vvho vvas sent from England to condole and confort her What could be required more of a wyfe Now touching Earl Bothwel the Iugling Touching E. Bothvvell of Murrie and his faction is worthie to be reuealed was not Bothwel acquited for this cryme by his peares euen by Murton who best knew it by the lord Lindsie the lord Semplie and ther adaerents who procured his purgation Ded not also the same parties procure some of the nobles to ioyn with them and sollicite the Quene to marrie Bothwel and taik a hustand to defend her to which in a manner they forced her and ded not they also by ther handwriting bynt them selfs to obey hym yf he wold marrie her and ded they not futhermore of ther own motion procure the diuorce of Bothwel for that purpose onelie from his wyfe the Earl of Huntlies sister these ar all vndowbtedlie trew and a sufficient proof of ther double dealing And touching the Murder the Lord Harris accused Murrey of it and the reason was bycause at Cragmillar castel he Murton and Bothwel consulted conspired and determined the kings death and ther wear indenturs mayd and subscibed for the effecting of it And that yow may not stagger and dowbt of this Powrrie Paris and Hay wear all executed for the murder and at ther death they ded call God to witnes that these tvvo Murrey and Murtan wear the principall contriuers of that assassinate And Iohn Hepburn Bothwels seruant ded the like at his execution for the same fact protesting that he had sean ther articles and writings And yet is it mayd more manifest by this and ther cryme and practise more odious for to blind the world first they took armes as they sayd to apprehend Bothwel and after they sent owt shippes to pursew hym at sea Both wear fallacians for they never meant it for yf they wold haue apprehended hym vvhy ded they dismiss hym and why ded they send the Lord Graing to aduise and will Botwell to depart and promised that none should follow and pursew hym and so in dead no man was haistie to doe it tho he stayed two months till Murries return for they knew that by taking hym they should be bewrayed them selfs and therfor they meant to betray and ouerreach hym and offer hym vp as a sacrifice to the mallice of the world for ther own purgation So then these two Catelines cawsed the king to be slayne and vsed Bothwels assistanc and help in it and then accused bothwel and the Quene as the conspirers and contriuers of it tho till her emprisonment she ded never know vvho wear the accessaries or who wear the Principals Now to diue to the bottome and deapth of the cawse The E. Murrie never loued trewlie the Lord Darlie he was once in armes and in the feald to haue kild hym and therupon fled into England wherby appeared his good disposition Also he perswaded the Lord Darlie to haue a hand in killing Dauie the Quenes secretarie at which tyme they set a pistol to the Quenes bellie being then great with child to terrifie her whearby she might haue bean in dainger to miscarrie After ward the lord Darlie then king seing his own dainger craued and obtained the Quenes gracious pardon and yet fearing least Murrey might misinform the Q. against hym resolued to kil Murrey and discouered his intention to the Q. abowt it who would not suffer nor endure to hear it This comming to Murries knowledg as he had before practised to estraing the Quene from her husband and offerd to procure and sew ovvt her diuorce from hym vvhich she vtterlie condemned so novv he resolued to haue hym mayd avvaye and yet conninglie before the murder he went from the court and after into France that he might be thought innocent in the matter And trewlie all thes things appeared plainlie to the Quenes commissioners who hard the cavvse at york as it seamed by the notes of Syr Raphe Sadlers touching that busienes vvhich I haue sean but it vvas mayd aftervvard as cleare as the sonn by the execution of the E. of Murton Now vpon these false and treacherous fowndations they grownded ther disloyal conspiracie and seditions at Caâ—barie hill ther slanderous libells ther imprisoning her at Lough leuin and the act of parliement for her deposition as appeareth by the vvords of the statute 1567. bycause yf she liued still Quene she might taik reueng of her vvrongs and lastlie the resignation of her crovvn vvhich they stowtlie affirmed at york to haue bean voluntarie and of her own seaking But whether it vvas voluntarilie resigned and by her ovvn election ther course of proceading vvill maik it manifest For first when they had conspired that she should be forced to resign or to loose her lyfe they drew a forme of resignation fitt for ther purpose Then Athol Liddington and the rest sent Sr Robert Meluin to signifie her dainger and to persuade her to yeald to ther motions for the resignation and subtillie they alledged as owt of ther dewtie and welwishing that it could not preiudice her being extorted Also Syr Nicholas Throgmotton arriued at the same tyme in Scotland but vpon other pretences and was a fitt man to further the contriuing of that busienes and what wynd soever ded blow hym thither he ded his work like a conning artificer and deserued well to haue bean created lord Hurlie Afther thes preparations cam the lord Lindsey with commission from the counsell whose hand had bean washed before in Dauids blood and with stearn and grim looks tendered the writings vnto her vvith fearfull threatning yf she ded refuse them and therupon she subscribed them being a prisoner and to saue her lyfe lost her crown Call yovv this a free resignation The act of parliement in dead calleth it so 1567 and she gaue power to the l. Lindsey and Ruthen as her dearest frends and so in dead they wear in her name to renoune the government and to appoint Murrey the Regent which he had long and earnestlie gaped for and in Cap. 12. they decreed she should remain prisoner till her tryall and Cap. 19. her enditement was drawen most scandalouslie The cavvses alledged for her resignation wear these First she vvas vvearied then she was notable in bodie and spirit to endure the paynes and that she might in her lyfe tyme see her sonn setled in the gouernmeÌ„t then vvhich nothing could be more ioyous to her and it is trew I think she was vvearie of such tyrannous disloyaltie but in the flovvre of her age ther vvas no likelihood either of her disabilitie to gouern or of her weaknes and such infirmities as that she could not endure the paynes but for her sonn in his cradle that was the way to be ridd of them both But Domini est salus euellâ—â— de laqueo pâ—des suorum And to conclude after the Quene straingelie escaped at Hammilton the hous of a noble familie and well affected
