least divers Men have one Name We will acknowledg Hypocrites among them but because one is such no Man will conclude they must be all so No Man of us almost abhorreth the Name of Protestant to be given him and yet of these some will Lie others will Steal and a third sort will do worse Since this Parliament perhaps I imagine the time and reason aright the Jesuites and Jesuited have invented a strange Name for such Men and let fall the reproach of Puritan They call them by a figurative Name which is ignorantly spoken by most falsly by all and as the roundest Figure is of the largest Capacity so they have shaped them a Name which is larger than Precisian Brownist or the like surroundeth every one that thinketh it not a just thing to rail against the Parliament to curse the Fathers of his Country But I desire not to be called but to be totus terres atque rotundus So much by the way to fall upon the business now The King of Spain offereth Marriage to the Queen AT the beginning of the raign of Queen Elizabeth Philip the second of Spain sought to win her to him by Marriage not doubting to procure a Dispensation for the Incest but was as wisely answered as he wickedly and craftily intended that the Queen could not so soon forget her Sisters death she knowing it to be a part of discretion to keep in hope so potent an Adversary if he should be incensed by a denial her own Kingdom by reason of the change of Religion and the depriving of many Popish Bishops which the blinded People had in some esteem among many other alterations being of doubtful Affections till she could better provide for her own Security The Spaniard in the mean time perceived that his suit was not like to succeed when the thought of uniting England to Spain by the Marriage of Queen Elizabeth if like her Sister Mary she proved not barren was taken away he took hold on the next occasion The practice of the Guises with the Queen of Scots against England MAry now Queen of Scots Daughter and Heir apparent unto James the fifth and Wife unto Francis Dauphine of France Daughter of Mary of Lorrain who was Sister unto the Duke of Guise She after the death of Queen Mary of England being incouraged thereunto by the Guises her Uncles usurpeth the Arms of England uniting them to the Arms of Scotland on her Plate in the Windows of her House and on her Servants Coats declaring her self thereby Queen of England Her meaning was well understood and this it is very probable in the fourth year of Queen Elizabeth made Arthur Poole and his Erethren descended of George Duke of Clarence Brother to Edward the fourth and Anthony Fortescue their Brother-in-Law with their Confederates to conspire secretly to fly unto the Guises in France and thence and with their help to come with an Army into Wales and there to proclaim the Queen of Scots Queen of England and Arthur Poole Duke of Clarence God was pleased in a very good time to discover this Plot. For had they gone thither and discovered their intents it had if God had not powerfully opposed it not only animated the Guises to have seconded them and furnished them with Men and Money but having returned into Wales they would have gathered great Forces to augment their Numbers and put the Queen to the incomparable Trouble and Danger of a Civil War Beside all this she had at this time on every side Enemies abroad the French King the King of Spain the Guisian and Popish Faction in Scotland The Loyal People of Scotland were so unable to help her that they stood in need of her help The Low-Countries were under Spanish Tyranny and a convenient place from whence to annoy this Kingdom The Conspirators confessed that they did not intend to put in practise this thing during the Life of our Queen for indeed they were made believe by Predictions of Popish Astrologians that Queen Elizabeth could not live above one year The good Queen notwithstanding pardoned their Lives after Sentence of Death upon them from their own Confession And how zealously the Guises endeavoured to invade England may appear by the inclination of Sebastian Martigius sent into Scotland by the counsel of the Guises for about those times their alone Counsels were principally followed with Horse and Foot to assist in the Civil War of Scotland who could hardly be restrained from invading England presently and first of all presuming no question on the aid of Papists in England from intelligence held with them here For otherwise what could 1000 Horse and not very many Foot do in respect of conquering all England Now was the Queen of Scots in France and although the Regency of Scotland was put into the hands of the Marquiss of Hamilton yet the power of the Queen Dowager with her French Faction did so increase and on the other side the authority of the Marquiss Regent so abate that after the promise from the French King of 12000 Crowns by the Year and Dutchy of Castle-Herald to which was added the preferment of all the Marquiss's chief kindred the Marquiss resigned his place into the hands of Mary of Lorrain Queen Dowager a thing for a Woman to be Regent in Scotland but once before known She had