submit themselves to the Romish Bishops and Prelates and the Histories of those times acquaint us that they were the Professors of the true Religion afterwards called Protestants By Colour of this supposed Act certain persons that held that Images were not to be worshipped Co. Inst 3 d. fol. 40. and such like Doctrines which the Protestants now hold were detained and tormented in Prison till they were compelled before the Masters of Divinity as they called themselves to take an Oath and did swear to worship Images which was against the Moral and Eternal Law of Almighty God. This these Popish Bishops and Prelates did by vertue of this Law which indeed was none for it was onely signed by the King at the instance of the Bishops and Prelates and never assented to by the Commons and therefore in the next Parliament the Commons preferred a Bill reciting the said supposed Act and constantly affirmed that they never assented thereunto and therefore desired that the same might be made void for they protested that it was never their intent to be justified and to bind themselves and their Successors to the Prelates more than their Ancestors had done in times past whereto the King gave his Royal Assent in these words y pleist au Roy. But in the Proclamation of the Acts of that Parliament Co. 12.58 and 3. Inst f. 41. which was 6. R. 2. the said Act of 6. R. 2. whereby the said supposed Act of 5. R. 2. was declared to be void is omitted and afterwards the said supposed Act of 5. R. 2. ca. 5. was continually printed and looked on as a Good Law and the said Act of 6. R. 2. was by the Prelates from time to time kept from the Print Such pious Frauds have been always practised by the Popish Clergy and always found necessary for the supporting of the credit of that Church CHAP. II. Hen. IV. THe Rage of the Popish Clergy against the Wicklivites or Professors of the true Religion increasing with the increase of the light of the Gospel and they fearing that the said contrivance might be detected to the end that they might be yet more able effectually if it were possible to suppress the truth when they had requited R. 2. for granting them that supposed Law with deposing him and assisting H. 4. to usurp the Crown they in the 2 d. H. 4. apply themselves to him for a further Law for the preservation of the Catholick Faith as they called it against Christ's true Religion by them miscalled Heresie and he in gratitude to them in assisting him in his coming to the Crown granted them a Law to their Hearts content which follows as it is printed in Rastal 's Statutes in these words Whereas it is shewed to our Soveraign Lord the King on the behalf of the Prelates and Clergy of this Realm of England in this present Parliament 2 H. 4. ca. 15. Rast Stat. f. 180. By this Law the Professors of the true Religion were to be burnt as Hereticks that although the Catholick Faith builded upon Christ and by his Apostles and the holy Church sufficiently determined declared and approved hath been hitherto by good and holy and most noble Progenitors of our Soveraign Lord the King in the said Realm amongst all the Realms of the World most devoutly observed and the Church of England by his said most noble Progenitors and Ancestors to the honour of God and of the whole Realm aforesaid laudably endowed and in her Rights and Liberties sustained without that that the same Faith or the said Church was hurt or grievously oppressed or else perturbed by any perverse Doctrine or Wicked Heretical or Erronious Opinions Yet nevertheless divers false and perverse people of a certain new Sect of the Faith of the Sacraments of the Church and the Authority of the same damnably thinking and against the Law of God and of the Church usurping the Office of Preaching do perversly and malitiously in divers places within the said Realm under the colour of dissembled Holiness preach and teach these dayes openly and privily divers new Doctrines and wicked heretical and eronious Opinions contrary to the same Faith and blessed determinations of the Holy Church And of such Sect and wicked Doctrine and Opinions they make unlawful Conventicles and Confederacies they hold and exercise Schools they make and write Books they do wickedly instruct and informe people and as much as they may excite and stir them to Sedition and Insurrection and maketh great strife and division among the people and other Enormities horribly to be heard daily do perpetrate and commit in subversion of the said Catholick Faith and Doctrine of the Holy Church in diminution of God's Honour and also in destruction of the Estates Rights and Liberties of the said Church of England by which Sect and wicked and false Preachings Doctrines and Opinions of the said false and perverse people not only most greatest peril of the Souls but also many other harts flanders and perils which God prohibit might come to this Realm unless it be the more plentifully and speedily holpen by the King's Majesty in this behalf namely whereas the Diocesans of the said Realm cannot by their Iurisdiction Spiritual without aid of the said Royal Majesty sufficiently correct the said false and perverse people nor refrain their malice because the said false and perverse people do go from Diocess to Diocess and will not appear before the said Diocesans but the same Diocesans and their Iurisdiction Spiritual and the Keys of the Church with the Censures of the same do utterly contemn and despise and so their wicked Preachings and Doctrines doth from day to day continue and exercise to the hatred of Right and Reason and utter destruction of Order and good Rule Vpon which Novelties and Excesses above rehersed the Prelates and Clergy aforesaid and also the Commons of the said Realm being in the said Parliament praying our Soveraign Lord the King that his Royal Highness would vouchsafe in the said Parliament to provide a convenient Remedy The same our Soveraign Lord the King gratiously considering the premises and also the laudable steps of his said most noble Progenitors and Ancestors for the conservation of the said Catholick Faith and sustentation of God's Honour and also the safeguard of the Estates Rights and Liberties of the said Church of England to the laud of God and merit of our said Soveraign Lord the King and prosperity and honour of all the said Realm and for the eschewing of such Dissentions divisions hurts slanders and perils in time to come and that this wicked Sect preachings doctrines and Opinions should from henceforth cease and be utterly destroyed by the assent of the States and other discreet men of the Realm being in the said Parliament hath Granted Established and Ordained from henceforth and firmly to be observed That none within the said Realm or any other Dominions subject to his Royal Majesty presume to preach openly
admitted in the King 's English Church and Congregations as whereby good Christian People ordering themselves accordingly do receive both Godly and goodly consolations and benefits and it is agreeable also to God's Law. 6. That Auricular Confession is expedient and necessary to be retained and continued used and frequented in the Church of God. He that by word of Mouth Writing Printing Cyphering or in any otherwise doth Publish Preach Teach Say Affirm Declare Dispute Argue or hold any Opinion contrary to the first Article is by that Act of 31 H. 8. ca. 14. Declared a Heretick to suffer Death by burning and to forfeit his Estate as in case of High Treason The publick Preaching and affirming in a Court of Justice any thing contrary to the other five Articles and Marrying after a vow of Chastity is declared Felony without Benefit of Clergy and to forfeit as in cases of Felony And if any Person by Words Writing Printing Cyphering or otherwise publish declare or hold Opinion contrary to the said five Articles he forfeits his Goods and Chattels for ever the Profits of his Lands Tenements and other his real Estate during his life his Spiritual Promotion shall be utterly void and his body imprisoned at the King's Pleasure for the first offence and for the second offence to be adjudg'd a Felon and suffer and forfeit as a Felon without Benefit of Clergy By which Act it plainly appears that the denying of Transubstantiation was by this Law made High Treason The publishing or holding the necessity of Receiving in both kinds the lawfulness of Priests Marrying the unlawfulness of vowing Chastity of private Masses and Auricular Confession was no less than Felony or at least a Premunire So that in a word to be a Protestant was to be a Traytor a Felon or subject to a Premunire And could they have found any punishment inflicted by our Laws that is worse they would no doubt have made the Protestants subject to it and that not as Offenders against the Polity of the Civil State but purely upon the Account of their Religion And therefore the next thing that is done by these destroyers of Souls as well as Bodies is to take away all means of Knowledge as well as to inhibit the Promulgation thereof upon such severe Penalties and for that purpose was the Act of 34 H. 8. ca. 1. made Whereby 34 H. 8. ca. 1. Rast Stat. p. 782. The means of Knowledge in Religion taken away by this Act from the Protestants All Books of the Old and New Testament in English being of Tindal's Translation or Comprising any matter of Christian Religion Articles of the Faith or holy Scripture contrary to the Doctrine aforesaid i. e. the Doctrine of Popery and set forth after the year 1540 or then to be set forth by the King were utterly abolished no Printer or Bookseller was to utter any of the aforesaid Books no person was to play in enterlude sing or rhyme contrary to the said Doctrine no person was to retain any English Books or Writings concerning matter against the Holy and Blessed Sacrament of the Altar i. e. the Mass or other Books abolished by the King's Proclamation there was to be no annotations or preambles in Bibles or New Testaments in English The Bible was not to be read in English in any Church no Women or Artificers Prentices Iourneymen Servingmen of the degrees of Yeomen or under Husbandmen nor Labourers should read the new Testament in English Nothing was to be taught or maintained contrary to the King's Instructions which were for the suppressing Heresie or Protestantism and if any Spiritual person should preach teach or maintain any thing contrary to the King's Instructions or Determinations made or to be made and should be thereof Convict he should for his first Offence recant for the second abjure and bear a Fagot and for his third should be adjudged an Heretick and be burnt and lose all his Goods and Chattels And whoever will take the pains to read over 1 Dr. Burnet the History of the Reformation together with 2 Fox the Book of Martyrs of which Book Dr. Burnet in his Preface to the first part of his History of the Reformation saith that he having compared his Acts and Monuments with the Records had never been able to discover any Errors or Prevarications in them but the utmost fidelity and exactness will find so many instances of putting all these bloody Laws before mentioned in Execution as I perswade my self that there are some Papists would e'en blush at and be throughly ashamed of and if they have any thing of Humanity in them must utterly abhor But before I can carry on the account of the rest of the Penal Laws made by the Papists against the Protestants the Reformation in King Edward the 6 th's time of Glorious Memory intervening I shall shew how the Reformers used the Papists in his Reign CHAP. V. Ed. VI. IT may be expected that I should say something of Henry the 8 th's Reformation But as to what was done in Henry the 8 th's time I shall not trouble the Reader with any thing because the Reverend and Learned Doctor Burnet is so far from giving him the Character of good that he concludes his first part of the History of the Reformation Hist of the Reformation vol. 1. p. 362. with this speaking of Henry the 8 th I do not deny that he is to be numbred among the ill Princes yet I can't rank him with the worst Which Character certainly the preceeding account of the Laws made in his time against the Protestants does evidence to be very favourable to him I shall therefore begin with the Laws made in the Reign of King Edward the 6 th and the manner of introducing them King Edward the 6 th coming to the Crown young and Cranmer and others designing throughly to reform the Church of England from the Errors and Corruptions that were crept into Her during the time she was under the Popish Tyranny The first step that was set in order to it was the visiting the Clergy quite over England and compiling some wholesome Homilies Mild Methods us'd by King Ed. the 6th before any Laws made to supply the defect of Sermons by reason of the ignorance of the then Clergy and to prevent unnecessary Disputes in the Pulpits Their Articles and Injunctions for the Visitation were to be observed under the pains of Excommunication Sequestration or Deprivation not upon the Penalty of being burnt as a Heretick or forfeiture either of Lands in fee simple or Goods or Chattels or either or any of them This was done before the Parliament was called November the 4 th 1547. The Parliament met and the first Act of Parliament that was made was an Act against such as should unreverently speak against the Sacrament of the Altar and of the receiving thereof under both kinds which Act of Parliament in the Preamble takes notice That the King
