worth and valour of Sir Ferdinando George prevented it by God's affiftance. For he having charge of the trenches that day, and a Corps de Guard of English foldiers by him, it was. God's will that he, looking through a loope hole, efpied twenty five or thirty armed men with halberds fallying out of the fort, who meant to come upon us on a fodaine by a by-way that they had, and to cutt all our throates: but he on a fodaine (seeing the present danger) by commanding a dozen or fourteen of his best fouldiers whom he trusted most to follow him in his doublet and hofe, and his rapier by his fide, leapt over the trenches, the reft bravely following him, and with all speede came upon them that were coming to this execution. They fee ing this desperate refolution (whether they thought they had been betrayed,

or what else. I know not) retired into the fort with all speede back againe, and he came bravely off with all his followers without any hurt, though they had many fhott made at them in their going on and coming off from the rampiers. Thus by God's help, and this man's brave refolution, my Lord and all that were with him efcaped this eminent danger.

All the attempts wee made were only against the fort, my Lord ftill urging the King to batter fome part of the town, but it would never be yielded to. Thus we spent a long time to little purpose, from Michaelmaffe to almost Christmaffe, when the Duke of Parma came with an army to relieve the towne, and did effect it.

The King was forced to raise his fiedge with fhame enough, and to

retire

retire 47 : at which time the winter coming on my Lord left his army with Sir 48 Roger Williams, Sir Thomas Bafkervile, and other commanders, tooke his leave of the King, and came for England.

I retourned with my Lord, and left my regiment with Sir Henry Poore (now Viscount 49 Valentia) and fome

fortnight

47 So brave a Prince could never be covered with fhame. His own courage must have maintained his perfonal character. His fortitude must have defended him from dejection. Wherever he came, wherever he fought, he appeared a hero. The fuccefs of his heroifm depended upon heaven.

48 Sir Roger Williams had been fent over by Queen Elizabeth with fix hundred men under his command to affift Henry IV. who afterwards requested four thousand more, which were fent to him under the command of the Earl of Effex. Both thefe fuccours were granted in 1591.

49 The family of Power is extinct. The Earls of Anglesey poffefs the title of Valentia. E 2

Sir

fortnight before Christmasse my Lord and those that came with him arrived at court, where he was very welcome to the Queene and all that attended him, for his fake. Thus ended our French warrs.

I spent two winters and a fummer in court after this, in which time the

Sir Francis Annefley, Knight and Baronet, had a reverfionary grant of the title. He was created Baron Mountnorris of Mountnorris in the county of Armagh in Ireland, and by other letters patent under the great feal of England, dated 11th of March, 19th of James I. he was created Viscount of Valentia in the county of Kerry in Ireland, to him and his heirs male; to hold immediately after the death of Henry Power Lord Viscount Valentia (the perfon mentioned in these Memoirs) without heirs male of his body; which title, fays the Geneologist, Sir Francis Annefley accordingly enjoyed. He was the famous Lord Mountnorris who received fuch oppreffion and injuftice from the Earl of Strafford.

Queene

Queene gave mee out of the Exchequer one thousand pounds to pay my debts, which gave mee great reliefe. Presently after this, my old Lord 5° Scroope died at Carleil, and the Queene gave the Weft Wardenrie to his fonne that had married my fifter. Hee having that office impofed upon him, came to me with great earnestneffe, and defired mee to be his deputy, offering mee yearly that I should live with him in his house, hee would allow me half a dozen men, and as many horses, to bee kept at his charge;

50

Henry Lord Scroop. He was Knight of the Garter, Governor of the caftle of Carlifle, and Warden of the West Marches towards Scotland. He left two fons, Thomas and Henry. Thomas married Philadelphia, daughter of Henry Cary Lord Hunfdon. He was particularly ferviceable to Queen Elizabeth by defending the borders against the Scots, and by making a truce with them, very advantagious to England.