THE PORTUGAL VOYAGE a.d. 



1589. 



any one place, but y' every place brought foorth new 

 enemies, they were glad to see some of the poore 

 souldiers fal sicke, y l fearing to be infected by them 

 they might justly desire to go home. 



The sicknesse I confesse was great, because any is Anszvere to 

 too much. But hath it bene greater then is ordinary t fi rsU 

 amongst Englishmen at their first entrance into the 

 warres, whithersoever they goe to want the fulnesse of 

 their flesh pots ? Have not ours decayed at all times in 

 France, with eating yong fruits and drinking newe wines ? 

 have they not abundantly perished in the Low countreys 

 with cold, and rawnesse of the aire, even in their garri- 

 sons ? Have there not more died in London in sixe 

 moneths of the plague, then double our Armie being 

 at the strongest ? And could the Spanish Armie the last 

 yeere (who had all provisions that could be thought on 

 for an Armie, and tooke the fittest season in the yeere 

 for our Climate) avoyd sicknes amongst their souldiers ? 

 May it then be thought that ours could escape there, 

 where they found inordinate heat of weather, and hot 

 wines to distemper them withall ? 



But can it be, that wee have lost so many as the 

 common sort perswade themselves wee have? It hath 

 bene prooved by strickt examinations of our musters, that 

 we were never in our fulnesse before our going from 

 Plimouth 1 1000. souldiers, nor above 2500. Marriners. 

 It is also evident that there returned above 6000. of 

 all sorts, as appeareth by the severall paiments made to 

 them since our comming home. And I have truely 

 shewed you that of these numbers very neere 3000. for- 

 sooke the Armie at the Sea, whereof some passed into 

 France and the rest returned home. So as we never 

 being 13000. in all, and having brought home above 

 6000. with us, you may see how the world hath bene 

 seduced, in beleeving that we have lost 16000. men by 

 sicknes. 



To them that have made question of the government Answere to 

 of the warres (little knowing what appertaineth thereunto the second - 



479 



