his own Queen as appears by his slaunders against her and his respect to Philip both which these following Letters will testifie To the most Mighty Monarch of World the Great King M S. F. 97. Laud. in Bibl. Bâ—dl â—xon fol. 180. of Spain give this at his Princely Palace of Madril Most Mighty Monarch I Humbly salute your Imperial Majesty giving your Highness to understand of our great misery and violent order wherewith we are of long time opprest by the English Nation Their Government is such as Pharaoh himself never used the like for they content not themselves with all Temporal Superiority but by cruelty desire our bloud and perpetual destruction to blot out the whole remembrance of our Posterity as also our old Catholick Religion and to swear that the Queen of England is Supreme of the Cburch I refer the consideration thereof to your Mâ—jesties high judgement the rather for that Nero in his time was far inferiour to this Queen in cruelty Wherefore and for the respects thereof Right Mighty Potentate my self with my followers and retainers and being also requested by the Bishops Prelates and Religious men of my Country have drawn my Sword and proclaimed Wars against them for the recovery first of Christs Catholick Religion and next for the maintenance of my own Right which of long time hath been wrongfully detained from me and my Father who by right succession was lawful heir to the Earldom of Desmond for he was eldest son to James my Grandfather also Earl of Desmond and for that my Vncle Gerald being the younger Brother took part with the wicked proceedings of the Queen of England to farther the unlawful claim of Supremacy usurped the name of Earl of Desmond in my Fathers true Title yet notwithstanding he had not long enjoyed his name of Earl when the wicked English annoyed him and prosecuted Wars that he with the most part of those that held of his side was slain and his Country thereby planted with Englishmen And now by the just judgement and providence of God I have utterly rooted these Malepart a a Boughs bowse out of the Orchard of my Country and have profited so much in my proceedings that my dâ—sterly Enemies dare not shew their faces in any part of my Country but having taken my Towns and Cities for their refuge and strength where they do remain as it were Prisoner for want of means to assail them as Cannon and Powder which my Country cannot yeild Having these wants most noble Potentate I have presumed with all humility to address these my Letters to your High Majesty craving the same of your gracious clemency and goodness to assist me in this godly enterprise with some help of such necessaries for the Wars as your Majesty shall think requisite and after the quiet of my Country satisfaction shall be truely made for the sâ—me and my self in person with all my forces shall be ready to serve your Highness in any Country your Majesty shall command me And if your Majesty will vouchsafe to send me a competent number of Souldiers I will place them in some of my Towns and Cities to remain in your gracious disposition till such time as my ability shall make good what your Majesty shall lend me in money and Munition and also your Majesties high Commission under the Broad Seal for leading and conducting these Souldiers according to the Prescript Order and Articles of martial discipline as your Majestie shall appoint me and as the service of this Land shall require I praise the Almighty God I have done by his goodness more then all my Predecessors for I have reclaim'd all the Nobility of this part of Ireland under the dutiful obedience of Christs Church and mine own Authority and accordingly have taken Pledges and Corporal Oaths never to swerve from the same and would have sent them to your Majestie by this Bearer but that the Ship was not of sufficiencie nor strength to carrie so Noble Personages and will send them whensoever your Highness please So there resteth nothing to quiet this part of the World but your Majesties assistance which I daily expect Thus most Mighty Monarch I humbly take my leave and do kiss your Royal hands beseeching the Almighty of your Majesties health and happiness Your Majesties most humble at all command James Desmond From my Camp the XIV of March MD XCIX Copia vera concordans cum Originali examinat per Tho. White Mayor of Waterford Another Letter of the same date To the most mighty Monarch of the World the Great King of Spain give these at his most Princely Palace at Madrid YOur Majesty shall understand that the Bearer hereof Captain M S. F 97. fol. 188. Andrew Roche hath been always in the service of the Queen of England and hath performed her manifold services at Sea whereby he had great preferment and credit and being of late time conversant with Catholicks and â—eachers of Divine Instructions that were sorry for his lewd life made known unto him the danger wherein his soul was So that by their godly perswasions he was at that time reclaimed and converted to be a good Catholick and to spend the residue of his life in the defence and service of the Church Since which time of reconcilement he was to repair to your Majesty with his Ship and Goods as 't is well known to your Highness Council who consiscated that Ship to your Majesties use himself being at that time strucken with extream sickness that he was not able to proceed in the Voyage and when his company return'd into Ireland they reported that the a a Adelantado or the Spanish Admiral Lantado wished rather his Person then his Ship which made him fearful ever since to repair thâ—ther till he should deserve his freedom by some worthy service to your Majesty The b b Let some Romanist tell us the meaning of this for none was Hâ—â—buâ— King 〈◊〉 Vâ— of 〈…〉 the 〈…〉 England Heir Apparent to the Crown of England had been carryed â—y him to your Highness but that he was bewrayed by some of his own men and thereby was intercepted and himself taken prisoner where he remain'd so long till by the providence of God and the help of good friends he was convey'd into Ireland to me in a small boat â—â—d having thâ—se occasions to your Majesty and being assured of his trust faith and confidence towards me have committed this charge into his hands the rather for that I understand your Royal Fleet is directed for England this year to the end he may be a Leader and Condâ—ctor to them in the Coast of England and Ireland being very expert in the knowledge thereof and in the whole Art of Navigation And thus with all humility I commit your Highness to the Almighty Your Majesties most humble at all command James Desmond From my Camp the XIV or March MD LXXXXIX Copia vera concordans cum Originali examinat
lib. 1. pag. 119. St. Antony who by the sign of the Cross turned an ugly Toad into a fat piping-hot roasted Capon 'T was a good-natured piece of m Id. l. 2. p. 322. Capon that to save the credit of St. Francis turn'd it self into a Fish And a merry n Tho. Cantiprat l. 2. c. 1. Sect 10. Magpy which for many days talked in the belly of him who had eaten it As the Irish Sheep did o Jac. de Vorag Hist 51. Pet. de Natal lib. 3. cap. 104. bleat in the guts of him who had stollen and eaten it the better to discover the Theft It was an hard case that at the same time a great p Pet. de Natal lib. 1. cap. 25. Rock should divide it self for the preservation of St. Barbara and that a Shepherd and his Sheep should be turn'd into Stones But it was a civil q Jac. de Vorag Hist 94. stone that yeilded like wax to the body of St. James But above all the highstone-Tower shew'd its kindness best when it was so complemental as to a Ibid. bow its Top down to the ground to let a Prisoner the better to escape Yet the flowing Seas shew'd their humility enough when for reverence they durst not approach neer to the Jesuit b Nieremburg Hist Nat. l. 9. c. 95. Joseph Anchieta and the c Sun it self must return back or stand still at the desire of Father Xavier of the same Order as it did to d Dauroult cap. 7. Tit. 76. Sect. 6. Mutius the Hermit b Imago primi Saeculi soc Jesu pag. 625. But to return to Earth they tell us how e Jo. Capgrave Surius Swithine the true Raining-Saint made whole and sound a poor Womans Eggs that were unhappily broken to pieces That a Woman had her f Tho. Cantiprat l. 2. c. 25. Sect. 