made many promises unto the Scots of the freedom of exercising the Protestant Religion but being now setled in the Regency she discovered her mind wholly bent to alter Religion She told her Friends in plain terms that though the Ministers whom she named should preach more honestly or as she called it more sincerely than they had done yet they should all be banished She expressed at the death of a young Man whom she seemed to bewail being slain for that his Father had not rather excused him being a stout defender of the reformed Religion that she was cruelly minded towards the Professors thereof Easter also was commanded to be celebrated after the Romish Custom For these and divers other of her overtures Messengers were sent unto her to desire her to be good to the Protestants and to remember the many Promises she had made unto them to that end But all in vain She told the Earl of Glencarn and Sir John Campbel who were sent unto her That performance of Promises was to be expected from Princes no farther than stood with their profit Upon this they told one another that they then renounced all Obedience and Duty toward her Violence now with Art was to be used for effecting her Purpose touching Religion Hereupon advice was given by Labrosse a French Commander in Scotland to put to death all the Nobility of Scotland for that the People being bereaved of their Heads would after be easily brought to undergo any Yoak but that things might appear with a more pleasing Colour there was a shew as if the Queen had laboured and would endeavour to convince her Adversaries in
Protestants in France Northumberland and Westmerland having thus taken Arms Supplies and Moneys failing withdrew themselves into Scotland Norfolk was thrown into Prison Rodolf being in Custody for whom the Pope had appointed 150000 rowns to help the Conspirators was for want of clear proof dismissed Rodolf being got out of Prison asterward distributeth the 150000 Crowns to the Partners in the Treason He being with the Pope is sent by him to the Spaniard to press him to give assistance to the King of Portugal also for the same purpose He wrote alse to the Duke of Norfolk promising to send him aid The Popes Letter to the Spaniard was That he should send an Army out of the Low-Countries to invade England And this very thing the Spaniard endeavoured There was now a difference betwixt Queen Elizabeth and the Spaniard about Money sent by him to the Duke of Alva but was intercepted by the Queen and that was one pretence that the Spaniard had for his dealing against our Queen and Kingdom But the Duke of Norfolk was put to death Nor is this the Relation of an English Protestant but of a Panist a good part whereof had not been known but for him one Hieronimus Calena The Book was printed at Rome by the priviledg of Pius Quintus 1588. The Earls of Northumbrland and Westmerland seduced by one Morton a Priest and at Duresme set up the Mass thence they marched to Clifford-moore where hearing that the Queen of Scots was removed to Coventry that the Earl of Sussex was sent with strong Forces against them and that Sir George Bowes was behind them and had fortified Bernards Castle that Scroupe and Cumberland had fortified Carlile and had also an Army in readiness that the Souldiers of Barwick and the power of Northumberland were in New-castle besieged Bernards Castle and took it on Conditions Then for fear of the Earl of Sussex they fled to Hexam thence by by-ways to Naworth Castle from that place into Scotland and from thence was Northumberland sent and here behcaded Westmerland escaped into the Netherlands where with a poor Pension under the Spaniard he lived poorly all his Days Dacres his endeavour to deliver the Scots Queen IN the Year 1569 Leonard Dacres second Son of William Lord Dacres of Gillesland being grieved to see a very great Patrimony go from him to the Daughters of the Baron whom the Duke of Norfolk their Father-in-Law had joined in marriage with his Sons grew revengeful and joining with the Rebels endeavoured to deliver the Queen of Scots yet a little before being at the Court promised to assist the Queen his Soveraign against the Rebels but treacherously he undertook to kill the Lord Scroup and Bishop of Carlisle to whose custody the Scottish Queen was committed but he failing in the performance took Grastock Castle holding it as his own and gathered Soldiers The Lord Hunsdon met him with the trained Souldiers of Barwick and after a sharp conflict overcometh him and Dacres fled into Scotland from thence into the Netherlands were at Lovaine he lived and died poorly Fitz-Morris raiseth Rebellion in Ireland IN this Year Edmund and Peter Butler Brethren to the Earl of Ormond joining with James Fitz Morris of the House of Desmond entred into a Conspiracy against Queen Elizabeth and to further it came Joannes Mendsza secretly out of Spain The Earl of Ormond going into Ireland caused them to submit they were imprisoned and for their Brother the Earls sake not brought to Tryal The Lord Deputy and Sir Humphry Gilbert through Gods assistance appeased that rebellion It is clear enough