because he is contrary to Christ and Christ contrary to him The Pope cursing and Christ blessing the Pope seeking thereby to destroy the Queene Christ maintaining her made her stronger after this cuâ—se then ever she was before Yet it is true that many troubles did rise thereby but God turned them all vnto her good that men may vnderstand the fruit of true Religion established which bringeth the protection of God with it CHAPTER II. THE first poysoned fruit of this excommunication was rotten before it could ripen There was an intention of a great and terrible Rebellion The Duke of Norfolke was excited to stirre what Forces he could and to ioyne with the Earles of Westmerland and Northumberland at the same time an Armie was to come out of Ireland and another Armie to be sent from Duke Dalva in the Low-Countries If all these had ioyned together as the intention was God knoweth what might haue inâ—ued But there is no counsell can prevaile against God All the plot was broken in peeces without any other trouble saving that which fell vpon the plotters themselues their instruments The King of Spaine who watched all opportunities to doe mischiefe wrote one Letter to the Duke of Norfolke exciting him to raise a power within England and wrote another to the Earle of Ormond to raise a tumult in Ireland But both the Duke and the Earle shewed the Letters to the Queene declaring thereby a purpose to be loyall The Duke suffred himselfe to be wrought vpon too much by pernicious instruments The instruments were the Bishop of Ross who lay in London vnder pretence of being Ambassadour for the Queene of Scots and one Robert Ridoâ—f a Noble-man of Florence who lay in London in the habit and pretence of a Factor These pestifâ—rous instruments laboured to perswade the Duke to marry the Queene of Scots who being next heire to the Crowne of England would bring great hopes with her and by subtill and pernicious counsell drew the Duke so farre that against his promise made to the Queene he began to thinke of that marriage and the hopes that might follow the same and entred inâ—o a secret course of writing and receiving Letters from the Queene of Scots by 〈◊〉 Characters All which together with a Commentary sent to him by the Scots Queene the Duke commanded his Secretary Higfoâ—d to burne But he laid them vnder the Matt in the Dukes Chamber And being apprehended declared where they were At the Dukes arraigâ—ment a Letter was produced written to him from the Scots Queene signifying her griefe for that the Earles of Westmerland and Northumberland were vp in Armes before the Duke had raised his powers For Queene Elizabeth finding wherevnto things tended apprehended the Duke sent for the Earles to come to Court but because they had once excused their absence she sent peremptorily for them all excuse laid aside vpon their alleagance to come vp Supposing that if they were innocent they would come but if guiltie then should their purpose sooner breake out into open sight As it fell out For they supposing by this the plot to be betrayed brake out into open rebellion before the helpe which they looked for from other parts could come to them This rebellion was plotted by the Pope Pius V. and by the King of Spaine and was so cunningly handled and carried with such secresie that it was well knowne to strangers before it was knowne to vs whom most the matter concerned And no marvaile seeing strangers were the devisers and first authors of it I will therefore declare it in the words of a stranger who set it forth in Print at Rome before it was well knowne in England Hieronymus Catenâ— in the life of Pius V. wâ—iteth thus When Pius V. was inflamed with a zeale to restore the Romane Religion in England and to displace Queene Elizabeth out of that Kingdome and yet could not haue his Nuntio Apostolicall nor any other publique person fit to effect this thing he ordered the matter so that Robert Ridolf a Gentleman of Florence who â—tayed in England vnder colour of merchandise should stirre vp the mindes of men vpon the destruction of Elizabeth Which thing he diligently executed not onely among the Catholikes but also among some Protestants who conspired together herein some out of private hatred against them that aspired to the Kingdome others out of a desire of a change Whilst these things were secretly carried a contention rose betweene the Spaniard and Elizabeth vpon the occasion of a sum of money going to the Duke Dalva but intercepted by Elizabeth This occasion the Pope apprehended to perswade the Spaniard that he would helpe the conspiratours in England against Elizabeth that so he might haue his affaires in the Netherlands in greater securitie and the Romane Religion might be restored in Bâ—itaigne The Pope also perswaded the French shewing him that this he ought to the Scots Queene affianced to him and worthily to the Scots who by their incursions had withdrawne the forces of England that they could do lesse helpe to the Protestants of France neither did the noble conspiratours of England deserue lesse favour of him who by their cunning haue hindered the Queene of England to giue any helpe openly to the Protestants of France In this respect the French King promised them ayd for the deliverance of the Scots Queene but failed of performance of any thing In the meane time Ridolphus effected thus much that the conspiratours should draw the Duke of Norfolke into their societie and make him chiefe therein to whom they promised marriage with the Scots Queene whereto she consented The Pope to set these things forward by his Bull published deposed Elizabeth from her Kingdome and absolued her subiects from all oath and alleagance sending the printed Coppies to Ridolphus which might be dispersed ouer England Whereupon the Earles of Northumberland and Westmerland tooke Armes against their Prince who presently money and meanes failing withdrew themselues into Scotland The Duke of Norfolke with others were committed to prison Among them was Ridolphus whom the Pope had appointed to helpe the conspiratours with an hundreth and fiftie thousand Crownes which thing he could not doe being clapt vp in prison But when the Queene could not pierce into the secrets of the conspiracy he was sent out of prison with others and then he distributed those Crownes to the conspirators Who sent him to the Pope to informe him that all things were prepared in a readines and ordered against Elizabeth and to intreat the Spanish King to ioyne his Forces from the Netherlands as soone as may be the Pope commended the enterprise albeit the Duke Dalva did not like it as being full of difficulties when as Ridolphus in his iourney told him the matter The Pope sent Ridolfe to the Spaniard vnder another pretence and to the King of Portugall with insâ—ructions and at the same time writing to the Duke of Norfolk promised him ayde He did much
vrge the Spaniard to helpe the conspiratours and to the end he might the more vehemently stirre him vp he promised if need were himselfe would goe for to helpe them and would ingage all the goods of the Sea Apostolike Chalices Crosses and holy Vestments Declaring that there was no difficultie in it if he would send Chapinus Vitellius with an Army into England from the Low-Countries Which thing the King of Spaine commanded to be done with great alacritie And the Pope provided money in the Netherlands These things were not pleasing to the Duke Dalva both because he enuied Vitellius this glory wherein he rather wished his owne sonne to be imployed and because he feared some hostile invasion out of France and proposed it to be considered whether England being overcome would fall to the Spaniard whether the French would not resist that proiect and whether the Pope were able to bring helpe enough to effect so great a matter Notwithstanding the Spanish King expressely commanded him to set vpon England Ridolf was sent backe with money to the Netherlands But see how God would haue it All the matter was opened to Elizabeth by a stranger without the Kingdome The Duke of Norfolke was apprehended and put to death Which thing the Pope tooke heavily the Spaniard condoled who before the Cardinall of Alexandria the Popes Nephew sayd that never any conspiracy was more advisedly begun nor concealed with more constancy and consent of minds which in all that time was not opened by any of the conspiratours that an Army might easily be sent out of the Low-Countries in the space of 24. houres which might suddenly haue taken the Queene and the Citie of London vnprovided