7. Tub miraculously fill'd with Meal And for the honour of good-fellowship how one by the same knack had his g Ib. Sect. 11. Barrel fill'd with Wine as another had his h Ib. Sect. 12. Flagon That a well-meaning Wench having emptyed by stealth an i Art à Monast Martyrol Francisc XXI Aug. Sect. 4. Hogshead of her Fathers Wine to pleasure some Fryar had it replenish'd again by the vertue of St. Francis And that a Woman running to give Fryar Antony some Wine through haste and negligence carryed away the k L' Alc. des Cord. lib. 1. pag. 115. Spigot in her hands and so at her return found the Wine all run out but she relying on the Fryars merits or cunning put the Spigot into the Faucet and presently the Vessel was so full of good Wine again that it ran over But above all give me some of l Vita S. Bernard l. 1. c. 11. St. Bernards Ale which was so good that it infused Grace and converted a Company of Jovialblades It seems Beasts and Birds were not so shie and peevish formerly as now when a m Capgrave fol 18. Buck would run to St. Aido and kneel as him or if praying his help As an * Id. fol. 37. Hare was so saved by Anselme When n Niâ—remberg Hist Nat lib. 9. cap. 95. Sparrows would flock to Remigius and eat from his fist When not onely Birds but o Ibid. Fishes would do the same to Jodocus and took delight to flutter about Maxentius They say that p Id. c. 95 96. Joseph Anchieta the Jesuit out-vapour'd the Serpents and in the heat of Summer made the Birds fly over him for a shade That q Id. cap. 95. Brigid had a Boar to preserve her Flocks r Id. Hist Mirac l. 2 c. 68. Eutichius a Bear and St. Hidrome a Lyon to keep his Ass That a Å¿ Dauroult c. 7. Tit. 76. Sect. 3. Wolf at the name of Nortbert let a Sheep go A t Ibid. Sect. 4. Serpent secured a Thief Two u Ibid. Sect. 2. Lyons upon command directed stray'd Travellers into the right way And which is most of all that an ugly filthy w Nic. Jansâ—â— l. 2. c. 3. p. 215. worm was turned into a precious Stone by St. Dominick Nay these Beasts must be Religious too and probably good Roman Catholicks Thus the Beasts used to come to be x Villegas III Febr. Jac. de Vorag Hist 41. blest by St. Blasius nor would they depart till they had received his Benediction A company of y L' Alc. des Cord. l. 1. p. 69. Larks sang the Requiem of St. Francis the Birds z Id. pag. 82. flew out of a Wood lest their chatterings should disturbe the Prayers of Fryar Rollus One time a great Flock of Birds with stretch'd-out necks gaped and attentively a Id. pag. 192. hearkn'd to the Preachment of St. Francis Another time a great Shoal of b Id. pag. 112 113. Fishes held their heads out of the Water the better to hear Fryar Anthonies Sermon and when he had done some of them open'd their mouths others bow'd down their heads whilst others hum'd him and then departed with a great deal of comfort And other c Pet. de Natal lib. 5. cap. 117. Fishes at the command of St. Branden lift up their voices and prais'd God And thus a d L' Aâ—c des Câ—rd l 1. p. 200. Sheep bleated and kneel'd before the Altar And the story saith that the stones answered Amen to blind Venerable Bedes Sermon And if any of these Creatures do an injury and displeasure how sorry and grieved will they render them for it Thus they tell us of a e Nieremberg de Mitac lib. 2. cap. 72. Raven or Crow which did Pennance by tormenting it self three days on a Mountain onely for throwing down a little Milk But the Story how St. Francis made peace between the City Eugubio and a Wolf is as pretty a thumper as any in short thus A Wolf having done much mischief to the Citizens he undertook to make them good friends upon this he calls the Beast to L' Alc. des Cord. lib. 1. pag. 188 189. him saying Brother Wolf you shall promise to live quietly if the people will afford you Victuals Then the Wolf bow'd down his head in sign of consent But Francis bid him plight his a Da mihi fidem troth Then the Wolf lift up his right paw and Francis held forth his fist and so the Saint and Beast shook hand and foot Then Francis Preach'd and after Sermon past his word to the Citizens for the Wolfs future good behaviour provided they would not molest the Wolf to which they promising and the Wolf kneeling down in sign of agreement all the people shouted for joy of the Peace And thus the Wolf lived two years begging his meat from door to door the very Dogs all the while not so much as barking at him Nay these Animals are doughty Champions for Invocation of Saints too Thus they assure us that a little
And here Eulalius lost himself with the Emperour for contrary to his express command he enters into the City upon which new Tumults begin and odd threatning and bickering there was in spight of the Governour or Authority Symmachus himself being in great danger in this hurlyburly all parties striving to possess the Lateran Upon this Honorius expresly orders Eulalius for peace-sake to depart the City and that in the mean time he should not be acknowledged and that the Bishop of Spoleto according to the former Order onely remain there and solely have the possession of the Lateran Church for the time of Easter These Orders Eulalius also very unadvisedly withstands and having gotten his party together thought by main force to have seis'd upon the Lateran upon this more mischief falls out but at last Eulalius is beat out of the City Achilleus remain'd possess'd of the Church and had good Guards appointed him for his and its defence Sigon Hist de Occid Imp. an 419. Honorius the Emperour being certified of and offended at this expresly excludes Eulalius and settles Boniface in the Popedom to which he had a meeting of many Bishops consenting Thus we have seen in short the storie of another riotous canvasing and because this is of no smaâ—l concern Baronius would by no means have us to think that Eulalius had any right by Election upon the Narrative of Symmachus because as he saith he was partial and seem'd to favour Eulalius But to this may be return'd I. That if the Governour favour'd a Coeffeteau Resp p. 245. Heathenism he might be as much an Enemy to the Christianity of the one as well as the other they objecting nothing against the soundness of either of them for Principles of Religion II. Symmachus in his third letter to Honorius when the Emperor shew'd no more favour for the one than the other b Religiosos viros Bonifacâ—um Eulalium nameth Boniface before Fulalius which somewhat signifieth rather his favour for the former III. And lastly Symmachus in his Letters to Constantius Brother-in-Law to the Emperour writes virulently against Eulalius accusing him of occasion of misbehavour and riots from which some may suppose that the Governour was impartial and true when he assured to the Emperour that Eulalius was rightly chosen But besides this another dispute may arise upon this story viz. c Lib 4. cap. 160 Petrus de Natalibus d Generat 15. pag. 511. Nauclerus e Vit. Bonâ—fac I. Plâ—tina f Cronicle Universale fol. â—66 Filippo da Bergamo g Hist de O cid Imp. l. 11. anno 419. Sigonius h Hist Pontifical fol. 74. Gonzalo de Illiscas and their ancient Vatican i See the Councils Liber Pontificalis with k Epit Pontif Rom. de Pontif. Caâ—dinalium crea ione Edict venet 1557. vit Eulalii But this is left out in the Colen Edition at the end of Platina And in that of Jo. Gaulter Chron. Chronicorum Tom. 1. Onuphrius do declare that the Emperour Honorius was at Milan at this time and thence sent his Orders which if be true and these men had no reason to affirm this if false nor need the Roman Catholick question them being all noted Historians of their Religion then must those Letters in Baronius which carry their date to and from Honorius at Ravenna concerning this Schism be spurious and counterfeit and so for ought that I know we may lose part of the story and if these be be false and 't is plain the two Vatican Manuscripts contradict each other I shall give the less esteem to the pretended Records that are produced from those Archives for many cheating writings not forgâ—tting the Gift and Decree of Constantine are shewn to us for true and authentick out of that Library of which Platina was Keeper and a diligent searcher into the ancient Manuscripts of it and Onuphrius had the liberty and was well read in every piece of Antiquity in it The often mention of Symmachus Governour of Rome in the late Tumults puts me in minde of a Pope not long after of that name noted also for a Schism in his time For Anastasius the Second being a an 498. dead those of Rome ran head long into a new disorder some chusing for Pope Symmachus whilst others elected one Laurentius upon which great disorders riots and mischiefs arises which continued for some years to be short the business was refer'd to Theodorick an Arian King of the Ostrogothes who had then over-run Italy and Symmachus carryed it those of the party of Laurentius troubled at this frame Articles against Symmachus accusing him of some Vices and admit Laurentius upon which new disorders growing and the King being vext at this dissention as b Platina vit Sym. Fil. dâ— Bergamo Cronicle Universale fol. 245. Ant. Sabellic En. 8. l. 2. Jo. Maucler Gener. 