Williams
was one of the most famous soldiers of the Elizabethan age. He fought for years
on the Netherlands, and on both sides. He also took part in the English expedition
to Portugal in 1589 and fought long in the French religious wars.Williams
was one of the most famous soldiers of the Elizabethan age. He fought for years
on the Netherlands, and on both sides. He also took part in the English expedition
to Portugal in 1589 and fought long in the French religious wars.
He was known and liked by Henry IV of France, William of Orange, the redoubtable Alessandro Farnese, Duke of Parma, and by many other French, Spanish, Dutch, and German generals. In England he numbered Walsingham, Leicester, and Essex among his friends and had a wide acquaintance among men of letters, politicians, and soldiers. Even Queen Elizabeth toward the end of her days acknowledged his worth and smiled kindly upon him.
Williams, son of Thomas Williams, was born of a poor, though ancient Welsh family of Penrhos in Monmouthshire. In his boyhood, he was page to William Herbert the first Earl of Pembroke. Some believe that he spent some time as a student at Brasenose College, Oxford in 1552.
His military career falls into two periods. First, from 1572 through 1587, he fought in the Low Countries, either on the side of the Netherlanders or of the Spanish; second, from September 1589, almost until the time of his death in 1595, he fought in the French religious wars. Between these two periods, in the years of 1588 and 1599, he was the leading figure in the plans to repel the troops which the Spanish Armada expected to land in England, and following this he took part in the massive raid on Portugal in 1589. Leicester knighted Williams in October 1586 along with others who had distinguished themselves. Leicester was later chastised by the Queen for giving away knighthood so freely, cheapening the title.
Williams was the author of two books, The Actions of the Low Countries (published posthumously in 1618) and A Brief Discourse of War (1590).
Throughout these combative years there was hardly a battle where his fearlessness and daring were not remarked by his friends or foes, sometimes by both. No matter what the circumstances were, he distinguished himself. Soldiering was his trade, and he had an instinct for good workmanship.
Williams was known to be a thoughtful man of action; meaning that, while he was not rash, he preferred quick, decisive action to long debates. He wasn’t reckless, though. He simply had a knack of analyzing the situation and acting on it quickly, while the opportunity still presented itself.
He was also known as a sporting man. Once, a Welsh officer named Thomas, while serving in the Spanish army, challenged the English commander in the Netherlands, named Sir John Norris, to single combat in view of both opposing armies. When Norris declined, Williams took up the challenge on his side’s behalf. During the lengthy bout, it became obvious that nether combatant was capable of killing the other. They then called off the duel and went off to have a drinking party together.
It appears that Williams’ death in 1595 at the home of Henry Herbert, the second Earl of Pembroke, was an indirect result of his hard-drinking nature. It is widely believed that Williams caught a chronic fever during the winter after a drinking bout in the Netherlands. It was written, “Sir Roger Williams hath been dangerously sick of a hot burning ague that came by a surfeit, bit is a very little better.” Five days later, December 13, 1595, he was dead.
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