Towne next after they make Trenches and raise Mounts from which they battered no lesse the Towne then the Ships The French make many Sallies out with more courage than strength and shewe many proofes of Magnanimity Amongst others vpon the fifteenth day of Aprill they tooke the Trenches nayled three of the greatest Cannons tooke and led away prisoner M. Berclé But I. Croft and C. Vaghan driue them backe as fast into the Towne and it was not done without losse of men Arthur Gray sonne to the Lord Baron Gray who had the principall command in the Campe was shot into the shoulder After that they bring the Campe neerer to the Towne because the Battery was so farre off that the Bullets for the most part fell without effect and a short time after part of the Towne and a great quantity of Corne was burned by casuall fire which was much encreased by the English who placed on that side their biggest Cānons and being in the meane time entred into the Ditch tooke the height of the Wall and the sixth of May while the English and the Scots were together of accord hauing placed the Ladders on all sides gaue three powerful alssaults to gaine the Wall but because they were too short and the waters higher then ordinary the Sluces beeing shut they were repulsed with a showre of Bullets that ouerwhelmed them from aboue and there were many slaine yet more wounded This check was imputed to Croft's fault because he had stayed in his Quarter with his Armes foulded as if he had reproued this expedition seeing others doe without putting himselfe in action to assist those who had neede thereof and I cannot tell whether hee did it out of iudgement or for affection which he bore to the French or for hatred to Gray But so it is that Norfolke and Gray accused by Letters which they writ to the Queene to haue had secret consultations with the Queene of the Scots and to haue oppos'd this designe and in hauing sequitiuely bin brought in iustice the gouernment of Barwicke was taken from him and giuen to the Lord Baron Gray But the Queene shewing him fauour conseru'd it for him and for his merit established him afterward Controwler of her Maiesties House This first Mis-hap hauing abated the courage of the English and Scots the Duke of Norfolke rais'd them as quickly vp againe by new Troops which hee brought to strengthen and since that time there were some light combates vntill that the King of France hauing aduice that his men were so blockt vp at Lieth that all the Passages by Sea and Land were shut also considering that they could not send him succour in time requisite for the great distance of places and the seditions which augmented from day to day in his Kingdome gaue power to the Bishop of Valence and De la Roche Faucaud to accord the Affaires with Qu. ELIZABETHS Commissioners esteeming and the Queene of Scotland with them that it were a thing vnworthy their Maiesty to enter into equall dispute with their Subiects And Queen ELIZABETH deputed as speedily into Scotland W. Cecill and N. Wotton Deane of Canterburie and Yorke At the same time the C. of Murray made some propositions But Cecill thought that they ought not to be made by Subiects nor agreed on by Princes During these debatings the decease of Queene Marie of Lorraine mother to the Queen and Regent of the Kingdome of Scotland hapned a pious most prudēt Princesse who was neuerthelesse ignominiously and vnworthily handled by hot-headed Preachers as it may appeare euen by the Ecclesiasticall History of Scotland which Queene ELIZABETH caused to be suppressed vnder the Presse and by the Lords of the Assembly who as being borne Councellors of State had vnder the name of Queene of Scotland and her Husband suspended her from all administration as contrary to the glory of God and the libertie of Scotland The Articles of which the Commissioners after the siege begun agreed vpon are these THe treaty of peace made in the Castle of Cambray betwixt Queene ELIZABETH and Henry the Second the French King shall be renewed and confirmed They shall cease both the one side and the other to make preparation of warre The Fortresse of Aymouth in Scotland shall be demolisht The said King and Queene Mary shall quit the title and armes of England and Ireland The strifes touching the recompence of the iniurie done to Queene ELIZABETH and the assurance of the first Article are remitted to another Assembly which shall be holden at London and if they cannot then be agreed of it shall be referred to the Catholique King The King and the Queene shall reconcile themselues with the Nobles amongst their Subiects of Scotland the Confederates shall be therein comprised and aboue all the Catholique King This Treatie shall be confirmed within sixtie dayes the intertayning of it sworne on both sides This Peace is published as well in the Campe as in the City with a common reioycing of all The English growing weary of the warre seeing their neighbouring Countrey vtterly spoyled The French because they were depriued of all traffique commerce and the Scots for not hauing beene payed their wages And indeed it was holden for the weale good and well-fare of Great Brittaine since Scotland retained his ancient liberty and England kept the dignity and surety which it had gotten And since that time she hath beene really exempt and freed from all subiects of feare from Scotland side The English haue merrily acknowledged that Queene ELIZABETH was the founder of the surety and the Protestants of Scotland Restoresse of the liberty During all that time Queene ELIZABETH for the singular loue which shee bore to the parties was so attentiue to the publique good that shee razed from her heart the loue of powerfull Princes who sought her in marriage to wit CHARLES Arch-duke of Austria second Sonne of Ferdinando the Emperour who made this suit by the Count of Elpheston Of Iames Earle of Arran who was recommended by the Protestants the which propounded to themselues to vnite by his meanes the Kingdomes of England and Scotland which were diuided which was also quickly reiected and neuerthelesse to her Maiesty praise Of Erric King of Sueden who to the same purpose imployed Iohn his Brother Duke of Finland to this end sent into England by Gustaue his Father a little before his death and grounding his hopes vpon this that hee was of the same Religion as Queene ELIZABETH was made himselfe so credulously importunate that hee thought of nothing but England notwithstanding that the King of Denmarke his sworne enemy had resolued to take him in the way thinking that it concerned him greatly if England and Sueden betweene which Denmarke lyes should be ioyned by the meanes of a marriage Queene ELIZABETH acknowledged and praised his singular and Soueraigne loue and made him answer that his comming should be very agreeable
Hardinesse is a Vertue which encourages one to blame or defend things iustly her mediocrity is betwixt cowardnesse and temerity To her belong Magnanimity Magnificency Patience and Perseuerance Of True Honour TRue HONOVR which belongeth to Liberality and Iustice is a Diuine Vertue subiect neither to fortune nor force it is that which all good and vertuous men aime at leuell their actions Of Temperance TEMPERANCE is a morall Vertue which moderates sensuall voluptuousnesse and the couetousnesse thereof and the dolour or griefe which is still as it were linked with couetousnes shee mediates or is a meane betweene Intemperancy and Stupidity shee is perfected made whole by Bashfulnesse Honesty shee keepes vnder her AbstineÌ„cy Continency Sobriety and Chastity To her do belong Gentlenesse Clemency Humility Meeknesse and Moderation Of Magnanimity MAGNANIMITY belonges to Force and Courage it is a carefull vertue and as it were a spur to purchase supreme honours her mediocrity or mean is betweene Saperba and â—â—â—â—animity Of Clemency CLEMENCY is a morall vertue which moderating anger quencheth in vs fre or choler to produce pious actions she mediates or is a meane betweene Cruelty and too great Indulgency Of Truth TRVTH by which in all our actions humane society we should make things as they be her meane or moderation is betweene Simulation and dissimulation Of Liberality LIBERALITY is a Vertue truely Noble and most Diuine appertayning to Iustice This excellent Vertue moderating the desire to abound in riches rules the purchasing of goods and orders expences to produce in vs and bring forth to the world rare actions it is a meane betweene Auarice and Prodigality Of Ciuility CIVILITY is also a morall vertue which consisteth in vttering gracefully a speech or discourse in Company by this Vertue both praise and a good opinion is acquired it is a meane betweene Mirth and Melancholy Of Courtesie COVRTESIE is a Vertue truely morall by which we purchase loue in shewing our selues gracious and officious to those who stand in need of vs it is a meane betweene submission and rudenesse or harsh disposition Qu. Elizabeths extraction by the Fathers side The birth of the Lady Anne Bolene The King fals in loue with Anne of Bolone The reason why he puts away his wife The King entreats the Pope for expedition The Prelates and Peeres doe the like The King seeing himselfe contemned renounceth the Pope Marrieth Anne A Nunne of Kent suborned Authoritie of Ecclesiasticall giuen to the King Anne beheaded The King exerciseth his cruelty vpon Papists and Lutherans and his auarice vpon the Monasteries The Law of Six Articles He marries and diuorces Anne of Cleue Katharine Parre Reconciles himselfe with the Emperour Charles Assures the succession to his Children Take Bologne Dyed King Edward the Sixth succeedeth his Father The doctrine of the Gospel is brought in A miserable reigne vnder a King that is a Childe The Protector is sacrificed to death Elizabeth in fauour with her brother Her studies Mary is proclaimed Elizabeth ioynes with her The English with much adoe subiect themselues to the power of the Pope Vpon what conditions they were reconciled to the Church of Rome Reioycing for it at Rome Ireland erected a Kingdome by the Pope The Papists feare Elizabeth They persecute her The Kings of France Spaine comfort her Shee is for feare of death constrained to follow the Romish Religion They goe about to send her out of the Kingdome and exclude her from the succession thereof Calais lost Qu. Mary dyes And Cardinall Pole Booke 1. 1558. Booke 1· 1559. Booke 1. 1560. 1561. 1562. 1563. 1564. 1565. 1566. 1567. 1568. 1569. 1570. 1571. 1572. 1573. 1574. 1575. 1576. 1577. 1578. 1579. 1580. Booke 1. 1558. Queene Maries death is knowne Queene Elizabeth is proclaimed Queene by the Kings Heraulds of Armes Her Maiestie makes choice and election of a priuie Councell Her Maiestie hath a speciall care aboue all things to re-establish the true Religion She ordaines and settles states and domesticall affaires Her Maiestie takes a great care for forraine affaires Queene Elizabeth is earnestly solicited to marriage with Philip King of Spaine her Sisters Widdower Her Maiestie refused to marry with the King of Spaine The reason why Booke 1. 1559. Her Maiesty deliberates and labours for the re-establishment of the Protestants Religion She considers what dangers might happen therby Without the Realme Within the Kingdome Booke 1. 1558. The Queene rebukes and reprehends the impatience of certaine zealous Ministers of the Word of God Queene Elizabeth allowes diuine Seruice to be read in the English Tongue Her Maiestie celebrates her Sisters Funerall and that of the Emperour Charles the Fifth Booke 1. 1559. Queene Elibeth re-establisheth and creates diuers Noblemen On Wednesday the 23. day of Nouemb. Queene Elizabeth remoued from Hatfield vnto the Charterhouse to the Noble Lord NORTHS House where her Maiesty lay fiue dayes and rode in open Charet from the Lord NORTHS House along Barbican entring into the City at Criple-Gate and so came to the Tower from thence to Westminster where she was inaugurated Q. Elizabeths opinioÌ„ concerning sacred things She cals a Parliament which is held the second yeere of her raigne Propositions to reforme Religion The 18. of March. They establish a Dispute betwixt Protestant and Papist The successe thereof Sir Edward Carne is detayned at Rome Disputes and strifes for the Towne of Calais A treaty of peace with the French King The Castell in Cambresis Articles of Peace made and agreed vpon 'twixt the Queenes Maiestie and the French King Henry the second A Peace is concluded agreed vpon betweene the Queenes Maiesty and the Queene of Scotland The Lord Baron Wentworth and others are called in question and brought in compasse of the Law concerning the losse of Calais The whole Parliament doe exhort Queene Elizabeth to marry Thomas Gargraue's Speech made to her Maiesty to that purpose Her Maiesties answer to them all Other Laws and ordinances established by that Parliament The Nobles of the Land reestablished The Lyturgie appointed in English Papist Bishops deposed and discharged from their Benifices Other Protestants learned and zealous Diuines are instituted Bishops in their places By what degrees Religigion was altered here The profit which proceeds from change of Religion Her Maiesties diligent care to defend both the the true Religion and Common-Wealth Qu. Elizabeths Motto or Posey SEMPER EADEM Her answer to forraigne Princes interceding for the Papists The Emperour seekes the Queene for his Son The King of France challengeth the Kingdome of England for the Queene of Scotland Is killed as hee prepared for the war Francis the Second and the Queene of Scotland tooke the title of the Kings of England The original of the hidden hatred which hath beene betweene the Queenes of England and Scotland The French deale vniustly with the English Send men of warre into Scotland The Scots refuse to obey the Queene Regent They seeke helpe of Qu. Elizabeth They deliberate of
Pope should proscribe the Kingdome and excommunicate the King by seuerall Letters put him in mind of the sad discord which had been betweene Pope Alexander the Third and Henry the second King of England and representing vnto him many reasons of importance infinitely besought him almost in the very same words that Gilbert Bishop of London did at the same time viz. WEe most humbly beseech you to shut vp for a time your burning zeale within the bounds of modestie lest by interdicting the Kingdome or cuting off the King from the communion of the Catholike Church you cause the ruine of many particular Churches and irreuokeably turne from your obedience both the King and infinite numbers with him Cutting off brings despaire whereas dressing the wound often cureth And therfore if there be a wound it is more expedient if it may bee your pleasure to labour presently to cure it lest by cutting off a most noble member of the Church of God you trouble beyond expression as matters now stand The Blood-Royall cannot be ouercome till it hath ouercome and is not ashamed to yeeld after it hath conquered Hee must be wonne with meekenes and ouer-ruled with admonitions and patience What is it to haue lost some temporall things by patience or by a continuall patience to lose more as the times now are Whether is Seuerity to bee withdrawne when ruine and slaughter threaten a People To cast many goods into the sea when the prouoked waues with the confusion of hideous surges threaten a Ship-wrack But the Pope and Cardinals could not endure that the Papall authority should be questioned in matter of Dispensation and all maner of contempt for the space of fiue yeeres little more or lesse neglected to lend an eare thereto but were of opinion that the King ought to be cited to Rome Insomuch that this Prince who was full of courage being stirred vp to wrath by the arrogancy which some Ecclesiasticall persons had lately shewed thought that for the iustnesse of his cause hee was vniustly dealt with most vnworthily for his Royall dignitie and most ingratefully considering how much good he had done for the Church of Rome that almost all at one time hee diuorced Katharine depriued Wolsey of his goods and drew a great summe of mony from those Bishops who had acknowledged the authority of his Delegation to the preiudice of his Royall preeminence accepted the title of Soueraigne head next vnder Christ of the Church of England which was offered vnto him by a Synod and by both the Vniuersities of England with the consent of the Peeres of his Kingdome made Anne Bolene Marchionesse of Pembrooke for the noblenesse of her extraction and the merit of her vertues so are the words hauing apparelled her in Royall Robes he married her and commanded her to be sacred Queene Clement the Seuenth was much displeased but to little purpose iudged the former marriage to be of force and Canonicall and pronounced that the King had incurred the penaltie of the great excommunication Of this Marriage was ELIZABETH borne at Greenwich vpon Thames the seuenth day of September 1533. Shortly after the marriage contracted with Katherine was iudged by authority of Parliament incestuous and void and that with Anne lawfull by the Diuine Law and ELIZABETH Heire of the Kingdome if Issue-Male of the Royall Line should fayle All sweare fidelity to the King and to the Heires which he had or should haue by Anne And as it was considered vpon that Paulus the Third would againe at Rome proclaime against this Marriage and that within the Realme certaine Religious Women of Kent suborned by some religious men cast out at randome some indiscreete words against Anne ELIZABETH and the King as if they had been strucken with some diuine fury The Title of the Soueraigne head of the Church of England is giuen to the King with all manner of authority for the reforming of errours heresies and abuses and the oath of fidelity to the Heires which hee should haue by Anne is confirmed Neuerthelesse three yeeres scarce passed but giuing himselfe to new Loues to distrusts to wrath to murther and to bloud to make way to his new Loue Iane Seymor he accused Anne who had miscarried of a Male-Childe to haue defiled his Bed and for a light suspition put her into the hands of iustice where being examined shee so resolued the obiections which were made vnto her that the whole multitude which were there present iudged her innocent and that she was circumuented She notwithstanding is condemned by her Peeres and being told of it sent to the King and pleasantly thankes him for many benefits which shee had receiued from him viz. that shee not being very noble by extraction hee had vouchsafed to adde to her condition the dignity of Marchionesse to make her his companion of honour and to raise her vnto Royall Maiestie And which is more than all this that not being able to aduāce her to an higher on earth he pleased to lift her vp to heauen where shee should enioy eternall glory with innocent soules Shee tooke her punishment quietly and Christianly wishing all happines to the King and pardoning all her enemies The day following hee married Iane and by authority of the Parliament declares the marriage with Anne to be no lesse vnlawfull and voyd than the marriage with Katherine and that MARIE and ELIZABETH their Daughters were illegitimate and to be excluded from the Succession of the Kingdome Iane being in labour of EDWARD who succeeded his Father in the Kingdome dyed before hee was borne and hee cut out of her wombe The King being but little grieued for the death of his Wife forthwith applyes himselfe to new Loues both in Italy and France to procure friends Neuerthelesse as he was of an ambiguous minde and fearefull of euery thing lest the Papists should rise in Rebellion and the Nobles moue sedition or ioyne with his forreine enemies hee caused some to be beheaded for light and trifling matters some before euer they were heard and euery houre hee punished the Papists as Traytors which did perseuere in defending the Popes authoritie and beeing transported with couetousnesse hee tooke occasion and subiect by the vices of humane frailtie as of idle and free liuing to demolish the great Monasteries as he had done the smaller that were full of venerable antiquity and Maiesty tooke all the riches which had beene gathered of many yeeres and at the same time burned Protestants aliue for Heretiques by vertue of a Law called the Law of the Six Articles made against those which did impugne the doctrine of the Church of Rome touching Transubstantiation the celebration of the Eucharist vnder one kinde the single life of Priests Vowes priuate Masses and auricular confession In so much that at one time and in the same place hee exercised his crueltie against the Papists causing them to be hanged and quartered and against the Protestants causing
infamous by the incredible crueltie of Prelates who polluted England through all parts with a most sad dreadfull spectacle in burning the Protestants aliue For as some haue obserued there were more consumed of all rankes Bishops Ministers and common people by this vengible and direfull way of death these fiue yeeres than England saw in all the seuen and thirtie yeeres of HENRY the Eighth In the reigne of Iohn Christians against Christians with vs began to tyrannize with flames The same day that MARY dyed within a few houres after Cardinall Pole Arch-bishop of Canterbury tormented with a quartane Feuer expired A man whom pietie learning and integritie had made much more famous than the splendor of his Royall Race though hee was Nephew to George Duke of Clarence Brother to Edward the Fourth King of England A TABLE OF THE CONTENTS of this matchlesse and famous HISTORIE The first Booke Anno M.D.LVIII QVeene ELIZABETH is proclaymed Queene of England Fol. 2. Choyce of her Priuy Councell Fol. 3. Her care to re-establish the Catholike Christian Religion Fol. 4. Philip King of Spaine Queene MARY's Widdower is a Sutor to her Sister Fol. 5. Queene ELIZABETH refused him and wherefore Fol. 7. Consultations about the safe re-establishment of true Religion Fol. 9. Diuine Seruice allowed by the Queene in English Fol. 11. Anno M.D.LIX. CReation and restoration of diuers Noble-men Fol. 12. A Parliament summoned and held at Westminster Fol. 14. Proposition to reforme Religion Fol. 15. Dispute established betweene Protestants and Papists Fol. 17. Sir Edward Crane Ambassadour for England is detayned at Rome Fol. 18. Disputes and strifes for Callais Fol. 19. A Treatie of peace with the French King in Cambresis Castle Fol. 22. The Articles of the said peace Fol. 23. Peace concluded betweene the Queenes of England and Scotland Fol. 24. The Baron of Wentworth and others questioned about Calais Fol. 25. The Parliament exhort the Queene to marry Fol. 26. Her Maiesties answer Fol. 27. Lawes and Ordinances established by the Parliament Fol. 29. The Nobles of the Land re-established and Papists deposed Fol. 30. By what degrees Religion was altered in England Fol. 33. The profit proceeding by Religions alteration Fol. 34. Queene ELIZABETH's Poesie or Motto Fol. 35. Her Maiesties answer to forreine Princes interceding for the Papists ibid. The Emperour seekes Queene ELIZABETH for his sonne Fol. 36. The French King challenged the Kingdome of England for the Queene of Scots Fol. 37. The King of France his sodaine death being kill'd at a tilting ibid. Francis the Second King of France and Mary Queene of Scots his Wife take vpon them the Title of King Queene of England and Ireland Fol. 38. The originall of the hidden hatred which hath beene betweene the Queenes of England and Scotland Fol. 39. The Scots refuse to obey the Queene-Regent but seeke helpe of Queene ELIZABETH Fol. 40. They resolue to driue the French out of Scotland Fol. 42. The English are sent into Scotland both by Land and Sea Fol. 43. The death of Francis Talbot the first Earle of Shrewsbury Fol. 44. Anno M.D.LX. A Treatie of peace in Barwicke Fol. 45. Martigues brings French-men into Scotland and the Marquesse of Debeux is driuen by a tempest Fol. 47. Spaines counsell to peace Fol. 48. Spaniards detaine from the English munition ibid. The French call the English from Scotland and doe protest they are meerely the cause that peace is broken Fol. 49. The Guizes are sworne and profest enemies to Queene ELIZABETH ibid. The French offer to render vp Calais Fol. 50. Queene ELIZABETH answered them and sends Viscount Montague into Spaine ibid. Arthur Gray sonne to the Lord Gray wounded and lyeth besieged Fol. 51. The English repulsed Crofts is accused Fol. 52. The Queene-Regent of Scotlands death Fol. 53. The Treatie of Edenborough ibid. A peace is published Fol. 54. Queene ELIZABETH is sought in marriage by diuers potent Princes ibid. Spaine fauoured England against the French Fol. 58. The King of Spaine deliuered backe the Order of the Garter ibid. Hee is disdained to be refused in things of small importance and the Count of Feria whets his indignation Fol. 59. The Pope is incensed against Queene ELIZABETH Fol. 60. Yet the Pope writes and sends his Nuncio ouer Fol. 61. The King and Queene of France and Scotland refuse to confirme the Treatie of Edenborough with their reasons Fol. 63. Francis the Second King of France dyed ibid. An Edict set forth by Queene ELIZABETH against Anabaptists and sacrilegious persons Fol. 64. The Colledge of Westminster founded ibid. The Coyne brought to full valew ibid. Good Coyne stampt for Ireland which wee call Sterling Fol. 65. The death of the Earle of Huntingdon the second of that Race Fol. 66. Anno M.D.LXI THe Queene Dowager of France Queene of Scotland deferred the confirmation of Edenboroughs Treaty Fol. 68. The Queene of England refused passage to the Queene of Scotland from France ouer Fol. 69. Shee complayned to Throckmorton Ambassadour for England Fol. 71. Throckmortons answer to the said Queeene Fol. 72. Contestation betweene them two Fol. 73. The Queene of Scotland laboured to content Queene ELIZABETH Fol. 74. But in vaine ibid. The Queene of Scotland takes her iourney out of France into Scotland where she well and safely arriued Fol. 75. She sends to Queene ELIZABETH who answered her Fol. 76. Queene ELIZABETH presseth the confirmation of the treatie Fol. 77. The Guizes and other French Noble-men who had conueyed the Queene of Scots into Scotland returning home thorow England are magnificently entertained with all royall courtesies by Queene ELIZABETH Fol. 77. That the right to assemble a Councel belongeth not to the Pope Fol. 78. How farre an Ambassadour ought to beare an offence Fol. 79. Queene ELIZABETH prepares things necessary for the warre ibid. She findes the Calamite stone Fol. 80. And prepares a Fleet. ibid. The English in emulation of their Queene striue who can build the best Ships ibid. Tillage more vsed than euer Fol. 81. An Edict in fauour of the King of Poland ibid. S. Pauls famous Steeple in London is burnt Fol. 82. The Earle of Bathe dyed ibid. Anno M.D.LXII ARthur Pole his Brother and others are examined Fol. 84. The Lady Katherine Gray is imprisoned ibid. The Guizes practize against Queene ELIZABETH Fol. 85. Henry Sidney is sent into France and presently after into Scotland Fol. 86. They deliberate the inter-uiew of the Queene of Scotland Fol. 87. The Cardinall of Lorraine propoundeth a marriage to the Queene of Scotland and Queene ELIZABETH endeuours to diuert her from it Fol. 88. Shee excuses the French Fugitiues Fol. 89. The death of Iohn de Vere Earle of Oxford Fol. 90. Shan O-Neale comes into England to defend his cause ibid. Anno M.D.LXIII LAw established by Parliament Fol. 92. Fifteenes and Subsidies granted Fol. 93. The Prince of Condé is taken in the Battel of DREVX Fol. 94. The King of Spaines answer ibid. Hostages giuen
Lenox Vice-Roy of Scotland is slaine 279. The Earle of Marre is elected Vice-Roy ibid. Lawes against disturbers ibid. Lawes against Papists 280. Iohn Story condemned to dye 282. Differences appeased betweene the English and the Portugals in Guienne ibid. Marquis of Northampton dyes 283. The death of Bishop Iewell ibid. Affaires in Ireland 284. William Fitz-Williams Deputy ibid. Anno M.D.LXXII Thomas Duke of Norfolke is presented before the Nobles and Peeres and arraigned in Westminster Hall 285. The manner of his Arraignement 286. The chiefe points of his accusation 287. The Duke demandeth an Aduocate to pleade his cause ibid. The second Article of his accusation 290. The third Article 292. His reply and that he was contrary to the Romane Religion 293. The Letters of the Bishop of Rosse to the Queen of Scots produced ibid. The Dukes Letter to his seruant 294. The Letters of Ridolph ibid. Of the Pope ibid. The testimony of Strangers ibid. The third Article of his accusation 295. The Peeres consult among themselues ibid. The sentence of death pronounced against the Duke 296. Baray and Marter are put to death 297. Earles created ibid. Barons elected 298. Lawes established for the better security of the Queene and her Kingdome ibid. The Duke of Norfolke beheaded ibid. His speech at his death 299. Sundry censures of him 300. Catenes relation of the precedent matters 301. Pope Pius the fifth incensed against Queene ELIZABETH imployeth Robert Ridolph a Gentleman of Florence into England 301. He perswades the Kings of France and Spaine against her ibid. The Queene of Scots accused 304. Her answere 305. Sedition in Scotland 306. The Queene of Elngand and the King of France endeuour to accord them ibid. They differ in opinion ibid. Causes alledged why the French fauour the Queene of Scotland 307. The Queene of England contesteth with the French ibid. The rebellious Flemmings being commanded out of England take the Breele 310. The Duke of Alua's carelesnesse ibid. The English repaire into the Low-countries to warre ibid. The dissimulation of the King of France 311. The alliance of Blois ibid. The Articles of the same ibid. The confirmation thereof 313. Mont-morancy admitted to the Order of the Garter 314. He intercedes to accord the differences of Scotland ibid. Answer made vnto him ibid. He also treats of a marriage with the Duke of Aniou 315. The Massacre of Paris ibid. Marriage of the Duke of Alanzon propounded to Queene ELIZABETH 316. The Earle of Northumberland beheaded ibid. Death of the Marquis of Winchester and of the Earle of Darbie ibid. Cecill made Treasurer ibid. Death of Sir George Peters 317 Queene ELIZABETH sicke ibid. Her care of the Publique ibid. She cuts off the superfluous number of followers attending Noblemen and curbeth Enquirers after conceald Lands of the Crowne 318. Rebellion in Ireland also the Omores rebellion there 319. A strange Starre 319. Anno M.D.LXXIII THe Spanish Fleete discomfited by the Hollanders 321. Queene ELIZABETH dischargeth her Fathers and Brothers debts 322. The Papists trouble the Common-wealth 323. The Ambassage of Gondy Count of Rez 324. Ambassage of the Earle of Worcester into France 325. The French Protestants handle the French Papists in England shrewdly and the French Leger Ambassadour complaines to Queene ELIZABETH for ayding the Protestants besieged ibid. She is earnestly sollicited to marry with the D. of Alanzon 326 She grants him leaue to come into England 327. Gondy returnes into England and Earle Morton is made Regent of Scotland 329. The English are sent to besiege Edenborrough 332. The Castle besieged yeelded 333. Kircald and others hanged and Lidington dyes 334. Lodowick Zuniga succeedes Duke d'Alua 335. Burche's Heresie for which hee is hanged 336. The Lord of Effingham the Earle of Kent and Caius the Physician dyed ibid. Troubles in Ireland the Earle of Essex is sent thither 338. Anno M.D.LXXIIII ALanzon desires to visit Queene ELIZABETH and hath leaue to come into England 342. He suspected in France hath a Gard set ouer him 343. Charles the Ninth King of France dieth and the right Noble Roger Lord North is sent Ambassadour extraordinary to Henry of Valois King of France and Poland 344. The Earle of Huntington made President of the North. 345. An Edict against pride 346. London Ministers deceyued A Whale cast on shore Thames ebbes flowes twice in one houre The Skie seemeth to burne 347. Anno M.D.LXXV THe League with France renewed 349. The Prince of Orange intended to flye to the protection of the King of France 352. The Ambassie of Campigni and de Requisens dyeth 354. The death of the Duke of Chastelraut 357. The Earle of Essex distressed in Ireland ibid. Sidney's progresse in Ireland for the third time Deputie there 358. The death of Peter Carew 359. Anno M.D.LXXVI QVeene ELIZAB. is offered a match by the French 361. A confusion in the Netherlands Antwerpe sacked by the Spanish mutiners 362. The comming of Iohn d'Austria into Flanders 363. Sir Martin Forbisher sent to discouer the Straits in the North part of America 364. The death of the Emperour Maximilian and of the Elector Palatine heauy to Queene ELIZABETH who sends Sir Philip Sidney Ambassador extraordinary to Rodulphus his Successour 365. The death of Walter Deuoreux Earle of Essex and of Sir Anthony Coke 367. Tumults in Ireland and William Drury made President of Munster 368. The Queene takes pitty of the Irish 369. Anno M.D.LXXVII AVstria inclined to peace at Queene ELIZABETHS perswasion 370. The Prince of Orange diuerts her from it 371. Sir Thomas Copley made Baron in France 372. Iohn of Austria's dissimulation ibid. Why Queen ELIZABETH couenanted with the Scots 373. Spaine is pleased with it 375. England the Ballance of Europe 376. Priest Maine executed Baron of Latimer and Secretarie Smith of Saffron Walden dyes 377. Rebellion againe in Ireland and Rorio Oge is slaine Harington and Cosby wounded 378. Anno M.D.LXXVIII QVeene ELIZABETH's care for the Low-Countries 380. Count Swartzeberg Bellieure and Cobham Deputy for France Germany and England and for the treaty of peace and Egremond Ratcliffe and his associate are put to death and Don Iuan de Austria dyes 381. Aniou's Duke pursues his intended marriage with Qu. ELIZ. and Leicester murmurs at it 383. The Countesse of Lenox death ibid. King IAMES sends an Ambassador to Queene ELIZAB. 385. Morton Regent takes vpon him the administration of the Realme againe 386. The Peeres are against him 387. How to inuade England consulted by Spaine 387. Thomas Stukeley a Traytor takes Armes against his Countrey and is slaine with three Kings 388. William Drury made Lord Deputie of Ireland 389. Anno M.D.LXXIX CAssimiere Palatin's Sonne comes into England 390. Queene ELIZABETH sends money into Holland 391. One is shot with a Pistoll who was in Queene ELIZABETH's Barge with her Maiestie the French Ambassadour the Earle of Lincolne and Sir Christopher Hatton 392. The Duke of Aniou comes into England ibid.