restored Religion and set the Scots Queene in the Throne Especially when as Stukley an English fugitiue had vndertaken at the same time with the helpe of 3000. Spaniards to reduce all Ireland vnto the obedience of the King of Spaine and with one or two shippes to burne all the English Navy Thus farre Catena writeth of these things opening some things that before were not knowne to the English The Booke was Printed at Rome An Dom 1588. by the priviledge of Pope Pius V. This is the Narration of a Papist published at Rome by the authoritie of the Pope It may seeme strange to men that haue any feeling of the feare of God that a Pope should so boldly publish his owne shame to all the world The Pope doth practise treason against States sets his instruments to raise rebellions stirreth vp Princes against Princes one Kingdome against another and when he doth this he will not vnderstand that he is in this doing the instrument and servant of the Devill to disorder the world If any would excuse this as being done against an Heretike that excuse will not serue here for I speake not of excommunicating supposed Heretikes but of raising rebellions against Princes to set the subiects to murther the Prince or to stirre vp one Prince to murther another these things be wicked and vngracious practises but the Papists are growne to such an oâ—duration in these sinnes that they iudge these no sinnes to murther or secretly to poyson or by any horrible mischiefe to compasse their owne endes The things that are by the Lawes of God of Nature of Nations wicked and abominable against the ordinances which God hath set in the world must forsooth change their nature if the Pope command them nay if any of their superiours command such things their doctrine of blind obedience sets them vpon any mischiefe and so they doe not onely teach for doctrines mens traditions but make doctrines for mens destructions If the Popes presume that they haue such a priviledge that the things which are horrible sinnes in other men are no sinnes in them this were in effect as much as for the Pope to proclaime himselfe the Man of sinne that runneth into all sinfull courses with greedinesse with an open profession of the same For what can any man of sin doe more then to command sinne to warrant sin to commit sin to glory in sin If all this be done by the Pope who can iustly deny him this title of the Man of sinne But blessed be the name of God that alwayes delivered his Church here from such wicked practises and hath brought the mischiefe that these wicked men haue deuised vpon their owne head Now let all vnderstanding men iudge where God is where godlinesse is where Religion and the feare oâ— God is Whether with them that by bloudy vniust vnlawfull practises seeke their owne endes or with them that are persecuted by this bloudy Nation and in patience suffer all their mischievous and cruell practises committing the matter to God the revenger of bloud and trufting in God reioyce vnder his holy protection being kept in safety by him that commandeth all the world For what power could be able to keepe his Church from being swallowed vp by such cruell adversaries but onely the hand and holy protection of our God Must not we then glorifiâ— his name that hath done so great things for vs And for our adversaries they haue their power limited and they haue their time limited and set forth vnto them beyond which they cannot passe But the soules of them that rest vnder the Altar whose bloud hath beene shed on euery side by this bloudy generation for the testimony of Christ these cry out with a lowd voyce Vsquequo Domine How long Lord holy and true Doest thou not iudge and revenge our bloud on them that dwell on the earth Yet so blind are these bloud-suckers that they labour still to increase this cry but GOD will giue patience to his Saints and in his time cut off this wicked Nation Be not merciful O Lord to them that sin of malicious wickednesse Thus then this rebellion that was so â—â—rongly plotted so secretly carried was by the hand of God disappointed and broken into peices We haue cause to blesse the name of God therefore Praysed be the Lord that hath not given vs as a prey to their teeth Thus can we comfort our selues in God but can our adversaries comfort themselues in their owne mischeifes The issue was the Pope and the Spanyard were disappointed the World wondered how this State was so soone quieted The Earles Northumberland and Westmerland seduced by a Priest that the Pope had sent one Nicolas Morton came to Durham where they had the Masse set vp From thence they marched to Clifford Moore not far from Wetherbie where hearing that the Scots Queene for whose deliverance they tooke armes was carried from Tâ—tbery to Coventry vnder the custodie of the Earles of Shewsbury and Huntingdon and that the Earle of Sussex on the one side had gathered a strong army against them that Sir George Bowes was behind them having fortefied Bernard Castle that the Lord Scroop and the Earle of Cumberland had fortified Carliell gathered an armie there in readines that
acknowledge that they who are thus punished â—or their mad tricks may not be accompted Martyrs but yet they will say that these things ought not to belong to the Emperour to punish Iust as the Papists say the punishment of their Clergie belongeth not to the Magistrate I demand then sayth Augustin Whether they thinke that the superior powers ought not to haue care of Religion of punishing false religion The Apostle saith The works of the flesh are manifest which are adaltery fornicatioÌ„ vncleannes wantonnes idolatry witch-craft hatred debate emulation wrath contentions seditions heresies envie murthers drunkennesse gluttony and such like What reason can these men render why it should be justice for the Empeperours to punish Idolaters Murtherers and such and not by the same reason to be like justice in them to punish heretiques When as they are accompted in the same fruits of iniquitie Someruill was found strangled in the prison For feare belike that he might haue discovered moe Ardern being condemned was hanged the next day This is the common end that Priests bring such Gentlemen vnto who are willing to heare them and be perswaded by them The next yeare after for seldome did any yeare passe without some treason some English Gentlemen began to practise the deliverance of the Queene of Scots Francis Throgmorton fell first into suspition by certaine Letters intercepted written to the Queene of Scots As soone as he was committed to prison and beganne to confesse something presently Thomas Lord Paget and Charles Arundell a Courtier secretly fled the land and went into France These men meeting with other devoted to the Roman Religion did much complaine recounting their sorrowes among themselues that the Queene was estranged from them without their fault by the cunning of Leicester and Walsingham that them selues were exposed to vnworthy contumelies ignominies that singular tricks were found out and secret snares laid so cunningly that improvident men will they nill they must needs be intangled in such snares that to remaine at home there could be no safety for them It was thought at this time that some cunning was practised to feele mens affections and that counterfeit Letters were written vnder the name of the Scots Queene and of some fugitiues knowne traytors to the State which Letters might be left in the houses of Recusans and that spies were sent abroad to gather rumors and to catch suspitions Diverse were drawne into snares Among others Henry Earle of Northumberland and his sonne Philip Earle of Arundell was commanded to keepe his house his wife was committed to Sr Thomas Shirly to be kept and Henry Howard the Dukes brother was often examined of Letters sent from the Scots Queene from Charles Paget and from one Mope then vnknowne Some blamed the narrow searching of things and the manner of drawing men into danger Others thought that all the means that might be vsed to prevent the Queenes danger and to saue her life was but necessary And indeed the outragious maliciousnes of the Papists against the Queene brake out daily for by Bookes imprinted they exhorted the Queenes maides and Ladies of honor to doe the same against the Queene which Iudith did against Holofernes The Author of that Booke was not found Gregory Martin was suspected a man learned in the Greeke and Latin tongues and chosen by the Duke to be the bringer vp of his children Carter the Stationer that caused the Books to be Printed was punished