WILLIAM HAREBORNE'S AMBASSAGE a.d. 



1583. 

 he thought it was a trappe to take himselfe, and more 

 of his company. But did send one of the principall of 

 the Marchants to talke with them. And the Captaine 

 John Gray went also with him, not being knowen of 

 the Spaniards, for he went as a souldiour. Thus they 

 received of those men the like wordes as they had of 

 the other before mentioned, who sayd we should have 

 our men againe, for they meant us no hurt. Then our TheAmbassa- 

 Ambassadour did write another letter, and sent it f'^^"^'^^'^^^^' 

 by them to the Viceroy, in like order as he did before, 

 but he received no answere of any of them. In all 

 this time they had privily gathered together the principall 

 men of the Hand, and had laboured day and night to 

 bring downe ordinance, not making any shew of their 

 trecherie towards us. But the same night following, we 

 saw very many lights passe in the woods among the 

 trees. And in the morning when the watch was broken 

 up, being Saturday the ninth of Februarie, at faire day ^^^ ^^^^^ °f 

 light, one of our men looked foorth, and saw standing ^ ^^^H' 

 on land the cariage of a piece : then was one commanded 

 to goe into the toppe, and there he did descrie two or 

 three pieces, and also many men on the shoare, with 

 divers weapons that they brought. Then they suddenly 

 tooke foure or five brasse pieces, and placed them on 

 either side of the harborough where we should go out, 

 and hid them with stones and bushes that we should not 

 see them. Now I thinke the harborough not to be above 

 the eight part of a mile over. Thus perceiving their 

 meaning which was most plaine : wee agreed to take 

 up our anker and goe out, and leave our men there, 

 having none other way to take. Then our Ambassadour 

 intreated the Master of the Marseilian, his friend, to goe 

 on land with his boat, and to know the trueth : who 

 satisfied his request. And at his returne he tolde us that 

 it was very true, that they would lay holde of us if they 

 could. Then we weighed our ankers : but having little 

 winde, we towed the shippe forward with the boat. The 

 Viceroy himselfe was at the water side with more then 



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