she had seized vpon it While he was in Consultation with him Odet de Chastillon Cardinall who was retired into those parts by reason of the troubles in France certified the Queene that this money belonged to certaine Marchants of Genâ—a and not to the Spaniard and that hee would seize on it against their wils to employ it to the ruine of the Protestants And this was the reason the Councell made a question whether they should detaine it or no and the greatest of them that sate in Councell were of opinion that it should bee sent into the Low-Countries for feare of prouoking the Spaniard who was a great Prince and stood already but hardly affected to England But Queene ELIZABETH beeing assured by two of them to whom it belonged that the Marchants were onely interessed in it the King of Spaine nothing at all she resolued to take it vp of the Marchants by way of loane and giue them caution for it as Princes many times vse to doe with such goods as they find in their Ports and the Spaniard not long before had done the like And when the Spanish Ambassadour shewed her the Letters the Duke writ vnto her for the transportation of this money she told him she had taken it by loane and religiously protested to restore it againe so soone as she should truely vnderstand that it belonged to the King of Spaine The very same day which was the twentie ninth of December the Duke in hot rage and furie seiz'd on the English-mens goods all the Low-Countries ouer where he found any and taking their persons prisoners committed them to the guard of his Souldiers So that euery one may conceiue by comparing the times that he did this to terrifie the English what satisfaction soeuer the Queene gaue afterwards for the money But her Maiestie nothing at all daunted with this commanded likewise the Flemmings goods to be seyzed vpon in England their merchandize and shipping which was much more than those of the English that the Duke light vpon in Flanders so as he repented too late that hee had vnseasonably enlarged that wound which in the beginning might easily haue beene cured The last day but one of this present yeere pardon mee this short digression for the memories sake of an honest and vertuous man who beeing borne in the Countie of Yorke and brought vp at Cambridge was the first of our Nation that refined the Greeke and Latine Tongues and the puritie of the Stile with singular commendation for his eloquence Hee was sometimes a Reader to Queene ELIZABETH and her Secretarie for the Latine Tongue And yet notwithstanding in that he was giuen to play and Cock-fighting he both liued and dyed not very rich leauing behinde him two elegant Bookes as monuments of his rare wit and vnderstanding one of which was styled Toxophilus the other Scholarca But let vs returne to our Historie THE TWELFTH YEERE OF Her Reigne Anno Dom. 1569. THe sixth of Ianuary there was a Proclamation publiquely read in London concerning goods detayned by the Duke of Alua wherein most of the circumstances I formerly mentioned were exprest and the fault laide vpon D'espes and another Writing diuulged by him to the contrary in which hee alledged That this Proclamation came not out by the Queenes Order but from the authority of some disaffected to the King of Spaine in the behalfe of the Flemmish Rebels he highly commended the fauour that the Queene had alwaies beene ready to shew to the Spaniards grieued that shee was alienated in her affection for nothing and much stomacked that no more credit was giuen to him being Ambassadour and to the Duke of Aluae's Letters as also hee wondred the Money was detained considering the Queene as hee said had more reason to furnish the Spaniard with money against the Rebels than to take any from him and finally taxed her with offering the first wrong excused both himselfe and the Duke of Alua's proceedings and not resting there he spred abroad infamous Libels wherein hee offended the Queenes reputation vnder the title of Amadis Oriana Some great men of England among whom was the Marquis of Winchester the Duke of Norfolke and the Earles of Arundell Northumberland Westmerland Pembroke Leycester and others laboured to lay the blame of this detention of the Money vpon Cecill as formerly they did that which was sent to the Protestants in France and in effect they did so for they could not digest the great power and authority he had about the Queene they suspected he fauoured the House of Suffolke for the succession to the Crowne and feared hee would oppose himselfe to their designes Wherefore they consulted one with another to imprison him at the suggestion of Throgmorton his emulator who gaue them to vnderstand that if hee were but once clapt vp he might easily be ruinated But some one whom I cannot name discouered this proiect to the Queene and Cecill by the fauour of this Princesse who bare a very great liking and affection to him without any difficultie ouercame those plots that were prepared for him and at the same instant cut off another more secret intention they had which was to proclaime the Queene of Scots vndoubted next Heire apparant to the Kingdome after Queene ELIZABETHS death against a certaine Libell that was written and published in the behalfe and fauour of the Earle of Suffolke D'Assonuil came at that time from the Duke of Alua to demand the money which was detained but hauing no Letters to that effect from the King of Spaine Queene ELIZABETH referred him to her Councell to whom at first hee was not willing to addresse himselfe Wherefore he went presently to them and when he was heard about a moneth after hee returned without doing any thing in the businesse The English Merchants carry their Merchandizes to Hamborrough in Germanie as to a place lately ordayned for free traffique The Duke of Alua perceiuing this prohibited absolutely all commerce with the English and keeping all things from being imported or transported out of the Low Countries hee suborned certaine Spies amongst whom one Iohn Storie a Doctor of the Ciuill Law was very subtilly industrious who before had practised with Prinstal an impostorous Magician against the life of his owne Prince and sent aduertisements to the Duke of Alua for the inuading of his owne Countrey But being purposely brought into a Ship which was reported to haue brought heretical commodities and bookes out of England the Marriners presently setting sayle hee was thither conueyed and afterwards executed as shall be declared in proper place The Duke of Alua not satisfied with this prohibited all shipping to goe out of Flanders who were not armed and he commanded them to seyze on the English wheresoeuer they met them and gaue directions that the like should be done in Spaine where the English Merchants and Saylors goods were confiscated themselues put into the Inquisition and
them that her Seruants might be gently vsed that they might enioy the things she had giuen them by her Will that they might be permitted to be with her at her death and lastly might be safely conducted and sent home into their Countries Her two first requests they granted but for the hauing of her Seruants by at her death the Earle of Kent seemed scrupulous fearing there might be some superstition in that To him she said Feare you not Sir the poore wretches desire nothing but to take their last leaues of me And I know my Sister the Queene of England would not you should deny me so small a request For for the honour of my sex my Seruants should be in presence I am the nearest of her Parentage and Consanguinitie grand-childe to Henry the seuenth Dowager of France and anointed Queene of Scotland Which when shee had said and turned her about it was granted her to haue such of her Seruants as shee would nominate Then she named Meluine Bourgon her Physician her Apothecarie her Chyrurgion two of her Maides and some others of which Meluine carryed vp her traine Then the Noblemen the two Earles and the Sherife of the Shire going before she came to the Scaffold the which was built at the vpper end of the Hall vpon the which was a Chaire a Cushion and a Blocke all couered with blacke So soone as she was set and silence commanded Beal read the Warrant or Mandate to which she listened attentiuely as if it had beene some other thing Then Doctor Fletcher Deane of Peterborough made a large discourse of the condition of her life past and present and of the life to come Twice she interrupted him intreating him not to importune her Protesting that she was setled and resolued in the ancient Romane Catholike Religion and ready euen now to shed her blood for the same He vehemently exhorted her to be repentant and with an vndoubted Faith to put her whole trust and confidence in Christ But shee answered him That she had beene borne and brought vp in this Religion and was ready to die in the same Then the Earles saying they would pray for her Shee replied shee would giue them great thankes if they would pray together with her but to communicate in Praier with them which are of a different Religion were a scandall and great sinne Then they bade the Deane to pray with whom whilst the Assembly about him ioyned in Prayer Shee falling on her knees and holding the Crucifix betwixt her hands prayed in Latine with her owne people out of the Office of our blessed Lady After the Deane had ended his Praiers shee prayed in English for the Church for her Sonne and Elizabeth Queene of England beseeching God to turne his heauy wrath from this Iland and protesting as she held vp the Crucifix that she reposed her hope of Saluation in the blood of Christ Iesus shee called vpon the holy Company of Saints in Heauen to make intercession for her vnto him Shee forgaue all her enemies then kissing the Crucifix and making the signe of the Crosse she said As thy armes ôh Lord Iesu-Christ were spred forth vpon the Crosse so receiue me into the same armes of thy Mercy and pardon me my trespasses Then the Executioner asked forgiuenesse whom shee forgaue and her seruants she making haste tooke off her vpper garments crying and lamenting aloud yet neither by her kissing or crossing of them did she euer change her cheerfull countenance but bade them forbeare their womanish weeping saying That shee was at the end of all her calamities Likewise turning her selfe towards her other seruants most pitiously weeping she signed them with the signe of the Crosse and smilingly bade them all Adieu Then hauing a linnen cloth before her face and laid her head vpon the Blocke she recited the Psalme In thee O Lord haue I put my trust let mee not be confounded for euer Then stretching forth her body and many times together ingeminating these words Lord into thy hands I commend my Spirit her Head at the second blow was cut off the Deane crying aloud and saying So perish all the Enemies of Queene Elizabeth to which the Earle of Kent answerd Amen so likewise did the people weeping Afterwards her body being imbalmed and solemnly made ready was with Princely Funerals interred in the Cathedrall Church of Peterborough And in Paris were her Obsequies in most magnificent manner also celebrated by the Guises who neither in her life omitted any offices of loue or kindred toward her nor yet after her death to their great land and glory Here you haue seen what was the lamentable end of the life of Mary Queen of Scotland daughter to Iames the Fift King of Scotland grand-childe to Henry the seuenth King of England by his elder daughter of 46. yeares of age and the 18. yeare of her imprisonment A woman most constant in her Religion of singular zeale and sanctimonie towards God of inuincible animositie and courage in wisedome aboue her Sexe of surpassing beautie and worthy to be recorded in the Catalogue of those Princes who of happy and prosperous became miserable and vnfortunate Being yet an Infant shee was with great sedulitie sought for both by Henry the eighth King of England for his sonne Edward and by Henry the second King of France for Francis the Dolphin Shee was sent into France at fiue yeares of age and at ten marryed to the Dolphine After the death of her husband returning into Scotland and being marryed to Henrie Lord Darley she had by him IAMES the First Monarch of Great Britanne Shee was persecuted by Murrey her base Brother and others her disloyall and ambitious subiects deposed from the Kingdome driuen into England circumuented as some worthy persons haue conceiued by certaine in England carefull for the retaining of their Religion and the preseruation of Queene Elizabeths life exposed into perilous attempts by others desirous of re-establishing the Romish Religion and brought to ruine by the intimations or witnesses of her absent Secretaries who as it is thought were corrupted with coine By her Tombe was fixed and soone after taken away this following Epitaph MARIA SCOTORVM REGINA REGIS FILIA REGIS GALLORVM VIDVA REGINAE ANGLIAE AGNATA ET HAERES PROXIMA VIRTVTIEVS REGIIS ET ANIMO REGIO ORNATA IVRE REGIO FRVSTRA SAEPIVS IMPLORATO BARBARA ET TYRANNICA CRVDELITATE ORNAMENTVM NOSTRI SECVLI ET LVMEN VERE REGIVM EXTINGVITVR EODEMQVE NEFARIO IVDICIO ET MARIA SCOTORVM REGINA MORTE NATVRALI ET OMNES SVPERSTITES REGES PLEBEII FACTI MORTE CIVILI MVLCTANTVR NOVVM ET INAVDITVM TVMVLI GENVS IN QVO CVM VIVIS MORTVI INCLVDVNTVR HIC ERAT CVM SACRIS ENIM DIVAE MARIAE CINERIBVS OMNIVM REGVM ATQVE PRINCIPVM VIOLATAM ATQVE PROSTRATAM MAIESTATEM HIC IACERE SCITO ET QVIA TACITVM REGALE SATIS SVPERQVE REGES SVI OFFICII MONET PLVRA NON ADDO VIATOR IN the lamentable death of this
Chronology Chronicles Ephemeride Epitomies Rhopsodies Abridgment History and ANNALS Chronology hath two conditions both particular and necessary called by the Greekes Alathea and Apathia which is the truth of things set forth without any passion The Chronicle aymes at the originall of matters and to seeke the immemoriall Time from the first antiquity and foundation of peoples and Nations as Herodole for Greece Titus Liuius for the Latine Lemaire in the illustrations of the Gauls Mr. Speed for England and others The Ephemerides describes that which hath been said or done betwixt two persons Rhapsodis and Epittonnes are short obseruations of History Annalls and History is different from all those for they describe all the memorable deedes and particular actions that hapned yeerely and from time to time such as Xenophon was in Greece Salust among the Latins Froissard in France and Mr. William Cambden in England and so diuers others The seuerall and yeerely acts must be described without any passion or affections * Such courtesie from your Honours will ingraue your worth in the Temple of Eternity making your names thereby immortall sith it is onely this or such like seruice that can make you liue againe in your graue keepe your noble fame fresh and your happy memory from fading sith it wil cause your ashes to bring forth Laurell and Palme flourish and spring out of your Tombes when the base ignorant contemners of learning which doe abound in this iron age will wither and fade they seeme now only to liue on earth but to warre against Vertues much like vnto wormes in Libraries to destroy and deuour learning which they should cherish Booke 2. 1570. The Earle of Murray demands that the Qu. of Scotland might be put into his hands He pursueth the English Rebells The Earle of Murray is suddenly kild Diuers opinions are had of him The Scots Rebels make incursions vpon England The English take reuenge thereof They succoured those in Scotland that were of the Kings partie They take the Castle of Hamilton The Earle of Lenox is establisht Vice-Roy of Scotland The King of Spaine giues succours against those who were of the Kings side The Lord Setone his Ambassage to the Duke of Alua. The answere of the Duke of Alua. The Bishop of Rosse is set at liberty Laboured the liberty of the Queene of Scots They consult about the freedome of the Queene of Scotland Rebellion in Norfolke assoone ended as begun Felton punished for sticking vp the Popes Bull. The Papists reproue the Bull. The greatest part cōtemne this Bull. Cecill aduiseth him to marry Diuers are imprisoned Sussex chosen a Priuy-Councellor Treaty with the Queene of Scotland The Answer to the proposition of the English They cannot agree The Bishop of Rosse requires helpe to free the Queene of Scots The death of the Earle of Cumberland The death of Throgmorton Rebillion in Ireland quenched before they saw the day Stukeley flieth out of Ireland Booke 2. 1571. The royall Exchange The ereation of Baron Burghley The manner of creating Barons Letters from the Pope to the Queene of Scotland Edict of the Scots against the authority Royall Condemned by the Qu. of England The demāds of the English for the freedome of the Qu. of Scotland The English refuse the offers of the Scots Alteration among the Scots Complaints of the Scots against the English A remembrance sent from the Q. of Scotland to the Duke of Norfolke The counsell of the Bishop of Rosse The attempts of oothers A great Earthquake The Ambassage of Baron Buckhurst A proposition of a match betweene Elizabeth and the Duke of Aniou The hopes which they conceiued Articles of marriage The Answer To what end this marriage was proposed They hasten the mariage of the Qu. of Scotland The Bishop of Rosse and others committed Money sent into Scotland He declines from the English witnesses Lenox Vice-Roy of Scotland is slain The Earle of Marre is elected Vice-Roy Lawes against disturbers Lawes against Papists Iohn Storie condemned to dye Differences appeased betweene the English and the Portugals Guienne The Marquis of Northampton dyes The death of Bishop Iewell Affaires of Ireland William Fitz William Deputy of Ireland Booke 2. 1572. Thomas Duke of Norfolke is presented before the Nobles and Peeres and arraigned in Westminster Hall Peeres of the Kingdome The maner of his arraignement The chiefe points of his accusation The Duke demandeth an Aduocate to plead his cause The second Article of his accusation The third Article of his accusation The Duke of Norfolke contrary to the Romane Religion The Letters of the Bishop of Rosse to the Qu. of Scots are produced The Dukes Letter to his seruant The Letters of Ridolfe Of the Pope The testimony of Strangers The third Article of his accusation The Peeres consult amongst thēselues The Sentence pronounced against the Duke Barney and Marter are put to death Earles created Barons elected Lawes established for the better security of the Queene and her Kingdome The Duke of Norfolke beheaded His speech at the houre of his death The Duke of Norfolke's head is cut off Sundry sensures of him after his death Catenes relations of the precedent matters Pope Pius the fifth incensed against Qu. Elizabeth How he imployed the English The King of Spaine The King of France The King of Portugal The Duke of Alua opposeth Wherefore A vaine successe Wherewith the Pope the King of Spaine are vext and angry The Queene of Scots accused Mary Qu. of Scotland her answere to her accusation Sedition in Scotland The Queene of England the King of France endeuour to accord them They differ in opinions Causes alleadged why the French fauour the Queene of Scotland The Queene of England contesteth with the French The loue and affection which the King of France and Queene of England bore once to the Queene Mary of Scotland growes cold The rebellious Flemmings commanded to goe out of England They take the Breele The Duke of Aluaes carelesnesse The English repaire into the Low-Countries to the warre Dissimulation of the King of France The Alliance of Blois The Articles of the same Confirmation thereof Mont-Morancy admitted to the Order of the Garter He intercedes to accord the differences of Scotland Answere made to him Hee also treats of a marriage with the Duke of Aniou Massacre of Paris Marriage of the Duke of Alenzon propounded to Queene Elizabeth The Earle of Northumberland beheaded Death of the Marquis of Winchester Cecill is made Treasurer Death of the Earle of Darbie And of Sir George Peters The Queene sicke She hath a care of the publike She cut off the superfluous number of followers which dayly augmented She curbeth enquirers after conceal'd Lands of the Crowne Rebellion in Ireland The Omors A strange Starre Booke 2. 1573. The Spanish Fleet discomfited Commerce betweene the Flemmish and English restored She dischargeth her Fathers and brothers debts Innouators trouble the Church The Papists troble the Common-wealth Their Libell is suppressed The
to the poore of London and two hundred to the poore of Norfolke Hee had to Sonne William Bolene who was made one of the eighteene selected Knights of the Bath at the inauguration of Richard the Third To whom Tho. Earle of Ormond who was had in so great estimation with the Kings of England that hee only of all the Peeres of Ireland had place and voice in the Parliament and before the Barons of England gaue him his Daughter and Coheire to wife he had by her besides the Daughters which he married to Shelton Caltrop Chaire and Sackuil beeing very rich and of renowned Race Tho. Bolene who beeing but a Youth Thomas Howard then Earle of Surrey and afterwards Duke of Norfolke a famous Warrier chose him to bee his Sonne in Lawe and gaue him his Daughter Elizabeth to wife HENRY the Eighth employed him in two honourable Embassies after hauing made him Treasurour of his House Knight of the Order of Saint George and Vicount Rochford afterwards Earle of Wilton and Ormond and Lord Priuie Seale He amongst other Children had Anne Bolene who beeing sent in her tender yeeres into France was seruant to Mary of England Wife to Lewis the 12. afterwards to Claudia of Brittaine wife to Francis the First and after her death to Mary of Alanson who from her cradle was a speciall fauourour of the Protestants Religion in France Afterwards she being returned into England and entertained to be one of the Queenes Maids of Honour in the twentieth yeere of her age King HENRIE being eight and thirtie fell vehemently in loue with her for the modest behauiour which accompanyed her beauty and the French iollity which seasoned her modesty but not being able to ouercome her chastity he sought to haue her to wife in hope to haue a Linage by her Now before to take this matter a little more deepely after he had liued seuenteene yeeres with Katherine his wife who was of a pious conuersation and of the Spanish grauitie but subiect to aborsements that of all her Children shee brought foorth none liuing but MARIE he begunne to distaste her by the cunning practice of Cardinall Wolsey who was then raised to the highest degree of power and authority about the King but in some fort ouer swayed by his owne affections For being displeased with Charles the fifth Emperour Nephew to Katherine because he had denyed him the Arch-bishopricke of Toledo and then aspiring to the Papasie his hatred to him and his loue so affectionately carried toward the French King he so wrought that he purposed a wife for Henry out of France The King beeing prone to his pleasures prepared this scruple of conscience That the marriage which he had contracted with Katherine who before had beene wife to his brother Arthur was forbidden by the Diuine Lawe although Pope Iulius the second had giuen a Dispensation for it Afterwards he did inculcate into the Kings eares how greatly he had offended God in marrying Katherine and how grieuous a sin he should wallow in if hee kept her that hee had incurred the Sentence of Excommunication that God had powred his wrath vpon so vnlawfull a Marriage not suffering a Male to liue that was begotten of her and that if there were not a lawfull Heire assigned to the Kingdome no other thing was to be expected but that those mortall and cruell wars which had beene but lately lul'd asleepe should be awakened with new slaughters of his people and therefore that he ought for the taking away of all scruple from his conscience to repudiate her and that by assuring himselfe of a Successor in a lawfull line he should prouide for the safety of his soule which and likewise yeeres had been polluted with incest for so many of his Kingdome These reasons caused the King to entreate Pope Clement the Seuenth to depute some to take knowdedge of this cause and either to confirme the Dispensation by authority of holy Scriptures or absolue him of the Sentence of Excommunication and to declare this marriage to be of no force and that it might be lawfull for him to marry any other woman whom he should thinke fit notwithstanding any Canon to the contrary Hereupon the Pope delegates Cardinall Wolsey and the Cardinall of Campepe to whom he secretly gaue a Bull to this effect that he approued of the Kings vowes and granted his requests so farre as God would giue him leaue if the marriage which he had contracted with Katherine should be found vnlawfull and so declared to be But this Bull was to bee conceal'd or publisht according to the successe of the Emperours Affaires in Italy Then these questions begun to be moued euery where whether it were lawfull for a man to take his brothers wife or it beeing prohibited by the Diuine Law whether the Popes Dispensation could make it lawfull or no And when many Academies of Christendome and the most learned men had giuen their opinions and resolued that such a Marriage was repugnant to the Laws both of the Old and New Testament howsoeuer the Popes Dispensation might legitimate it The King became more passionatly amorous of the Lady Anne of Bolene then euer and the Cardinall repenting himselfe too late of what hee had begun grew discontented and wrought so vnder hand that the Pope by his pontificall authority refused to confirme the opinions of the Academies and by delayes after delayes the busines was drawn into length both at Rome in England The Cardinall feared Bolene who for the loue that shee bore to the Euangelicall Doctrine hated his proud and insolent carriage and the Pope feared the Emperour who at that time was powerfull in Italy who maintained to his vtmost power the cause of Katherine his Aunt neither would the Pope prouoke HENRY because hee had lately employed both his paines and pence to redeeme him from the Emperours men who kept him prisoner HENRIE boyling in choler for this refusall yet dissembling it both by Ambassadours and Letters continually solicited and humbly prayed the Pope and after him the Prelates and Peeres of England by request signed with their owne hands which they caused to be carried and presented at his feete to confirme by his Apostolicall Authority what the two Academies of England of Paris and many others and very learned and most entire men both within and without the Realme had set down for a truth and were ready to mainiaine it both by word and writing representing vnto him that it would be a remarkeable vnhappines if He should not obtaine this fauour from the Apostolicall Sea He beeing the onely man that had employed his Sword his Pen his word and power to defend the authority of the Pope and resisting many that stroue against it should bee the onely man to bee denyed the benefit of it and therefore they coniured him to grant it for feare that intestine warres should rise for the right of Succession Notwithstanding the Clergie fearing lest the
them to be burned aliue By which acts he made himselfe terrible in his owne Kingdome and to be holden a Tyrant abroad and first being reiected by Marie of Lorraine daughter to the Duke of Guise whom hee desired as riuall to Iames King of Scotland his Nephew afterwards of Christian of Denmarke Dutchesse of Milan Grandchild to Charles the Fifth In the end seeking the friendship of the Protestants of Germanie with much adoe he obtained Anne of Cleue for his wife But beeing as readie to distaste Women as to loue them turning his heart away from her as soone as he had marryed her put her away as not beautifull enough for a Prince grounding himselfe vpon this that shee had beene betrothed before to the Duke of Lorraine's Sonne and that shee had some womanish weaknesse that made her vnfit for marriage But it was to take in her stead Katharine Howard daughter to Edmond Howard and Neece to Thomas of Norfolke whom he beheaded the yeere following accusing her to haue violated her chastity before shee was married and opens the Royall-Bed to Katharine Parre a Knights daughter and the second time Widdow Now when through intemperancy of his youth he perceiued the vigor of his body to decay being angry with the French King for hauing ayded the Scots against the English hee reconciles himselfe and makes alliance with the Emperour Charles against the French who hauing quite forgot the diuorce of Katharine his Aunt secretly giues him hope to reconcile him to the Church of Rome After hauing resolued to set vpon France thereby so much the more to worke himselfe into the Emperours friendship and quickly to cure the vlcers of his conscience propounded to the Parliament which was then assembled that when hee should happen to dye and his Sonne EDVVARD without issue MARIE should first succeed to the Crowne and afterwards shee leauing none ELIZABETH That if neither left any the Crowne of England should deuolue vpon such as he would designe eyther by Letters Patents or by Will Which passed for a Law with the good liking and consent of all and that the penaltie of Laesae Maiestatis should be inflicted vpon any that should goe against it Being returned from France after he had taken Bologne and consumed much treasure and beeing sad and heauy to see England deuided by new opinions which daily sprang vp and England groaned for sorrow to see her selfe so exhausted of her riches her Money corrupted with Brasse her Monasteries with the Monuments of great antiquity ruined the bloud of Nobles Prelates Papists and Protestants promiscuously spilt and entangled in a Scottish warre hee died with a perpetuall fluxe of Grease flowing from him caused by a poysonous inflammation in the thigh An. 1547. he breathed his last A magnanimous Prince but I know not what confused temper of spirit he had great vertues he had and no lesse vices EDVVARD his sonne hauing scarce attained to the age of tenne yeeres succeeded him and had for his Protector Edw. Seymor Duke of Sommerset his Vnkle vnder whom the English hauing taken vp armes for to reuenge the violated faith of the match agreed vpon betweene Edward and Marie Queene of Scotland the English obtained a notable victory ouer the Scots neere Musselborough this pernicious Law of Six Articles and others which had beene established by King HENRY the Eighth against the Protestants are suppressed and those which tended to the abolishing of the Popes authoritie confirmed the Masse abrogated the Images taken out of the Temples the Bookes of the Old and New Testament imprinted the Diuine Seruice celebrated in the vulgar Tongue the Eucharist distributed vnder both kindes But neuerthelesse the auaritious sacriledge fell rauenously vpon pillaging the goods of the Church Colledges Quiers Hospitals as things iudged to bee for superstitious vses ambition and enuy among the great ones audacitie and disobedience among the Commons so insolently exulted that England seemed to be raging madde with rebellious tumults taking sides deprauation of money and withall the euils that are accustomed to be during the minority of a King these wasted and consumed within the Land Also dammage was receiued abroad as the losse of Forts which the English had made in Scotland and in France and the Towne of Bologne which had cost so much which to the shame of the name of English was deliuered vp into the French Kings hands for money with all the Fortresses of the Countrey of Bologne which the English had built the Cannons and Munitions of warre when England was so disioynted by diuision that it was not able to keepe them and Charles the Emperour hauing no will to ayde it although he was intreated in consideration of the alliance with him excusing himselfe for that it had beene conquered since no not to accept of it being offered vnto him gratis And to adde an ouer-plus of infelicity the Protector not being wary enough of the subtilty and deceits of Dudley Duke of Northumberland is by vertue of a new law condemned of Felony for entring into counsell how to take away the liues of some of the Kings Councellors to wit of Dudley and some others hee lost his head and his Sonne by a priuate Law bereaued of the greatest part of his patrimony and of his Fathers honours The King being vnprouided of his faithfull Guard is snatched away vncertaine whether by sicknesse or poyson before hee was ripe leauing an incredible griefe with his people for the great and excellent vertues which hee had farre surpassing his age At the same dolefull and heauy time Dudley hauing broken the fraternall amity that was between the Protector and Tho. Seimor his brother vpon occasion of an emulation of Women which was betweene the Queene Dowager wife to Thomas and the Dutches of Somerset the Protectors wife amongst other things to conuict Thomas of Crimen laesae Maiestatis that he intended to reduce the King into his owne power and to marry ELIZABETH the Kings Sister shee indeed ignorant of the matter grew vp in yeeres and was in singular fauour with EDWARD her brother who neuer saluted her but called her his sweet Sister as also with the Peeres and the Common-people For she was full of grace and beauty and worthy of Soueraigne Authority of modest grauity cleere and quick-witted of a happy memory and indefatigable in the studies of best letters insomuch that before she attained to the Age of 17. yeeres she very well vnderstood the Latine tongue the French the Italian and the Greeke indifferently Neither wanted shee skill in Musicke that was beseeming a Prince and she sung and plaid cunningly and sweetly With Roger Ascham who was to guide her in her Studies she read the Common places of Melancthon all Cicero a great part of the History of Titus Liuius the choice Orations of Isocrates wherof she translated two into Latine Sophocles Tragedies and she read the New-Testament in Greeke By which
meanes she adorned her tongue with pure words and instructed her mind with the best documents and good learning not for pompe or ostentation but to recreate her life and frame her selfe to vertue that among the learned Princes of her time shee was held Miraculous But the death of EDVVARD interrupted the studies of the Liberall Arts For scarce was he expired but Dudley Duke of Northumberland who earnestly coueted the Kingdome for Iane Gray to whom he had affianced his Sonne vsed some persons to perswade her to quit the right which shee had to the Kingdome for a certaine summe of money and great possessions in Land She modestly answered that they ought first doe well to agree with Mary her elder Sister because that during her life she could pretend no right to it Anon after by the publike voice of a Cryer Iane Gray HENRY the Eighth's Neece by his second Sisters Daughter was proclaimed Queene of England the cause thereof being sought out was found to bee that in regard of a Lawe by Act of Parliament which had neuer been duely abrogated MARIE and ELIZABETH had beene declared illegitimate although that by the same Lawe the King their Father had declared that after EDVVARD the Sixth if Issue fayled that they should succeede him in order and that by the Ciuill-Law of England such Sisters could not hereditarily succeede EDVVARD because they were not Cousin Germanes but as our learned in the Law say of the halfe Blood They adde likewise that HENRY the Eighth had by his last will nominated Iane Gray Moreouer it was shewed what danger there were if MARIE and ELIZABETH should marrie stranger Princes which would re-establish the Popes authority which was reiected out of the Kingdome And to that purpose they produce Letters Patents that EDVVARD the Sixth a little before his death had perfected and many of the Peeres Bishops Iudges and others by their signes in writing had fortified neuerthelesse the good-will that the Lords and the Commons bore to the Daughters of HENRIE the Eighth within twentie dayes had driuen away this storme and MARY proclaimed Queene through all parts of England who comming toward the Citie of London with an Armie ELIZABETH not to bee wanting her Sisters cause and hers being yet disquieted went accompanied with fiue hundred Horse to meet her vpon the way In the first Assembly of the Parliament that MARY caused to bee holden what things soeuer had beene decreed against the marriage betweene Qu. Katharine and HENRY the Eighth were abrogated and it was iudged lawfull by the Diuine Law and at all times and at all places auaileable for these reasons Because it had bin contracted by the consent of both their Parents of most Illustrious Princes of most graue Personages as well of England as Spaine and with a graue and constant deliberation of the learnedest men of Christendome and consummated by the procreation of Children The same religious Seruice and administration of the Sacraments which were in vse at the decease of HENRY the Eighth are re-established notwithstanding without any mention of acknowledging the Popes authority which thing put the Queene and Cardinall Pole into great trouble and vnquietnesse who thinke that for matter of the marriage consent of Parents and the iudgement of the wise did but onely depend vpon the Dispensation of Pope Iulius the second and were very angry that the vse of the Sacraments were permitted to those who were not as yet well and duely receiued into the Church without the authoritie of the Pope But the States of the Kingdome and MARY bethought her selfe of it feared to receiue and acknowledge the Popes authority which they had already shaken off neither could they suffer that the Queene should quit the Title of Soueraigne head of the Church of England to which the most part of them Prelates Peeres and Common-people had sworne to HENRY the Eighth his heires and successors and there were many of them that had got their riches from those of the Church But tooke it greatly to heart to forsake him perswading herselfe that all the right that she had to the Kingdome of England was vpholden by no other meanes then by the power of the Pope who gaue sentence of her side after her Father had declared her illegitimate Verily many at that time had the Popes power in such hatred and a strangers yoke that within tenne dayes after that MARY was married to Phillip King of Spaine Tho. Wyat and many others of Kent brake out into rebellion perswading themselues that this marriage was made to no other end but the more rigorously to presse them downe vnder the Romane yoke by the strength of Spaine and dispatch ELIZABETH out of the way who was next heire to the Kingdome of England Charles the fifth Emperour knowing what spirits were in England and that Cardinall Pole was going with power of Legate from the Pope cast a blocke in the way not without the Queenes counsell lest he should trouble businesse not as yet established that he should not come into England till fifteene moneths were expired when the third Parliament was ended and the marriage of MARY and Philip should be celebrated by the Dispensation of Pope Iulius the third because they were allied in the third degree and that the Emperour Charles himselfe had heretofore contracted to marry her being then vnder age for time to come At last being dismissed from the Emperour he came into England by demands and obtestations propounded orders that the lawes against Heretikes might be re-established all Lawes published against the Sea of Rome since the twentieth yeere of Henrie the eighth abolished and the whole body of the Kingdome reconciled to the Church of Rome The which with great difficulty he obtained yet not before the goods taken from the Monasteries Colledges Bishops c. by Henry the eighth and Edward the sixth were confirmed vpon like Couenant to the Queene and the possessors lest the Kingdome should be disquieted Foorthwith hereupon he absolued both the Clergie and people of the crime of Schisme and Pope Iulius the third himselfe with great ioy celebrated a solemne Masse at Rome ordained Prayers published a Iubile and granted a plenarie Indulgence to all who had giuen God thankes for the revnion of the Kingdome of England Then is sent vnto him Anthony Viscount Montaigue Thomas Thurlbe Bishop of Ely and Edward Carne to giue thankes for the pardon which he had granted for the Schismes and in the name of the King the Queene and the Kingdome and that due submission and obedience should be performed to the Pope and See of Rome Iulius then being deceased Paulus 4. gaue them audience and publike conference in the Apostolike Palace and in the Hall of Kings receiued their obedience approued the pardon and absolution granted by Cardinall Pole And for the well deseruing of Mary and Philip he out of the fulnesse of his power erected for euer Ireland to be a Kingdome and adorned
