deliverance of the Scots Queene but it appeareth that his intention was for himselfe as the Duke Dalva vnderstood it This is evident by that which we haue mentioned out of Catena For Duke Dalva was in some feare that if Queene Elizabeth were overthrowne yet the Kingdome of England might not fall to the Spanyard but to the French So that it was in their intention certainly to be cast vpon the French or Spanyard and here was no reckoning made of the Queene of Scots So that howsoever the pretence was for her deliverance yet there was another thing intended For seeing Queene Elizabeth was excommunicated and deposed if she could once be ouerthrowne then they made no other reckoning but that England would fall to the strongest Now the Spanyard thinking himselfe the stronger sought this prerogatiue for himselfe and therefore he ceased not to raise troubles to the Queene and the rather because he held it a thing impossible for him to recover the Low-Countries vnlesse he had England But because he found it a matter of great difficultie to set vpon England his first enterprise was to set vpon Ireland But when that succeeded not at last with all Forces that might be raised with many yeares preparations he set openly vpon England But these things are to be spoken in order Onely this I premise that we may know from whom all our troubles haue proceeded Many conspiracies brake out one after another vnder pretence of delivering the Queene of Scots To effect this thing Thomas Stanly and Edward his brother the yonger sonnes of the Earle of Darby Thomas Gerard Rolston Hall and other in Darâ—yshire conspired But the sonne of Râ—lston which was Pensioner to the Queene disclosed the conspiracy And they were imprisoned all except Hall who escaped into the 〈◊〉 of Man From whence by the commendation of the Bishop of Ross he was sent to Dumbrâ—toâ— Where when afterward the Castle was wonne he was taken and brought to London where he suffred death Before the Duke of Norfolk was beheaded there were that conspired to deliver him out of Prison The Bishop of Ross at this time a dangerous instrument against England and as dangerous against the Scots Queene for whom he laboured gaue desperate counsell to the Duke that with a choice company of Gentlemen he should intercept the Queene of a suddain and â—rouble the Parliament To shew that this was â—asâ—e he gaue some reasons But the Duke abhorred to heare of that counsell as pernicious and dangerous Sir Henry Percy at that time offred to the Bishop of Ross his helpe to free the Scots Queene so that Grange and Carr of â—ernihurst would receiue her at the borders and his brother the Earle of Northumberland might be delivered out of Scotland But when he was suspected for the inward faâ—iliaritie which he had with Burghly and deâ—erâ—ed the matter a longer time this counsell came to no effect As did also that of Powell of Samford one of the Gentlemâ—n Pencioâ—ariâ—s and of Owen one that belonged to â—he Earle of AruÌ„dell These two vndertooke the same busines also for the Scots Queenes deliverance but the Bishop of Ross stay'd that because he tooke them for men of a meaner ranke then to be â—it for â—hat busines After the Duke was the second time imprisoned many were for this matter imprisoned also The Earles of Arundell Southampton the Lord Luâ—ly the Lord Cobham Thomas his brother Sir Henry Percy Banister Lowther Godier Powell and others were committed who in hope of pardon told that they knew Barnes and Muthers ioyned with Herle in a bloudy practise to deliver the Duke and kill certaine of the Privy Councellers But Herle being the châ—efe in the villany opened the Proiect. When Bâ—rnes was brought before him found Herle to be the accuser he smiling vpon him said Herle thou hast prevented me if thou hadst stayed but one houre longer I should then haue stood in thy place the accuser and thou in my place to be hanged When Iohn Duke of Austria came into government of the Low-Countries he found the States strong The cruelty that the Duke of Dalva and others had vsed was so farre from bringing them into a servile subiection that it rather armed them with resolution to defend their liberties their lawes their religion and their liues Which may admonish great Princes to vse moderation in government for much hath beene lost by crueltie nothing gotten by it but nothing can serue to moderate restlesse spirits such a spirit brought Don Iohn with him into the Low-Countries who beholding the vnlucky ends of them that stroue to deliver the Queene of Scots he notwithstanding sought to worke her deliverance and to marry her and so to enioy both England and Scotland But to hide his purpose the better he made show of a perpetuall Edict for Peace as he called it and for that purpose sent Gastellus to Elizabeth Who throughly vnderstanding the Dukes meaning yet as if she had beene ignorant sent Daniel Rogers to Don Iohn to congratulate for his perpetuall Edict of Peace Albeit she certainly knew that he had resolved to deliver and marry the Scots Queene and in his conceit had devoured the Kingdomes of England and Scotland by the perswasion of the Earle of Westmerland and of other â—ugitiues and by favour and countenance of the Pope and the Guyses And that Don Iohn had a purpose out of hand to surprise the â—le of Man in the â—rish Seas that he might haue a fitter opportunitie to invade England out of Ireland and the North coast of Scotland where the Scots Queene had many at her deuotion and the opposite parts of England as Cumberland Lankyshire Cheshire Northwales had many that as he was informed favoured Popery The truth is Don Iohn of Austria as it was knowne from Peresius Secretary to the King of Spaine being before this carried away with ambition when he was disappointed of the hope which he had of the Kingdome of Tunis practised secretly with the Pope for the ouerthrow of Queene Elizabeth marrying of the Scots Queene and subduing of England That the Pope might excite the King of Spain to warre against England as out of a desire of the publique good Don Iohn before he came out of Spain to goe to the Netherlands did fâ—rward this motion in Spaine what he could and afterward sending Esconedus out of the Netherlands to Spaine did desire to haue the havens in Bisâ—ay whence a Navie might invade England But King Philip happily reserving England as a morsell for his owne mouth neglected Don Iohn as a man too ambitious Queene Elizabeth vnderstood not these things vntill the Prince of Orange opened them to her Don Iohn in the meane time prosecuteth the matter of the marriage with secresie And to dissemble the matter sent messengers to Queâ—ne Elizabeth to hold her with a tale of perpetuall peace but of a sudden brake out into warre and tooke divers Townes and
Savage a barbarous fellow vpon the instigation oâ— Rhemish Priests voweth to kill Queene Elizabeth Babingtons treasonable practise to take away the Queenes life vpon a motion from Ballard the Priest defeated and he with his Complices deservedly punished CHAP. X. The French Ambassadours plot with Stafford to take away the life of the Queene detected by Stafford himselfe The end of Yorke and Stanlâ—y traytors to their Countâ—â—y CHAP. XI The Spanish preparations for the Invincible Navie The Duke of Parma treateth of a peace Delegates sent over about it The conference of the Delegates broke off without fruit CHAP. XII The Invincible Armie described At the first setting out shaken sore with a tempest The gests of each day related particularly and punctually The trusted in their strength we in the name of our God They are fallen and we stand vpright CHAP. XIII Trouble from Ireland by Tyrone lurking in Spaine His many dissembling submissions to the Queene of England A treatie of peace concluded CHAP. XIV Vpon the comming of the Earle of Essex into England from Ireland Tyrone contrary to his promise stirreth and rebelleth afresh and is incouraged by the Pope and ayded by â—he King of Spaine These forces are vanquished by the Lord Deputie Herevpon Don Iohn de Aqâ—ila a Spanish Captaine who was sent to ayâ—â—e the rebells and kept Kinsale capitulates for peace Tyrone forsaken of his followers submits himselfe to the Lord Deputie and is pardoned Plotting a new rebellion when he was called by Processe to answer a suit of the B. of Derry thinking the treason to be discovered by O cane who inforced the Bishop in his suit sted out of Ireland In â—hese troubles and treasons see the Machinations of Satans seed against the seed of the Woman that is the Church and the miraculous deliverances and victories of the Church according to that The Womans seed shall breake the serpents head spoken of Christ appliable to the Church and particularly to our Church of England which that Bâ—laam of Rome seeks now by all meanes to draw from God because he knowes he cannot prevaile against vs till we for sake God CHAP. XV. A great mischiefe intended to the Kings Maiestie at his first entrance into the Kingdome of England before his Coronation Watson and Clark Priests administring oaths of secresie and applauding the proiect It came to nothing by Gods mercie The Kings Maiesties clemency towards the Conspiratours after iudgement paâ—t vpon them No treason in England attempted but had a Romish Priest in the practise CHAP. XVI A horrible treason was a hatching and breeding in the last yeare of Queene Elizabeth By Garnetts meanes and others the King of Spaine is delt withall for an invasion he entertaines the motion but vpon the entrance of King Iames did not proceed to any forcible enterprise The Gun-powder treason takes ground and life from the doctriâ—e of Parsons and the Iesuites It was first propounded by Catesby to Winter The oath of secresâ—e taken by the Conspiratours Provision of Powder and Wood for the mine Their consultation what to doe after the blow was given The letter sent to the Lord Mounteagle scanned by the Earle of Salisbury and other Prâ—vy Councellers but truely interpreted by the King in whose mouth there was a divine sentence at that time so that he did not erre in iudgement The Examination of Fawks The apprehension and confusion of the Powder-traytors God from heaven both by his Word and protection hath manifestly showne our Church to be the true Church and the Popish Church to be the malignant Church and degenerate from the auncient Romane Church both in manners and doctrines Coronis The Conclusion containes diverse Considerations proposed to such as are not well affected to Religion A THANKFVLL REMEMBRANCE OF GODS MERCY CHAPTER I. HAving a purpose to obserue Gods great and merciful deliueraÌ„ces of the Church of England and Gods holy protectioÌ„ of the same against the manifolde most dangerous most desperate practises of the adversaries that haue with strange malice and crueltie sought the destruction thereof and intending to fetch the beginning of this search from the beginning of the Raigne of Queene ELIZABETH of blessed memory I knew no better way how to enter into this Narration then to begin with the consideration of the State of Queene ELIZABETH at her first entrance for therein will appeare a wonderfull Worke of God and my intention is to obserue the great Workes of God that God may be glorified When this famous Queene first entred shee found the State much afflicted and weakned All the great States about her were enemies Friends none King Philip who offred his loue and kindnesse to her and would haue married her offering to obteine the Popes dispensation for him to marry two Sisters as the like dispensation was obteined by Ferdinand his great Grand-father for hâ—s daughter Katharine to marry two Brothers he offering this kindnesse and being refused and reiected grew first into dislike and discontent afterwardes into hatred and at last brake out into open Warres The French King Henry the 2. with whom she sought peace fell off also into open Warres His sonne Francis having married Mary Queene of Scotland was moved by the Guysians to cause the Armes of England to be ioyned to the Armes of Scotland to professe the Queene of Scots the heire of England and because Elizabeth was accounted by them an Heretike therefore they sought to put her by to set the Queene of Scots in her place so should the French King haue England also For the effecting of this they sent their Armies into Scotland purposing fâ—om thence to haue subdued England In so much that Sebastianus Martignius a young Noble man of the family of Luxenburg who was sent into Scotland with a thousand â—oote and some Companies of horse could hardly be disswaded from entring England presently So that Spaine France and Scotland were enemies The State was then much troubled and oppressed with great debt contracted partly by Henry 8. partly by Edward 6. in his minoritie The treasure was exhausted Calis was lost Nothing seemed to be left to her but a weake and poore State destitute of meanes and friends If shee would haue admitted the Popish Religion then might all these difficulties haue beene removed But establishing the Gospell shee vnderstood well that shee drew all these troubles vpon her owne head Yet she gaue the glory to God and in hope of Gods holy protection she established Gods holy truth And verily she did not serue God in vaine For it is a thing to be wondred at that the Land being then without strength without Forces without Souldiers yea without Armour all things necessary should be so suddenly furnished She had provided Armour at Antwerpe but King Philip caused that to be stayed Yet was she not discouraged but layd out much money vpon Armour though she found the Treasury but poore She procured Armour and weapons out of Germany She caused many great