for it The Queene that was much traduced for crueltie knowing her owne mildnes and desirous to leaue a good remembrance of her name behinde her was much offended with the Iudges of the Papists apprehended if they passed any cruell sentences against them which might be iniurious to her honor Insomuch that they were forced to excuse themselues by publike writings wherein they protested that the Priests were much more mildly vsed then they deserved that no question of Religion was moued to them but onely of such pernicious machinations against their Country against their Prince whereof they were either found guiltie or by the discovery of others suspected That Campian was never so racked but that presently he was able to walke or to subscribe to his confessions But for Briant who stubbornly denied to vtter by speech or by writing who was the man that wrote these secret things which were found about him to this man meat was denied vntill by writing he would aske it For all this the Queene was not satisfied and therefore she commanded the Examiners to abstaine from tormenting men and the Iudges from punishing And short after she commanded seventie Priests to be sent out of England whereof some were condemned to die all of them were intangled within the danger of the lawes The chiefe of these were Gasper Haywod the sonne of Haywod the Epigrammatist who of all the Iesuites first entred England Iames Bosgraue which was also a Iesuit Iohn Hart the most learned among them with whom Doct Reinolds had conference and Edward Rishton a wicked and vngrateful man who wrote a Booke presently after shewing forth the poyson of a cankred heart against the Queene to whom he owed his life The Lord Paget and Arundell who went into France were narrowly observed there by Edward Stafford the Ambassadour Leiger there for Queene Elizabeth but he could not find out what they practised yet he dealt with the French King that they Morgan and some other English fugitiues who were knowne to be practisers against their Prince and their Country might be thrust out of France But it was answered that if they practised any thing in France the King would by law punish them but if they had practised any thing in England that of such things the King could take no notice nor by law punish them that all Kingdomes were free for fugitiues that it behooued Kings to maintaine their owne liberties That Elizabeth not long before had admitted into her Kingdome Montgomery the Prince of Condie and others of the French Nation and that Segneres Ambassadour of the King of Navarre was in England practising of some things that concerned the French state In the meane time Bernardinus Mendoza the King of Spaine his Ambassadour for England stole fecretly into France fretting and fuming that he was thrust out of England by a violation of the right of an Ambassadour When as indeed he was a man of a troublesome spirit and had abused the reuerend right of Ambassadours by the practises of treason against this State wherein he was He was commanded to depart out of the realme whereas many thought fit that he should haue beene with some severity censured for violating the office of an Ambassadour For he had practised with Throgmorton and others to bring in strangers into England to invade the land and to remoue the Queene And being gently reprooued for these things he was so far from offering to excuse these things with a modest answer that he began to accuse the
Queene and the Councell for the money taken from the Merchants of Genua and for helping the States of the Netherlands of the Count Antow of Antony of Portugall and charged them with the spoyles that Sr Francis Drake had taken from the Spany trds in the west Indies But that the Spanyard might the better vnderstand that this which Queene Elizabeth had done in sending away Mendoza was no violating of an Ambassadour but a censure of Mendoza his wicked practises Sr William Wade was sent to Spaine who might plainly informe the King how vnworthily he had behaved himselfe in his Ambassage and might also signifie that the Queene would not haue this sending away of him to be interpreted a renuntiation of friendship but that she would maintaine all offices of humanitie if he would send any other that were carefull to conserue friendship betweene them so that the like offices were performed to her Ambassadour in Spaine The Spanish King would not admit Wade to his presence but referred him to his Councell Wade herevpon declared boldly that the custome was received among Nations that even in burning warre Ambassadours were admitted into presence of their enemies that Charles the fift Emperour Father to the King of Spaine admitted into his presence an Herald who denounced to him warres from the French King and denied to communicate the instructions of his ambassage to his Councellers I diacius the Kings secretary could by no cunning fish out of Wade what were his instructions vntill he vnderstood the whole matter from Mendoza then lurking in France Then the Secretary laying aside his publike person did familiarly declare to Sr William Wade that he was sorry that some men did labour craftily to dissolue friendship among Princes and to nourish hatred betweene them The iniury that was done was not done to the Ambassadours but to the Catholike King that there was no cause for him to accuse Mendoza to the King who was sufficiently punished with an ignominious extrusion out of England for the fault if there were any which he committed Neither might he complaine if he were not admitted for the Catholike King did nothing herein but quit like with like seeing Mendoza was dismissed from the Queene vnheard And as she referred Mendoza to her Councell so the King had referred him to the Cardinall Granuillanus Wade answered there was great difference in their cases for himselfe he had never offended the Catholike King but Mendoza had grievously offended against the Queene and for a long time through his owne insolency disdained to come and had committed many things vnworthy the office of an Ambassadour yet he could not be admitted but returned vnheard The crimes that he would haue obiected against Mendoza were taken our of the confession of Throgmorton For Franâ—is Throgmorton when he was apprehended sent priuily one packet of letters to Mendoza His other packets being sought and opened there were two Catalogues found In the one of them were the names of all the havens of England that were for forces to land in In the other were contained the names of the Noble-men which here and there throughout England favoured the Roman Religion These papers when Throgmorton saw produced he cryed out that they were counterfeited that he had never seene them before that they were devised for his destruction But when he was againe brought to the racke he denied not to answer what he knew to the questioÌ„s proposed Being therefore demanded of those Catalogues to what purpose they had beene written he made this narration that not many yeares since he went to the Spaw water where with Ieney and Fr Inglefeld he had counsell and communication how England might be taken by strangers and the forme of the government changed For that purpose he described the names of the havens and of Noble-men that Morgan had certified him by Letters out of France that the Catholike Princes were resolved to invade England that the Queene of Scots should be set at libertie by the forces of the Guises To this proiect there was nothing wanting but money and the helpe that was expected out of England To effect this the better Charles Paget vnder the name of Mope was secretly sent into Sussex where the Guise purposed to take land that he had communicated the matter to Mendoza and told him the names of the noble-men who knew all these things before fully of the conspirators Neither denied he that himselfe had promised his help to Mendoza and withall that he admonished Mendoza of those Nobles that were fit for him being a publike person to deale withall which himselfe being a private man could not doe without danger And that he had taken order with him and concluded of the meanes to be vsed namely that the chiefe Catholikes as soone as ever the forraine forces drew neare should muster souldiers in the Queenes name who should ioyn themselues with the forraine forces Thus much he confessed willingly Yet when he came to iudgement in the Guild Hall at London he denied all said that all these were fained devises to saue him from the racke and openly accusâ—d the Queene of crueltie