17. some say sends Petrus Bishop of Altino in the Territory of Venice now ruined and no Episcopal Seat to Rome there to rule as chief the other two being turn'd out to conclude Petrus is rejected Laurence his party strive to carry all all sorts of villanies are committed Sacred places violated Priests slain but at last after suchlike infinite outrages and murders Symmachus is acknowledged as Pope and in the Chair of Rome ruled several years But before I shake hands with this story I hope you will give me leave to tell you one Tale in confirmation of the right of Symmachus to the Papal Chair and this upon no less authority than Pope c Dialog l. 4. c. 40. Gregory the Great But first we must understand that one Paschasius stood fiercely for Laurentius against Symmachus and that this Paschasius for his learning honesty and holiness was especially famous in those times yet for all these noble qualifications he would never acknowledge Symmachus but on the contrary look'd upon Laurentius to have all right equity and law of his side and so stedfast was he in this that to his dying day he would hold none other for Pope And this was not a little blot to the reputation of the Cause of Symmachus and by consequence to the true Succession of Popes that this Paschasius so knowing so just so vertuous and one who hath got an holy name in the Roman d Baron Martyrol Rom. Maii 13. Martyrologies should look upon Symmachus as an Antipope and acknowledge Laurentius as the onely true one But though good Paschasius dyed in this opinion yet we shall now here the storie of his punishment and repentance for so doing and so the objection cleer'd It chanced upon a time that Germanus Bishop of Capua now an Archbishop See being not well was desired by his Physitians for healths-sake to go into an hot Bath whither being gone he findes there Paschasius dead long before standing in a penitent and piping-hot condition at which Germanus being troubled ask'd him Why he so good a man had to do there
formerly chose and sworn King of the Romans at which Innocent greatly rejoyced though he Pet. Mexia fol. 423. could not but know that this reason was as valid when he was formerly so zealous for Otho and resolute against all others whatsoever Frederick comes into Germany is Crowned at Aix Otho makes what opposition he can but is overthrown and so forced to withdraw and neglect the Empire And thus being deposed again Frederick remain'd as Supreme and so had himself with the Popes consent the second time d Spon anno 1215. § 4. Crown'd at Aix In the mean time was held a Great Council at the Lateran whereby Transubstantiation got a good footing and Temporal Princes were to be by the Pope deposed and their Subjects absolved from their Allegiance if they neglected to extirpate out of their Dominions that which the Pope call'd Heresie Otho having been three years turned out dyed but they say so penitently that he made the a Bzov. an 128. § 19. Spondâ—n § 7 8. Skullions of his Kitchen tread upon his neck and though he remained a while in Purgatory yet at last he was help'd into Heaven Nor need we question his sanctity seeing as they tell us being sick and weak his side opened to let the Eucharist fly in and then closed again and I believe it was as true in him as it was in Bonaventure Sect. 3. The troubles and deposing of the Emperour Frederick the Second FRederick II being thus Emperour goeth to Rome where he â—220 was Crowned by Honorius III but this peace lasted not long Frederick having been abused by several in Italy pretended that the Pope took their parts On the other side Honorius would have the Emperour to go and reduce the Holy-land Frederick pretended to retreeve and regain the Territories that formerly had belonged to the Empire Honorius affirm'd they now belong'd to the Church and St. Peter And thus bandying to and fro some say that Honorius threw about his Excommucations Honorius dying Gregory IX succeeds and threatens Frederick year 1227 with Excommunication if he set not sail for the Holy-land by such a time The Emperour neglecting is Excommunicated and so seeing no remedy sails to Syria where he makes peace 122â— with the Sultan having Hierusalem and other places deliver'd to him And yet is Gregory b Pap Greg. â—â—nus moloâ—re ferens quod Rom. Imp. Excommunicatus Rebellis ad terram Sanctam transierat Mat. Paris anno 1229. angry that he went thither being Excommunicated and a Rebel against him and so intends to dethrone him sends into Asia to the c Nanâ—â—er pag. 818. Hospitallers and Templers that they should no way assist Frederick but look upon him as a publick Enemy who accordingly endeavour'd to d Matt. Pariâ— p 35â— betray him to the Saracen but the Souldan out of a Noble Spirit scorned Treachery and discovered it to the Emperour The Pope in the mean time having as he thought â—ut him out work enough to do in the Holy-land resolves to take opportunity in his absence so he sends into England e Mat. Paris p. 361. accusing of him of horrible-terrible Piccadiglio's that he being f Pag. 368. Excommunicated should enter the Church at Hierusalem and be Crowned and then go to his Palace before his Souldiers with his Crown on and then inviting several of the Noble Saracens to a Feast did for recreation-sake let some Christian women dance before them And to aggravate these how he had taken some Church-monies probably to pay his Army c. but the burden of the lamentation was that he might have some English moneys to help him in his Wars against the Emperour whom he thinks it g Justum esse fidei Christianae necessarium â—t tam valiâ—ius Ecclesiae persecutor a faâ—â—u Imporii depelleâ—etur Mat. Paris Ib. just and necessary to have deposed from the Empire And what vast sums these canting stories obtain'd is easily guess'd when in England Wales and Ireland the very Church-Ornaments and Plate were sold or pawn'd to satisfie the a Matt. Paris anno 1229. pag. 361. 362. anno 1234. p. 400 401 40â— 554 566 613. 622 623 641 645 655 658 659 660. 667 691 699 700 716 722 728 818 875 956. Nic. Harpsfield Hist Eccles pag. 477. Fox Tom. 1. pag. 369 370. avarice of Rome for if they gave not presently the Nuntio threatned Excommunications and Interdictions such a childish fear had the Papal Censures then possess'd men with and to such an height of tyranny and impudence to say no worse had the Bishops of Rome stuffed out and swell'd themselves to as if they had a Divine right over all the Moneys and Riches in the World and thus is the case alter'd Christ and St. Peter rather then not pay their dues and tribute to their Temporal Prince would be at the expence of a Miracle but now the Kings and Princes must beggar and ruine themselves and Subjects to satisfie the avarice of the Bishop of Rome who pretends to be but a Vicar to the former for if you deny this he hath an hobgobling in his Budget to boggle you to your ruine here or damnation hereafter though wise Kings should not regard such Censures upon such unjust grounds and from those who have no Authority over them Gregory having thus got Money enough falls upon those Lands which the Emperour pretended to in Italy making the people b Naucler pag 818. rebel and withdraw themselves from their b Allegiance whereby he took many places Frederick hearing of this Papal dealing having made peace with the Souldan resolves to return The Pope informed of this c Matt. Paris anno 1229. pag 364. way-lays him hoping to seize upon him when he little thought of it but Frederick having notice escaped all his snares and landed safely in Sicily and having strengthned himself regain'd some places again At last a d 1230. peace is made between him and the Pope Not not longer after the Pope and the Romans fell out insomuch that Gregory was glad to leave the City but here the Emperour e Matt. Paris anno 1â—34 pag. 408. 409. helps him at a dead lift joyning his Forces to the Pope's whereby the Romans were bang'd to the purpose But let us see how the Pope requites this good turn The Milanois a little after rebelling against the Emperour he resolves as it became him to reduce those Traitors to obedience Gregory perswades him from that design and would have him again forsooth to turn his Army into the Holy-land But Frederick wisely thought Matt. Par. an 1236. pag. 433. it was fitting to pacifie all at home first and did not a little marvail that the Pope should interest himself for such perfidious people But for all his wondering Gregory assists the Milanois sends them a great deal of money and for further incouragement promiseth them more the Milanois take courage but whilst the Emperour is engaged against them