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
much laâ—our and singular skill he ioyned them together againe and found that they contained new practises of the Pope the Spanyard the Guises resolution to invade England Whereupon and because many other rumors of dangers were increased to the end that the wicked and treasonable practises might be in time prevented and the Queenes life and safetie might be procured vpon whose safety both the estate of the Kingdome and of Religion depended A great number throughout all England of all sorts of men out of common charity whilst they shewed their loue and care of the Queene bound themselues by an association as then it was called by their mutuall promises subscriptions of their hands and seales to prosecute all such by all their force even to death whosoever should attempt any thing against the life of the Queene the Earle of Leicester was supposed to be the author of this association Surely it was vsefull and held many in order The Queene of Scots tooke this as devised to bring her into danger and was so continually set on by seditious spirits that if they may haue accesse are able to draw the greatest Princes to destruction And what hath beene their practise but to bring great personages and great houses to ruine Lamentable experience sheweth openly the fruit of their malice and wicked plots for treason which they call religion The Scots Queene led on by her blind guids dealt somwhat rashly but with importunity to the Pope and Spanyard by Sr Francis Inglefeld that by all meanes they would with speed vndertake their intended busines There were some also that laboured to draw Queene Elizabeths affections altogether from the Scots Queene They told her that Cardinall Alan for the English Catholikes ecclesiasticall Inglefeld for the Laiks and for the Queene of Scots the Bishop of Ross had vndertaken were among themselues agreed and with the consent also of the Pope and Spanyard had fully resolved vpon these points That Queene Elizabeth should be deprived of her Kingdome the King of Scots as a manifest favourer of heresie should vtterly be disinherited of the Kingdome of England that the Scots Queene shall marry some noble-man of England which is a Catholike that this man must be chosen King of England by the Catholikes of England that the choice so made must be confirmed by the Pope that the children of him so chosen begotten of the Scots Queene must be declared successours in the Kingdome All these things were confirmed to be true by testimony of Hart the Priest Who was this noble English man that should marry the Scots Queene was now much inquired after Sir Francis Walâ—ingham sought it out with all diligence yet found it not out There was suspition of Henry Howard brother to the Duke of Norfolke who was noble by birth vnmarried and a favourer of that Religion and in great grace and favour with them These things that were discovered by Throgmorton by Creightons papers and other mens were matters which bred suspitions and feares though they were never so effected as they were intended But we find by these things that France and Spaine and the strength of the Pope were here all combined against Queene Elizabeth and King Iames for no other cause but for their religion because both Queene Elizabeth and King Iames had established the same religion Against which religion all the great powers of the world were combined and were therefore ready with their vtmost indevours to root out these two Princes from England and Scotland If a man shall consider the Councels the Pollicies the strength of these great powers which were set against these two Princes it is a matter to be wondred at how they should stand against so deepe and desperate dangers Here I wish that a Papist of any vnderstanding would take this matter into his consideration And looke but a little further to the end and event of things What man purposed What God wrought What became of these two Princes Queene Elizabeth King Iames against whom the world thus conspired Queene Elizabeth after so many malicious proiects against her by open warres by secret conspiracies yet lived to see all the malicious practises against her defeated and overthrowne the practisers themselues ruinated her people and Kingdome defended Gods truth maintained her service for the truth rewarded and after all dyed quietly in her bed and hath left a blessed memory behinde her King IAMES that was in the same cause with her in the same manner threatned for his Religion to be made incapable of the inheritance of England and then neither could he haue holden Scotland for he must either haue all his right or loose all for there is no middle-way in the inheritance of Kings yet after all these threatned dangers by the great powers of the world after a number of dangerous and devilish practises against him at home he hath not onely quietly possessed that which he had but is in the peaceable possession of England with such loue such gladnesse of heart and common reioycing that the like hath not beene knowne in former times And which was never done by any before though much wished and attempted he hath in his royall person knit England and Scotland together he hath not onely maintained the truth of Religion by his authoritie as all Christian Princes are bound to do but also by his wisedome by his learning confirmed the truth drawne many to the knowledge of it by his learned Labours Wherein he hath not onely farre exceeded all his progenitours in this Kingdome but hath left all the Kings and Emperours in the world farre behind him in this honour so that since the beginning of the time of grace to this day the world never saw a King so furnished and inabled to maintaine the truth and to discover the blindnesse and superstition of false Religion And therefore hath God blessed him with extraordinary blessings the loue of his subiects the peaceable estate of Ireland which before his time was never governed in peace especially the fruit of Religion and the reward of Religion maintained is the greatest blessing that Kings can looke for This hath beene and is the state of these religious Provinces so that men shall say Doubtlâ—sse there is a reward for the righteous verily there is a God that iudgeth the earth And because my purpose in writing this Booke is to declare the great Workes of God in the defence of this Church of England since Religion planted here by Queene Elizabeth and to giue God all the glory both of the planting and maintaining thereof We therefore remember these things with great gladnesse and ioy of heart to Gods glory giving thankes to his holy name for the favours that he hath exhibited to his Church here by the faithfull service of these two royall servants of God in whom is truely verified that which the Prophet Esay foretold speaking of Gods favour to his Church Kings shall be thy nurcing Fathers and Queenes
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
A. THANKFVLL REMEMBRANCE OF GODS MERCIE by G. C. London Printed for Robert M. Robinson A THANKFVLL REMEMBRANCE OF GODS MERCY In an Historicall Collection of the great and mercifull Deliverances of the Church and State of England since the Gospell began here to flourish from the beginning of Queene ELIZABETH Collected by GEO CARLETON Doctor of Divinitie and Bishop of CHICHESTER PSALM III. 2. The workes of the Lord are great and ought to be sought out of all them that loue Him LONDON Printed by I. D. for Robert Mylbourne and Humphrey Robinson and are to be sold at the great South doore of PAVLS 1624. TO THE HIGH NOBLE AND MOST VERTVOVS CHARLES PRINCE OF GREAT Britain Duke of Cornwall and of YORKE c. the spirit of wisedome with increase of honour SIR AS the great Workes of God ought to be had in remembrance of all men so this dutie is more required of Princes then of other men Because their charge is greater then the charge of other men for they must answer both for the government of themselues and of others vnder them Wherefore having observed the Workes of God in delivering this Church and State from the cruell plots of the Adversaries from the beginning of Queene Elizabeth to this time I found my selfe most obliged to present this to your Highness both because my service next to his Maiestie is most due to your Highness and because the remembrance of the great Workes of God is a Glasse fit for a Prince to looke on For your Highness may be assured that the Adversaries will not change their disposition vnlesse either we were reduced to their blindness or they drawne to imbrace the truth with vs. I haue made this Collection that by examples of things past We may better iudge of things to come My labour herein is nothing For I make not the Story but take it of others And when I light vpon the best Narration as that of the Gun-powder treason I haue set it downe as I find it without alteration Because as that cannot be mended so to set a worse Narration in the place thereof were no lesse then to abuse the Reader I leaue the honor entire to them that haue made the Story I take no part thereof to mee Onely my care hath beene to obserue vpon those great deliverances the Workes of God that God may be glorified and the cause iustified which God hath maintained from Heaven SIR I suppose it is hard to finde a Narration containing more miraculous Protection of Gods Church since that time wherein God shewed his Miracles in protecting the people of Israel Which consideration may serue to fasten your Highness to the loue and service of that great God that doth so strongly maintain his servants That as hitherto you haue had a gracious experience of his grace and goodnesse towards you so your noble heart may grow every day more and more in the loue and obedience of the truth We are all charged by Gods Word to pray for Kings and Princes That charge which God hath layd vpon vs all no man can put off But when your Highness hath effectually made knowne your singular care and loue to the common good to the rejoycing of all faithfull men this must needs draw the hearts of all faithfull men nearer to your Highness And this is a part of your happiness for the feare of God and loue of Subiects is able to make Kings and Princes strong against all their enemies God giue his iudgements to the King and his righteousness to the Kings sonne and therewith all blessings grace and honour here and glory hereafter Your HIGHNES ancient Chaplain and most humble Servant GEO CICESTRIENSIS ΑÎΑΚΕΦΑΛΑΙΩΣΙS OR RECAPITVLATION of the chiefe Passages in this Booke CHAPTER I. THE weake estate of this Kingdome at Queene Elizabeths entrance Her government blessed with might and money beyond expectation all on a suddaine to the terrour of the enemies of the Gospell and comfort of the Professors thereof The ancient government of the Low-Countries what it was The treason of Arthur Pool discovered and defeated The Popes Excommunication and curse against Queene Elizabeth turned by Christ whose Gospell shee maintained into a blessing CHAP. II. The rebellion of the Earles of Westmerland and Northumberland related distinctly by Hieronym Catâ—â—a so strongly plotted so secretly carried by the hand of God disappointed and broken into pieces Leon Dacres his over throw by it This is the fruit of Popery and the first effect of the Popes Bull. CHAP. III. A Commotion in Ireland inflamed by Io Mendoza extinguished by the Earle of Ormond The King of Spaine pretends the enlargement of the Scots Queene but intends the enlargement of his owne Dominion Don Iohn of Austria goeth about to deliver and marry the Scots Queene He sends out a perpetuall edict of peace and presently breaketh out into warre He dieth on a sudden and so his purpose disappointed CHAP. IV. Stucley his attempt and practise with the Pope and Spanyard for the subduing of Ireland and England with Italian souldiers by Gods providence annulled CHAP. V. Nich Sanders setteth on the rebells in Ireland animateth them in their bloudy practises getteth â— consecrated Banner from the Pope for them San-Ioâ—ephus with 700 Italians and Spanyards sent from the Pope and King of Spaine over into Ireland to helpe the rebells yeeldeth the Fort. The Earle Desmond a great maintainer of this rebellion killed by a common souldier in his wandring Sanders the firebrand of the rebellion falleth mad and dieth miserably of famine Observations herevpon The explication of that place 2 Thes. 2. 10. appliable to the Papists in respect both of their doctrines and doings CHAP. VI. The Institution of the Colledges of seminary Priests to be the incendiaries of England different from the foundation of ancient Colleâ—ges The feates of Father Parsons and Edm Campian and others to draw the alleagiance of the English from their Queene This drew vpon them sevetitie of Lawes established in Parliament against Papists and approved by the paralell example of the Lawes made against the Donatists in S. Augustines time CHAP. VII The Priests seditious Bookes against the Queene brings on Somervills furious attempt to kill her They moue with the Ladies of honour to doe it The Queenes mildnesse and wonderfull mercy towardes this vermine Mendoza the Spanish Ambassadour for practising against the Queene is thrust out of England Throgmortons confeâ—ion and condemnation for treason CHAP. VIII New practises of our enemies discovered not without a miracle by Creightons torne papers The mischievous but vnsuccesfull conclusions of Alan Inglefield and Ross against Queene Elizabeth and King Iames. Parries treason opened his confession and execution Lawes in Parliament enacted against Priests and Recusants Philip Howards intention to leaue the Land discovered before it could be effected CHAP. IX The lamentable end of Henry Percy Earle of Northumberland in the Tower A pretended title of the King of Spaine to the Crowne of England
