Soldiers, exiles and commanders
Sir William Stanley: Deventer and the English Regiment
An English Catholic commander whose surrender of Deventer brought his regiment into Spanish service—and into Lewkenor’s account of unpaid soldiers, wounded pride and exile.
Sir William Stanley (1548–1630), of the Hooton family in Cheshire, fought in Ireland and the Low Countries. Lewes Lewkenor follows him from his change of allegiance in 1587 through the quarrels and disappointments of Spanish service. Stanley’s regiment brings together Rowland Yorke, Jaques Francesco and the English and Irish soldiers whose careers fill The Estate of English Fugitives.
Ireland and Leicester’s army
Stanley served Elizabeth I in Ireland before joining Leicester’s Netherlands expedition. In 1586 he recruited about 1,400 men, largely Irish, for the campaign. He fought at Doesburg and Zutphen and became governor of Deventer. His commission allowed him to act independently of Sir John Norris, dividing the English command.
Deventer, January 1587
Stanley surrendered Deventer to the Spanish while Yorke delivered the fort by Zutphen. Lewkenor begins with the reputation the two men had earned in war, then follows the promises made to Stanley’s regiment, Cardinal Allen’s intervention and the rivalries among their new commanders:
But now to proceed with my discourse. Shortly after came Sir William Stanley and Rowland Yorke, either of them being a man of great courage, well approved valor, and long experience in the wars, the one rendering unto the King the town of Deventer, and the other betraying the fort of Zutphen; the one being coronel over a regiment of foot, and the other captain of a company of lances. Let us see the one and the others prosperity, and the sequel of their usage under their new chosen master the Spanish King. First, Sir William Stanley was confirmed governor of the town which he rendered, and his regiment left there in garrison, with the receipt of two months pay. For a while he lived in the greatest applause that might be; cardinal Allen was written unto to Rome, to send down priests to instruct this religious regiment. He informed the pope thereof, who both wrote jointly unto the King, to be good and gracious unto this regiment, which being well and liberally entreated, as they had already at Rheimes and Rome a seminary of students and scholars, to pray and write for the Catholic cause of our country, so this being conducted by so worthy and Catholic a gentleman as Sir William Stanley, might be a continual nursery and seminary of soldiers to fight for the same. Withal, cardinal Allen wrote a book unto the captains and soldiers of this regiment, endeavoring therein to satisfy their consciences as touching the justice of this action, and likewise animating them constantly to persevere in this goodly course into the which they were now entered. Besides, down came priests thick and threefold from France and Italy, catechizing these new soldiers with many masses and continual sermons. Gentlemen that for their conscience lay dispursed in other parts, all drew down thether in hope of this good payment and golden world that there was talked of. In the mean time, while the matters were thus in handling, there chanced to arise a great and deadly contention between Sir William Stanley and Rowland Yorke, which, as you shall hear, yielded a very good and easy occasion to overthrow them both; which to the end you may the better understand, I think it not amiss to fetch the matter somewhat farther from the beginning. Deventer, whereof Sir William Stanley was made governor by my lord of Leicester, is a fair city, chief and metropolitan of the province called Overisel, which confineth on Frizeland, situated upon the inside of the river Isel; not far thence upon the same river and the same side, standeth a great town called Zutphen, wherein there was for the King of Spain a governor called Tassos, a Germane borne, and of obscure parents, but himself of notable courage, and by degrees and deserts was grown unto these parts to great reputation and commandment, next in authority to Verdugo, who was general of Frizeland, Overisel, Zutphen, and the bordering places; he had first trained Tassos up to the wars, and given him from time to time such charges and preferments, as at length he had brought him to be in a manner equal with himself in dignity, insomuch that at last he began to suspect his greatness, and would have clipt his wings, but could not, for the other was passing ambitious, full of courage, and by name and many deserts known unto the King, so that in no sort he would let himself be touched in the lest jot of his greatness and reputation, whereupon each of them bare a secret grudge and rancor to the other, which came by this means to be more inflamed: For Sir William Stanley having in his mind fully determined the rendition of Deventer, entered into secret practise with Tassos for the performing thereof; who with all gladness and secrecy entertained his offer til such time as the town was rendered into the hands of Tassos, upon such agreements and conditions as between them were concluded. Tassos exceedingly rejoiced at the honour of his enterprise; and received both from the King and the Duke of Parma many thanks and promises of reward, for his diligence and discreet behaviour therein. Than the which nothing could be more displeasing and bitter to Verdugo, who being governor of the province, and having the forces in his hand, took it as an exceeding disgrace and scorn done unto him, that an inferior person, such as he reckoned Tassos to be, should underhand accomplish so great an exploit, and go away with the honor thereof, and he in the mean time remain stale and neglected, as a man utterly accounted unworthy so much as once to be acquainted therewith; so that from that time forward he nourished in his heart a deadly hatred against Tassos and Sir William Stanley.