purpose Thus much for Cheures though related to the Royal Bloud of Hungary yet base cruel and covetous as most Favourites are by such vices getting their preferments All such grand Flatterers Pimps and Pick-thanks being the greatest bane and curse that can happen to a King and Kingdom Carlos had not been long King in Spain but the Emperor Maximilian year 1519 I. his Grand-father dying he was chosen Emperour at Franck-fort by the Electors and so was call'd Charles V. The Electors send him news of it desiring him to come into Germany to receive the Imperial Crowâ— He consents and prepares for his journey at which the Spaniards take an Allarum the great City of Toledo leading the way protesting against his going desiring the other Cities to joyn with them the better to hinder his departure The Emperour in hopes to get some money for his journey summons a Parliament to be held at St. Jago in Galicia Toledo obeys it and according to the custom of that City which was for the Aldermen Regidores and Common-council-men Jurados then present to draw lots and one of each to go upon whom the Lot falls it was Don Juan de Silva's chance to go as Regidor and Alonso de Aguirre as Jurate for Toledo But the Citizens knowing these two Burgesses not to be of their Faction would not afford them a full but a limited power which the other not accepting they went not Whereupon the Toledians chose four others of their own party to go and perswade the Emperour not to depart out of Spain These Commissioners hasted to Valladolid where Charles was year 1520 where being come they had a designe to get the people into a Tumult and so by force to hinder the Emperours departure and to seize upon Xeures and the other Flemings but this plot fail'd though some hours after opportunity offer'd it self if they could have taken hold of it For a Rumour being suddenly spread in the City that the Emperour was departing and that the Magistrates had granted him his desire the people in a hurly-burly ran madding about the streets shewing a willingness to hinder the Emperours journey In this hubbub and confusion one runs up into the Steeple of a A very ancient Paâ—â—sh where hung a great Bell commonly call'd the Council-Bell which never used to be ruâ—g but in times oâ— war upâ—oars or Alarms St. Michael and rings the Bell which being heard by the people without fear or wit they hurry to Arms. Charles informed of this dangerous Tumult resolves to depart though in a most stormy rain Being come to the Gates there he found some of the rabble who had seiz'd upon them began to shut them and Barricado up the way but the Emperours Guards presently made them quit their Post so having got â—ut he hastes to Tordesellas with such speed that nâ—ne but Xeures could keep him company But the Magistrates of Vallidolid plead their innocencie in this last uproar laying the fault onâ—ly upon the Rabble many of which were severely punished The Emperour hastes to St. Jago to meet his Parliament where the Commissioners or Burgesses shew nothing but their resolution to oppose the Emperours desires Though he promised a return after he had received the Imperial Crown Germany now falling into some distractions by reason of his absence From St. Jago Charles goeth to Corunna or the Groyne where the Commissioners of the Kingdoms go also and at last most of them grant him some monies for which they got no thanks from their Cities In the mean time Toledo falls into distractions the chief Authors of their troubles being Hernando de Avalos and Don Juan de Padilla with his high-spirited wife Donna Maria Pacheco all of good Families who fill'd the peoples heads full of many whimsies Insomuch that in a Religious Procession the Royal party were abused to the no small joy of the Rabble The Emperour informed of these things summons Juan de Padilla and some others to appear before him To put a plausible pretence to their non-appearance they desired some of their kindred to make a muteny and apprehend them and not to let them go but this trick failing they perswaded the Fryars of St. Augustine and those of St. Juan de los Reyes to seize upon them in their general Procession but this by another accidental disorder â—ailing also they addrest themselves to some mean and scandalous Fellows who consenting to their Plot then de Avilos and de Padilla made shew as if they intended to obey the Emperours commands and appear at the Court. Upon which the hired Rabble came and seised upon them declaring they would not part with such good Commonwealths men so carryed them to a Chappel where they made them promise not to go to the Emperour though the other seem'd teeth-forward earnestly to protest against such dealings and that they were willing to obey the Emperour This done the people made the Cowardly Governor of Toledo Don Antonio de Cordova to approve their actions and to forbid their friends to go to Court The mischief being gone thus far Hernando de Avalos and Juan de Padilla push them on farther for which they had the Fryars and Priests at their service who in their Pulpits incensed the people to the purpose who according as they were instigated though with the loss of some bloud seise upon the Gates Bridges and and Fort of the City and so all was their own they now publickly calling themselves the a La santa Comunidad HOLY COMMUNALTIE And this was the Order they governed themselves by every time they were to treat of any business the Inhabitants of every particular Parish were to assemble and two publick Notaries with them before whom every man how mean soever was to sit down and declare his Opinion The Emperour being at Corunna and fitting for his departure news comes to him of these Tumults of Toledo which did not a little trouble him but hoping that as their beginning was in haste so they would not last long Thus all things being ready he goeth b May 19. aboard lands at Dover in England where and at Canterbury being nobly entertain'd by Henry VIII he return'd to his Fleet which carryed him to Flushing thence by degrees he went for Aken there to receive the Imperial Crown where we leave him The Emperour before his departure had made Governour or Vice-roy Cardinal Adrian who had been formerly his Tutor and was afterwards Pope Adrian VI for he would not change his name according to the custom Upon the Emperours departure the Nobility and Gentry which waited upon him as far as the sea-side return'd to their own houses and the Commissioners or Burgesses to their respective Cities and the Cardinal took his way towards Valladolid And now began the people to be stark mad and the City of Segovia led the way and thus it was It is a custom in Segovia every Tuesday in Whitson-week that the Collectors meet to treat concerning the