the examiners of falshood seeking a starting hole from the space of time which passed between the time of the committing his crime and the time of his iudgement for in the XIII of Elizabeth certaine crimes are made treason for which no man should be called in question vnles the delinquent were accused within six moneths after the crime committed and the crime were proued by witnesse and oath of two or by the partie his owne free confession Now he pleaded that this time was past and therefore that he was not to be called into iudgment But the Iudges answered and shewed that the crimes obiected against him were of another kind for he had offended against an old law of treason made in the time of Edward 3. which admitteth no circumscription of time or proofe And from that law he was condemned Afterward being perswaded and better thinking on the matter he craued the Queenes mercy and by writing confessed all at full againe which he had done before and as a man vnconstant began to deny againe at the gallowes CHAPTER VIII QVeene ELIZABETH at this time sought a faire opportunitie and meanes to set the Queene of Scots free and for that purpose had sent Sr William Wade that was now returned out of Spaine to conferre with her of the meanes and was about to send Sr Walter Mildmay to bring that matter to a farther end But some terrors and feares broke in between them which disturbed that proiect Especially by a discovery of papers which Creighton a Scots Iesuit sayling into Scotland did tare then when he was taken by Dutch pyrats Creighton tore the papers threw them into the Sea but they were by the force of the winde blowne backe againe into the ship not without a miracle as Creighton himselfe said the papers being brought to Sr William Wade with
IX AT that time was Henry Percy Earle of Northumberland in the Tower suspected to be of councell with Throgmorton and the Lord Paget and the Guises to invade England and to free the Scots Queene He was found dead in his bed shot with three Bullets vnder his left pap the chamber doore bolted on the inside The Crowners enquest found a dagge and gun powder in the chamber and examining the man that bought the dagge and him that sold it they found that the Earle had beene the cause of his owne death Three dayes after the Lords met in the Starre-chamber The Lord Chancelour Broumley briefly declared that the Earle had entred into treasonable councels against his Prince and Countrey which now when he perceived that they were come to light troubled in conscience for the thing hath offred force to himselfe And to satisfie the multitude then present he willed the Queenes Atturney generall and the rest of the Queenes Councell plainly to open the causes why he was kept in prison and the manner of his death Wherevpon Popham then Atturney beginning from the rebellion of the North sixteene yeares before he declared that for this rebellion and for a purpose to deliver the Scots Queene that he was called into question acknowledged his fault submitted himselfe to the Queenes mercy was fined fiue thousand markes That the Queene of her clemencie tooke not of that fine so much as a farthing and after his brothers death confirmed him in the honor of the Earledome Notwithstanding all this he had entred into pernicious counsel to deliver the Scots Queene to overthrow the English Queene with the State and Religion that Mendoza the Spaniard had told Throgmorton that Charles Paget vnder the name of Mope had secretly dealt with him in Sussex of these things that the Lord Paget had signified the same to Throgmorton as appeared from Creighton the Scots Iesuites papers And that Charles Paget had shewed the same things to William Shelley when he returned out of France After that Egerton the Queenes Sollicitour inferred the same from circumstances and a care of concealing the matter That when as there was none in England that could accuse the Earle of this crime except the Lord Paget with whom Throgmorton had familiaritie he had provided a shippe for the Lord Paget by Shelley a few dayes after Throgmorton was apprehended So was the Lord Paget sent away into France And when Throgmorton began to confesse some things the Earle departed from London to Petworth and sending for Shelley told him that he was in danger of his life and fortunes he intreated him to keepe counsell and to put away those that knew of the departure of the Lord Paget and of the comming of Charles Paget Which was presently done and himselfe sent far off that servant which he vsed to send to Charles Paget The Sollicitour addeth that when he was in prison he dealt often with Shelley the keepers being corrupted to vnderstand what those things were which he had confessed But when by a poore woman secretly sent betweene them Shelley had signified that he could keepe counsell no longer that there was great differēce between their two conditions that he must come vnder the racke which the Earle in respect of his place and order was freed from and had written to him what he had confessed The Earle therevpon sighed and said as Pantin his Chamberlain hath confessed that Shelley his confession had vndone him After the manner of his death was declared by the testimony of the Enquest and by Pantins testimony Many good men were very sorrowfull that a man of such nobility wisdome and valour was so lost My purpose is in this Narration to obserue the great and manifold deliverances of this Church When I am drawne by the course of the History to open these practises in which noblemen haue beene misled this I confesse I relate with great commiseration for seeing that Noble houses are the honor of the King the ornament of the Kingdome there is no man that loueth the honor of his owne Country that can write or speake of the fall of such men but with griefe and sorrow Of such I will make no other observations but onely the testification of mine owne sorrow But yet here I must obserue one thing for the good and instruction of their posteritie or the like that they may take heed of these pernicious instruments Priests Iesuites and those that are infected yea and poysoned with the infection of them These gracelesse merchants haue vtterly vndone many noble persons which without their restlesse suggestions and councels might and doubtlesse would haue bin great ornaments of their Countries both in peace and warres Was there ever any noble house in these times ruinated without the practise of these wicked miscreants Let all the bloud that hath bin shed in this Land in the Northern rebellion at other times be laid vpon these wicked instruments of bloud And let the world consider the outragious wickednesse of this generation that having in formertimes sucked the bloud of the Saints as greedy instruments of the great Whore that is drunke with the bloud of the Saints now by a iust but strange iudgement of God they are fallen into such practises as shed their owne bloud and the bloud of such as are misled by them God is to be reverenced in all his iudgements and let not men striue against God to maintaine a cause which God will overthrow with all the maintainers thereof And it is not much to be marveiled if these cunning stirrers haue deceiued some of our Nobles for we see that they haue cousened great Kings and Princes For soone after this in the yeare 1586. these pernicious medlers these Iesuites shewed themselues in other colours for when these bloudy instruments that had so long laboured the ruine of England were out of hope to restore the Romish Religion to England either by the Scots Queene which was now more strictly kept or by the King then of Scotland who had plainly professed and established the Gospell in his Kingdome they fell now to a new and a strange practise which might make the world to wonder they began out of their false and lying forgeries to set a foot an imaginary title of the King of Spaine to the right and succession of the English Crowne To this purpose as Pasquirus discovered they sent into England one Shamiers if it be not a counterfeit name a lesuit which might draw the discontented Nobles vnto the Spanish side throw the Scots Queene headlong into dangers and despayre signifying to her that if she should be trouble some to hinder their designes that neither she nor her sonne should raigne here And stirred vp new troubles in France to withdraw her cousens the Guises from hindering their devises by wrapping them in new garboiles against the King of Navarre and the Prince of Condy. In which the King of Spaine had a hand to set France in
