) to bee the place of our meeting, and so dismissed mee. I being free from him, went immediately to my Brother, and told him what had happened unto mee, what money I had already given unto him, and what I had promised the next day following. My Brother hearing me began to chafe and vex, and to fall into furious words againstJohn Gray, calling him knave and rogue, and that he could not answer what he had done, and that hee would have his Commission taken from him, chiding mee for that I had given him any money, and calling me young novice and unexperienced in the affairs ofEngland. This seemed strange to me, that my Brother should not onely not fear a Pursevant, but should threaten to take away the Commission from him, who was appointed to search for and finde out Preists and Jesuites. Yet I told him I would according to my word and promise meet him the next day, and satisfie him for his faire carriage towards mee; to which my Brother would by no means yeeld, but said hee would meet him; which hee accordingly performed, and although for my sake and promise he gave him some money, yet he brought him before SignorCon, and there himselfe and the Popes Agent with him spake most bitter words unto him, and threatned him very much if ever again he durst meddle with mee.
After this my Brother carryed mee to one SirWilliam Howarda Papist Knight, living atArundelgate overClementsChurch, who was very familiar with SirFrancis Windebanke, telling him what had happened unto me, and desiring him to carry me with him in his Coach to SirFrancis, and to get his protection for mee. SecretaryWindebankeunderstanding who I was, told mee I should feare no Pursevant of them all, and that if I lived quietly inEngland, no body should trouble me, and thatJohn Graywas a knave, and wished me if ever he medled with me again to come unto him. Though for the present this was good and commodious for me to have such favour and protection, yet I perceived, this my Brothers power, and this conniving at Preists and Jesuites could not bee usefull for mee, if I should publish my mind and and purpose to alter my Religion. I was therefore much troubled in mind and conscience, which I found was curbed with the great power of the Papists. I resolved therefore to goe againe out ofEngland, and to travell in some other Countries amongst both Papists and Protestants, and to try what better satisfaction I could find for my conscience atRomein that Religion, or inFranceandGermanyamongst the Protestants. I writ therefore to the Generall of the Dominicans atRome, (without whose License I could not goe thither) that hee would bee pleased to send mee his Letters Patents, to goe to conferre some points with him; which hee willingly granted unto mee. I wanted not money from my Uncle (who commended unto mee some businesse to bee dispatched for him atRome) for so long a journey, other friends also helped mee; but my chief trust was upon my Brother ColonellGage, then in theLow Countries, whom I knewnot, nor had seen him from a child. I had no other passe to take shipping atDover, but onely the letter of a Papist inLondon, (by meanes of onePophama Dominican Fryer) to SirJohn Manwoodhis Lady, who was then Governour ofDoverCastle, and with the foresaid letter suffered mee not to bee troubled, examined or searched, but gave order that I should freely and quietly passe over in the Packet boat toDunkerke, wherewith in foure houres with a good wind I arrived, and from thence byNewportandBridgeswent toGant; not farre from whence my Brother with his Regiment lay in field against theHollander. Hee was glad to see mee, and knowing what journey I was minded to take, furnished mee with more money, and for my Uncles businesse recommended mee to the MarquesDe Serralvo(then atBrussels) and to other great men, desiring them to give mee their letters to their friends atRome; from them I got a letter toDon Francisco Barbarini, the Popes Nephew, and one of the chief Cardinals then inRome, likewise to CardinalCucua, and CardinalAlbornosbothSpaniards. With these letters I thought I should have occasion of some conversation with these pillars of the Church ofRome, and in discourse might pry into the hearts and wayes of them, and see whether in them were more Policy then Religion. By reason of the Warres betweenFranceand theLow Countries, I durst not make my journey the neerest and shortest way throughFrance; but though there were Wars also inGermany, I thought that would bee my safest way, and I desired much to looke into the Protestant, andLutheranChurch in that Country. Whereupon I resolved fromBrusselsto goe toNamurs, and from thence by water toLeidge, and from thence