so presently quell'd their Tumults The Emperour being at Lovain in Brabant journeying for his Imperial Crown received news of these Tumults in Spain which did not a little perplex him and thinking by fair means to reduce them to obedience he wrote gracious Letters to all the Cities offering them pardon desiring them for the future to be peaceable promising to return shortly into Spain amongst them Commands that the Subsidie which was granted him by the Commissioners at the Groyne should not be exacted from the Cities that were Loyal or would be so That no Office should be confer'd but upon the Natives But these gracious Letters gain'd nothing upon the people who were now resolved over shooes over boots And the better to carry on their contrived Sedition they appoint a meeting of the Commissioners of their Cities to be held at Avila in Old Castile and there to sit and act for the good of their Holy Commonalty and this Meeting or Conventicle they call'd THE HOLY JVNTA or ASSEMBLY This was held July 29. 1520. La santa Junta â— in the Chapter of the Cathedral Church and in the middle of the Commissioners was placed a little Form whereon sate a certain Cloth-worker named Pinilles with a wand in his hand whose Office was such that no Commissioner durst offer to speak one word till by pointing to him with his stick he had given him the signe But this Junta was presently after removed to Tordesillas in Leon for Juan de Padilla having marched out of Toledo with two thousand men which were increas'd with other forces from Madrid and other places and relieved Segovia by making Ronquillo retreat he then march'd to Medina del Campo where he was joyfully received and where Bobadilla the forementioned Cloth-worker in a furious zeal whisks out his sword and without any Authority at one blow cut off Gil Nieto an Alderman his head and had his body thrown out of the a Regimiento or Casa del Regimiento The house where the Citizens meet about the Cities affairs Town-hall Windows upon the Souldiers Pikes which stood below the reason was he concealâ—d the coming of Fonceca which he knew of From Medina Padilla marcheth to Tordesillas where the Queen-mother had been kept up for several years being held indisposed for any business by reason of her crackt brain To her he goeth and soothes her up so cunningly that she poor woman undertook to give him the Command of Captain General in that Kingdom and so she joyn'd her self to the Junta which she commanded to adjurn to Tordesillas which accordingly was joyfully obey'd and here they sat with her for the future The Emperour thinking to quiet all by taking away their exception from the Cardinal who was a stranger orders Don Inigo de Velasco Lord high Constable of Castile and Leon and Don Fadrique Enriquez Lord Admiral of Castile to be in joynt Commission and Authority with Adrian in the Government but all would not do The Junta having now the weak-brain'd Queen-Mother at their disposal lookt upon themselves as great enough to act any thing so they turn out those who were about her that favour'd the Emperour Then they send a Dominican Fryar to Valladolid who from the Pulpit of St. Maria la Mayor perswaded the people to seise upon the Kings Council there declaring it unfitting that they should sit in opposition to the holy Junta the Citizens at this were a little divided however they concluded that they themselves would not lay hands on the Council-Royal being of a dangerous consequence but if the Junta which they would not disâ—bey had a desire to have them they might send their own Souldiers and should have liberty to seise upon them From which time several of the Kings Council began to steal away The Junta informed of this answer sent Dr. Alonso de Medina a Francisean who being come to Valladolid desired the people to meet him at the Monastery of St. Francis where in the Pulpit he renew'd the old request that the Royal Council might be seised on and sent prisoners to Tordesillas telling them that there were souldiers without the City to act it To this the Citizens agreeing the next day Juan de Padilla enters the City with above a thousand men seis'd on all the Council he could finde with the Books of the Treasury and the Great Seal all which he carryed to Tordesillas Yet would not the Citizens let Cardinal Adrian be affronted whom they look'd upon as an holy and good man But he considering the unconstancie of the people thought good to consult his own safety for which endeavouring once publickly to withdraw himself the Citizens in a tumultuous manner stayed him and forced him to retire to his Lodgings whence not long after in a disguise he b Octob. 20. 1520. stole and went to Medina de Rioseco in Leon whither many of the Nobility went with their forces to wait upon him by which means he had gathered together a considerable Army and so was resolved for the future to put the trial to the Sword In the mean time the Junta was not idle having over-perswaded the crasie Queen-Mother Donna Juana to head and countenance them and appointed her a Council out of themselves to advise her which got them no small repute amongst the vulgar which was prest home to the purpose by the seditious Fryars And having thus constituted themselves Supreme they sent a large a Dated at Tordesillas Octob. 20. 1520 Paper of Propositions some of them very extravagant and pernicious to the Emperour to have him declare them as perpetual Laws but Charles needed neither such Governours nor Constitutions And now the sword must decide the quarrel the Junta raise men on all hands seiseth upon the Kings Revenues to pay them Proclaim the Lord high Constable and the rest of the Royalists Traytors and all their Estates forfeited wrote Letters to all the Cities and Towns of their faction to encourage them to Arms nay and sent to Don Manuel King of Portugal thinking to gain him to their party They chose b Whom they now began to call Duke of Medina Sidonia to which he pretended Don Pedro Geron one of a noble Family and of great Relations for their Captain General which did not a little displease Juan de Padilla Giron marcheth presently to Valladolid which receives him with joy and takes an Oath to assist the Junta for King and Commonalty like our Covenanting distinction King and Parliament the refusers of this Engagement were declared Malignants and laid open to Punishment Before we proceed any further let us take a short view of the troubles in the Kingdom of Valencia Before the Emperours departure the people there began to despise the Nobility and to confederate together It hapned that in the City Valencia two c Moores turn'd Christians Morisco's belonging to Don Ramon de Cardona passing along the streets the Trades-men began to jeer them and upon a reply fell upon one
of them whom they murdred and had acted the same Tragedy on the other but that he was rescued by one Diego Pisador which prevention at last so enraged the people that they fell upon Pisador pursued him to his house assaulted it so that he thinking to take sanctuary in St. Nicholas Church they seis'd upon him and kill'd him with their daggers Having thus ran into mischief they proceed and rescue a fellow from execution though justly condemn'd for very heinous crimes They despised all Justice and Magistrates scorned and flouted at all Noble and Gentlemen whom like our Levellers they intended to root out and destroy all the Kingdom over which occasioned a Hat-makers wife in St. Catherines street seeing some Gentlemen go by bid her Children look at them the boys desiring a reason she replyed d Porque quando se ais gâ—andes podais dezir que vistes los Cavalleâ—os Pru. Sandoval l. 6. § 20. Part 1. â— Because when you come to manhood you may say that you have seen Gentlemen The confederate Rabble chose one Sorolla a Cloth-worker for their Captain an impudent base fellow and then the better to carry on their mischief they framed this Plot Sorolla was to hide himself in his house and they were to report about that Don Diego de Mendosa the Viceroy either had or was going to hang him This report being cunningly spread through the City the people grew mad flew to their Arms and so march'd with Drums and Colours to Mendosa's house crying out Let the Viceroy dye if he deliver us not Sorolla Mendosa defended himself all day long and by chance was thus preserved from their fury A good woman by hap espying Sorolla in his house went and told it to the Bishop of Segorbe who hastes to Sorolla's house which he caused to be broke open and the villain found had him set on a Mule himself riding