Bail or Mainprize and for the second offence twenty pounds and for want of payment should suffer six months Imprisonment without Bail or Mainprise and for the third offence should forfeit all his Goods and Chattels and suffer Imprisonment during his life time From which Act it is evident that all the mild Methods were taken that could be thought on to win over the Papists to the Reformed Religion for the Penalties incurred were not only suspended but the offender pardoned after they had been so long winkt at and the Penalties upon which Conformity was injoyned must be by all considering men adjudged reasonable to be inflicted upon those that remained obstinate after such kind usage and the rather for that it is apparent they made it their business to compel persons to go to Mass One thing I can't let pass without a remark That in this as well as the Statute of the 1 st of Edward the 6 th the tryal of the offence is to be according to the Antient Laws of the Land by a Jury and that till then they could incur none of the Penalties so careful were the Reformers for the Liberties even of Papists Hist Ref. pt 2. p. 115 116 117 118. Bâ—ker 's Ch on p. 303 304. But notwithstanding all this favour shewn to the Papists in one year they broke out into open Rebellion in four Counties in England viz. in Oxfordshire Devonshire Norfolk and Yorkshire So restless and unquiet are the Popish party and such implacable Enemies to the Protestants that if they be in power nothing but destroying them by Law will serve and if not then Plots Conspiracies and open Rebellions are their Methods Hist Ref. pt 2. p. 140. 3 4 E. 6. ca. 5. Rast Stat. f. 989. 34 E. 6. ca. 10. Images taken away Keeble's Stat. f. 676. Rast Stat. f. 994. these four Insurrections gave just occasion to make that severe Law against unlawful Assemblies and rising of the Subjects that if any to the number of twelve should meet together unlawfully for any matter of State and being required by any lawful Magistrate should not disperse themselves it should be Treason The next Act of Parliament that I shall take notice of and indeed but just touch it is the 3 d. and 4 th of Edward the 6 th ca. 10. Whereby divers Romish Books and Images were abolished and put away and that without any punishment of the Papists that used them but only a Penalty on the Officers and Ministers of Justice who did not put the said Law in Execution Thus things stood till the 6 th of Edward the 6 th and then an Act was made for the confirmation of the Liturgy which takes notice in the Preamble 5 6 E. 6. ca. 1. Keehâ—e 's Stat. f. 676. Rast Stat. f. 1009. The Liturgy confirmed That a great number of people in divers parts of the Realm following their own sensuality and living either without knowledge or due fear of God did wilfully and danmably before Almighty God abstain and refuse to come to their Parish Churches and other places where Common-Prayer Administration of the Sacraments and Preaching of the Word of God was used upon Sundaies and other daies ordained to be holy daies and doth thereby Enact that uniformity of Prayer and Administration of Sacraments shall be used in the Church requires Conformity thereunto and leaves them who come not to Church to be punished by the censures of the Church And Enacts March. Ref. 93. That all persons that are present at any other Common-Prayer or Sacraments for the first offence shall suffer six months Imprisonment without Bail or Mainprise for the second offence a years Imprisonment and for the third Imprisonment during life But none to have this inflicted but they who are legally convicted according to the Laws of the Land which cannot be esteemed severe seeing they were occasioned by the Treasons and Rebellions of them upon whom they were inflicted CHAP. VI. Q. Mary HAving shewn how kind and merciful King Edward the 6 th was to the Papists all his Reign notwithstanding their severe usage of the Protestants in his Predecessours Reigns Queen Mary her accession to the Crown and how she used the Protestants before she had a Parliament 35 H. 8. ca. 1. Rast Stat. f. 835. Hist Ref. 2. pt li. 2. p. 235. and their Treasons and Rebellions against himself and the then Established Government I shall now give an Account what usage the Protestants had in the Reign of his Successour Queen Mary Upon the Death of King Edward the Crown devolved upon Queen Mary according to the settlement of it by 35 H. 8. but she being a Papist and King Ed. the 6 th having by his Letters Patents limited the Crown to the Lady Jane Daughter of Frances Dutchess of Suffolk who was a Protestant the Council Proclaimed the Lady Jane Queen which Proclamation sets forth that the late King had settled the Crown as aforesaid and declared that it should not descend to his two Sisters since they were both Illegitimate in the Spiritual Courts and by Acts of Parliament and were only his Sisters by the half blood who tho' it were granted they had been Legitimate are not Inheritable by the Law of England it was added that there was also great cause to fear that the King's Sisters might marry Strangers and so change the Laws of the Kingdom and subject it to the Tyranny of the Bishops of Rome and other Foreign Laws for these Reasons they were excluded from the Succession and the said Lady Jane was Proclaimed Queen as aforesaid she promising to be most Benign and Gracious to all her people to maintain God's Holy Word and the Lavvs of the Land requiring all the Subjects to obey and acknowledge her And now all had been well and the Reformed Religion was in a likely way to flourish could the Protestants have been all of a mind and the common sort of People been as well satisfied as the Council great part of the Nobility and all the Judges but one were in what was done But oh the Calamities that divisions bring upon a Kingdom Suffolk and No folk 's mens kindness to Queen Mary Hist Reform part 2. p. 233.237 Baker 's Chro. p. 312. The Earl of Arundel having given Queen Mary notice of the Death of her Brother and the design of setting up the Lady Jane she retires to Framlingham Castle in the County of Suffolk whither many from Norfolk and a great body of Suffolk men gathered about her who were notwithstanding all for the Reformation they before they would assist her desired to know of her whether she would alter the Religion set up in King Edward's days to whom she gave full assurances that she would never make any Innovation or Change but be contented with the Private Exercise of her own Religion upon this they were all possest with such a belief of her sincerity that it made them resolve to hazard their Lives and
from the good understanding of their Duty towards God the Queen had by their Lewd and subtle Practices and Perswasions so far wrought that sundry persons had been reconciled to the said usurpt Authority of the See of Rome and did take Absolution at the hands of the said naughty and subtle Practicers whereby there was grown great disobedience and boldness in many not only to withdraw and absent themselves from all Divine Service but also did think themselves discharged from all Obedience Duty and Allegiance to her Majesty that thereupon most wicked and unnatural Rebellion had ensued and to the further danger of this Realm was likely to be renewed if the ungodly attempts in that behalf were not by severity of Laws restrained and bridled This Law therefore provides that they who by Bulls or other Instruments of the Bishop of Rome should reconcile any person to the Church of Rome and those also who should be so reconciled should incur the Penalty of High Treason That those who should relieve such as did so reconcile Men or should bring into England any Agnus Dei's or any Crosses Pictures Beads or such like vain and superstitious Things Consecrated by the Bishop of Rome should undergo the Penalty of a Premunire That they who should not discover such as did so reconcile should be guilty of Misprision of Treason From the precedent History of Fact and the Preamble of these two Acts of Parliament and the Acts themselves I observe three things 1 st That the Kingdom of England is in it self a Free State exempt from all Foreign Jurisdiction whatever by the Common Law of this Kingdom 2 dly That there had been deep Designs on foot before the making of these Acts of Parliament for the inslaving this Kingdom to the Bishop and See of Rome subverting the Protestant Religion and introducing Popery and in order thereunto there were several Plots laid to destroy the person of the Queen 3 dly That these were all laid and carried on by the Pope and some Papists that were the Queens own Subjects and others their adherents and therefore certainly it must be granted that it was very necessary at that time to make these Laws against the Papists And that it was but reasonable to make them The Secular Priests own the Reasonableness of making these Laws Collection of several Treatises concerning the reasons and occasions of the Penal-Laws The 1st printed in 1583. the second in 1601. the third in 1662. and all reprinted in 1688. fol. 36. even the Secular Priests themselves have owned in their important Considerations They confess that Pius V. did practise her Majesties subversion that Ridolpho was sent hither by the Pope under Colour of Merchandize to sollicit a Rebellion That Pius V. moved the King of Spain to Joyn in this exploit That the Bull was devised purposely to further the intended Rebellion for depriving her Majesty from her Kingdom That the Pope and King of Spain assigned the Duke of Norfolk to be head of this Rebellion That the Pope gave order to Ridolpho to take 150000 Crowns to set forwards this Attempt That some of this money was sent to Scotland and some delivered to the Duke That King Philip at the Pope's Instance determined to send the Duke of Alva into England with all his forces out of the Low-Countries to assist the Duke of Norfolk which they confess in this manner That these things their Adversaries the Protestants Charged on them as true and that they were in hand whilst her Majesty dealt so mercifully with them and therefore ask'd them how they could excuse these designs so Unchristian so unpriestly so Treacherous and so unprince-like To which they answer that when they first heard the aforementioned particulars they did not believe them but would have laid their Lives they had been false but when they saw them printed in the Life of Pius V they appeal to God they were amazed Collection f. 37 and say they can say no more but that his Holiness was misinformed and indirectly drawn to these courses They confess that there being several persons in Prison when the Rebellion in the North before mentioned brake forth that it was known that the Pope had Excommunicated the Queen that there followed a great restraint of the Prisoners but none of them were put to death upon that occasion the Sword being then only drawn against such Catholicks as had risen up actually into open Rebellion wherein say they we cannot see what her Majesty did that any Prince in Christendom in such a case would not have done and confess these things to have been the occasion of making 13 Eliz. ca. 2. against bringing in Buls c. thus they express themselves Collection f. 38. we cannot but confess as reasonable men that the State had great Reasons to make some Laws against us except they should have shown themselves careless for the continuance of it but be the Law as any would have it never so extream yet surely it must be granted that the occasions of it were most outragious and likewise that the Execution of it was not so Tragical as many have since written and reported of it for whatsoever was done against us either upon the pretence of that Law or of any other would never we think have been attempted had not divers other preposterous occasions besides the Causes of that Law daily fallen out amongst us which procured matters to be urged more severely against us And afterwards they accuse Saunders the Jesuit for writing a Book in 1572 de visibili Monarchia and therein justifying the Excommunicating the Queen and the said Rebellion in the North and do themselves own that the persons that suffered upon that account were Arraigned Condemned and Executed by the Antient Laws of the Country for High Treason As to the Acts themselves It is not to be denyed but they are very severe yet not severe enough to deter the Papists from carrying on their designs against the Queen and the Protestant Religion as I shall by and by make appear but before I do that let us a little enquire Story 's Plot. Cambd. Hist li 2. fol 168. Dyer 13 Eliz. fol. 298. Baker 's Chron. fol. 343. The Duke of Norfolk executed what proceedings there were upon these Laws after they were thus made In the year 1571 't is true one John Story Doctor in Laws one of the Duke of Alva's Servants an Englishman and a Papist was Executed but it was for High Treason not Religion for having conspired the Queen's Death cursed her daily in his Grace at Meals and shewing the Duke of Alva's Secretary the way to Invade England to put Ireland into Rebellion and to excite the Scots to break into England all at once The Duke of Norfolk was also Tryed Convicted and Executed and after his Condemnation and before his Execution one Barney and Mather were Executed for conspiring with one Herle to make away some of the Council and
be effected so long as the Jesuits Seminary Priests and other Priests were tollerated here for it hath been observed by some with a great deal of Truth that there was never yet a Plot against the Government but the Popish Priests had their share in it It was therefore thought necessary to follow the example of Swedeland the State of Venice and other Countries who have banisht the Jesuits and wisely to carry it a little further and banish Priests too they being such Disturbers of the State which was accordingly done by 27. Eliz. cap. 2. But least the Papists should again object against the Authorities I cite for the History of the Fact I shall here insert the very Words of their Secular Priests in their important Considerations whereby the truth of the Fact is Confest the Words are these About the time of the overthrow of the Popes Forces in Ireland The Secular Priests confess the truth of all the foregoing Account Collect. f. 44. The Popes Plot with King of Spain and Duke of Guise Mendoza his Holiness by the false instigation of the Jesuits plotted with the King of Spain for the assistance of the Duke of Guise to enterprize upon the sudden a very desperate design against Her Majesty and for the Delivery and advancement to the Crown of the Queen of Scotland For the better asserting whereof Mendoza the Jesuit and Ledger for the King of Spain in England set on work a worthy Gentleman otherwise one Mr. Francis Throckmorton and divers others And whilst the same was Contriving as afterwards Mr. Throckmorton himself Confessed 1584 the Jesuitical humour had so possessed the hearts of sundry Catholics as we do unfeignedly rue in our hearts the remembrance of it and are greatly ashamed that any Person so intitl'd should ever have been so extreamly bewitched Two Gentlemen about that time also viz. Anno 1583. Mr. Arden and Mr. Somervil were convicted by the Laws of the Realm Throgmortons Confession you have Printed Camb. Annal l. 3. f. 297. Arden and Somervil Dr. Parry Earl of Northumberland for having purposed and contrived how they might have laid violent hands upon Her Majesties sacred Person Mr. Somervils Confession therein was so notorious as it may not be either quallified or denied And Dr. Parry the same Year was plotting with Jesuits how he might have effected the like Villany How the worthy Earl of Northumberland was about this time brought into the said Plot by the Duke of Guise then still in hand we will pretermit Mr. Parsons that was Actor in it could tell the Story very roundly at Rome it wrought the Earls overthrow in 1585 which may justly be ascribed to the Jesuitical Practices of the Jesuite Mendoza and others of that Crew They mentioned several other Treasons which I shall not here take Notice of but reserve them till I come to