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
Castles by sleight and trechery and wrote to Spaine that the best course is to take Zealand before the more inner Provinces And being prone to beleeue that which he desired he wrote that England might be had with greater ease then Zealand and he laboured by Escouedus to perswade the Spanish King But the Queene seeing all tend to warre in the Netherlands entred a league with the States for mutuall helpe and sent Thomas Wilkes into Spaine to complaine of the headdy courses of the Duke of Austria And in the meane time prepared for warre But behold when Don Iohn was in the height of his pride and ambition in the flower of his age in the middest of busines and preparations he died on a suddain as some thought of the Plague Some thought that vpon griefe that he was not so respected of the King his brother he ended his foolish ambition with his life afterthat he had embraced in his ambitious desire the Kingdome of Tunis wherevpon Guleta was lost in Africa and after that the Kingdome of England and had confirmed a league with the Guysians without the knowledge of the French and Spanish Kings for defence of both Crownes Thus was the enemy disappointed the Queene the Land the Church preserved And haue we not cause to remember these Workes of God and to giue God the glory of his own worke that is of delivering his Church England was as a Stage wherevpon diverse entred to play their parts one after another The part that they played was alwayes treason some was kept farther off by Gods providence to doe lesse harme some brought the danger nearer home But GOD taking the protection of his Church in England none prevailed And could any other power but the power and protection of God preserue a Land from so many so deadly dangers Let all mouthes be stopped and let this continuall course of deliverance be acknowledged the worke of God CHAPTER IIII. THE next man that came vpon this Stage was Thomas Stucley but the malice that he and the Pope by his employment intended against England was turned cleane another way by GODS providence Thomas Stucley an English-man borne when he had spent his estate in ryot prodigality and base meanes went into Ireland An 1570. And gaping for the Stewardship of Wexford and missing the same began to vtter contumelâ—ous words against the best deserving Prince but he was contemned as one that could doe no hurt From Ireland he went into Italy to Pius V. Pope It is a thing incredible what favour he got with the old Pope that breathed nothing but the destruction of Elizabeth Stucley with magnificent ostentation as he was a man singular in ostentation made the Pope beleeue that with three thousand Italians he would driue the English out of Ireland and bâ—rne the Queenes Navy And indeed these things he most wickedly attempted afterward but to his owne destruction Pius V. having procured all the troubles that possibly he could against Queene Elizabeth seemed to die for spite that he could not hurt her After him suceeded Gregory 13. This Pope had secret consultations with the King of Spaine for the invading of Ireland and England both together Meaning vnder the maske of Religion to serue their owne ambitious endes The Popes end was to make his sonne Iames Boncampagno whom he had lately made Marquesse of Vineola now King of Ireland The Spanyardes end was secretly to helpe the Rebells of Ireland as Elizabeth did the Dutch and in faire words intertaine a shew of friendship on both sides The King of Spaine had a farther reach even to get the Kingdome of England by the Popes authoritie that from thence he might with â—â—ore ease tamâ— the Dutch that were confederate against him This he found hard for him to doe vnlesse he were Lord of the Seas which he saw he could not be vnlesse he had England And there was no doubt but as he owed the Kingdomes of Naples Sicily Navarre to the beneficence of the Pope so with all his heart he would haue held England by the like fauour They knowing that the greatest strength of England stood in the navy of the Queenes shippes and Merchants shippes which were also built and framed for the vse of warre thought that the best way to lessen the Naviâ— was to set on the Merchants of Italy and Netherlands to hire many of the Merchants shippes seeking diverse seuerall pretenses and hauing hired them to send them vnto the farthest Navigations that whilst these are absent the Queenes Navy might be overthrowne with a greater Navy And then at the same instant Thomas Stucley the English fugitiue might ioyne his forces with the rebels of Ireland Stucley a bare-worne deceiver did no lesse cousin this next succeeding Pope then he had done his predecessor with admirable bragges He promised the Kingdome of Ireland to the Popes bastard sonne and got such favour with the old ambitious Pope that he honored him with the titles of Marquesse of Lagen Earle of Wexford and Caterloghe Vicount of Morough and Baron of Ross. These be famous places in Ireland And made him generall of DCCC Italian Souldiers the King of Spaine paying their stipends and so sent him into the Irish warre Stucley came with these to Portingale to the mouth of Tagus purposing to subdue Ireland But the purpose of God was otherwise And that which the Pope and Spanyard had with such deliberation proiected was by the councell of God dissipated and brought to nothing For Sebaâ—tian King of Portugall to whom the chiefe conduct of the forces against England was committed for this Prince puffed vp with a heat of youth and ambition had long before offred all his power to the Pope to be imployed against Mahumetanes and Proteâ—tants was then intised and drawne by many great promises of Mahomet sonne of Abdalla King of â—ess vnto the African warre Sebastian being thus drawne from the English Warres another way dealt with Stucley that first of all he would carry his Italian souldiers into Mauritania Stucley finding the Spanish King not against this proiect for the Spanyard disdeined that the Popes Bastard should be King of Ireland went with Sebastian into Mauritania and was killed in that memorable battell wherein three Kings Sebastian Mahomet and Abdall-Melech were all slaine And so Stucley had too honorable an end of a dishonorable life By the death of Sebastian the Spanyard was cleane drawn away from thinking of the English invasion for a time and set all his forces vpon the invasion of Portugall If this occasion had not drawne away the Spanyard a great tempest of Warre should haue fallen vpon England if any credit may be given to the English fugitiues for they declared that those hug Armies which the Spanyard had provided against England out of Italy were now all to be imployed vpon the subduing of Portugaâ—l neither would he be by any meanes peâ—swaded then to thinke of the English invasion albeit the
vnrighteousnesse at the commandement of the Pope or any superior These I am sure are the practises of vnrighteousnesse would to God these men would once looke backe vpon themselues and their owne actions and consider what a difference is betweene ancient Bishops of Rome and these of late betweene godly Divines and the Popes Clergie The ancient Bishops did never draw the sword to propagate the faith the Apostles left no such example to them but by their labours in Preaching and their patience in suffring they gathered a Church and established the faith but behold how vnrighteousnes and villany is now come in place An vngracious bloudy wretch kills a man in his bed a man that was his friend such a thing chancing in the Warres may be borne with but in bed to murther his friend is an extraordinary signe of barbarous crueltie And yet that Sanders the Popes Legat should pronounce this thing to be a sweet sacrifice to God this passeth all imagination Can any either practise these things or commend these practises but onely such men as the Apostle describeth that are given vp to beleeue lyes and to worke vnrighteousnesse If any man shall answer me here with that old worn Cuckow long that these things are not vnderstood by them to be vnrighteoâ—s which the Pope commandeth that they doe these things in obedience to Christ his Vicar I answer they that would make such an answer are either such as are men of conscience or altogether without conscience If they be men without conscience I haue nothing to say to such but wish them better then they doe to themselues that they had some fecling of conscience If these men haue any sparke of conscience then would I intrâ—at them seriously to consider what is that which the Apostle in the place before cited calleth the deceivablenes of vnrighteousnes For this word sheweth that there is some plaine and down-right vnrighteousnesse and also some deceivablenesse of vnrighteousnesse What is that deceivablenesse of vnrighteousnesse Surely there is something herein for them to study that are so ready at the Popes command to doe vnrighteous things and make not Gods Word but the Popes word to be the rule to know what is righteous what vnrighteous When the law of God the law of nature the law of nations the law of our Land when I say all lawes forbid a thing and onely the Pope commands it and commands it against all lawes then if a man obey the Pope in such things he is deceived and he doth vnrighteously Here is the deceivablenesse of vnrighteousnesse But you must vnderstand that these men are thus deceived by him whose coÌ„ming is by the working of Satan with all power and signes and lying wonders and in all deceivablenesse of vnrighteousnesse in them that perish because they receiue not the loue of the truth Let men that haue any care to saue their soules learne to loue the truth the truth will deliver them And let them obserue that maintaining of false doctrines and of vnrighteous actions are things ioyned together one followeth the other Now because we see false doctrines or lyes maintained by Papists and vnrighteous and vngracious actions by them ordinarily attempted therefore we hold them vndoubtedly to be the servants of Antichrist who are given vp to beleeue lyes because they louâ— not the truth But for our selues we know that the Scriptures are the Word of God We beleeue the Scriptures We trust in God We worship him as himselfe hath revealed and commanded If our enemies wrong vs we haue recourse to God by prayer we haue found by continuall experience that God taketh the protection of them that thus trust in him We haue trusted in him we haue found his protectioÌ„ We rest in patience and commit the vengeance to God Is there any man in the world that knoweth any thing of religion that can denie that we are in a good state and our enemies in a desperate state we haue comfort but they can haue none Consider this you that forget God least he plucke you vp and there be none to deliver you Now which is our chiefe end in these collections for our deliverance we blesse the name of God and we doe acknowledge with all humilitie and thankesgiving that all our deliverances come from the vndeserved loue and favour of our most gracious God and Father And we finde our selues most sirictly oâ—liged vnto this dutie because we see God hath made our enemies his enemies they cannot fight against vs but they must fight against God how much then are we bound to honor serue this great God of heaven and â—arth that hath shewed such favour to his Church in England CHAPTER VI. AT this time An 1580. the seminary Priests and â—esuites increasing in England necessary lawes were provided against them These in truth were maintained by the adversaries of England as a seminary of rebellion for so still they proued Their first foundation was at Doway in the Low-Countries where by the procuring of William Alan an Oxford-man afterward Cardinall there was a Colledge provided for them in the yeare 1568. Where fugitiue Priests were brought vp not so much in Religion as in new and strange practises of treason The Pope assigned them a yearely stipend Thus they stood for some yeares But when the Low-Countries began to be troubled with Warres Requesenius who was governour there vnder the Spanish King did thrust out all English fugitiues out of the Low-Countries Wherevpon they that were willing to make vse of such instruments to trouble England thought good to giue entertainment to them And therefore two Colledges were set vp for the English sugitiues the one at Rhemes by the Guises another at Rome by Pope Gregory 13. From these Colledges they were sent into England vnder pretence of Religion but indeed to withdraw subiects from obedience to their Prince and to draw the Land vnto the subiection of strangers they called themselues Seminaries because they were to sowe the seed of the Roman Religion in England And what is that seed of Roman religion but the seed of Rebellion Certainly so it hath euer proued These men to shew their zeale to their new founders and their hatred to their Country disputed and defined the Popes authoritie by Gods law to haue the plenitude of power ouer the whole world in all things Ecclesiasticall and Politicall out of which plenitude he might excommunicate Kings and after excommunication depose them from their thrones and absolue their subiects from all oaths of alleagance Thus was the Bull of Pius V. published An 1569. From whence rose the rebellion in the north of England and those rebellions of Ireland of which we haue spoken Hanse Nelson Main Sherwod Prieâ—ts then taught that Queene Elizabeth was a schismatike and an heretike and therefore worthily to be deposed for which they suffred deservedly but still others were sent into their places and though they came in vpon desperate points as souldiers vpon