that this Rebellion in Ireland arose from the Spaniard as the first mover for to this end he sent Mendoza into Ireland and had not long before written to the Earl Brother to the two Rebels to raise a Rebellion in Ireland Stanleys Conspiracy IN the Year 1570 under a colour of delivering the Queen of Scots Thomas Stanly and Edward younger Sons of the Earl of Darby Thomas Jerard Rolston Hall with others in Durby shire conspired but the Son of Rolston which was Pensioner to the Queen disclosed the Conspiracy All but Hall were imprisonce Hall escaped into the Isle of Man thence by the commendation of the Bishop of Ross he was sent into Dunbritan whence the Castle being won he was brought to London and suffered Death Dissimulation of Don John of Austria IN the Year 1576 Don John of Austria coming into the Low-Countries as Governour sent Gastelius to Queen Elizabeth pretending a perpetual Edict for Peace Teh Queen as if ignorant of any bad intent sent Rogers to congratulate Don John's Edict yet she knew that Don John had conceived a certain hope of marrying the Queen of Scots and of enjoying Scotland and England intending to invade the Isle of Man that from thence he might out of Ireland the North of England and Scotland also where he knew were many Papists invade England This Man to help forward this great design practised secretly with the Pope and with the King of Spain for the Havens of Biscay But the King of Spain neglected him in this desire accounting England and Scotland a Morsel sitter for his own Palate During this Treaty of perpetual Peace this treacherous Don treateth secretly with the Scottish Queen about the Marriage and the better to work his own ends took divers Towns and Castles in the Low-Countries by treachery and wrote into Spain that for the invasion of the Netherlands it would be best to seize on first the Towns of Zealand before the more inland places and that England might with the more ease be first invade The Queen in the mean while prepareth for War but God cut off this her Enemy very suddenly before the fruits of his high thoughts were ripe Stucley's design against Ireland Not long before this time in Ireland Thomas Stucley a prodigal riotous and needy English man discontented for that he lost the Stewardship of Wexford breaths out Contumelies against the Queen and betaketh himself to the Pope with whom he treateth and boasteth that he will subdue Ireland with 3000 Men and burn the Queen's Navy Pope Pius Quintus ahd a great opinion of him After him Gregory the 13 and the King of Spain consulted together to invade England and Ireland at once The Pope aimed to get for his Son James Boncompayno the Kingdom of Ireland and the Spaniard chiefly to imitate the course of Queen Elizabeth who to keep the Spaniard busy abroad secretly sent aid to the Dutch that he migth with-draw her help from the Low-Countries But because the strength of England consisteth chiefly in the Navy the King of Spain setteth the Merchants of Italy and the Netherlands a work to hire the Merchants ships of England and so to send them away in very long Voyages that the Ships being from home and Stucley joining with the Rebels of Ireland the Queen's Navy might be overthrown by a greater The Pope gave him very great Titles in Ireland
Percy Thomas Winter John Wright Christopher Wright Guido Faux Gentlemen and Bates Catesby's Man Sir Everard Digby Ambrose Rockwood Francis Trisham Esquires John Grant Gentlemen and Robert Keys were made acquainted with the Plot but wrought not in the Mine After Faux's apprehension the Traitors post away and pretending Religion they would fight for gathered in open Rebellion all they could which number never exceeded 80. They wandred through Warwick-shire to Worcester shire and thence to the borders of Stafford-shire and having gotten themselves into a House they obstinately refused to yeild to the Sheriff but through God's Providence a less quantity of Powder than 2 pounds taking Fire did so mangle some disable others that having begged pardon on their knees for their crime of God they desperately exposed themselves to the peoples fury there of the chief joined Back to Back and two of them were killed with one shot Catesby and Percy Winter was taken alive So all of them were killed beaten or taken The Conspirary of Sir Griffin Mackham and others ANno Domini 1603 George Brook Sir Griffin Markham Watson and Clerk Priests entred into a Conspiracy against King James it was said to surprise Prince Henry to keep the King and Prince in the Tower or to carry them to Dover Castle and there to obtain their own Pardons a toleration for Religion and removal of some Councellors Divers beside these were accused and condemnd but Brook confessed he did it but by a Commission from the King to try the faithfulness of the Kings Subjects but he could produce no such Commission Sir Griffin Markham confessed that he intended forreign Invasion and Alteration of Religion but not to destroy the King as was in the Inditement Watson and Clerk confessed they drew the Gentlemen into the Plot holding the King for no King till he was Crovned