Lewes Lewkenor, The Estate of English Fugitives (1595).
Yorke, Verdugo and the loss of his command
Yorke wanted greater authority at Deventer. His dealings with Verdugo helped bring about Stanley’s removal from the town he had surrendered:
In the mean time Rowland Yorkes company of horsemen was confirmed unto him by the Duke of Parma, and both he and they sent down to lie in garrison at Deventer; where of the one side he taking upon him more commandment than Sir William Stanley thought to be convenient, and on the other side scorning to live as a private captain in a town of garrison, (especially under the commandment of one of his nation, to whom he judged himself no way inferior in worthiness,) they began to enter into a great mislike one of the other, and by degrees into deadly quarrels and challenges, as some now in England can well testify, who were mediators between them. Nevertheless by mean of friends they grew again to reconciliation, though the same was but from the teeth outward, and continued not long. For Yorke in the mean time having discovered Verdugo’s humor, fell secretly to practise with him, a mean whereby to thrust Sir William and his companies out of the town, hoping, (and therein being by Verdugo comforted and confidently assured) that upon the remove of Sir William, the government of the town should remain wholly in himself; whereupon he ceased not to beat into Verdugo’s ears (that were of nothing more desirous than of these news) the wavering inconstant humours of Sir William Stanley, the offers made unto him by my lord of Leicester, and his other friends in England; especially of the small affection his soldiers had to the service of the Spanish King, who desired nothing more than an occasion to recover the favour of their country, which by no means they should so soon procure, as by redelivering the town: assuring him, that there were to this end great practises in hand, which could not but turn to a dangerous issue if they should not be in time prevented. Presently thereupon Verdugo wrote unto the Duke of Parma, aggravating the matter with so many additions of his own, that the Duke counted the town as half lost already, though in truth I think there was never any such matter pretended, and presently sent down a straight commission to Verdugo, to draw three of the six companies, over which Sir William Stanley was governor, out of the town, under colour of succouring monsieur de Haultpen, brother to the Earl of Barlamont, who was in the fields with some few forces, taking in certain places of Gelderland. Verdugo was nothing slow to execute this commission, but caused it to be accomplished with all speed, thrusting in their place certain companies of his own into the town; and within a while after he so practised, that Sir William Stanley with his other three companies, were under the like colour of service commanded also to come forth, being told that he should presently return into it again; which as yet to this day he never did: But by this fine devise was eased of his government; and such goods as he and his soldiers left, were spoiled and made booty of, even as though they had pertained to public enemies; since which time this regiment of seminary soldiers with all their religion, were never trusted in any town, nor, as I believe, ever shall be. Being now joined with the troops of Haultpenne, they chanced to encounter the enemy hard by BalDuke, where the Italians and Burgonians, over which captain Haultpenne had charge, playing exceedingly the cowards, they only behaved themselves, though with loss of many of their lives, so manfully, and with such courage, that they grew over the whole country into a marvelous reputation of good soldiers.