give the further Account of their Treasons and only set down the Conclusion of this Paragraph These things say they we would not have touched had they not been known in effect to this part of the World and that we thought it our Duties to shew our own dislike of them and to clear Her Majesty so far as we may from such imputations of more then barbarous Cruelty towards us as the Jesuits in their Writings have cast by Heaps upon her They themselves as we still think in our Consciences and before God having been from time to time the very Causes of all the Calamities which any of us have endured in England since Her Majesties Reign which we do not write simply to excuse Her Highness altho we must Confess we can be contented to indure much rather then to seek her Dishonour but for that we think few Princes living being perswaded in Religion as Her Majesty is and so provoked as she hath been would have dealt more mildly with such their Subjects all Circumstances considered then she hath done with us Let us now see what reason can be given for making the rest of the Penal Laws that were made against the Papists in this Queens Reign The Earl of Arund tryed and fined only Camb. Annals f. 330. He was in 1589. tryed for high Treason and Condemned but the Queen spared him Camb. Annals f. 424.429 The first thing I meet with remarkable after the making these Laws forementioned is the fining the Earl of Arundel 5000 pounds in 586. for holding Correspondence with Allen and Parsons the Jesuit the Queens Enemies for that publickly in writing he had questioned the Justice of the Kingdom and that he had intentions of departing the Realm without License The Earl protesting his obedience to the Queen and his Love to his Countrey modestly excused himself by his Love to the Catholic Religion and his ignorance of the Law Confessed his fault and submitted In the * Gifford Savage Ballard and others Plot to kill the Q. Camb. Annals f. 336. Foulis Hist l. 7. cap. 5. sec 1. f. 343. Bakers Chron. f. 367. same year a very dangerous Conspiracy was discovered against Queen Elizabeth in the English Seminary at Rheimes there were some who were so bigotted to the Popish Religion that they thought the Pope could by his Authority do any thing and that the aforementioned Bull of Pius Quintus for deposing the Queen was dictated by the Holy Ghost and thought it a Meritorious Act to take away her Life and doubted not of a Canonisation as Martyrs if they fell in the Attempt William Gifford Doctor in Divinity Gilbert Gifford and one Hodgson Priests did so infuse this treasonable Doctrine into the mind of one John Savage a Bastard as was reported that he readily Vowed to kill the Queen One Ballard an English Priest at Rheimes bestirs himself in England and Scotland for carrying on the Design and for that purpose prepares Disciples then goeth into France and treats with Mendoza before named Charles Paget and others about invading of England judging they could never have a fairer opportunity then at that Juncture of time forasmuch as the Pope the Spaniard the Duke of Guise and the Prince of Parma were all resolved to set upon England thereby to divert the War from the Netherlands Having delivered the Message there he returns for England to promote the design here gets to London where in a Souldiers habit under the false Name of Captain Fescue he agitates the Plot. Babington and divers other Gentlemen engaged in this design of taking off the Queen At London he discovered this Affair to one Mr. Anthony Babington of Dethick in Derbyshire a young Gentleman greatly addicted to the Romish Religion and who had in France Commenced an Acquaintance with the Bishop of Glascow the Queen of Scots Ambassador and one Thomas Morgan an English Fugitive and a busie Agent for her Babington at first was of opinion that as long as the Queen lived an Invasion would signifie little or nothing but when he understood that Savage had undertaken to remove that
Obstacle by killing her altered his opinion but was for joyning five more to Savage to make sure of the Matter Which being agreed on they set forward the design of the Invasion The design was by Babington imparted to the Queen of Scots and she was to reward the Heroical Actors in this barbarous Attempt or else their Posterities in Case they perisht in it And he was Commanded to pass his word to the six Gentlemen and the rest concerning their reward for their Service In this Conspiracy were ingaged divers Gentlemen who were very Zealous for Popery Edward Windsor Brother to the Lord Windsor Thomas Salisbury of a Knights Family in Denbeighshire Charles Tilney of an ancient Family who was then but lately reconciled to the Romish Church Chideock Tichburn of Southampton Edward Abbington whose Father had been the Queens under Treasurer Robert Gage of Surry John Travers and John Charnock of Lancashire John Jones whose Father was Yeoman of the Wardrobe to Queen Mary Savage before named Barnwel of a noble Family in Ireland and Henry Dun Clark in the Office of first Fruits and Tenths and one Polley To every of these Gentlemen was a Part in this Conspiracy assigned and all things went according to their hearts desire as they thought Nothing perplexed Babington But his Fears of being failed in the Foreign Aid that was promised him therefore to make sure of it he resolved himself to go over into France and to that purpose to send Ballard privately before for whom by his Money under a Counterfeit name he procured a License to Travel And that there might not be the least Suspicion of himself he insinuated into Secretary Walsingham by means of Polley and earnestly besought him to procure him a License from the Queen to travel into France promising her to do her extraordinary good Service in pumping out and discovering the secret designs of the Fugitives in behalf of the Queen of Scots The Plot discovered but as we say forewarned forearmed he being a faithful and cunning Secretary by his Spies had discovered all and informed the Queen and therefore only commended Babingtons pretended design and made him fair Promises and so from time to time delayed him The chief instrument in discovering this Plot was one Gilbert Gifford who lurked in England under the Name of Lauson in mind Salvage of his Oath but had informed the Secretary what he was and to what purpose sent into England This having gone on for some time Ballard apprehended the Queen apprehending there might be great danger in letting it proceed further ordered Ballard to be apprehended who was seized on before he was aware in Babingtons House just as he was setting out for France Babington and some others of the Confederates being jealous the design was discovered hid themselves in St. Johns Wood near London Notice being given of their withdrawing they are proclaimed Traitors at last are found and seized on and the rest of their fellow Rebels fourteen of whom were executed in September 1586. in St. Giles in the Fields where they used to meer and consult about their intended murthering of the Queen and invading the Kingdom Mary Queen of Scots having been at the bottom in all these designs The Queen of Scots at the bottom Cam. Annals from f. 33 to f. 35. D' Ewes Journal f. 392 393 395 400 401 405 408. A Commission Issued for trying Mary Queen of Scots grounded on 27 Eliz. Cap. 1. Camb. An. l. 3. f. 347. and there being no probability of the Kingdoms continuing in the safe and secure exercise of the Protestant Religion under their Protestant Queen so long as she was in being The Papists being assured by her that in case she had the Crown she would introduce Popery Queen Elizabeth was advised to try her for Treason which she was with great difficulty prevailed to do and Issued out a Commission grounded upon 27 Eliz. Cap. 1. herein before set forth The Commissioners appointed to Try her were these viz John Archbishop of * Whitgift Bakers Chron. f. 369. Canturbury Sir Tho. Bromley Kt. Chancellor of England William Lord Burleigh Treasurer of England William Lord Marquess of Winchester Edward Earl of Oxford great Chamberlain of England George Earl of Shrewsbury Earl Marshal Henry Earl of Kent Henry Earl of Darby William Earl of Worcester Edmund Earl of Rutland Ambrose Earl of Warwick Master of the Ordinance Henry Earl of Pembrook Robert Earl of Leicester Master of the Horse Henry Earl of Lincoln Anthony Vicount Mountague Charles Lord Howard Lord High Admiral of England Henry Lord of Hunsdon Lord Chamberlain Henry Lord Abergavenny Edward Lord Zouch Edward Lord Morley William Lord Cobham Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports Edward Lord Stafford Arthur Lord Grey of Wilton John Lord Lumley John Lord Stourton William Lord Saunders Lewis Lord Mordant John Lord St. John of Bletnesho Thomas Lord Buckhurst Henry Lord Compton Henry Lord Cheney Sir Francis Knolles Kt. Controller of the Houshould Sir Christopher Hatton Vice-Chamberlain Sir Francis Walsingham Secretary William Davison Esq Sir Ralph Sadleir Chancellor of the Dutchy of Lancaster Sir Walter Mildmay Chancellor of the Exchequer Sir Amias Pawlet Captain of the Isle of Jersey John Woolly Esq Secretary for the Latin Tongue Sir Christopher Wray Chief Justice of the Common-Pleas Sir Edward Anderson Chief Justice of the Bench Sir Roger Manwood Chief Baron Sir Thomas Gawdy and William Periam Judges The substance of their Commission was this The substance of the Commission Cambd. Annals f. 348. after the recital of 27. Eliz. Cap. 1. thus it followeth Whereas since the end of the Session of Parliament viz. since the first day of June in â—â—e 27 th Year of our Reign divers things have been compassed and imagined â—â—nding to the hurt of our Royal Person as well by Mary Daughter and Heir of James the Fifth King of Scots and commonly called Queen of Scots and Dowager of France pretending a Title to the Crown of this Realm of England 〈◊〉 by divers other Persons cum scientia in English with the Privity of the said Mary as we are given to understand And whereas we do intend and resolve that the aforesaid Act shall be in all and every part thereof duly and effectually put into Execution according to the Tenour of the same and that all offences abovesaid in the Act abovesaid mentioned as afore is said and the circumstances of the same shall be examined and Sentence or Judgment thereupon given according to the Tenour and Effect of the said Act to you and the greater part of you we do giâ—e full and absolute Power License and Authority according to the Tenour of the said Act to examin all and singular Matters composed and imagined tending to she hurt of our Royal Person as well by the aforesaid Mary as by any other Person or Persons whatsoever cum scientia in English with the Privity of the said Mary and all circumstance of the same and all
Genserick and Henricus with their Arian Hereticks alluding to the State. Here we think both him and divers others that have written to the same effect very greatly to blame Sure we are that the general Cause of Religion for the which both we and they contend as oft we have said getteth no good but hurt by it and contrary to the Old saying be he never so bad yet let him have Justice tho some hard Courses have been taken by the State against us yet hath it not by many degrees been so extream as the Jesuits and that Crue have falsely written and reported of it nor indeed as they deserved Afterwards they inveigh against the Spanish Invasion against Parsons for a Book he writ and against him and Creswel for another they writ they go on thus Whilst the said Invasion was thus talked of and in preparation in Spain a shorter course was thought of Heskets Plot. it might have had success Mr. Hesket was set on by the Jesuits 1592. or thereabouts with Father Parsons consent or knowledge to have stirred up the Earl of Darby to Rebellion against Her Highness Cullen Not long after good Father Holt and others with him persuaded an Irish-man one Patrick Collen as he himself confessed to attempt the laying his violent and villanous hands upon Her Majesty Shortly after in the Year 1593. that Notable Stratagem was Plotted the whole State knoweth by whom for Dr. Lopez the Queens Physician to have Poysoned her Lopez for the which he was Executed the Year after This wicked designment being thus prevented by Gods providence the said Traiterous Jesuit York and Williams Holt and others did allure and animate one York and Williams to have accomplished that with their Bloody hands that the other purposed to have done with his Poyson we mean Her Majesties destruction Hereunto we might add the late Villanous attempt 1599. of Edward Squire animated and drawn thereto as he confessed by Wallpool that pernicious Jesuit Walpool But we must turn again to Father Parsons whose turnings and doublings are such as would trouble a right good Hound to Trace him For in the mean time that the said Traytors one after another were Plotting and Studying how best they might compass Her Majesties Death they cared not how nor by what means he the said Father Parsons so prevailed with the King as he attempted twice in two sundry Years his new Invasion meaning to have proceeded therein The Spaniard designed a Second Invasion not with such great preparation as he did at the first but only to have begun the same by taking some Port Westward Towards which he came so far onward as Silley with his Fleet. At both which times God who still hath fought for her Majesty and this Realm did notably prevent him by such Winds and Tempests as the most of his Ships and Men perished in the Sea as they were coming hitherward Furthermore the said good Father in the midst of all the said Trayterous enterprizes both at home and abroad devised and set forward by him and his Companions was ploding amongst his Papers and playing the herauld how if all his said wicked designments failed he might at the last Intitle the King of Spain and consequently the Infanta his Daughter to the Crown and Kingdom of England To which purpose he framed and after published a Book wherewith he acquainted the Students in those Seminaries in Spain and Laboured nothing more then to have their subscriptions to the said Infanta's Title therein promissing unto her their present Allegiance as unto their lawful Soveraign and that when they should be sent into their Country they should perswade the Catholics there to do the like without any further Expectation of the Queen of Englands Death As Mr. Charles Paget affirmeth in his Book against Parsons They confess in these words That the Jesuitical designments beyond the Seas Collect. 