Of them all only Watson Clerk and Brook suffered Death The Massacre and Treason in Ineland extracted out of Irish Remoustrance and Irelands Tears UPon the 23d day of October 1641 a most Prodigious and Nefarious Viper gnawing the Bowels of its Native-parent Ireland burst out of the Womb thereof and visibly appeared most epidemically destructive to that whole State and Kingdom It had lien long as some of the Rebels reported undiscovered but was all that while hatching by many hot and high-built hopes both by Forraign and Domestick Encouragements The accursed Midwives of this Bastard-birth were Popish Priests Friars and Jesuits together with other Fire-brands and Incendiaries of that State and Kingdom Their hideous and hellish hopes were mightily supported and corroborated by strong assistance from Spain France and Flanders together with deeply engaged assurance of full correspondency in England and an equivalent party in Scotland besides their great encouragements by Popish Bulls from Rome authorizing the speedy and immediate Surrender of all such places of strength as they had Beleaguered promising free Pardon of all Sins whatsoever before-hand committed by any of them tending to the advancement of this great Work Thundering or rather Roaring out Excommunications against any that should refuse so to joyn with them therein terming themselves the Catholick Army and the ground of their work as all their abominable and bloody Plots are the Catholick Cause Their desperate and most devilish resolution was therein not to leave a drop of English Blood in Ireland and so consequently not the least spark or glimpse of Gospel and pure Protestant Religion giving out in words and designing in their hearts that the Tower of London the Castle of Edinburgh and the Castle of Dublin were to be surprized by their Faction in all these places all upon one day In all which time this therefore might the more easily have been done especially in Ireland there was not the least fear or suspition of Treachery yet there were a little before the day of this Bloody-birth secretly gathered together about 400 Irish Papists elected out of most parts of Ireland desperate and damnably bloody-minded persons designed for this horrid and hellish Attempt who had all privately conveyed and sheltered themselves in several places of the City and Suburbs of Dublin waiting and expecting the time and Watch-word when to give the on-set In this Plot all the Popish Nobility and Men of quality in Ireland were interessed and it was professed by that most impious and barbarous Arch Rebel Sir Philem O Neal that what he and they did was by the consent of the Parliament in Ireland Yea some of them have been so impiously audacious as to profess and persuade others of their accursed Confederates to believe that they had Regal Authority for it and were so bold as to term themselves the Queen's Army And for the more violent prosecution of this their most exorbitant Villany the Conspirators and Traitors entred into a most accursed Covenant just as our Popish-Powder-Traitor did in their damnable Design and bound themselves by an Oath of Confederation and Secrecy Reily a prime Popish Priest and others like his Father the Devil compassing the Earth far and near to draw into their Conspiracy such as had not before been therewith acquainted as also to satisfie all scruples if any arose in any of their minds about the lawfulness of their Actions just as Garnet that old Romish Jesuitical Fox did with his Powder-Conspirators 1605. And whereas they falsly have masked this their most inhumane Treason and Rebellion under the King's Name pretending his authority and all they did or do in obedience to his Majesty and tender respect to his Royal Prerogative yet it hath been by some others of them professed that they intended to have a King of their own yea that they had one already some saying Tyrone was he others Sir Philem O Neal who hath been audaciously and traiterously honoured woth the stile of his Majesty and that they will with the assistance of Spain and France set footing in England having compleated their own devilish Irish work and after that in Scotland where all things being setled to their desires the whole Forces in Ireland in way of Retribution and acknowledgment of Gratitude were intended as hath been confessed for the King of Spain against the Hollanders Such mighty and invincible Conquerors had they made themselves in their own conceits and most bold and bloody imaginations Unto which their horrid Disloyalty and unparalleld Treachery and Rebellion they added most execrable expressions of unheard of hatred and inhumane Barbarity to the Subjects of the English Nation Banishment or perpetual Slavery were the greatst favours that would have been afforded them their general profession being for a general Extirpation even to the last and least drop of English-blood from among them Yea and that which transcends all former extents of rage and unpattern'd wrath and malignity not so much as an English Beast or any of that Breed was to be left alive in that whole Kingdom And as the Hearts and Tongues of these most base and abominable Traitors and