toColleninGermany. FromLeidgetoCollenthough wee were twelve in company, wee were much troubled with Souldiers; yet God still delivered me and brought me safe toCollen; from whence by the riverRhineI went in boat toFrankefortinSeptemberat the time of that great Fair, where I knew I should meet company of Merchants to any part ofItaly. In all my travells I never made a more pleasant journey then that which I made by the riverRhine, where I had occasion to see many fair and goodly Cities. InFrankefortthere I began to take notice of theLutheranChurch, and for the space of a fortnight that I stayed there, had many thoughts of discovering my selfe there, and disclaiming Popery, thinking that there I might be sure and safe, and lie hid and unknowne to my Brothers and kinred, who isEnglandwould not suffer me to live a Protestant. Yet againe I considered how hard it would bee for mee a stranger to subsist there, and to get any livelyhood, for the which I must first get the native tongue, and though many points that were opposite to the Church ofRome, pleased me, yet in some points of that Religion my conscience was not satisfied. At the end of the Faire I sought out for company, and found neere a dozen wagons which were upon setting out towardsAuspurgwith goods of Merchants, who had also hired a Convoy of thirty souldiers to goe along with them; which I thought would be safe company for mee; with them, and many other passengers and travellers that went in the Wagons, and on foot, by them, I went as far as the famous and gallant City ofAuspurg; from whence forward there was no great danger, neither in what part belonged to the Duke ofBavaria, nor in the County ofTirol: from whence wee passed some foure together toTrent; where I was taken with the first Ague that ever in my life I remembred I had, which continued seven months upon mee. I thought from thence to have continued my journey by land toVenice, but my Ague suffered mee to goe but toVerona; from whence I turned toMillan, and so toGenoua, leaving my good company; that fromGenouaI might goe by Sea toLigorne, and so likewise toRome. After a fortnights stay inGenoua, I went with the Galleys of the great Duke ofFlorencetoLigorne, where I found no boats ready toRome, and so in the meantime, whilst they were preparing, I went toPisaandFlorenceto see those brave Cities, and returned again toLigorne, where I found many boats ready to set out toRome.
The first night and day wee had a faire winde toPiombino; but there it turned, and continued contrary for almost three weekes. At last it pleased God to send us a faire wind wherewith wee went out many Boats and Falluco's in company together, thinking all had been friends; but when wee came neere to the Castle ofMontalto, most of the boats having got before us, two that went in company with the boat wherein I was, suddainly set upon us, and shewed themselves to beeFrenchPirats, who robbed us all, and tooke from mee all the money I had, which was not then above five pound, leaving me some Bils of exchange which I had to take up mony atRome; after wewere robbed wee called in atCivita Vecha; for reliefe, where I met with a goodEnglishMerchant, who freely bestowed upon mee provision both of wine and meat, as much as would well suffice mee and a friend toRome, whither wee got in a day and night. When I came toRomeI delivered my Letters to the Cardinals; of whom the twoSpaniardsI found proud and stately; butDon Francisco Barbarini, (who was intituled the Protector ofEngland) I found more tractable, kinde, and loving. I perceived by his discourse that hee knew much ofEngland, and desired to know more; and propounded unto mee many questions concerning the state of this Kingdome, and especially concerning the Archbishop ofCanterbury, whom he seemed to affect; and yet sometime againe would say hee feared, hee would cause some great disturbance in our Kingdome, and that certainly for his sake and by his means the King had dissolved lately the Parliament (which was that which before this now sitting was so suddainly dissolved by his Majesty) which hee fearedScotlandand most of the people ofEngland, would take very ill. Hee asked mee further what conceipt the people had of the said Archbishop; and whether they did not mistrust that hee complyed much with the Court ofRome. And lastly, he told mee that hee thought, the creating of anEnglishCardinal atRomemight be of great consequence for the conversion of the whole Kingdome. I laid up in my heart all this discourse, and well perceived some great matters were in agitation atRome, and some secret compliance fromEnglandwith that Court, which I purposed to discover more at large among some friends there.