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
These signifie to the French Ambassadour that they sent for him to let him know the cause why they intercepted Trappius his Secretary when he was ready to goe into France and they did open every thing which Stafford Moody and Trappius himselfe had confessed And that they might testifie the same in his presence they commanded them to be called in The Ambassadour who bending his brows heard these things with much impatience rising vp said that himselfe being an Ambassadour would not heare any accusations to wrong his King or in the preiudice of Ambassadours But when they answered that these men should not be produced as accusers but onely that he might be satisfied that these things were not fained nor false then he rested As soone as Stafford was produced and began to speake he presently interrupted him and railing vpon him affirmed that Stafford first proposed the matter to him and that himselfe had threatned to send him bound hand and foot to the Queene if he would not desist from so wicked an enterprise yet that he spared him for the singular affection which he bare to the mother the brother and sister of Stafford Stafford falling vpon his knees protested in many wordes vpon his salvation that the Ambassadour proposed the matter first to him But when the Ambassador seemed to be extraordinarily moued Stafford was commanded to depart and Moody was not produced Herevpon when Burghly had mildly charged the Ambassadour to be guiltie of such a conceived wickednes both from his owne words and out of the confession of Trappius he answered that if he had beene conscious yet being an Ambassadour he ought not to disclose it but to his owne King But Burghlâ—y interposing told him that if that were not the office of an Ambassadour which thing is yet in question to disclose such a mischievous practise which bringeth the life of a Prince in danger yet was it the office of a Christian to represse such notorious iniuries not onely for the safety of a Prince but for the safety of any Christian. But the other stoutly denyed that and withall said that not long since the French Ambassadour being in Spaine and having notice of a conspiracy to take away the Spanish Kings life yet disclosed it not to the Spanish king but to his owne King and was therefore commended of the King and of his Councellers The Lord Burghley gaue him a graue admonition to take heed that hereafter he offended not in such a point of treason against the Prince and not to forget the office of an Ambassadour nor the Prince her clemency who would not wrong good Ambassadours by the punishment of an evill one and though he were not punished yet was he not iustified but did carry with him the guilt though not the punishment of such an offence Though this intended evill came to no effect as all the other bloudy practises haue bin without effect yet may we make good vse of it to blesse Gods name for all his great and manifold deliverances That it was disappointed it was his goodnes for against those Kings that had not given their service to God for the maintenance of true Religion great and bloudy practises haue bin committed by lesse and more contemptible meanes And as we haue iust cause to blesse God for all his deliverances so the adversaries of our peace haue iust cause to feare to examine their owne doings and seriously to consider whether they haue not all this while striven against God in striving so long against those whom God doth so miraculously defend Not long after this followed the ignominious prodition of William Stanly and Rowland York This York was a Londoner a man of loose conversation and actions and desperate He was famous among the Cutters of his time for bringing in a new kind of fight to run the point of a rapier into a mans body this manner of fight he brought first into England with great admiration of his audaciousnes When in England before that time the vse was with little bucklâ—rs and with broad swords to strike and not to thrust and it was accounted vnmanly to strike vnder the girdle This man provoked as he tooke it by some iniury of the Earle of Leicester fled to the Spanyards and for some time after served among the Spanyards Afterward being reconciled was made Captaine of a Sconce neare to Zutphen After all this he was so set vpon revenge that being corrupted with money he did not onely betray the place to the enemy but drew also Stanly with him being a man that had served with great fidelitie and valour in the Irish warres Stanly was not easily perswaded to be false but this desperate fellow never ceased to draw him into the fellowship of wickednesse with him by many asseverations and oaths often repeated telling him that it was certainly knowne in England that he was of Babingtons conspiracy that he was already discovered by their confessions that out of hand he should be sent for to the gallowes Thus he perswaded Stanly to betray the rich and well fenced Towne of Deventer to the Spanyards against his oath given to Leicester and to the States And seeking some pretence of honesty against a fact so dishonest and disloyall he seemed to please himselfe in this that he had restored a place to the true Lord which was held from him by rebells And being extreame Popish he sent for Priests to his company which consisted of 1300 English and Irish to instruct them in the Popish Religion boasting that this should be the seminary legion which should defend the Roman Religion with Armes as the seminary Priests defend it with writings To this purpose Alan who a little after was Cardinall sent Priests presently to him and wrote a Booke also wherein he commended this proditorious act from the authoritie of the Bull of Pius V against Queene Elizabeth and stirred vp others to such perfidiousnes as if they were not bound to serue and obey a Queene excommunicated But looke I pray to the end The Spanyards set York and Stanly together in contention one against the other and soone after they poyson York and take his goods his body after three yeares was digged vp by the commandement of the States and hanged till it rotted They drew Stanly and his companies out of Deventer and tossing them from place to place they make them the obiect of all dangers and so vsed them with all conâ—umelies that some of them died for hunger others secretly fled away Stanly himselfe went into Spaine in hope of reward and offred his helpe to invade Ireland but neither found he entertainment according to his expectation neither could he be trusted for the Spanyards vsed to say that some honor might be given to a traytor but no trust It was now too late for him to learne but yet he learned that he had most of all betrayed himselfe CHAPTER XI WE are now come to that fatall yeare which the
Astrologers called the Marveilous yeare some said it was the Climactericall yeere of the world And they that trust not in the liuing God but in superstitions tooke the opportunitie of this fatall yeare as they supposed now vtterly to overthrow the Church of England and State Which before they could not doe The Pope and Spanyard layd vp all their hopes vpon this yeares destiny The rumors of warre daily increased at last it was certainly coÌ„firmed by the newes on all sides that in Spaine there was an invincible navy preparing against England that the most famous Captaines in military knowledge and the best souldiers were sent for into Spaine from Italy Scicily yea from America For the Pope and some religious Spanyards and English fugitiues now recalled the Spanyard to the cogitation of surprising of England which purpose was interrupted by the Portugall warres They exhorted him earnestly to doe God this service that had done so much for him now that he inioyed Portugall with the west Indies many rich Ilands to adde England to all were an especiall service of God fit for his Catholike Maiestie By this meanes he might adde these flourishing Kingdomes to his Empire so keepe the Low-countries in peace secure the navigatioÌ„ to both Indies That the preparations of Spaine were so great that no power was able to resist it They made him belieue that it was an easier matter to overcome England then to overcome the Dutch-land because the navigation from Spain to England was much shorter then to the Netherlands And by surprising of England the other would easily follow Herevpon the consultation began to be had of the best way and meanes to oppresse England Alvarus Baâ—â—anus the Marquess of S. Crosse who was chiefe commander in the Navy advised first to make sure some part of Holland or Zealand by the land-forces of the Duke of Parma and by sending before some Spanish shippes so to take some place on a suddain where the Spanish navy might haue a receptacle and from whence the invasion might with coÌ„venience begin For in the English Sea which is troublesome the windes oft changing the tydes vnknown the Navy could not be in safety With him agreed Parma who much vrged this expedition Yet others disliked this counsell as a matter of great difficultie and danger of long time of much labor of great expence of vncertaine successe And that neither secretly nor openly it could be performed and easily hindered by the English These thought that with the same labour and expenses England might be wonne and the victory would be sure if a well prepared army from Spaine might with a strong navy be landed on Thames side and of a suddain surprise London the chiefe Citty by an vnexspected assault This seemed a thing most easie to be effected And therefore all agreed vpon it Yet some among them thought good that a denuntiation of the warre should be made by an Herald which they held a politik devise both to remoue suspition out of the minds of neighbour Princes and to force the Queene as they supposed to call to her helpe â—orrain mercenary souldiers concelving that according to the vsuall insolency of mercenaries they would tumult and spoyle the country and so might the Queene be brought into hatred of her owne people that so all things in England would be brought into a confusion which might be helped by the English Catholikes But neither could this advise be heard For they being confident of their owne strength thought it was sufficient to commend the invincible Navy to the prayers of the Pope and of their other Catholikes and to the intercession of Saints and to set out a Booke in Print to the terror of the English in which Booke all the preparation was particularly related Which was so great through Spain Italy and Scicily that the Spanyards themselues were in admiration of their owne forces and therefore named it the Invincible Fleet. The Duke of Parma also in Flanders by the commandement of the Spanyard built ships and a great company of small broad vessels each one able to transport thirty horse with bridges fitted for them severally And hired Mariners from the east part of Germany And provided long peeces of wood sharpned at the end and covered with iron with â—ookes on the side And twentie thousand vessels with an huge number of fagots and placed an Army ready in Flanders of 103 companies of foot and 4000 horsemen Among these were 700 English fugitiues which were had of all other in most contempt Neither was Stanly respected or heard who was set over the English nor Westmerland nor any other who offered their helpe but for their impiety towards their owne Countrey were shut out from all consultations and as men vnominous reiected not without detestation And Pope Sixtus V. that in such a purpose would not be wanting sent Cardinall Alan into Flanders and renâ—ed the bulls declaratory of Pius V. and â—rep XIII He excommunicateth the Queene deposeth her absolveth her subiâ—cts from all alleagance and as if it had beene against the Turks and Infâ—dels he set forth in Print a â—ruceat wherein he bestowed plenary indulgences out of the treasure of the Church vpon all that would ioyn their help against England By which means the Marquess a Burgaw of the house of Austria the Duke of Pastrana Amady Duke of Sauoy Vespasian Gonzaga Iohn Medices and divers other noble men were drawne into these Warres Queene Elizabeth that she might not be surprised at vnawares prepareth as great a Navy as she could and with singular care providence maketh ready all things necessary for warre And she her selfe which was ever most iâ—dicious in discerning of mens wits and aptnes and most happy in making choise when she made it out of her own iudgement and not at the commandement of others designed the best and most serviceable to each severall imployment Over the whole Navy she appointed the Lo Admirall Charles Howard In whom she reposed much trust and sent him to the west parts of England where Captaine Drake whom she made Viceadmirall ioyned with him She commanded Henry Seimor the second sonne to the Duke of Somerset to watch vpon the Belgick shore with 40 English and Dutch shippes that the Duke of Parma might not come out with his forces Albeit some were of opinion that the enemy was to be expected and set vpon by land forces according as it was vpon deliberation resolved in the time of Henry the 8. when the French brought a great Navy vpon the English shore By Land there was placed on the South shores twenty thousand And two Armies besides were mustered of the choisest men for warre The one of these which consisted of a thousand horse twenty-two thousand foot was the Earle of Leicester set over And camped at Tilbury on the side of Thames For the enemy was resolved first to set vpon London The other Army was governed by the Lo Hunsdon consisting of 34 thousand