King when armies were sent to them intertaining the armies in all obedience opening their gates shewing all loue and friendship to the Spanish armies were of a suddaine surprised and brought to vtter ruine The Spaniards killing and massackring all taking their goods abusing their wiues and daughters as the manner of such barbarous men is in a new conquest exâ—rcising more cruelties against their professed friends then they could doe to their enemies Such barbarous cruelties were practised against the Townes of Machlin Maestrich Zutphen Naerden Antwerp and others who were their friends agreeing in the same religion with them holding as then their obedience firme to the King yet were they spoyled killed ransacked and overthrowne like enemies Which strange cruelty declared that it was not religion that moved this cruelty but that which the Duke D'Alva did openly professe that the King must hold all the Low-Countries by a new conquest that so he might change the governement and impose what lawes he would It may seeme a strange vse of the Popes Authority which King Philip made when from the Pope he got a dispensation of that oath which he had taken at his entrance into the Low-Countries This is an vse of a Pope fit indeede for them that would doe whatsoever they list without conscience or the feare of Gods lawes or mans If such an vse may be made of the Popes power then Popish Princes must needes in the sight of the world seeme to haue a great advantage over others But if they may so dispense at their pleasure with oathes and promises then may all those of their religion see plainely that there are neither humane nor divine bands or securitie that can binde Papists for when they please the Pope will free them from all bands of conscience from the lawes of God of man of nature of nations But God will not be thus served And therefore by Gods iust iudgements they that rely vpon such vngodly practises loose more in the ende then they gaine by such profane dealings This was the cause of their troubles in the Low Countries That state being then so troâ—bled could yeelde no helpe to Queene Elizabeth yet did shee yeelde helpe to them The King of Denmarke and the Protestants in Fraunce were not able to helpe her nor to helpe themselues without her meanes This must needes be acknowledged an extraordinary blessing of God to make her able to withstand the greatest enemies and to helpe all that were distressed for Religion This famous Queene though troubled by forraine states in the beginning of her Raigne yet had great peace and quietnes at home This was the fruit of true religion her Subiects lived in peace and tranquilitie no motions then attempted Only in the fourth yeare of her Raign Arthur Poole and his brethren comming of the race of George Duke of Clarence who was brother to Edward the fourth and Antony Fortiskue who married their sister with some other of that conspiracie were brought to their tryall for that they had conspired to flie to the Gâ—ise into France and thence to come with an Armie into Wales and there to declare the Scottish Queene to be Queene of England and Arthur Poole Duke of Clarence All which they freely confessed at their tryall yet protesting that it was not their purpose to execute this designe as long as Queene Elizabeth lived who as they supposed should dye within a yeare for so some cosening Astrologians had told them Whereupon they were condemned yet their liues were spared in respect of their blood Wherein wee may acknowledge the goodnes of God in discovering such a plot before it tooke strength and the noble nature of the Queene that dealt so nobly with her owne blood Thus the Land within rested in great quietnes for some yeares The Church was established and increased learning flourished godlines and true pietie prevailed Popish ignorance was driven into corners The Papists that then were were content to keepe themselues quiet Either they kept their Religion private to themselues or els they came to our Churches as most of them did But the enemy of all goodnesse envying this peaceable state of England stirred vp the Pope to giue occasion to new troubles and to wrap the Kingdome into dangers Whereby as the Church hath beene more troubled then it was before so the Papists haue got nothing by the bargain but lost much by stirring vp the peaceable inclinatioÌ„ of the Prince against them and by provoking the State to make severe lawes to curbâ— them Who might haue liued quietly if they had not procured their owne trouble Paulus IIII. was Pope when Queene Elizabeth began to Raigne this Pope was not troublesome against her His successor was Pius IIII. who seemed to be a moderate man For he was moved by the Count of Feria who served the King of Spaine to excommunicate Queene Elizabeth but he thought it not good to proceed to such extremities For seeing the Popes authority is a thing consisting rather in the conceits of some men then in any truth and substance If it should once appeare that this thunderbolt of excommunicate whereby he hath so much terrified the world should proue idle ineffectuall without all poâ—er then might this great authoritie fall into contempt and so be made ridiculous Whether for this cause or what other he would not be perswaded to vse this extremitie against the Queene but sent Letters shewing some loue and kindnesse by an Abbot Parpalia by whom also he sent certaine secret Mandates Which what they were was not openly knowne But some acquainted well with State affayres then reported that the Pope offred to recall and disanull the sentence as vniust which was given against her Mothers marriage and to confirme the English Liturgie by his authoritie granting also the vse of the Sacrament vnder both kindes so that she would ioyne her selfe to the Romane Church acknowledge the Popes supremacy And for the effecting hereof a great sum of gold was promised to some that should be vsed as instruments for this purpose But Queene Elizabeth remaining SEMPER EADEM ever like her selfe vtterly denied to haue any thing to do with the Pope But the next Pope Pius V. that succeeded tooke another course whether a better or worse let the event declare For in the yeare 1569. he sent out an excommunication against her and all adhering to her wherein her subiects were absolved from the Oath of their Alleagance and from all other offices and duties and that all that should obey her were accursed Which thing brought more trouble vpon the Papists then vpon the Queene or any of her obedient subiects And hath openly declared to all the world that the Popes curse is a thing proceeding from private splene and malice and now nothing feared but contemned when all men may see that the Popes curse is turned by the favour of God into an extraordinary blessing and that the Pope is not Christs Vâ—car in these ministeries
a breach yet others followed lowed as desperate as the first And would not vnderstand that they ventured both soule and body in the cause of the Pope against Christ for such is the cause of treason being commanded by the Pope and forbidden by Christ. The Priests and Iesuites at this time spent all their learning and skill to stirre vp rebellion in England giving out in corners and in publique Printing Bookes to declare that the Pope and King of Spain had conspired that England should be overthrowne left as a prey This was done of purpose to confirme their owne side and to deterre others from their obedience to their Prince Wherevpon the Queene set out a Proclamation signifying that she had never made attempt vpon any Prince onely defended her own not invading the Provinces of other Princes though she had beene provoked with wrongs and invited by opportunitie If any Princes should oppugne her she doubted not but by Gods favour she should defend her owne and had therefore Mustered her Forces by Land and Sea and was readie against any hostile incursion She exhorteth her faithfull subiects to hold their faith alleagance firme to God their Prince Gods Minister For others that had shaken off the loue of their Countrey and obedience to their Prince She commandeth them to carry themselues modestly and not to provoke the severitie of iustice for she would no longer indure sparing of evill men least so she might be cruell against the good Among the Iesuites that came then into England Robert Parsons and Edmond Campian were chiefe they had procured a temper or qualification of the Bull of Pius V. obtained of Greg. 13. in these words Let petition be made to our holy Father that the