After this discourse with the Cardinall, I was invited to theEnglishColledge to dinner by one FatherFitzherbert, who was then Rector, a great States-man and Politician, with whom I had also great discourse concerning my Brother ColonelGage, concerning my travels inAmerica, and lastly concerningEngland; whereof I perceived little discourse could bee had inRome, except the ArchbishopWilliam Laudhad his part and share in it. The Jesuite began highly to praise the Arch-prelate for his moderate carriage towards Papists and Preists, boasting of the free accesse which oneSimons, alias Flood, a Jesuite had unto him at all houres, and in all occasions; and to extoll him the more, he brought in the Archbishop,Abbotwhom he cried down as much for a cruel enemie and persecutor of the Church ofRome, and of all Papists and Preists. But the now Archbishop, said hee, is not onely favourable unto us there, but here desireth to make daily demonstrations of his great affection to this our Court and Church; which, hee shewed not long since in sending a Common Prayer Booke, (which hee had composed for the Church ofScotland) to bee first viewed, and approved of by our Pope and Cardinals. Who perusing it, liked it very well, for Protestants to be trained in a Form of Prayer and service; yet considering the State ofScotland, and the temper and tenents of that people, the Cardinals, (first giving him thanks for his respect and dutifull compliance with them) sent him word, that they thought that form of prayer was not fitting forScotland, but would breed some stir and unquietnesse there, for that they understood theScotswere aversed from all set Forms, & would not be tyed and limited to the invention of mans spirit, having (as they thought) the true and unerring Spirit of God in them, which could better teach and direct them to pray. All this (said FatherFitzherbert) I was witnesse of, who was then sent for by the Cardinals (as in all like occasions, and affaires concerningEngland) to give them my opinion concerning the said Common Prayer Booke, and the temper of theScots. But the good Archbishop (quoth hee) hearing the censure of the Cardinals concerning his intention and Form of Prayer, to ingratiate himself the more into their favour, corrected some things in it, and made it more harsh and unreasonable for that Nation; which wee already heare they have stomacked at, and will not suffer it in many parts to be read; and wee justly fear that this his Common Prayer Book, & his great compliance with this Court, will at last bring strife and division between the two Kingdomes ofScotlandandEngland.
And this most true Relation ofWilliam Laudlate Archbishop ofCanterbury, (though I have often spoken of it in private discourse and publiquely preached it at the Lecture ofWinghaminKent,) I could not in my conscience omit it here; both to vindicate the just censure of death, which the now sitting Parliament have formerly given against him for such like practises and compliance withRome; and secondly to reprove the ungrounded opinion and errour of some ignorant and Malignant spirits, who to my knowledge have since his death highly exalted him, and cryed him up for a Martyr. At the same time whilst I was atRome, I understood of another great businesse concerningEngland, then in agitation amongst the Cardinals, and much prosecuted bythisFitzherbert, and one fatherCourtneya Jesuite, son to one SirThomas Leeds; which was, to create one of theEnglishNation Cardinall; that so the Conversion ofEngland, what by the Assistance ofWilliam Laud, what by the power of a higher person, and what by the authority of the said Cardinall, might be more fully and earnestly plotted and indeavoured. This businesse was much agitated inEnglandby SigniorCon, at whose house inLong Akerwere many meetings of the chief Gentry of the Papists. InRomeSirWilliam Hamiltonthen Agent for the Queene, vied much for the said Cardinals Cap, and got a great number of friends to further this his ambitious design. But hee was too yong, and some scandall of a Gentlewoman, who stuck too close to him, made the red Cap unfit for his head; and secondly, because a greater then hee, to wit, SirKenelham Digbywas appointed by the Queen to bee her Agent there; who sent before him his Chaplain, a great Politician and active Priest, namedFitton, to take up his lodging and make way, and friends for his ambitious preferment; who in his daily discourse cryed up his MasterDigbyfor Cardinall, and told mee absolutely, that hee doubted not but hee would carry it. But though hee had great favour from the Queen, and was her Agent; yet hee had strong Antagonists inFitzherbert, Courtney, and the rest of the crew of the Jesuites, who looked upon that honour and red Cap as better becomming one of their profession, and fitter for a head which had formerly worne a four Cornered black Cap, to wit, SirToby Mathy. But in case the said Cap should fall from SirTobyhis head, then they would helpe and further a third, whose birth and Nobility should advance him before SirKenelham Digby, to wit,Walter Mountague, the old Earle ofManchesterhis sonne at that time.
And thus it was a generall and credible report inRome, that either aDigby, aMathy, or aMountague, should that yeere bee made Cardinall. Whereby I perceived thatEnglandwas comming neere toRome, and that my design of professing and following the truth inEnglandwas blasted, and that in vain I had come fromAmericafor satisfaction of my conscience inEngland. I was more troubled now then ever; and desired to try all wayes, if I could bee better satisfied concerning the Popish Religion inRome, NaplesorVenice, (whither I went) then I had been inAmericaand among theSpaniards. But I found such exorbitances and scandalls in the lives of some Cardinals ofRome, whilst I was there, especially inDon Antonio Barbarini, and CardinalBurgess, who at midnight was taken by theCorchetesor Officers of Justice in uncivill wayes, and came off from them with money, that I perceived the Religion was but as I had found it inAmerica, a wide and open doore to loosnesse and policy, and the like inNaplesandVenice, which made mee even hate what before I had professed for Religion, and resolve, that if I could not live inEngland, and there injoy my Conscience, that I would live inFrance, for a while, untill I had well learned that tongue, and then associate my selfe unto the best reformed Protestant Church; Whereupon I obtained from the General of the Dominicans this ensuing order to live in the Cloister ofOrleans, intending from thence at my best opportunity to goe toParis, Lyons, or some other place, and shake off my Magpy habit, and to live and dye inFrancein the true Protestant and reformed Religion as professed there.
