Lord Grey's humanity, and even his honour. In this
instance Spenser must almost certainly have been on the spot. Years
afterwards, in his _View of the State of Ireland_, he describes and
vindicates Lord Grey's proceedings; and he does so, "being," as he
writes, "as near them as any." And we have Lord Grey's own despatch to
Queen Elizabeth, containing a full report of the tragical business. We
have no means of knowing how Lord Grey employed Spenser, or whether he
composed his own despatches. But from Spenser's position, the Secretary,
if he had not some hand in the following vivid and forcible account of
the taking of Smerwick,[58:2] must probably have been cognizant of it;
though there are some slight differences in the despatch, and in the
account which Spenser himself wrote afterwards in his pamphlet on Irish
Affairs.

After describing the proposal of the garrison for a parley, Lord Grey
proceeds,--

There was presently sent unto me one Alexandro, their camp
master; he told me that certain Spaniards and Italians were
there arrived upon fair speeches and great promises, which
altogether vain and false they found; and that it was no part
of their intent to molest or take any government from your
Majesty; for proof, that they were ready to depart as they
came and deliver into my hands the fort. Mine answer was, that
for that I perceived their people to stand of two nations,
Italian and Spanish, I would give no answer unless a Spaniard
was likewise by. He presently went and returned with a Spanish
captain. I then told the Spaniard that I knew their nation to
have an absolute prince, one that was in good league and amity
with your Majesty, which made me to marvell that any of his
people should be found associate with them that went about to
maintain rebels against you. . . And taking it that it could
not be his king's will, I was to know by whom and for what
cause they were sent. His reply was that the king had not sent
them, but that one John Martinez de Ricaldi, Governor for the
king at Bilboa, had willed him to levy a band and repair with
it to St. Andrews (Santander), and there to be directed by
this their colonel here, whom he followed as a blind man, not
knowing whither. The other avouched that they were all sent by
the Pope for the defence of the _Catholica fede_. My answer
was, that I would not