Lewes Lewkenor, The Estate of English Fugitives (1595).
The regiment in poverty
Lewkenor follows the men into Brabant, where they survived on dried acorns while Stanley withdrew to Antwerp. Oliver Eustace confronted him with the soldiers’ misery. The same account records the quarrels with priests, the journey to Spain and the collapse of the regiment:
Read Lewkenor’s complete account of the regiment’s distress and Stanley’s journey to Spain
But leaving here Haultpenne their general wounded to death, they marched down into Brabant, where for recompence of their late good service, they were wintered in the field, without money, and in such great misery, nakedness, and poverty, that ten weeks together their chiefest food and sustenance in Turnot was dried acorns that they found in sellers; which diet the priests not liking of, came to their coronel in Antwerp, who to avoid the lamentations and complaints of his soldiers had gotten him thether before, where one Oliver Eustace, an Irish gentleman, told him to his face that he was the author of these poor mens misery, and therefore bound in conscience to procure them some relief. Sir William bit his lip, knowing well that he had told him truth, and their calamity went to his very heart, but how to remedy it he knew not, and therefore absented himself in Antwerp, where you should never have found his table without four or five priests; some of the which were in their behaviour and words far more insolent and sausie than the meekness of their vocation required; insomuch that the captains and gentlemen took such grief and scandal at their controlling humour, that they left Sir William Stanley wholly abandoned and unfrequented. Some did much wonder how a gentleman of his worthiness and courage could endure these indignities, as to suffer himself to be directed and governed by them, especially in such matters as concerned not their vocation. I will not touch for some respects herein any particulars, but if you speak with captain Hart, who was then Sir Williams lieutenant, or with captain Salisbury, who are now both in England, they will satisfy you farther in this matter; none can better speak it than they, especially the last named, because he opposed himself, and had sure sunk under the burthen, if that his wit and courage had not carried him thorough. Once Sir William Stanley began to look to it, and to avoid both that and other inconveniences, took (some years since) his journey into Spain, partly to secure unto himself some estate of living, of which he now (considering this dealing) began to doubt, partly by the invitation of the Jesuits, with which order he is exceedingly enchanted, and to them wholly subjected, who dealt for him in such sort with the cardinal, that he presently sent Parsons away into Spain, to inform the King of his worthiness and virtue, and withal, of his experience of the sea coasts of England, but especially of his intelligence about Ireland, which in truth he presumeth to be very great. Parsons plaid his part in such sort, that Sir William Stanley was presently sent for, who upon his arrival did what he could to persuaded the King to send forces for Ireland; but belike there was not such great credit given him as he expected there should be, insomuch that he wrote letters to Holle the Jesuit, being in Brussels, (which is his countryman, and one upon whom he chiefly relieth,) of great discontentment signifying that his entertainment was far colder than he expected. Within short space after he was sent down to the Kings navy, lying at Coronia, where a while he remained with the Adelantado. In the mean time his regiment began to drop and droop away, in such sort, that what for lack of sustenance, and through ill usage, the number of them was so melted, that they were not in all above an hundred and fifty; and for the chiefest captains, leaders, and gentlemen, they did both so much mislike the base handling of matters, and also the practises there daily set abroad against their country, that they made (by means) intercession to her majesty for their pardon, which of her merciful and royal benignity she granted; so that such of them as remain alive, do enjoy their country, and can testify this which I have said to be true.
Lewes Lewkenor, The Estate of English Fugitives (1595).
“Full of melancholy and passion”
Exclusion from the council of war was another humiliation. Lewkenor describes Stanley’s response:
‘Sir William Stanley took it also in such disdainful sort that he was not called to the counsel of the wars, (whereas he presumed and gave out, that no man in the army knew more, or was better able in this voyage than himself,) that he sequestered himself from the court, and coming discontented to Antwerp, there hired a house, where four or five months he lived full of melancholy and passion, making evident show that his mind was utterly unable to bear the burthen of so great an indignity.’