king And vvhat estimation Musculus holds them vvorthie of appeareth locis commun cap. 10. tit de officijs ministrorum So yow see neither of them bowe the knees to this Baal nor magnifie Caluins Idol But yf yow would look thorough with a pearcing eye the absurdities of the Disciplinarians read Schulting his Hierarchica Anacrisis lib. 15. cap. 19. 20. and 22. Whearby yovv may perceaue how all kings ar mayd subiect to ther excommunications the trevvlie Brutum fulmen of these Eldors and what confusion it breadeth in the ciuil state which learned Hooker wiselie noted and gow both nobilitie and commons must assamble at the summons of the pastor as the head of the parish the President of the Counsell and then vvhat conclusions they determin and decree arr rules and of sufficient authoritie to bynd the Parish to obedienc So euerie parson is a demi-Pope in his parish the elders ar suprem magistrates and Caluin really Papa and cheaf pastor though ovvt of his humble pryde he vvill not vouchsafe to be nor be called Doctor Besides maister Butler knevv that vvheare Philautia and Phantasia arr conioyned and raign as matches predominant in the breyneand bodie ther must neads be a hart svvelled and blovvn vp vvith singularitie and vvith a conceipt that they onelie knovv the truthe and the trevv vvorship of God and that onelie they stand in grace as men predestinated to glorieand blesse Vpon this dreame they contemne all others for ther defects and imperfections and being transported vvith strong passions and inflamed vvith the feruor of a provvd spirit more then of charitie and sober zeale they ronn into desperate actions as furies that regard neither Maiestie iustice or gouernment And in dead ther be some diseases that ronn in a blood and arr almost hereditarie to some of ther familie as frensie oft doth vvhich leaueth alvvaies a taynt and a spice of the staggars in ther vitall spirits as yf they had bean bitten with a mad dogg And therfor maister Butler knovving the sumptomata of ther disease might with skill and iudiciouslie sett it dovvn as an Aphorism That a Puritan vvas a Protestant ovvt of his vvitts And so I leaue hym till it please God to cure or convert hym speciallie in Scotland TITVLVS QVARTVS TOVCHING HOLLAND AND THE VNITED PROVINCES VVE ar now to arriue by course at Holland and Zelland that horrible The 4. proof of disloyaltie By exampl of Holland Akeldama and feald of blood and the theater of tragical and lamentable stories Whear I will rather declare then delate with what furie the Lutheran faction begonn and with what violenc the Caluinists proceaded and with what calamitie they both continued for as yow haue hard ther axiomes and positions before at large so the practises and tyrannie of ther followers ar hear best to be discouered And aboue all the actions of ther conspiracie the Vnion of Vtreght vvas the most capitall and infamours A deuise according to the rules of Iunius Brutus an imitation of Swiz and the Cantons and a strong argument to conuince them of rebellion though they euer marched vnder the name of Religion and bellum sacrum This Vnion was mayd by the states 1578. The formâ— of the vnion of vtreght who seing the fortunate proceadings of the Duke of Parma and the course of the Malcontents entered into a perpetual league comprised in 20. articles for ther mutual support and succor First they of Holland Zelland Frize and Gelders ded ioyn Contra omnem vim quae sub praetextu nominis Regij aut religionis inferetur After that the contriuer and ringleader of all the Prince of Orenge and they of Anvvarp and Gand cam vvith into the league and subscribed it the 14. Februarij 1579. the vvhich vvas after ward again confirmed at Haghe 20. Iulij 1581. and the scope of all this was to abandon and expell ther leage lord the King of Spayne and to depose hym from his ovvn dominion and inhaeritanc Therfor vpon that they established an edict que le Roy d'Espaigne est descheu de la Seigneurie du Pays-bas And to maik it more authenticall they deuised a forme of Abiuration from the king and a particuler reuocation and dispensation of ther former promise and oath of obedience in these vvords I. W. N. Svvearanevv and bynd my self to the prouinces vnited to be loyal and faithfull to them and to ayd them against the King of Spayne comme vn bon vassal du Pays And when they had taken that oath they broke all the kings seales pulled dovvn his armes seazed and entred vpon his lands rents customes and all other haereditaments and took the same into ther own hands And as absolute lords they coyned moonie in ther own names placed and displaced officers of the state banished all the kings counsellors published edicts possessed the church liuings suppressed Catholick religion beseaged Amsterdam and vsed all the marks and notes of sooueranitie in ther own names Whearupon Raald a counsellor for frizeland hearing this new oathe which was generallie tendered to all men vpon the horror and greaf thereof he dyed soodainelie as of an Apoplexie The reasons they gaue why the king of Spayne had forfeited his title and right wear these For 1. suppressing ther religion 2. for oppressing them vvith tyrannie 3. for abrogating ther priuiledges and for holding them in bondage and seruitude for such a magistrate they ar not bownd to obey they said but to eiect hym as a Tyrant An example and president of daingerous consequenc and which deaplie concerneth all princes to look vvel to For yf subiects may depose ther prince and maik them selfs iudges when he shall forfeit his crown and dignitie vvhich praerogatiue the Rochellors may challenge as lawfullie as the Hollanders qui stat videat ne cadat kings had nead to maik ther seat sure and sit fast for these men maik it but a slipperie hold And in dead ambition and treason can neuer fynd a fitter cloake for ther wearing then that which is mayd of the Holland fashion by religion Now that yow may the better iudg of The general quarrell the particuler quarrel of the Hollanders I will set down the trew grownds for the defenc of the general and why they took armes at first The original and principal cawse of this long and crewel warr was the spring of the new sects in the low contries and vnder the shadow of religion all the factions in the state and all discontentements wear masked singulare commodum and priuatum odium And as the peoples natural inclination to noueltie ded set it much forward so ther wanted not a concurrenc of forreiners who serued as bellowes to blow the coles both owt of France and England Charles the fifth owt of his wise prouidenc remembring what a peace of work Luther had cut owt for hym in Germanie and with what dainger charge and difficultie he overcame it Intended for the quietnes of this contrie and