by on another and so they rode to the Viceroy's house to undeceive the people who seeing him thus alive rais'd their Siege and Battery which had continued all day and most of the night This plot not fadging against the Viceroy they gave out that he was raising men to punish their insolencies upon which the people besiege his house again which forced him to send his Lady out of the City and steal out himself all the Nobles and Gentry doing the like with their Families for their own security whose houses the villains pull'd down or burn'd and plunder'd all they could lay their hands on went to the Kings Custom house broke the Records took away the Books defied the Emperour appointed XIII to govern them and for the General of their Armies chose Juan Caro a Sugar-baker The City Xativa the Marquisate of Helche Alacante and Orihucla run into the same Rebellion the latter chusing for their Lord and Governour one Palomares a poor Serving-man And now the Kingdom of Valencia seem'd to be over-run by a gang of Rebels but they had a notable shock at a place to this day call'd The Field of slaughter where they left above 5000 of their frateraity dead on the â—â—or After this they chose for their Captain one Vincent Perez a Fellow whose trade was to gather up Acorns but their chief General of all was ore a Or John of Bilbo Juan de Vilvao who made them believe that he was Doâ— Juan the onely Son to Fernando and Isabella King and Queen of Castile and Arragon and so the true heir to their Crowns though that Prince dyed young at Salamanca However the giddy people put so much credit to him that they sware Allegiance to him as their King magnifying him as their Redeemer calling of him the b El Encubicito Disguised man and one sent from God to their relief But what this Impostor was take thus He was the Son of a Jew and was carryed by his Father into Barbary the same year that the Jews were driven out of Castile A Biscan Merchant call'd Juan de Bilbao met with him on ship board 1512 as he was trading to Oran on the Coasts of Barbary and finding him to write and read well and speak several Languages as Spanish Arabick and Hebrew took him for his Factor The fellow calling himself from his Masters name Juan de Bilbao with him he lived four years till 1516 he turn'd him away for being too familiar with his Wife The Corregidor or Mayor of Oran not knowing the sault entertain'd him for his Steward This Mayor of Oran being a young man kept privately a little wanton in his house to whom this Fellow shew'd much affection and Courtship but she being trusty to her Master tells him all and that he also perswaded her to witchcraft Upon this the Corregidor hath him imprisoned and upon a Market-day set upon an Ass and so whipt through all the principal streets of the City to the amazement of the people who had a good opinion of him so cunningly did he carry himself Being thus banish'd Oran he returns for Spain lands upon the Coasts of Valencia just in these distractions under the name of Don Henrique Manrique de Ribera and here he behaved himself so cunningly taking hold of the opportunity that at last he made the people believe that he was their true King and for such they acknowledged him He carryed his business politickly kept correspondence with divers Cities in Arragon and Catalonia and might have given a main stroak for the whole Kingdom had not the valiant and loyal Marquiss of Cenete and Don Pedro Faxardo the Governour or Lord-lieutenant Adelantado Mayor of the Kingdom of Murcia with other noble Cavaliers by their valour and industry put a stop to his carreer The chiefest loss to the Rebels was in Valencia it self where Vicente Periz had almost carryed the whole City but the Marquiss here carryed himself so cunningly that he out-braved the Rebel making most of his followers disband and retire to their own dwellings This day and plot was so happy to that City that to this time 't is call'd the Thursday of Vicente Periz yet Periz received fresh supplies from Juan de Bilvao with which he grew so hardy that he fought de Cenete in the very streets of the City though to his own ruine being beaten himself taken and his head presently struck off After which the Impostor Kingling John of Bilbao was also taken by the Marquess the nineteenth of May 1522. who according to his desert was drawn hang'd and quarter'd and his head stuck upon a Lance. After which Valencia began to be more quiet and wholly submitted themselves upon the return of the Emperour Charles And thus much in brief for the Rebellion of the Kingdom of Valencia not to tell of all their Church-robbings Plunderings Burnings Devastations and Factions even in the very Cloisters and Monasteries themselves insomuch that one party in the same Covent would pray to God for the King whilst the other pray'd as heartily for the Rebels But now
to return to the Junta in Castile we finde their Army consisting of seventeen thousand foot besides good store of Horse and Artillery b march'd into the field with an intent to a Nov. 23. 1520 fight the Imperialists lying about Rioseca One of the most furious sticklers for the Junta against his King was Don Antonio de Acunna Bishop of Zamora one who had formerly been honour'd with an Embassie into France He was threescore years old but lively and vigorous and excellent in handling his Arms he had above four hundred Priests under his command in this Rebellion well armed and stout himself always charging at the head of them crying out Here my Priests And if he saw but any of them c handle or read on his Breviary b L. de Mayerne Hist Gen. d'Espaigne l. 27. Grimston pag. 961. or Prayer book he would cudgel them for it Between the two Armies there were now and then some skirmishes but the Royalists thought it no wisdom to put it to a main Battel their enemies being double the number besides they had some underhand dealings with some Chieftains of the Commonalty which made the Rebels too negligent and retire into Quarters Upon which opportunity the Imperialists on a sudden march'd to Tordesillas which with the loss of some bloud they took and here the Bishops Priests fought it out desperately Tordesillus thus taken the Nobility waited upon the Queen-mother who received them kindly not that she cared how things went being indisposed in her senses from understanding what was either good or bad for the publick though the Junta to delude the Commonalty gave out that she was not onely well in her wits but fit for Government and that she had taken it upon her and acknowledged their interest and accordingly they acted all things in her name not mentioning the King Here some of the Junta were taken others escaped and the honour of this exploit was justly thrown upon the Earl of Haro the Kings General The taking of Tordesillas did not a little terrifie Valladolid whither the remaining part of the Junta fled and sate in Commission and the people now growing jealous of Don Pedro Giron chose Juan de Padilla for their Captain General who prosecuted the Rebellion more vigorously then the former And now Biscay and Guipuscoa ran a gadding into the same mischief nor would the Province of Alava be behind in which Rebellion Don Pedro de Ayala Earl of a He was also Eâ—rl of the vallies of Ayala Quartango and San Milan Salvatierra had a main stroke being of a proud humour and distasted with his Counâ—ess Madama Margarita whom the Court favour'd and he went the nearest way to work by getting the Fryars to countenance his party and interest The Royalists hearing of his Rebellion surprised Ampudia or Fuente Empudia belonging to the Earl but this they kept not long the Commonalty retaking it at this assault the Bishop of Zamora is reported thus to have encouraged his men So my boyes get up nimbly fight and dye couragiously and let my soul go at a venture along with yours since you dye in so just and holy an Enterprise A bold Rebel By this time some of the Junta were willing to see their errour year 1512 and might be brought to accept of a Composition but the people Juan de Padilla the Bishop of Zamora and others were stark mad against any such thing by which villany these two got such a love amongst the people that they protested they would serve under none but them hooting and crying along the streets of