Lewes Lewkenor, The Estate of English Fugitives (1595).
The captains who returned to England
Lewkenor names the captains and officers, records their petitions for pardon and follows them into further campaigns. Gwin served with Essex and Roger Williams; Peter Winne went to Hungary; James Eaton joined Drake’s Portugal expedition. His account ends with the violent deaths and divided fortunes of the regiment:
Read the full account of Stanley’s captains and officers
After his [Stanley] coming into the Kings service, he divided his regiment, which was the greatest part Irish, into six companies. The leading of his own company he gave to Peter Winne, in which room afterwards (master Winne discharging himself) he placed one Hart, an old soldier and follower of his. The other five companies he gave to Gwin, Salsburie, Eaton, Reinolds, and Harrison, the sergeant majorship he gave to one Simon Scurlocke, an Irish gentleman; but above all the rest, he himself conversed most in kindness of love and affection with one R. Ashton, who had been his bed-fellow, and the greatest furtherer of him in this enterprise. The four first named, after humble suite made unto her majesties honourable council for their pardon, returned into England, and employed themselves with great commendation in her majesties service. Gwin went first with my lord of Essex, and lastly with Sir Roger Williams over into France, as sergeant major of his regiment, where being wounded in a skirmish before the walls of Roan, he languished thereof grievously some three or four weeks, and finally ended his days at Dieppe. Peter Winne likewise went over with my lord of Essex into France; and now lastly hearing of the Turks decent into Hungary, obtained leave to go serve in the Christian army against him, where he was exceedingly well entertained, and honoured with the leading of a company of footmen. But now in the late overthrow given by the Turk to Archduke Mathias, it is reported that he was slain. I could wish the report to be untrue, for he was a man of singular good parts, and might have done her majesty much good service. James Eaton went the Portugal voyage with Sir Francis Drake, where with the extremity of sickness he died on the way. Only captain Salisbury lived, but hath tasted his part of as much adverse fortune, as truly I think his very enemies could wish him. Reinolds, laboring with all instance by his friends here in England for his pardon, was prevented of his return by a cruel bloody flux, of the which he died in Brussels. Hanson was one morning, as the companies marched, run thorough the body and slain by a baggage fellow of the regiment, whom he had stricken the night before. Scurlocke the sergeant major, straggling with certain of the soldiers abroad, was encountered by the peasants, and chased up into a church steeple, where finally both he and they, refusing to submit themselves to the fury of the clowns, were burnt alive. Roger Ashton coming lately into England, was apprehended and executed at Tiburn for treason. If God himself lay it down as one of his blessings, that he will give the righteous long and many happy days on the earth, surely then the taking of these men away in the best of their years by such violent ends, in my judgment, is an apparent argument of his wrath; from which of his divine and inestimable mercy, I beseech him to deliver us.’
Lewes Lewkenor, The Estate of English Fugitives (1595).
Stanley, Jaques and As You Like It
Clare Asquith, in Shadowplay, proposes Stanley as an original for the exiled Duke and his son Rowland as a counterpart to Orlando. Carol Enos connects the melancholy Jaques with Jaques Francesco, who served Stanley. Lewkenor’s book supplies the names, the regiment and its history of exile, melancholy and attempts to return home.
Follow the full comparisons in As You Like It →
Documentary sources
Lewes Lewkenor, The Estate of English Fugitives (1595), accounts of Stanley, Yorke and the regiment. Dictionary of National Biography, “Stanley, William (1548–1630)”. Clare Asquith, Shadowplay (2005). Carol Enos, “Catholic exiles in Flanders and As You Like It; or, what if you don’t like it at all?”, in Theatre and Religion: Lancastrian Shakespeare (2003), pp.130–142.
Rowland Yorke · Jaques Francesco · Roger Williams · The Lewkenor Circle