53 54. together with certain Rebellions and Traiterous attempts of some Catholics at home have been the cause of such Calamities and troubles as have happened to us far less we think then any Prince living in Her Majesties Case and so provoked would have inflicted upon us And after they tell us that divers of their Communion have owned so much I shall conclude this Reign with these words of theirs which fully justifie the making the Laws that were made in it We are fully persuaded in our Consciences and as Men besides our Learning Collect. 55 56 57. who have some experience that if the Catholics had never sought by indirect means to have vexed Her Majesty with their designments against her Crown if the Pope and King of Spain had never plotted with the Duke of Norfolk If the Rebels in the North had never been heard of if the Bull of Pius the V. had never been known if the said Rebellion had never been justified If neither Steukly nor the Pope had attempted any thing against Ireland if Gregory the Thirteenth had not renewed the said Excommunication if the Jesuits had never come into England if the Pope and the King of Spain had not practised with the Duke of Guise for his attempt against Her Majesty if Parsons and the rest of the Jesuits with other our Country-men beyond Seas had never been agents in these Traiterous and Bloody designments of Throckmorton Parry Collen York Willians Squire and such like if they had not by their Treatises and writings endeavoured to defame their Soveraign and their own Country labouring to have many of their Books Translated into divers Languages thereby to shew more their own disloyalty if Cardinal Allen and Parsons had not published the Renovation of the said Bull by Sixtus Quintus if thereunto they had not added their scurrillous and unmanly Admonition or rather most Prophane Libel against Her Majesty if they had not sought by false persuasions and ungodly Arguments to have allured the Hearts of Catholics from their Allegiance if the Pope had never been urged by them to have thrust the Kingdom of Spain into that Barbarous Action against the Realm if they themselves with the rest of that generation had not laboured greatly with the said King for the Conquest and Invasion of this Land by the Spaniards who are known to be the cruelest Tyrants that live upon the Earth If in all their Proceedings they had not from time to time depraved irritated and provoked both Her Majesty and the State with these and other such like their ungodly and unchristian practices But on the contrary if the Popes from time to time had sought her Majesty by kind Offices and gentle Persuasions never ceasing the prosecution of those and such-like courses of humanity and gentleness if the Catholics and Priests beyond the Seas had laboured continually the furtherance of those most Priest-like and Divine allurements and had framed their own proceedings in all their words and writings accordingly if we at home all of us both Priests and
undertook to take this rub out of the way by killing the King to which purpose he went for Scotland but took England in his way At London one Daniel an Italian Fencing Master discovers the Plot to the Queen she seized them and sent them into Scotland Mowbray supposed Guilty is cast into Edenburgh Castle whence thinking one Night to escape out of a Window by his Bed sheets they proved too short and he fell upon the Rocks and so dyed his Body was hanged for sometime then quartered 1601. and set upon the Gates and several places of the City This Design failing another is in hand in Italy A design to poyson King James the First Ferdinando I. the Grand Duke of Tuscany by the intercepting some Letters discovereth a Plot to poyson the said King James The Duke by what reasons induced is not material but 't is conjectured in hopes to convert him rather pervert him to the Romish Religion resolved to discover and prevent it At this time one Mr. Henry Wotton sojourned in Florence 1602. and was well acquainted with Seigniour Vietta the Dukes Secretary upon whose Commendations Wotton is pitched on to be the Messenger The Letters and excellent Antidotes against Poyson such as were not then known in Scotland were delivered to him who disguised under an Italian Garb and Name of Octavio Baldi hasteth into Scotland cometh to the King discovereth himself and the Conspiracy and after some stay returneth to Florence he was afterwards Knighted by King James As the Popes are never without Designs for promoting some of their Nephews The Pope designs to exclude King James the First so Clement the VIII the then Pope in these Designs against the said King James his succeeding Queen Elizabeth was not wanting intending the Crown of England for some of his friends and perceiving that some in England English Papists to be sure were tampering to promote the Interest of the Lady Arabella in this case he thought it best to deal warily he was very desirous that the Duke of Parma should wear the Crown of England but finding that this was not feasible by reason Arabella's Interest was too strong for him he steers another course and thinks of Cardinal Farnese who being unmarried might take to Wife Arabella and so unite Forces and Interests to carry the Crown To carry on this design it was advised that all the Romanists in England should unite that their Cause might not suffer by any dissentions about this Succession amongst themselves a good Caution may hence be given to all Protestants in England that they do not divide upon their present Majesty's King William and Queen Mary's accession to the Crown who under God are the preservers of the Protestant Religion amongst us for vis unita fortior and nothing but division can hurt us to promote this union the Romish Clergy who then had and still have a great awe and authority over the Layety were exhorted by the Pope to be all of a Mind as to this Succession and to press it home upon the Layety that so the Layety might not be divided To which purpose it was concluded that there should be an Arch Priest who should have a Jurisdiction over the rest who are to â—it according to his Rules and Directions and in these designs Father Parsons who was not yet advanc'd according to his merit was a main stickler and contriver the Pope also had drawn up some Bulls and sent to his Nuncio in the Netherlands to Divulge and spread them abroad at convenient times wherein he declared that not any though never so near in blood should after Queen Elizabeths death be admitted to the Crown but such an one as would not only tollerate the Roman Religion but would swear to promote and resettle it and that in the mean time Cardinal Farnese might in this Island have the greatest vogue the Pope made him Protector of England as Pope Pius V. had before made Mary Queen of Scots Queen of England to carry on the same design as he was of other Countrys Nay rather then fail the same Pope had formerly exhorted the French and Spaniards to unite invade England and divide it between them nor did they neglect to instigate the Family of the Pools to have a Right Divers other Attempts were made by Winton Desmond and other Priests and Jesuits to exclude King James the First but all proved abortive as did the Treasons plotted against him after his Accessions to the Throne Queen Elizabeth's death Camb Annals f. 651. Bakers Chron. f. 403. On the 24th of March 1603. the Virgin Queen Elizabeth of every Glorious Memory exchanged her corruptible for an incorruptible Crown after she had Reigned Forty four Years and Four Months and in the Seventieth Year of her Age of whom her Successor gave this Character that she was one who in wisdom and felicity of Government surpassed all the Princes since the days of Augustus King James the First Proclaimed Camb. Annals f. 661. Bakers Chron. f. 403. A Conspiracy against him She being dead some few hours after King James was Proclaimed King of England the First of Scotland the Sixth and no sooner is he set upon his Throne even before he could well get the Crown upon his Head but we find a Plot laid against his Life for though the Papists could not keep him from the Throne they were resolved if possible that he should not sit long there This Plot I must confess is prima facie of a strange Complection but when 't is well viewed if we look upon the Majority of the Persons concerned we shall find them to be Romish Priests and Lay Papists and therefore if a thing may take its denomination from the greater part this may sure and we may safely call it a Popish Conspiracy for although some Protestants were inveigled into it Yet they were the smaller number and at that time under a discontent (a) Bakers Chron. f. 404. VVilsons History of Great Brittain f 4. which oftentimes carries Men beyond the Principles of their Religion and to do things contrary to the Rules of right Reason Whither their discontent was well grounded or not is not my purpose to enquire but taking it for granted they were Male-contents I shall now give an account of who were Actors in this Design and what the Design it self was The Names of the Conspirators Fowlis Hist li. 10. cap. 1. f. 499. VVilsons Hist. f. 4. Bakers Chron. f. 404. The main Actors in this Conspiracy were William Watson and Clark who had both writ against the Jesuits for their Treasons and Conspiracies Sir Griffin Markham Count Aremberg Ambassador from the Arch Duke of Austria Mathew de Lawrency a Merchant but an Instrument employed by Aremberg all zealous Papists Sir Edward Parham a Papist Bartholomew Roskesby and Anthony Coply Papists Henry Brook Lord Cobham and George Brook his Brother who seemed to be Protestants Thomas Lord Grey of Wilton a Protestant
continue your daily Plotting of so Tragical Stratagems against Recusants It is ordered that none of these Five knoweth who the other Four be for the better preventing the discovery of the rest if so any one by attempting and not performing should be apprehended It is also already agreed who shall first attempt it by shot and so who in order shall follow In accomplishing of it there is expected no other than assurance of Death yet it will willingly be embraced for the preventing of those general Calamities which by this your transcendent Authority and Grace with His Majesty are threatned unto us And indeed the difficulties herein are more easily to be digested since Two of the intended attempters are in that weak estate of Body that they cannot live above three or four Months The other Three are so distressed in themselves and their Friends as that their present griefs for being only Recusants do much dull all aprehensions of Death None is to be blamed in the true censuring of Matters for the undertaking hereof Nor are they to be blamed for it for we protest before God we have no other means left us in the World since it is manifest that you serve but as a Match to give Fire unto his Majesty to whom the worst that we wish is that he may be as great a Saint in Heaven as he is King on Earth for intending all mischiefs against the poor distressed Catholics Thus giving your Lordship this charitable admonition the which may perhaps be necessary hereafter for some others your inferiours at least in grace and favour if so they run on in their former inhumane and unchristian rage against us I cease putting you in mind For 't is true and Spiritual Resolution that where once True and Spiritual Resolution is there notwithstanding all dangers whatsoever the weak may take sufficient revenge of the great Your Lordships well admonishing Friends c. A. B. C. c. It may be your Lordship will take this but as some forged Letter of some Puritans thereby to incense you more against Recusants But we protest upon our Salvation it is not so Neither can any thing in humane likelihood prevent the effecting thereof but the change of your Course towards Recusants This Letter at the beginning affords fair seeming to detest the Gun-Powder-Plot as Watson did the Popish Treasons in Queen Elizabeths time and was hanged for Treason in the beginning of the Reign of King James but little credit is to be given to what they say if it be considered that the very design of it is to apoligize for Murther and that they therein assert that although they Murther Privy Counsellors yet the Murtherers may be good men nor are they to be blamed for it for it is a true and spiritual resolution What influence this Letter had the sequel will evince for the said Oath was immediately confirmed by Act of Parliament and the Papists injoyned to take it in the Circumstances and upon the Penalties in the Act for that purpose mentioned the sum and substance of which Act followeth it is Intitled An Act for the better discovering and repressing of Popish Recusants The Preamble of the Act runs thus 3. Jac. 1. c. 4. Rast Stat. f. 591. Papists must receive the Sacrament and take the Oath of Allegiance c. upon pecuniary mulcts if neglected FOrasmuch as it is found by daily Experience that many His Majesties Subjects that adhere in their hearts to the Popish Religion by the infection drawn from thence and by the Wicked and Divelish Councel of Iesuits Seminaries and other like Persons dangerous to the Church and State are so far perverted in the point of their Loyalty and due Allegiance to the Kings Majesty and the Crown of England as they are ready to entertain and Execute any Treasonable Conspiracies and Practices as evidently appears by that more then barbarous and horrible Attempt to have blown up with Gun-powder the King Queen Prince Lords and Commons in the House of Parliament Assembled tending to the utter Subversion of the whole State lately undertaken by the instigation of Iesuits and Seminaries and in Advancement of their Religion by their Schollars Taught and Instructed by them to that purpose which Attempt by the only goodness of Almighty God was discovered and defeated And where divers Persons Popishly affected do nevertheless the better to cover and hide their false Hearts and with the more safety to attend the opportunity to execute their mischievous Designs repair sometimes to Church to escape the Penalty of the Laws in that behalf provided Then for the better discovery of such Persons and their Evil affections to the Kings Majesty and to the State of the Realm to the end that being known their Evil Purposes might be the better prevented It was enacted that every Papist that Conforms shall Yearly receive the Sacrament upon twenty pounds Forfeiture upon the first Years neglect forty pounds the second sixty pounds the third and so forwards sixty pounds Yearly until he or she shall have received it That Papists their Children of Nine Years and Servants shall be once a Year presented at the general or Quarter Sessions Which presentments are to be recorded at the Sessions That the Iustices of Assize and Goal Delivery and Iustices of Peace shall hear and determine the Offence That Proclamation shall be made at the Assizes or Sessions for the Offender to render his body to the Sheriff Bayliff or Keeper of the Goal of the Liberty before the next Assizes or Sessions c. And if the Offender doth not he stands Convicted and forfeits twenty pounds a Month for every Month contained in the Indictment whereon he his Convicted That every Conviction shall be certified into the Exchequer that the King may refuse twenty pounds a Month and take two parts of the Papists Lands save their Mansion House That the Kings two parts shall not be Leased to Papists Noblemen and Noblewomen are excepted That the Oath of Allegiance shall be tendred to all Persons of the Age of Eighteen Years or above Convicted or Indicted for Recusancy for not going to Church for not receiving the Sacrament or that pass through any Country Shire or Liberty and unknown Who refuse taking this Oath incur a Premunire except Women covert who are to be Committed to the Common Goal without Bail or Mainprize till they take the Oath No Indictment or other Proceedings against the Papists shall be discharged or reversed for default of Form but Conformity discharges all Proceedings whatever Felony in any that go beyond Seas to serve any Forreign Prince c. or being there shall voluntarily serve such Prince not first having taken the Oath Felony in any Gentleman or Person of higher Degrée or any that is or hath born Office in Camp Army or Company of Souldiers to go beyond the Seas voluntarily to serve a Foreign Prince or shall voluntarily serve any Prince unless he first enters into Bond