the price of all things raised and the Yeomanrie decayed infinitelie vvhich heartofore vvas the honor and strenth of the kingdome and so consequentlie it vvas the trevv reason vvhy all things haue continued so dear in this land vvhearin maister Stubs ded err nota litl TITVLVS SECVNDVS HItherto Schisme raigned but the second plague was the ruine and wrach K. Evv. 6. of the Church for the authoritie and name of king Edward was vsed to break down and forciblie subuert the vvhole Church of England but see how craftie a statesman the Deuel is though the way to Anarchie and confusion was layd leuel by king Henrie who was onelie fitt for such a work in regard of his greatenes and crewell imperiousnes yet he lett religion stand a while longer knowing well that all could not be effected at once but as he seduceth Sowles so states by degrees and being also confident that the forts of pietie and religion being razed and the Church being brought vnder a laye supreme head he might by a second hand easilie ouerthrow religion it self King Henrie at his Deathe appointed by his will sixtean Executors who during the minoritie of his sonne should be his aydors and counsellors for the better gouerning the realme Emong whome One and who mayd hym self the Principal was the lord Edvvard Seamor Earl of Hartford who took vpon hym being the kings vncle to be protector and that was as good as a dispensation as he took it for his executor ship and lifted hym too manie degrees higher then his fellowes which king Henrie neuer intended that he might ouer-rule the rest by his title and supereminencie One of the first things of importance he contriued and compassed vvas innouation and the establishing of a new religion not so much for deuotion as bycaus he knew that nothing could quench his thirst so vvel as a chainge and bring the game he hunted after into the toyles and hearof Cranmor was a principal worker tho he was but a few moneths before of king Henries religion and a patrone of the six articles The better both to perswade the people and geue harting and strenth to ther sect Peter Martyr and Bucer vvear sent for ovvt of Germanie vpon whose fame and learning as vpon tvvo great Arches they might build and raise ther Churche tho bothe wear Apostates By Cranmor Ridlie Lattimor and these two Rabbins was the new Liturgie framed and the old banished these wear the authors of the first Alteration of religion which so manie hundred yeares had bean heare professed and continued vvith all dew reuerence So povvrefull was the Protector by vsing the king name a child then but of 9. years old but he was well seconded by the Duke of Northumberland the Admirall and the Marques of Nortampton all affected or seaming affected to the chaing of religion who over-ruled all that mayd anie show of opposition or dislike of ther proceadings Which was verrie strainge considering there wear so manie vvise and eminent men who had aequal authoritie with them both as Counsellors and executors and vvear most different in religion from them as the lord Priuie seale the lord Saint Iohn of Basing Bushop Tonstal Syr Antonie Brovvn and thewise sectetarie Syr W. Paget and speciallie that noble Chancelour the lord Writheoslie a man of experienc knowledg and prudenc and a director and pattern to his posteritie to be preferred before anie new guides but to content and please hym he vvas created Earl of Sowth-Hampton yet neither wonn so nor contented nor safe All things afterward grew to confusion ther remained no face and skarse the name of Catholick Church in England and tho ther wear great multitudes of men well affected to the ould religion and discontented that the Church was driuen into the wildernes and forced to lurk in corners yet ded they show loyaltie humilitie and peace and ded not taik armes and disobey that shadow of the king But what mooued the realme how wear men inchanted to embrace this religion and applawd the authors of it Noueltie euer pleaseth daintie stomachs and auarice is no small temptation at Syracusa Dyonisius the tyrant comming into the temple of Apollo full of sumptuous and goodlie ornaments and seing Aesculapius appareled with clothe of hould and full of Iewels hauing a long whyte siluer beard and Apollo the father carued with a floorishing yowthful gould beard and a playne cote of siluer he gaue order to shaue both Apollo and Aesculapius for it was indecorum that the sonn should haue a graye and his father a read beard and also vndecent that a Phisicion should wear so rich a cote so he ded not like that Apollo should be drawen so gawdilie and like a Barbarossa and a grauer gown he sayd would become a God better for gould and Iewels wear fitter for Princes then gods fitter for pomp then perfection The Duke of Sommerset ded rightlie imitate Dionisius for seing the Church rich remembring the exampl of his old maister and hauinng taisted at Aumesburie hovv svveat a Morsell a Priorie is he thought it not decorum to see the Cleargie so rich there wealth was not suitable to ther calling ther lands vvear giuen to noorish deuotion not to choke it to stirr men vp to prayer not to ease and luxurie and therfor he would shaue and share with them Tvvo Bushops hovvses he took in the Strand which serued hym vvel to build Sommerset hovvse for Quene Ann. He procured an act whearby all Colledges Chantries free Chappels Hospitals and fraternities wear suppressed and giuen to the king and how greadilie he intruded into the Bushop of bathe and wells his hovvses and mannors that Churche can never forget and yet Bushop Bourn by his industrie recouered some again but nothing to the Spoyles a poor releaf rather to fead then to fatt a Bushop Yet was he not satisfied for shortlie af ther contrarie to all law against king Henries vvill and against his own couenants when he was mayd protector he committed to the tovvr the Lord Chancelor he deposed Busbop Tonstal both from the Counsel and his bushoprick as too statelie a Seigniorie for a man of religion and too daintie a bitt to be swallowed by the Churche therfor he dissolued yt and brought it within the survey of the excheckor and he never prospered after It was directlie against the law 1. Edvv. 3. cap. 2. that the lands of Bushops should be seazed into the kings hands and that his father by the aduise of euel counsellors commanded them to be seazed withowt cawse but hearafter it should not be so Yet hear he set not downe his staff he committed Gardiner the Bushop of Winchester and after depriued hym He dissolued Stoke Colledg fleaced all Cathedrall Churches and committed infinite sacriledge vvherto the Nonage of the king gaue opportunitie Neither ded he hunt after his praye onelie emong the Churche liuing for yf yovv look in the Parliamant rolls of that tyme yovv shall fynd that with a