Valladolid Let Juan de Padilla live let the Bishop live long may Juan de Padilla live who takes away the Taxes of Castile we will have none but Juan de Padilla and the Bishop And the truth was these two were as fit for their turns as a Rope for a Traytor As for the Bishop he questioned not but to gain well by these broyls The See of Toledo being voyd by the death of Guillermo de Crouy Nephew to Xeures he made himself Archbishop of it went to the City was nobly received by the people who placed him in the Archiepiscopal Chair and gave him good store of Money and Church-plate wherewith to pay his Sâ—uldiers But for all this he is neither held nor reckon'd amongst the Archbishops of Toledo being but an Intruder To tell all the Murthers Rapines Sacriledges in this Rebellion all the Tumults in the b Old Castile is divided into VII Merindades viz. of Buâ—gos Valladelid Calahâ—râ—a Osma Seg via Avila and Soria The Kingdom of Navar is divided into V Merindades But here Old Castile is onely intended Merindades the burning of about three thousand people in the Church of Mora and to relate the divers overâ—ures they had for a general peace would be too tedious In short the people were mad against any Treaty the Junta upon an erected Scaffold in the chief Market-place in Valladolid adorned with rich Hangings with Drums Trumpets the Kings at Arms with Maces Coats c. a March 17. 1521. proclaimed the Admiral Constable the General and others for the King to be Traytors against the Queen-mother and the Holy Commonalty And the people were so mad with delays that they began to threaten the Holy Junta it self if they were not more vigorous in the War and laid aside all thoughts of Treaty being resolved to put all upon the fortune of a Battle And in truth the City of Valladolid and some other places for the Commonalty had suffer'd very much all Trade being spoil'd Corn very dear their monies all gone in paying the Souldiers and no safety for any without the venturing of blows And now the fatal day drew near Juan de Padilla with his Army was in Torrelobaton where he had trifled away too much time The Royalists march towards him thinking either to besiege him or force him to battel before he could get any more succour the Imperialists being towards 10000 men and the Commonalty at that place almost nine thousand Padilla informed of the designe was resolved not to be besieged so drew out his men intending for Toro there to stay till more succours came to him The Royalists having notice of his private march mend their pace now and then skirmishing them till they come neer to Villalar a Town in Leon between Medina de Reoseco and Tordesillas where they fell upon them in three several bodies and presently putting them to the rout the pursuit being several miles in which many of the Commonalty were slain This victory was gain'd on St. Georges day the Imperialists word was b Sancta Maria y Carlos St. Mary and Charles the Commonalty was c Santjago libertad St. James and Liberty This was the ruine of the Rebellion and the restauration of the people to Peace and Loyalty Here amongst others where taken their Captain-General Juan de Padilla Juan Bravo Captain of the 6000 Commonalty which formerly came from
Cardinal de Guise and some others were great sticklers for the League countenanced there by Cardinal Pellevé◠The actions of which Cardinal being a Subject of France did so vex King Henry III. that we are * Journal De 1586. 1587 told that he order'd his Revenues to be seiz'd on and distributed to the poor The King being gone from Paris with an Army to oppose the Germans then marching into France to assist the Huguenots the Covenanters had some thoughts of seizing on the City in his absence according to Guise his Instructions who phansied that he might secure the Kings Person in the Country To this purpose they sent Lauchart to Guise for further information who upon maturer advice would not allow of the plot sâ—eing the King then to have such a Force about the City and a good Army under his command However they assure the Duke of their strength and willingness to attempt any thing that he shall command And the better to incite the Rabble to Rebellion the Pulpit the worst Instrument in Seditious design is made use of several turbulent Priests or Ministers being set on work to bespatter the King and his actions one of the chief of these Firebrands was Jean Boucher Preacher of St. Benoist a zealous wall-ey'd Fellow of whose wicked Doctrines we have told you formerly out of his book De justa abdicatione Henrici III. The King sent for him and publickly told him of his lies and slanders as how he had told the people in the Pulpit that the King caused one Burlart of Orleans to be put into a Sack and thrown into the River although the said Burlart was yet alive and daily kept company with the said Boucher by which the King told him he had committed two grand faults first so basely to bely his lawful Sovereign and then after telling such a lie in the Pulpit to go forthwith to the Altar and Sacrament without acknowledging his foresaid falsities although all confess that every one ought to confess his faults before he receive the Eucharist yet the King told him that at this time he would forgive all though he might revenge himself as Pope Sixtus V. did who year 1587 sent several Franciscans to the Gallies for traducing him in their Sermons Another call'd Prevost being Preacher of St. Severin amongst his many other Seditious prattlements had from the Pulpit told his Parishioners that The King was a Tyrant and an Enemy to the Church and People Upon which the King as became him sent for him which so netled the Covenanters that they forthwith spread abroad that the King was resolved to punish and imprison all the good and godly Preachers A thing very offensive to all manner of Zealots of what pretended Opinion soever Rebellious Experience making it a certain rule that none clamour up Preaching more then those who pretend to know Religion better then their Teachers the more ignorant the people be the more apt they are to think they comprehend the deepest mysteries and though they are bid to obey for Conscience-sake yet for all their crying up of the Bible they make a contrary fundamental-Rule viz. Rebell for Conscience-sake yet let these Toleration comprehensive or in sum Rebellious Villains for their actions hitherto in History hath not separated them be worse then can be imagined they shall never want some rascally upstart Nobles who raised themselves by fighting the King and cheating the Church to be their Treasonable and Sacrilegious Patrons especially where their Twatling Dames have more zeal then honesty and from such Vagabonds in Religion good Lord deliver all Kings Kingdoms and Churches but when Kings are subjects people will be Kings but a brave and daring Prince durst never yet be opposed to the ruine of the Undertakers but such can never be whose Favorites are more for pleasure then true honesty and a National interest as it hapned now in France Prevost inform'd that he was sent for was secur'd in an house of one of his Neighbors call'd Hatte a Notarie and for his farther protection Jean le Clerc Sieur or Landlord de Bussy one of the chief of the Covenanting Sixteen with several other Armed men put themselves into the foresaid house oppos'd and fought against those whom the King sent to enquire for the same Delinquents and made such an Hubbub and Riot that the Kings Messengers though headed by Seguier the Lieutenant-Civil or one of the Judges were forced to withdraw themselves and shift for their own security These and such like seditious actions so incouraged the Leaguers that the Town sounded nothing now but the misdeeds of the King and the Glories of Guise that if it had not been for him the Ark would have fallen into the hands of the Philistins and Heresie would have triumphed over the true Religion Nay the Sorbonists were so bold as to make as we are told a secret Decree That Princes might be depos'd from their Government Journal if they did not what became them as the charge taken away from a negligent Guardian And towards the latter end of this year 't is said that the King was Id. inform'd that the Duke of Guise had posted disguised to Rome where he stayed only