Eliz. QUeen Mary dyed the 17 th of November Queen Elizabeth's Birth-Day Anno Domini 1558. Whose Death put an end to this severe Persecution The Parliament then assembled in the sixth and last year of her Reign Queen Elizabeth her Accession is the Crown and her râ—â—â—eâ—â—ete calling of a Parliament D'Ewes Journal of Q. Eliz. Reign f. 1. Cambd. Anceâ—s f. 12. Hist R. f. 2 pt f. 373. being by her demise Dissolved The thrice Excellent and Prudent Princess Queen Elizabeth according to her Right and Hereditary Title saith Sir Simon D'Ewes true and lawful Heir to the Crown according to the Act of Succession of 35 H. 8. saith Cambden the next and indisputed Heir to the Crown saith Doctor Burnet and Heath the then Lord Chancellour so called her without any opposition or difficulty King Philip being then very happily beyond the Seas succeeded to all the Realms and Dominions of Mary her Sister excepting Calais and those other inestimable places in France which had been most dishonourably and vainly lost in the time and towards the end of the Reign of the said Queen Mary and finding also the Innocent Blood of God's Saints Arch-Bishop Cranmer Bishop Ridley Bishop Hooper and the rest shed for the Witness of the Truth to have stained the former Government with the just brand and stygma of Persecuting and Tyrannical and that her Realms and Dominions were much impoverished and weakned as Doctor Burnet in his Letters hath made evident almost all places abroad are where Popery is the prevailing Religion Popery and Slavery being inseparable Companions she therefore in the very entrance of her Reign applyed her first are to the restoring of the Protestant Religion which she verily perswaded her self was most true Cambd. Hist f. 13. and consonant to the Sacred Scriptures and the sincerity of the Primitive Church and well considering and foreseeing that the surest and safest way to establish the Truth to abolish all Foreign and Usurpt Authority to repair the weaknesses and breaches of her said Realms and Dominions to strengthen her Kingdom with Shipping and Munition and to revive the decayed Trade thereof was by the common Advice and Counsel and with the publick Assent did summon her first Parliament to begin on Munday the 23 d day of January in the first year of her Reign But before I give any Account of what Laws were thereby made relating to the Papists I shall 1 st Shew how the Law stood at to the Papists when she came to the Crown 2 d. I shall show that the Protestant Religion was restored by much more lenil and mild Methods towards the Papists in Queen Elizabeth's time than the Popish Religion was introduced by in Queen Mary's 3 d. I shall make it fully appear that they gave just occasion for making the severe Laws against them that were made in Queen Elizabeth's time and when in time the occasion was given and the Laws made which last thing will run through the whole thread of the following account As to the first whoever will give himself the trouble to consult our Statute and Law-Books will find 1 How the Laws stood as to the Papists before any new ones were made 25 F. 3. ca. 2. that long before her Reign it was Treason to compass or imagine the death of the King the Queen or their Eldest Son and Heir or to levy War against the King or to adhere to the King's Enemies or to give to them Aid or Comfort 2 Rog. Hov. in Hen. 2. 13 R. 2. sta 2. ca. 2 Co. Inst 3.100 ca. 36. That it was Treason and afterwards Felony to bring or send into this Kingdom or the King's Power which is the same with Dominions any Summons Sentence or Excommunication against any person of what Condition soever he be 3 16 R. 2 ca. 5.3 Inst 120 121 126.12 Co. 37.40 Davis 84. that he incurr'd a Premunire that purchased Bulls from Rome and that the Crown of England even in the Popish times was subject to none 4 Co. Rep. 5. f. 12 15 17 21 22 23 27 28. and Co. Inst 3. Ca. 36. It was of old Treason by the Common Law of the Land to procure or bring in any Bull of Excommunication against any Subject much more certainly against the King or Queen because it gives way to Foreign Authority 5 Co. Inst 3. ca. 67. f. 144. And by the Laws of England all Subjects are prohibited to take any Pension c. of any Foreign King Prince or State without the King's License altho' in League with England Thus stood the Laws when that Glorious Queen of ever Blessed Memory ascended the Throne and one would have thought these would have guarded her against all attempts of the Papists and 't is not unreasonable to believe that she her self was of that mind if we consider 2 ly That the Methods taken by Queen Elizabeth for restoring the Protestant Religion were much milder than those taken by Queen Mary to introduce the Popish This will appear by the Laws themselves of which I come now to give an account and of the occasion of their making The first is That which restores to the Crown 1 Eliz. ca. 1. Rast Stat. 2. part f. 1. The Crown restored to its Antient Jurisdiction in causes Ecclesiastical a power given to delegate the exercise of it the Oath of Supremacy and what shall be taken for Heresie ascertained the Antient Iurisdiction over the Estate Ecclesiastical and Spiritual and abolisheth all Foreign Powers repugnant to the same Which it doth by reviving the Laws of Henry the 8th against the See of Rome and of Edward the 6th for the Protestants Which Laws were repealed by Queen Mary and Laws for Convicting and Burning Hereticks i. e. Protestants in an Arbitrary way revived which had been Repealed in Edward the 6th's time This Law therefore particularly repeals 5 R. 2.5 5 H. 4.15 2 H. 5.7 made against the Protestants then called Hereticks and Lollards and then doth abolish Foreign Iurisdiction wherein it is but declarative of the Antient Laws of the Kingdom and annereth Ecclesiastical Iurisdiction to the Crown and gives a power of delegating the Exercise of it establisheth the Oath of Supremary but in tenderness to the Papists leaves out Supream Head of the Church and provides that all Ecclesiastical Persons Temporal Iudges Iustices Mayors or other say or temporal Officers and every other person having her Highness Fee or Wages shall take the said Oath upon the penalty of forfeiting their places Ecclesiastical or Temporal upon an obstinate refusal and disability to hold the same for the future the penalty of maliciously maintaining a Foreign Iurisdiction is for the first offence the loss of Goods and Chattels only and if he be not worth 20 l. then over and above the forfeiture of his Goods and Chattels he shall suffer twelve Months Imprisonment without Bail or Mainprize the second offence is made a premunire the third offence high
declare her to be deprived of her pretended Title to the Kingdom aforesaid and of all Dominion Dignity and Priviledge whatsoever and also the Nobility Subjects and People of the said Kingdom and all others who have in any sort sworn unto her to be for ever absolved from any such Oath and all manner of Duty of Dominion Allegiance and Obedience and we also do by Authority of these Presents absolve them and do deprive the said Elizabeth of her pretended Title to the Kingdom and all other things before named And we do command and charge all and every the Noblemen Subjects People and others aforesaid that they presume not to obey her or her Orders Mandates and Laws And those which shall do the contrary we do include them in the like Sentence of Anathema And because it would be a difficult matter to convey these Presents to all places wheresoever it shall be needful Our Will is that the Copies thereof under a Publick Notaries hand and Sealed with the Seal of an Ecclesiastical Prelate or of his Court shall carry altogether the same credit with all men judicially and extrajudicially as these Presents should do if they were exhibited or shewed Given at Rome at St. Peters in the year of the Incarnation of our Lord 1569 the fifth of the Calends of March and of our Popedome the fifth year Cae. Glorierius One Felton hung up this Bill upon the Bishop of London's Palace Gates Cambd. Annals f. 148. Fowlis Hist lib 2. ca. 3. f. 327. Collections f. 24 Felton hanged as a Traytor for publishing the Bull. and scorning to seek an escape boldly vindicates the Pope and himself in what was done defying the Queen and her Authority for which he was Arraigned Condemned and Hanged near the same place in St. Paul's Church-yard Now for any thus to contemn and villifie his Soveraign nul her Authority renounce his Allegiance and so far to submit himself to a Foreign Jurisdiction even in Temporalities as to declare his own Soveraign deprived and deposed from her Kingdom what punishment this man incurr'd let the Reader Judge provided he will also consider That had a Protestant thus renounc'd his Obedience in Queen Mary's daies the party must have dyed for it and those who commend Felton would have called the other Traytors and yet Felton did it to procure a National Rebellion Besides this in the beginning of the 13 th year of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth The 4 th Rebellion was in Ireland begun in the beginning of 13 Eliz. by Conogher O Brien Earl of Twomond Cambd. Annals f. 153. in Ireland Conogher O Brien Earl of Twomond closely contrived a Rebellion which just as it was ready to break forth was by meer chance blown over and Thomas Steukley an Englishman a Ruffian a notorious Spendthrift and a notable vaporer who having consumed his Estate fled over into Ireland after he had first vomited forth most undeserved disgraces against his Princess to whom he was extraordinarily bounden soon after slipt out of Ireland into Italy to Pius V. Bishop of Rome where incredible it is into how great grace and favour he wrought himself by his Flatteries with that old man who breathed after the destruction of Queen Elizabeth This Steukley saith the Lord Treasurer Burleigh was a defamed person almost thro' all Christendom and a faithless Beast rather than a Man Collections f. 2 3 fleeing first out of England for notable Piracies and out of Ireland for Treacheries not pardonable and that he and the said Charles Nevil Earl of Westmerland were the Ring-Leaders of the rest of the Rebels the one for England the other for Ireland But notwithstanding the notorious evil and wicked Lives of these and others their confederates void of all Christian Religion it liked the Bishop of Rome as in favour of their Treasons to animate them to take Arms against their lawful Queen to invade her Realm with Foreign Forces to pursue all her good Subjects and their Native Country with Fire and Sword for maintenance whereof the Bull aforesaid had proceeded And the Pope the Guises the King of Spain Contrivances by the Pope the King of Spain the Guises and the Queen of Scots against Queen Elizabeth and the Protestant Religion Fowlis p. 330 331. Cambd. Annals lib. 2. f. 154. and the rest of the confederates against the Queen and the Protestant Religion the better to carry on their designs did soon after Queen Elizabeth came to the Crown set up a Title thereto in the Queen of Scots as aforesaid which was one principal cause that there were so many Plots and Conspiracies during her Reign tho' none gave her any great trouble till about the 10 th or 11 th year of her Reign It appears by Letters from the Pope to the Queen of Scots written in the year 1571. 13 Eliz. that there was a design on Foot to introduce Popery and to subvert the Protestant Religion here in England which Letter was delivered by Ridolpho the Florentine before mentioned his means to the Queen of Scots And Ridolpho by his own particular Letters to the Queen of Scots desired her to acquaint the Duke of Norfolk and her Friends with the Design but there being at that time a Treaty begun in order to her being restored to her Kingdom of Scotland whereof she was at that time dispossest she defer'd answering the Letter but the Treaty afterwards coming to nothing she privately sent a large commentary or draught of her Counsels and Affairs to the Duke of Norfolk before mentioned written in Cyphers known only to them two as also other Letters to be conveyed by Ridolpho to the Pope and the Spaniard Camd. Hist lib. 2. fol. 157. Baker's Chron. f. 344. Ridolpho greatly pressed the Duke to enter into the Confederacy and as an encouragement affirmed That the Pope so that the Catholick i. e. the Popish Religion might be promoted would bear the charge of the whole War and that he had to that purpose laid down 1 Some Writers say 150000. Crowns an hundred thousand Crowns the last year when the Bull was Published whereof twelve thousand he the said Ridolpho had distributed amongst the English Fugitives He promised that the Spaniard would supply him with 4000 Horse and 6000 Foot which might be sent over to Harwich near whereunto the Duke had many Potent Adherents and that most commodiously and without suspicion in the beginning of Summer when the Duke of Medina Caeli was to come with a strong Fleet into the Netherlands And concluded that such Caution might be used that the Duke might be cleared from all Suspition of affecting the Crown and the Queen of England safely might be provided for so as she would Embrace or tollerate the Romish Religion and give her assent to the Queen of Scots Marriage with the Duke Which Conspiracy the Duke at that time refused to enter into Cambd. Annals p. 158. Baker Chron. fol. 844. Camb. Annals li. 2. fol. 162.