A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE Several PLOTS CONSPIRACIES and Hellish ATTEMPTS of the Bloody-minded PAPISTS against the Princes and Kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland from the Reformation to this present Year 1678. AS ALSO Their Cruel Practices in France against the Protestants in the Massacre of Paris c. WITH A more particular Account of their Plots in relation to the late Civil War and their Contrivances of the Death of King CHARLES the First of blessed Memory LONDON Printed for J. R. and W. A. 1679. Plots Conspiracies and Attempts of Domestick and Foraign Enemies of the Romish Religion against the Princes and Kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland c. THose which make descriptions of large Countries in small Tables offend not against truth though somewhat against quantity so Pliny telleth us Notwithstanding with much convenience ease to the beholder and truth of observation things are presented to our Eyes in those little Draughts that the very places themselves being viewed with great Trouble and loss of Time cannot yeeld more benefit to the most diligent oftentimes not so much Wherefore especially because the Argument cannot be now unseasonable for the abridgment of the Commentaries of large Histories is not unlike Maps of Kingdoms I have here collected out of divers Authors which have severally handled parts of this subject into one The chief Conspiracies and Attempts against the Kingdoms alone and immediately of great Britain and Ireland or else mediately through the sides of the Princes of these Countries by Traytors at home or abroad of the Romish Religion or foraign Enemies by treacherous courses of those of the same bloody superstition The beginning I make the first time of Reformation of Religion here in England under Queen Elizabeth and the extent unto this present Year I begin no higher than Queen Elizabeth because the Reformation of Henry the eight was but in part and the other of King Edward was an interrupted one by the sudden succession of his Sister Queen Mary the rather because for ought we know there was no great matter plotted against this hopeful young Prince that was not rather from Ambition if there was any such than from a defire of subverting Religion Not but that the Enemies of our Religion and Kingdom had us then in their Minds but other ways there were before bloody and desperate Practises were to be taken in hand to be first entred into of less difficulty and more hopeful success And these are the steps the Adversaries of our Religion use to tread who thirsting after England labour first to bring us back to Rome by striving to make our selves hate our own Religion and leave that God which brought us out of the Land of Egypt bewitching us with glorious Idolatry of the golden Calves of Rome introducing Ignorance and Blindness that we may when our Eyes are out patiently grind in the Mill of Slavery If this course fail the next is by Poyson Murder and force of Arms to draw us to Sodom and Egypt The Reformation of England and Ireland fall under one time and because that of Scotland also differeth not many years in age they may all be brought in one account With the Plots are jointly handled the Deliverances which in some respect or other may very well be called great either in regard of the Misery we had fallen into if God had not prevented them of the slavery of Soul and Body and this agreeth with all Or else for the strangeness of the discoveries of their mischiefs sometime almost miraculous before they have come to their birth or disappointing them of their purposes when the Authors have put them in practise and these two respects the one or the other which may well denominate God's goodness to us in disappointing them to be great may be found in all likewife So that for these Mercies received we ought to ascribe to our Deliverer that which is due unto him the praise of his own Work and continual thanks for his Mercies which even to this day is from those Deliverances of the days of old extended we should have bin then betrayed but we had now bin Slaves both we our selves and ours one Plot had it succeeded had bin the betraying of England at once to them who love themselves too well to have it lost easily and are so wise that they endure no Traitors but for themselves nor can endure any that loves his Country but a Spaniard We may learn also to trust in him even now particularly who is the same yesterday and to day and for ever nor is his hand shortned that he cannot save nor his Ear heavy that he cannot hear those that call upon him lifting up pure Hands in sincerity of Heart although the Sins of our Nation in general may justly provoke our God to punish us by them that hate us for that cause that instead of extirpating Popery and Superstition a thing not hard to be done in human Reason if the Children of Papists were carefully educated under Protestant Tutors we think their Religion tolerable and nothing so dangerous to Soul or Body as some Men seem to make it Should we not