In Dei filio sibi Dilecto Reverendo Patri fratriThomæ GageoProvinciæ Anglicanæ Ordinis Prædicatorum, Frater Nicolaus Rodulfius totius ejusdem Ordinis Magister Generalis ac servus in Domino salutem.Conventui nostro Aurelia nensi Provinciæ nostræ Franciæ de probo & optimo Patre Sacerdote providere cupientes, Tenore præsentium, & nostri authoritate officii (te) supra nominatum Reverendum Patrem FratremThomam Gageumrevocamus a quovis alio Conventu, & Assignamus in dicto Conventu nostro Aurelianensi Assignatumque declaramus, in Nomine Patris, & Filii, & Spiritus Sancti, Amen.Mandantes Rdo. admodum Patri Magistro Priori illius, ut te benigne recipiat, & cum omni charitate tractet. In quorum fidem his officii nostri sigillo munitis propria manu subscripsimus. Datum Suriani die none Aprilis, 1640.Frater Nicolaus Magister Ordinis.Frater Ignatius Ciantes Magister; Provincialis Angliæ, & Socius.
In Dei filio sibi Dilecto Reverendo Patri fratriThomæ GageoProvinciæ Anglicanæ Ordinis Prædicatorum, Frater Nicolaus Rodulfius totius ejusdem Ordinis Magister Generalis ac servus in Domino salutem.
Conventui nostro Aurelia nensi Provinciæ nostræ Franciæ de probo & optimo Patre Sacerdote providere cupientes, Tenore præsentium, & nostri authoritate officii (te) supra nominatum Reverendum Patrem FratremThomam Gageumrevocamus a quovis alio Conventu, & Assignamus in dicto Conventu nostro Aurelianensi Assignatumque declaramus, in Nomine Patris, & Filii, & Spiritus Sancti, Amen.Mandantes Rdo. admodum Patri Magistro Priori illius, ut te benigne recipiat, & cum omni charitate tractet. In quorum fidem his officii nostri sigillo munitis propria manu subscripsimus. Datum Suriani die none Aprilis, 1640.
Frater Nicolaus Magister Ordinis.
Frater Ignatius Ciantes Magister; Provincialis Angliæ, & Socius.
The Forme whereof (as also the manner of sending Fryers from one Cloister to live in another, commonly called by them, an Assignation) is inEnglishas followeth.
To our Beloved in the Son of God, the Reverend Father FryerThomas Gage,of theEnglishProvince, of the Order of Preachers, FryerNicholas Rodulfiusof the same whole Order Master Generall, and Servant in the Lord, health and greeting.Wee being willing and desirous to provide for our Convent ofOrleans, of our Province ofFrance, of an honest and very good Father and Priest; by Tenour of these present, and by the authority of our Office doe recall you the above named Reverend FryerThomas Gagefrom any other Convent, and doe Assigne you in our said Convent ofOrleans, and declare you to bee assigned, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. Commanding the very Reverend Father Master Prior thereof, that hee receive you curteously, and entertaine you with all love and charity. In witnesse whereof with our owne hand wee have subscribed these being sealed with the seale of our Office. Dated atSorianothe ninth day ofApril, 1640.FryerNicholasMaster of the Order.FryerIgnatius CiantesMaster Provincial ofEnglandand Companion.
To our Beloved in the Son of God, the Reverend Father FryerThomas Gage,of theEnglishProvince, of the Order of Preachers, FryerNicholas Rodulfiusof the same whole Order Master Generall, and Servant in the Lord, health and greeting.