Parsons presently fell to his Jesuitical Courses and so be-laboured both himself and others in matters of State how he might set her Majesties Crown upon another Head as appeareth by a letter of his own to a certain Earl that the Catholics themselves threatned to deliver him into the hands of the Civil Magistrate except he desisted from such kind of practices In these tumultuous and rebellious proceedings by sundry Catholics both in England and Ireland it could not be expected but that the Queen and the State would be greatly incensed with indignation against us We had some of us greatly approved the said Rebellion highly extoll'd the Rebels and pitifully bewailed their Ruin and Over-throw Many of our affections were knit to the Spaniards and for our Obedience to the Pope we all do profess it The attempts both of the Pope and Spaniard failing in England his Holiness as a temporal Prince The Popes Banner displayed in Ireland to depose the Queen displayed his Banner in Ireland This Plot was to deprive Her Highness first from that Kingdom if they could and then by degrees to depose her from this In all these Plots none were more forward then many of us that were Priests The Layity if we had opposed our selves to these designments would out of doubt have been over-ruled by us How many of our Calling were addicted to these Courses the State knew not In which Case the premises discreetly considered there is no King or Prince in the World disgusting the See of Rome and having either force or Metal in him The Queen Vindicated and commended that would have indured us if possible he could have been revenged but rather as we think have utterly rooted us out of his Territories as Traytors and Rebels both to him and his Country And therefore we may rejoyce unfeignedly that God hath blessed this Kingdom with so gracious and merciful a Soveraign who hath not dealt in this sort with us Assuredly if she were a Catholic she might be accounted the Mirrour of the World but as she is both we and all other Catholics her natural Subjects deserve no longer to live then we hereafter shall Honour her from our Hearts obey her in all things so far as possibly we may pray for her Prosperous Reign and long Life and to our Powers defend and Protect both her and our Country against any whatsoever that shall by force of Arms attempt to damnifie either of them for in the said Garboils and very undutiful Proceedings how hath her Highness dealt with us From the time of the said Rebellion and Parliament The Papists themselves confess not above twelve Executed in ten years there were few above twelve that in ten Years had been Executed for their Consciences as we hold altho our Adversaries say for Treason and of those twelve some parhaps can hardly be drawn within our Account having been tainted with matters of Rebellion The most of the said number were Seminary Priests who if they had come over with the like intents that some others have done might very worthily have been used as they were But in our Consciences nay some of us do know it that they were far from those Seditious humours being Men that intended nothing else then simply the good of our Country and the Conversion of Souls Marry to say the Truth as we have Confessed before how could either her Majesty or the State know so much They had great Cause as politic Persons to suspect the worst Besides to the further Honour of Her Majesty we may not Omit that the States of the whole Realm Assembled in Parliament Anno 1576. Were pleased to pass us over and made no Laws at that time against us The Antient Prisoners that had been restrained more narrowly in the Year 1570. were notwithstanding the said Enterprizes in Ireland again restored to their former Liberty to continue with their Friends as they had done before such as were not suspected to have been Dealers or Abettors in the said Treasonable Accounts were used with that humanity which could not well be expected But when the Jesuits were come and that the State had notice of the said Excommunication there was then within a while great alteration for such were the Jesuits proceedings and with so great boldness as tho all had been theirs and that the State should presently have been changed Her Majesty had seen what followed in her Kingdom upon the first Excommunication and was therefore in all worldly Policy to prevent the like by the second The Jealousie also of the State was much increased by Mr. Sherwin's answer upon his Examination The Jesuits indirect answering of plain Questions above Eight Months before the Apprehension of Mr. Campian For being asked whether the Queen was his lawful Soveraign notwithstanding any Sentence of the Popes he prayed that no such Question might be demanded of him and would not further thereunto Answer Two or three other Questions much to the like effect were likewise propounded unto him which he also refused to Answer Matters now sorting on this fashion there was a greater restraint of Catholics then at any time before many both Priests and Gentlemen were sent into the Isle of Ely and other places there to be more safely kept and looked unto The Queen's Proclamation upon the coming over of the Jesuits Seminary Priests This is a Mistake for the Law made by this Parliament was 23. Eliz. Cap. 1. that made it Treason in converter and converted to the Church of Rome and the Law here mentioned is 27. Eliz. Cap. 2. In January following 1581. according to the general Computation a Proclamation was made for the Calling home of Her Majesties Subjects beyond the Seas such especially as were trained up in the Seminaries pretending that they Learned little there but disloyalty and that none after that time should harbour or relieve them with sundry other Points of hard intendment toward us The same Month also a Parliament ensued wherein a Law was made agreeable in effect to the said Proclamation But with a more severe punishment annexed for it was a Penalty of Death for any Jesuit or Seminary Priest to repair into England and for any to receive or entertain them which fell out according to Bishop Watsons former Speeches or prediction what mischiefs the Jesuits would bring upon us We could here as well as some others have done shew our dislike with some bitterness of the said Law and Penalty But to what purpose should we do so It had been a good Point of Wisdom in two of three Persons that have taken that course to have been silent and rather to have thought by gentleness and sweet Carriage of themselves to have prevented the more sharp Execution of that Law then by exclaiming against it when it was too late to have provoked the State to a greater severity against us And to confess something to our disadvantage and to excuse the said Parliament If all
other offences whatsoever abovesaid In the Act abovesaid as afore is said mentioned and all circumstances of the same and of every of them and thereupon according to the Tenour of the Act aforesaid to give Sentence or Judgment as upon good proof the Matter shall appear unto you And therefore we command you that you do at such certain days and places which you or the greater part of you shall for that purpose set and agree upon diligently proceed upon the premises in form aforesaid c. Mary Queen of Scots Tryed Camb. Annals f. 361. The Commissioners met at Fotheringay Castle the 11 th of October 1586. and Tryed Mary Queen of Scots the substance of the Tryal you may see in Cambdens Annals from Pag. 344 to 361. as he took the same out of the Commentaries and Memorials of Edward Barker principlal Register to the Queen Thomas Wheeler publick Notary Register of the Audience of Canturbury and other persons of Credit which were there present On the 25 th of October all the Commissioners met at the Star-Chamber at Westminster to which place they had adjourned except the Earls of Shrewsbury and Warwick which were both of them sick at that time Sentence was pronounced which Sentence was this The Sentence By their unanimous assents and consents they do pronounce and deliver this their Sentence and Judgment at the day and place last above mentioned and say that since the conclusion of the aforesaid Session of Parliament in the Commission aforesaid specified namely since the first day of June in the 27 th Year aforesaid and before the date of the said Commission divers Marters have been compassed and imagined within this Realm of England by Anthony Babington and others with the Privity of the said Mary pretending a Title to the Crown of this Realm of England tending to the hurt death and destruction of the Royal Person of our said Lady the Queen And also that since the aforesaid first day of June in the 27 th Year aforesaid and before the date of the Commission aforesaid the aforesaid Mary pretending a Title to the Crown of this Realm of England hath compassed and imagined within this Realm of England divers Matters tending to the hurt death and destruction of the Royal Person of our Soveraign Lady the Queen contrary to the form of the Statute in the Commission aforesaid specified The Parliament 29. Eliz. Cap. 1. Rast Stat. 2. Part. f. 334. The twenty ninth of October following the Parliament met and the first Act they made was an Act for the confirmation of the Proscription of Thomas late Lord Paget Charles Paget Francis Englefeild Francis Throckmorton William Shelley Anthony Babington Thomas Salisbury Edward Jones Edward Abbington Charles Tilney Chidiock Tichbourn Robert Barnwell John Charnock and John Travers The Preamble of which Act of Parliament strengthening the Credit of the former History I have here incerted An Act of Parliament for proscribing Babington and the Rest In most humble wise beseecheth your Royal Majesty the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and all other your most Loving and Obedient Subjects the Commons of this your most High Court of Parliament Assembled That where Thomas Paget late Lord Paget late of Drayton in the County of Middlesex Francis Englefeild late of London Kt. Charles Paget late of London Esq Francis Throckmorton late of London Esq William Shelley late of Clapham in the County of Sussex Esq Anthony Babington late of Dethick in the County of Derby Esq Thomas Salisbury late of Lleweny in the County of Denbygh Esq Edward Jones late of Cadogan in the same County of Denbygh Esq Edward Abbington late of Henlippe in the County of Worcester Esq Charls Tilney late of â—â—ndon Esq Chidiock Tichbourn late of Port-Chester in the County of Southampton Esq Robert Barnwell late of London Gent. John Charnock late of London Gent. and John Travers late of Prescot in the County of Lancaster Gent. Having no fear of God before their Eyes have most falsely and Treacherously committed perpetrated and done many unnatural detestable and abominable Treasons to the most fearful peril and danger of the destruction of your most Royal Person and to the utter loss disherison and destruction of this your Highnesses Realm of England if God of his infinite goodness had not in due time revealed and given knowledge to your Highness of their Trayterous intent of and for the which said Treasons being manifestly and plainly proved the said Traytors and Offenders before named have been lawfully indicted and some of them have been and are lawfully and by due process Out-Lawed and thereby justly attainted and some other by Tryal of the Country and their own confessions and judgment thereupon given lawfully and justly convicted and attainted according to the Laws of this your Realm as by the Records of their several attainders more plainly it doth and may appear and for the which several Offences some of the same Offenders have suffered pains of Death according to their demerits And then the Parliament Confirms their attainder and confiscates their Lands and Tenements Goods and Chattels The next thing this Parliament did was by their Votes to approve The Tryal and Condemnation of Mary Queen of Scots approved and Her Execution desired by the Parliament and their Reasons for it D' Ewes Journal 392 393 395 400 401 405 408. Camb. Annal. l. 3. f. 363. and confirm the Sentence given against the Queen of Scots and desired it might be published the Reasons whereof were delivered in divers Speeches made in the House of Commons upon this occasion and which are to be seen in Sir Simon D' Ewes his Journal at large They were drawn from the dangers that threatned Religion the Queens Person and the Realm by means of Mary Queen of Scots who having been bred up in the Popish Religion and sworn a confederate in the Holy League for the extirpation of the Protestant Religion had now for a long time Arrogated unto her self the Title of Queen of England while the Queen lived whom as being excommunicate she held it lawful to do mischief to as far as lay in her Power and to take away her life a thing meritorious One who had over-thrown and ruined sundry flourishing Families in the Kingdom and cherished all the Treasonable designs and Rebellions in England to spare her therefore were nothing else but to spoil the People who would take impunity in this Case much to heart and would not think themselves discharged of their Oath of Association unless she were punished according to her deserts and lastly they called to her remembrance how fearful the examples of Gods vengeance were upon King Saul for sparing Agag and upon King Ahab for sparing the Life of Benhaddad These Reasons were strongly inforc't by a Petition presented by the Parliament to the Queen and by her answer it appears what a great straight she was in D' Ewes Journal f. 400. Queen Eliz. in a great
judgment as not to see mine own danger before mine Eyes nor so indiscreet as to sharpen a Sword to cut my own Throat nor so egregiously careless as not to provide for the safty of mine own Life This I consider with my self that many a Man would hazzard his own Life to save the Life of a Princess but I am not of their opinion these things have I many times thought upon seriously with my self But since so many have both written and spoken against me give me leave I pray you to say somewhat in mine own defence that ye may see what manner of Woman I am for whose safety and preservation you have taken such extraordinary care wherein as I do with a most thankful heart discern and read your great vigilancy so I am sure I shall never requite it had I as many lives as all you together When first I took the Scepter into my hand I was not unmindful of God the giver and therefore I began my Reign with securing his Service and the Religion I have been both born-in bred in and I trust shall dye in And though I was not ignorant how many dangers I should meet withal at home for my altering Religion and how many great Princes abroad of a contrary Profession would in that respect bear an Hostile mind towards me yet was I no whit dismayed thereat knowing that God whom alone I eyed and respected would defend both me and my Cause Hence it is that so many Treacheries and Conspiracies have been attempted against me that I might well admire to find my self alive at this present day were it not that Gods holy hand hath still protected me beyond all Expectations Next to the end I might make the better progress in the Art of Ruling well I had long and serious Consultations with my self what things were most worthy and becoming Kings to do and I found it absolutely necessary that they should be compleatly furnished with those prime Capital Vertues Justice Temperance Prudence and Magnanimity Of the two latter I will not boast my self my Sex doth not permit it they are proper to Men but for the two former and less rough I dare say and that without ostentation I never made a difference of Persons but high and low had equally right done them I never preferred any for favour whom I thought not fit and worthy I never was forward to believe Storys at the first telling nor was I so rash as to suffer my Judgement to be forestalled with prejudice before I had heard the Cause I will not say but many reports might happily be brought me too much in favour of the one side or the other for a good and wary Prince may sometimes be bought and sold whilst we cannot hear all our selves yet this I dare say boldly my Judgment as far as I could understand the Case ever went with truth And as Alcibiades advised his friend not to give any answer till he had run over the Letters of the whole Alphabet so have I never used rash and sudden resolutions in any thing And therefore as touching your Councils and Consultations I acknowledge them to have been with such care and Providence and so advantageous for the preservation of my Life and to proceed from hearts so sincere and devoted to me that I shall endeavour what lyes in my power to give you cause to think your pains not ill bestowed and strive to shew my self worthy of such Subjects And now for your Petition I desire you for the present to content your selves with an answer without answer your Judgement I condemn not neither do I mislike your reason but I must desire you to excuse those thoughtful doubts and cares which as yet perplex my Mind and so rest satisfied with the profession of my thankful esteem of your affections and the answer I have given if you take it for any answer at all if I should say I will not do what you request I might say perhaps more than I intend and if I should say I would do it I might plunge my self into as bad inconveniencies as you endeavour to perswade me from which I am confident your wisdom and discretions would not that I should if you consider the circumstances of place time and the manner and conditions of Men. In December 1586. the Parliament was prorogued saith Cambden D' Ewes Jour f. 407. Adjourned saith D' Ewes to the 15th of February and thence ajourned to the 22 of February and soon after notice was given to the Queen of Scots of her Sentence which she received joyfully and seemed to Triumph that she was taken for an instrument for introducing Popery But a Bishop and Dean of the Church of England Queen of Scots carriage to a Bishop and Dean of the Church of England Camb. Annals f. 308. being commended to her to fit her for Death she rejected them and sharply taxed the English Nation saying that the English had many times put their own Kings to death no marvel therefore if they now also shewed their cruelty upon her who was issued from the Blood of their Kings After her Sentence was published before any Warrant for her Execution People vented their several Opinions some for it some against it I shall Wave all but the then French Ambassadours Reasons on the behalf of the Queen of Scots and the Answer to those Reasons as they are related by Cambden as follows That it very much concerned the most Christian King of France and all other Kings The French Ambassadours Reasons against executing the Queen of Scots Camb. Annals f. 374. that a Queen a free and absolute Princess should not be put to death That the Queens safety would not be more endangered by the death of Queen Mary then it would be by her Life That if she were delivered out of Prison she could probably attempt nothing against the Queen being now in a sickly condition and having but a short time to live That although she had laid claim to the Crown of England she was not to be blamed for it but it was wholly to be imputed to her young and tender Years and to bad Councellors That she came at first a supplicant into England and therefore having been unjustly detained she was now at length to be either ransomed or mercifully dealt withal Moreover that an absolute Prince was not to be called in question which made Tully say So unsual a thing it is for a King to be put to death for any Crime that before this time it was never so much as heard of That if she were Innocent she were not to be punished if Guilty she was to be spared for this would turn to far greater honour and advantage and would be recorded eternally as an example of the English Clemency That the story of Porsenna in this Case was to be remembred who snatched the right hand of Mutius Scaevola out of the Fire and set him at Liberty though he had