she expostulateth the matter 112 The States excuse themselues 113 Leister sendeth succour to the city of Graue it is yeelded and the Spaniard expelled 114 An aduentrous enterprise ibid. Venolo is lost 115 Axell is taken ibid. Graueline attempted ibid. Ausborough beleagred ibid. Sir Philip Sidney slaine 116 States of Holland complaine to Leyster 117 He returneth into England 118 Earle of Arundell questioned and answereth for himselfe ibid. King of Denmarke intercedeth for a peace with the queene of England ibid. Queene Elizabeth answereth 119 She furnisheth Henry king of Nauarr with money 120 Shee desireth a league with Scotland ibid. Iesuites and Popish Priests suggest diuerse things to the queene of Scots ibid. King of Scotland propoundeth conditions and is not a whit deterred by the French 121 King Iames answer to them 122 A conspiracy against queene Elizab. 129 How discouered 130 Ballard returneth into France ibid. Ballard sent back into England meeteth with Babingâ—on ibid. Babington receiueth letters from the queene of Scots 131 He writeth back to her and she answereth him 132 His associates in the conspiracy 133 Babington giueth to euery one his taske 134 They consult together 135 Babington vndertakes to bring in forreine ayde and sends Ballard to worke for him 136 Gifford discouereth all the conspiracy ibid. Sendeth the letters hee receiued to Walsingham 137 Ballard is taken ibid. Babington solliciteth for Ballards liberty and falleth into the same net ibid. Getteth himselfe out lyeth in a wood and is found 138 All the rest of the conspirators are discouered 139 Queene of Scots kept with a guard and separated from her seâ—uants ibid. Her coffer with letters sent to the qu. ibid. Giffard sent into France dyeth miserably 140 The traytors come to iudgement ibid. Queene of Scots Secretary examined 143 King of France aduertised ibid. Sundry opinions how to dispose of the Sccottish queene ibid. By what law she should be iudged â—44 Commission granted to that end 〈◊〉 Who met at Fotheringham Castle â—46 Her sudden answer to the letters ibid. She refuseth to be tryed 148 Exception against the new law 149 Sir Christopher Hatton perswadeth her to appeare 150 Her tergiuersation 151 She yeeldeth at last to appeare and answer 152 Manner of the sitting ibid. Lord Chancellors speech 153 Her protestation recorded ibid. Proceeding 154 She denieth the former allegation ib. Copies of letters shewed 155 Extracts out of Babingtons confession ibid. Shee is vrged with the confessions of Sauage and Ballard 156 Walsingham is blamed ibid. Maketh his Apologie 157 Pagets and Babingtons letters produced 158 Secretaries testimonies ibid Their credites questioned ibid. Arguing about transferring the kingdome 159 Giuing of a pension to Morgan excused 160 Queene of Scots offereth the Duke of Guise and her sonne pledges 161 Lord Burghley's answer 162 She interrupteth him but hee proceedeth 163 Letters shewed againe 164 She interrupteth their reading ibid. Her Secretaries not to be credited ib. She is accused againe for transferring the kingdome and accuseth her Secretaries of periury 165 Sir Thomas Egertons demonstration ibid. She craueth a hearing in open Parliament ibid Sentence pronounced against her 166 Declaration that the sentence against the queen of Scotl. was not preiudiciall to her sonne 167 The States approue the sentence ibid. Queene Elizabeth's answer 168 Some other remedy desired by the qu. 172 Answer to her ibid Her reply to them 173 Queene of Scotland is certified of her Iudgement 177 French Ambassadour stayeth the publishing of the sentence 178 Courage of the queene of Scots ibid. A request made to queene Elizabeth 179 Opinions of the queene of Scots cause 180 Queen of Scotlands sonne intercedeth for her 18â— Some Scots against her ibid. King of Scots propoundeth some thingâ— considerable 18â— Bellieures reasons for the queene of Scotland 18â— Answers to his reasons 28â— French Ambassador attempteth queen Elizabeth's life 192 Stafford discouereth it 193 French Ambassador rebuked 194 Whether an Ambassador be bound to discouer any attempt against the Prince to whom he is sent ibid. Businesse weighed 196 Courtiers perswade by reasons 197 The queene perplexed with doubtfull feares 199 She causeth a Warrant to be drawne for the execution ibid. Her Councell send secretly 200 The queene of Scotland prepares her selfe for death ibid. Her speech 201 She is brought to the scaffold 202 Her speeches to Meluine her steward 203 Also to the Earles ibid. In the behalfe of her owne seruants ibid. Her attendance by officers to the scaffold 204 Her prayers ibid. Her last words ibid. Deane of Petherboroughs speech 205 Her variety of fortunes related 206 Her Epitaph 207 Gods prouidence plainly seene in her death 208 Queene Elizabeth is much grieued at her death ibid. Is angry with her Councell ibid. Her letter to the King of Scotland 209 Dauison brought into the Star-chamber 210 He is obiected against ibid. He answereth for himselfe ibid. He is vrged vpon his owne confession 211 He is reproued by the queenes Sergeants 212 Iudges giue their opinion ibid He is chekt 213 Lord Gray defendeth him ibid. Earles agree with him 214 Sentence giuen against Dauison 215 A request made to the Commissioners ibid. Dauison his particular Apology ibid. Indignation of the Scots 217 Suggestions to the king 218 Drake sent into Spaine 221 Stanley and Yorke traytors 223 Leycester blamed 228 Death of Henry Neuill 234 Baron of Abergauenny 236 Of the Duchesse of Somerset 237 Of Radolph Sadleir 238 Of sir Thomas Bromley 240 Of the Earle of Rutland 241 Of sir Christopher Hatton Lo. Chancellour 242 William Fitz-William Deputy of Ireland 250 Great preparations in Spaine to inuade England and by what counsail 252 The reason 253 Consultation how to assault and subdue England 254 Preparation in Flanders 255 The Pope giues assistance 256 Consultation how to defend the kingdome 257 King of Scotlands alacrity against the Spaniard 258 Commissioners sent into Flanders to treat of peace 259 Propositions of the English answered 260 Complaint made vnto the Duke of Parma 262 Conference of peace breakes 263 The Spanish Armado 264 Sets forth and is dispersed ibid. Sets out againe 266 The English Nauy sets out 267 The first fight 268 Ability of the English Elect. 269 Peter Valdes taken 270 The Ship of Oquenda taken 271 Admirall of Englands prouidence 273 The third fight 275 Knights created for their valour by the Lord Admirall 276 Diuers Noblemen and Knights ioyne with the English Fleet. 277 Spanish Fleet at anchor ibid. Duke of Parma sent for by the Spaniard but he is vnprepared 278 Hollanders good seruice ibid. Spaniards flight 279 Hugh Moncada slaine 280 Fourth combate 281 The Spaniards resolue to return home by the North Sea 282 Queene Eliz. visites her Campe. 283 Conditions offered vnto the King of Scotts 284 Money coyned in memory of this famous victory ibid. Misery of the Spaniards in Ireland 285 Causes of the defeat ibid Patience of the Spaniard in this ouerthrow 286 A generall thankesgiuing and publick reioycing in England ibid.
best endeuours at the Popes Court in Rome for to cause the high and mighty Princesse Mary Queene of Scotland to be acknowledged and declared Queene of England yet Queene ELIZABETH neuer intended nor meant in her heart to match with the King of Spaine being quite contrary to her vertuous disposition hauing a feruent desire and settled resolution to ground and aduance the true Protestant Religion to which shee was most zealous Therefore deeming that shee could not vndertake or vphold a worthier thing more agreeable to God nor more efficacious for to quench the flames of the pretended loue of so importunate a Sutor then to labour to procure an alteration of Religion with all possible meanes and speede which could be not doubting in so doing to alter likewise the will and intent of King Philip Whereupon and forthwith her Maiesty consulted and tooke aduice with her most intimate and sincere Priuy Councellors how in abolishing the Roman Religion she could conueniently settle in stead of it the true Catholike and Christian Faith and examining what dangers might succeed and happen thereby and how they could be preuented and auoyded who fore-see and iudge what dangers could be procured either out of the Kingdome or within the Realme without either by the Pope who surely would not misse raging with his excommunications to expose the Realme as a prey to whosoeuer could inuade it Or by the French King who taking such opportunity at the occasion by that would slake and delay the Treatise of Peace which was already begun in the City of Cambray or else and rather in the behalfe of the Royall Queene of Scotland would declare open war with England vnder colour of Enemies and Heretiques and would possesse thereunto Scotland to condiscend to it which at that time was at his command and disposing Or by the Irish who were most addicted to Papistry and much apt and giuen to rebellion or by the King of Spaine who was then most mighty and powerfull in the Netherlands Englands neighbouring Countries Vpon this throughly and well considered they first resolue that for the Popes excommunication her Maiestie should not feare accounting it but as a brutish rage and fury and that if a Peace was offered by the French King it was behoofefull and requisit to entertaine it if not to seek it by all meanes because in it it would cōprehend the loue of Scotland yet neuerthelesse not to forsake or disparage any kinde of waies the Protestants of France and Scotland Also that it was requisite to fortifie and strengthen the Towne and Garrison of Berwicke with the rest of the Frontires of Scotland and Ireland and by all meanes possible to increase and maintaine such formal Ioue and the ancient alliance with those of Burgundie Within the Realme first by such Nobles who had bin deiected from the Queenes Priuy Councell next by such Bishops and Church-men who should be degraded and put out of their benefices and places and after by those Iustices of the peace that were for each County as also by the common people who vnder Queen MARIES raigne were most affectionate to the Roman Church Therefore they deemed and thought good first to depriue such of their offices and reprehend them by the seuerity of Laws as Queene MARY had formerly vsed the Protestants and therefore to admit and institute in each place and office of command the Protestants onely and to settle them in euery Colledge of both Vniuersities and by the like meanes to discharge and turne out all Papists-Professors and Rectors there and also such Schoole-masters and Tutors of Winchester Aeton and other free Schooles and for those who being possest onely of a desire of Change though Protestants had begun to inuent a new Ecclesiasticall Policie that it was likewise requisit to reprehend them in time and to suffer and tolerate but one and the selfe-same Religion through the whole Realme for feare that diuersities of Religion should kindle seditions betwixt among the people of England being a warlike Nation both couragious and generous Therefore speciall charge and care was giuen to Sir Thomas Smith a worthy Knight truely iudicious and wise also to the noble Gentlemen M. Parker Master Bill Master Coxe Master Grindall Master Whitehead and Master Pilkinton who all were most learned and temperate for the correcting of the Liturgie which had been before penned and published in English in King EDWARD the Sixt's raigne without making any more priuy thereunto but the Lord Marquis of Northampton the Earle of Bedford I. Gray of Pyrg and Cecil But certaine Ministers impatient of delay by the length of time which ranne and past away in these things desiring rather to runne before good Lawes than to expect them in their feruent zeale began to preach the Gospell of Christs true Doctrine first priuately in houses and then openly in Churches at which the Commons curious of nouelties ranne thither and whole flockes of people resorted to their hearing from all parts and places in great multitudes contesting so earnestly one with another the Protestants against the Papists vpon questions of controuersies in Religion that for to preuent tumults and seditions and also the occasions of further quarrels and strifes the Queenes most excellent Maiestie was as it were compelled of necessity to defend expressely by strict Proclamation to all in generall not to dispute any more nor enter into any such questions yet notwithstanding giuing full leaue and authoritie to reade to her people the holy Gospell and the Epistles and Commandements but not as yet to make any explication thereof and to haue the Lords Prayer the Apostolicall Creede and the Letanie in the vulgar tongue And for the rest shee ordained the Romane stile to be obserued vntill that by the authoritie of a Parliament the whole forme of Gods Diuine Seruice should be settled and of new instituted and in the meane while her Maiestie solemnized Qu. MARIES Funerall which glorious preparation made then a most magnificent shew in Westminster and shortly after shee payed to Charles the Fifth his honours who two yeares afore rare example of all Caesars and more glorious than all his victories in conquering himselfe had renounced his Empire withdrawing himselfe from this mortall life to liue for euer wholly with God THE SECOND YEERE OF HER RAIGNE Anno Domini 1559. AT the beginning of this yeere Queene ELIZABETH re-established and restored of new W. Parr to the dignity of Marquis of Northampton who vnder Queene MARIES raigne had beene degraded of that honour Her Maiesty also reconferred the Barony of Beauchamp and Earledome of Hartford vnto Edward Seymor a noble Gentleman who by the force of a priuat Law the malice and enuy of his aduersaries had beene depriued of the greatest part of his Patrimony and Ancestors honours Her Maiestie likewise honoured with the Title of Viscount Bindon the Lord Thomas Howard second sonne to Thomas Duke of Norfolke
that they should forbeare absolutely to beare these Armes by the intercession of M. Memorency the Guizes Emulator who thought it not to be any honour for the King of France to take any other Title or to graue in his Seales any other armes than the Armes of the Kings of France and shewed that this Title alone was of more importance than many others and that the precedent Kings had no other when they sought their right in Naples and Milan And truely from these Titles and these Armes which the King of France at the instigation of the Guizes hath taken from the Queene of Scotland then vnder age all the disasters which afterwards happened vnto her haue flowed from that for from thence came the enmities openly declared by Queene ELIZABETH against the Guizes and those which shee practised against her priuatly which by the subtil malice of men who made vse of the growing enuy and of the occasions which sprung from day to day haue beene so fomented on both sides that nothing could extinguish them but death for Soueraigntie admits no Companion and Enmitie against Maiestie is grieuous A few daies after in stead of giuing foure Hostages for the Towne of Calais as they were bound by the treaty of Cambray they gaue onely three the English Merchants are iniuriously dealt with in France one of the Ambassador Throgmortons seruants was sent to the gallies which F. great Prior of France had taken carried away by force from a publique place Some Pistols were shot at the Ambassadour himselfe and in his owne lodging and to make him the more contemptible hee was serued at the Table with no other Vessell but such as the Armes of England and France were ioyntly grauen on Finally la Brosse was sent into Scotland with a troupe of choyce men Gallies were sent for from Marseilles and from the Mediterranean Sea Those in Scotland which professed the Protestants Religion and qualified themselues with the title of the Assembly perswaded by certaine heady Ministers and especially by Knox a most hot controller of the Royall authority that it behooued the Peeres of the Realme to take away Idolatry from their authority by force to settle the Princes within the limits prescribed by the Lawes had already refused to obey the Queene-Mother and Regent though shee was a modest and a prudent woman changed Religion tumultuously ransacking and burning the sacred places drawne to their partie Hamilton Duke of Chastelraut the most powerfull of all the Kingdome much prouoked by the wrongs done by the French and many Nobles were bayted with hope to haue the Ecclesiasticall Reuenues insomuch as they seemed not to thinke of Religion but to plot in good earnest a reuolt against the Queene Regent and against the French which made warre in Scotland and accused Iames Prior of Saint Andrewes Bastard brother to the Queene their Coriphea who since was Count of Mura to haue coueted the Kingdome from his Sister But by the holy protestations which hee made vnto them hee tooke away all suspition of hauing any other ayme but the glory of God and the Countries liberty and that seeing it opprest by the Queene Regent and the French he could not chuse but lament most bitterly for it They sent William Maitland of Lidington Secretary to Queene ELIZABETH and hee in a pittifull discourse complained to her that since the marriage of the Queene of Scotland with the Daulphin the administration of the Kingdome had beene changed strange Souldiers spoyl'd and ruin'd all the French were placed in the chiefest offices of the Kingdome the Castles and strong places put into their hands the pure money corrupted for their particular profit and that by these deuices and the like they fortifie themselues fraudulently to take away the Kingdome as soone as the Queene should be dead Cecill who was the principall minister that Queene ELIZABETH vsed in this businesse and in all other for his singular wisedome employeth H. Percy who afterwards was Earle of Northumberland to know what end the Lords of that Assembly propounded to themselues what meanes they had to obtaine that which they desired and if one should send them succour vpon what conditions might Amitie bee maintained betweene the two Kingdomes They answered that they propounded not to themselues any other end but the aduancement of the glory of Iesus Christ and the sincere preaching of Gods Word to extirpate superstition and idolatry and to keepe the liberty of their Ancestors which they knew not by what meanes it might be done but they hoped that God would giue successe to their designes according to their desire to the confusion of their aduersaries And as for the intertaining of amitie betweene the two Kingdomes that that was the abridgement of their wishes and thereunto vowed their goods their faith and their constancy They deliberate slowly of these things in England because the Scots were not well furnished with money and armes nor very faithfull among themselues But they considered that the Marquis D' Elbeuf Vnkle to the Queene of Scotland had leuied men in Germanie by the meanes of the Ringraue for the Scottish warre that they had brought downe into the Hauens peeces for battery that the preparations which were made were greater than was necessary for the restraining as was pretended of a small number of vnarmed Scots that the French to draw to their league the King of Denmarke promised him that the Duke of Lorraine should quit the right which hee pretended to haue to his Kingdome and that likewise the censure of the Pope against the Queene was more importunately sollicited than euer and a sentence declaratory for the right of the Queene of Scots to England there was sent vpon the frontiers of Scotland one Sadler a prudent man and the Counsellor of the Duke of Northumberland who guarded the South frontier and Iames Croft Gouernour of Barwicke For the Councell of England could not see what these things tended vnto except to inuade England and to pursue by armes that which they attributed to themselues by their Coates and Titles Now doe they in England seriously consult vpon the businesse and it seemed to them to be a very bad example that one Prince should lend ayde and succour to the subiects of another Prince who rayse vp broyles and tumults but it seemed also that it were an impietie to abandon those who professe the same Religion a slow wisdome to permit the French who were sworne enemies to the name of English challenged the Realme of England and enioyed at that time in all places an assured peace to remaine armed in Scotland so neere England and so opportunely for the inuading of that side where Nobles and Commons of England are most affectionate to the Romish Religion That it were to deliuer cowardly into the Enemies hand the safetie of particulars and the peace of the generall For that cause it behooued not to stand vpon dreaming and
slow Counsels but to dispatch and take armes That the prudence of England had alwaies beene accustomed to goe meete their enemies and not to waite for them and that it had euer beene aswell suffered to preuent dangers as to expell them to defend themselues with the same weapons that they are assayled with That England was neuer assured but when it was powerfull and armed that it was more powerfull when it had nothing to feare but the Scottish coast and that to take away this feare it were meete to assist those which professed the same Religion and chace the French out of Scotland against whom Armes are very auaileable but not Counsels That for hauing contemned them too much heretofore they had lost Calais with shame and hurt and a little before by surprize Ableville and the forts neere Bullen whiles they fained to seeke a peace which was the cause that Bullen afterwards was constrayned to render and that they should looke for no lesse of Barwicke and the frontier Townes if they tooke not armes the sooner without staying to see what the French will doe who looke as if they meant to make peace in Scotland Their designe being hidden their ambition infinite their reuennew exceeding great insomuch that it is growne a Prouerbe long agoe in England that France cannot be three yeeres both without warre and without meanes Queene ELIZABETH also often alledged this saying of the Emperour Valentinian Haue French for a friend but not for a neighbour It was resolued then that it was iust necessary and profitable to driue the French out of Scotland as soone as could be possible In the end a Nauy was sent into Borrough which is now called Enden-borrough Frith coÌ„ducted by W. Winter master of the Nauall Artillery who to the great terrour of the French set vpon their ships which were there in the Road and vpon the Garrison that they kept in the I le of Inch-Keith Likewise presently the Duke of Norfolke was established Lieutenant generall in the Northerne parts towards Scotland the frontiers of the East and of the South were coÌ„mitted to the Lord Baron Gray who not long ago had couragiously but vnluckily defended Guien against the French and Thomas Earle of Sussex who in the reigne of Queene MARY had beene Deputy of Ireland is sent back thither with title of Lieutenant together with speciall command to ouer-looke this Irish Nation being so much the more superstitious by how much lesse it was husbanded and tilled should not be stirred to rebellion by the practices of the French vnder pretext of Religion to furnish Ophalie with some small Forts to giue to the old Soldiers some lands to be to them and their heires males begotten of their bodies to receiue Sulij-Boy Scotsh-Irish to hold the possessions which hee had claimed by hereditary right in the Countrey of Vlster to hold in fee and to doe homage and seruice for the same to increase moderately the reuenues of the Prince and reduce the treasury to the forme of that of England While these things passed thus F. Talbot the fifth Earle of the House of Shrewsburie dyed who was one of the chiefe Councellors of the Kingdome leauing for Heire George his onely Sonne by Marie Daughter to T. Dacre of Gilsland THE THIRD YEERE OF HER RAIGNE Anno Domini 1560. AS soone as the Duke of Norfolke was come to Barwicke the Prior of Saint Andrews the Baron of Rethuen and others came to meete him and in the name of the Duke of Chastelraut and his Confederates treated allyance with him for the Queene of England in these termes Whereas the French haue striuen by right or wrong to subdue Scotland and to vnite it to the Scepter of France the Queene of England will take into her Protection the Duke of Chastelraut the Heire apparent to the Kingdome of Scotland as long as the marriage of the King of France and Mary Queene of Scots shall last and one yeere more He shall set forth Armies by Land and Sea with all sort of warlike Munition to chase and driue the French out of Scotland He shall not make peace with them but with condition that Scotland shal enioy its former libertie The Forts which shall be taken from them by the ayde of the English shall be also presently demolished or put into the hands of the Duke of Norfolke according as hee shall thinke good The English shall not fortifie any place in Scotland but by the counsel of the Duke of Chastelraut and the Peeres of the Kingdome The Scots shall assist the English to their vttermost endeuours they shall hold their Enemies theirs and shall not suffer that the Kingdome of Scotland shall bee ioyned to France otherwise then by marriage as now it is If England be set vpon by the French on this side Tine the Scots shall send at the Queenes charge two thousand Horse and a thousand Foot-men If on the other side they shall ioyne themselues to succour the English with all the strength they are able to make and at their owne charge for thirtie dayes as they haue beene accustomed to doe for the defence of Scotland The Earle of Argaehel Iudge of Scotland shall labour to reduce vnto due obedience the Northerne parts of Ireland vnder certaine Conditions which shall bee agreed vpon betweene the Vice-roy of Ireland and himselfe Finally it is determined what the one and the other shall doe if Iames Maconel or others raise any commotion in the Countrey of Hebride in Scotland or in Ireland For establishing these things Hostages shall bee sent into England before the English Armie enter into Scotland which shall be changed at the discretion of the Scots from sixe moneths to sixe moneths or from foure to foure Moneths so long as the Marriage betweene the King of France and the Queene of Scotland shall last and a yeere ouer and aboue That the Duke of Chastelraut the Earles and Barons Conferrates shall ratifie these Coâ—â—entions vnder their Signes and Seales within twenty dayes and shall declare that in all things which shal not tend to the oppressing of their ancient Liberty they shal yeeld obedience to the Queene of Scotland and to the King of France her Husband forasmuch as the Queene of England vndertakes not these things but by way of friendship and neighbourhood and to free the Scots from Bondage It was already discouered by Messages from stranger Princes and intercepted Letters that the French were resolued to set vpon England Seb. Martigues a young Gentleman of the House of Luxembourg with a thousand old Souldiers and two wings of Horse was come into Scotland and Doisel a Frenchman assuring himselfe too much to be of the Councell of the Queene Regent of Scotland had propounded to the chiefe of the Kingdome at Aymouth neere Barwicke that ioyning their forces they at the very instant would put the King and Queene of Scotland in possession of England but hauing considered the difficultie of the thing
and not willing to violate the Peace newly agreed vpon they refused it Neuerthelesse Martigues being yong and liuely did so burne in desire to attempt England that with much adoe was he hindred by the wholsome councell of the Queene Regent but this heat was quickly quenched when it was knowne that a storme had so beaten the Marquis D'elbeuf vpon the coasts of Holland who sayled towards Scotland with greater Forces that he was constrain'd to returne to Diepe froÌ„ whence he departed with losse of some Ships of many Souldiers At that time Ph. Stauel of Glâ—ion Knight of the Golden Fleece and Master of the Artillerie was sent into England employed from Spaine to expose the complaints that the French made against the Queene touching the Affaires of Scotland and to counsell in the name of the King to Peace and concord yet neuerthelesse hee secretly counselled the Queene to pursue with courage what she he had begun in Scotland though contrariwise the Spaniard had openly forbidden to transport into England those munitions of War which she had couenanted for at Antwerp insomuch as she was constrained to make a new prouision thereof in Germany And the Proposition that Stauel made was not without suspition that some Companies of Spaniards should be sent into Scotland together with the French to suppresse the Scottish Rebels and by the same meanes the French themselues if they should attempt any thing vpon England At the same time M. Seuerin ordinary Embassadour of the King of France instantly sollicited the Queene to call backe her Armies both by Sea and Land from Scotland which she willingly accorded vnto prouided that the French should be recalled but by delayes sought out of the one side and the other the businesse is drawne into length till the comming of I. de Mouluc Bishop of Valence who differed not much from the Protestants Religion who vpon his arriuall from France being carried vnto the place said that he was not furnished with any power for this busines and notwithstanding he was very eloquent strained himselfe to his vttermost that those Armies should be recall'd from Scotland and maintain'd that it was not to defraud the Queene of England that the King and Queene of Scots carried the Armes of England but by that rather to honour the Royall House But not beeing able to perswade the one as being absurd nor the other as dangerous Seuerin desired Stauel and the Bishop of Aquilé Embassadour ordinary of Spaine in England to bee present and witnesses when he should protest against the Queene of England that shee had violated the Treatie of Peace to which they refused him because they had it not in Commission Neuerthelesse he made by a discource prolixe enough his protestation to which the Queene made an Answere which was published and set foorth by which shee testified to all the world That the violating of the Treaties proceeded only from the French and that nothing could happen to her more vexing and odious then this Warre and such like things which might easily be drawne from what had beene spoken heretofore and by a declaration in writing which she had formerly caused to be published Notwithstanding that although she had receiued many wrongs and iniuries in that they had vsurped the Title and Armes of her Kingdome she could not for all that beleeue that it had beene done with the consent of the King or Queene of France or the Princes of the Blood but by the wicked deuices of the Guizes who abusing the King and riches of the French were ready to wound England through the sides of Scotland That shee could not abandon her safety nor her Subiects And surely it is not to be doubted that the Guizes for the loue which they bore to the Queene of Scotland the hatred to Queene ELIZABETH in regard of Religion and the ambition to oblige France by adding new Kingdomes vnto it being assured of an English party of contrarie Religion to the Protestants linckt themselues together obstinately to ruine Queene ELIZABETH But they were diuerted by meanes of discontentments and hidden hatreds which grew vpon the Subiect of the administration of the affaires which were put into their hands after they had taken them from the Princes of the Bloud And the QVEENE went so prudently to worke and vpon the nicke to meete the designes of her Enemies that she hath beene alwayes had in admiration of her friends and in terrour to her Enemies The same day that Gray entered into Scotland with an Armie Seuerin and Mouluc earnestly sollicited Queene ELIZABETH to call it backe giuing her hope that Calais should bee rendred if shee did it But shee answered very plainely That she made no account of Calais a small Fisher-Towne in comparison of the safety of all Great Brittaine And the same day sent into Spaine Anthony Browne Vicount of Montaigue a man very remarkable for his wisedome but very zealous in the Romish Religion thinking that for that consideration he would bee more pleasing to the King of Spaine together with Tho. Chamberlaine Embassadour Ordinary to iustifie vpon how many iust causes she had sent an Armie into Scotland to wit those that I haue heretofore declared and to shew the Queen of Scotland had beene married very young to a sickly King vvho was without hope to leaue Issue that Hamilton Duke of Chastelraut hauing beene by the authority of the Parliament designed of the Kingdome of Scotland the Guizes had prepared Ambuscadoes for his Sonne as he should passe through France their designes were bent to ioyne the Crowne of Scotland to the Crowne of France and to conserue it for the Queene This matter the King of Spaine examined seriously how dangerous it was to the Prouinces of the Low-Countreys and of Spaine that it behoued not blast with Rebellion the assembly of the great ones in Scotland which was made for no other end but to keepe as by duty they are bound the Kingdome for the Queen and her lawfull successors not induring to permit that by the wiles of the Guizes it should be ruined or transferred to the French without wronging them or theirs Vpon the beginning of Aprill the English Armie composed of an hundred Horse and sixe thousand Foote marcheth toward Lieth which is a place situated neere Bodir where all the Seas of Great Brittaine doe beate and the Riuer of Lieth spreading broader dischargeth it selfe and makes a commodious Rode for Ships scarce two miles distant from Edenborrough the Capitall Towne of Scotland The French knowing this commodity had fortified it to retire thither and there receiue the succour which might be sent vnto them the English shewing themselues there Martigues goes as speedily out vpon them with some companies of Foote to hinder their approach to a Hill vpon which he supposed they intended to Campe but after a Skirmish of foure houres where some were slaine they driue them backe into the