Wee being willing and desirous to provide for our Convent ofOrleans, of our Province ofFrance, of an honest and very good Father and Priest; by Tenour of these present, and by the authority of our Office doe recall you the above named Reverend FryerThomas Gagefrom any other Convent, and doe Assigne you in our said Convent ofOrleans, and declare you to bee assigned, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. Commanding the very Reverend Father Master Prior thereof, that hee receive you curteously, and entertaine you with all love and charity. In witnesse whereof with our owne hand wee have subscribed these being sealed with the seale of our Office. Dated atSorianothe ninth day ofApril, 1640.
FryerNicholasMaster of the Order.
FryerIgnatius CiantesMaster Provincial ofEnglandand Companion.
Yet after I had got this Order, I bethought my selfe further that I would try one way, which was to see if I could find out a Miracle, which might give mee better satisfaction of theRomishReligion, then had the former experience of my life, and the lives of the Priests, Cardinals, and all such with whom I had lived inSpainandAmerica. I had heard much of a Picture of our Lady ofLoretto, and read in a Booke of Miracles or lies concerning the same, that whosoever prayed before that picture in the state of mortall sinne, the picture would discover the sinne in the soule, by blushing, and by sweating. Now I framed this argument to my selfe, that it was a great sin, the sin of unbeliefe, or to waver and stagger in points of Faith; but in mee (according to the Tenents ofRome) was this sin, for I could not believe the point of Transubstantiation, and many other; therefore (if the Miracles which were printed of the foresaid Lady ofLorettowere true, and not lies) certainly shee would blush and sweat, when such an unbeliever as I prayed before her. To make this triall, I went purposely toLoretto, and kneeling downe before God, not with any faith I had in the picture; I prayed earnestly to the true Searcher of all hearts, that in his Son Jesus Christ he would mercifully looke upon me a wretched sinner, and inspire and enlighten mee with his Spirit of truth, for the good and salvation of my soule; In my prayer I had a fixed and setled eye upon the Ladies picture, but could not perceive that shee did either sweat or blush, wherewith I arose up from my knees much comforted and incouraged in my resolution to renounce and abandon Popery, and saying within my selfe as I went out of the Church, surely if my Lady neither sweat nor blush, all is well with mee, and I am in a good way for salvation, and the miracles written of her are but lies. With this I resolved to follow the truth in some Protestant Church inFrance, and to relinquish errour and superstition. Upon which good purpose of mine, I presently perceived the God of truth did smile, with what I heard hee was ordering inEnglandby an Army ofScotlandraised for Reformation, and by a new Parliament called toWestminster, at which I saw the Papists and Jesuites there began to tremble, and to say that it would blast all their designes, and all their hopes of setling Popery;William Laudhis policy was now condemned and cursed,Conwas dead atRome, the Cardinals Cap for one of the three fore-namednamed was no more spoken of,Fittonwas daunted,FitzherbertandCourtneyquite disheartned, SirKenelham Digbyhis Agency and comming to Rome put off and suspended, and with all this good newes I was much heartned and incouraged to leave off my journey toFrance, and to return toEngland, where I feared not my Brother nor any kindred, nor the power of the Papists, but began to trust in the protection of the Parliament, which I was informed would reform Religion, and make such laws as should tend to the undermining of all the Jesuits plots, and to the confusion and subversion of theRomisherrours and Religion. I was too weak of body to make my journey by land (by reason of my long Ague which had but newly left mee) and so resolved to goe toLigorneto find out shipping there; where I found foure or five ships ofEnglishandHollandersready to set out, but were bound to touch atLisboein their way. I bargained with one CaptaineScotfor my passage, first toLisboe, intending there to make a second bargain. We had no sooner sailed on as farre as to the Coast ofFrance, joyning to theDutchyof Savoy, but presently fromCanescame out part of a Fleet lying there under the command of the Bishop ofBurdeauxto discover us, and take us for a lawfull prize. I might say much here of the valour of the good old CaptaineScot, who seeing all the other ships had yeelded to theFrenchmen of Warre, would upon no termes yeeld to be their prize, (which they challenged because wee were bound forLisboe, then their enemies Country) but would fight with them all, and at last rather blow up his ship, then to deliver the goods which had been intrusted to him by the Merchants ofLigorne. We were in a posture to fight, our guns ready, and Mariners willing to dye that day, which was heavy news to me. After much treaty between theFrenchand our valorous Captain, who still held out and would not yeeld, there came up to us two ships to give us the last warning that if wee yeelded not, they would immediately set our