Conspired his Death That it was a prime Rule and Precept for well Governing to be sparing of Blood that Blood cryeth for Blood That to use the extreamity of rigour towards her could not but seem a cruel and bloody Part. That the French King would do his best to repel and frustrate the Attemps of all Men whatsoever who should offer violence to the Queen and that the Guises the Queen of Scots near Kinsmen would engage themselves to do the like by Oath and Covenant under their hands who in Case she should be put to death would take it very hardly and haply not leave her unrevenged Lastly they required she might not be proceeded against according to so rigorous and extraordinary a Sentence Otherwise the French King could not but take very great displeasure thereat howsoever other Princes should hap to resent it The Answer to those Reasons To these Reasons Answer was made from Point to Point as followeth That the Queen of England trusted the most Christian King of France would have no less a regard and respect for her then he had for the Queen of Scots who had practised the destruction of an Innocent Princess her near Kinswoman and a Confederate with the French King. That it was expedient and necessary for Kings and Common-wealths that wicked attempts especially against Princes should not go unpunished That the English which acknowledged the Soveraign Authority of Queen Elizabeth only in England could not acknowledge two Supream free and absolute Princes in England at one time or account any other whomsoever equal to her in England as long as she lived Neither indeed did they see how the Queen of Scots and her Son who at present Reigneth can be reputed both at one time for Supream and Absolute Princes Whether the Queens safety would be exposed to greater danger upon her being Executed depended upon future Accidents and Contingences the Estates of England upon serious deliberations of the Matter thought otherwise there would never be occasions wanting for bad attempts especially when the Matter was now come to that pass that the one had no hope of safety unless the other were ruined and this saying they might call to Mind aut ego illam aut illa me either I must take away her Life or she will take away mine The shorter the time to come of her Life was the sooner and more eagerly would the Conspirators hasten the Queens danger That the Title which she claimed to the Crown of England she would not yet renounce and therefore she was with good reason detained in Prison and so to be detained though she came a Supplicant into England till she had renounced the same and the Crimes which she had committed since she was Prisoner she ought to suffer for whatever were the Cause of her first casting into Prison That the Queen had formerly most Graciously spared her Life when by unanimous consent of the Estates she was Condemned for a Rebellion raised about an intended Marriage between her and the Duke of Norfolk and to spare her again were but unadvised and cruel pity that no man was ignorant of that saying of the Lawyers A Man offending in anothers Territory and there found is punished in the Place of his Offence without regard of his Dignity Honour or Priviledge And that this was both justifiable by the Laws of England and by the Examples of Licinius Robert King of Scicily Bernard King of Italy Couradine Elizabeth Queen of Hungary Joan Queen of Naples and Dejotants for whom Tully pleading said it was no unjust thing that a King should be found Guilty and put to Death though it were not usual For thus the words run which I speak first touching a Kings forfeiture of Life and Estate which thing though it be not unjust especially when thy Life is in danger from him yet is it so unsual c. That she ought to be punished having been found Guilty upon a just and legal Tryal considering that what is just the same is honest and what is honest is also profitable and Expedient That the Story of Porsenna suited not with the present Case unless a Man should imagine a numerous Combinations of men to have laid wait for the Queens Life and should thereupon perswade her to let the Queen of Scots at Liberty without any hurt out of a fear of them with some regard to her own honour but none to her safety as Porsenna discharged Mutius after he had affirmed that three hundred like himself had Conspired and vowed his death Moreover Mutius attempted this against Porsenna in a just and declared War and when Mutius was let go Porsenna verily perswaded himself that all the danger was over but the Case here is quite otherwise That Blood indeed is to be spared but it must be inoncent Blood this God hath commanded True it is indeed that the voice of innocent Blood crieth for Blood and this can France both before and since the Massacre at Paris well witness and testifie That Death that is justly inflicted cannot seem Bloody as is neither Physic prapared duly and as it ought to be esteemed violent That howsoever the Guises the Queen of Scots Kinsmen might take the Matter yet it highly concerned the Queen to regard rather the safety of her self the Nobility and People of England upon whose love and affection she wholly depended then the displeasure of any whomsoever That the Matter was come to that pass that what was said of old concerning two Princes Couradine of Sicily and Charles of Anjou might now be spoken of two Queens it might now be truely said the Death of Mary is the Life of Elizabeth and the Life of Mary the Death of Elizabeth That the French King or the Guises promises could not secure the Queen and Realm much less make satisfaction for her Life if she should be made away That the French King could neither discover nor hinder secret Plots against himself at home much less was he like to hinder those against the Queen of England For Treason is plotted in secret and therefore hard to be prevented if the fact were once committed what would it avail to claim their Promises how should an incomparable Prince's death be made amends for and in so sad and woful a Confusion of all things what Remedy could be found for the languishing Common-wealth That the Obligations and Oaths of the Guises were of small value who judged it Meritorious to kill the Bishop of Rome's Adversaries and could easily procure Dispensations for their Oaths and what Englishman if Queen Elizabeth were slain and the Queen of Scots of the house of Guise advanced to the Crown durst accuse them of the Murther and if any should accuse them could they thereby make her alive again And the Ambassadors in calling this a rigorous and extraordinary Sentence have spoken rashly and unadvisedly for as much as they have neither seen Process nor Proofs and have more sharply then is fitting taxed the
provide and furnish the Horses and partly in Pensions to be employed upon some such as were to be prepared for that Service all which the said Thomas VVinter did relate to the said King of Spain who the said Kingdoms of England and Spain then standing in Hostility took that Offer in very good part saying that he would respect and account of the Catholicks of England meaning the Papists as of his own Castilians and thereupon agreed that he would make Invasion and set foot in England about the Spring then next following and would by way of Exchange send over unto the Papists of England one hundred thousand Crowns to be paid at two several Days agreed upon all which particulars are extant in the Confession of some of the chief Offenders at which time sundry Papists of England did extraordinarily furnish themselves by the traiterous and wicked Perswasions and Means of sundry Iesuits both with Horse and Armour But before these things could be effected Almighty God called the said late Queen to his mercy Immediately after whose decease that is to say in the same Month of March wherein she departed out of this World Christopher Wright late of London Gentleman was imployed by the said Robert Catesby Francis Tresham Henry Garnet and others into Spain to Negotiate with the said King of Spain by the means of the said Creswel the Iesuit and others to proceed in that Invasion which the said Thomas Winter had before Negotiated with him And afterwards on the two and Twentyeth day of June in the first Year of your Majesties Reign over this Realm of England Sir William Stanley Kt. Hugh Owen Esq William Baldwin Iesuit and others did by and with the Traiterous procurement and consent of the Offendors aforesaid from and out of Handers in the parts beyond the Seas under the Government of the Arch-Duke Traiterously employ and send Guy Fauks sate of London Genelman unto the said King of Spain to Negotiate with him on the behalf of the said Papists of England for Invasion to be had against this Realm of England to the same effect as was committed to the said Christopher Wright as is aforesaid And the said Guy Fauks and Christopher Wright though they had all the furtherance of the said Creswel the Iesuit that he could give yet finding no such entertainment with the said King who as by the sequel appeareth grew into detestation with the said Propositions and Negotiations as they expected or desired But being wholly disappointed of all their hopes concerning that Matter the said Robert Catesby and divers other Persons within this Realm did send over the said Thomas Winter into the said Country of Flanders to procure the said Guy Fauks a Natural Born Subject of this Realm and yet a most Traiterous desperate and cloudy minded Person then serving as a Souldier in the Low-Countries to come over into this Realm and by and with the Traiterous conspiracy and consent of the said Henry Garnet Oswald Tesmond John Garrard and other Iesuits and Thomas Pearcy late of London Esq John Wright late of London Gent. the said Christopher Wright Francis Tresham Robert Winter late of Huddington aforesaid Esq John Grant late of Norbrook in the County of Warwick Esq Ambrose Rookwood late of Staningfeild in the County of Suffolk Esq Everard Digby late of Gorehurst in the County of Buckingham Kt. Robert Keys late of London Gentlman and Thomas Bates late of London Yeoman to undertake the Execution of the most wicked Barbarous execrable and abominable Treason that ever could enter into the Heart of the most wicked Man by blowing up with Gun-Powder the House of Parliament at such time as your most excellent Majesty and your dearest Consort the Queen and the most Noble Prince Henry together with the Lords Spiritual and Temporal the Iudges of the Realm and the Knights Citizens and Burgesses of Parliament should be in said Parliament-House Assembled for which most Traiterous and Barbarous purpose there were secretly laid in a Vault or Cellar under the Parliament-House Thirty six Barrels of Gun-Powder or thereabouts to the utter overthrow and subversion of the whole State of this flourishing and renouned Kingdom If God of his infinite Mercy had not most Miraculously by your Majesties blessed direction Discovered the same in finding out the said Barrels of Gun-Powder in the said Vault or Cellar but few hours before the time appointed for the Execution thereof All which most Heinous Horrid and Damnable Treasons are most manifest and apparent by the voluntary confession and acknowledgments of the Offenders themselves Of which most Barbarous Bloody and detestable Treason for Conspiring and preparing to blow up the Parliament-House with Gun-Powder The said Robert Winter Thomas Winter Guy Fauks Robert Keyes Ambrose Rookwood John Graunt and Thomas Bates have been lately indicted and during this present Sessions of Parliament Arraigned convicted by Verdict and thereupon attainted And the said Sir Everard Digby Kt. hath likewise been indicted and during this present Sessions of Parliament Convicted and Attainted by his own confession of Record upon his Arraignment according to the Laws of this your Majesties Realm as by the Records of their several Indictments and Attainders it doth and may more plainly appear and for the which Offences the said Sir Everard Digby Robert Winter Thomas Winter Guy Fauks Ambrose Rookwood John Graunt Robert Keyes and Thomas Bates have suffered pains of Death according to their demerits And the said Robert Catesby Thomas Piercy John Wright and Cristopher Wright were Slain in open Rebellion by them and others the said most wicked Traytors moved and stirred within divers Parts and Counties of this Realm shortly after the Discovery of their most detestable and Damnable Treason in Conspiring and preparing to blow up the said Parliament-House as aforesaid and the said Hugh Owen doth of purpose and for fear of condign punishment according to his demerit reside and kéep himself beyond the Seas by means whereof he cannot in respect of such his voluntary absence be Arraigned and publickly by due Tryal of Law upon apparent Testimony and proof against him be proceeded with for such his hainous and abominable Treasons and the said Francis Tresham being one of the said most detestable Traitors and being apprehended and imprisoned in the Tower of London having by sundry his Examinations confest himself a principal Traytor in all the said most abominable Treasons Dyed in the Tower during the time of his said imprisonment and before he could be Indicted of the said Treasons They therefore desired that the King of his blessed care and disposition to and for the continuance of Gods true Religion and Service and for that preservation and safety of his Person the Queen the Prince and the rest of the Royal Progeny and for the intire Love and Affection that his Majesty had always thentâ—fore born and did then bear to the Common-wealth and safety of this Realm of England to the end that all others might then