privatly proposed some Articles For which afterward by Leicesters motion he was imprisoned albeit those articles proposed by him were in the iudgement of the other commissioners not to be disallowed But Delegates haue their limits circumscribed which they are not to passe At last when the English could not obtain an abstinence from armes could by no meanes see the Charter by which the Duke of Parma had this authority granted to treat of peace they proposed these things that the ancient leagues betweene the Kings of England and the Dukes of Burgundy might be renued and confirmed that all the Dutch might fully inioy their own priviledges that with freedome of coÌ„science they might serue God that the Spanish and forrain souldiers might be put out of Dutchland that neither the Dutch nor their neighbouring Nations might feare them If these things might be granted the Queene would come to equall conditions concerning the Townes which now she held that all might know that she tooke vp armes not for her own gain but for the necessary defence both of the Dutch and of her selfe so that the money which is owing therefore be repayed They answered that for renuing the old leagues there should be no difficulty when they might haue a friendly conference of that thing That concerning the priviledges of the Dutch there was no cause why forrain Princes should take care which priviledges were most favourably granted not onely to Provinces and Townes reconciled but even to such as by force of armes are brought into subiection That forrain souldiers were held vpon vrgent necessity when as Holland England and France were all in armes Touching those Townes taken from the King of Spaine and the repaying of the money they answered that the Spaniard might demand so many myriads of crowns to be from the Queene repayed him as the Belgick warre hath cost him since the time that she hath favoured and protected the Dutch against him At this time D. Dale by the Queenes command going to the Duke of Parma did gently expostulate with him touching a Booke Printed there set out lately by Cardinall Allen wherin he exhorteth the Nobles and people of England Ireland to ioyne themselues to the King of Spaines forces vnder the conduct of the Prince of Parma for the execution of the sentence of Sixtus V Pope against the Queene declared by his bull In which she is declared an heretick illegitimate cruel against Mary the Scots Queene her subiects were commanded to helpe Parma against her for at that time a great number of those bulls bookes were printed at Antwerp to be dispersed through England The Duke denied that he had seene such a bull or booke neither would he doe any thing by the Popes authoritie as for his owne King him he must obey Yet he said that he so observed the Queene for her Princely vertues that after the King of Spaine he offred all service to her That he had perswaded the King of Spaine to yeeld to this treaty of peace which is more profitable for English then Spanish For if they should be overcome they would easily repaire their losse But if you be overcome the kingdome is lost To whom Dale replied that our Queene was sufficiently furnished with forces to defend the Kingdom That a Kingdome will not easily be gotten by the fortune of one battell seeing the King of Spaine in so long a warre is not yet able to recover his anciant patrimony in the Netherlands Well quoth the Duke be it so These things are in Gods hands After this the Delegates contended among themselues by mutuall replications weauing and vnweauing the same webb The English were earnest in this a toleration of Religion might be granted at least for two yeares to the confederate Provinces They answered that as the King of Spaine had not intreated that for English Catholicks so they hoped that the Queene in her wisedome would not intreat any thing of the King of Spaine which might stand against his honor his oath his conscience When they demanded the money due from the States of Brabant it was answered that the money was lent without the Kings authoritie or privitie But let the accompt be taken how much that money was and how much the King hath spent in these Warres and then it may appeare who should looke for repayment By such answers they driue off the English of purpose vntill the Spanish fleet was come neare the English shore the noise of guns were heard from sea Then had they leaue to depart were by the Delegates honorably brought to the borders neare to Calis The Duke of Parma had in the meane time brought all his forces to the sea shore Thus this conference came to nothing vndertaken by the Queene as the wiser then thought to avert the Spanish fleet continued by the Spaniard that he might oppress the Queen being as he supposed vnprovided and not expecting the danger So both of them tried to sow the Fox-skin to the Lyons CHAPTER XII THE Spanish fleet the best furnished with men munition engines and all warlike preparation that was ever seen vpon the Ocean and by that arrogant Title called invincible did consist of 130 shippes wherein there were 19 thousand two hundreth ninety mariners 8350 chainâ—d rowers 11080. great ordnance 11630. The chiefe commander was Perâ—zius Gusmannus Duke of Medina Sidonia For Antonius Columna Duke of Palian and Marquess of S. Crosse to whom the chiefe governmeÌ„t was allotted died whilst things were preparing And vnder him Iohannes Martinus Recaldus a man of great experience in sea affaires The 30 of May they loosed out of the â—iver Tagus and purposing to hold their course to the â—râ—in in Gâ—llitia they were beaten and scattered by a tempest three gallies by the helpe of Daâ—d Câ—in an English servant and by the perfidiousnesse of the Turks which rowed were carried away into France The Fleet with much adoe after some dayes came to the Groin and other harbours neare adioyning The report was that the Fleet was so shaken with this tempest that the Queene was perswaded that she was not to expect that Fleet this yeare And Sir Francis Walsiâ—gham Secretary wrote to the Lord Admirall that he might send back foure of the greatest shippes as if the Warre had beene ended But he did not easily giue credit to that report but with a gentle answer intreated him to beleiue nothing hastily in so important a matter that he might keep those ships with him though it were vpon his owne charges And finding a favourable winde turned sailes toward Spaine to surprise the enemies shaken shippes in their harbours When he was not farre from the shore of Spaine the winde turned he being charged to defend the English shore fearing that the enemies vnseene might by the same winde be driveÌ„ to England he returned to Plimmouth With the same winde the 12 of Iuly the Duke of Medina with his fleet departed from the Groin And
after one day or two he sent Rhodericus Telius into Flanders to admonish the Duke of Parma giving him notice that the fleet was approching that he might be ready For Medina his commission was to ioyne himselfe with the Shippes and Souldiers of Parma and vnder the protection of his Fleet to bring them into England and to land his land forces vpon Thames side Now as the relator of this story hath taken paines to declare what was done each day I will follow him herein The 16 day there was a great calme and a thick cloud was vpon the sea till noon then the North winde blowing roughly again the Westwinde till midnight and after that the East the Spanish Navy was scattered and hardly gathered together vntill they came within the sight of England the 19 day of Iuly Vpon which day the Lord Admirall was certified by Flemming who had beene a Pyrat that the Spanish Fleet was entred into the English sea which the Mariners call the Channell And was descried neare to the Lizard The Lord Admirall brought forth the English Fleet into the Sea but not without great difficultie by the skill labour and alacritie of the souldiers and mariners every one labouring yea the Lord Admirall himselfe had his hand at the worke The next day the English fleet viewed the Spanish fleet comming along with Towers like Castles in height her front crooked like the fashion of the Moone the hornes of the front were extended one from the other about seaven miles asunder sailing with the labour of the windes the Ocean as it were groaning vnder it their saile was but slow and yet at full saile before the winde The English gaue them leaue to hold on their course and when they were passed by came behinde them and got the helpe of the winde The 21. of Iuly the Lord Admirall of England sent a Pinnace before called the Defiance to denounce the Battell by shooting off some peeces And being himselfe in the Arch-royall the English Praetorian Shippe or Admirall he set vpon a shippe which he tooke to be the Spanish Admirall but it was the shippe of Alfonsus Leua Vpon that he bestowed much shot Presently Drake Hawkins Forbisher came in vpon the Spanish hindmost shippes which Recaldus governed Vpon these they thundred Recaldus laboured what he could to stay his men who fled to their navy vntill his shippe beaten and pearced with many shot did hardly recover the Fleet. At which time the Duke Medina gathered together his dissipated Fleet and setting vp more saile they held their course Indeede they could doe no other for the English had gotten the advantage of winde and their shippes were much more nimble and ready with incredible celeritie to come vpon the enemie with a full course and then to turne and returne and be on every side at their pleasure When they had fought two houres and taken some triall of their owne courage and of the Spanyards The Lord Admirall thought good not to continue the fight any longer then seeing that fortie ships were absent which were scarce drawne out of Plimmouth haven The night following S. Catharin a Spanish shippe being sore torne with the fight was received into the midst of the Navie to be mended Here a great Cantabrian shippe of Oquenda wherein was the treasurer of the Campe by force of Gunne-powder that had taken fire was set on fire yet was the fire quenched in time by the Shippes that came to helpe her Of these that came to helpe the fired shippe one was a Galeon in which was Petrus Waldez the foremast of the Galeon was caught in the tackling of another shippe and broken This was taken by Drake who sent Waldez to Dertmouth the money fiftie-fiue thousand Dâ—cats he distributed among his souldiers That night he was appointed to set forth light but neglected it and some German Merchants ships comming by that night he thinking them to be enemies followed them so farre that the English navy rested all night when they could see no light set forth Neither did he nor the rest of the navy finde the Admirall vntill the next day at even The Admirall all the night preceding with the Beare and Mary Rose did follow the Spanyardes with watchfulnesse The Duke was busied in ordering his Navy â—lfonsus Leua was commanded to ioyne the first and last companies Every Ship had his station assigned according to that prescribed forme which was appointed in Spaine it was present death to forsake his station This done he sent Gliclius an Anceant to Parma which might declare to him in what case they wâ—re and left that Cantabrian ship of Oquenda to the winde and sea having taken out the money and mariners and put them in other shippes Yet it seemeth that he had not care of all for that shippe the same day with fifty mariners and souldiers lamed and halâ—e burnt fell into the hands of the English and was carried to Weimuth The 23. of the same moneth the Spanyards having a favourable North winde turned sailes vpon the English the English being much readier in the vse of their ships fett about a compasse for the winde and having gotten advantage of the winde they came to the fight on both sides They fought a while confusedly with variable fortune whilst on the one side the English with great courage delivered the London ships which were inclosed about by the Spanyards on the other side the Spanyards by valour freed Recaldus from the extreame danger he was in there was not greater effulminations by beating of ordnances at any time then was this day Yet the losse fell vpon the Spanish side because their shippes were so high that the shot went over the English shippes but the English having a faire marke at their great shippes shot never in vaine Onely Cock and English man bâ—ing caught in the midst of the Spanish shippes could not be recovered he perished but with great honor revenged himself Thus a long time the English shippes with great agilitie were somtimes vpon the Spanyardes giving them the one side and then the other and presently were off againe and tooke the sea to make themselues ready to come in againe Whereas the Spanish heavie shippes were troubled and hindred and stood to be markes for the English bullets For all that the Admirall would not admit the English to come to grapple and to boord their shippes because they had a full armie in their shippes which he had not their shippes were many in number and greater and higher that if they had come to grapple as some would haue had it the English that were much lower then the Spanish shippes must needes haue had the worse of them that fought from the higher shippes And if the English had beene overcome the losse would haue beene greater then the victory could haue beene for ours being overcome would haue put the kingdome in hazard The 24 day they rested from fight on both sides The Admirall sent