Bull declaratory of Pius V. against Elizabeth and her adherents be interpreted which the Catholikes desire to be vnderstood so that it binde her and heretiques alwayes but not Catholiques things standing as they doe But onely then when the publike execution of the Bull may be had These foresaid favours the Pope granted to Robert Parsons and Edmond Campian now ready to goe into England the 13. day of Aprill 1580. in the presence of Oliver Manarcus assisting This was procured to giue some content to the Recusants that were offended at the publication of the Bull and found that it did them more harme then good Parsons and Campian came secretly into England and changed their exterior habit and apparel that they might the better passe vnknowne Somtimes they went like ruffians somtimes like ministers somtimes like noble men somtimes like souldiers somtimes like apparitours they walked secretly from Recusants houses to Recusants houses and did in words and writings roundly set forward the businesse for which they came Parsons was the superior a man of a seditious and turbulent spirit armed with audaciousnesse he brake out so farre among the Papists against the Queene as to propose the proâ—ect of deposing of her In so much that some Papists themselues as they themselues hauâ— said did thinke to haue delivered him into the hands of the Magistrate Campian was somewhat more modest yet by a Booke which he had much laboured and brought with him which as himselfe sayth might be taken with him if he were apprehended did provoke the Ministers of the Church of England to disputation the Booke was Intituled A Booke of ten Reasons or Arguments written politely in Latin to confirme the doctrines of the Church of Rome Parsons wrote more virulently against Mr Charke who had written soberly against Campians prouocation but Campians ten reasons were throughly and solidly answered by Dr Whittaker Campian was taken and brought to disputation where it was found that in learning and knowledge he came farre short of that expectation which himselfe had raised of himselfe the whole disputation was afterward set forth in Print In the meane time many threatnings were published against the Church and State of England and much speech was of the Pope and the Spanyards preparations to subdue England By which manner of proceedings it may appeare that the end why these other such were sent into England was not to draw men to God but to betray the Land to strangers for these men cared not what became of England so the Church of England might be displanted and Popery set vp againe For which purpose we may obserue the Colledges for Seminaries set vp at Rhemes and Rome These Colledges did strangely swarue from the end and foundation of the ancient Colledges The ancient Colledges were founded for learning and Religion these for meere faction the ancient Colledges were for the furtherance of godlinesse and piâ—tie these for the practises of â—ngodlinessâ— and vngracious treasons Let no man tell me that the ancient Colledges were founded by Papists so were these Seminaries and therefore for the maintenance of the same Religion for this is nothing but colouring and daubing of their new practises from the sight of the ignorant for all their hope is in the ignorance of men hoping that they shall haue the greatest part because the greatest part are ignorant But now God in his mercy hath so plentifully revealed the truth the ignorance of men is not so great as the Papâ—sts would haue it for men are taught to know that in the Councell of Trent there hath beene hatched a new birth of Popery Where they haue changed the rule of faith which was ever maintained in the Church of Rome before that time Wherevpon there followeth a change of the Church a change of Religion They that founded the ancient colledges knew not this new Church this new Religion which is newly hatched in the Trent Councell Therefore these late Colledges of Seminaries are founded vpon a new Religion This new Râ—ligion of Rome is nothing but the practâ—se of Treasons against States Surely it must be a sâ—rangâ— Religion that must be maintained by vngodly practises There was never any Religion that allowed such practises And herein the Papists exceed the Heathen who being guided onely by the light of nature yet haue disallowed such vngodly and vngracious practises which the Papists vse Let all men consider whence this new Religion of Rome proceedeth that in vngodly practises is founded and maintained that all such practises proceed from the devill no man can doubt that God hath preserved this Church of England from all these practises this is that which causeth vs to trust in God and to giue all the glory of our deliverance to his holy name Edmond Campian Ralfe Sherwin Luke Kirby Alexander Briant were taken in the yeare 1581. and being brought to iudgement were accused of treason against the Queene and State that they were directed by the Pope came into England to stirre vp sedition and to make a strong partie and herevpon they were condemned as offending against the lawes Campian was demanded whether he tooke Queene Elizabeth to be Queene of England by right and law to that he refused to answer
shall be thy Nurces In these things we can lift vp our hearts to God and giue him the glory and thankes for all his goodnesse But can our adversaries doe the like whose practises against these noble Princes were wicked and malicious and by God confounded Let men see and confesse the hand of God in maintaining them that maintaine his truth and dishonouring them that dishonour him The next yeare that is An 1585. there was a Parliament held wherein there was in the lower house a Law proposed against Iesuites Which was iudged needfull and accepted of all without contradiction saving only William Parry a welch man obscure of meane fortunes yet a Doctor of the civill Law he spake against that law which then was exhibited and said it was a cruell bloudy law and desperate and pernicious to the English Nation Being required to shew his reasons for that strange opinion of his he obstinately refused so to doe vnlesse it were before the Queenes councell Wherevpon he was committed to prison But after his reasons were heard and his submission made he was againe admitted into the assembly Presently after he was accused by Edward Neuâ—l who chalenged the inheritance of the Neuils and the title of the Lord Latimer as next heire male Edward Neuil charged him for practising the Queenes death This Parry some two yeares before returning out of Italy to the end that he might win favour and credit with the Queene declared secretly to her what Morgan and other fugitiues had practised to her destruction Making semblance to the Queene that he was conversant with them for no other end but onely to search out their secret purposes that so he might the better be a meanes to provide for the Queenes safety Wherevpon the Queene did not easily giue credit to Neuil the accuser Yet she commanded Sr Fancis Walsingham to aske Parry whether he had not dealt with some person discontented and suspected of that matter onely to try the man Which thing being demanded he vtterly denied The foole saw not that by this meanes the Queenes lenity opened a way for him to escape the danger for surely if he had signified that onely for to try the man he dealt with Neuil whom he knew to be a man discontented and suspected as he had foretold the Queene he might haue avoyded the danger but they who in their heart once haue given intertainment to wickednesse and treason though otherwise they be of wit and sharpe vnderstanding are made blind by a iust iudgement of God Now when as Neuil had no witnesse against Parry there was no great difference betweene Parry his word and his But Parry after some sharpe wordes had passed betweene them was imprisoned in the Tower Where he freely confessed thus much In the yeare 1570. said he I was admitted a sworn servant to the Queene I remained devoted to her Maiestie till the yeare 1580. At what time I fell into great danger of my life with great ignominy for he had broken into the chamber of Hugh Hare in whose debt he was and wounded him wherevpon being condemned by law his life was saved by the Queenes pardon after that I liued much vexed in my minde and getting leaue to trauell I went into France and had no purpose to returne because I had given my selfe to the Catholike Religion At Paris I was reconciled At Venice I had communication with Benedict Palmius a Iesuit touching the afflicted Catholikes in