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
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
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
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
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
his Prince and sweare that himselfe and his men should fight against the rebells Wherevpon he was dismissed to gather his companies and to returne to the Lord Deputy Iohn Desmond the Earles brother who was by the rebells put in the place of Fiâ—z Morice lying in ambush did intrap Herbert Prise with the bandes which they led and killed them Himselfe being hurt in the face Some supplyes came out of England and Perrot was sent with six warre-ships to defend the coast the Lord Deputy grew so sicke that he was forced to withdraw to Waterford for his healths sake and appointed Nicholas Malbey governour of Connach a famous and approued Souldier to follow the Warres And worthy Sir William Drury soone after died Malbey sent to the Earle of Desmond and often admonished him of his dutie and promise and seeing it not good to linger in such a businesse he brought his forces into Conil a woody Country against the rebells There was Iohn Desmond who in battell array and with the Popes consecrated banner displayed received the forces of Malbey It was sharply fought on both sides But the vertue of the English prevailed Iohn Desmond fled first away and left his men to the slaughter Among them was found Alan the Irish Priest who exhorting them to the battell had promised them the Victory Malbey by a messenger sent for the Earle to come and his forces with him and when he in vaine expected him foure dayes he came to Rekell a towne of Desmond Here the Earle began to shew himselfe plainly for the rebells after that he had a long time vsed dissimulation in his wordes and countenance The same night the rebells set vpon Malbey his tents in the darke but finding them well fortified they went away and did no harme After the death of Sir William Drury William Pelhâ—m was sent Loâ—châ—eâ—e Instice into Ireland with the authoritie of a Deputy vntill a Deputy should be sent the Earle of Ormond was made goueâ—nour of Munster who sent Desmonds sonne which he had with him as a pledge to be kept at Dublin Pelham chiefe Iustice commeth to Munster sends for Desmond but he sending Letters by his wife excuseth himselfe Wherevpon the Earle of Ormond was sent to him to admonish him to deliver into the handes of the Lord chiefe Iustice Sanders the Priest the forrain souldiers and the Castles of Carigofoil and Asketten and to submit himselfe absolutely and turne his forces against his brother and the other rebells Which thing if he would doe he might obtaine pardon of his rebellion otherwise he was to be declared a traytor and enemy to his Country Whilst he held off with delayes and delusions he was declared a traytor in the beginning of December An 1579. That he had dealt with forrain Princes for invading and subverting his Countrey That he had retained Sanders and fitz Morice rebells That he had helped the Spanyards after they were gone out of the fort at Smerwick That he had hanged the Queenes faithfull subiects had advanced the banner of the Pope against the Queene that he had brought strangers into the kingdome After this proclamation the chiefe Iustice appointed the warres against Desmond to be prosecuted by the Eaâ—le of Ormâ—nd The Earle of Ormond with his forces destroyed Conilo the onely refuge which the rebells had he draue away their Cattell and gaue them a prey to be devided among his souldâ—ers He hanged the Balife of Yonghall before hiâ— dore because he had reâ—used to take a band of English into the Towne And then began to besiege the Spanyards in Strangiâ—all but they fearing such a thing had conveyed themselues out of danger Yet the English followed them and killed them all And every way through Munster pressed the rebells most sharply Desmond and his brethren were so hard driven hiding themselues in their lurking holes that they wrote to the chiefe Iustice signifying that they had taken vpon them the patronage of the Catholike faith in Irelanâ— and prayed him to take part with them This shewed their cause was desperate they had no hope vnlesse he that was come purposely against them would helpe them The Chiefe Iustice laughing pleasantly at the motion went to Munster and called the Nobles to him and kept them neither would dismisse them vntill they had given pledges and promised their helpe against the rebels to ioyne with him and the Earle of Ormond They therevpon deviding their bandes sought out the rebells They forced the Baron of Lixnaw to yeeld himselfe they besiegeâ— Carigoâ—oil-Castle which Iulius an Italian with a few Spanyards maintained and breaking the walls by the force of great Ordnance they entred and killed or hanged all that kept the place with Iulius also At this time came Arthur Lord Grey Lord Deputy into Ireland An 1580. Soone after his comming about seaven hundred Italians and Spanyards sent from the Pope and King of Spaine vnder the gouernment of San-Iosephus an Italian came into Ireland vnder the pretence of restoring the Roman Religion but the purpose was to divert the Queenes forces and call her from other cares to Ireland onely They tooke land without any trouble at Smerwick in Kirria for Winter that had a good while stayed in that coast with ships waiting for them was now returned to England thinking they would not come in winter They made the place strong and called it fort del or But as soone as they heard that the Earle of Ormond was comming towards them by the perswasion of the Irish they left the fort and betooke themselues into the valley Glamingell which was compassed about with high mountaines and woods The Earle tooke some of them who being questioned of their number and purpose they confessed that 700. were come that so much armour is brought that may serue 5000. that mo are daily expected out oâ— Spaine that the Pope and King of Spaine are resolved to draw the English out of Ireland that for that end they haue sent an huge sâ—m of money which they haue delivered into the handes of Sanders the Popes Nuntio of the Earle of Desmond and Iohn his brother That night the Italians Spanyards were much to seeke not knowing what way to turne themselues not knowing to hide themselues as the Irish doe in dens and bogs and therefore in the darke they went backe to their Fort neare to which the Eâ—rle of Ormond had pitched but being vnprovided of Ordnance and other things needfull for oppugnation he stayed for the comming of the Lord Deputy Who soone after came accompanied with Zouch Ralegh Denie Maâ—worth Achin and other Captaines At that time came Winter out of Englanâ— with warre shippes much blamed for withdrawing himselfe when there was need of his service The Lord Deputy sent a trumpetter to the â—ort to demand what they were What businesse they had in Ireland Who sent them Why they had fortified a place in the Queenes Kingdome And withall to command them presently to depart