vs a Lanterne to our feet and a light to our pathes but the word of God being confirmed to vs by his workes is made more sweet to vs. This must needes be comfortable to vs that haue the word of God among vs sent vnto vs planted among vs by his owne hand we were as farre from deseruing this fauour as they that sit in darkenesse and in the shadow of death for so wee sate in â—arkenesse and in the shadow of death so long as we fate in the ignorance of Popery but when it pleased God of his owne free mercy to send his light among vs the truth of his Gospell and out of the same fountaine of his goodnesse and mercy raised beleeuing Princes among vs which haue established his true religion in our Land a Queene of such Piety a King of so great Knowledge and Learning and Piety as knoweth the truth and is so able to maintaine it God I say hauing of his goodnesse raised such blessings to vs hath neâ—uer ceased to maintaine his owne worke Let vs neuer cease to giue him the glory But can our aduersaries take any comfort in their doings The King of Spaine may once enter into the consideration of things he may remember how hee and his predecessours haue beene so many times beguiled by the Pope how often hath the Pope and his Iesuites consecrated his banners promised him victory against vs as against Heretikes forsaken of God and man let them know that there is a God that ruleth the world and not the Pope If they would haue their designes to prosper they must follow the examples of our godly Princes who are blessed for the sincerity of Religion which they imbrace They must giue ouer iniustice and cruelty for the cruelty of the Spaniards haue lost them all that they lost in the Netherlands Their pride and cruelty was highly raised against vs but to their owne hurt and dishonour not to ours because we trust in God They would haue extinguished the true lights of Britain which then did shine like two glorious Candles put in their sockets and held vp in the hand of Christ and as now to the comfort of both nations ioyned in one great light these they laboured to extinguish and to tread down the soule of the Turtle but our Prayer is Giue not the soule of thy Turtle Doue vnto the Beast and â—orget not the congregation of the poore for euer Consider thy couenant for the darke places of the earth are full of the Habitation of the cruell Arise O Lord and maintaine thine owne cause remember the daily reproach of the foolish forget not the voice of the enemie for the tumult of them that rise against thee ascendeth continually God saued the soule of his Turtle he remembred the congregation of the poore that trusted in him he considered his couenant hee maintained his owne cause and of this we reioyce But where are those darke places of the earth which are full of the habitation of the cruell as the Prophet saith Surely let the Iesuites looke to that and let them expound those wordâ— if they be able for surely no man can expound those words but he shall finde superstition and cruelty inseparably ioyned together their superstition maketh the places of their habitations darke places their superstition breedeth cruelty for greater cruelty the world hath not seene then hath proceeded from them truely then may wee sing with the Psalmist the the darke plaâ—es of the earth are full of the habitations of the cruell There is no hope to make these Iesuites that haue giuen themselues ouer to the seruice of the man of sinne and to the practise of impiety of such I say there is no hope to perswade them because they loue not the truth But the Kings and Princes that haue beene so long abused and beguiled by them may in time vnderstand the difference betweene truth and falshood and may ioyne with our religious Kings against the great Deceiuer and our hope is that they will vnderstand his deceits and illusions and forsake him for otherwise they must perish with him They that are wise will vnderstand and consider the cause which God hath so long so strongly maintained they will consider the power the fury and rage of our aduersaries haue beene continually frustrated by Gods power they may consider that these extraordinary blessings vpon Gods Church among vs and the memorable iudgements of the aduersaries are but forerunners of some greater stroakes and heauier iudgements of God against them if they will not turne and forsake superstitious vanities and serue God with vs. Which God grant that the Kingdome of Christ may be inlarged his true Religion strongly maintained his name glorified his people comforted and let all that worship not the Lord IESVS and loue not his comming perish CHAPTER XIII AFter this great tempest from Spaine was past the Sunne did shine as pleasantly vpon England as before by all the Spanish preparation there was not a man called from his husbandry in England not any artificer from his trade there was not so much as one cottage burned did euer the English make any â—ourney into Spaine and returned without doing no more harme then the Spaniards did to vs The English made after this two iourneyes into Spaine and in both did that which they intended to doe that is ransacked Townes and put to flight the Armies which incountred them But this beyond the limits of my purpose which is onely to declare our deliuerances and to giue thankes and honour to God for the same The next danger intended and threatned brake out in Spaine by Tyrone They that haue written of Tyrone say that he was a bastard a banished fugitiue he lay lurking in Spaine promising to doe some seruice to the Pope and Spaniard as some had done before he was raised to the honour of an Earle by the Queene and being twice in danger once for a murther and then for vsurping the title of O-Neale was pardoned for both Hugh Baron of Dungannon now Earle of Tyrone being set on by the Spaniard to worke some mischiefe An. Dom. 1597. suddenly assailed the â—ort of Black-water which done he wrote to Kildare to side with him and at the same instant to Sir Iohn Norrice who was then sent out Lord Generall iâ—o Ireland with thirteene hundreth of the Nâ—therland ould Souldiers newly retired from the warres in Britaine to him Tyrone wrote that he might be mildly dealt withall and not be driuen headlong vpon the dangerous rockes of disloialty in the meane time he was alwaies guarded with a thousand Horse and 6280. foot of Vlster besides 2300. of Connaugh hereupon he and all his partakers were proclaimed traitors Thus was the rebellion raised which was hardly quenched with much bloud Sir Iohn Norrice was a Generall as well experienced in warre as any that then liued yet in the Irish warres he was not so acquainted The aduantage of the enemy was such that
Brother Cormac Mac Gennis Mac Guiâ— Ener Mac Cowly Henry Ouiâ—gton and O Quin attended their comming And vpon conference it was concluded that certaine Commissioners should the next day meet for a treaty of peace and in the meane time there should be a cessation of warres from sixe weekes to sixe weekes vntill the first of May yet so as it might be free on both sides after fourteene dayes warning giuen to resume hostility afresh And if any of Tyrones confederates would not thereto consent to be prosecuted at the Lord Lieuetenants pleasure CHAPTER XIIII THe Queene was presently informed that in Ireland the Spring Summer and Autumne were spent without seruice vpon the Arch-rebell that her men were diminished large summes of money consumed without doing that for which he was sent that by this meanes the Rebels were incouraged and the Kingdome of Ireland laid at hazard to bee lost Whereupon the Queene wrote somewhat sharpely to the Lord Lieuetenant which mooued him so much as leauing his charge to bee managed by others he came into England hoping to pacifie the Queene When he came he was commanded to keepe his Chamber and soone after was committed to the custody of the Lord Keeper No sooner was the Lord Generall departed from Ireland but that Tyrone notwithstanding the cessation from warre drawing his Forces together tooke the field to whom Sir William Warren was sent to charge him with breach of promise he answered that his doings were according to couenants hauing giuen warning before his cause was iust for that the Lord Lieuctenant was committed in England vpon whose honor he reposed his whole estate neither would hee haue any thing to doe with the Councellors of Ireland Hereupon presuming vpon Spaine hee sent Odonel into Connaught receiued tumultuous persons strengthened the weake glorying euery where that hee would restore againe the ancient Religion and liberty of Ireland and expell the English out of Ireland To which end some money and munition was sent from Spaine and Indulgences from Rome And for an especiall fauour the Pope sent him a plume of Phoenix feathers for a Trophy of his victories Tyrone vnder pretence of deuotion in mid-winter went to the Monastery of Tipperary to worship the Crosse from thence hee sent out Mac Guir with a number of rifeling robbers to spoile and prey vpon the peaceable subiects with whom Sir Warram Saint Leger met and at the first incounter ranne Mac Guir through the body with a Lance and was likewise runne through with his Lance. Whereupon Tyrone made ready to returne from Monster sooner then was expected or himselfe meant At this time Charles Blunt Lord Mountioy was sent Lord Lieuetenant generall into Ireland At his first comming hearing that Tyrone was to depart out of Monster hee hastened to stop his passage in Feriall and there to giue him battell which the Earle preuented by taking another way hauing intelligence of the Lord Generall his designes The spring drawing on the Deputy put himselfe in his march toward Vlster with purpose to driue the Earle to a stand In the meane time Sir Henry Docwray at Loughfoil and Sir Maâ—thew Morgan at Belishanon planted the Garrisons which they effected with small resistance and repressed the Rebels in diuers ouerthrowes The Lord Generall likewise held Tyrone very hard and with light skirmishes euer put him to the worst sothat he now perceiuing his fortunes to decline withdrew himselfe backwards into his ould corners The Lord Lieuetenant entred in Lease the place of refuge and receit of all the Rebels in Leinster where hee shew Ony Mac Rory-Og chiefe of the family of the O Mores a bloudy bould and desperate yong man and so chased out the rest of his companions as that neuer since they were seene in those parts And though winter began to draw on yet marched hee forward to the entry of the Mairy three miles beyond Dundalk The passage into Vlster is euery way naturally cumbersome and it was helped by the Rebels who had fortified and blocked vp the entrance with fences of stakes stucke in the ground with hurdles ioyned together and stones in the midst with turfes of earth laid betweene hills woods and bogges and manned the place with a number of souldiers But the English brake through their Pallisadoes and beate backe the enemy The Lord Deputy placed a garrison eight miles from Armagh where in memory of Sir Iohn Norrice he named the Fort Mount Norrice In his returne he had many skirmishes At Carlingford the enemies were assembled to stop his way but were all discomfited and put to flight In the midst of winter hee entred the Glinnes that is the vallies of Leinster a secure receptacle of the Rebels There he brought into subiection Donel Spanioh Phelim Mac Pheogh and the O Tooles of whom he tooke hostages Then went he to Fereall and draue Tirell the most approued warriour of all the Rebels from his fastnesse that is his bogs and bushes vnto Vlster and after some other good seruices done here the spring approaching he marched into Vlster fortified Armaugh and remoued Tyrone from the Fort of Blacke-water where hee had fortified himselfe In the meane time the Pope and the King of Spaine laboured to maintaine the rebellion in Ireland and to helpe Tyrone Their agents were a Spaniard elected Archbishop of Dublin by the Pope the Bishop of Clowfort the Bishop of Killaloe and Archer a Iesuite These by prayers and promises of heauenly rewards perswaded the Spaniard to send succours into Ireland which hee did vnder the Generall Don Iohn d' Aquila a man that conceiued great hopes and was confident of much aid from the titular Earle Desmond and Florence Mac Carly a Rebell of great power wherein the man was much deceiued for Sir George Carew Lord President of Munster had preuented all his designes and sent them prisoners into England where they were fast Don Aquila with two thousand Spaniards of old trained souldiers with certaine Irish fugitiues landed at Kinsale in Monster the last of October Anno 1600. and presently published a writing wherein he stiled himselfe Master Generall and captaine of the Catholike King in the warres of God for holding and keeping the faith in Ireland this drew diuers distempered and cuill-affected persons on his side The Lord Deputy gathering his companies hasted to Kinsale and incamped neere vnto the Towne on the land side In the meane time Sir Richard Leuison with two of the Queenes shippes inclosed the hauen to forbid all accesse to the Spaniards Then on both sides the Canon played vpon the towne But newes was brought that two thousand Spaniards more were arriued at Bere hauen Baltimor and Castle hauen Sir Richard Leuison was imployed vpon them in which seruice he sunke fiue of their shippes Vnto these new landed Spaniards whose Leader was Alfonso o-campo O-donel ouer the ice by speedy iourneyes and vnknowne by-wayes repaired vnseene of the English And a few dayes after Tyrone himselfe with O Roik Raimund