of Saint George For hee seemed hereby vtterly to breake off all amity and friendship with England but shewed it much more by the refusall which was made him afterwards how he practised by his Ambassadour as hee did intercede by Count of Feria who had married the Daughter of W. Dormer which hee had by the Lady Marie Sidney for that the Queene permitted certaine men women and Children to stay in Flanders who for Religion were retired without leaue viz. to the Lady Iane Dormer Daughter of Thomas Newdigate and Widdow to Sir Robert Dormer Knight and to the Lady Clarence Grand-mother to the Count of Feria being very olde who had beene Fauourite to Queene MARIE and Almoner for the particular reliefe of poore women to Richard Shelley Prior of the order of Saint Iohn in England of which wee will speake hereafter and to Thomas Haruie all which were zealous professors of the Romish Religion and well beloued of the Spaniard This refusall was grounded vpon a restraint by the ancient custome Lawes of England prohibiting any person the Nobles and Peeres of the Kingdome excepted vpon paine of confiscation of their goods to depart out of their Countrey without speciall licence from the King and to reside in forraine parts beyond a certaine time prefixed and that either for the recouery of their health vnder a more warme climate or for the aduancement of their studies in the Academies or for their practice in militarie Discipline Whereof there was no president extant of any toleration granted to women to be continually absent from their Countrey and that moreouer the thing in it selfe seemed to be of no great importance Neuerthelesse in respect that those who desired it reaped not so much benefit thereby applying it to their owne particular ends as others were animated by their example to the detriment of the common good it was vnreasonable to condiscend vnto as the Queene signified to the King of Spaine The Earle stomaking this as a particular iniury to reuenge himselfe caused to be apprehended as an Heretique one of the seruants of Chamberlaine being there then Ambassadour ordinary for England and cast him into the Inquisition and rather as it were enuying the Queene and the English than the King himselfe added more fuell to his fire notwithstanding all the meanes his Wife vsed to disswade him It was also knowne that he was imployed to Pope Pius the Fourth in the beginning of his Papacy to presse the Excommunication of the Queene yet neuerthelesse the Pope vpon what good hope I know not sent vnto her Vincent Parpalia Abbot of Saint Sauiours with diuers secret aduertisements with a kinde Letter all which I will here at large insert howsoeuer I may seeme to sinne against the Law of Historie TO OVR MOST DEARE DAVGHTER IN CHRIST ELIZABETH Queene of ENGLAND MOST deare Daughter in Christ Salutation and Apostolicall Benediction God the searcher of all hearts knoweth and you may perceiue by the aduice that wee haue giuen you to behaue your selfe towards this our eldest Son Vincent Parpalia whom you know well how much we tender and desire according to the duty of our Office of Pastorship to prouide for your saluation honour together with the establishment of your Raigne thereby exhorting and admonishing your Greatnesse most deare Daughter that in reiecting those lewd Councellors who loue themselues better thâ—n you and aime but at their priuate ends You implore the feare of God to your Councell and remembring the time of your visitation you obserue our fatherly admonitions wholsome Counsels and we will promise you of our part all th' assistance you can desire not onely for the comfort of your soule but for th'establishment and confirmation of your royall dignities according to the authority place and charge committed to vs from God And if as wee most feruently desire and hope you returne into the bosome of the Church We will receiue you with the like affectionate loue as the Father of whom it is spoken in the Gospell receiued his Sonne when he returned to him and our ioy shall be farre greater then the ioy of a Father for his sonne onely But you in drawing after you the whole people of England shall heape with ioyes not onely to your owne particular saluation but to your whole Nation Vs and the Vniuersitie of our Brethren whom you shall shortly God willing heare to be assembled in an Aecumenique and generall Councell for th'extirpation of Heresies and the whole Church together You shall also cause the Heauens to reioyce and by such a memorable act purchase renowned glory to your name and a far more glorious Crown then that wherewith you are already crowned But of that the said Vincent shall more amply certifie you and fully demonstrate our fatherly affection toward you whom we desire your Highnesse to receiue courteously and graciously hearing him attentiuely and giue such credit to what he shall declare vnto you as you would vnto our selfe Giuen at Rome at Saint Peter's Palace the fifth day of May 1560. and of our Papacy the first I haue not found what Propositions were made by Parpalia for I cannot thinke that he was put in writing neither doth it please me to suppose as ordinarily Historians doe All the world knowes Queene ELIZABETH liued like her selfe and ALWAYES THE SAME and that the busines succeeded not to the Popes expectation The common fame also went for truth that the Pope promised to cut off as a thing vniust the sentence giuen against the marriage of Queene ELIZABETHS Mother to confirme out of his owne authority the English Liturgie and to allow in England the vse of the Sacrament vnder both kinds prouided that her Maiesty should ranke her selfe with the Roman Church and to giue some thousands of Crownes to such as laboured in these things The time of confirming the Treatie of marriage at Edenborrough was then come Queene ELIZABETH hauing by solemne Oath confirm'd and sent vnto the King and Queene of France also to ratifie the same on their part as it was meete Throgmorton Ordinary Ambassadour in France and Sir Peter Meuté Knight dispatched after him for the same purpose laboured to bring them to it But they preuailed not notwithstanding they had in expresse words vpon the Faith and royall word of a King by Commission from the Bishop of Valence deputed for passing this Treaty promised to confirm it The reasons they alledged to exempt themselues were That the Scots had past thorow Barwicke with the English not by Royall Licence but of themselues which they ought not to doe that they past like Rebels and that vnder colour of being Subiects they falsly profest themselues loyall and had no way shewed the obedience promised by it Whiles they were disputing hereupon Francis the second king of France not being yet eighteene yeeres of age left the most high and mighty Princesse Mary Queene of Scotland a Widdow at which
newes I cannot well say whether the Papists more lamented or the Protestants reioyced Queene ELIZABETH now perceiuing her selfe more secure then euer before to the end that the Church might subsist and encrease in her partie and that the Common-wealth might more more flourish in honour and riches proclaimed two most wholsome Edicts by the first wherof she commanded all Anabaptists and such other like Heretiques who vnder pretence of shunning persecution were come from Countries beyond the Seas to certaine Port Townes vpon the Coast of England to depart the Kingdome within twentie dayes whether they were natiue or strangers vpon paine of imprisonment and forfeiture of their goods And by the second Edict her Maiesty supprest a Sect of sacrilegious men who vnder colour of extirpating superstitions had begun to demolish ancient Sepulchers Epitaphs and Ensignes of Noble Families and other Monuments of reuerend Antiquity which had escaped the furie of the prophane vnder King HENRIE the Eighth and King EDVVARD the Sixth and to pull off the Lead that couered the Churches And moreouer cōuerted the Monastery of Westminster a most famous place for the sacring of the Kings of England and the place where the Armes and Royall Ensignes were alwaies kept into a Colledgiall Church or as I may better terme it into a Seminary of the Church And there instituted one Deane twelue Prebends one Master one Vsher fortie Schollers whom they call the Kings Nurseries out of which there be sixe euery yeere or more chosen for the Academies of Ministers and Singers twelue poore c. to the glory of God and the increase of true Religion and good Learning And certainly there comes out from thence happily for Church and Cōmon-wealth a number of Learned men Tooke away by little and little whereby shee gained great Honour and no lesse Glory the course of money mingled with Copper and brought in vse that which was pure fine siluer to restore the honour of the Kingdome to preuent the deceit of those which both within and without this had corrupted the kinds and chang'd things much auaileable for the good of the Common-wealth into coynes of false money and transported the good siluer into forraigne Nations and to abate the prices of vendible commodities which were extremely inhaunc't to the great preiudice of the Common-wealth and aboue all for Stipendiars Soldiers Seruants and all such as are payde for their labours by hyer and brought it most happily to passe in a few moneths without making any stirre first in forbidding all persons to melt or transport out of the Kingdome as well the good and pure money as that which was mingled with Copper Moreouer in bringing that which is so mingled to his value that is to say the Penny to a halfe-penny the two-penny piece to three-halfe-pence the sixe-pence to a groat and the rest to two and a farthing because there was no more money and finally buying them for good siluer of all such as had any of it prouided that they brought it within the time prefixt in the Table of money which could not be done without losse to her insomuch that wee ought to acknowledge it to proceede from Queene ELIZABETH that the siluer was better and more pure in England during her Raigne then in full two hundred yeeres before and that it was not vsed in any other part of Europe She afterward caused good Coyne to bee stamped for Ireland which we call sterling of which the shilling is worth twelue-pence in Ireland and in England nine A matter indeed waighty great and most memorable which neither King EDVVARD the Sixth could nor Queene MARY durst enterprize sithence King HENRY the Eighth was the first King that euer caused Copper to be mingled with Siluer to the great shame of the Kingdome damage of his Successors and people and notable token of his excessiue expence sithence his Father had left him more wealth then euer any other King left his Successor and likewise he had drawne abundance of money by the meanes of Tributes and Imposts without grounding our selues vpon that which Cardinall Poole had left in writing That he had drawne more then all the other Kings which had raigned since the Victory of the Normanes and heapt vp an infinite deale when by the power of a Parliament hee tooke vnto himselfe all the Lordships which the English beeing absent had held in Ireland all the first Fruites of Ecclesiasticall Liuings and the Tenths which were in England and Ireland all the reuennews gifts and goods belonging to Monasteries This yeere dyed Francis Lord Hastings Earle of Huntington the second of that Race who had by Katharine the Daughter of Henry Lord Montaigue Brother to Reinald Cardinall Poole Issue Henry who succeeded him and diuers other Children who agreed well in brotherly loue but not in Religion In Ireland Shan otherwise called O-Neale a great and potent man in the Countrey of Vlster and lawfull Heire to Coni O-Neale who surnamed himselfe Baco which is as much to say as Claude and was created Earle of Tyr-Oene by HENRY the Eighth after he had put to death Mathew Baron of Dungannon his bastard Brother who was taken for legitimate spoyled his Father of his rule and domination for which hee quickly dyed with sorrow tooke vpon himselfe the Title of O-Neale couering his head after a barbarous manner with that hee wore vpon his legges and feete cast himselfe into Rebellion for feare of beeing pursued by the Lawe so as fiue-hundred Foote were sent out of England to ioyne with two Companies of Horse leuied in Ireland against him But after hauing made some light Skirmishes perceiuing himselfe vnable to resist the English and to bee hated of his owne men and that Surly-Boy Iacob Mac-Connell and Odonnell were risen against him hee layde downe Armes at the perswasion of the Earle of Kildare his Kinsman and promised to come into England to aske pardon as wee shall describe it in a more ample manner in its proper place THE FOVRTH YEERE OF HER RAIGNE Anno Domini 1561. AT the beginning of the yeere Fr. Earle of Bedford hauing beene sent into France to end the mourning for the death of Francis the second to congratulate with King Charles for succeeding him summoned often the Queene of Scotland sometimes himselfe alone and sometimes accompanyed with Throgmorton to confirme the Treaty of Edenborrough but all in vaine For he could drawe no other Answer of it but That it behoued and was requisite not to resolue vpon so great a thing without mature deliberations and that shee neither would nor could confirme it without the Peeres of Scotland Throgmorton neuerthelesse ceased not to presse her instantly by all the meanes hee could deuise In like manner the Cardinall of Lorraine and all the other Guizes her Vnkles and Iames her bastard-brother who was newly arriued in France But whiles they thus did nothing but deferd it from day to day by
of France and the Chancellour of the Hospitall in an ample Discourse expressing to them the present felicity they thereby enioyed and the generall contentment they ought to receiue and testifie the same withall for the amplification of this subiect and out of a false surmize he reported to them that the day before the Townes surrender there was seene within the view thereof an English Fleet which came for ayde and succour and he openly auerred that by reason of this warre the English were wholly frustrate of their right and demand touching the restoring of Calais The infected Soldiers were transported into England who so spred the face of this sicknesse through a contagious and infectiue poyson as all the Kingdome was therewith grieuously afflicted onely in the Citie of London consisting of an hundred twenty and one Parishes within the compasse of one yeere an hundred and thirty thousand men rather more then lesse dyed Monsieur de Guize Vncle to the Queene of Scots dying while this Ciuill Warre lasted the Queenes Maiesty of Scotland not beeing paid her Dowrie Marquis Hamilton depriued of the Duchy of Chastelraut and the Scottish Guard being excluded from the King of France the Queen of Scots tooke it very much to heart But the Cardinall of Lorraine her other Vncle fearing that this would bee a subiect which might cause her to reiect the French and become friend to the English sends her word againe by Croc to marry with Charles of Austria and to offer for her Dowrie the County of Tyrol Shee aduertiseth Queene ELIZABETH thereof who counselled her by Randoll who I haue spoken on before to make choice of a Husband as heretofore I haue said and withall more plainely then yet shee had done recommended Robert Dudley whose wife beeing heire to Robsert had lately broke her necke and promised her in case that she would marry him to declare her Her Sister or Daughter and Englands Heretrix by Act of Parliament Foix the French Ambassadour made the Queene Mother and her Vncle 's acquainted with this who presently disdained the Party so much as altogether vnworthy of that Race and Royall Maiestie that they promised not onely to pay her Dowrie but also that the Scots should haue their ancient immunities yea and more if shee would stand firme in amity with France and reiect the marriage which was offered her telling her that Queen ELIZABETH did not propound this marriage to her seriously but with dissimulation as hauing destin'd Dudley for her owne Husband and that shee should not ground her hope vpon the authority of the Parliament because that in England one Parliament abolisheth what another hath established Furthermore that the designes of the Councell of England were no other but to hinder her from marrying at all She neuerthelesse referres it to the Colloque being molested with troubles in her Kingdome to see that the Arch-bishop of Saint Andrewes had beene imprisoned by the command of the Earle of Murray for not desisting to celebrate the Masse who would scarce grant him pardon though he asked it with flowing teares and that the feruent Ministers supporting themselues by Murrayes authoritie did violence to the Priest who had celebrated Masse in her Court being allowed by the Law and were not punished And it was not possible for her to suppresse those which troubled the affaires though all her care was wholy for the Common-wealth granting a perpetuall forgetfulnesse of all that was past increasing the stipend of Iudges establishing wholesome Lawes inflicting capitall punishment vpon Adulterers and often her selfe hearing causes pleaded in the Seat of Iustice so that by an equall Law shee gouerned both the great and the small In this vnlucky yeere dyed William Gray Baron of Wilton Gouernour of Berwicke who had in warre purchased great glory much diminished his patrimony for the ransome that he payed when he was taken prisoner in France The Protestants lamented much for him and Francis Earle of Bedford was substituted in his place Aluarus of Quadra Bishop of Aquila Ambassadour of Spaine in England likewise dyes who was no lesse lamented by the Papists whom he had fed with hope that the Romish Religion should haue beene re-established The Poles of whom I haue spoken were his intimates whereby he made himselfe suspected to haue nothing else in his minde but to trouble and disorder the affaires of England and to breake the amitie which was betweene the Queene and the King of Spaine whereupon the Queene intreated the King to reuoke him But hee excused it by his piety and writ backe that it would be a great incommoditie to Princes if at the first discontentment that is taken at their Ambassadours they should be constrayned to reuoke them And to say truth hee was displeased that without giuing him notice they had shut him vp in his House subiect to be questioned and publiquely reprehended for no other cause but that one Italian hauing shot another with a Pistoll he admitted him into his House and conueyed him priuately away whereupon he was more prouoked against the English than euer tofore taking occasion thereby to say that the English Pyrates molested the entries of Spaine and prepared to goe for the West-Indies and made it appeare manifestly sending Richard Shelley an English Fugitiue for Religion who was greatly bent against his Prince vpon an Embassie of honour to Maximilian the designed King of the Romanes to congratulate with him and seyzed vpon some English Merchants Ships in the Ports of Beotia because the English pursuing the French had intercepted some Spanish Ships William Lord Paget who for his vertue was exalted to three eminent dignities died Hee was so learned that HENRY the Eighth made him his Secretary sent him in an Embassie to the Emperour Charles the Fifth and to Francis the First King of France and he nominated him to be one of the Gouernours of the Kingdome during the minority of his Sonne Then Edward made him Chancellor of the Duchie of Lancaster Controller of the Kings House honoured him with the dignity of a Baron gratified him with the Order of the Garter which was reprochfully taken from him by Dudley Earle of Northumberland but restored againe with honour by Queene MARIE because by his prudence and sound aduice he had done good seruice to the Common-wealth and hee conferred vpon him the keeping of the Priuy Seale which is one of the foure highest dignities of ciuill honour For HENRY the Eighth by Act of Parliament constituted the first in the Chancellor the second in the Treasurer the third in the Lord President of the Priuy Councell and the fourth in the Keeper of the Priuy Seale aboue all Dukes and inferiour onely to the Children Brethren Vnkles or Nephewes to the King Queene ELIZABETH perceiuing that his old yeeres exempted him from being conuersant in matters of State as formerly he had beene remitted him of whatsoeuer belonged to publique administrations and
withall they shewed her that it could not bee done except she married or designed a certaine Successor For which cause they desired and aboue all things besought her to be ioyned by the sacred bond of Marriage with whom she would in what place she liked as soone as she pleased to the end to haue Children for helps to the Kingdome withall to ordaine with the States of the Realme a Successor certaine in case that shee or the Children which she might haue should dye without Children which God forbid And for the obtaining of these things so much the more easily being so necessary they represented vnto her many reasons for the same the feare which of fresh memory had seized vpon them with such a sicknesse of which they had beene but newly recouered the opportunity of the time the States of the Kingdome beeing then assembled which might maturely deliberate of so great matters the terrour which she should giue to her enemies by this meanes and the incredible ioy which she should fill the hearts of her Subiects withall They praise the examples of her Ancestors who in like cases prouided for the suretie of their Posterity condemning this saying of Pyrrhus who would leaue his Kingdome to him that had the sharpest sword And moreouer shewing her with what a storme England were threatned if she should dye without designing a certaine Successor there would follow impetuously vpon it seditions and intestine Warres of which the Victory it selfe is most miserable and that Religion should bee driuen out Iustice ouerwhelmed the Lawes trodden vnderfoot there beeing no Prince who is the soule of the Law and the Kingdome a prey to strangers They numbered and exaggerated many other like calamities which would inuolue all sorts of Families if she should dye without Issue And modestly they added counsels Precepts and examples drawne from the holy Scriptures But those of the Lower House debated of these things more tumultuously Bell and Monson Lawiers of great renowne Dutton P. Wentworth and others refuted Royall Maiestie too much and among other things maintained that Kings were bound to designe a Successor that the loue of Subiects was the most strong and inexpugnable Rampart of Princes their onely stay and Support That Princes could not obtaine this loue if they did not prouide for the good of their Subiects not onely while they liued but after their death That that could not be done if a Successor did not plainely appeare That the Queene for lacke of designing one prouoked Gods wrath and alienated the hearts of her Subiects That then to gaine the fauour of God and haue Subiects most affectionate and obliged and to raise her vp Statues in the hearts of men which would neuer perish shee should declare a Successor Others that shee should knowe that they did hold her not for a Mother and a Nurse but for a Stepdame and a murderesse of her Countrie seeing shee loued her selfe better than England which then breathed by her spirit would expire with her rather then subsist aliue That there were neuer but cowardly Princes haters of their Subiects and fearefull weake women who conceiued feare because of their Successors and that such as be enuironed with the loue of their Subiects ought not to apprehend the danger which might bee stirred vp against them by a declared Successor These things she heard with a great deale of displeasure but shee contemned them for a time and for a time kept them hidden For as vse had instructed her she well knew what danger there is to designe a Successor insomuch that Queene MARIE reigning many of the Nobility and of the people had cast their eyes and hearts vpon her as beeing to succeed her that euen as any thing had bin said or done in her most holy Cabinet or secret Councell they reported it to her and that Wyat and others misliking their state and desiring to innouate things had conspired against her to set her vpon the Royall Throne in her place Shee knew that the hopes of Competitors were better restrained and they kept in their duety while she suspended the wayting of euery one and made no declaration of any That by a precipitate desire to reigne euen Children haue tooke Armes against their Fathers and that shee could not looke for lesse from her kindred She had obserued in reading and when she disputed of that remembred incontinently that it was rarely found that the Successors had bin declared in the collaterall line That Lewis Duke of Orleans had neuer been declared Successor in the Kingdome of France to Charles the Eighth nor Francis Duke of Angoulesme to Lewis yet neuerthelesse they succeeded without any noise That such designation had alwaies in England beene the ruine of the designed and that Roger Mortimer Earle of March designed Heire by King Richard had not beene so soone extinct and his sonne Edmond constituted and kept prisoner twentie yeeres together but for this cause That I. Polhem Earle of Lincolne declared Successor by Richard the 3. after the death of his sonne by Henry the Seuenty was alwaies suspected and finally killed in warre as he was weauing of innouations and his brother Edward beheaded vnder HENRIE the Eighth But these things make vs goe from the purpose But as some ceased not with prouoked spirits and sharpe contention daily more and more to cry aloud these things which I come to tell and other things which had a greater sting the Queene hauing commanded that choyce should be made of thirty of the Vpper-House of Parliament and as many of the Lower and that they should appeare before her Shee with a light reproose made them milder and by force of her most worthy Maiesty diuerted them from their designe promising them with many words not onely the care of a Princesse but also the affection of a Mother And the States hauing offered her for Subsidies more than they were accustomed to doe vpon condition that she would designe a Successour Shee vtterly refused it as being too much receiued the ordinary commending their affection remitted the whole fourth payment of the granted Subsidie saying That her Subiects money was as well in their owne coffers as in hers The last day of these Sessions she spoke thus in few words which I will shut vp in fewer SEeing that the words of Princes doe often penetrate deepe into the hearts and eares of men heare these from mee As I haue simply cherished truth so haue I alwayes thought that you would ingeniously haue cherished her but it hath beene in vaine For I haue discouered that dissimulation thrusts her selfe into these assemblies vnder the maske of libertie and of succession There are some of them among you who are of opinion that I ought presently to grant or vtterly to refuse libertie to dispute of the Succession and to establish it If I should haue granted it those would triumph ouer mee hauing their wishes If I refused they had
had spread vpon the Queene or to cleanse it with his bloud vnlesse as he said himselfe his slanders might be accounted vaine by reason of his doting age Giue me leaue that the other side may be heard by diuers that writ thereof and at that time publisht it in print but such writings were soone call'd in both in fauor of the Earle of Murray and in hatred of the Queene and likewise by Ambassadours Letters worthy to bee beleeued In the yeere 1558. at the marriage of Francis the Dolphin of France and Mary Queene of Scotland Iames the Queenes Bastard-Brother commonly called the Prior of Saint Andrewes Metropolitan of the Order of Saint Andrewes despising that title was ambitious after a more splendid one but when the Queene by the aduice of the Guizes refused it him hee returned into Scotland discontented wherein vnder a faire pretext of reforming Religion and to establish the liberty of Scotland hee begun to trouble the State and effected it and so brought it to passe without the knowledge of the Queene in a Conuenticle of Confederates Religion was changed and by the calling in of ayde from England the French were driuen out of Scotland Francis King of France being dead he presently went to his Sister into France and hauing put away all suspition tending to her preiudice or dis-reputation for the affaires of Scotland swore vnto her calling GOD to witnesse to performe all dueties that a Sister could expect from a Brother and vpon the hope which he had that shee being brought vp from her tender age in the delicacies of France would not returne into Scotland workes with the Guizes to appoint some Noble-man of Scotland to be Regent there and almost poynted at himselfe to be the fittest man of all But hee being sent backe into Scotland without any authority but Letters of Commission by which the Queene gaue power to the States to assemble and consult for the good of the Kingdome and seeing himselfe deiected from his hope returned much vexed and passing thorow England made it there knowne that if they wished well to Religion in Scotland to the peace of England and the security of Queene ELIZABETH they ought by all meanes to hinder the Queene of Scotland to passe into Scotland Shee neuerthelesse being safely arriued in Scotland the English Ships being disappointed by obscure weather and being there embraced her Brother with all signes of fauour and good-will and in a kinde of manner committed vnto him the generall administration of affaires Notwithstanding all this the branches of his ambition are not cut off which grew daily and appeared both in words and deedes For hee could not containe himselfe but often among his friends deplored that the warlike Scottish Nation was no lesse subiect to the command of a Woman than the English was and by the instruction of Knox whom he esteemed as a Patriarke often debates that Kingdomes were due to merit and not to linage and that Women should be excluded from succeeding and that their gouernement were monstrous He treated likewise with the Queen by his friends that she should substitute foure of the Royall House of the Stewards who if she dyed without issue should succeed to the Crowne one after another without regarding who were legitimate or no thinking he should be one seeing he was the Kings Sonne though vnlawfully begotten But the Queene wisely considering that such a substitution was contrary to the Lawes of the Kingdome to defraud the right Heires a most pernicious example dangerous for her Subiects and would be an hinderance to her selfe for her second marriage she mildely answered That she would more aduisedly deliberate with the States of the Kingdome about a matter of such weight consequence and to testifie her fauour and bounty towards her Brother shee honoured him with the title of Earle of Mar afterwards with the Earledome of Murray for the dignity of Mar was then in controuersie being ignorant all this while that he aymed at the Kingdome and affirmed himselfe to be the lawfull Sonne of Iames the Fifth To make the easier way hereunto by meanes of the extraordinary fauour the Queene shewed to him he supprest the most noble Family of the Gordons powerfull in vassalage and command whom he both feared in respect of themselues as also by reason of the reformed Religion which adhered vnto him he expelled Hamilton Duke of Chastelraut out of the Court who was reputed next Heire to the Crowne imprisoned the Earle of Arraine his Sonne banished Count Bothwell into England dismissed all opposites of their honourable offices and places and retained the Queene vnder his power and suruey as a Gardian might doe his Ward aboue all other things being carefull that Shee might not negotiate nor intend any marriage And when he saw that of the one side the Emperour sollicited her for his Brother and the Spaniard on the other part for his Sonne he absolutely disswaded her both from the one and the other alledging vnto her how the ancient immunities of Scotland would not permit nor indure a strange Prince and whensoeuer the Scepter fell into the hands of Women they neuer made choyce of an Husband but within their owne Countrey of Scotland But in conclusion he perceiuing that all the Scots generally affected her marrying and discerning that by the perswasion and inducement of the Countesse of Lenox she desired to marry with the Lord Darley hee himselfe likewise then commended him vnto her for an Husband hoping in respect of his youth and for that he was of a tractable nature and disposition he would be euer at his direction and dispose Neuerthelesse when hee saw how dearely the Queene loued him himselfe to fall by little and little out of her fauour and grace hee repented of the counsell and aduice he had giuen and admonished Queene ELIZABETH to crosse this marriage by all the meanes possible that she could Presently after the Nuptials were accomplished and the Lord Darley proclaimed KING the King then presently reuoked such gifts as during his minority the Queene had conferred both vpon him and others whereupon being nigh associated with them he tooke vp armes against the King and the Queene pretending that this new King was dis-affected to the Protestant Religion and how she contracted this marriage without the consent of the Queene of England But hauing scarcely made any triall of the fortunes of warre he fled as I said into England where despayring of all succour he laboured by Letters to Morton a man of great subtilty and another like himselfe to effect that seeing the marriage could not be broken off yet that the affection and loue of the married couple might be abated by some secret practices and a fit occasion offered it selfe for after some domesticall and priuate grudgings to quaile the courage of this young King which boyled a little too hot and to preserue entyre her owne Royall prerogatiues in
condemned committed to perpetuall prison and her Sonne crowned KING Finally there wanted not others who for her summary chastisement and punishment would haue had her depriued both of her Royall Authority and life And this was vsually preach'd and diuulged by Knox and some other Ministers in the open Pulpit Throgmorton produced against this many reasons and Arguments taken out of the holy Scriptures touching due obedience and submission to superiour power who retaine the Sword of Authority in their hands arguing very strongly and constantly How the Queene was vnder no other Tribunall but that of the heauenly IVDGE neither could shee iuridically be constrayned to appeare and answer in the Court of any earthly Iudge That in Scotland the same authoritie which the Queene had not delegated nor made ouer to any other was nothing and by her reuocable But the Scottish-men replying alledged the peculiar rites and priuiledges of Scotland and that in extraordinary occurrents they might extraordinarily determine euen as they had collected out of Buchanans reasons who by the Earle of Murrayes perswasion then writ that Dialogue of the Right of Reigning or gouerning among the Scots who was condemned wherein he maintained against the Testimony of the Scottish Histories that the people were priuiledged to create or depose their Kings Notwithstanding Throgmorton ceased not importunately to sollicite them for the Queenes re-establishment and that himselfe might visit her though he no sooner opened his mouth in this poynt but they all replyed how this by no meanes could be granted him because herein they had denyed the French and that by this meanes they would not distaste the King of France to please and satisfie the Queene of England who as often experience heretofore had taught them laboured for nothing but her owne peculiar interests when shee was a meanes to driue the French away out of Scotland and lately shewed her selfe but niggardly and sparing of her fauours towards the Scottish Exiles Whereupon he thought it fit to take heed lest this importunity might vrge them to embrace the amity of the French and shake off that of the English when according to the French Prouerbe Qui quicte la partie la perd He that leaues his partie loseth it aduised and counselled the English to be carefull and iealous how they forsooke and lost the Scots After this by a Writing vnseal'd filled with variety of discourse which they committed to Throgmortons hands they vowed and protested that the Queene was remoued and restrained to a close place for no other end but to disioyne her from Earle Bothwell whom shee most entyrely loued till this heat of affection and her wrath conceyued against them might somewhat slacken and therefore they requested him to be satisfied in this Answer while some other Nobles of the Kingdome were assembled and yet neuerthelesse they restrayned the Queenes liberty euery day more and more though with teares shee intreated them to vse her more fauourably if not as Queene yet as shee was a Kings Daughter and Mother to their Prince and so hee many times requested that hee might goe and visit her but all in vaine Briefly not to rip vp in particular all the iniuries and disgraces offered her at last they made triall whether by milde and faire meanes they could induce her freely to giue ouer the gouernement either by reason of her weakenesse and indisposition or in respect of the trouble and annoyance it brought her to to reigne and gouerne which indeed they deuised for an excuse or else as others counselled her with more drift and subtilty to the end that being more weakly and gracelessely garded shee might the more safely and easily make her escape But when all this tooke no place they threatned to bring her to a publique triall to accuse her that shee had led an incontinent life murdered the King her former Husband and practised tyranny in violating the Lawes and ancient priuiledges of their Country especially those which De R. and De Oisel had enacted in the King of France his name and her owne Finally through feare of death and without euer hearing her answers they forced her to seale three Patents the first of which contained that shee assigned the gouernement ouer to her Sonne who was scarcely thirteene moneths old the second comprehending how shee constituted Earle Murray to be Vice-Roy during her Sonnes minority and the third implyed that in case Murray refused this charge shee ordayned for Rectors and Protectors of her Sonne the Duke of Chastelraut and the Earles of Lenox Arguile Athol Morton Glencarne and Mar But then shee presently certified the Queene of England by Throgmorton how shee had surrendred the gouernement of the Kingdome by compulsion and against her will subscribed to the Patent thereof by Throgmortons perswasion who informed her that any Grant extorted from her during imprisonment which causeth a iust and true feare was inualidious and of no effect But I will relate these things more at large in the yeere ensuing according as they may be faithfully extracted out of the Accusations and Answers of parties which were propounded at Yorke before the Commissioners to whom the absolute determination of this businesse was referred Fiue dayes after this Resignation or Grant IAMES Sonne to the Queene was consecrated and crowned King Iohn Knox then preaching publiquely after the Hamiltons had protested how it was without any manner of preiudice to the Duke of Chastelraut in the right of Succession against the Family of Lenox But Queene ELIZABETH forbade Throgmorton to be present hereat to the end that by the presentiall assistance of her Ambassadour shee might not seeme to approue this vniust deposition of the Queene Twenty dayes after Murray returned out of France into Scotland where hauing remained onely three dayes he went to the Queene with certaine of the Conspirators in his company he obiected vnto her many crimes and like a religious Confessor layd open vnto her many demonstrations to moue her to conuert vnto God with true repentance and to implore his mercy Shee shewed her selfe penitent for the sinnes of her life past confest part of them obiected to her extenuated some and excused others out of humane fragility and weakenesse but absolutely denyed the greater part entreated him to assume the mannaging of affaires vnder her Sonne and coniured him to be tender of her reputation and life Whereunto he made answer how this lay not in his power but shee must sue for it from the Estates of the Kingdome perswading her notwithstanding to obserue these things if she regarded either her life or honour That she should not disturbe either the peace of the King or Kingdome not to attempt the breaking of her imprisonment no wayes to excite the King of France or Queene of England to any domesticall or externall Warre no more to affect Bothwell and neuer to seeke any reuenge against them that were his enemies So soone as he was proclaimed Vice-Roy or