three days with Cardinal Pellevé and that the Pope sent him a rich sword Another tells us that one Viliers was sent to Rome to desire the Popes assistance and that a Letter was found about him said to be writ by the Dutchess of Lorraine Mother to the Duke containing thus much I am very glad to understand the state of your Affairs and I advise you to Ant. Colynet p. 173 174. go forward for never a fairer Occasion was offered you to put the Scepter in your hand and the Crown upon your head The two last years we could not expect much matter from the Leaguers though we see their designs bad enough seeing most of the Souldiery in France were imployed against Navarre and his Huguenots many of the Covenanting Nobles being engag'd in those wars which diverted them from their attempts upon the King but we shall see the next year make amends for all The Duke of Guise the better to make all things sure hath a meeting 1588 Davila p. 667 669. D Aubigne tom 3. l. 1. c. 21. Spondâ—nus of the Chieftains of the House of Lorrain at Nancy a strong Town in that Dukedom where it is talk'd high of deposing the King of putting him into a Monastery of destroying the House of Bourbon to dispose of all things themselves and such like extravagancies But at last it was concluded that the Duke of Lorrain should keep the Forces of the League in action and that Guise and others should unite with Cardinal Bourbon to present a Petition to the King much for their own advantage which if granted their business might easily be done without clamour or any great opposition if denied they had force sufficient to obtain it Accordingly the Paper is presented to
in Sevil for an example of their fact and forwardness which he required them to imitate that it would be well taken that they all did thus shew themselves desirous of the Lady Infanta for their Queen 'T is known well enough that there hath been an old Saying or Prophecy the English People doting most on such whimsies running thus There shall be seen upon a day Between the Baugh and the May The black Fleet of Norway When that is come and gone England build Houses of Lime and Stone For after Warrs shall you have none And this as the Lord * Essayes Ess 35. of Prophecies Bacon saith was commonly understood of the Spanish Invasion in 1588 the King of Spain's Sirname being as they say Norway But Dr. * Challenge chap. 6. pag 177 178. Sutclyff the Dean of Exeter tells us That Parsons made another Interpretation of it to wit some after-Invasion yet by the Spaniards though the words of the Prophesies do somewhat differ yet of these Toys are we told that Parsons made use of to instigate the King of Spain to another Invasion in which his Majesty need not doubt of Success and a Conquest as he said seeing his Majesties Name was Philip Norway of whom the English had an old Prophecy Between Bostons Bay And the Pile of Foudray Shall be seen the black Navy of Norway And that nothing might be left undone to advantage the Spanish Cause and Title the chiefest about the Queen were sollicited to assist that Interest Watson the Priest telling us * Quodlibets pag. 150. 189. 51. 126. 132. That Father Parsons sent a Jesuit-Priest to the Earl of Essex to have had him to take a Pension of the King of Spain privately for the advancement of his designments and with others also they were not wanting And of this the Learned * Eliz. An. 8598. Cambden will give us some farther light telling us That the Earl of Essex affirmed that Anthony Rolston an English Fugitive was by the Spanish Agitators sent into England Creswell the Jesuit assisting in it as if the business were only to get a peace betwixt the two Crowns but in truth as Rolston himself confessed to discover what preparations the English had for warr to animate and confirm the Romanists and by bribes and large promises to corrupt some great Lords about the Queen in particular the Earl of Essex Neither was Parsons less active and zealous when he saw that ill success had render'd the Spaniard more cold in the business for the Pope's Designs upon England whether it were for the Duke of Parma or his younger Brother Cardinal Fernese as the wise Cardinal D' Ossat doth in several places discover and for which Pasquin at Rome gave him a rub for proof of this we need go no further than his own Countrey-man John Colleton born in Somersetshire of Lincoln Colledg in Oxford and as Pits thinks once Fellow of it a great Romanist for which for some years he under-went imprisonment was one of the greatest esteem amongst them having been not only an Assistant to two of their Arch-Priests but in the vacancy supplied the place it self and by them called Arch-Deacon of London This man of such credit and repute tells us thus of Father Parsons * Just Defence pag. 240 241. The Magistrates have in their hands and de facto have shewed to some Prisoners at the time of their Examinations for proof and to exaggerate the Disloyalties and Treasons objected one or more Letters which they affirm to be Father Parsons wherein his concurrence and furtherance to an Invasion were expressed Then the man's restless tampering in State-matters being reported to have proffered and re-proffered the Crown of our Countrey to several Princes now to one now to another as the meeting of matters and opportunities could most recommend and credit his words and entertain the Personage with hopes thereof c. Neither is Father Parsons holden only of our Magistrates for a Statist or Merchandizer of the Crown and Diadem though this were enough to estrange and divorce us from having any connexion or partaking in ought with him but his Travels and Negotiations this way are become so notoriously known that even Pasquine in Rome as Intelligence is sent us speaketh in this manner of him If there be any man that will buy the Kingdom of England let him repair to a Merchant in a black square Cap in the City and he shall have a very good Penniworth thereof That this is the true Copy word for word I cannot say but rather the substance of it or else only a Translation the Original of it being either in Italian or Latin because hung upon Pasquin's Buttock in the night time by a Roman Gentleman as * A. C. a Letter to his dis-Jesuited Kinsman pag. 43. one telleth us who giveth us another rendring of it thus If there be any Citizen here in Rome that is minded to purchase the Realm of England let him repair to the Rector of the English Colledg here within the City and he in Jesus Name will afford him a good Penniworth Which of these two is the truest Translation I cannot tell 't is certain the sense is the same and it cannot be denied but that he was the most active man in carrying on the designs against England for which he was in great repute and authority both with Pope and Spaniard whereupon there were some thoughts of a Cardinal's Cap for him To which purpose they tell us that his Friends Holt the Jesuit and Quodlibets p. 120 121. The Discovery pag. 61. A Copy of certain Discourses p. 127 Dr. Thomas Worthington who also became a Jesuit drew up a formal Letter supplicative in the Name of the people of England to the King of Spain humbly beseeching his Majesty that for the good of England he would earnestly deal with the Pope that Father Parsons might be a Cardinal affirming that to be the only means to unite the English hearts to his Majesties Service and Interest A little after 1597 Parsons gets from Spain to Rome where he is no sooner arrived but Cardinal Baronius and another Spanish Cardinal visit him and it is talked about that Parsons is to be a Cardinal too Of which they tell one story how he being advised by his Physicians to keep his stomach warm sent his Brother George for some Scarlet intending to make it a Stomacher his Brother's head being possest with Robert's advancement went to the Merchants and had carried into the Colledg a great deal of divers pieces of Scarlet for the making of his Brothers Cardinals Robes for so he gave out to all his acquaintants he met Father Parsons wondring at the reason of so much Scarlet but understanding the mistake was not a little vext and troubled knowing what sport would be made with it so the better to conceal it he dismist the Merchants secretly out at a Back-door Many more Stories might be told of Father Parsons