detest and abhor the Religion of such a Generation as count they do God good service by killing us witness the bloody Persecution under Queen Mary and the damnable Plot of the Gun-Powder Treason Yet some there are that would seem Protestants and yet deny that their cruelty was such as the Author of the English Martyrology makes the Marian Persecution to be Others of no small esteem in the Church of England instead of acknowledging Foxes History a Monument of Martyrs call it a Book fraught with Traitors and Hereticks And for the Gun-Pouder Conspiracy some affirm it the deeds of a few Male-Contents far from the approbation of the Catholicks others as falsly that there was no such Treason intended but that it was an invention of him whom in reverence I forbear to name But yet this may incourage us that God will still preserve us for their sakes that have now and heretofore stoutly defended God's true Religion and that in very many places of this Land we have had those that with all their power have opposed the very beginnings of Popery But wonderful it is and scarcely credible that any should so much have forgotten the Gun-Powder Treason as to say that they would rather trust a Papist than a Puritan as if they believed not there was any such Treason or had forgotten it or that they thought that those whom Men call Puritans were traiterously minded and bloody Persons In the most Reverend and Judicious Assembly of this Kingdom a Member of that Assembly declared in particulars how the best Men have bin branded with the name of Puritan it was where any Man might freely have spoken yet no Man contradicted him If it be given sometime to the best without question those ordinarily called by that bie-name are none of the worst because from likeness at
Religion by no other way but by Arguments Into Scotland were sent three Sorbon Doctors with the Bishop of Amiens But with what safety might any Man dispute with them when he that did so was in the midst of his armed Enemies and there was greatest fear of violence from the Disputers themselves For the Bishop of Amiens counselled the Queen Regent that if any there were which should be found to dispute against the Romish Decrees he should be put to death yea even those who but seemed to be of another Mind only We are notinformed that the Queen Regent put in practice the foregoing counsels perhaps the time was not altogether seasonable nor do we take every single action which might conduce to the subverting of Religion to be a Conspiracy but we may well esteem by the Queens Words the Councellors and Commanders Intents and Purposes the placing of such a Regent all this to be a continued Conspiracy to strangle in the birth the Church of Scotland having yet scarcely taken breath in the World Not long after the Queen Regent dyeth and although it will perhaps be said there was no discovery of any Conspiracy which was in acting as to put to death all the Nobility or all that would dare dispute against the Bishop or Doctors could be no easy rask to go about the latter because the death of their last Martyr Walter Mille did seem so grevious unto them and if any more should suffer how would such a thing be taken by French-men People of another Nation It may be objected from the above named Arguments that there wanted no endeavour After the death of the Mother the Daughter returning into Scotland was married unto Henry Lord Darnley who being of the same Religion with the Queen and they both a Brothers and Sisters Children did strongly maintain Popery against the Protestant Religion We cannot imagine her that any thing should be contrived against the lives of those Princes by a Popish Party to overthrow Religion For to subvert Religion no way could be fourd better than by maintaining in life and honour such Princes as these two were who professed and maintained Popery as contrarily to subvert Religion Laws Liberties and the like the best means are through the sides of such Kings and Queens as are Projectors and Maintainers of them So the holy Scripture declareth by Word and Example I will smite the Shepheard and the Sheep shall be scattered For this Queen was so far from furthering the establishment of Religion nay from connivence at those who should go about any such matter that she professed she would follow the example of her Cousin Queen Mary of England which was no other thing than maintaining in her Dominions the Pope and Popery and pumshing the contrary minded as Hereticks It will not be thought I suppose that either the Papists at home in Scotland or those in France or elsewhere would go about to take away the lives of such Princes whose lives secured their Religion For what was attempted against the Life and most unhappily succeeded of the King was not any way to subvert Popery because the deed was committed and the Plot chiefly laid by Papists It rather was undertaken against the Life of this Prince by some to make way for their own Family to inherit the Crown of Scotland by others to get the Kingdom and admit any Religion But those that look farther into Matters judg this act to be committed