England and I signified that I had found out a way to helpe them if the Pope or some learned Divines would avouch it to be a lawfull course He commended this thing as pious He commended me to Campegius the Popes Nuntio at Venâ—ce and Campegius to the Pope I moued that I might come to Rome with safetiâ— Wherevpon Letters of publike credence were sent to me by the Cardinall of Come but these were not large enough and therefore other more large were sent But then was I returned into France Where meeting with Morgan he signified that there was an expectation that I should performe some especiall service to God and to the Catholike Church I answered that I was most ready to kill if it were the greatest subiect of England O but said he and why not the Queene her selfe I said that this also might be easily done so that it might appeare to be lawfull For Watt a Priest whose advise I asked in this matter suppressing the names told me plainly that it was not lawfull and Creighton the Iesuit is of the same opinion teaching that evill must not be done that good may come that God is more delighted with aduerbs than nounes and the thing that is done well and lawfully pleaseth him better then a thing good and that by the destruction of one many soules are not to be redeemed without an expresse commandement of God Yet for all this seeing I had in Italy bound my selfe by Letters and promise I could not goe backe if the Pope did approue it and would grant me a plenary indulgence Which I requested in my Letters to the Pope by Ragazonius the Popes Nuntio in France Who commended the interprise and sent my Letters to Rome Being returned into England I gat accesse to the Queene And all being remoued I opened the whole conspiracy yet hiding many things with as great art as possibly I could She heard it vndaunted vnterrified I departed daunted and terrified Neither can I forget that which she said that no Catholikes were to be brought into question for Religion or for the Popes supremacy so that they carry themselues as good subiects In this time whilst I stayed daily in Court seeking to be preferred with the mastership of S. Katharines I received Letters from the Cardinall of Come wherein the attempt was commended and I was absolved in the Popes name These Letters I shewed the Queene how they did worke with her I know not but with me they wrought so farre that they set a new courage in me to attempt the interprise and tooke all scruple out of my mind yet it was not my minde to offer any force if by any reasons she might be perswaded to deale more gently with Catholikes And to the end I should not commit slaughter alwayes when I had accesse to her I layd aside my dagger So oft as I considered her and her Princely vertues I was distracted by an ambiguous care for my vowes were in heaven my letters and promises with men And to my selfe I revolved these things in my minde She never deserved well of me It is true she pardoned my life but for such a cause to take away my life were tyrannicall Thus not content with my state I departed from Court and I light vpon Doct. Alans Booke written against the iustice of England Who teacheth that Princes being excommunicate for heresie are to be despoiled of their Kingdomes and liues that Booke did very sharply stirre me vp to finish mine attempt I read this Booke
troubles that he in the meane time might the better proceed in his intentions for England These desperate courses drew the Scots Queene into more danger At this time a most desperate and pernicious conspiracy brake out which as by the free confessions of the conspirators appeareth was thus Some English Divines of the Rhemish seminary whilst they seemed to admire as men astonished or rather doting an omnipotency in the Pope did labour to perswade themselues that Pius V. his bull against Queene Elizabeth was indâ—ted by the Holy Ghost and that it was a thing meritorious to kill excommunicated Princes yea and that it was martyrdome to loose their liues in that quarrell Giffard a Doctor of Theologie Gilbert Giffard and Hodgeson Priests did so hammer these devises into the corrupt head of Iohn Sauage who they say was a Bastard that he being heady and bloudy a fit instrument for â—esuites made a vow to kill Queene Elizabeth At the same time they set out a Book for no other purpose but with great cunning to draw the Queene and Councell into securitie and to lay their vngracious plots more deeply and so with more ease to come to that mischievous end they shot at In which Booke they admonish the Papists in England that they practise no hurt to the Queene for that they were onely to vse such weapons as are lawfull for Christians to vse that is â—eares spirituall armour daily prayers watchings fastings against their adversaries this was their â—ox craft And withall they spred a false rumour by their whisperers that George Giffard one of the Queenes Gentlemen Pencionaries had sworne to kill the Queene and for that cause had wiped the Guise of a great summe of money At Easter following Iohn Ballard a Priest of the Remish seminary who had assayed the mindes of many Papists to whom he travelled to conferre with through England and Scotland was now returned into England This man had dealt with Bernardin Mendoza now the ordinary Spanish Ambassadour in France and with Charles Paget for an invasion of England Declaring that now was the fittest opportunitie for that service whilst the military men were absent being then imployed in the Low-Countries A fitter time could never be hoped for as much as the Pope the Spanyard the Guise the Duke of Parma had resolved to invade England to turne the Warres from the Netherlands And albeit Paget had made it evident that as long as the Queene liued the invasion of England would be in vaine yet was Ballard sworne and sent into England to procure all the helpe that might be to the conspiratours and the liberty of the Scots Queene At Pentecost following that silken Priest came into England in a Souldiers habit with a feigned name called Captaine Foscue This man had conference in London with Antony Babington a Gentleman of Darbyshire yong rich wittie and learned aboue the expectation of his yeares and being addicted to the Romish Religion had a little before got into France without leaue Where he had familiar conversation with Thomas Morgan and with the Bishop of Glasco the Scots Queenes Ambassadour These men extolling the heroick vertues of the Scots Queene made to him great ostentation of assured hopes of honor by her meanes to be obtained The ambitious yong man was easily drawne to take hold of that faire glistering estate proposed by them And they were as ready cunningly to set him forward and before he had well thought of the matter they commended him by Letters to the Scots Queene For when he was returned into England she saluted him favourably with her Letters from that time Morgan vsed his helpe in sending Letters to her vntill she was committed to the custodie of Amice Paulet For after that the yong man finding the danger ceased With this Babington Ballard had conference of the things aforesaid But he thought assuredly so long as Queene Elizabeth liued that the invasion of England would come to nothing But when Ballard signified to him that Queene Elizabeth would not long be aliue for Sauage who had vowed to kill her was now come into England Babington thought not good that so great a matter should be committâ—d to Sauage onely least he might be stopped from the enterprise But rather to sixe valiant and resolute Gentlemen in which number Sauage should be one that he might not be condemned for not performing his vow Wherevpon Babington tooke a new course for the invasion touching the ports where the strangers might land and the forces that should be ioyned with them and the delivering the Scots Queene and the Tragick slaughter of Queene Elizabeth as he called it Whilst he was fixed in these cogitations he received Letters by an vnknowne boy written from the Queene of Scots in that familiar character which was vsed betweene them She blamed him but mildly for his long silence and willed him to send her the Packet of Letters sent from Morgan and delivered by the French Ambassadors Secretary Which he did accordingly And by the same messenger sent to her a Letter wherein he excused his silence for that he wanted opportunitie of sending since that she was in the custodie of Amice Paulet a puritan a meere Leicestrian and a most bitter enemy of the Catholike faith He declared what he had resolved with Ballard