Regent he obliged himselfe by Writings vnder hand and seale to attempt nothing that should concerne either war or peace the person and marriage of the King or the Queenes liberty without the consent of the other Complices and hee caused the Lord of Lidington to informe Throgmorton that he should no more intercede for the Queene and that both himselfe and all others made choyce rather to indure any thing else than to permit that shee enioying liberty should still retaine Bothwell about her expose her Sonne to danger the Countrey to molestation and themselues to banishment We well know said hee what you English men can effect by a warre if you harrasse our frontiers and wee yours and are well assured out of the ancient alliance they haue alwaies entertained will neuer forsake vs. Neuerthelesse hee denied Ligneroll the French Ambassadour Leager to see the Queene while Bothwell were taken and contrary to that which he had promised to the King of France he daily intreated this miserable Queene most rigorously for all the good shee had formerly done him Hitherto so much as I could collect out of Throgmortons Letters Presently after Earle Murray put to death Iohn Hepborne Paris French Dowglas and some other of Bothwels seruants who assisted in the murdering of the King But when they came to their excution they protested before God and his Angels whereunto he gaue no eare that they heard Earle Bothwell say how himselfe and Morton were the originall Authors and discharged the Queene of all suspition As also Bothwell himselfe when hee was prisoner in Denmarke had often protested both during his life and at his death with a most sincere and religious attestation that she was innocent thereof and foureteene yeeres after when Morton came to vndergoe his last punishment he confest that Bothwell sollicited him to consent thereunto and he vtterly refusing to attempt the same except he first saw an expresse command in writing from the Queenes owne hand he replyed that this in no manner could be compassed but excluded it must be without communicating of it formerly to her Queene ELIZABETH and the King of France being much incensed with such a precipitant deposition and the Conspirators obstinacy against the sute of their Ambassadours it turning as it were to the reproch of Royall Maiesty they began to fauour the Hamiltons who still held the Queenes party Pasquier also Ambassador Leager for France treated with Queene ELIZABETH to procure her re-establishment by force of Armes who thought it most expedient first to prohibit the Scots all commerce with England and France while she were deliuered that so some diuision might grow betweene the Nobility and the people which Nobility seemed to conspire against her But for a while to passe ouer these affaires of Scotland Question being then made of restoring the Towne of Calais to the English according to the Treaty of Cambray seeing the eight yeeres therein specified were now expired Smith being sent into France with G. Winter Master of the Nauall Artillery after the sounding of a Trumpet before the gate of Calais which lookes towards the Sea with a lowd voyce in the French Tongue he demanded that according to the Articles of that Treaty the Town Territory with some Canons might be surrendred into his hands he also at the same time drew an Act by the hand of a publique Notary in the presence of some Germane and Flemish Merchants who were accidentally there at the same time and taken for witnesses and then he went presently to the King of France at Castell de Fossat where with Norris Ambassadour Leager he made againe the same demand The King sent to his Councellors amongst whom M. de l'Hospitall Lord Chancellor Proloquutor for the rest with a graue and well compiled discourse spake to him in this manner THat if the English had any right to lay claime to Calais they might as well challenge and pretend title to Paris for by the fortune of Warre they had conquered and lost both the one and the other That the right they pretended to Calais was but new whereas that of the French tooke beginning with the Kingdome it selfe And though the English possessed it for the space of three and twenty yeeres more or lesse yet the originall title euer remained to the King of France as well as that of the Duchies of Guyenne and Normandy which the English likewise detayned for a long time by the force of their Armes That the French did not conquer but rather recouered Calais with their Armes euen as they did their former Dukedomes That the prescription of times alledged by the English tooke no place betweene Princes but their right lay alwayes in their force and in the Law of the twelue Tables for one might eternally challenge his owne properties out of the hand of his enemie That the English though sufficiently instructed in Treaties and contractations of affaires were neuer mindefull of Calais in the Treaty which passed not long since at Troyes though they enterprised a warre principally for the recouery thereof so as hereby they manifested that they had giuen ouer all pretence to the same That this Treaty of Troyes was a Renouation by meanes whereof that of Cambray was in some poynts reformed notwithstanding the clause of the Reseruation of rights and claimes because that touched onely inferiour and petty Priuiledges and claimes whereas that of Calais was held for one of the most principall and important That notwithstanding any thing which Francis the Second attempted in Scotland this would not accrue to the preiudice of Charles the Ninth That in some speciall cases the attempts of particular men were subiect to the Lawes but in the proceedings of Kings and Princes it tooke quite otherwise That for whatsoeuer was vndertaken in the Kingdome of Scotland made ouer in dowry to King Francis the English who by surmizes aymed at his and the Queene of Scots proiect they should rather complaine vnto her seeing they entred Haure de grace which is in France vnder a colourable pretext of the Kings preseruation where placing a strong Garrison and diuers warlike munitions they held it by force of Armes and furnished the Prince of Condé with Moneyes for which cause they lost the claime which they had to Calais That GOD permitting the French to recouer the same resolued in his heauenly prouidence that it should be a meanes to end the warres that had beene betweene them in that they were seuered and separated by the Sea which running betwixt both coasts serues for iust borders and limits as that Poet sings And the English who are certaine Nations Seuer'd by Sea from other Regions That the Queene of England should take a better course in embracing Peace with the King of France then by seeking to recouer Calais Finally that no man should dare to moue a word to the King about surrendring it to the English but if any were so presumptuous that he
extraordinarie propertie and disposition That frequent commerce with strangers brought into the Common-wealth strange maners and fashions of life and that Ladies Princesses by these Marriages in stead of augmenting their owne Kingdomes added to those of their Husbands submitted themselues and their Subiects to their commands and laid open to strangers the secrets of their Kingdoms That a strange Husband out of the naturall affection he bare to his owne Countrey would preferre his owne Subiects before the Subiects of England That England had no need of the helpe of any stranger beeing strong enough of it selfe to defend the Kingdome and the riches thereof and to repell any forraigne Force That the annexing of another Kingdome would breed but charge care and trouble and how Kingdomes as well as humane bodies fell many times by their owne waight That some alleadged in scorne of the Nobility That the Queene marrying within the Kingdome should somewhat impaire her Royall dignity whereas her Maiestie who by her vertue opened a way to rise vnto this Soueraigntie was extracted from Nobility and that yet there are some Nobles of the Royall Blood who are like Sprigs of the same Royall Branch or Arme and hereupon the Kings of England haue euer in their Letters honoured Dukes Marquisses Earles and Vicounts with this Title of Cousins In the meane while the Earle of Sussex taking his Iourney by Antwerp Cullen Magunce Wormes Spire Vlme and Ausberg came into Austria with a great and magnificent Traine who beeing honourably entertained he there remained fiue moneths at the Emperours charge hauing daily conference with him about serious and waighty matters and touching the Marriage of Charles and on a day appointed he inuested him with the Order of the Garter at an Euening Prayer refusing through scruple of conscience to bee present at the celebration of Masse In this affaire many difficulties presented themselues about Religion and the Arch-duke's mayntenance the stile of King and the succession to the Kingdome and many points were argued both of the one side and the other For the Title and Stile of King it was accorded he should haue it For the Succession in that hee could not enioy it by the Lawes of the Kingdome in that it was preiudiciall to the Children hee should haue the tutelage and gardianship of them And that nothing more was granted to Philip King of Spaine when he married Queene MARY As for his maintenance if hee would furnish them at his charge whom he should bring with him and retaine in the Court the Queene out of her Royall Dignitie would abundantly discharge the rest yea and that too if he required it But one scruple still remained touching Religion For the Emperour demanded as also Charles himselfe that he might haue a publike Church granted him whither hee might repaire with his Court to the celebration of diuine Seruice according to the Romane forme But this beeing refused the Emperour was satisfied with an indifferent motion which was That hee might haue a peculiar place ordained within the Court for this purpose where he might quietly performe his Deuotions as euer it is permitted the Ambassadours of Romane Princes with a prouiso that the English should not bee thereto admitted and that neither hee nor his Followers did oppugne the Religion receiued in England neither fauour any opposites If any discontentment grew about Diuine Seruice hee should for a time forbeare his ordinary exercise and with the Queene repaire to that celebration performed according to the Church of England When this Treatie had beene sagely discussed of in England that I may not relate any further of the negotiation the Queene made answere That if shee yeelded to this she should offend her owne Conscience and openly violate the publike Lawes of the Kingdome to the extreme perill both of her dignitie and safety But if Charles were pleased to come into England to see her he should reape fruites worthy his trauell and paines And thus the Emperour dismissed the Earle of Sussex with great honour and the Earle of Sussex turning a little out of his way to see Charles tooke his leaue of him at Gratz and the Arch-duke Charles expecting to receiue a more fauourable Answere found himselfe frustrated of his intention For this prosecution was giuen ouer by little and little which made a progression of seuen whole yeeres with diuers intercourses of honourable Embassies it leauing notwithstanding a mutuall loue and amity betweene the Princes so cordiall and inherent that the Emperour alwaies crost the Popes designes against Queene ELIZABETH Not long after the Arch-duke married Mary Daughter to Albert the fifth Duke of Bauaria by whom amongst other Children he had two Daughters whereof the one was Queene of Spaine the other of Poland About this time came into England from the mightie Emperour of Russia and Muscouie Ioh. Basilius E. Twerdico and T. Pogarella with most Martlet Sable and Ermyne Skins whereof at that time and in precedent ages the English made great account both for ornament and health and they promised to the Queene and the English Nation continuance of that affection which the Emperour had manifested and what great studie and care he had taken for the English euer since they frequented those parts whereof you shall hereunder see the beginning In the yeere 1553. certaine Marchants of London the principall of whom were An. Iudd G. Barnes and A. Husay shaping out a course for Cathay by the frozen or Hyperborean Sea vnder the conduct of Sir Henry Willowbie who was frozen to death in the Iourney Ro. Chancelour his Lieutenant happily opened the passage of Russia before this time vnknowne running vp with the Riuer of Duina till he came to sixtie degrees of the Pole Articke where a little Monasteerie is seated consecrated to Saint Nicholas When the Emperour heard of it he sent for him to the Mosco in Caroches made after the manner of the Countrie he entertain'd and dismist him with many graces and fauours promising the English great immunities if they would trade into his Empire and reioycing that hee had met with a meanes to transport by Sea into Russia forraign merchandize which the Russiās could not come by before but with great difficultie by the Narue and the Kingdome of Poland enemies When Robert Chancelor vpon his returne gaue inforamtion thereof and of what high esteeme the Clothes of England were in those parts the low rate of Hempe and Flaxe whereof they made their Cables and cordage and what rich Skins they affoorded these Marchants raised a society or company by Queene MARIES permission in a faire Building appropriated to their vse which at this day we call the Moscouie house and Basilius granting them many immunities they haue since that time sent euery yeere a Fleet of Ships and maintained traffique the which likewise hath been greatly augmented since the yeere 1569. when out of his loue to Queene ELIZABETH he granted them that none but the English of
to substitute vnderstanding men to answere those complaints which the Queene of Scots would exhibit against him and his Confederates and to yeeld some iust cause and reason of his deposing her If not that herselfe would presently set her at liberty and employ all her forces for her re-establishment And so likewise she admonished him not to sell her precious habits and ornaments though the States of the Kingdome had permitted him Earle Murray obeyed there being no other way to call in question his administration and gouernement but those that came out of England and the great Men of the Kingdome refusing any manner of deputation Wherefore he came himselfe in person to the City of Yorke a place appointed for this proceeding with seuen of his most inward friends being Deputies for the infant-Infant-King that is to say the Earle of Morton the Bishop of Orcades the Gouernour of Dunfermlin the Baron of Lindsay 10. Macgill and Henry Barneuay accompanied with the Earle of Lidington whom Murray drew thither with faire promises in that he durst not leaue him behinde in the Kingdome and George Buchanan who was wholly at his deuotion and becke And the very same day came thither the Duke of Norfolke and the Earle of Sussex who not long before was constituted President of the North and Sir Ralph Sadler a Knight and one of the Priuy-Councell who were nominated to heare and examine the cause why the Queene of Scots was deposed The Bishop of Rosse the Barons of Leuingstone and of Boyd the Gouernour of Kenivinin Iohn Gordon and Iohn Corburne appeared there for the Queene of Scots who was wonderfully wroth that the Queene of England would neither see nor heare her hauing commanded that her owne Subiects should stand vp against her before the Commissaries in that being an absolute Princesse she stood not bound except she listed to make answer to her Subiects accusations and obiections Being assembled on the seuenth of October and read the Commissions both of the one side and the other Lidington who was there present turning towards the Scots admonished them with a marueilous free and plaine discourse That seeing it seemed the Queene of England pretended no other thing by the authority shee had conferred vpon the Commissaries but to staine the honour and impaire the reputation of the Queene the Kings Mother and to interpose herein her owne censure as an honourable Arbitratrix but that they should weigh and well consider what a perill they exposed themselues vnto and how they were like to purchase not onely the hatred of the Scots who continued deuoted and affected to the Queene but further the ill-will of other Christian Princes and of such affinitie as shee had in France in criminally accusing and hazarding her reputation in such a publique and iuridicall Tryall before the English sworne enemies to the Scottish name and what account could they giue to the King of such a presumptuous and insolent accusation which could not but redound to the preiudice of Scotland when being of riper yeeres hee shall repute both himselfe his Mother and countrey hereby dishonoured And therefore hee thought it very fitting to let fall this odious accusation of so great a Princesse except the Queene of England had contracted with them a mutuall League offensiue and defensiue against those that should in case molest or trouble them And thus much said hee out of his loyaltie and dutie a Scottish Secretarie hath aduertised you of Hereupon looking vpon one another they remained not vttering one word The Queene of Scots Deputies who had the honour to speake first before the taking of their Oath protested That though the Queene of Scots thought good to haue the cause betweene her Maiesty and her disloyall Subiects handled before the English yet neuerthelesse they conceiued not themselues herein to be vnder the command of any but their owne Princesse seeing Shee was free and absolute and ought neither faith nor homage to any other The English in like manner protested How they accepted not of this protestation to the preiudice of any right or prerogatiue which the Kings of England haue heretofore challenged as Soueraigne Lords of the Kingdome of Scotland The next day the Queene of Scots Deputies put in their Declaration in writing HOw the Earles of Morton Mar and Glencarne the Barons of Hume Lindsay Reuthen and Sempil and others had raysed an Armie in the Kings name against the Queene her selfe taken her vsed her disgracefully and clapt her vp in prison at Lake-Leuin They broke open the Mint carried away all sorts of Coyne Gold and Siluer Money or no Money crowned the King her Sonne who was yet but an Infant and the Earle of Murray vnder the title of Vice-Roy or Regent vsurped his power and authority and seyzed on all the wealth munition and reuenewes of the Kingdome Afterwards they alledged that the Queene being escaped out of Prison after shee had beene there restrayned for the space of tenne dayes denounced publiquely vpon her oath That whatsoeuer shee had yeelded vnto during her imprisonment was extorted from her against her will by force threats and terrour of death Notwithstanding to prouide for common tranquillitie shee had giuen authoritie to the Earles of Argathel Eglenton Cassil and Rothsay to accord all differences with her Aduersaries who for all this forbare not with a strong and armed hand to seyze on her person as shee retyred by priuy wayes towards Dunbritton they slew the most of her loyall Subiects and for those remayning some they carried away prisoners others they banished and all this for nothing but onely in that they had faithfully serued their Princesse And that for these inhumane outrages shee was constrained to repaire into England to implore of Queene ELIZABETH that ayd and succour which shee had oftentimes promised her that so shee might be restored to her Countrie and former dignitie A few dayes after Earle Murray Vice-Roy and the Deputies for the Infant-King for so they were nominated put in their Answer which was THat Lord Darley the Kings Father beeing slaine Earle Bothwell who was reputed the author of this Murder had so bewitched the Queenes heart as hee carried her away by force remoued her to Dunbar and after a separation from his owne Wife married her That the Nobles of the Kingdome being moued herewith they thought they could not discharge a better office than to punish Bothwell the author of this assassinate for all ouer the Country it was imputed to a generall conspiracy among the principall of the Nobilitie to restore the Queene to her former libertie to dissolue this vniust marriage and to prouide for the young Kings safetie and the quiet and tranquillitie of the Kingdome When the matter was so exasperated as they were readie to come to hand-blowes the Queene caused Bothwell to retire out of the Realme against the Nobilitie shee thundred out such threats and threatned such reuenge as they were enforced to commit her
to a guard while they could finde out and execute Bothwell But shee weary of reigning with so infinite many disturbances had willingly resigned and transferred ouer the Kingdome to her Sonne constituting the Earle of Murray for Vice-Roy That hereupon her Sonne was solemnely consecrated and crowned King all confirmed and ratified in Parliament by the States of the Kingdome That by reason of Iustice which was equally ministred the Scottish Common-wealth had recouered some vigour and strength while some particulars who could not endure the publique repose had contrary to their oath cautelously released the Queene out of safe custodie and taken vp Armes violating herein the fidelitie they owe to their King and though thankes be to GOD they obtayned victory ouer them yet notwithstanding with an hostile and disloyall heart they presumptuously enterprized against their Countrey and Prince and therefore the Royall Authoritie must needes conformably haue beene supprest by such tumultuous and mutinous Subiects After a reiteration of the former protest the Queene of Scots Deputies replyed in these words THat what Earle Murray and his Complices alledged for hauing taken vp Armes against the Queene in that Bothwell whom they accused of killing the KING was in great grace and authoritie about her could not iustly brand them with the marke of disloyall Subiects seeing there was no euident proofe of his murdering the King but contrariwise by sentence of the Peeres hee was cleared thereof and this absolution confirmed by Act of Parliament with their very approbation and consent who at this time accuse him and that then perswaded the Queene to take him for her Husband as beeing more sufficient than all others to sway and gouerne the Kingdome they obliged vnto him their fidelitie in Writing and not so much as in words disallowed of this marriage while they had drawne to their partie the Captaine or Gouernour of the Castle and the Maior of Edenborrough For then in the night which was a very vnfit season in hostile manner they assayled the Castle of Bothwick where the Queene was and shee retyring her selfe by the fauour of the night they presently raysing an Armie vnder pretext of her defence went themselues into the field way-layde her as shee went to Edenborrough and aduertized her by Grange whom they sent to her that shee should shake off Bothwell while hee had appeared in iudgement and cleared himselfe all which shee willingly did to auoid effusion of bloud But Grange vnder-hand admonished Bothwell to with-draw himselfe promising him with oath that no bodie should pursue him so as hee made away with their owne consent and beeing minded they might easily haue taken him afterwards But when they had once gotten the Queene into their hands for the mannaging of their ambitious designes they made no great reckoning of him and it is no great wonder when they beeing the Queenes Subiects and hauing vowed fidelity to her shee bitterly rebuked them hauing so basely and vnworthily entreated her Royall Maiesty Shee freely referred the matter to the whole Estates of the Kingdome and made a declaration thereof vnto them by Lidington her Secretary But they would not so much as giue any eare vnto it but conueyed her away secretly by night and emprisoned her at Lake-Leuin In saying that wearied with her Reigne shee resigned and gaue ouer the Kingdome is a most palpable inuention because shee is neither too-much broken with yeeres nor of such a feeble and weake constitution but equally vigorous both in bodie and minde to mannage weightie and great affaires but most certaine it is that the Earles of Athol Tubardine and Lidington who were also of her Councell aduized her to seale the drafts of Resignation to auoyd death where-with shee was daily threatned and this was not done with any preiudice eyther to her selfe or her Heires because shee was then a prisoner and imprisonment is a iust feare for according to the opinion of Ciuilians a promise made by a prisoner is of no worth Hereunto also she was perswaded by Throgmorton who presented vnto her a draft written with his owne hand whom shee entreated to informe the Queene of England that shee did it constrained and contrary to her will That when Lindsay presented to her the Patents for her to subscribe vnto hee terrified her with feare and horrour of death and so by this meanes enforced her to seale with weeping eyes not hauing so much as read the Contents That the Lord of the Castle of Lake-Leuin vnderstanding and seeing apparantly that shee had subscribed and sealed against her will hee would not set to his hand as also this Resignation was most vniust because shee had nothing hereby assigned her for her owne behoofe and entertainement neither grant of libertie nor assurance of life That whosoeuer will but equally ballance things hee cannot but iudge this to be a weake infringement of Royall Authoritie because when the Queene was at libertie in the presence of many Nobles of the Kingdome shee declared how shee had done it out of meere constraint And what they boast to haue effected by Act of Parliament can no wayes preiudice her Royall prerogatiue because in this tumultuarie Parliament there were present but foure Earles one Bishop two Abbots and sixe Barons though aboue an hundred betweene Earles Bishops and Barons haue a voyce in the Parliament of Scotland and yet of so small a number some protested that what was done should not redound to the preiudice of the Queene or her Successours because shee was a prisoner That the Ambassadours of France and England could neuer be certified from her though they had many times instantly vrged it whether she voluntarily resigned ouer the Kingdome or no. And so farre the Common-wealth hath beene from beeing iustly gouerned vnder the vsurping Vice-Roy that on the contrary all manner of impieties neuer bare a greater sway for hee hath beene seene to demolish sacred buildings to ruine illustrious Families and to afflict and grinde the faces of the miserable poore And therefore they humbly entreated the Queens Maiestie of England to be assisting with her best fauour counsell and ayde to the Queene her neere Kinsewoman so lamentably opprest Thus farre I copied out of the proper Writings of the Commissioners These matters thus heard the Commissioners enioyning Murray to produce and proue with more solid reasons the occasion of so strange a rigour vs'd to an absolute Queene because all formerly alledged had no pregnant testimonies but only ambiguous and improbable Letters and Lidington hauing priuily made known that he himself had often counterfaited the Qu. hand Murray would no further prosecute before strangers the accusation he had framed against his Sister except the Queene of England promised of her part to take vpon her the Protection of the Infant King and wholly abandon the Queene of Scots But the Deputies by vertue of their Delegation hauing no authoritie to promise any such matter two on both parts were sent vp to London to
whom Queene ELIZABETH made knowne that shee could not yet discharge the Subiects of Scotland of the offence they had committed against their Princesse but notwithstanding that shee would request her in their behalfe and also heare them if they could alledge any thing for their iust excuse Earle Murray who presently followed them absolutely refused to insist by Accusation against his Sister but vpon the conditions hee had mentioned at Yorke The Commissioners were presently called home and their authority disanulled whereof the Duke who alwayes fauoured the Queene of Scots was very glad and thought he had nothing more then to effect but only to brand her with an eternall infamy to exclude her with her young Sonne from all right of succession to the Crowne of England and that hee had auoided two dangers for in giuing sentence against her he feared to ruine her and violate his owne conscience and denouncing Iudgement on her side to vndergoe the vnplacable wrath of his owne Queene and of all those who for Religions sake and any other consideration were opposite to the Queene of Scots But when Earle Murray saw that the friends shee retained in Scotland disturbed all affaires and that his presence was requisite he framed his Accusation in the presence of the Queene Sir Nicholas Bacon Lord Keeper of the great Seale the Earle of Leicester Clynton Lord Admirall Cecill and Sadler who by new letters were constituted new Commissioners and to proue the Queen of Scots culpable of her Husbands murder hee produced some probable and coniecturall Articles the Depositions of some Witnesses the Acts digested in the Assemblies of the States but aboue all certaine Loue-Letters and verses written as hee affirmed with the Queenes own hand as also he brought foorth Buchanan's Booke entituled The Discouery to be openly read but the greater number of the Commissioners gaue not much credit thereunto it proceeding from a partiall man and one that had made sale of his fidelity As for the Verses and Letters because they had no names subscriptions nor dates and so many Impostors there be who can counterfait others hands so naturally as the one can hardly be discerned from the other Queene ELIZABETH would in no wise affoord them beliefe or credit though shee were much instigated out of feminine emulation wherewith that Sex is many times violently transported remaining satisfied that these Accusations had imposed vpon the Queene of Scots some reprochfull Aspersions Her Deputies hearing that shee was dayly accused by Murray presented themselues to make answere but shee had now reuoked their authority which was but Delegatorie as shee had beene secretly informed by certaine English Ciuilians and this shee might doe by Law seeing that of the Duke and others had beene so formerly reuoked Afterwards shee peremptorily refused the new Commissioners two of whom shee suspected except the Ambassadours of France and Spaine were ioyned in commission with them that shee might be admitted to defend her own innocency openly in the presence of the Queen of England and them except Murray were restrained called to a Triall auerring how she could conuince him and proue that he was the author of the Lord Darleys murder The Duke of Norfolke the Earles of Arundel Sussex Leicester and Lincolne esteeming this to be but iust and equall Qu. ELIZABETH grew into wonderfull choller and told them openly that the Queen of Scots could neuer want an Aduocate till the Duke of Norfolke came short of his life and shee was contented to impart those crimes whereof Murray imputed her to euery one of her priuy Councell and to the Earles of Northumberland Westmerland Shrewsbury Worcester Huntington and Warwicke whom shee conuocated to this end vnder an oath of silence exhibited not to damnifie either of the parties And because Murray was called backe into Scotland and 't was commonly bruted abroad that Boyd attempted to release the Queen of Scots of her imprisonment this Proceeding was deferr'd to some other time Queene ELIZABETH so farre as seem'd probable sharply reprehending the insolency of the Scottish-men in deposing their Queene At that time Hamilton Duke of Chastelraut came out of France sent vnder-hand by the Guizes to oppose Murray in the gouernment and administrations of the Kingdome during the yong King's minority and maintayned before Queene ELIZABETH that beeing neerest of blood to the King he should be preferred before Murray who was but a Bastard Contrariwise Murray and the Kings Ambassadors alleadged that the gouernment of the Kingdome was not to bee assigned alwaies to those neerest of blood but to such who by a generall consent of the States were elected and chosen as most sufficient and capable of that Charge That it were a most vniust course to put the King who was young into his hands who by proximity of blood aspiring to the Kingdome might easily be tempted to violate right out of a desire to rule and reigne And how this was greatly to be feared especially of the Hamiltons who had practised many enmities against the Earles of Lenox the Kings Grandfathers wickedly slaine his great Grandfather by the Fathers side expell'd Mathew his Grandfather out of Scotland after he had reduced him to low pouerty and also of himselfe who made this motion who with bitter and implacable hatred wonderfully molested Henry the Kings Father and the more easily to enioy the Kingdome he married his Maiesties Mother with the King of France The which when Queen ELIZABETH vnderstood shee made knowne to Hamilton how his demand was most vniust and forbade him to depart out of England till Earle Murray were returned into Scotland Murray a little before his departure was so subtill as that secretly by his man Meluin he offered the Duke of Norfolk to marry with the Queene of Scots and her he promised to re-establish in her Kingdome as presently we will declare Notwithstanding to conceale it from Queene ELIZABETH he caus'd a rumor to be spred that shee had made ouer her claime of the Kingdome of England to the Duke of Aniou and how this alienation was confirmed at Rome he shewed certaine Letters shee had written to those of her partie wherein shee blamed Queene ELIZABETH for fayling of her promise and vaunted that shee expected succours otherwise then from her Whether these reports were true or fained I am not able to say But certainely Queene ELIZABETH was much moued herewith who could not imagine from whom she should attend these new reliefes because ciuill warre was so hotly kindled in France as the Bishop of Rhemes sent by the King entreated her that she would not haue any hand in those affaires and the Duke of Alua who was come the yeere before into the Low-Countries to supplant the Protestant Religion staid still there by reason of the troubles But as afterward it proou'd apparant and as H. Catene writ to Cardinall Alexandrine Pope Pius 5. not daring to send an open Nuncio had suborn'd R. Ridolpho a