direct all affayres for in France and England all authoritie depeÌ„ds vpon the kings and yf they wear his consorts they wear not his inferiors What is the state but the authoritie of the Prince who onelie by his letters patents createth the pears disposeth all Offices giveth all honors receaueth all homages as the sole fountain from whenc springeth nobilitie and authoritie and he that either would restraine that sooveraintie or communicate it with others maketh no differenc of the Crovvn of a kinst and the la Beretta of the Duke of Venice Manie such like rules and positions haith he published fitt introduction for Anarchie and mutinies most of them false and all wicked vayles onelie to cover the face and name of treason that it might not appear in his proper and vglie shape I might heare trauel and wearye yow with as Good stuff owt of the book de iure Magistratus a bird of the same nest for if it wear not Bezas as manie think It vvas Ottomans his Camerado But I will leaue them bothe for they touch the string of sooveraintie with too rough a hand nay rather they straine to breack it when they teach so grosse treasons that the states ar aboue the king that the bodie is aboue the head a monstrous doctrine as yf anie man could with iudgment maik a quaestion whether the people should be directed and commanded by the maister or the man by the subiect or the soouerain by the Princ of Condie and the Admiral or by king Charles and king Philip had reason to cut of the head of the iustice of AragoÌ„ and to teach the people what was the trew meaning of nos qui podemos tanto come vos c. All which paradoxes it wear easie to refell but that I haue vndertaken onelie to discouer not to combate and encounter them and bycause they ar learnedlie and religiouslie confuted all readie by Barklaâ—e Bauricau and Blackwood Onelie by the waye I must informe yow that they deal politicklie and conninglie and professe not openlie and bluntlie to haue anie liking to chainge the state and depose or ouerrule kings But artificiallie they manage all First to bread a dislike of Monarchs then to show the inconvenienc to depend vpon the edicts of one man then may they much the better magnifie the authoritie of magistrates by whome they might reforme idolatrie and why the Creatures of a king suppresse the creator of ther power And yet be sure the Consistories and elders muh rule all and be iudges bothe of the cleargie lavves counsell and king They be the Rabbins that owt of ther Sanhedrim must govern both church and kingdome by the Oracles of Geneua I may not forget how vureuerentlie Eusebius Philadelphus Sc. Mr. T. Beza vsed king Charles in his book of Reueille matmattin whear vsuallie he calls the king Tyrant and maiks his Anagramme Chasscur desâ—oyal Read his rymes and scandalous reproches against the Q. moother-Peruse the 40. Articles recorded in that book for the better aduancing of seditious gouernment As art 25. that all cheafs and Generalls must obserue ther ecclesiastical discipline ordayned by the Synodes And art 40. they ar bownd neuer to disarme so long as religion is pursewed persecuted by the king he meaneth So much patienc haue these Saints that seaking to reforme all others can not reforme ther own affections But yf yow peruse the 14. and 15. art yow shall discern the brauerie of ther irregular passions intending therby onelie to ouerthrow the king and the familie of Valoys These wear the holie articles of Bearn 1574. coyned with his stampe and communicated at Millun to all ther Moschees that they might he more stroÌ„glie maik warr as they Sayd against ther enemies till it pleased God to turn the hart of the French tyrant Thus ad gustum populi principatus exigitur At the same tyme was framed and dispersed abroad the lyfe of Katharine de Medicis Francogallia the Toxsan of Massacreurs and the Legent of Lorraine For that honor the howse of Guise haith long had that no man professed hym self an enemie to the church but he was likewise at deadly seud with them Heare I might taik vp and stay yow no longer with the description of ther vertues and loyaltie but that I desyre to present vnto yovv vvhat opinion the graue and learned men of the church of England and others also of gread iudgment haue dad had of these Euangelists of Geneua 1. Doctor Sutclif in his ansvver to a libel supplicatorie p. 194. confesseth that the protestants of the french church taught for 30. yeares violent reformation of religion by the nobilitie people and priuate persoÌ„s 2. And in an other place Beza saith he in his book de iure Magistratus dothe arme the subiects against the Prince and he saith that book overthroweth in effect all the authoritie of Christian kings and Magistrates and for the book of Vindinciae contra tyrannos vvhich manie affirm to be Bezas or Ottomans It geues povver saith he to subiects not onelie to resist but to kill the Prince yf he impugn gods religion 3. The same is also averred by the late Archbush D. Bancroft in his book of the Suruay of discipline a man vvho exactlie had learned examined and obserued ther courses and positions and the great dainger grovving to the state by the ministers either Scotising or Geneuating for so he tearms them And the book of daingerous positions pag. 192. dothe demonstrate also the same To these I may add the iudgment of that famous Lawyer Frances Baldwin vvho had familiarlie conuersed vvith Caluin at Geneua in his book called Responsio altera ad Iohannem Calumum Paris 1562. pag. 74. Mirabar quorsum euaderet inflammatus tuus quidam apostolus Sc. m. Theodore qui cum hic concionaretur suis auditoribus commendabat vehementer extraordinarium illud exemplum Leuitarum sirictis gladijs per casira discurrentium obuios quosque idololatras trucidantium Sed nunc audio te vix contentum esse â—alibus Leuâ—is And pag. 128. I euiora saith he sunt illa cum statuis sepulchris ossibus principum ac martyrum barbarum bellum indictum videmus cum ciuitates occupari fana spoliari audimus c. But what nead I labour to prooue that Beza and his followers haue caused all these vproars and commotions in France when he hym serf Epistola 40. Christophero Thretio confesseth that they must fight it owt Ego quidem pacem nullam nisi debellatis hostibus ausim sperare Yf yow ask who wear these enemies he answers Cacolycorum castra traÌ„s Ligerim sunt Therby he means the Catholiks and the kings armie And a litl before ab eo tempore nostri copiss foelicisâ—ime instauratis Toloâ—anum agrum infestarum Inde ad Rhodanum vsque progresâ—i occupatis aliquot passim oppidis arcibus in quibus praesidium reliquerunt So they spoyled the contrie disturbed the peace surprised the kings townes fortified and oppugned