that sixe Gentlemen were chosen to performe the tragicke slaughter and that himselfe with an hundreth other would deliver her He intreated that to these Heroick Actors so he called them rewards might be proposed or to their posteritie if they should faile in the action The twentie-seventh of Iuly answer was made to these Letters Babington his forward desire of promoting the Catholike Religion was commended He was warned that it might be vndertaken considerately and that nothing be moued before they were sure of externall forces that an association among them might be made as if they feared the Puritanes that some trouble might be stirred in Ireland whilst the stroke might be given here at home that Arundell and his brethren and Northumberland should be drawne to the side VVestmerland Paget and others might be secretly called home The way to deliver her was also prescribed either to overturne a Coach in the gate or to set the Stables on fire or to intercept her whilst she rode to take the ayre betweene Chartley and Stafford Last of all Babington was warranted to vndertake for rewards and to pawne his credit to the six Gentlemen and others Now had he gathered about him certaine Gentlemen inflamed with a fiery zeale of the Romish Religion Of whom the chiefe were Edward Windsore brother to the Lord Windsore a yong Gentleman of a soft disposition Thomas Salisbury of a Knights house in Denbigh-shire Charles Tilney an ancient Gentleman the onely hope of the Familie one of the Queenes Pencionaries whom Ballard had reconciled to the Roman Church both proper yong men Chidioc Tychburn of Hampshire Edward Abington whose father was the Queenes Cofferer Robert Gage
Queene as soone as she vnderstood so rough a tempest hanging over her head both from inward traytors and forraine enemies she commanded to the end that the conspiracy might the sooner be quelled that Ballard should be apprehended Wherevpon he was suddenly taken in the very nick when he was ready to depart into France Being taken in Babingtons house Herevpon Babington was afraid and sore troubled and vexed with a thousand cogitations he came to Tychburn and with him adviseth what is best to doe His advise was that the conspiratours should presently disperse themselues and fly yet Babington thought it best to send Sauage and Charnok presently to kill the Queene But first to put Sauage in brauer and more courtly apparell that so he might haue a more easie passage And of this proiect he had the same day speech with him in Pauls-Church But presently changing his minde and concealing his secret cares and feares he wrote Letters to Sir Francis Walsingham being then in Court wherein with great earnestnes he intreated that now at last he might haue license to depart into France and withall he made suit for Ballards deliverance who might be of great vse to him in his proposed businâ—sse Sir Francis with faire promises keepes him from day to day in hope That Ballard was taken he layeth all the fault vpon Yong that cunning hunter of Papists and vpon some other Catch-poles and warneth Babington to take heed to such kinde of men as friendly admonishing him and easily perswadeth the yong man that vntill the Queene might be at leasure to signe the Bill for his passage he would returne to London and lodge in his house at London to the end that they might conferre more secretly of so great matters And that by his often comming the fugitiues might not haue any suspition when he came into France In the meane time Skidmor Sir Francis Walsingham his servant was commanded to obserue him most strictly and should be with him whither soever he went in shew that so he might be safer from messengers that otherwise might apprehend him Thus farre Sr Francis Walsingham had closely carried this businesse without the knowledge of other of the privy Councell and would haue proceeded farther But the Queene would not least as she said by not preventing the danger when shee might shee might seeme rather to tempt God then to trust in God Wherevpon Sir Francis from Court wrote to his man that he should obserue Babington with an especiall care This Letter was not sealed but so delivered that as the man read it Babington sitting at Table with him did also reade it Wherevpon finding himselfe guiltie and suspecting that all was disclosed the next night when he and Skidmor and one or two of Sir Francis his servants had supped somwhat freely in a Taverne he rose as going to pay the reckoning and leaving his cloak and rapier fled away in the darke to Westminster Where Gage changed apparell with him who presently put off the same againe in Charnoks chamber and put on Charnoks And conveyed themselues both into S. Iohns Wood neare to the Cittie Whither Barnwell and Dun came to them In the meane time they were declared traytors throughout England They hiding themselues in Woods and by-wayes after they had in vaine expected money from the French Ambassadour and horse from Tychburn they cut off Babingtons hayre and defaced his natiue beautie with rubbing his face over with the greene huskes of Walnuts And being forced by hunger they came to Bellamyes house neare to Harrow on the Hill who was a great favourer of the Romish Religion Where they were hid in Barnes and fed and cloathed with rusticall apparell After ten dayes they were found and brought to London Herevpon the Cittie witnessed their publike ioy by ringing of bells by bonefires in the streets by singing of Psalmes in so much that the Citizens had great thankes given them from the QVEENE The other conspiratours were soone caught many of them neare the Cittie Salisbury in Staffordshire his horse being killed vnder him by them who followed him and Trauerse was taken with him after they had swimmed over the river Weuer And Iones in Wales who was not acquainted with the inuasion intended but onely receiued them into his house after he knew them to be proclaimed rebells and hid them And had furnished Salisbury as he fled and his man who was a Priest with a changed Cloake Onely Windsore was not found Many dayes were spent in examining of them who by their confessions betrayed one another concealing nothing All this time the Scots Queene and her servants were kept by such a diligent watch of Sir Amice Pawlet that those things were altogether hid from her though now well knowne over all England But after that these were apprehended Sir Thomas Gorge was sent to acquaint her with these things in few words Which he did purposely when she thought least of the matter as she was taking horse to ride a hunting Neither was she permitted to returne but in shew of honor she was carried about to Noble mens houses In the meane time Iohn Maners Edward Ashton Richard Bagot and William Wade who ignorant of the whole matter had beene sent into these parts receiving authoritie from the Queene did commit Navus and Curle Secretaries and other servants to such as might keepe them asunder that they might not conferre together among themselues nor with the Scets Queene And breaking vp the Chamber-doores they tooke all Chesies and Boxes wherein they found Letters and sent them sealed with their seales to the Court. After that Sir Amice Pawlet being commanded tooke all the money least she might corrupt some for money and gaue his promise to restore all again When the packets of Letters were opened before the Queene the Letters of many forrainers were found and Coppies of many Letters to others and about sixtie Tables of secret Characters And some Letters from certaine Noble men of England with a full declaration of their loue and services Which thing notwithstanding Queene Elizabeth dissembled that matter in silence and accordingly vsed that word Video taceo I see and say nothing But they smelling the matter least they might seeme to favour the Scots Queene after that began to show themselues enemies against her Now Giffard after he had played his part in this play was sent away as a banished man into France leaving before he went an indented paper with the French Ambassadour Leiger in England with this instruction that he should deliver Letters which he might receiue from the Scots Queene or from the fugitiues to none other but onely to him who exhibited a paper an swering to that indented paper Which paper was by him sent secretly to Sir Francis Walsingham Giffard returning into France after a few moneths was imprisoned for his filthy life and suspected of these things died miserably confessing many of the foresaid matters which was also found in his papers The XIII of