Burk Mac Mahun Randall Mac Surly Tirrell the Barron of Lixnawe with the choise of the Nobles making sixe thousand foot and fiue hundreth horse All confident of victory being fresh strong and more in number then the English who were out-wearied with a winter siege with scarcity of victuals their horse weake with fore trauell In this hope Tyrone vpon an hill not a mile from the English campe made a brauado two dayes together intending to haue put these new supplies of Spaniards with eight hundreth Irish by night into Kinsale as did appeare by letters intercepted from Don Aquila To preuent this the Lord Deputy appointed eight Ensignes to keepe watch and himselfe with the President of Monster and the Marshall at the foot of the hill chose out a conuenient plot to giue the Earle battell who the next morning seeing the English so forward by his bag-pipers sounded the retreat whom the Lord Generall followed and forced them to a stand in the brinke of a bogge where their horsemen were disordered and routed by the Earle of Clan-Ricard The maine battell was charged by the Lord Deputy himselfe who discharged the parts of a prouideâ—t Captaine and of a valiant souldier The rebels not able to withstand him brake their arrayes and fled confusedly in disorder In the pursuit many were slaine Tyrone O-donel and the rest flung away their weapons and shifted for themselues by flight Alfonso Ocampo and sixe Ensigne bearers were taken prisoners nine of their Ensignes were born away by the English and twelue hundreth Spaniards slaine This victory obtained dismaied both the Spaniards in Kinsale and the rebels Tyrone was forced into his starting holes in Vlster O-donel fled into Spaine The rest of the Rebels were driuen to hide themselues The Lord Generall returning to the siege of Kinsale began to raise Rampires and to mount his Cannons nearer the towne in which worke sixe dayes were spent without any impeach from the Spaniards Don Aquila seeking now to get cleare and be gone sent his Lieuetenant with the Drum-maior to the Lord Deputy wherein hee craued that some Gentleman of credit might bee sent into the towne with whom he might parly for peace The Lord Deputy sent Sir William Godolphin to whom Don Aquila signified that hee had found the Lord Deputy though his eager enemy yet an honourable person the Irish of no valour rude and vnciuill yea and that which hee sore feared persidious and false That hee was sent from the King of Spaine his Master to aide two Earles and now he much doubted whether there were any such in rerum natura considering that one tempestuous puffe of warre had blowne the one of them into Spaine and the other into the North so as they were no more to bee seene willing therefore he was to treate about a pace that might bee good for the English and not hurtfull to the Spaniards Albeit he wanted nothing requisite to the holding out of the siege and expected euery day out of Spaine fresh supplies to finde the English worke and trouble enough The matter thus proposed the English being weake and wearied with a winter-siege the Lord Deputy consented to an agreement vpon these Articles 1. That Iohn d'Aquila should quit the places which he held in the Kingdome of Ireland as well in the towne of Kinsale as in the Forts and Castle of Baltimar Berâ—hauen and Castle-hauen and should deliuer them vnto the Lord Deputy or to whom hee should appoint 2. That Don d' Aquila and his Spaniards should depart with armes money munition and banners displayed The souldiers notwithstanding to beare no Armes against the Queene of England till such time as they were vnâ—hipped in some part of Spaine 3. That Ships and Victuals should be granted to them in their departure for their money at such reasonable prises as the country could afford 4. That if contrary windes inforced them into any other part of Ireland or England they might bee intreated as friends with safety of harbour and prouisions necessary for their money 5. That a cessation should be from warre a security from iniuries 6. That the Shippes in which they should be imbarked might freely passe by other English Shippes without molestation and the Shippes arriuing in Spaine might safely returne backe againe without any impeachment of the Spaniards For security whereof the said Don d' Aquila should deliuer for hostages such three of their Captaines as the Lord Deputy would choose Tyrone seeing his hopes gone his men slaine his restlesse conscience gaue him no repose hee shifted from place to place in much feare and perplexity In the meane time the Lord Deputy refreshed his weary and winter-beaten souldiers repaired the decayes renewed the Garrisons in Monster This done hee departed for Dublin From thence toward the spring by an easie march well appointed hee returned into Vlster meaning to belay the enemy on euery side by planting his Forts so to take him in his toile thus comming to Blackwater hee transported his Army ouer the Riuer vpon floats and beneath the ould Fort he erected a new which thing so terrified the Rebell that he set on fire his owne house at Dunganon and got himselfe fartheâ— from danger The Lord Deputy followed him close spoiled the Corne-fields and burnt the villages and booties were brought in on euery side The Forts in Lough crew Lough Reogh and Magher lecond were yeelded vp and Garâ—isons placed in Lough Neaugh or Sidny and in Mâ—naghan whence with their continuall sallies they kept the enemies in such feare that they hid themselues in woods complaining and exclaiming against Tyrone that had brought them all to ruine for his priuate discontents and began to repent them so farre as they made hast who should first come in to the Lord Deputy The Earle seeing how the world went thought good to preuent the worst by his submission which in humble letters he sent to the Queene who gaue the Lord Deputy authority to pardon his life though hardly drawne to remit his offences his friends daily solicited the Lord Deputy for his peace which at last was granted to put his life and reuenues without any condition to the will of the Queene Whereupon all Mellifont accompanied with two persons and no more he had accesse to the Chamber of Presence where the Lord Deputy sate in a Chaire of Estate Tyrone in base and poore array with a deiected countenance at the first entrance fell downe vpon his knees and so rested till hee was commanded to arise and comming neerer stepping two paces he fell downe prostrate and with great submissâ—on acknowledged his sinnes against God and his fault against her Maiesty The next day the Lord Deputy departing from Dublin tooke Tyrone thither meaning to transport him for England But the death of Queene Elizabeth staied that designe and King Iames succeeding and being receiued with admirable loue of all sorts at his first entrance â—ardoned Tyrone And Ireland hath beene since held in greater peace
by the great and admirable applause and affections of all good men from the highest to the lowest of England And declaring his constant resolution for the maintenance of Religion deferred his Coronation till Saint Iames day In the meane time some vnquiet spirits entred into a conspiracy their vaine hopes for aduancing of their Religion failing their designe as is said was to surprize the King and Prince Henry Of forces they presumed meaning to retaine them prisoners in the Tower and with treasures therin to maintaine their intent or to carry them to Douer Castle and there by violence either to obtaine their owne pardons a tolleration of Religion and a remouall of some Counsellors of state or else to put some other proiect in execution To conceale this treason Watson the Priest deuised oathes for secrecie and himselfe with Clark another Priest taught that the act was lawfull being done before the Coronation for that the King was no King before hee was annointed and the Crowne solemnly set vpon his head The other persons inuolued in this practise were Henry Brooke Lord Cobham Thomas Lord Gray of Wilton Sir Walter Ralegh Sir Griffin Markham Sir Edward Parham George Brooke Bartholomew Brookesby and Anthony Coply All which were apprehended and committed The sicknesse being then rife in London the Tearme was kept at Winchester the place designed for their arraignement whether they were conueied vnder strong guard The first brought to triall was George Brooke brother to the Lord Cobham Sir Griffin Markham Sir Edward Parham Brooksly Coply Watson and Clark The inditement was that they had conspired first to destroy the King then to raise rebellion to alter Religion to subuert the State to procure forraine inuasion These their intents they had made known to the Lord Gray whom they intended to make Earle Marshall of England Watson Lord Chancelour Georke Brookes Lord Treasurer Markham Secretary that with the King the Lords also should be surprized in their Chambers at Greenwich and the Lord Maior and Aldermen of London should be sent for and so shut vp in the Tower George Brooke answered that he had commission from the King to doe that he did onely to trie faithfull subiects but being required to shew his Commission hee could produce none Sir Griffin Markham excepting onely the imputation of bloud confessed his offence penitently alledging it was through a discontented minde and desired the Lords to bee a meane to the King for mercy Watson and Clark the former of which confessed that he had drawne all those Gentlemen into those plots like true Roman Priests auerred that they held the King for no King vntill hee was crowned and therefore it could not be treason alledging that Saul was no King till hee was chosen in Mispeh though hee had beene annointed in Ramoth by the Prophet Samuel Neither Ieroboam who in the dayes of Salomon had beene confirmed by the Prophet to raigne ouer Israel vntill the people made him King vpon the foolish answere of Rehoboam making no difference betweene the mediate and ordinary succession of lawfull Kings in Common-wealths established and those which God himselfe extraordinarily aduanced to be scourges to an vngratefull land It was tould them that in England the King neuer dieth that there is no interregnum that the Coronation is but a ceremony to shew the King to the people Two dayes after was Sir Walter Ralegh brought to the barre hee was indited for combining with the Lord Cobham his accuser as it was said in the foresaid designes he pleaded not guilty and so stood for his purgation Hee pleaded for himselfe a long time and with some admiration of men who thought that a man of such vnderstanding would hardly bee drawne into a plot so foule and so foolish yet hee was found guilty and had sentence of death The like iudgement a few dayes after passed vpon the Lord Cobham and Gray arraigned on two seuerall dayes The former was indited for combining with Sir Walter Ralegh and George Brooke to procure forces from the King of Spaine and the Arch-Duke for inuasion the other for ioyning with the foresaid Priests Knights and Gentlemen in their conspiracies Sir Edward Parham was only acquitted by the Iury. Of the rest onely three died Watson Clark and George Brooke Watson had before in Print laid open at large the treasonable practises of the Iesuites and at his death left this suspition on them that they in reuenge had cunningly drawne him into this action which brought him to his end After this the Lords Cobham and Gray and Sir Griffin Markham were by a Warrant to be executed the Friday next But the King inclined to mercy sent at the day appointed a Pardon for them the manner whereof was such as gaue vnexpected ioy to them that looked for nothing but death The Pardon was brought to the place where they were to be executed by Master Gibb a Gentleman so secretly that none present vnderstood any thing thereof Sir Griffin Markham was first brought to the Scaffold erected in the Castle Greene and made himselfe ready for the stroke of the Axe When secretly Master Gibb deliuered to the High Shiriffe the Kings warrant to the contrary who vnderstanding his Maiesties intent tooke backe the prisoner as if he were first to confront the two Lords vpon some seruice of the King and brought him vnto the Castle Hall Then was the Lord Gray brought forth who hauing poured out his prayers vnto God at length kneeling downe for the stroke of death the Sheriffe bad stay telling the Lord that some further seruice was expected of him and thereupon led him likewise into the Castle Hall The Lord Cobham was last brought forth who being in preparation and prayers the Lord Gray and Sir Grâ—ffin were brought backe againe All the three prisoners appearing together on the Scaffold the Sheriffe notified his Maiesties warrant for the stay of the execution At which example of Clemency vnexpected both of the prisoners and spectators there arose great shoutes of the people crying God saue the King The condemned wished that they might sacrifice their liues to redeeme their faults and to repurchase so mercifull a Prince his loue This attempt seemed to be a matter of lesse danger because there appeared neither strength to act the businesse intended nor heads to carry it But our thankfulnesse must appeare to God for our least deliuerances It is certaine by their confessions that a great mischiefe was intended howsoâ—uer they might seeme vnable to effect it And this we may obserue that no treason was euer attempted without a Romish Priest The treasons attempted in England haue that proper and peculiar marke to haue a Priest in the practise CHAPTER XVI NOw I enter vpon a Narration which may fully open our aduersaries to the world wherein appeareth the profundity of malice and cruelty and vngodlinesse and whereby all men may vnderstand by what spirit these men are led The Histories of former times containe no example