for his own honor and interest to preuent the propagation of the Martinists and other nevv sectaries latelie sprong vp in these contries And he could deuise no better remedie then to establish the Inquisition there vvhich he ded anno 1550. Wheareof Marie Quene of Hongrie then regent to her great honor procured both a mitigation and an explanation But he resigning all the gouernement to his sonne retyred hym self from the world whearin he had bean long tyred and in a most memorable manner consecrated the last act of his lyfe to God and deuotion Afterward king Philip likewise finding The Inquisition 1. how largelie the brainches of Anabaptism Libertines the familie of Loue and others ded spread abroad and grovv vp vvith Lutheranisme in Flanders and vvhat dainger might ensevv vpon it to the state yf no good order vvear taken to preuent a further ancrease of mischeafe he follovved his fathers counsell and at large renevved the commission instruction and articles for the sayd Inquisition anno 1555. vvhich vvas a thing most fearfull and discontenting to the inhabitants of the Netherlands vvho alledged that in regard thereof all straingers vvould depart the contrie and by consequence all traffick vvould decaye vvhich is the gold myne and maintenanc of these prouinces But in dead they knew best ther own disease and what affliction and scourge they should be subiect to being for the most part inclined to innouation and this they apprehended as the first cavvse of ther commotions 2. Besides an other prudent and politique act added more fevvel to the fyre and an encrease of discontentment vvhich was the erection of the nevv bushopricks 3. Thirdlie the authoritie and povver of the Bushop of Arras vvas much disdained and his Cardinals hat mayd hym more odious as a man too supereminent in a state so popular and the greater his obligation was to the Pope for his honor the more vvas the mallice of the nobilitie and the hate of the peopl encreased against hym 4. Furthermore the better to cloke and couer ther intentions vvith the vayle of bonum publicum they vrged to enioye ther ancient liberties and freedome and that no strainger might beare office and rule emōg them and that the Spanyards might be discharged from all residenc in these lands 5. Lastlie and speciallie they desyred toleration and libertie of conscienc So as in effect the names of religion and the Commonvvelth vvear mayd the standard bearers of all these commotions Novv concerning these greauances the first is a name of more terror then in dead it is Not so fearfull to good men but a rack to offendors deuised vpon necessitie against the Moors in Spayne and continued vpon experienc of the vse and benefit of it and tho I can commend no sign of crevveltie yet can I not condemn this bycaus it addeth nothing to the punishment of heresie more then the law before inflicted but exacted onelie a more strict and seuear execution and course of examination by the inquisitors it shovveth a more care of the gouernor when he fyndeth abuses and dainger in an offendor And also bycawse it was the sole Antidot whearby onelie Spayne is and haith bean so wel and so long preserued from the infection of sects and the contagion and tumults which innouation vsuallie ingendreth whearwith all the kingdomes in Europe haue bean embroyled And the Spanyards them selfs neuer complayned of it not felt it ever as a yoke or burden vpon them who ar not verrie apt to beare burdens Neither is it in se a more bloodie lavv or a more fearfull execution of iustice then the consistorie of Geneua and the seuear commissions and proceading of some other contries as shall hear after appeare by the comparison Besides as is vvas a curse zealouslie at first propunded the execution was likewise as wiselie afterward suspended So as the iealousie and fear of an act more then the action drew all this blood And for the second it was a politick and prudent inuention a suaffle to bridl sectaries and a sicle to cut dovvn the vveads growing vp in the church For setting in each prouinc graue and learned men to stand as watchment and sentinells to foresee ne quid in commodi respublica Ecclesia patiantur they might better and more prouidentlie with ther authoritie either preuent or cut of the heads of that Hydra vvhich ded then spring vp vvith much terror Neither vvas the matter and motion new for Philip the wise Duke of Burgondie had long before desyred byt could never effect it knovving it to be a thing neadfull bycause at that tyme almost all the 17. lands except Arras wear vnder the diocese of Bushops who wera straingers and the subiect of forrein princes which was a thing not conuenient for the state And vvhat good this chaing haith wrought experienc perfectlie and daylie showeth for novv euerie diocese is more carefullie visited and the Bushops being of the same nation and language as they haue a more naturall compasion so likevvise haue they more knovvledg and care to instruct ther contriement and to vvead owt the disorders and abuses grovving vp emong them then anie strainger vvould or could haue And that vvas the cavvse why it vvas alovved and ratified by the bull of PIVS IV. anno 1559. Novv touching Monsieur d'Arras albeyt his vvisedome and experienc in affayres both of the church and the state vvas sufficientlie knovven to the kings yet bycause the Prince of Oreng and the Counts of Horn and Egmont ded ioyntlie write to the king against hym his Maiestie tho to the great hinderance of his seruice was content to remooue hym for ther satisfaction and contentment and vvhen he vvas called avvaye neither vvas the contrie quieter nor they ceased from practising As for ther liberties and franchises ded not the king at the Ioyfull entrie confirm them all then hovv and when ded he after violate them vvas it for preferring the Spanyards there wear few of them left in ahe Netherlands and fevver cum imperio Was it for the offices of state the king distributed all the gouernements emong them selfs natiues of that contrie so great trust and confidence he reposed in them He mayd the Count Egmond Gouernor of Flanders and Artois the Prince of Oreng Gouernor of Holland Zelland Vtreght and Burgondie to the Count Arenbergh he gaue the gouernement of westfrizeland and over Isel to Count Barlaymont Namur to Count Mansfeld Luxemburg and Chinay to the Marques of Berghen Lile and Douay So as the nobilitie could not iustlie taik offenc nor haue expected more honor and command then was fauorablie giuen them And for the further assuranc of his good affection to them he left his sister the Dutches of Parma Gouernor general a woeman of a peacable spirit and who was like to bear the bridle with a mild and gentle hand and to be aduised by ther counsells So then what was the original of these commotions All was actuallie quiet the