vnder pretence and colour to consult with them about her re-establishment But the Lord Hamilton Duke of Chastelraut then made Lieutenant of Scotland by the Queene and the Baron of Heris were perswaded by the Letters of the credulous Qu. But Murray fearing to be deceiued by them circumuents them and claps them vp in prison not expecting the comming of others and pursued grieuously in oppressing all the fauourers of the Queene with all the rigors of Warre This Act produceth rumours through all Scotland That Murray had agreed and determined with Qu. ELIZABETH that the young King IAMES should be giuen her to be brought vp and educated in England and that the Castles of Edenborrough Sterling were to be fortified with English Garrisons Dunbriton also taken by force for the vse and profit of the English and Murray be publisht and declar'd true and lawfull Successour of the Kingdome of Scotland if the King should happen to dye without Issue and to hold the Kingdome as Tenent to Queene ELIZABETH These rumours increased ran and were divulg'd in this manner and through a certaine probability strook in such fashion the spirits of men all ouer Great Brittaine that Qu. ELIZABETH thought herselfe obliged to take away and clense all such spots both for her honour and Murray's sake To which end her Maiestie declar'd by a Royall Speech published and set forth in Print That these things were farre opposite to the Truth and meerely forged and inuented by such as enuyed the Peace and tranquillitie of both Kingdomes That since the last departure of Murray from England there was not any such thing propounded nor such Paction past either by word of mouth or writing betweene her Maiesty or any of her Officers and him that came to her knowledge But that the Earle of Lenox Grandfather to the yong King had prayed her Maiesty that he might be sent into England if hee could not bee secure in Scotland from the plots of the wicked Likewise her Maiestie affirmed that she held the Compact as false which was reported to bee betweene Murray and the Earle of Hartford to wit that they had both agreed and resolued together mutually to helpe and giue assistance one to another for to enioy the Crowne of both Kingdomes and to conclude that it was not her fault that the affaires and businesses were not ended betweene the Queene of Scotland and her Sonne but rather she still endeuoured that it might be finisht and though her Maiesty was in a conflict through feare and inueterate emulation which neuer dyes betweene Femall Princesses yet out of the remembrance and recordation of the misery of Scotland and the commiseration of humane frailety she sincerely laboured to effect it The Queene of Scots made an addition to that her pious pitty and sollicited her with many kind Letters in which she solemnly protested that in regard of the kindnesse she had found and the propinquity of their affinity she would attempt nothing against her neither be willing to owe restitution to any other Prince for her re-establishment This caus'd Queene ELIZABETH by Letters sent by Wood to deale with Murray and other Scots for her re-establishment to her Royall Dignity or if that could not be granted that shee might bee permitted to leade a priuate life and spend her daies at home freely and honourably which notwithstanding could not any wayes moue Murray hauing brought his busines to perfection There was a rumor at this time amongst those of better sort that the Duke of Norfolke should be linked in Hymens bonds with the Queene of Scots the which was desired of many the Papists expecting by it the aduancement of their religion others hoping by that meanes for the welfare of the Common-wealth Truely many which saw the Queene remote and farre from marriage and the forraigne Princes which were deadly professors to England did settle their eyes and hearts vpon the Queene of Scots as the true and vndoubted heire of England they esteem'd for to ground their rest and tranquillity and to keep thereby the Queene of Scotland within the bounds and limits of her Kingdome it was much more behoofefull and expedient that she should be married with the Duke of Norfolke who was the most Noble and the greatest Peere of England beloued of the people educated and brought vp in the Protestants Religion then to a forraigne Prince by whose meanes both Kingdomes should be in danger and the hereditary succession by him apprehended which they had alwayes and from the beginning wisht to be re-vnited in an English Prince of the blood the yong King of Scotland happening to dye whom they propounded to send into England to the end that as he was the true apparent heire thereof and being educated and brought vp there by the English he should be to them dearer and more beloued all scruple of Religion taken away and Queene ELIZABETH hauing him in her power were free from all feare and apprehension both of the Duke of Norfolke and the Queene of Scots Moreouer lest the Duke should attempt any thing against her but should more dearely affect her they resolued that Margaret the only Daughter of the Duke should bee marryed afterward to the young King of Scotland Amongst these were the Earles of Northumberland Westmerland Sussex Pembroke Southampton and many other Barons and Leicester himselfe it being doubtfull whether aiming intending the destruction of the Duke thought it fit first to acquaint the Queene with it and to commit it to her iudgement censure and that she should prescribe and make wholsome Lawes salutiferous to her selfe Religion and the Kingdome But this if you please you may haue written more at large in the Dukes Confession and the Commentaries of the Bishop of Rosse which was a great part of this businesse When as the Deputies and Arbitrators put in trust with those affaires had met at Yorke Lidington and the Bishop of Rosse in their Enquirie acquainted the Duke with the intended Contract as Murray himselfe did also at Hampton Court who in his priuate conference with the Duke and some others dissembled and did seeme that he desired and wisht for nothing more then that all differences being ended in Scotland shee might be restored to her former Dignities prouided that she should truely and heartily affect her Subiects as she had done formerly all iniuries on both sides beeing forgotten forgiuen and buryed in obliuion Notwithstanding hee feared that if as shee desired shee should marry a man out of France Spaine or Austria shee would reuenge her former iniuries make an alteration of Religion in Scotland and much damnifie the State of England To preuent all which he promised his assistance and best endeuours that she who formerly had beene married to a Child an improuident young man nay more a furious young man should now be contracted to the Duke a man of stayednesse mature iudgement the which would conduce to the welfare of
both Kingdomes the peace of either Prince and chiefly for the aduancement of Religion since he who was so great and worthy in Queen ELIZABETHS estimation should make friendship betweene the Scots and the English and might more easily perswade the Queene of Scots to the true Religion which hee had embraced Murray also by the meanes of Robert Meluin imparted this closely to the Queene of Scots and officiously promised his assistance but the Duke answered that he could not determine any thing of the marriage till she could cleare her selfe from her suspected crimes and wipe off those infamous aspersions but Rosse notwithstanding persisted in his perswasion and ceast not to draw him though vnwilling to it Not long after Nicholas Throgmorton met the Duke in Westminster who professing himselfe as euery way obliged and bound to performe all dueties of obseruance said that he vnderstood that Leicester dealt with the Duke concerning the match twixt him and the Scots which seemed strange and moued admiration in him since Leicester himselfe not long since had beaten the same bush and gone about it and friendly aduised the Duke that hee should put it off to Leicester who formerly had sought the honour of that marriage but if that could not be done that he should refuse it in regard the Scots accused her of many crimes but Throgmorton said that hee wisht that shee might bee ioyned to him in marriage that it might be prosperous to Religion and that she might wholly and soly depend and rely vpon Queene ELIZABETH But I doe premonish you that if you proceede in this matter Leicester may precede and goe afore you in counsell for by your owne meanes onely you cannot procure the assent and good will of the Queene Two dayes after the Earle of Leicester propounded the affaire to the Duke and receiued of him the answere that Throgmorton had forged and inuented afore-hand and when it came to the crimes he did moderate them according to the instructions and assurance that he had receiued of R. Cauendish of whom though suspected yet he recommended him to the Duke to make vse of his seruice After this he acquaints therewith the Earle of Pembroke who giues notice thereof to the Earle of Arundell and they all with Throgmorton doe write to the Queene of Scotland recommending vnto her Maiestie the Duke of Norfolke for her Husband as likewise Murray had formerly done The Duke himselfe also writes and witnesseth his loue vnto her offering her Maiestie louingly his humblest seruice and from that time he still communicated vnto them all such Letters as past betwixt them As for them they had ordinary and familiar discourses with the Bishop of Rosse concerning the meanes whereby they could effectuate and bring this marriage to passe and the twentieth of May 1558. a Proposition was made to the Queene of Scotland by Cauendish These ensuing Articles were written by the owne hand of the Earle of Leicester THat she should not vndertake any thing in the succession of the Kingdome of England preiudicious to Queene ELIZABETH or the issue her Maiestie might that haue she should passe an offensiue and defensiue League 'twixt their two Crownes That she should settle and firmely establish the true Protestants Religion in Scotland That she should receiue to her mercy all such Scots as then were against her she should reuoke the assignation that she had giuen of the Kingdome of England to the Duke of Aniou and that shee should take to her Husband some of the English Nobility and namely the Duke of Norfolke And they promised her that in case her Maiestie should conclude and agree the Articles to re-establish her anew in her Kingdome with all possible speed as could bee and to confirme her in the succession of the Crowne of England The Queene of Scots accorded them presently except that concerning the Allyance shee excus'd her selfe as not able to answere to it except shee had first consulted with the French King and concerning the assignation of the Kingdome of England she protested that she had neuer made any yet neuerthelesse shee would labour if they should desire it that the Duke of Aniou should renounce it Admonishing them to procure aboue all things the will and consent of Queene ELIZABETH for feare the affaire should turne and be preiudiciall both to herselfe and the Duke of Nolfolke as shee had formerly experimented in the match with the Lord Darley priuately contracted without Queene ELIZABETHS consent Yet they neuerthelesse esteemed fit first to sound the will and affection of many Noble-men who for the most part gaue their voice and consent prouided their Queene also to grant hers and likewise the Kings of France and Spaine were not against it but they onely had an apprehension of Murray and forasmuch as he had beene the first to propound this affaire promising to employ himselfe therein with all his might he should bee the first now to hinder it They yet notwithstanding were all of a mind that Lidington who then was lookt for should first sound the intention and disposition of Queene ELIZABETH In the meane while the Duke declares to the Lord Baron of Lumley all that was done and past in this businesse and with much adoe could hee obtaine from the Earle of Leicester leaue to take further consultation and aduice of his other friends he neuerthelesse made Cecill acquainted with it the Earle of Pembroke consenting thereunto At the same time the Lord Dacray resolued in himselfe to steale away the Queen of Scotland who at that time was prisoner at Winfield in the County of Derby vnder the keeping of the Earle of Shrewsburie The Earle of Northumberland who was of his counsell gaue notice thereof to the Duke of Norfolke who forbade to doe it fearing they went about to marry her to the Spaniard being then vpon hope to obtaine the loue and consent of Queene ELIZABETH The rumors and pretence of this match arriued presently to Queene ELIZABETHS eare beeing told her by some of those craftie and curious courtizans who smell and find out soonest the secrets of Louers The Duke knowing it labours with his vtmost power to make a proposition thereof to the Queen and to that end employed therein the Earle of Leicester the Earle of Pembroke and Throgmorton putting it off and deferring it from day to day as if he expected a fitter time and opportunity But Cecill seeing the said Duke perplexed in his mind counselled him himselfe to declare the businesse to the Queene for to take sooner away all scruple But the Earle of Leicester contrary to that opinion is against it promising him to propound the same to her Maiestie when she should walke abroad in the fields But whilest that hee by such sweete courtesies deferred the affaire from time to time Queene ELIZABETH beeing at Farnham causeth the Duke to approch neere vnto her Table and with a most graue and serious smile warned him That hee who
was repos'd and rested himselfe vpon a Cushion should take heed and looke to himselfe And finally the Earle of Leicester beeing at Tichfield found himselfe ill or else he counterfaited the sicke and being visited and graciously comforted by the Queene he was seized with such feare that her Maiestie could easily discerne it beholding his blood and vitall senses to shrinke in himselfe which was the cause that after he had asked pardon and implored forgiuenesse with sighs and teares of the Queene he declared vnto her all the businesse from the beginning In that very same time the Queen tooke the Duke aside into a Gallery where she rebuked him sharpely for hauing sought the Queen of Scotland in marriage without her leaue and permission commanding him to free himselfe of it for the fidelity and loyalty sake which hee ought to beare vnto his Soueraigne The Duke most willingly promised the same as if he had despised the match and fear'd not to assure that his reuennues and commings in heere in England were not whitlesse to those of the Kingdome of Scotland then miserably exhausted by the Warre and that when he was in the Tenis-Court of his Palace at Norwich he seemed in some fashion to be equall and not inferiour to some Kings But in a short space this courage begunne to grow weake and flexible discerning by the aspect and speech of the Queene that her Maiestie was irritated against him and that her anger rather augmented then diminished also that many Noble-men withdrew themselues by little little from his familiarity saluting him but with much adoe and breaking off in haste their discourses At this the Duke tooke his iourney to London without leaue and vpon the way tooke his lodging at the Earle of Pembroke's house who counselled him to be cheerefull to hope well and gaue him solace and consolation in his affliction That very day Queene ELIZABETH moued with anger refused to set at liberty the prisoned Queene to the Scottish Ambassadour who implored it of her Maiestie and commanded that she should behaue herselfe peaceably or else she should see shortly those vpon whom she most relyed cut off and beheaded Now when as the rumor of the match had more increased and the fame of it was euery where diuulged and the Ambassadour of the French King more by the perswasion of some English than the command of his Prince as it afterwards appeared did earnestly labour and vehemently vrge that the Queene of Scots might haue her libertie new suspicions were generally raysed and Cecill who was alwaies diligently carefull and studying for the well-fare of Religion was desirous to finde out the matter he dealt therefore with Sussex by Letters who was then President of the North Countries and a deare friend to the Duke that if so be he vnderstood any thing concerning the Dukes marriage he should certifie the Queene of it what he answered I am vncertaine And when it appeared that the Duke had priuate conference at Hampton-Court with Murray the Vice-Roy of Scotland George Carie the sonne of the Lord of Hunsden was sent to enquire if the Duke had imparted any thing to him concerning the marriage In the meane time the Duke affrighted with the false rumor of the rebellion and insurrection in the North and being certified of Leicester that he should be committed to prison went into Norfolke till his friends at Court as they promised had stilled the storme and he pacified the offended minde of the Queene with submissiue supplicatiue Letters When hee found no comfort amongst his owne and Heiden Cornwallis and other of his traine perswaded him that if he were guilty should flye to the Queenes mercy he was almost distracted with sorrow In the meane time the Court was sollicited and possest with feare lest hee should haue made Rebellion which if hee did they report it was determined to cut off the Queen of Scots But hee out of his innate goodnesse and a most pious conscience had not offended against any Law of her Maiestie that Statute made in the Reigne of HENRY the Eighth which prohibited the marrying any of the children of the Kings Sister Brother or Aunt without the consent and knowledge of the King being abolished and nullified by EDVVARD the Sixth and also out of a feare that they should vse the Queene of Scots more hardly sends Letters to his friends at Court in which he certified that he went into the Countrey for feare of imprisonment that through time and absence he might finde a remedy against ill reports and defamations which the Court was ready to intertaine hee most submissiuely intreateth pardon and forthwith prepareth to goe to the Court. In his returne hee being at Saint Albons Owen the Earle of Arundels man was sent priuately to him from Throgmorton and Lumley who formerly had beene in custody aduising him that hee should take all the blame on himselfe and not lay any fault on Leicester or others lest he should turne them from being friends to enemies There Edward Fitz-Gerald brother to the Earle of Kildare Lieutenant of the Pensioners went before drew him from thence and brought him to Burnham about three miles from Windsor where the Queene was to whom foure dayes after the Abbot of Dunfermline deliuered Letters in the behalfe of Murray importing how the Duke had secretly treated with him in the Royall Mannor of Hampton-Court to procure his fauour to this marriage on the contrary greatly menacing him in case he did refuse That to auoyd the dangerous practice of one Norton who watcht to kill him at his returne he gaue his promise to the Duke That the Duke assured him neither Norton nor any other should attempt any thing against his life and a little while after being sollicited by Letters written in Cypher to giue consent to this marriage he gaue him to vnderstand by Boyd that he would neuer abandon the Queene of Scots and moreouer how her Maiesties owne Officers had in some sort perswaded the Vice-Roy that Queene ELIZABETH gaue also her liking and approbation to this marriage and putting the same Queene of Scots in hope that shee should succeed to the Kingdome of England Renowned Queene ELIZABETH perceiuing also very euidently that to draw some great men of England to her partie shee gaue them expresly to vnderstand how she was taking a course for the Queenes Maiesties securitie and the infallible safety of the whole Kingdome The Duke who subtilly held correspondency by Letters with the Bishop of Rosse Leicester and Throgmorton causing them to be priuily conueyed in bottles of Beere being at the same time strictly examined about the poynt of this marriage after his confession of the greatest part and a bitter checke giuen him for departing the Court without leaue and being further accused of Innouation was sent to the Tower of London vnder the guard of Neuill a Knight of the Golden Order Two dayes after the Bishop of
lay in Court after he had obtained the fauour to kisse the Queenes hands hee promised to employ himselfe with his whole power against them wherevpon he was sent home to his own house But when he was in the way as was discouered afterwards hee imparted vnto them his dessignes by messengers which renew'd their spirit and courage making them many promises in the behalfe of diuers Ambassadours to strange Princes and amongst others perswading them that with such men as he would raise in the Queenes name he would kill the Lord Scroope Gouernour of the West Borders and the Bishop of Carlile But not being able to effect it he followed the Earles who were fled with Letters recōmendatorie to the Scots surprized Gristock Castle and other houses belonging to the Dacres fortifyed the Castle of Naworth as if he had some right and interest in it and vnder pretext of defending his owne goods and opposing the Rebels hee got together three thousand theeues of the borders and others who stood best affected to the Dacres much esteemed and respected in those quarters The Lord of Hunsdon with the most expert Souldiers of the Garrison of Barwicke went into the Field against them who trusting to no fortifications went still forward and with an Armie rang'd in Triangular forme and flanker'd with Horse they attended them neere to a little Riuer called Gelt where questionlesse they had a sound fight both for the one part and the other and Leonard though he was lame came short of nothing required in a valiant and resolute Captaine But when the greatest part of his men were slaine he left the Victory to my Lord of Hunsdon not greatly pleasing to him and so retired into the neerest places of Scotland from whence not long after he crost ouer into Flanders where hee died poore at Louaine so that the curses imposed vpon him by his dying Father prooued true The Lord of Hunsdon commended the keeping of those Castles taken from the Rebells to the Duke of Norfolks men and the Queenes Maiestie by a publike Proclamation granted a generall pardon to all the multitude which he had excited to Rebellion Though this Rebellion raisd many tumults and disturbances within her Kingdome yet would not her Maiestie neglect the Protestants in France their State beeing at that time wretched and deplorable For the Princes of the same Religion hauing much importuned her to defend the common cause she furnisht the Queen of Nauarre with money vpon some Iewels and other ornaments and permitted Hen. Champernoune Brother by the Fathers side to Gawyn who married the Earle of Mountgomeries Daughter to conduct into France a Company of an hundred Noble voluntary Gentlemen vnder one Guydon who had written on it this Motto La vertu me donne fin Among whom were Phil. Butshed Fr. Barkley and Gualter Raleigh who was but yong and tooke his first say and taste of the wars The K. of France conceiu'd that either to draw vp or at least to diuert to some other employments the great wealth of England which was abundantly disburs'd in ayde and succour of the Protestants he resolued to kindle a new warre against England by assisting the Scots who kept the Castle of Dunbriton for the Queene of Scotland In which Seruice Monsieur de Martigues was employed a Souldier who then liued in the very prime of his Reputation but he being slaine with an Harquebuzada at the siege of S. Iean d' Angeli this Proiect vanisht tooke no effect Ireland in those times was no more free from Rebellion For Ed. and Phil. Butler brothers to the Earle of Ormond who had iniuriously entreated their neighbours in Munster refused to obey the Lawes molested true Subiects with Pillories and wastel and colleagued themselues with Ioh. Fitz-Morris of the house of Desmond Macartimore Fitz-Edmond Steward of Imoquell and others who had negotiated with the Pope and the King of Spaine to re-establish the Romane Religion in Ireland and to suppresse Queene ELIZABETH For which cause they were denounced Rebels against the State and Sir Pe. Carne continually galled them with light Skirmishes wherein Fortune was variable Neuerthelesse hauing made an head of many Galloglasses they beleaguerd Kilkennie and commanded the Inhabitants to deliuer into their hands the wife of Warham of Saint-Leiger but being repelled by the Garrison who issued out vpon them they miserably forraged and wasted the whole Countrey round about The more to excite and spread the flame of this sedition Iohn Mendoza came secretly in the behalfe of the Spaniard and out of England to extinguish it the Earle of Ormond who perswaded his Brothers to submit themselues who were neuerthelesse imprisoned But the Earle obtained of the Queen through his continuall and dayly intercession that their Triall and Iudgement might be desired and not be brought to the rigour of the Law though their crimes and offences had deserued it the which he tooke grieuously not beeing able to endure that at their occasion such infamie should be vpon their most Noble and illustrious house so neere allyed to Queene ELIZABETH who reioyced and glorified so often that the Nobility of that House had euer beene pure and their blood vntainted But the Lord Deputie pursuing liuely the remainder of that Rebellion dissipated it in a very short space of time Some Troubles were also moued and stirred vp in Vlster by Turlogh-Leinich who through inconstancie embraced sometimes warre and sometimes peace according to the headstrong desire rash pleasure of his Followers Officers and Seruants But he was kept in awe within the bounds of duety not so much by the English Garrisons as by the Hebrideans who of those poore and meagre Islands seized vpon his earthly possessions Against whose incursions there was sent out of England a great deale of money to fortifie and strengthen the Sea-Coast but in vaine out of a misfortune common as well to England as Ireland where for the most part men intrude themselues and are admitted into those publike places who basely respecting their owne priuate gaine doe neglect the publike weale and generall commodity of the Kingdome The end of the First Book of the Annals and History of that mighty Empresse Queene ELIZABETH of most happy and blessed memory THE HISTORIE OF THE MOST HIGH MIGHTY AND Euer-glorious Empresse ELIZABETH Inuincible Queene of England Ireland c. True Defendresse of the Faith of immortall Renowne and neuer-dying Fame and Memory OR ANNALLES OF ALL SVCH REMARKable things as happned during her blest Raigne ouer her Kingdomes of England and Ireland as also such Acts as past betwixt her MAIESTY and Scotland France Spaine Italy Germany and the Netherlands The second Booke Faithfully translated out of the French and publisht in English with the KINGS leaue and Authority granted by his most Excellent Maiestie to ABRAHAM DARCIE To my Noble and wel-deseruing Friend Mr. ABRAHAM DARSSIE Admire I would but dare not lest that I Be thought to flatter speaking VERITY
earnestly with Queene ELIZABETH for the re-establishment of the Queene of Scotland complayning that she was more strictly handled then formerly vnder the custodie of the Earle of Huntington her sworne enemie and emulator who as well as she had secret aimes to the Kingdome of England The Ambassadour of Spaine also at the sollicitation of the Bishop of Rosse prest that point very hard in the name and behalfe of his King But the Queene after shee had seriously reuolued the cunning deuices that they all practised to free the Queene of Scots and had couertly giuen out that she was ioyned with them in the Rebellion lately appearing answered him THat it was an inconsiderate and dangerous folly to free one that so apparantly aspired by ill practice to the Crowne of England That she had need more straightly then ordinary to looke vnto her and discharge some of her Seruants whom she had for the most part chosen for her own proper dessignes and to giue for an assistant to the Earle of Shrewsbury whom she had appointed for her Keeper who began to suspect the loyaltie of these people the Earle of Huntington whom she neuer knew to haue any title to the Kingdome but onely out of some relation to her in affinity and that neuerthelesse she had discharged him long sithence promiseth to omit no meanes of agreement with the Scots and protesteth to prosecute no iniuries receiued by her That she euer hoped that the King of France the King of Spaine and the Queen of Scotland would not take it in ill part that she onely prouided for the peace and safety of her selfe her subiects since nature reason and the honour of her Royall Name did of right require the same at her hands And that if any of them knew any way more expedient to preuent that imminent menacing danger shee would not onely heare but most willingly embrace it After this they sate in Councell often hereupon at the Court whether it were best to send the Queen of Scotland backe into her Countrie or retain her stil in England and how they might best prouide for the safegard both of the Queene and their Religion Whiles they were consulting hereabout William Herbert Earle of Pembroke happened to dye being issue to Richard son to R. Herbert the eldest Earle of Pembroke being in the Climactericall yeere of his age as if he had presaged what mischiefe should befal him if hee had longer liued leauing behinde him three children Henry Edward and Anne Hee was buried in S. Pauls Church with stately and honourable Rites and a most glorious Tombe erected for him a Noble person who out of his owne meanes rais'd a Fortune to himselfe For he so wrought into the fauour of HENRY the Eighth that he made him one of the Gentlemen of his Chamber and by his owne prudence increased his meanes especially after the King had married Katherine Parre his wiues Sister And vnder EDVVARD the Sixth hee procured whiles the Court was distracted in seuerall factions to be of the Order of Saint George Knight of the Garter the honour to be the Kings Squire the Title of Baron Herbert of Cardiffe and the dignity of the Earle of Pembroke He was Generall vnder Queene MARY of her Troopes she sent against Wyat and for the English Armie at S. Quintin President of Wales twice Gouernour of Calais vnder Queene ELIZABETH he was constituted Steward of her houshold whose fauour he lost for a time in regard that hee was the first moouer of the match betweene the Duke of Norfolke and the Queene of Scotland notwithstanding his intention and will were no way ill affected therein and failed narrowly a little before his death of being questioned vpon certaine euidences at large dilated and presumptions secretly found out Hitherto Pope Pius the Fifth had laid a foundation of abstruse darke conspiracies for Queene ELIZABETH and the yeere before she hauing no warning thereof nor cited by a Bull declaratorie priuily sends forth an Anathema and excites Rebellion and causeth the said Bull to be fixed to the Palace Gates of the Bishop of London in these words THE SENTENCE Declaratory of the Holy Father Pope Pius the Fifth against ELIZABETH the pretended Queene of England and those Heretiques adhering to her And finally all such as obey her to be insnared in the same PIVS Bishop a seruant of the seruants of GOD for the future memory of the businesse HEe that rules in the Heauens aboue and to whom all power is giuen both in Heauen and Earth gaue vnto one onely vpon Earth viz. to Peter the chiefest amongst the Apostles and to the Pope of Rome Peters Successor a holy Catholique and Apostolique Church without which there is no Saluation to gouerne it in the fulnesse of power And this he ordayned as chiefe aboue all Nations and Kingdomes to pull downe destroy disseuer cast off plant and erect to combine in the vnitie of spirit his faithfull people connext together through mutuall charitie and present them whole and sound to his Sauiour Which charge Wee who through the grace of GOD are thereunto called submitting our selues to the gouernement of the same Church cease not with all our best labours and indeuours to preserue this vnitie and Catholique Religion which hee who was the Author thereof so suffered to be incumbred for the triall of the faith of his and for our correction But the number of the ungodly is so great in power that there is not a corner left vpon the whole Earth now vntainted with their wicked Doctrines Amongst which ELIZABETH pretended Queene of England is aboue all the shelter and refuge of Error and most noysome enemies It is She who after shee had possessed the Kingdome vsurping monster-like the place of the chiefe Soueraigne of the Church in England and the principall iurisdiction and authoritie thereof hath throwne into miserable ruine the whole Kingdome when it was euen brought to the Catholique faith and began to bring forth good fruits For shee with a powerfull hand prohibiteth the exercise of the true Religion which was heretofore ouerthrowne by HENRY the Eighth the forsaker therof and afterwards repayred with the helpe of this See by MARIE lawfull Queene of England of famous memorie and embraceth the Heresies of obscure persons the Royall Councell once composed of the English Nobilitie shee hath broken off oppresseth such as made profession of and exercised the Catholique Religion re-established the wicked Ministers and Preachers of impietie abolished the sacrifice of the Masse Prayers Fastings the diuiding of the Meates the Celibate and all Catholique Ceremonies sent Bookes ouer her whole Kingdome containing manifest Heresies commended to her Subiects the prophane Mysteries and Institutions which shee had receiued and obserued from the decree of Caluin displaced the Bishops Rectors and Catholique Priests from their Churches and Benefices and disposed of them to Heretiques and is bold to take vpon her to iudge and determine Ecclesiasticall affaires forbade the
we haue created establisht and raised him to the state dignity and honour of Baron Burghley and haue imposed vpon him and giuen and granted vnto him the name stile and title of Baron of Burghley to haue and to hold the same foreuer to him and the heires males which shall be borne from his body Of whom I haue already freely spoken and will againe make mention as well as of others whom shee hath raised to the state of Barons because it is amongst the most ample degrees of Honour For the Barons of the Parliaments of England are borne Peeres and great Councellors of the Kingdome and enioy diuers immunities and Priuiledges which are not to be mentioned in this place but I haue noted else-where A little after Ridolph a Florentine who had vsed trading for fifteene yeeres space in London deliuered secretly vnto the Queene of Scotland Letters from the Pope importing promises to imploy himselfe for the aduancement of the Catholique Religion and Himselfe willed her to giue credit in all things to Ridolph and to learne from him who was then going for Italy what meanes might be best for the re-establishing of the Catholique Religion and appeasing of the mischiefs in England Ridolph also sollicited the Queene by the seuerall Letters which he wrote vnto her to aduise herevpon with the Duke of Norfolke his friends and to recommend it to them But shee deferred the returne of any answer vntill she might perceiue how the Treaty which was already begun would take effect notwithstanding the Kings of France and Spaine and the Duke of Alua had written to her to the same purpose For the Earle of Morton Petcarne Abbot of Dunfermelin and I. Macgill were come to treat about the affaires of Scotland in the Kings name and hauing receiued command from Queene ELIZABETH more cleerely to vnfold the causes of the Queenes deposing and to proue them to be iust exhibited a prolix Cōmentarie by which with an insolent freedome and vehemencie of words they strained themselues to proue by ancient and moderne examples searcht out of all places that according to the ancient right of Scotland the people of Scotland were vnder the King and that by the authority of Caluin the Magistrates were appointed to bridle their vnrulie appetites and had authority to punish wicked Kings by imprisonment depose them from their Kingdomes and vaine-gloriously boasted to haue shewed the Queen courtesie in permitting her to substitute her Sonne in her place and appoint him Tutors That it was not in respect of her innocency that shee subsisted but out of the mercy of her people with diuers other things which factious spirits are accustomed to alledge against Royall Maiesty Queene ELIZABETH not able with any patience to read this secretly condemned it as iniurious to Kings and as for the Deputies she answered them that she could not yet perceiue any iust cause why they should so vexe and trouble their Queen and therfore wisht that they would rather seeke out some meanes to quench the discord in Scotland In the prosecution whereof it was propounded in the house of Bacon Lord Keeper of the great Seale to the Bishops of Rosse and Galloway and to Baron Leuiston Deputies for the Queene of Scotland that for the safety of the Kingdome and Queene of England and the Nobles of Scotland who were of the Kings part that the Duke of Chastelraut the Earles of Huntley and Argathell of Hume of Seris and another Baron ought to be giuen in pledge and the Castles of Dunbriton and Hume deliuered for three yeeres vnto the English before the Queene could be set at liberty To which they answered THat it need not be doubted that the Queene of Scotland who had voluntarily put herselfe vnder the Protection and guard of the Queene of England would willingly giue contentment in any thing which might conueniently be done But to deliuer such great persons in pledge with such Forts were nothing lesse then in depriuing a miserable Queene of the helpe of her faithfullest friends and her strongest places of defence to be exposed as a prey vnto her aduersaries But they offered to giue in pledge the two said Earles and two Barons And as for the Forts they said that according to their Couenants with France they could not giue them to the English that they could not grant them also to the French But said Bacon the whole Kingdome of Scotland the Prince the Peeres and the Forts are not sufficient security for the Queene and the most flourishing Kingdome of England and therefore what security soeuer the Scots might propose the Queene of Scotland ought not to be set at liberty Hereupon the Scots forthwith began to coniecture and spake openly that now they fully perceiued that the English had resolued to hold their Queene perpetually in England and by the same meanes interrupt the Treaty sithence they stood so stiffly in demanding such security as Scotland could not any maner of way performe Howsoeuer the other Councellours of England protested to desire nothing more then the freedome of the Queene of Scotland prouided that they gaue good and sufficient security and in this nature they treated hereupon and to haue the King with Morton and his Companions Who plainely answered that they had no power nor authority to treat whether they ought to receiue the Queene into Scotland or deliuer the King But her Deputies reiected such flying off as friuolous iudging that those who were the authors of deposing her had power sufficient to free her without asking the other Conspirators sithence the fault of one equally polluteth all the Confederates As for the Prince who was yet scarce fiue yeeres of age he could giue no power at all And as for the Vice-Roy that he had left all his affaires to the pleasure of Queene ELIZABETH They prayed them either to bring in the others who were sworne into consultation or to proceed without them vpon equall conditions But Queene ELIZABETH knowing well that they could conclude of nothing for her security or for the King and Queen of Scotland if th' one and th' other consented not thought it reasonable that the States of Scotland who ought forth-with to assemble should make choice of certaine men who might labour the mediation of the peace Whereupon the Bishop of Rosse and his Colleagues openly complayned that certaine Councellors of England had abused the vnderstanding of their Queene and the patience of the Queene of Scotland deceiued the Stranger Princes and soothed the Scots with a preiudiciall hope the Queene of Scotland her selfe being full of indignation and griefe to see such delayes called home the Bishop of Galloway Count Leuiston notwithstanding that Qu. ELIZABETH had commanded the Bishop of Rosse to depart from London she countermanded him to continue still there which was not without ielousie to those who were of her part in Scotland who determined to take vp Armes and giue no more