afterwards another Treaty was set on foot for Prince Henry with a Daughter of Spain What Religion the Spaniard was of is well known and what effect the Crown of England Matching into Popish Families abroad hath had is more to be lamented then remembred any other ways then to avoid the like mischiefs for the future In the 12 th Year of his Reign there were a generation about the Court Camb. f. 77. A Parliament called and dissolved because they complained of grievances and particularly of the increase of Papists that undertook for the calling such a Parliament as the King would have these were Men that presumed they had friends in every County and Borough who by their power among the People could make Election of such Men for Knights and Burgesses as should comply solely with the Kings desire and Somerset was the head and chief of these undertakers but these projects against the Fundamentals of the English Government proved an abortive for the Parliament meeting such Faces appeared there as was no ways pleasing to the Court who instead of contributing to the Kings wants lay open his wasts especially upon the Scots with whom they desire a share of Favour The Bread by our Saviour's Rule properly belongs to the Children of the Kingdom and they beseech his Majesty to stop the Current of future access of that Nation to make residence here having enough to eat up their own Crums they enquire into the Causes of the unexpected increase of Popish Recusants since the Gunpowder Plot the detestation whereof they thought should have utterly extinguished them and they attribute it to the admission of Popish Nobility into his Councels the silencing of many watchful and dilligent Ministers the divers Treaties his Majesty had entertained not only for the Marriage of Prince Henry but for Prince Charles with the Daughters of Popish Princes which disheartned the Protestant and encouraged the Papist they laid open with these many other miscarriages in Government the King desirous to conceal these Matters dissolves the Parliament and Committed to the Tower and other Prisons such as were most active for the common good and who can deny but that this must needs give encouragement to the Papists In the 15 th Year of his Reign he put out a Book to Tollerate Sports on the Lords Days this Book came out with a Command injoyning all Ministers to read it to their Parishoners and to approve of it A Book of Sports obtruded and those that did not were brought before the High Commission Imprisoned and Suspended This was a contrivance of the Papists and their adherents to trap the most Conscientious Men of the Church of England who were in all other matters exactly conformable and to lay them aside and good reason the Papists had for this because no Nation will ever receive their innovations in Matters of Religion where there is a Sound Orthodox Learned and Pious Clergy Wilsons Hist. f. 105. Wilson says that some of the Ministers that were Suspended said that they would Preach the Gospel in a Fools Coat rather then be silent for a Surplis and the Conjuring of them with the Cross in Baptism and the Circle of the Ring in Marriage could not make a well composed Reason and a sound Conscience then start at it But when so frighful an Aparition as the Dancing Book appeared some of the Ministers left all for fear others by force they were so terrified by it This I have set down in Willsons own words because it appears by this that the Men that were suspended were proceeded against not for Puritanism or Nonconformity to the discipline of the Church of England but for non-complying with things obtruded on them by right down Papists or those who whether they saw it or no I cannot tell were carrying on the Popish designs The King having all along had a design of Matching his Son Rushw Col. 1. part f. 11. either to Spain or France it is no wonder that the Priests and Jesuits swarm here and much less a wonder that they endeavour to promote their own Religion for if they will do it when the Edge of Justice is sharpned against them much more when he that should make use of the Sword is so merciful that let them do what they will he will not or so fearful he dares not strike As Prophanness by reason of the Book of Sports crept in by their means so did Idolotry and Superstition for their was now more enmity against Ministers of the Gospel then Popish Priests and no wonder for let a Peoples Morals be once throughly debauched and 't will not be very difficult to make them outwardly of what Religion you will. The Jesuits Jugling with the Boy of Bilson Wilsons Hist. f. 107. The Popish Priests and Jesuits having now more liberty then they had had for above fifty Years resolve to make much of their time and because they cannot much boast of real holiness pretended Miracles must recommend them to the People for this purpose the Boy of Bilson was set up by them as he himself afterwards confest to Act the part of one possest with a Divel and they were to come and disposes him that so it might appear how much Gods Power was exprest in their weakness and to difference the truth and holiness betwixt the Catholic Religion and the Heresie profest among Protestants such Godly cheats are they always making use of to deceive the Hearts of the simple This Boy Bishop Morton discovered to be an imposture and when he had made the discovery and the Boy found he was detected he confest the whole Matter to be thus That he was inticed to one Mr. Giffords House in Stafford-shire where there were four Romish Priests who gave him Mony and many fair words promising him great matters if he would be conformable to their instructions In three days time they had taught him to practice his tricks so well that they ventured him home to his Fathers to exercise them publickly He came home in a very distracted manner to his Parents amazement and in a short time the thing was noised and a great deal of Company coming to see him his Parents got Money by it which was an incouragement to him to persist so that when the Priests came to disposes him he would not be disposest but went on and as they had instructed him accused a poor Old Woman of Witchcraft for which she was Tryed and Condemned and had been Executed had it not been for Bishop Morton detecting this imposture The whole story you may read at large in Wilson from f. 106. to 111. Wilsons Hist. f. 130. Henry Earl of Northumberland who was Sentenced in the Star-Chamber Thirty Thousand Pounds and Imprisoned in the Tower for harbouring in his House the aforenamed Thomas Piercy his Kinsman who was one of the Plotters of the Gunpowder-Treason was in the Seaventeenth Year of this Kings Reign set at liberty The
Spaniards gives the overture of the Match Rushw Col. part 1. f. 4. The King having had thoughts of a Match for Prince Charles with France and the Duke of Savoy having been before him and prevailed for his Son the Prince of Piedmount The Spaniard giving the overture of a Match King James embraceth it and Articles of Religion between the King of England and Spain were agreed on which were these c. Articles of Religion agreed upon between the Kings of England and Spain That the Popes Dispensation be first obtained by meer Act of the King of Spain That the Children of this Marriage be not constrained in Matters of Religion nor their Title prejudiced in case they prove Catholics That the Infanta's Family being Strangers may be Catholics and shall have a decent place appointed for all Divine Service according to the use of the Church of Rome and the Ecclesiasticks and Religious Persons may wear their own proper Habits That the Marriage shall be Celebrated in Spain by a Procurator according to the instructions of the Councel of Trent and after the Infanta's Arival in England such a Solemnation shall be used as may make the Marriage valid according to the Laws of this Kingdom That she shall have a competent number of Chaplains and a Confesser being Strangers one whereof shall have Power to Govern the Family in Religious Matters But none of the People of England but were averse to this Match except the Papists whose interest indeed it was to carry it on After the Bohemians had chosen the Count Palatine King of Bohemia he craved advice of his Father in Law King James touching the acceptation of that Royal dignity But before he could receive his advice he was prevailed upon to accept it Count Palatine chose King of Bohemia Wilsons Hist f. 132. Rushw Col. 1. part f. 12. because the emergency of the Cause would admit of no delay and afterwards sent to King James to excuse it When this important business of the Count Palatines accepting the Crown of Bohemia was related in the Kings Councel to evince of what advantage it was to the Protestant Cause I shall here insert Arch-Bishop Abbots Letter to Sir Robert Nauton the Kings Secretary the Arch-Bishops infirmities not permitting him at that time to attend the Councel That God hath set up this Prince his Majesties Son in Law Arch-Bishop Abbot's Letter touching the Count Palatines accepting the Crown of Bohemia as a mark of Honour throughout all Christendom to propagate the Gospel to help the oppressed that for his own part he dares not but to give advice to follow where God Leads apprehending the Work of God in this and that of Hungary that by Peece and Peece the Kings of the Earth that gave their Power to the Beasts shall leave the Whore and make her desolate that he was satisfied in Conscience the Bohemians had just cause to reject that Bloody Man who had taken a course to make that Kingdom not Elective in taking it by the donation of another the slighting of the Viscount Doncaster in his embassage gave cause of just displeasure and indignation therefore let not a Noble Son be forsaken for their sakes who regard nothing but their own ends our striking in will comfort the Bohemians Honour the Palsgrave strengthen the Princes of the Vnion draw on the United Provinces stir up the King of Denmark and the Palatines two Vncles the Prince of Orange and the Duke of Bovillon together with Termoville a rich Prince in France to cast in their shares The Parliament is the Old and honourable way for raising of Money and all that may be spared is to be returned this way and perhaps God provided the Jewels that were laid up in the Tower by the Mother for the preservation of the Daughter who like a Noble Princess hath professed that she will not leave her self one Jewel rather then not maintain so Religious and Righteous a Cause certainly if countenance be given to this Action many brave Spirits will offer themselves therefore let all our Spirits be gathered up to animate this business that the World may take notice that we are awake when God calls By this Letter it plainly appears that it was the Arch-Bishops Opinion that it tended much to the promoting the Reformation that the Count Palatine should accept the Crown of Bohemia and the Crown of England should stand by him in it and whoever reads the most impartial writers of those times will find that the Spanish Match which was then a foot and Popish Councels at home was the true Cause of the loss of the Palatinate and the ruine of that Protestant Prince and how could things be expected otherwise so long as Gondamor had so far the ascendant of the King that when the Earl of Essex solicited the King after the War was begun to send more Forces Gondamor obstructed it whatever he desired was done and few or none were well respected at Court but Spanish * Wilsons 144. Rushw 1. part f. 18. vide the private instructions to the Spanish Ambassador sent into England Pentioners under whom the Papists flourished After the Palatinate was lost the King outwardly seemed willing to assist towards the Recovery of it and therefore proposes it first to the Privy Councel and afterwards called a Parliament which was to meet the thirteenth of January in the 18 th Year of his Reign proposing to himself that the People for regaining the Palatinate would open their Purses which he might make use of and that a good agreement Between him and his People would induce his Brother of Spain to be more Active and so he should have supply from the one and dispatch from the other i. e. Mony and the Spanish Match were the ends he aimed at let the Palatinate Sink or Swim 't was no matter This the Jesuits and Seminary Priests knew well enough and therefore they Wilsons Hist. f. 151. rangeing up and down like Spirits let loose did not now as formerly creep into Corners using close and cunning Artifices but practised them openly having admission to our Councellors of State. And when Secretaries and such as manage the intimate Councels of Kings are Jesuits and Clients to the Pope there can be no tendency of affection to a contrary Religion or Policy Yet these were the Men that carried all before them at Court And the Protestant interest must needs flourish under such Ministers of State especially if it be considered that England was not only Man'd with Jesuits all Power now failing to oppose them but the Women also began to practice the Trade Women Jesuitrices calling themselves Jesuitrices This Order was first set on foot in Flanders by Mrs. Ward and Mrs. Twitty two English Gentlewomen who Cloathed themselves in Ignatian Habit and were Countenanced and Supported by Father Gerrard Rector of the English Colledge at Leige with Father Flack and Father More Their design was to Preach the Popish
brought their Designs about and the Palatinate was irretrievably lost they broke off the Match and left the King and Prince in the Lurch Right Popish Jugling After this Treaty was dissolved the King thinks of a Match with France The French Match Rushw Coll. 1 pt f. 114. A Parliament called and the Lord Kensington was sent Ambassadot into France to feel the Pulse of that Court touching it and gives an Account that it would be accepted soon after which a Parliament was called to meet the twelfth of February in the 21 st year of this King 1623. and now the King is of the Mind to take the Parliaments Advice about his Sons Match as he told them and is grieved for the Increase of Popery if after all the foregoing Passages it be to be believed and promises a great deal and porforms never a whit And here I cannot omit what Wilson saith speaking of this Parliaments Petition against Papists and the Kings Answer both which he hath printed at large f. 272.273 274 275. to which I refer the Reader If the King saith he had seriously and really considered the very last Clause of this Petition wherein the Glory of God and the Safety of his Kingdoms so much consisted as the Parliament wisely express and foresee and which the King saith is the best Advice in the World and which he promised so faithfully to observe in the next Treaty of Marriage for his Son it might perhaps have kept the Crown upon the head of his Posterity But when Princes break with the People A good Caution for all Christian Princes and States in those Promises that concern the Honour of God God will let their People break with them to their Ruine and Dishonour And this Maxim holds in all Powers whether Kingdoms or Common-wealths as they are established by Justice so the Justice of Religion which tends most to the Glory of God is principally to be observed The Parliament followed the Chase close The Parliament displaceth Papists and bolted out divers of the Nobility and Gentry of Eminency popishly affected that had earthed themselves in Places of high Trust and Power in the Kingdom as if they meant to undermine the Nation Their Names Wilson saith were these Francis Earl of Rutland the Duke of Buckinghams Wives Father Sir Thomas Compton Their Names VVilson's Hist f. 276. that was married to the Dukes Mother and the Countess her self who was the Cynosure they all steered by the Earl of Castle-haven the Lord Herbert after Earl of Worcester the Lord Viscount Colchester after Earl of Rivers the Lord Peter the Lord Morley the Lord Windsor the Lord Eure the Lord Wotton the Lord Teinham the Lord Scroop who was Lord President of the North and which they omitted the Earl of Northampton Lord President of Wales who married his Children to Papists and permitted them to be bred up in Popery Sir William Courtney Sir Thomas Brudnell Sir Thomas Somerset Sir Gilbert Ireland Sir Francis Stonners Sir Anthony Brown Sir Francis Howard Sir William Powel Sir Francis Lacon Sir Lewis Lewkner Sir William Awbury Sir John Gage Sir John Shelly Sir Henry Carvell Sir Thomas Wiseman Sir Thomas Geâ—rard Sir John Filpot Sir Thomas Russel Sir Henry Beddingfield Sir William Wrey Sir John Counwey Sir Charles Jones Sir Ralph Conyers Sir Thomas Lamplough Sir Thomas Savage Sir William Mosely Sir Hugh Beston Sir Thomas Riddall Sir Marmaduke Nivell Sir John Townesend Sir William Norris Sir Philip Knevet Sir John Tasborough Sir William Selbie Sir Richard Titehborn Sir John Hall Sir George Perkins Sir Thomas Penrodduck Sir Nicholas Saunders Knights besides several Esquires popishly addicted either in their own Persons or by means of their Wives too tedious to be expressed here and these were dispersed and seated in every County who were not only in Office and Commission but had Countenance from Court by which they grew up and flourished so that their Exuberancy hindred the Growth of any Goodness or Piety their Malice pleased to drop upon Soon after which the Parliament was adjourned after they had made thirty five publick Acts and seventy three private ones but nothing was done with relation to the Papists Rushw Coll. 1 pt f. 154 155. VVilson f. 277. saith the King desired this Match above all Earthly Blessings The King admiring the Alliance of mighty Kings though of a contrary Religion desired the Match with France unmeasurably notwithstanding his Promise to the Parliament which the French perceived and though they were very forward before yet now abated of that Forwardness And whereas they were at first very modest in their Demands in favour of the Papists yet now inlarged those Demands and strained the King to the Concession of such Immunities as he had promised the Parliament he would never grant In August 1624. this Match was concluded and in November the Articles were sworn unto by King James Prince Charles and the French King the Articles concerning Religion were not much short of those for the Spanish Match Papists encouraged by the Treaty with France Rushw Coll. 1 pt f. 154. The Papists formerly daunted by the Breach of the Spanish Match were now again revived by the Marriage Treaty with France And at this time upon the Death of William titular Bishop of Calcedon most of the English Secular Priests did petition the Pope that another Bishop might be sent over into England there to ordain Priests give Confirmation and exercise Episcopal Jurisdiction Among others Matthew Killison and Richard Smith were presented And though the Regulars were opposite to the Seculars in this Matter yet those of the Order of St. Benedict joyned with the Seculars and Rudesin Barlo the President of the English Benedictines of Doway wrote a Letter in their Behalf at the Congregation at Rome named of the Propagation of the Faith. Dated the 12 th of December 1624. In which Letter was this Passage That there were above sixty Benedictine Monks in England and that it is not to be doubted said he for that it is already seen the good Success under the first Bishop that another Bishop being constituted there would be more joyful Fruits within two Years in the English Mission than hitherto hath been for sixty years now lapsed But not long after the Episcopal party of the Romish Church prevailing Pope Vrban the VIII created Richard Smith Bishop of Calcedon and sent him into England with Episcopal Authority over the Priests within the English Dominions The Close of this Kings Reign Rushw Coll. f. 155. And now I am come to the Close of this Kings Reign for after he had notwithstanding all his connivance at the Papists out of either Ambition or Cowardise recommended the Protection of the Church of England to the then Prince of Wales Charles the First advised him to love his Wife but not her Religion and exhorted him to take special care of his Grand-Children the Children of the Elector Palatine by his Daughter