vse and exercise of ther religion and 2º that they might enioye ther priuiledges and not be mayd hereditarie or fall into the hands of Spayne to the preiudice of the Electors and 3º that hearafter the election of king of the Romans might be in the povver and Choyce of the Protestant Princes by the pluralitie of voyces So he thought they should not be forced to hould the stirrop while the Popes wear mounted and Papists ded gouern all in the Empyre And peraduenture for that end purposed yf they could to hinder that FerdinaÌ„d might not be chosen king of the Romans For so Anhalt ded vvrite to Donau in May 1619. that it wear better the Turk or the Deuel should be chosen and preferred to vvear that crown then Ferdinand and B. Gabor by his letters certified the Turk that the Pal. and Brandenburgh vvear resolued no longer to endure Ferdinand and that all these Prouinces vvho vveare in the league Sultano totâ—ationi Mahumeticae corde animaomnia officia fâ—delissime prastabunt and that Ferdinand shortlie should be expelled Germanie to seak his succor in Spayne Is not this a holie league Be not the ends charitable and the media most Christian But the truthe is Ambition vvas Hongrie they consulted who should haue the beares skinn before the beare vvas taken they conspired to share emong them the spoyle of the Cleargie of Germanie and to maik a praye of the hovvse of Austria For by the rolls of ther Chancerie it appeareth that they intended to aduance the Palatine to Bahemia Alsatia and a part of Austria and to enlarg his dominion by the Bushoprick of Spyrts and a part of Mentz Bethlem Gabor should be assisted to keap Hongrie the vvhich he hauing no issew might also happilie fall to the lott of the Palatine Too manic crownes so purchased to expect anie in heauen Onoltzbach gaped for two fatt benefices the Bushopricks of Wirtzburgh and Bambergh his next neighbers and therfor it vvas agreed that there should be the Rendeuous of the armie The Marques of Baden thirsted after Brissack and to be inabled to continue his vniust possession of the vpper Marchionate and to owt face the Count Eberstein who had endured much wroug at his hands Wirtzburg was a mote in the eye of Brandenburgh it laye near and fitt for hym and therfor his dessein vvas to haue a share in it Anhalt hoped to supplie his wants by a part of the spoyle both of Ments and Bambergh and by some lands and lord ships which wear like to escheat in Bohemia And yf the Venetians would ioyn in this Association they might with so good assistaÌ„ce easilie maik them selfs Lords of Istria and friuli and by this meanes Oceanum cum Adriatico sayd they posse coniungi A great conquest surelie and it showed a deuowring stomach that could swallow so great morsells and sowell digest and dispose them before they had them It resteth novv to demurr vpon these poynts and to examin what Apologie and what arguments can they alledg strong enough to defend a proiect and a conspiracie so pernicious to the whole state of Christendome and so directlie against the law of natioÌ„s and the peace of the Empyre All the pulpits in England and the churches â— Reason called reformed ded generallie and lowdelie sownd an Alarum against treason and rebellion of the league and leaguers of France and yet that ded not extend it self beyoÌ„d the Alpes or the Maze as this dothe And yt was at first vndertaken quietlie withowt anie sedition or insurrections in the state And vvas for defenc onelie of ther ancient religion withowt anie temporall respects and confirmed with the kings oath and allowance and afterward it was continned in reueng of Murder and actions of tyrannie Now consider what was ther scope Monsieur de Villeroy in the relation of his seruices maiks it euident they ded not seak the extirpation of the king of Nauarr but his reformation and yf they might be assured of his religion he should be assured of ther obedienc But this vnion runneth a wilder race It is not onelie a new religion but the lands of the old religion they gape after and the affection they haue to the latter maiks them more greadie to suppresse the former And yet all must be sayd to be doore for religion though it be doone most irreligiouslie hauing neither the order nor the media nor the end religious hovv could it then succead add prosper well that begonn so ill and hovv could it beginn worse them to march vnder too such standards as ambition and auarice And therfor most wise he ded that excellent 2. Ratio Duke of Saxonie as a frend of peace aduiâ—e the Count Palatin to renounce Bohemia and seak for pardon bycause this warr ded open the gates of the Empyre to let in the Turk which of it self was a sufficient cawse to condemn ther vnion for yf ther quarrel had bean good yet the effects yt ded work wear bad Moreouer plessen confesseth in his letters 3. Ratio to Anhalt that which is most trew the actions of Holland and Bohemia eodem fundamento niti so Holland is the pattern Bohemia the imitation suits of one cut lessons of one schoole And seing that of Hollond is sufficientlie disprooued all readie I nead not vse anie new argument to refell this but referr yow to the precedent discourse for they took armes against a king lawfullie elected solemnelie crowned and by consent of the states established in possession vvhat could be more orderlie and so hortlie after to depose hym and vpon so weak surmises to show so much leuitie neads better arguments then yet y could ever heare And it was mayd the more odious by nominating the Duke of Saxonie as a competitor and a stale to maik hym suspected to the Emperor as reum affectati imperij knowing that he had refused ther offer when they employed Count Slick to perswade that he would imbark hym selfs in the busienes and accept the crown of Bohemia which in dead they never intended to a Lutheran prince An other reason doth much exaggerate 4. Reason the offenc By ther president Austria vvas corrupted see hovv stronglie examples vvork vvith a multitud The people saithe the Register of the Chancerie by the correspondenc of the Turk and Gabor took coorage and told Ferdinand that yf he would not grant them toleration of religion and freedome of conscienc they vvould ioyne vvith the Bohemians and Hungarians and renounc ther obedienc to hym And they vvear maisters of ther words for in August 1620. the lower Austria abandoned ther Lord the ancient inheritor of that noble patrimonie quitted ther obedienc and accepted a new protector in his stead I am sure the subiects of England would condemn the Catholicks and so they might iustlie yf they should staÌ„d vpon the like tearmes and ther ancieÌ„t tisle and in defenc of that seak to expell ther soouerain and invest a strainger in