ship on fire. With this all the passengers and many more in the ship desired the Captaine to yeeld upon some faire Articles for the securing of what goods he had forEngland, and should appeare were not any way for the strengthening of any enemies to the State and Kingdome ofFrance. With much adoe our Captaine was perswaded, and we were carried with the rest intoCanesfor a lawfull prize. I seeing that the ships were like to bee stayed there long, obtained the Bishop ofBordeauxhis passe to goe toMarcells, and from thence by land throughFrance. Which being granted, I went by water toTolon, and from thence toMarcells, and so in company of Carriers toLions, and from thence toParis, Roane, andDeepe, where in the first packet boat toRyeI passed over toEngland, where I landed uponMichaelmasday the same yeere that this present Parliament began to sit theNovemberfollowing. My Brothers Spirit I found was not much daunted with the new Parliament, nor some of the proudest Papists, who hoped for a suddain dissolving of it; But when I saw their hopes frustrated by His Majesties consent to the continuing of it, I thought the acceptable time was come for mee, wherein I ought not to dissemble any further with God, the world and my friends, and so resolved to bid adieu to flesh and blood; and to prize Christ above all my kindred, to own and professe him publiquely maugre all opposition of hell and kindred to the contrary. I made my self first knowne to DoctorBrunnickBishop ofExeter, and to Mr.ShuteofLumbard street, from whom I had very comfortable and strong incouragements. The Bishop ofExetercarried me to the Bishop ofLondonthen atFullom, from whom I received order to Preach my Recantation Sermon atPauls: which done, I thought I must yet doe more to satisfie the world of my sincerity, knowing that Converts are hardly believed by the common sort of people, unlesse they see in them such actions which may further disclaimeRomefor ever for the future. Whereupon I resolved to enter into the state of Marriage (to which God hath already given his blessing) which the Church ofRomedisavowes to all her Preists. What I have beene able to discover for the good of this State I have done, and not spared (when called upon) to give in true evidence upon my Oath against Jesuites, Preists, and Fryers; for the which (after a faire invitation from my Brother ColonelGage, to come over again toFlanders, offering mee a thousand pound ready money) I have been once assaulted inAldersgate street; and another time like to be killed inShooe laneby a Captain of my Brothers Regiment, namedVincent Burton, who (as I was after informed) came fromFlanderson purpose to make me away or convey mee over, and with such a malicious designe followed mee to my lodging, lifting up the latch and opening the doore, (as hee had seene mee done) and attempting to goe up the staires to my chamber without any inquiry for mee, or knockingat the doore; from whom God graciously delivered me by the weak meanes of a woman my Land-lady, who stopped him from going any further; and being demanded his name, and answering by the name ofSteward, and my Land-lady telling him from mee that I knew him not, he went away chafing and saying that I should know him, before he had done with mee. But hee that knoweth God well, shall know no enemy to his hurt; neither have I ever since seene or knowen this man. I might here also write down the contents of a threatning letter from mine own Brother, when hee was Colonell for the King ofEnglandand Governour ofOxford, which I forbear with some tender consideration of flesh and blood. At the beginning of the warres I confesse I was at a stand as a Neophyt and new plant of the Church ofEnglandconcerning the lawfulnesse of the warre; and so continued above a yeere inLondonspending my owne meanes, till at last I was fully satisfied, and much troubled to see that the Papists and most of my kindred were entertained atOxford, and in other places of the Kings Dominions; whereupon I resolved upon a choice for the Parliament cause, which now in their lowest estate and condition I am not ashamed to acknowledge. From their hands and by their order I received a Benefice, in the which I have continued almost foure yeers preaching constantly for a through and godly Reformation intended by them, which I am ready to witnesse with the best drops of blood in my veins, though true it is I have been envied, jealousied and suspected by many; to whom I desire this my History may be a better witnesse of my sincerity, and that by it I may perform what our Saviour Christ spoke toPeter, saying, And thou being converted strengthen thy Brethren. I shall think my time and pen happily imployed if by what here I have written, I may strengthen the perusers of this small volume against Popish superstition whether inEngland, other parts ofEurope, Asia, orAmerica; for the which I shall offer up my dayly prayers unto him, who (as I may well say) miraculously brought me fromAmericatoEngland, and hath made use of mee as aJosephto discover the treasures ofEgypt, or as the spies to search into the land ofCanaan, even the God of all Nations, to whom be ascribed by mee and all true and faithfull Beleevers, Glory, Power, Majesty and mercy for evermore.Amen.