that it was heard by the Neighbours a great wayes off raised vp it selfe as if it had wakened out of a profound sleepe and forsaking his deepe bed below mounted vp into an higher place carrying with it the Trees which were rooted thereupon the Shepheards Tents and the Flockes of Sheepe feeding thereon Some Trees were almost quite couered with Earth as if they had but newly taken root there It left in the place from whence it departed an ouerture of fortie foot wide and 80. elles long the whole field was twenty Akers or thereabouts It ouerthrew a little Chappell neere vnto it carryed from the East into the West an Yew-tree which was planted in the Church-yard and with its violence draue vp before it high-wayes with Shepheards Caues with Plants and Trees which were thereon It made mountaines leuell and arable grounds mountainous as if then they had took their beginnings And thus from Saturday at night vntill Munday noone next following it rested not till at last as if it were then tyred with the long way and wearied with its weighty burthen A little before there was celebrated in France at Mesires sur Meuse the marriage betweene Charles the Fourth King of France and Elizabeth of Austrich the Daughter of Maximilian the Emperour with great and royall pompe Elizabeth to testifie her ioy with honour according to the entyre affection shee bore vnto the Emperour whom she honoured as her father and to shew her loue vnto the King of France her Neighbour and Confederate and for her owne honour sent into France T. Sackuil Baron of Buckhurst who according to his owne worth and his Princes dignitie was magnificently intertained Hee was accompanied with Guido Caulcancius a Florentine a man of great experience with whom the Queene-Mother of France mannaging the affaires of her and her children openly treated of a match betweene ELIZABETH and Henry the Duke of Aniou her Sonne and gaue him withall certaine Articles to present vnto ELIZABETH and after that the King of France made earnest suit for his Brother by Mauluoisie his Ambassadour ordinary La Motte F. Archant and de Foix who bestowed a whole yeere in solliciting ELIZABETH sometimes all together and otherwhiles seuerally This marriage did something fortifie their hope that the Romane Religion had taken no firme root in the Dukes heart as well in respect of his tender yeeres as being educated vnder Carualet who was much inclining to the Protestants Religion the hopes which they had by little and little to win him to the profession of it and the suppositions of the benefits which this marriage might bring to the reformed Religion hee being a young Prince and of a warlike disposition might by vniting the Forces of Germany and England bring the refractory Papists to obedience establish a perpetual league of peace betweene England and France and interrupt the designes of the Queene of Scotland the King of Spaine the Pope and the Irish Rebels sithence hee might ioyne vnto the Crowne of England the Dukedomes of Aniou Burbonnions and Auuergnia yeelding great Reuenues And it appeared that hee might adde greater things hereunto Lastly if this match were refused neuer would there be a more honourable match offered After diuers debatings the French propounded three Articles the first of which concerned the crowning of the Duke the second the gouernement of the Kingdome ioyntly with Queene ELIZABETH the third the toleration of their Religion To which answer was made THat the Queene could not agree without the consent of the State of the Kingdome that hee should be crowned after the marriage was accomplished but that she would willingly consent if the States thought good that vpon termes of marriage he should be graced with the matrimoniall Crowne so She termed it without doing any preiudice to her Maiestie nor to her Heires and Successors And that she would not fayle to make him discerne a most ample honour when hee was once her Husband As for the common gouernement shee thought it not vnfit to take for a Companion and Coadiutor in a coniunct administration him whom shee had honoured with the title of a King and her Husband And as for the toleration of the Religion which hee profest that shee could not giue her consent thereto for certaine causes which as I haue collected them out of the Letters of Queene ELIZABETH were these That howsoeuer the externall reuerence of Religion might bee tolerated between the Subiects of the same Kingdome vnder diuers manners and formes neuertheles this strange forme most repugnant of all which should bee betweene the Queene the head of her People and her husband seemed not onely dangerous but of all most auerse and disagreeing That She desired the King of France and the Queene his Mother equally to weigh in euen Ballance the perill which she should vnder-goe and on the other side the honour of the Duke of Anioâ— And that in tolerating his religion she violated the Lawes establisht in her Kingdome beget a distaste in her good Subiects lightened the heart of the wicked all which she verily should vndergoe for the honour of the Duke But the French-men vrged that if she liued without exercise of Religion shee seemed to haue none at all and that she would not for her Honour bee accounted an Atheist She on the contrary replyed THat if she did but husbandize those seedes of pure Religion which were in him and receiue increase thereof he should see within a short time that it would redound greatly to his Honour In the end they came so farre that if the Duke would assist with the Queene in the celebration of Diuine Seruice and not refuse to heare and learne the Doctrine of the Protestants She would condiscend that neither hee nor his people should be constrained to vse the Ceremonies and Fashions accustomed in the English Church nor molested if they vsed other Ceremonies not vtterly repugnant to the Word of God prouided that they vsed them in priuate places and that they ministred no occasion to the English of violating their Lawes establisht De Foix vpon these words To the Word of God paused a little Queene ELIZABETH to giue them content commanded that in stead of those words they should put in To the Church of GOD but the one pleasing no more then the other he desired that To the Catholike Church might be put in Queen ELIZABETH would no way assent thereunto and hereupon this matter began to waxe colder by little and little Some are perswaded that this Match was not seriously vndertooke by the King of France and the Queene his Mother but onely to the end that the remembrance of a match contracted with a Protestant Princesse might bee a testimonie vnto the Protestants of their sincere meaning vnto them and to preuent the match which they suspected to be treated of with the King of Nauar whom the King of France would haue married to his Sister The like opinion was of
Castles which were in Scotland the Hostages and the King of Scots to renounce the title to England and the English Rebels But for this matter enough is spoken of this yeere and the particularities of it may be drawne from the Dukes confession and the memoriall sent to the Queen of Scots written by the Bishop of Rosse's own hand At the same time Mathew Earle of Lenox Vice-Roy of Scotland and great Grand-father to the King hauing appoynted the assembly of States at Sterlin and thinking to be safe there was surprized by the Lords of the contrary faction which met together by the Queenes authoritie at Edenborrough and hauing yeelded himselfe to Dauid Spencer who laboured very hard to protect him was slaine with him by Bell and Cauder after hauing with much trouble and paines ruled the Kingdome for the King his Nephew the space of foureteene moneths more or lesse at what time France tooke the Queenes side and Queen ELIZABETH the Kings not so much to get their friends the victory as to keepe them from being ouercome Queen ELIZABETH hoped that the young King should haue beene deliuered into her hands and the French thought that Dunbriton and Edenborrough should be giuen them whereupon some Scottish Merchants were very much troubled and traffique in France was denyed them which drew a great partie to the Queenes side in hope thereby to haue freedome of trade there againe In Lenox his place by the common consent of the people Iohn Areskin Earle of Marre was elected Vice-Roy a man of a calme spirit and a great louer of his Countrie who beeing no lesse afflicted with the turbulent counsels of his friends then by the insultings of his aduersaries for very griefe dyed when hee had gouerned thirteene moneths The iniquitie of these times and the loue which the people of England bore to their Queene and Countrey drew the States to Westminster where they made a Law to preuent the plots of the seditious by which it was ordayned by ancient authoritie THat if any did attempt to ruine or hurt the Queene to make warre or excite others to doe it in any part of her dominions or affirme that shee had no right to the Kingdome but that it were more iustly due to another or said that shee was an Heretique a Schismatique or Infidell that shee did vsurpe the right from another that was liuing or that the Lawes and Statutes were not of power to define and tye the right of Succession It should be Crimen laesae Maiestatis If any one during the life of Queene ELIZABETH should expresly affirme either by writing or Booke printed that any one is or ought to bee the Queenes Heire or Successour except the naturall Line which should proceede from her owne body or that should publish print or sell Bookes written vpon this Subiect he and his maintainers for the first time should suffer a whole yeeres imprisonment and lose halfe their goods but returning to the same offence againe they incurred the penaltie of a Praemunire which is losse of all goods and imprisonment during life This seemed grieuous vnto some which thought that the tranquillity of the Kingdome ought to be strengthened by the designation of an Heire but it was beyond beliefe what iests the maliciously-curious made of this clause Naturally begotten of her body because the Ciuill Law calls those Children naturall which are borne out of marriage and that nature onely and not the honesty of wedlocke begot them and the English Law Legitimate those that are lawfully begotten And I remember being then young to haue heard it spoken aloud that this word was prest into this Law by Leicester that some bastard-sonne of his should thrust in as one of neerest kinne to Queene ELIZABETH It was also ordained that those who had by any Bull or writing from the Pope reconciled any to the Church of Rome should vndergoe the punishment of Crimen laesae Maiestatis Those who sustaine the Reconcilers or bringers into England of Agnus Dei's Graines Crucifixes or any other things consecrated by the Pope of Rome should lose all their goods and indure perpetuall imprisonment and those that shall conceale and not detect these Reconcilers were holden guiltie of Misprision of Treason Furthermore those goods and lands which were conuicted for Rebellion in the North beeing in the possession of Iames Pilkinton Bishop of Durham who challenged Regall power betweene the Riuers of Teise and Tyne were adiudged to the Queene and her Successours because she had with great cost deliuered both the Bishop and the Bishopricke from Rebels yet so as that in time to come it shall not be preiudiciall to the Regall rite of that Church of Durham It was also ordained that to meete with the insolencies of such as were deuoted to the Pope and despising the authority of the Lawes and their obedience to their Princesse who day by day with-drew themselues into forraine Countries without the Queenes licence hoping in time with a great number and to innouate something they should returne within a certaine time and make their submissions and that the fraudulent conueyances which they had made should be burnt So much for the Papists On the other side by wholsome Lawes they suppressed as well the couetousnesse of certaine of the Clergie who as if they had beene borne onely to themselues with a notorious malice to their Successours wasted the goods of the Church and let out the Lands for many yeeres as the impudencie of others who with a desire to innouate opposed themselues to Articles of the Synod of London for the abolishing of Schisme in the yeere 1562. It was likewise againe propounded that if the Queene of Scots should againe offend the Lawes of England she might be proceeded against as if she were a Peeres Wife of the Realme of England But the Queene by her authority hindered that from being made a Law In the beginning of Iune the Parliament being ready to be dismissed they sate vpon Iohn Story a Doctor of Law and Spie to the Duke of Alua of whom I haue made mention in the yeere 1569. to know whether Iohn Storie being an English-man should be found guilty Laesae Maiestatis for hauing conferred with a stranger-Prince in Brabant for the inuading of his Countrey and shewing the meanes to doe it The learned'st sort in the Law did affirme that hee might be accused Laesae Maiestatis Whereupon hee was called vnto iudgement for hauing conspired against the life of his Princesse with one Prestoll a man much addicted to magicke and in giuing thankes at the Table alwayes cursed her and the King of Scotland to the fiends of Hell and demonstrated to the Duke of Alua's Secretary the meanes to inuade England to make Ireland reuolt and at the same time to bring the Scots into England He refused to submit himselfe to be iudged by the Lawes of England maintayning that being a sworne Subiect not to Queene ELIZABETH but to the King
Ley hee whispered something in his Eare and after he spoke to the Deane of Pauls who turning him to the people said The Duke intreateth you all to pray with him that GOD would be mercifull to him and that you would be silent that his spirit be not disturbed Hee forgaue his Executioner asking him pardon refusing to put the Napkin ouer his face which he offered him saying I feare not death Then kneeling downe his heart lift vp to GOD on high hee prostrated himselfe on the Scaffold the Deane praying intentiuely with him then laying his necke ouer the Blocke at one stroke his head was cut off which the Executioner shewed a lamentable spectacle to the people most mournfully then shedding teares and sighing It is almost incredible how dearely the People loued him and how by his naturall benignity and courteous actions qualities well becomming so great a Prince hee had gained the hearts of the Multitude Diuers of the wiser sort as they were affected passed their censures diuersly some from an apprehension they had of great feare and danger might haue ensued had hee suruiued others commiserating the case of one so nobly borne so gentle by nature so comely of personage of so manly an aspect so compleat in all parts to perish so pittyously one who had not the subtill sleights of his Aduersaries and the slippery hopes he had conceiued vnder a colour of benefitting his Countrey and Common-wealth diuerted from the first-begun course of his life hee had beene the greatest honour and ornament of his Countrey They called also to memory the lucklesse death and destiny of his late Father who although vniuersally admired for Arts and Armes had some fiue and twentie yeeres before this lost his head in the same place vpon sleight occasions to wit for hauing his Armes quartered with King Edward the Confessour which we reade the Mowbrayes the Dukes of Norfolke had borne being giuen them by King Richard the Second from which Mowbrayes he drew his petigree Whereupon it shall not be impertinent to the purpose briefly to adde from what shop these Conspiracies were first forged as Hierome Catene in his History of the life of Pius the fifth relateth An Author for his credit made free Denison of Rome and admitted Secretary to Cardinall Alexandrine Nephew to Pius the fifth POpe Pius the 5. saith he burning with a zealous desire to re-establish the Romane Religion and hauing no other so conuenient a Messenger to bee his Nuncio Apostolike imployed Robert Ridolph Gentleman of Florence who comming into England vnder pretext of other businesse indeuoured himselfe to nothing more then to stir the hearts of the Queenes Subiects to her destruction wherein he dealt with such dexterity that he brought not onely Papists but also some Protestants to be of his faction some for a priuate malice they bore to those which aymed at the Kingdome others out of a desire of innouation As these matters were working vnder-hand and couertly there happened a debate betwixt the Spaniard and the Queene for certaine moneys that had been intercepted now in her possession Hereupon the Pope tooke occasion to perswade the King of Spaine to lend his helping hand to those which were combin'd Conspirators in England against Qu. ELIZA that so he might with the more facillity effect his affaires in the Low-Countries and restore the Catholike Religion in England In like maner dealt he with France as if he were bound to assist his Kinswoman the Queen of Scotland and to pleasure the Scots who to diuert the English from ayding the Protestants in France had made incursions vpon the English nor ought be any lesse to some great persons of the confederacy in England who by their policy had so preuented as that the Queene should not publikely send any ayde to the Huguenots of France by reason whereof the King of France promised his aide to set free the Qu. of Scots but failed to performe In the meane time Ridolph so wrought that he brought Norfolke to bee chiefe of the conspiracie promising him marriage with the Queene of Scots with her consent The better also to effect this businesse the Pope deposed the Queene of her Crowne and Kingdome and absolued her Subiects of all Oath and Allegeance by a Bull which hee caused to be published whereof he sent copies printed to Ridolph to be dispersed through the Kingdome Hereupon the Earles of Northumberland and Westmerland raised Armes in the North of England against the Queene but money failing there they speedily fled into Scotland and the Duke of Norfolke with others were committed to prison amongst which Ridolph was one who had receiued commandement from his Holinesse to deliuer to the Confederate League an hundred and fiftie thousand Crownes which hee could not doe beeing now prisoner But her Maiesty not looking so deepely as concerned her into the plot of the Conspiracie set Ridolph and some others at liberty and hauing distributed the foresaid moneys amongst the Confederates was by them sent home againe to the Pope to aduertise him that now all things were in a readinesse for the dispatch of the Queen and to procure with all speed the best supplies he might from the Spaniard out of the Low-Countries The Pope commended well this purpose although indeed the Duke of Norfolke had formerly misliked the same as a matter full of much difficulty in a priuate conference hee had with Ridolph once vpon the way and vnder a colour of other matter addrest himselfe to the Kings of Spaine Portugal to informe them thereof He promiseth the Duke of Norfolke by his Letters to send him succour mooueth with the King of Spaine to bee assistant and to further the matter the more offereth to goe himselfe in person and if neede were to spend the goods of his See-Apostolike Challices holy Vestiments and Crucifixes assuring him that he could and would easily effect the same nor was there any difficultie to be doubted would hee send ouer Chappin Vittel with an Armie out of Flanders into England which thing the Spaniard with all expedition commanded to be done whilest the Pope prouided money But the Duke D'Alua enuying that Vitel should haue the honour of this seruice sought to preferre his Sonne thereunto fearing that the French should fall from them with their Forces and doubting the Conquest of England might yeelde any profit to Spaine or that the Pope was able to comply with them for money sufficient for so great a designe Notwithstanding the King of Spaine gaue expresse command that he should inuade England and to that end sent moneys by Ridolph into Flanders But it pleased God the matter was discouered to the Queene of England by some beyond seas and the Duke of Norfolke apprehended and iudged to death which brought no lesse griefe to the Pope then to the King of Spaine who said in the presence of Cardinall Alexandrine his Nephew That neuer was
businesse more deliberately attempted carried with more courage and constancy of the Confederates nor lasted longer time vndiscouered by any of the coniurate-society That their military Companies might in foure and twentie houres space be put ouer out of Flanders into England the Queene and the City of London suddenly surprized Religion restored and the Queene of Scotland settled and crowned in her steade All which were like to haue the better successe for that Thomas Stukeley an English Fugitiue was then in readinesse with three thousand men to bring Ireland in subiection to the King of Spaine and with three Ships that were Spies set the English Fleete on fire Thus H. Catene of which much was vnknowne till the yeere 1588. when he published a booke printed at Rome and priuiledged by Sixtus the Sixth Now returne wee to the purpose if we be digrest Scarce ten dayes after the Dukes death were sent to the Queene of Scots then all mournefull and in sorrow Will. Lord de-la-Warre Sir Ralph Sadler Tho. Wilson Doctor of the Ciuill Lawes and T. Bromley the Queenes Attourney who were so to expostulate with her as to charge her for vsurping the Title and Armes of England nor that she had renounced them according as it was conditioned at Edenborrough and to assume them more freely had secretly contriued to marry with the Duke of Norfolke which the rather to bring to passe shee had left nothing vnassayed by the ministery of her Agents by force and Armes to set the Duke at liberty had raised Rebellion in the North Countrey had succoured the conuicted Rebels of Scotland and Flanders had by Ridolph the Italian his solliciting implored the aydes of the Pope the King of Spaine and others for inuading the Countrey of England they vrged also that shee had receiued Letters from the Pope who had promised to keepe her as safe vnder his wing as the Hen doth her Chickens calling her and her Complices The true Children of the Church And finally that shee had procured a Bull from the Pope against the Queene and and had suffered herselfe by her friends in forraigne parts to be called The Queene of England To all these with a bold countenance and constant resolution hauing first protested herselfe to be a free Prince and subiect to none she answered THat she had not vsurped the Title or Armes of England but that being yet young and vnder the power of her Husband the King of France necessity imposed them vpon her but since her Husbands death shee neuer bore them wherefore it was not to be imputed to her as any fault of hers neither would she take them to her so long as ELIZABETH liued or any Childe shee should beare That in the matching with the Duke of Norfolke shee had no thought of any ill might happen to the Cōmon-wealth but rather much good and if she should renounce the marriage it was contrary to the matrimoniall Vow she had made and that by dutie thereof she was bound to aduertise the Duke of his dangers and to quit himselfe out of prison That she had neuer raised nor consented to the raising of any tumults but was alwaies ready to discouer what plots shee knew of against the Queene or Countrey if she had pleased by her to bee admonished of or to haue admitted her to her sight or hearing nor at any time had succoured the English Rebels but only by her Letters had recommended the Countesse of Northumberland to the Duke D'Alua Of Ridolph she was to haue necessary vse for her pensionary Annuities and in some money-matters whom shee knew to be a great Fauourite of the Popes but neuer had receiued any Letters from him had neuer dealt with any touching her deliuery but indeed had not refused to giue eare to such as had offered the seruice in that kind and for that cause had passed her priuie Seale to Rowlston and Hall She had sometimes receiued Letters consolatory and full of piety from the Pope wherein was no mention of any such matter nor had shee procured any Bull from Rome onely on a time a copie of one of them was shewed her which after she had read shee cast it into the fire But if any out of forraigne Countries shall write or speake otherwise then they ought they ought to answere it and to suffer the penaltie of their faults She neuer sought or sent either to the Pope or K. of Spaine for the procuring any inuasion vpon England but had implored their helpes for her restoring into her owne Realme but not before her Maiestie had preadmonition thereof But if shee were to be called in question concerning these Letters she requested for that shee was issued from the Bloud Royall of England that she might answere for herselfe in person in open Parliament In the meane time was Scotland all vp in Armes miserably troubled with Ciuill Warres whilest on the one side such as fauoured the Queene relying vpon aide from the French and the other party expecting the like from England had dayly encounters together notwithstanding both English and French shewed themselues most desirous to appease and accord their dissentions by the Ambassages which either countrey sent into Scotland Of which France proposed that their most commodious course would bee to elect amongst them some persons of well-known worth and wisedome to gouerne the Kingdome for a time not taking vpon them supreame authority or the names of King or Queene they were not willing to acknowledge for King the King of Scotland for that they held hee had no right but by his mother and that shee was vniustly deposed of her Subiects and therefore shee was iustly to bee reputed their Queene and the ancient League of Alliance betwixt her and France to continue firme and inuiolable Those likewise from England on the contrary maintained by strong argument that such an Administration or popular gouernment would be an Anarchy and that the Commonwealth was not to admit plurality of Gouernours and that Scotland hauing alwaies beene commanded by Kings was not now to haue an election of such Administrators That the States of the Realme had deposed the Queene and lawfully crowned and inthroned the King and that the ancient recited Alliance was a contract not of persons but of the two Kingdomes of France and Scotland alledging also that by an expresse Law the most Christian King was bound to defend the King of Scots in these termes If there happen at any time controuersie about the Kingdome of Scotland the Kings of France shall support ayde and defend him whom the States of Scotland shall adiudge the Title of the Kingdome to And as touching the causes of the Queenes deposing it should bee enquired of of those Scots who haue deposed her The French notwithstanding openly fauouring the partie of the Queene of Scotland became serious intercessours to her Maiestie for to set her at liberty lest that as his Ambassadour did freely hee might
bee thought not to respect her who had been wife to the King his brother and now the Dowager of France and to neglect the now puissant Family of the Guizes in France or to approoue that pernicious example of deposing of Kings And which was the most capitall point of all that shee finding her selfe abandoned of the French in her aduersity might seeke Patronage from Spaine and that by her meanes the three prepotent Realmes of England Scotland and Ireland might colleague them in amity with Spaine to the no small endamagement of the State of France To these Qu. ELIZABETH with milde alacrity answered THe King of France will be well aduised what or how he shall doe with the Queene of Scotland notwithstanding she was their Queene and now is their Dowager howbeit for the dissoluing of the Duke of Aniou's mariages she hath held secret cōsultation with the Spaniard He will also consider whether that ancient Law of Alliance be violable and whether he be bound therby or no to defend the King in his nonage He will also bethinke him how much France is beholden or obliged to the Family of the Guizes by whose practices the Countrey hath beene afflicted with long and bloody wars the French haue beene forced to lose the loue of Scotland and the poore Queene brought into this calamitable case she is in In very deed the example of deposing Kings I hold a thing most pernicious and well deseruing infernall punishment but for that the Scots are to answere And for mine owne part I call to mind the things which grieue my heart to remember But notwithstanding I know not how the French in old times allowed of Pepin when he supplanted Childeric Hugo Capet Charles of Lorraine depriuing them of their ancient successions descended to them from a long-continued Race of Ancestors to transferre the Scepter to new-erected Families As also Philip surnamed the good Duke of Burgundie exiled Iaquette from his countries of Hainault Holland or the Danes when they expulst from his Kingdome Christianus the second and his Daughters Or the Spaniards who imprisoned the Queene Vraca after they had put her from the Crowne It is no nouelty for Sonnes to succeed their deposed Mothers So Henry the Second was admitted King of England Alphonsus the yonger Sonne of Vraca King of Castill and of late memory Charles the fifth King of Spaine and Sicily their Mothers then suruiuing The world is full of examples of many Queenes that haue exchanged their Diademes for prisons which France doth testifie at large hauing imprisoned not to say further the wiues of three of their Kings one after another Lewes Hutin Philip the long and Charles the faire For my part I detaine the Queene of Scots vnder a reasonable Guard but I doe it for the preseruation of England and mine owne safety after the example of the French who for their better security of affaires put Chilperic into a Monasterie Charles of Lorraine into a safe and straite prison and Lodowicke Sforza Duke of Mylan into a Dungeon with Iron grates Whereunto as she was very conuersant in the Histories of all Nations shee annexed other examples of the same nature drawne out of the Historie of Spaine and finally concluded that true it was such Presidents carried euer with them some semblance of Iniustice but she required that the King of France would vndertake the defence of the Queene of Scotland euen as he was bound by his Allyance intimating that it would bee an action of greater glory to the French than all those vnhappy enterprizes they assumed in the cause of that infamous woman Iane of Naples But when it was discouered that at the same time the Queene of Scots practised secretly to confirme an alliance with the Spaniard by the negotiations of the Lord Seton who arriuing in Essex disguised in the habit of a Mariner and returning from thence into Scotland through England hee had promised succours in the Duke of Aluaes name to the Scottish partakers with the Queene shee was kept with a straighter Guard and the affection borne to her by the French by little and little waxed cold And certainely as the Duke of Alua omitted nothing wherein he might vent his hatred to Queene ELIZABETH so was shee no lesse cautelous to preuent it and frustrate his dissignes For in the first moneths of this yeere hee complained by the Spanish Ambassadour in England that the Flemmish Rebels bought all their warlike munition there and were receiued into all her Ports and Hauens shee presently by a strict Proclamation commanded that all Flemmings any wayes suspected of sedition should depart out of England and that their ships of warlike equipage should be seysed vpon in her harbours All which returned to the dammage of the Duke of Alua. For Humes Earle of March and other Flemmings reduced as it were to a desperate poynt whether they were terrified by this Proclamation or that they were vnder-hand admonished to retyre but they presently surprised the Breele which is seated vpon the mouth of the Meuse caused Flushing forthwith to reuolt and other Townes which expelled the Spaniards as they were in hand to make cittadels to captiuate their libertie in a short time cut off the Duke of Alua by Sea and through the meanes they had to make it good for themselues had a power to molest and detaine the Spaniard with a long and tedious warre wherein Souldiers haue obserued that hee shewed for his part such palpable carelessenesse and negligence as was not beseeming so great a Generall who for the space of foure whole yeeres grossely ouer-slipt the maritime affaires and expeditions of Flanders At the same time there was a famous generall muster before the Queene at Greenwich with a pleasant trayning in Armes by the Citizens of London and after their returne from thence martiall men who began to rust and corrupt in their owne houses began to flow out of England into Flanders and according as they stood affected betooke themselues some to the Duke of Alua and others the farre greater number to the Prince of Orange who opposed his proiects for the defence of Religion and his Countries libertie Amongst whom Sir Thomas Morgan was the first that brought three hundred men into Flushing vpon the report whereof the Duke who intended the recouery of it forbare and retyred Further hee vsed such expedition and diligence as hee caused greater troupes to come for after himselfe there landed nine Companies more of English conducted by Humfrey Gilbert who being consorted with the French first attempted to surprize Scluse and Bruges then hee set vpon Tergow in Suethebenelant But their scaling-Ladders being too short hollow correspondancie betweene the French and the English and Mondragon comming on with fresh succours for the assieged they retyred to Flushing of which both the one and the other sought to make themselues masters each to themselues But the Prince of Orange made good vse of this
