Carey themselves into three parts, and took up three passages which 1639 the outlaws made themselves secure of, if from England side they should at any time be put at. They had their scouts on the tops of hills on the English side, to give them warning if at any time any power of men should come to surprise them. The three ambushes were safely laid without being discovered, and, about four o'clock in the morning, there were three hundred horse and a thousand foot that came directly to the place where the scouts lay. They gave the alarm; our men broke down as fast as they could into the wood. The outlaws thought themselves safe, assuring themselves at any time to escape; but they were so strongly set upon on the English side as they were forced to leave their goods and to betake themselves to their passages towards Scotland. There was presently five taken of the principal of them. The rest, seeing themselves, as they thought, betrayed, retired into the thick woods and bogs that our men durst not follow them for fear of losing themselves. The principal of the five that were taken were two of the eldest sons of Sim of Whittram. These five they brought to me to the fort, and a number of goods, both of sheep and kine, which satisfied most part of the country that they had stolen them from.

The five that were taken were of great worth and value amongst them: insomuch, that for their liberty, I should have what conditions I should demand or desire. First, all English prisoners were set at liberty. Then had I themselves, and most part of the gentlemen of the Scottish side so strictly bound in bonds, to enter to me, in fifteen days warning, any offender, that they durst not, for their lives, break any covenant that I made with them; and so, upon these conditions, I set them at liberty, and was never after troubled with these kind of people. Thus God blessed me in bringing this great trouble to so quiet an end. We broke up our fort, and every man retired to his own house.

After God had put an end to this troublesome business I rested in quiet the rest of the summer, and the next winter after; and had leisure, by little and little, to purge the March of inbred thieves and God so blessed me, that I failed not in any of my undertakings, but did effect what I went for, which did so astonish all the malefactors as they were afraid to offend; so that the March rested very quiet from the invasion of the foreign, and from the petty stealths of the thieves that lived amongst ourselves.

Robert Carey, Earl of Monmouth.

Carey

1639

A NIGHT'S ADVENTURES

HE night was somewhat dark and dusky, and the

THE hour eleven, and having gone through two or three

streets, and seeing himself all alone, and that he had nobody with whom to talk and converse, Don Juan resolved with himself to return home, and putting it in execution, passing through a street which had a walking place built upon pillars of marble, he might hear from a certain door that some did whist unto him with a soft and low voice.

The darkness of the night, which was made the more by means of that close walk, would not let him guess and conjecture whence that whisting directly came. Whereupon he stood still a while, attentively listening whence it should come; and whilst he was thus busied, he might see a door half-way open itself. He drew near thereunto, and might hear a low voice which spake thus: 'Is it Fabio?' Don Juan answered: 'Yes.' 'Then take this' (replied they within), and have a care to have it safely kept, and return hither presently again, for it much importeth us.' Don Juan puts forth his hand and felt a bulk, he knew not what, and, thinking to take it with one of his hands, he found

Mabbe 1640

Mabbe that he had need to use both, and they had scarce put it
1640
into his hands but they shut the door upon him and left
him. And he went his way and found himself in the street
with his hands full, but knew not what burthen he bare.
But within a little while after he heard a babe begin to cry,
which it should seem had been but newly born. Whereat
Don Juan remained amazed and suspensive, not knowing
what he should do, or what course to take in this strange
case. For to return back to the door, and call there unto
them, he considered with himself that he might run some
danger for the babe's sake, having personated another man
to whom it was intended, and in leaving it there at the door,
the babe might have its life hazarded.
And to carry it

home to his own house, he had not any one there that could
give it the teat and those other helps that were needful,
nor did he know in all the city anybody whither he might
carry it.
But sithence that they had said unto him that he
should see it safe and return again presently, he determined
to carry it to his own house, and to leave it in the power
and custody of a woman that served them, and to return
forthwith to see whether or no they had any further need
of his service, since that he plainly perceived that they had
taken him for another, and that it was a mere mistake in
giving the babe unto him.

In conclusion, without making any further discourses, he came home with it to his house, whenas Don Antonio was not there. He entered into one of the rooms next at hand, and called his woman-servant unto him, and caused her to unswathe the babe, and found it to be one of the fairest creatures that ever they had seen. The clothes wherein it was lapt told that it came of rich and noble parents. When the woman had unswathed and opened it, they saw that it was a man child. Then said Don Juan to his woman: 'We must needs get one to give this child suck; but first of all, I would have you take away these rich mantles, and lay them

aside in some safe place, and to put and wrap it in others Mabbe more mean and humble. And without making it known 1640 that I brought it hither, you shall carry it to the house of some one midwife or other, for such kind of women are never commonly unprovided of necessary remedy in such like necessities; you shall take money along with you, wherewith she may remain satisfied and contented, and you shall give it such parents as you yourself shall think fit, for the better covering of the truth of my bringing it hither.' His woman made answer. all should be done as he had ordered it.

This business was no sooner put into so good a way, but that Don Juan with all the haste he could returned to see whether they would whist once more unto him; but a little before that he came to the said house where they had called unto him, he might hear a great clashing of swords, as if many had been together by the ears slashing one another. He stood listening a while, but could not hear any one word pass between them. This hammering of iron was in the dark, save only that by the light of those sparks which the stones, wounded by their swords, raised, he had a glimpse that there were many that had set upon one, and he was confirmed in this truth by hearing that one say: 'O traitors, though ye be many and I but a single man, yet shall not your overmatching me in number make you prevail in your purpose.' Which Don Juan hearing and seeing, transported by his valiant heart, at two leaps he made into the side of him that was assaulted, and taking his sword in one hand and his buckler which he brought along with him in the other, he said unto him that defended himself, in the Italian tongue, that he might not be known to be a Spaniard: 'Fear you nothing, sir, for such succour is now come to you as shall not fail you till his life fail. Bestir yourself, and set yourself roundly to them; for traitors, though they be many, are able to do but little.' To these words replied one of the

Mabbe

1640

adverse part: Thou liest in thy throat, for here is no traitor; but for the recovering of a man's lost honour it is lawful to take this or any other advantage whatsoever.'

There passed no more words between them, because the haste which they made to offend and wound their enemies would not give them leave to talk, who were (to Don Juan seeming) some six of them. They did press so hard upon his companion, that at two home-thrusts which they made at him at once full in his breast, they laid him flat on the ground. Don Juan thought that they had killed him, and with strange nimbleness and valour he bestirred him, and set upon them all, whom he made to give ground by the force of a shower which he rained down upon them of blows and thrusts. But all his diligence had not been able for to offend them and defend himself, if good fortune had not offered him her aid, by causing the neighbours thereabouts in that street to open their windows and come forth with lights, and to call out aloud to the Justice. Which they of the contrary part perceiving forsook the street, and turning their backs went their way.

Don

Now, by this time, he that was fallen had got up again, for those stoccados and thrusts that were made at him lighted on a privy coat which he had, that was as hard and impenetrable as if it had been a rock of diamonds. Juan in this fray had let fall his hat, and seeking for it, instead of his own, lighted by chance on another, which he clapped on his head without looking whether it were his own or no. His fellow that was fallen came unto him and said: 'Sir, whosoever you be, I confess that I am indebted to you for my life, the which, with all that my estate besides can reach unto, I will spend in your service. Let me intreat you to do me a favour to tell me who you are, and what is your name, to the end that I may know to whom I owe so much, that I may manifest my thankfulness.' Whereunto replied Don Juan: 'I will not (sir), seeing myself now dis