A bibliography of English military books up to 1642 and of ...

in fortune that he ascribed " to the malicious and false reports of Leicester."
This fa6t would account for the feelings of personal animosity displayed in
his book on Weapons ' against the adherents of Leicester, and it probably increased
his bitterness against the followers of the " new discipline," who,
having learnt their art, as the Queen's favourite (now dead) had done, in the
"tumultuarie and disorderly" wars of the Low Countries, and in France,
afFedted to despise old soldiers, who, like Sir John himself, had gained their
experience in "the well ordered wars of Emperours and Kings." This
party now used their influence at Court to obtain the suppression of the
book, and having gained their end,* they spread the report that its circulation
was prohibited on account of its falsehood and foolishness, and that its author
**
was judged by her Majesty and her council " to have been for some years
in his dotage ; and they threatened still further vengeance. Smythe affirms
that the instigator of this persecution was " a couninge, malicious and skilfuU
deviser and prafticer who, in truth, being the first and cheaf inventor,
beginner and pra6tiser of the newe detestable discipline in the lowe countries
so plainly mentioned in my booke, doth find himselfe so touched in his
guiltie conscience, that underhand, with all the malicious skill that he hath,
he doth invent, procure and force others of his owne discipline (not so guiltie
as himself) to iniure me both by worde and writinges." This anonymous
enemy I believe to have been Sir Roger Williams.* Indignant that his book,
so well liked, as he says, by all the better sort of men in the realm, should
be suppressed "so greatly to his reproach and shame," Smythe wrote repeatedly*
to the Lord Treasurer Burleigh, praying that the restraint might
be taken off, or that he might be allowed to reprint it with corrections ; on
one occasion enclosing a letter to the Oueen, in order that the Treasurer
" might see he was determined to stand by his book." But it does not
appear that his request was granted j and this may be the cause of the grudge
he bore the Lord Treasurer, to which he confessed some years later. In
1596 he was again in trouble ; this time for a turbulent speech made to the
militia, training near Colchester. Being brought before the Star Chamber,
he confessed, and was committed to the Tower, whence he sent a submissive
letter to Burleigh, offering to write an apology for publication,
and praying that his punishment might consist in confinement to his own
^
Written in 1589, the year following Leicester's death.
' It was suppressed by warrant. May 14, 1590.
'
Lansdowne MSS. Ixiv. 65. Reasons ascribed for his quarrels with Sir Roger
Williams.
* Lansdowne MSS. Ixiv. 43, 45, 52, 57 ; Iv. 62. Letters concerning the suppression
of his book. In another letter (Lansd. Ixxx.), dated Mar. i, 1591, he asks that
two of his books, one " an old book which he has amended," and another on " Arithmetical
Tables," may be printed.
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