might discouer his plot laying all the blame vpon himselfe Whereunto he said he was moued onely for Religion and conscience sake denying the King to be his lawfull Soueraigne or the annointed of God in respect he was an Heretike and giuing himselfe no other name then Iohn Iohnson seruant to Thomas Percy But the next morning being carried to the Tower hee did not there remaine aboue two or three dayes being twice or thrice in that space re-examined and the racke onely offered and shewed vnto him when the maske of his Romiâ—h fortitude did visibly begin to weare and slide off his face And then did he begin to confesse part of the truth and thereafter to open the whole matter Out of his conscience and especially out of the confession of Thomas Winter haue we drawne the praeceding narration The confession of Fawkes was taken presently after his apprehension The confession of Winter was taken the 23. of Nouember before the Lords of the Councell They that were first in the treason and laboured in the mine were Robert Catesby Robert Winter Esquires Thomas Percy Thomas Winter Iohn Wright Christopher Wright Guido Fawkes Gentlemen and Bates Catesbyes man They that were made acquainted with it though not personally labouring in the mine nor in the cellar were Euerard Digby Knight Ambrose Rookewood Francis Tresham Esquires Iohn Grant Gentleman and Robert Keies The newes was no sooner spread abroad that morning which was vpon a Tuesday the 5. of Nouember and the first day designed for that session of Parliament but some of those conspirators namely Winter and the two Wrights brethren thought it high time for them to hasten out of the towne for Catesby was gone the night before and Percy at foure of the clocke in the morning the same day of the discouery and all of them held their course with more hast then good speed to Warwicke-shire toward Couentry where the next day morning being Wednesday and about the same houre that Fawkes was taken in Westminster one Grant a Gentleman hauing associated to him some others of his opinion all violent Papists and strong Recusants came to a stable of one Benock a rider of great horses and hauing violently broken vp the sâ—me carried along with them all the great horses that were therein to the number of seauen or eight belonging to diuers Noblemen Gentlemen of that country who had put them into the riders hands to be madâ— fit for their seruice And so both that company of them which fled out of London as also Grant and his complices met altogether at Dunchurch at Sir Euerard Digby his lodging the Tuesday at night after the discouery of this treacherous attempt The which Digby had likewise for his part appointed a match of hunting to haue beene hunted the next day which was Wednesday though his minde was Nimrod-like vpon a farre other manner of hunting more bent vpon the bloud of reasonable men then of bruit beasts This company and hellish society thus conuened finding their purpose discouered and their treachery preuented did resolue to runne a desperate course and since they could not preuaile by so priuate a blow to practise by a publike rebellion either to attainâ— to their intents or at least to saue themselues in the throng of others And therefore gathering all the company they could vnto them and pretending the quarell of Religion hauing intercepted such prouision of armour horses and powder as the time could permit thought by running vp and downe the Country both to augment peece by peece their number dreaming to themselues that they had the vertue of a snow-ball which being little at the first and tumbling downe a great hill groweth to a great quantity by increasing it selfe with the snow that it meeteth in the way and also that they beginning first this braue shew in one part of the Country should by their sympathy and example stir vp and incourage the rest of their Religion in other parts in England to rise as they had done there But when they had gathered their force to the greatest they came not to the number of fourescore And yet were they troubled all the houres of the day to keepe and containe their owne seruants from stealing from them Who notwithstanding of all their care daiâ—y left them being farre inferâ—our to Gedeons host in number but fâ—rre more in faith and iustnesse of the quarrell And so after that this Catholike troupe had wandred a while through Warwickshire to Worcestershire and from thence to the edge and borders of Staffordshire this gallantly armed band had not the honour at the last to be beaten with a Kings Lieutenant or extraordinary Commissioner sent down for the purpose but onely by the ordinary Sheriffâ— of Worcestershire were they all beaten killed taken and dispersed Wherein ye haue to note this following circumstance so aâ—mirable and so â—iuely displaying the greatnesse of Gods iustice as it could not be concealed without betraying in a manner the glory due to the Almighty for the same Although diuers of the Kings Proclamations were posted downe after these traitors with all speed possible declaring the odiousnesse of the bloudy attempt the necessity to haue had Percy preserued aliue if it had beene possible and the assembly of that rightly-damned crew now no more darkened conspirators but open and auowed Rebels yet the farre distance of the way which was aboue an hundreth miles together with the extreame deepnesse thereof ioyned also with the shortnesse of the day was the cause that the hearty and louing affections of the Kings good Subiects in those parts preuented the speed of his proclamations For vpon the third day after the flying downe of these Rebels which was vpon the Friday next after the discouery of their plot they were most of them all surprised by the Sheriffe of Worcestershire at Holbeach about the noone of the day in manner following Grant of whom mention was made before for the taking of the great horses who had not all the praeceding time stirred from his owne house till the next morning after the attempt should be put in execution he then laying his accompt without his Host as the prouerbe is that their plott had without failing receiued the day before their hoped-for successe tooke or rather stole out those Horses for inabling him and so many of that soul-lesse society that had still remained in the Country neare about him to make a sudden surprise vpon the Kings elder daughter the Lady Elizabeth hauing her residence neare to that place whom they thought to haue vsed for the colour of their treacherous designe his Maiestie her Father her Mother and male-Children being all destroyed aboue And to this purpose also had that Nimrod Digby prouided his hunting-match against the same time that numbers of people being flocked together vpon the pretence thereof they might the easilier haue brought to passe the sudden surprise of her person Now the violent taking away of those horses
God shewed to Israel dâ—uers waies and this hath he like wise shewed to the Church of Christians and then especially when the Church hath beene most oppugned And this mercy hath God declared to no Church more then to the Church of England wee haue the Oracles of God among vs and these wee labour to preserue without mixture that no Oracles of men may be ioyned with them in any equality This we professe and for this we suffer This is our glory that wee suffer as the Church of God hath all waies suffered This is our glory that we are persecuted by a people that haue forsaken their God For they that haue forsaken â—he onely preferment by the Oracles of God committed to their trust and haue against that trust thrust in mens Oracles mens traditions to match the Oracles of God in equall authority they who worship not God according to Gods Oracles deliuered to them but according to their owne inuentions these men haue forsaken their God And these bee they that glory so much of the name of the Catholike Church against vs God knoweth his Church for the Lord knoweth who are his But our aduersaries deale not with God to please him but with men to deceiue them If they should deceiue some men with the maske and with the empty title oâ— the Catholike Church what haue they gotten thereby God is not deceiued and God will in his time make it knowne where his Catholike Church is God will not haue his Catholike Church maintained with lyes with wicked and vngratious Practises with treasons and rebellions with conspiracies they who practise such things can neuer proue themselues to bee the Catholike Church but the true Catholike Church is knowne by holding the Oracles of God by worshipping God according to his own Oracles by suffering patiently the practises of wicked men by committing their cause to God by trusting in God and in the power of his might and by miraculous deliuerances out of danger by the onely hand and power of God This holy and heauenly protection of God of the Church of England may plainely proue vnto all the world that the Church of England is a part and true member of that Catholike Church that serueth God in truth and sincerity enioying those priuiledges and fauours which God doth vouchsafe to no people sauing to his owne Church Now let the Pope goe on in his course and fulfill his measure let him honour wretched and wicked rebels the scum of the earth let him send a peacockes taile as he did to Stucley let him send a plume of Phoenix seathers as hee did to Tyrone if they were Phoenix feathers or if the Pope did not collude in one thing as that Fryer did in another thing who vndertooke to shew to the people a feather of the wing of the Angell Gahriell a plume of whose feathers was more befitting the Pope to send if his holinesse hath such command ouer Angels as they say he hath Let them I say proceed in the workes of darkenesse as they haue done and as they continue to doe let vs trust in the Lord who hath manifested to all the world by his great mercifull and manifold deliuerances that hee hath taken the protection of vs. And as he hath done hitherto assuredly he will doe to the end if we faile not for God will not forsake vs if we forsake not him Indeed if we forsake him and fall away from the truth of Religion in the Church and from the execution of iustice in the State and from obedience to the faith then may wee loose our part in God and loose our confidence in his helpe and loose the blessed benefit of his protectâ— on They can neuer preuaâ—le against vs by any other way then by our forsaking of God When Balac the King of Moab had sent for Balaam the false Prophet and by him vnderstood that it was impossible for him to preuaile against Israel though Balaam was sent to curse them At last hee was informed by his false Prophet Balaam that there was no hope to preuaile against Israel vnlesse there were some meanes deuised to draw Israel into sinne against God and so would God be offended with them and then might their aduersaries preuaile against them this aduise was most pernicious against Israel For the women of Moab were sent among the Israelites to intise them both to bodily and spirituall fornication And this indeed prouoked Gods anger and therefore the Lord commanded Israel to vexe the Midiaâ—nites and to smite them for they trouble you with their wiles The King of Spaine hath proued Balaam the false Prophet the Pope of Rome to curse the Church and State of England hee hath beene as greedily bent to curse England as euer Balaam was to curse Israel His curses by Gods goodnesse haue beene turned into blessings vpon vs. The more hee hath cursed the more haue wee receiued blessings from God The Pope perceiuing that his curses cannot preuaile against vs hath entred into the consultation of Balaam the false Prophet to send among vs Priests and Iesuites secretly who as they say are well acquainted both with carnall and spirituall fornication These come among vs and trouble vs with their wiles And if by their wiles we be once drawn away from God then may they preuaile but not otherwise then as the dâ—uell hath sometimes permission to preuaile against Gods people But so long as wee stand the Church of God holding the Oracles of God committed to vs morshipping God according to the rules of the holy doctrine wee may with ioy of hâ—â—rt expect the protection of God as we haue had Of these things what can our aduersaries deny Can they deny that wee haue the Oracles of God among vs onely reuerencing them Can they deny the miraculous proâ—â—ction of God ouer vs from time to time against all their wicked practises let our enemies be iudges herein Can they deny that the Pope hath runne the course of false Balaam against vs Can they deny that their Priests and Iesuites come creeping in among vs to draw vs away from God to bee partakers with them in their superstition and idolatry these things are manifest to the world and to their owne consciences then we leaue them vnto the seruice of their Balaam let them leaue vs to the seruice of our God CHAPTER XV. QVeene Elizabeth after so many bloudy and dangerous practises attempted against her being mightily protected by God ended her dayes in peace and safety The enemy was not permitted to hurt her with all their bloudy and barbarous practises After her succeeded our peaceable Salomon King Iames who laboured to establish peace if it might bee But when hee spake of peace they prepared themselues for warre He was first encountred with such a practise whereof because I know not the truth and bottome I must follow such relations as I finde King Iames ourâ—gracious Soueraigne being called into the right of his owne inheritance