the government to serue ther turn And surelie ther cases ar matches yf the one might by law the other maye and yf yow condemn the one yow must vnpartiallie condemn the other But nothing maiks this action more offensiue 5. Reason more scandalous and more infamous then that Anhalt and Onoltzback in scâ—s electoribus ded confederate them selfs vvith straingers and dispose of the succession of the Empyre vvithovvt the warrant of the Empyre and this fawlt is dovvbled by combining vvith Bethlem Gabor Christians vvith the Turks vassal a reprobate a monster This is that B. Gabor vvho to hold hym self in the Turks grace deliuered vnto hym the town and fort of Lipp and the townes of Solimos Tornadg Margat and Arad vvel fortified in Hungaria This is he vvho treated vvith the Hungars 1607. to deliuer vp Vaccia a town Episcopall into the Turks hands to the great preiudice of religion and oppression of Christians This is he that svvore alleagianc to Gabriel Batthori his soouerain Lord and Princ of Transilâ—ania and afterward trayterouslie murdered hym and vsurped his state This is he who mayd a league vvith the Emperor Matthias 1615. not to attempt anie thing against the liberties and peace of Hongrie and afterward practised with the rebells of that state invaded the kingdome took vpon hym the crown 1620. led Andrew Dockzy the kings Liuetennant catched in his nett by frawd prisonner into Transiluania and banished all the state Ecclesiasticall that he might fead his soldiers vvith the spoyles of the church And this is he who hauing entered Poson prophaned the Cathedral church of S. Martin placed there his nevv Chaplains and aftervvard vvith his own hand certified the Turk that at last he had vndertaken that worthie exployt to the vvhich the Turk had oft incooraged hym and that most of the nobles of Hongarie wear his and had submitted them selfs to hym and that now he was determined for the cleargie seing they gloried to shaue ther crownes he would glorie to cutt of ther heads whearupon in Iun afther the Turk mayd peace vvith Tartaria and promised to assist Gabor at his nead vvith 40. thovvsand Tartars What tare vertues can be expected from such a man whose anatomie yf it vvear to be mayd vvould shovv such a leaprousie such a corruption of blood and so loath some a bodie as Europe haith not oft knowen I nead no other reason against this league but to subscribe his name as a principall in the coÌ„tract whome the world must neads iudg vnlike to be a fitt instrument to aduanc the Crosse of Christ and to reforme religion Yet this vvas the man vpon vvhose head the vnion ded agree to set the crovvn of Hongarie and to carrie the practise vvith more secrecie they intertaind his nearest kinsman at Heydelbergh vnder the govvn of a scholler to hyde all ther intelligences and conduct ther busienes Novv doe I vvish that a partiall reader 6. Reason would look vpon Germanie and see the picture of Troye on fyre see the image and horror of vvarr and hovv vvell it vvould please them to see the face of London and Midlsex so disfigured with wounds and desolation And that puritan vvho novv is most forvvard to blovv the coals of discord and sedition and inflame a state vvith furie and quicksiluer may quake and trembl vvhen he shall consider in vvhat devastation all that contrie of the Empyrelyeth mourning and groning The Prouinces abovvt the Rhine ar waisted disturbed and empouerished by the soldiers on both sydes specially vvorms tillageâ—s suspended traffick is decayed trades ar ceased taxes ar imposed new fortifications charge the contrie men ar not maisters of ther own goods and aboue 100. thowsand men ar accoÌ„ppted to be slayne thes ar the fruits of ciuil warres which ar bitter and lovre to them that taist them as I pray gâ—d England may neuer And there ar the fruit of Caluinisme which though it was directlie prohibited by the lavv and tolerated onelie by the mercie of the state seaketh novv to suppresse both the Emperor and the states withowt anie toleration of there religions an vncharitable requital ans vvithovvt the feal of anie religion for your iustifiâ—ng sole faith can never iustlie vvithovvt yt bring charitie in her bosome and the trew marks of Charitie being patienc humilitie and zeal conioyned stronglie in a link your litl patienc and humilitie convinc your zeal to be counterfeit and your faith to be fruitles for charitie would not direct yow to inuade the Duke of Bauier his territories yf he refused to stand Neuther charitie ded not counsel Anhalt in his letters to Donau 1619. to haue an auaricious eye to surprise a cittie which would be vvorth vnto them 32. millions Charitie doth not vse to direct Christians to sollicit the Turks assistance as pag. 80. Cancellariae nor to set down such plots as they intended p. 42. and 32. and 66. Now touching the lawes of the Empyre 7 Reasons I referr yow to that I haue deliuered before against the commotions of the Lutherans which ther is iustlie condemned Onely I will add this touching Bohemia Carolus 4. in act de confirmatione regis Bohemoâ—um setteth dovvn this clause as an essential part of that kings authoritie and approbation Volentes vt quicunquè in regem Bohemorum electus fuerit ad nos successores nostros Romanorum reges Imperatores accedat sua à nobis debito modo solito regalia accepturus non obstantibus iuribus legibus municipalibus quibuscunque c. And in the Aurea bulla cap. 4. Curia Nurenberg act 7. Iubemus volumus vt omnes Principes Electores c. art 8. Si quis autem Princeps Elector aliusue feudum à sacro tenens impeno supra infra scriptas Imperiales constitutiones adimplerenoluerit aut eis contrare presumpserit ex tunc caeteri Coelectores à suo ipsum deinceps excludaÌ„t consortio ipseque voce Electoris dignitate careat iure Wherby it is mayd manifest what the law requireth to be doone and what order and manner it prescribeth for the doeing thereof and what paenaltie and forfeitur is sett doone against offendors and transgressors of that lawe And good reason for take away or neglect Iustice pretend what yow will your great glorious attempts your inuasions your intrusions be but magna latrocinia and violent oppressions as appeared vvell by the supplication of Leopold king of the Romans to his father Otho I. who bycause he had broken the peace of the Empyre and called forreiners and yet not Turks to his assistanc saith he membrum Imperij appellari non debeo quigentes extâ—rnas barbaras in mediam Germaniam immisi sorrowing for his fault and acknowledging his error But these Minyeons of Geneua bring 8. Reason Religion to plead for the defenc of ther vnion and that they endeauored onelie to punish Ochosias for consulting vvith the Idol of Accharon and to root ovvt superstition