against a Professor of the Romish Religion that he being taken out of the way another might succeed which had greater Power and Friends to bring to pass what King Henry the Queens Husband had a Mind but not Power enough to do And that made those who were no Enemies to the King in point of Religion not dislike the Treason for the Ends sake I cannot be of their Minds altogether who judg that of the Queen of Scots being now in restraint in England not long before married to Earl Bothwell and presently to desire a Devorce from him and to require that he should be summoned within the space of a very few days to return into the Kingdom to make answer and defence to the Queens Suit of Divorce to have proceeded from the changing Fancy of the Queen not so much from Conscience For it was as well known before her departure into England as after that Earl Bothwell had a Wife living when he married the Queen insomuch that at the publishing the banes of their Matrimony one stood up in the Church and forbad them It was generally thought that it was that a way might be open for the Duke of Norfolk who then made Suit unto her He indeed was such a Man as being of great Wealth mighty in Friends and singular Abilities of Mind could better bring about what was desired than a Man of no great riches at any time but was now in extream Poverty and Disgrace in the Dominions of the King of Denmark and notoriously infamous for his Crimes in Sctoland The Rebellion of the Earls of Northumberland and Westmerland AT this time the King of Spain wrote unto the Duke of Morfolk to join with the Earls of Northumberland and Westmerland to raise a Rebellion in England and to the Earl of Ormond to do the like in Ireland These Letters were shown unto Queen Elizabeth by the Duke and the Earl that from hence at least might appear their Loyalty Nevertheless whether by the advice of the Bishop of Boss who lay as Ambassador at London for the Queen of Scots and one Rodolf a Florentine going in the appearance of a Merchant Factor or purposing of himself whatsoever he might pretend he privately sought to marry the Queen of Scots she being next Heir to the Crown of England contrary to his Promise made unto his Sovereign Queen Elizabeth The Queen of Scots and the Duke participate of one anothers Mind by Letters written in hidden Characters Neither was this a matter only supposed but the Dukes Secretary one Higford who was commanded by the Duke to burn such Letters as came from the Queen of Scots but did it not and hid them under a Mat in his Chamber and being under examination he caused them to be produced This was when the two Earls of Northumberland and Westmerland had secretly complotted to raise Arms and not long after the Dukes apprehension they fell into open Rebellion One of the Letters which was shewn at the Dukes arraignment was to this purpose That the Queen was sorry that the said Earls of Northumberland and Westmerland were in Arms before the Dukes Forces were ready This was undertaken after that Pope Pius Quintus had in Bulls from Rome printed and sent to Rodolf absolved Queen Elizabeths Subjects from their Allegiance The Pope perswaded the Spaniard to assist the Conspirators that his affairs in the Netherlands might prosper the better and the French did the like that the Queen of England might be less able to send aid to the
Palmeus he told him that he had found out a way to help the afflicted Catholicks in England if the Pope or some learned Divines would approve it as lawful The Jesuit Palmeus approved it Next in France one Morgan drew him to consent to murder the Queen if it should prove lawful This Act the Pope's Nuncio Ragazonius commended Parry afterward having access to the Queen shewed her all and not long after Cardinal Come his Letter approving the enterprize Now he taketh a new resolution to perform it encouraged especially by Doctor Alen's Book teaching that Princes Excommunicated are to be spciled of their Kingdoms and Lives These with many other things Parry confessed before the Lord Hunsdon Sir Christopher Hatton and Sir Francis Walsingham in Westminster-Hall the heads of his Accusation being read he confessed himself guilty He died in the Palace-yard before Westminster-Hall not once calling upon the Name of God At this time also Henry Earl of Northumberland for entring into Traiterous Counsels with Paget and the Guises to invade England was cast into the Tower where he was found dead being shot with three Bullets under the left Pap the Chamber-door belted in the inside A Pistol was found in his Chamber and himself the author of his own death Thus from time to time the most noble Families of England have been Seduced and Ruined by the false and bewitching coundsels of Jesuits and Seminaries Savage's attempt to kill the Queen NOw again there was a most abominable Treason conspired and voluntarily confessed by the Conspirators One Gifford a Doctor in Divinity Gilbert Gifford and Hodgeson Priests persuaded one John Savage a bloody Fellow to undertake to kill Queen Flizaheth To hide their mischievous intents more conningly from the Queen's Council who