persons it a bated much the glorie of her wisedome and heroicall spirit and gaue the world occasion to suspect that all her former actions wear counterfeit and camposed for her securitie to temporize and to misdowbt that she was not innocent and cleare of these great not capitall crymes layd to her charge for vvhich she had stood in no smal dainger Ant to speak frelie and trewlie my opinion she was a Prince of great Maiestie and magnificens but fitter for governement then deuotion and of more pollicie then religion and not as her sister vvas the same in a storme and a calme a Quene and a subiect nor semper eadem But how and by what means ded she Hovv religion vvas chainged contriue and work this admirable mutation of state I vvill breaflie declare for tho it be not proper to my quaestion it is not impertinent and may be of some vse 1. First the long sicknes of Q. Marie gaue her great aduantage and tyme both to deliberate and draw her plattformes prepare her instruments in readienes maik choyce of her means and resolue of the fittest counsellors to aduance her ends 2. Secondlie she layd her honor to pawne and mayd protestation in open parliament that she would never trovvble the Roman Catholiques for anie differenc in religion vvhich ded geue the Cleargie great hope of some more indifferencie and tolerable fauors the which is related by How 's in prefat of Q. Elizabeth for knowing well that a king can not create a new religion as D. Bilson sayd trewlie meaning that it must be the act and work of a parliement therfor to winn the Bushops either to silenc or patienc she wiselie vsed that peace of art The which thing vvas vvell noted by Monsieur de Mauuissier vvho was long french Embassador in England and a curious searcher and obseruer of matters of that nature saith he lib. 2. pag. 61. in Les memoires de Monsieur Mich Castelnau Quene Elizabeth purposing to chainge religion that she might the better vvinn the Bushops she promised to follow ther aduises in all things and therby preuayled not a litle And though manie fyne sleights wear vsed frownes and fauors promises and threats yet notwithstanding by that parliement both the statuts for the supremacie and the abrogation of the old religion wear enacted 3. Add also that when the act vvas mayd for supremacie vvhich must ever be as the first great vvheale of motion bycause by king Henries lavv Bushops and Barons stood in dainger for Syr Thomas Moor and Bushop Fisher had giuen them vvarning to look to ther heads therfor novv in this nevv edition of the supremacie first the vvords of supreme head vvear chainged into supreme gouernor vvhich qualification of the vvords being aequiualent vvas vsed but as a mask and shadovve to bleare the eyes of the people and secondlie the Barons and Lords vvear exempted from the rigour of the Oath to vvinn them the rather to consent to the act and so to leaue the Bushops in the briars to beare the brunt of the storme ensewing 4. I knovv yow will admire and yow maye how this chainge could be vvrought in the vpper howse by most voyces considering so manie Bushops and so manie Lords vvell affected to religion had ther suffrages there Remember first that king Henrie pulling dovvne the Abbies vveakened the strenth of the Cleargie taking avvay by that meanes twentie fiue voyces of Abbots who satt there as Barons of Parliement and besides Sinon who managed that busienes showed all his conning therin and as a maister of his art For the noble Earl of Arōdel abused and fed with a vayne hope by the ayd of the Duke Northfolk engrossed into his hands the proxies and voyces of so manie Lords to be disposed at his pleasure and to serue and further the Quenes desyre and ends that the Catholicks wear overswayed and born downe by the pluralitie of six voyces onelie And how God rewarded these tvvo great Princes the instruments of that seruice the world may iudg by ther afflictions as spirits that haunted them tho to expiat that fault the religious and noble Earl Philip suffred the martyrdome of a languishing sowl A strainge and memorable mattet it was to haue a new religion introduced and no Bushop nor religion man to consecrate and aduance it with one voyce for the vehement oration of Abbot Fecknam aginst it is fresh yet in memorie and how all the Bushops obstinate refragati sunt Camden doth witnes and that noble Lord Montagew sensible of the scandall thereof opposed it vvithall his force vvho together vvith D. Thurlebie Bushop of Elie had so latelie bean employed at Roome abowt it and vrged that the vvorld would disgrace fullie censure such a soodain chainge and innouation proposing also the daingers which weare like to ensew and so ded by excommunication But for ther better assurance to preuayle in the vpperhowse and more stronglie to ouer-rule the Bushops and the Abbots the Quene created diuers nevv lords VVilliam lord Parr Marquis of Northampton a good speaker and a wise man the Earle of Hartford the Vicount Bindon the lord Saint Iohn of Bletso and the lord Hunsdon all Protestants and men fitt to build a new Churche And to be better armed the Catholick partie was weakened by discharging from the counsell table manie of the old counsellors the lord Chancelor the lord Priuie seale Secretarie Boxall and Syr Frances Englefeald and in ther roomes wear placed Syr Nicholas Bacon the Marques of Northampton the Earl of Bedford Sr A. Caue Syr Frances Knolls Rogers Parrie and secretarie Cicil all fitt men to beare parts in that Pageant And further she deposed manie of the old Iudges and mayd also new Iustices of peace and gaue order to vse all vvarienes in the election of knights and burgesses that they might likewise maik ther partie good in the lovver hovvse which yow would wnder to heare how politicklie it was performed Furthermore to taik all scrupule owt of the heads and harts of the people and that they might conceaue that the seruice and religion still continued the same the ould was but transtated into Englishe onelie for ther better edification and vnder standing they directed that the alteration should be framed as near to the old as they might well doe And so it was in dead verrie politiclie handled For they bothe admitted and continued the title and iurisdiction of Bushops vvith some litl grace and authoritie and they permitted the vse of surplises caeremonies anthems Organs and manie prayers in the forme of the old Whearby the Quene vvas the better able to excuse her fact to forrein princes for this great chainge as she ded vse the same for her reason to Secretarie d' Assonuile who was sent by king Philip to congratulate her aduancement 7. And touching the communion book it vvas composed by certan commissioners appointed for that purpose Parker Grindal Horn VVhytehead May Bill and Syr Thomas