were very careful to foresee all Danger they wrote a Book in which they advise the Papists in England not to go about to hurt the Queen For they were to use no other Weapons against their Prince than the Christian Weapons of Tears Fasting Prayers and the like And most cunningly also these Foxes spread a Rumour that George Gifford one of the Queen's Pensioners had sworn to kill the Queen and for that cause had gotten from the Guises a very great sum of Money The Easter following John Ballard an English Priest of the Colledg of Rhemes was come into England who had been trying the minds of Papists in England and Scotland He had dealt with Mendoza the Spanish Ambassador in France Charles Paget and others for the Invasion of England And although it seemed to be a very hard work yet he had sworn to use his utmost endeavour in it and also for the liberty of the Queen of Scots At Whitsuntide in a Souldiers habit and under the name of Captain Fortescue he had a conference in London with Anthony Babington a young Gentleman of Darby-shire Romishly affected who not long before in France had conference with Thomas Morgan and the Bishop of Glasco the Scotch Queen's Ambassador He was drawn by them shewing him most assured hopes of Honour from her to addict himself to them and by their means had favourable Letters from her Ballard and Babington conferred together concerning the Invasion of England but it was not deemed a thing could be done Queen Elizabeth being alive Then Ballard informed Babington that Savage had undertaken to kill her Babington's advice was that it should not be committed to Savage alone lest perhaps he might be hindred but to six resolute Men of which number Savage should be one Upon this Babington took into his consideration the Ports in which the Invaders should land the Confederates that should joyn in the act of murdering Q. Elizabeth and delivering the Scots-Queen In the mean time a Letter was brought from the Imprisoned Queen to Babington in a secret Character blaming Babington's long silence but he excused it because she was under the custody of Sir Amice Paulet a severe Keeper declared unto her that which Ballard and he had resolved before and that himself with one hundred more would deliver her The purpose by her Letters unto Batington was commended And it was advised that it should be undertaken considerately and that nothing should be moved before they were sure of External Forces that they should make an Association as if they feared the Puritans that some Tumults might be raised in Ireland while the thing should be done here That Arundel and his Brethren and Northumberland should be drawn to their side Westmerland Paget and others called Home The way to deliver the Scots-Queen was appointed to overthrow a Coach in the Gate or set the Stables on fire or intercept her as she rode to take the air betwixt Chartly and Stafford Babington undertook for rewards to all that should give their help He had gotten unto him Edward Windsor the Lord Windsor's Brother Thomas Salisbury Charles Tinley the Queens Pensioner Chidioc Tichbourn Edward Abingdon whose Father was the Queen's Cofferer Robert Gage John Travers John Charnick John Jones Savage Barnwel an Irish Gentleman Henry Dun Clark of the First-fruits Office and one Polly also joyned himself who was thought to reveal all to Sir Francis Walsingham Abingdon Barnwel Charnick and Savage took an Oath to kill her with their own hands Babington enjoyned that whosoever was admintted into the Conspiracy should take an Oath of secrecy They were so confident of the success that they did not fear to cause the undertakers of the Treason to be Pictured together which Picture being seen of the Queen she knew only Barnwel and seeing him a good way off she blamed the neglect of guarding her Person This Fellow afterward gave it out that if the Conspirators had been present the deed might easily have been done That the aid from France might not be wanting leave was obtained for Ballard to pass over thither for Money under a false name and Babington was to follow who that he might the more cunningly work his ends pretended to Sir Francis Walfingham that he had a desire to go into France to discover what the Fugitives plotted for the delivery of the Scots-Queen Walsinghom seemed very much to like the matter and to commend Babington's resolution but upon pretences delayed his going This was known to Walsingham either out of a fingular faculty he had to find out Treasons or else by the means of Gilbert Gifford a Priest who was sent out of France to incourage Savage in his wicked resolution and that Letters might safely be transmitted by him to the Queen of Scots Gifford corrupted with Money or for fear revealed the Plot to Walsingham and promised to communicate unto him all his Letters Walsingham kindly used him sent him into Staffordshire to Sir Amice Paulet in a Letter persuading Sir Amice to suffer some of his Servants to be corrupted by him Gifford for some Gold prevailed with Sir Amice his Brewer who conveyed the Letters to and from Gifford which by Messengers for that end appointed came