France whereunto with notable dissimulation the King of Nauarre and the most noble Protestants were drawne by sweet promises and probable hopes of perpetuating the peace bringing themselues into grace as also the Earle of Leicester and the Lord Burleigh were inuited out of England vnder an honourable colour and out of Germanie the Sonnes of the Elector Palatine to the end that being intangled in the nets if those of the Euangelicall Religion together with themselues were not all denounced in an instant yet they should receiue a mortall and irrecouerable wound For when the Nuptials were solemnized this so expected and wished serenitie was presently ouer-cast with that terrible and bloudie tempest the Parisian Butcherie and through the cruell Massacres that with execrable impietie were committed in all the Citie of France against Protestants of all estates and conditions the which notwithstanding they would faine haue couered with a pretext of equitie yea of pitty and to practise this impious fraud vnder the cloake and shelter of the Edicts imputing to the Protestants that they had wickedly conspired against the King the Queene his Mother his Brethren the King of Nauarre and the Princes of the Bloud For pieces of money were coyned in memorial of this act which had of the one side the Kings effigies with this Inscription Vertu contre les Rebelles Vertue against Rebels and on the other La pieté à esmen la iustice Pittie hath moued iustice Not long before the Queene-Mother of France very subtill in counterfeiting good-will to the Protestants being to vnderstand the future euents and credulous in Astrologicall predictions which by the coniunction of the Royall Planets at the birth of her Sonnes prognosticated Kingdomes to each of them commanded la Mottef to breake with Queene ELIZABETH about the marriage of her with Francis her youngest Sonne Duke of Alenzon to purchase him if shee could the title of a King or at least to diuert Queene ELIZABETH from ayding the Protestants in France La Mottef propounded this matter at Kennelworth two dayes before the Massacre of Paris But Queene ELIZABETH excused her selfe by reason of the difference in Religion and disparity in yeeres For hee was hardly seuenteene yeeres old and she aboue eight and thirtie Neuerthelesse shee promised to deliberate of it and the Duke of Alenzon forbare not to sollicite her by the procurements of Fleri In the same moneth Thomas Percie Earle of Northumberland who because of his Rebellion fled into Scotland had his Head cut off at Yorke after hee was deliuered into the hands of the Lord of Hunsdon Gouernour of Berwicke by the treachery of one Morton who stood much bound vnto him for many benefits when hee was banished into England but was euer found gratefull towards the afflicted And as this yeere like a dreadfull Axe cut off the Duke of Norfolke and Earle of Northumberland in the flower of their age a milde and gentle death carried likewise out of the World two others in their decrepit yeeres who were of the most eminent Nobilitie and of the Priuy-Councell George Pawlet Lord Treasurer of England Marquis of Winchester Earle of Wilton and Lord Saint Iohn of Basing who went through many great honours attained to the age of ninetie seuen yeeres and begot to the number of an hundred and three children Sir William Cecill Baron of Burleigh supplied his place in the dignity of Lord Treasurer Edward Earle of Darbie and Baron of le Strange of Knoking departed this life with whom in some sort dyed the glory of English hospitality After his commendable discharge of many honourable Ambassies there dyed also Sir George Peters an honourable Knight who was one of the priuy Councell Secretary to King HENRY the Eighth King EDVVARD the Sixt Queene MARY and Queene ELIZABETH and Chancellour of the order of the Garter descended from the worthy Family of Exceter after that by his wisedome and learning he had collected a great Estate out of his owne goods and the permission of Queene MARY he augmented with annuall reuennues Exceter Colledge in the Vniuersity of Oxeford where he was a Student and brought vp The Queene her selfe who had alwaies liued in perfect health for she neuer ate but when she had a stomacke neither drunke any Wine felt some small grudging of infirmitie at Hampton-Court But she recouered her former health before it was almost known she was sicke and being vigilant ouer matters worthy of a Princes care forecast shee commanded that Portsmouth should be rampard with new fortifications her Fleet increast with Ships of war that at certaine constituted times Soldiers might bee inrold throughout the Shires and Youth to be trained vp in Armes though she liued then in most secure peace Shee willingly and with much thankes restored the money shee had borrowed of her Subiects in doing of which she gained no lesse loue of her people then in sending foorth two Proclamations which she caused to be publisht in the beginning of the yeere In one of which she ordained that those Noblemen should be taxed according to the ancient Lawes that tooke more followers and retainers then was permitted them because these their retainers followers were hereby exempted from publike Offices they maintained Factions and many waies offended against the Lawes relying on the Protection of the Nobles to whom they had proffered their seruice And in the other shee curbed a rauenous kind of people called Enquirers after conceald Lands by reuoking their warrants and constraining them to restore many things taken away For being appointed to seeke out whether particular men concealed not some land that belonged to the Crowne with most sacrilegious auarice they began to seaze on such as had heretofore beene giuen by pious Ancestors to Parish Churches and Hospitals yea to plucke downe the Bells and Lead wherewith the Churches were couered In Ireland the burdensome authority of one Fitton Gouernour of Connath produced some troubles For the sons of Richard Earle of Clanricard brought foorth by diuers women not beeing able to endure it in that they were headstrong and giuen to liberty they raised a Rebellion and passing ouer Sene made cruell Incursions vpon the inhabitants of the westerne parts of Mijs which with many outrages committed they pillaged and forraged Their Father who was of the ancient Family of Bourgh in England venerably bald and of a staid disposition went to the Deputy iustified himselfe of this crime and required aduice of the Councellours of Ireland how he might depresse his sonnes that spoiled and wasted the Countrie in this manner But her Maiesty thought fit for publike tranquillity by little and little to draw Fitton out of Connath and to make him Treasurer of Ireland A little while after the Earles sonnes defeated by the Garrisons which fell vpon them submitted themselues to the Depruie The Enlagen Omors a kinde of seditious people stird vp also new troubles but they likewise being proclaimed
returne backe againe as he came But so soone as her Maiesty heard how Henrie Duke of Aniou his Brother had beene elected King of Poland Also the French King to be grieuously sicke shee sent word to the Duke of Alanzon to take not as yet his iourney for England alledging him these reasons THe Protestants Massacre lately most cruelly acted on the Bloudy Theater of all France and in hatred of their Religion during the solemnizations and recreations of a marriage That hee hauing already heretofore sought her to Wife the Protestants of England partly suspected fatall the Nuptials and the more sith himselfe transported of a courage enemy to the Protestants had gone in person to besiege Rochell and had written of all parts that hee would come to see her Maiestie presently after the taking of the said City insomuch that hee seemed rather to hate the Protestants Religion than to beare affection or loue to the Queenes Maiestie and that this caused the best part of England to suspect that hee would come into their Countrey to marry the Queene with a Sword dyed in the bloud of those poore Christians who professed their owne Religion Therefore her Maiesty friendly counselled him FIrst to procure and mediate a Peace in France to yeeld some worthy proofe and noted testimony of his affection to the Protestants of France to be the better welcome in England and the more graciously receiued according to his desire Since this Peace was re-established in France the exercise of Religion granted in certaine places to the Protestants The King and the Queene desired nothing more than the absence of the Duke of Alanzon because he was of a harsh and seuere nature inclined to trouble their States affaires they did their best and vsed their vttmost endeuoures to effect the match and by like meanes prayed Qu. ELIZABETH to permit to their other sonne the Duke of Aniou if he should goe by sea to Poland Authority to saile vnder publike assurance vpon Great-Brittaines Sea This their request her Maiestie granted not only most willingly but more shee offered him a Fleet of Ships to conuay him in the meane while the Duke of Alanzon fell sicke of the small poxe and the Queene his mother giuing aduice thereof to Queene ELIZABETH by the Earle of Rez excuseth him by reason of his sicknesse for not comming into England Gondy met Queene ELIZABETH at Canterbury where she entertained him with great magnificence and the same time Matthew Parker Arch-bishop of Canterbury celebrating the Queenes birth-day which was the seuenth of September in the Arch-bishops Hall very spacious and by him newly repaired inuited the Queen thither and Gondy and la Motto and feasted them with like number of Nobility that Charles the fifth and HENRY the Eighth had being feasted in the same Hall in the yeere 1519. In Scotland Iames Dowglasse Earle of Morton beeing elected Vice-Roy of Scotland in Murray's place by the meanes of Queene ELIZABETH and his authority made sure by the Assembly of the States in the name of the King established these Lawes for confirming Religion against Papists and Heretickes and made sure Alexander Areskin Earle of Marre the Kings Gardian by speciall right being as yet in his minority vpon these Conditions THat the Papists and Factious persons should be excluded from hauing accesse to his person an Earle might be admitted to him with two seruants only and a Baron with one all others alone and without weapons In the Interim the French hauing sent Viriack who endeuoured what he could to supplant the Vice-Roy before he should be authorized set to oppose him the Earles of Athole and Huntley promising them a reward Queene ELIZABETH to counter-scarfe these designes let the Scots vnderstand by H. Killigrewe that this cruell Massacre of Paris had bin put in execution by the conspiracy of the Pope and the Kings of France and Spaine to exterminate the Protestants And therefore warned them to take heed lest being corrupted either with Pensions from France or deuided by Factions they open a way to Stranger Forces which were thought should be conducted by Strossie To oppose themselues all vallianty and with equall courage against it for defence of Religion which was the only bond of concord betweene the English and the Scots And to be very carefull to preserue their King or to send him into England to preuent his taking away and carrying into France Neuerthelesse some great Ones partakers with the imprisoned Queene would in no sort acknowledge the Authority either of the King or his Vice-Roy vntill Queene ELIZABETH by interposing her power had by the Agencie of Killigrew brought the Duke of Chastelraut and the Earle of Huntley who were the principals among them to these Conditions which were equall enough THat they should acknowledge the Religion established in Scotland submit themselues to the King and to the Gouernement of the Earle of Morton and his successours and renounce the authority of all others That all those which should enterprize any thing against the Religion the King and the Vice-Roy should be adiudged Traitours by Act of Parliament The sentences giuen against the Hamiltons and the Gordons should be cut off and annihilated except those which concerned the murdering of the Earles of Murrey and Lenox Vice-Royes which should stand according to the pleasure of Queene ELIZABETH Who neuerthelesse sent this businesse backe to the King and was of opinion that this Clause ought to be added to it Vntill that the King being come to age should take the Gouernement of the Realme according to the Law of the Kingdome And that of all and euery crime committed since the fifteenth of Iune 1567 the Murder of the Earle of Lenox excepted pardon should be granted to all that would aske it Notwithstanding it was thought good for the safety of the King lest hee should bee exposed to murder that the Queene of England should promise by a publike Instrument that neither the Hamiltons nor any other should be adiudged for the murdering of the Vice-Royes or fined without her consent And that was ordered in the Assembly of States for the settling of a publike peace in a turbulent season Howbeit Kirckall Lord of Grange who had beene established Captaine of Edenborrough Castle after he had taken oath in the Kings name and the Baron of Hume Lidington the Bishop of Dunkeld and others thinking that iniustice was done to the Queene of Scotland would by no meanes admit of these Conditions but with vndaunted Courage contemned the authority both of the King and Vice-Roy kept and fortified the Castle in the Queenes name by the counsell of Lidington thinking themselues sure in regard of the strength of the place which is of a most difficult accesse and of the Munition which were in it for there all Munition Royall is kept and of the Succours promised by the Duke D'Alua and the King of France who had vnder-hand sent them some money the greater part whereof
English in England should surprize and leade into Scotland the Gouernour of the Meridional frontier and of Barwick and others and not release them before they had promised in writing to returne Shee tooke all this as a great iniury and a disgrace done to the name of the English and to her honour And so much the more because the Regent had constituted that inquisition should be made vpon the borders of Scotland whether those which were of the Commission did come to the place armed This proposition she iudged to come from a heart puffâ— vp with enmitie but that other with ambition that is to say that the Regent should prescribe a place of meeting to the Queene of England notwithstanding that shee had not long before appointed a meeting-place in the City of Yorke to the Regent Murrey Neither could the affrighted Regent satisfie the Queene vntill hee vnarmed had met with Huntington Deputy for England at Bonderod a Towne vpon the Borders and there promised with good offices to salue this hurt and for the reparation of the English name he sent Carmichel his indeered friend into England who for a space was detayned there in free imprisonment at Yorke and soone after was sent backe with honour and rewards For the fault was found to be sprung from Forster whilest hee aboue measure sustained the Cause of a notorious Malefactor Thus was the Queene reconciled to the Regent who remained euer after constant in his friendship chastising the Fugitiues of either side to his great praise and the good of both the Kingdomes In this yeere dyed not any in England of any noble remarke or note But in Scotland the thrice-Noble Iames Hamilton Duke of Castell-Herauld who being sonne to the Daughter of Iames the second King of Scotland was giuen as a tutor to Mary Queene of Scots appointed Gouernour and Heire to the Kingdome so long shee was vnder age and when he had deliuered her to the French he was created Duke of Castell-Herauld in France afterwards was constituted the chiefe of the three Gouernours of Scotland during Queene Maries imprisonment whose Cause whilest he constantly defended being an open man and of a nature peaceable he was much afflicted by the iniuries and plots of some troublesome spirits The Earle of Essex perceiuing himselfe much troubled aswell by the Ambushes of Turlogh and the Lord of Dungannon as also by the obiected Difficulties in England and learning that it was deliberated in England concerning his repeale he silently deplored the misreies whereinto by extreme iniurie he was precipitated he complained of the losse of his owne and his mens fortunes hee lamented Ireland which he perswaded himselfe that with two thousand Souldiers he could reduce into obedience he instantly demanded that for his honour he might compound the matter with Turlogh and hauing giuen vp to the Vice-Roy his command in Vlster because that with that small Company of men which he had assigned him he was not of power sufficient to prosecute what he had begunne hee was presently commanded to resume the same But hee had scarce resumed it and began to march against Turlogh but he receiued Letters of Command wholly to with-drawe himselfe from that warre and in as honourable termes as he could to conclude a Peace Which beeing presently performed he charged vpon the Scots of Hebrides which had seized vpon Clandeboy and forced them to fly into Caues and hauing with the ayde of Norris surprized the Island Rachlin and slaine 400. of the Islanders hee forced the Castle to yeeld and there placed a Garrison And beeing now in the middle course of victory hee was againe commanded beyond his expectation to resigne his authority and onely as a priuate Captaine had command ouer three hundred men And sure nothing was omitted by the close and subtill dealings of Leicester with continuall troubles to oppresse the milde and peaceable spirit of this Noble Worthy Henry Sidney was then sent the third time Vice-roy into Ireland when the Plague made large hauock of the Isle neuerthelesse he passed to Vlster where many humbled themselues to him and requested with Prayers their safe-guard to wit Mac-Mahon Mac-Guir Turlogh Leinich and others as many also in Lemster of the seditious Family of O-Conor and O-Mor who by force of Armes had holden their ancient Possessions in Leise and Ophale whereof by an Ordinance they had beene dispossessed Beeing arriued at Mounster he assisted as a mourner to honour the Funerals of Peter Carew a true Noble Knight and of memorable vertues who as heire to Stephanide and Reymond Crasse who were the first Conquerers of Ireland and of the of Ydorne had conquered by the Rites of Warre part of his Patrimony Comming to Corcagh the Earle of Desmond visited him and with great respect offered vnto him all willing and ready seruices From thence being carried to Connach he receiued Homage of the sonnes of Clan-Richard which were Rebels and pardoned all their offences after they had humbly implored the same in the Church of Galloway and so hee gouerned the Prouince with great and worthy applause THE NINETEENTH YEERE OF Her Reigne Anno Dom. 1576. ANew yeere beginning the two match-makers for the Duke of Alanzon la Mottefenelon and la Porte began to charme the eares of Queene ELIZABETH with sweete and amorous discourses To whom reply was made That it was then no time for such talke the Duke being so farre ingaged in the Ciuill Warres wherewith France was infested that he could not readily come into England Neuerthelesse two Ambassadours were sent into France one after another to renewe a fraternall friendship betweene the King and the Duke and to dehort them from the affaires of the Netherlands lest the Spaniard should kindle a new war in France shewing them how easie a thing it would be to him hauing then a puissant Army in Italy to surprize Saluces or beeing with his forces possest of Prouence to command the entry of the Mediterranean Sea especially the treasury of France being so neere exhausted of other semblable matters she admonished them to deterre them from the Low-Countries For the Prince of Orange for his owne particular profit and the hope of retaining the Principality of Orange which was situate in France hee ceased not to inuite the French into the Netherlands and promised to the Hollanders and Zelanders who as if they were borne to the Sea did infest the Sea with their Vessels purposely built for their Pyracies the pillaging of the shipping of the English Merchants vnder a pretext framed that they relieued the Dunkirkes their enemies with victuals and vnder borrowed names transported into Spaine the merchandizes of Antwerpe and other places which themselues were accustomed to transport thither and for their owne profit but now durst not by reason they knew themselues guiltie of reuolt Holstock was forthwith sent with Ships furnished for the warres to represse them who tooke aboue two hundred
Thighes so fought Norris the Leader of the English eagerly fighting had three Horses killed vnder him and brought away the glorie of a valorous Warriour and so did Stuart a Scottishman Burham Lieutenant to Cauendish and William Marckham That these Prouinces of the Low-Countreys afflicted and faint with these intestine Warres might be comforted there came into Flanders from the Emperour Count Swart-Zenberg from France Pomponio Belieure from Queene ELIZABETH the Lord Cobham and Sir Francis Walsingham to sollicite a Peace but the businesse was so poysoned that they returne without doing any thing Don Iohn refusing to admit of reforming Religion and the Prince of Orange to returne into Holland About that time Egremond Radcliffe Sonne to Henrie Earle of Sussex by his second Wife a man of a turbulent Spirit and one of the chiefe in the Rebellion of the North went to serue vnder Don Iohn and is accused by some of the English Fugitiues to be sent to kill him is apprehended in the Campe at Namurcke with Gray an Englishman as a partner in the plot and are both executed The Spaniards giue it out that Radcliffe which were the last words he spake before his death of his owne accord confessed that he was set at libertie out of the Tower of London and excited with great promises by Sir Francis Walsingham to performe this Some English that were present denied that he confessed any such thing although the Fugitiues wrought by all the meanes they could to draw the like confession from them but difference in Religion doth too much darken the light of the mind both of honestie and truth on both sides and who knowes not that the Fugitiues for verie hatred inuent many things to depraue and slander Within a little time after Don Iohn in the flowre of his age whether of the Plague or as others will haue it with griefe being neglected of his Brother left his fond Ambition and life together after he had gaped first after the kingdome of Tunis which caused the losse of Guleta in Affrica And secondly after England And vnknowne to France or Spaine contracted alliance with the Guizes for the defence of both the Crownes In the meane while the Duke of Aniou howsouer bent to the Warres of the Low-Countries prosecutes the mariage which he had begun being Duke of Alanzon that he might shew that he was able to giue his minde to the warres and to his Loue together First of all Bucheruile for this purpose is sent to Queene ELIZABETH He finds her at the House of one Cordall in Suffolke taking her Countrey pleasures By and by after comes Rambouillet from the French King and a moneth after Semier from the Duke of Aniou a refined Courtier who was exquisite in the delights of Loue and skilfull in the wayes of Courtship accompanied with many French Gentlemen whom Queene ELIZABETH receiued forthwith verie louingly at Richmond Then began Leicester to grow discontented seeing himselfe falne from the hope which he had so long conceiued to marrie her and that a little before she had beene angry with Astley a Lady of the Queenes Bed-Chamber for commending him to her and perswading her to marrie him WHat saith she thinkest thou me so vnlike my selfe and vnmindfull of the Maiestie of a Queene that I will prefer a meane Seruant whom I haue raised my selfe before the greatest Princes of the Christian world Neere the same time Margaret Douglas Countesse of Lenox Daughter of the eldest Sister of King HENRY the eighth Widdow of Mathew Earle of Lenox and Grandmother to IAMES King of Great Britaine after she had out-liued all her Children which were eight in number dyed in the Clymacteriall yeere of her age and was buried at Westminster being brought thither with a sumptuous Funerall at Queene ELIZABETH's charge A woman of singular pietie patience and chastitie who had beene three times cast into prison as I haue heard not for any suspition of crime against the Queene but for matters of Loue. First when Thomas Howard Sonne of Thomas Howard first Duke of Norfolke of that Name was falne in loue with her and dyed in the Towre of London Secondly for the loue of Henry Darley her Sonne and the Queene of Scots Lastly for the loue betweene Charles her younger Sonne and Elizab. Cauendish the Lady Arbella's Mother to whom the Queene of Scots was accused to haue been maried as I haue said before That we may lightly touch the affaires of Scotland At the begining of this yeere Thomas Randolph was sent from Queene ELIZABETH into Scotland that he by diligent search might feele in what estate the affaires stood there to congratulate with the King for his forward proceeding in good Letters who from his Child-hood hauing an exquisite and happie memorie had profited much beyond his age and to wish him to loue the English in regard of the many benefits she had done to him and motherly affection that she bare him and that he should deale with the Earle of Argathel that the Hebridians might not assist the Rebels of Ireland and to perswade the Regent Earle Morton to abandon in time the enmitie betweene him and the Earles of Argathel Athole and others lest he incurre the hatred of his Peeres and alienate altogether the Queenes minde from him He now was vnder-hand accused to haue stained the honour he had for wisedome and valour with filthy couetousnesse and would shortly make himselfe so hated of the common people that the State with a general consent will translate the administration of the affaires to the King though for his age hauing scarce attained to twelue yeeres he be not capable of it and that twelue of the principall of the Nobilitie be nominated three of them for three moneths together by course to assist the King in Councell amongst whom Morton to be one that he may seeme rather to be brought from one place to another then to be put out The King hauing taken the gouernment of his Kingdome doth most thankfully by Dunfermlin acknowledge Queene ELIZABETH's fauours towards him as proceeding not so much from the neerenesse of Blood as from the common profession of the true Religion Prayes her that the Treatie of Edenborough contracted betweene the two Kingdomes begun in the yeere 1559 may be ratified the more happily to restraine the robbers vpon the Borders and preuent the enterprizes of the Aduersaries of true Religion that Iustice might be equally ministred to the Inhabitants of both the Kingdomes the goods taken by Pirats fully restored and his Ancestors patrimonie in England viz. the possessions granted to Mathew his Grandfather and Margaret his Grandmother he being the next Heire may be deliuered into his hands likewise Moneys being cleane exhausted out of Scotland he wanted to entertaine his Family and a Guard about him as the dignitie of a King required The first Demands the Queene readily promiseth but to that concerning the Patrimonie she
caried her selfe more difficultly neither would she heare those which would assure the Lady Arbella borne in England to be next to King Charles her Vnkle to the Inheritance in England nor Embassador which would make it appeare by Historie that the Kings of Scotland borne in Scotland had in time past by hereditarie right succeeded in the Countie of Huntington and he instantly besought her that she would not denie a Prince her neerest Kinsman that right of inhabitance which she vouchsafed to vnknowne Strangers But she commanded that the Reuenues should be sequestred in the hands of the Lord Burghley Gardian of the Pupils and warneth the King to satisfie Creditors out of the Earle of Lenox his goods in Scotland She tooke it impatiently that it should be suggested that the King would reuoke the infeoffement of the Earledome of Lenox to the preiudice of the Lady Arbella although by the Regall right of Scotland it alwaies hath beene lawfull to reuoke Donations hurtfull to the Kingdome and done in minoritie The Counsell of England doe not hold it conuenient and fit that the Treatie of Edenborough should be confirmed thinking it yet to stand firme They require that the Embassadour would propound something that might somwhat recompence the fauors and friendship that the Queen had manifested to the King who spared not the Blood of the English in his defence and consolidate a friendship Whereupon he propounds according to his instructions That a League may be made not Offensiue but Defensiue and with mutuall succours against the Pope and his confederates with certaine Lawes against those which should attempt any thing against either Kingdome and Rebels vnder pretence of Religion But besides these the English thinke it Iust that seeing the Queene had not omitted nor would omit any thing for the defence of the King and that for this cause she had incurred the Indignation of many That the States of the Kingdome of Scotland should giue caution that so long as the King is vnder age he should not contract nor renew couenants with any neither to marrie nor be sent out of Scotland without the Queenes aduice But these things being of such moment require to be exactly and circumspectly considered and are put backe to Scotland till another time In the meane time Morton who indeed was of a most eager and sharpe disposition trusting in his long experience and multitude of his vassals thinking nothing wel done but what he did himselfe not being able to endure to be lesse than he had been contemning his Colleagues and reiecting the manner of administration prescribed tooke againe the managing of affaires and detained the King in his power in the Castle of Sterlin admitting and denying entrance to whom he pleased The Peeres prouoked therewith tooke the Earle of Athole to be their Generall and in the Kings name summoned all that were aboue fourteene yeeres of age and vnder sixtie to meete together with Armes and Victuals to deliuer the King and true many came and hauing displaid their Colours marched towards Faukirk where Morton presented himselfe with his men But Sir Robert Bowes the English Embassadour interceding hindered them from comming to blowes Morton being vext to see how matters went presently retires to his House The Earle dyed as quickly and left a suspition that he was poysoned Which thing those that were moued against Morton tooke that aboue all to increase their hatred vntill they brought him to his ruine as we shall say hereafter This yeere nothing of note was done in Ireland But the Spaniard and Pope Gregorie the thirteenth prouiding for their owne profit vnder shadow of restoring Religion held secret counsell how at one time to inuade both Ireland and England and dispossesse Queene ELIZABETH who was the surest defence of the Protestants Religion The Pope he was to conquer Ireland for his Sonne Iames Bon-Compagnon whom he had created Marquis of Vignoles The Spaniard secretly to succour the Irish Rebels as Queen ELIZABETH had done the Hollanders while he entertained Parlies of friendship with her to enioy if he could the Kingdome of England by the Popes authoritie and then the States her confederates he could easily reduce to a course which he despaired to doe vnlesse he were Lord of the Sea and this hee saw could not be done vnlesse hee were first Lord of England And it is not to be doubted but that as he holds Naples Sicilie and Nauarre of the Popes liberalitie so most willingly would he hold England as a Beneficiarie ought to doe Those which know the principall strength of England consists in the Nauie Royall and in Merchants Shippes which are built for Warre thought it were good to fraught the Merchants Shippes for some long voyage by Italians and Flemmish Merchants and whilest they are vpon their voyage this Royall Fleet might be ouer-whelmed by a greater At the same time Thomas Stukeley an English Fugitiue of whom I haue spoken in the yeere 1570 ioyned to his Forces the Rebels of Ireland by this notable subtiltie and his great ostentation and shew and the promises which he made of the Kingdome of Ireland to the Popes base Sonne he had so wonne the fauour of this ambitious old man that he honoured him with the Titles of Marquis of Lemster Earle of Wexford and Caterlaughie Viscount Mourough and Baron of Rosse all of them remarkeable Places in Ireland and made him Generall of eight thousand Italians payd by the King of Spaine for the Warres of Ireland With which Forces hauing weighed Anker from the Ciuita Vecchia in the end he arriued in Portugal at the entry of Tage where a greater power by the Diuine Prouidence puft downe these that threatned England and Ireland For Sebastian King of Portugal to whom the whole expedition was committed because in the heate of his youth and ambition he had promised the Pope to goe against the Turkes and Protestants and employ all his power being drawne into Africa by Mahomet Sonne of Abdalla King of Fesse by great promises treates with Stukeley to goe before with these Italians to Mauritania And Stukeley being easily wonne to that knowing that the Spaniard disdaining that the Sonne of a Pope should be designed King of Ireland had consented to it hoisted saile with Sabastian and by an honest Catastrophe there he ended a dissolute life in a memorable combate Wherein dyed three Kings Sebastian Mahomet and Abdalemelech If this fate of Sebastians had not altered the King of Spaines mind from inuading England in hope of the Kingdome of Portugal England had felt a terrible storme of warre if credit may be giuen to English Fugitiues For they report that the great forces which hee had begun to rayse in Italy to showre vpon England were stayed for the taking of Portugal And being that his minde was wholly bent vpon that hee could not be made to thinke of England although the English Fugitiues earnestly sollicited him and for that businesse the Pope
comfortable securitie by the Queenes children so often times wished for But if these marriages be neglected it was to be feared that the French would be prouoked the Scots alienated the Duke of Aniou marry the Daughter of Spaine with whom hee should haue in Dowry the Low-Country Prouinces draw the King of Scotland to be of their party procure him a Wife to bring him riches abolish the reformed Religion and the English when they should see no hope of Children by the Queene would adore the Rising-Sunne Whereat shee could not chuse but be much tormented in minde and pine away to death As in these dayes very many English feared a change of Religion by the Duke of Aniou so were the Scots afraid it would be with them by another French-man Aimé or Esme Stuart Lord of Aubigny who at the same time was come into Scotland to see the King his Cousin for he was Sonne to Iohn Stuart Brother to Matthew Stuart Earle of Lenox who was the Kings Grand-father and tooke his denomination Aubigni from a House situate in Berri that is so called which Charles the Seuenth King of France gaue in time past to Iohn Stuart of the Family of Lenox who was Constable of the Scottish Army in France defeated the English at Baugency afterwards slaine by them at the battel of Harrans and euer since that house hath descended vpon the younger Sonnes The King embracing him with a singular good affection gaue him rich demains and admitted him into his most intimate consultations established him Lord high Chamberlaine of Scotland and Gouernour of Dunbriton first created him Earle and afterwards Duke of Lenox after hauing directly reuoked the Letters of honour by which in his non-age he had created Robert Bishop of Cathanesse Earle of the same place his Grand-fathers third Brother and had giuen him in recompence the County of March This flourishing fauour with the King procured many to enuy him who murmured because hee was deuoted to the Guizes and the Romane Religion and that hee was sent to subuert the true Religion This suspicion increased in regard hee ioyned himselfe to Mortons aduersaries and did intercede for the reuoking of Thomas Carr of Fernihurst who was most if any were addicted to the Queene of Scots Morton whose power was apparently falling stroue in vaine although it might seeme that he had excellently well deserued in defeating the Hamiltons and taking the Castle of Hamilton and Daffrane There were at that time who stirred vp much hatred in the King against the Hamiltons obiecting and vrging their names as a thing of great terrour so as out of a necessitie they were for their owne safetie compelled to defend the Castle again the King but they were constrained to yeeld it vp and by authoritie of Parliament proscribed for the murdering as well of Murrey as Lenox Regents as a thing by them performed Many of those fled together into England for whom Queene ELIZABETH diligently interposeth by Erington as well for honour as in reason of Iustice that shee had obliged her faith in the yeere 1573. for the settling of peace that they should not be called in question for those matters without her consent Shee also at the same time was vndertaking in another part of the World Amurathes Cham or the Sultaine of the Turkes granted to William Harburne an English-man and to Mustapha Beg Bassa to the TVRKE that the English Merchants euen as the French Venecians Pollanders the King of the Germanes and other neighbouring Natitions should trade freely thorow all his Empire whereupon they by the Queenes authority made a Company which they call TVRKEY MERCHANTS and since that time they haue vsed a most gainefull Trade of Merchandize at Constantinople Angoria Chio Petrazzo Alexandria Egypt Cyprus and other places in Asia for Drugges Spices Cottons Raw-Silke Carpets Indian-Dyes Corinthian-Grapes Sope c. As for that execrable impiety of Hamont brought forth at that time in Norwich against GOD and his Christ and as I hope is extinct with his ashes or rather confounded in obliuion then remembred Neither am I of opinion of those which thinke that the publique hath interest that all sorts of vices poysons and impieties to be made manifest seeing that hee differs little from teaching which shewes such things This yeere was the last of Nicholas Bacon Keeper of the Great Seale of England who by decree of Parliament enioyed vnder this name the honour and dignitie of Chancellor of England a very fat man of a quicke subtill spirit singular wisdome height of eloquence stedfast memory and the other pillar of the sacred Councell whose place Thomas Bromley enioyed with the title of Chancellor of England Bacon is followed by Thomas Gresham Citizen of London a Merchant-Royall and of the order of Knight-hood Sonne to Sir Richard Gresham Knight who built for the ornament of his Countrey and vse of the Merchants of London that beautifull and goodly Walking-place which Queene ELIZABETH named The Royall-Exchange And the spacious Houses which hee had in the Citie hee dedicated to the profession of Learning and constituted in the same Lectures of sacred Diuinitie of the Ciuill Law Physick Astronomie Geometrie and Rhetoricke with honest pensions In Mounster a Prouince in Ireland new rebellion was kindled by Iames Fitz-Morris who hauing before cast himselfe vpon his knees at the feete of Perot President of Mounster and with teares sighes and humble supplications asked pardon made a holy vow of fidelitie and obedience to the Queene Hee I say who found no rest but in troubles with-drew himselfe into France promised the King if hee would lend ayde to ioyne the whole Kingdome of Ireland to the Scepter of France and restore the Romish Religion But wearied with delayes and in the end derided from France he goes to Spaine and promiseth the like to the Catholike King who sent him to the Pope of whom by the sollicitation of Sanders an English Priest and Allan an Irish Priest both Doctors of Diuinitie with much adoe hauing got a little money and Sanders the authority of Legat a consecrated Ensigne and Letters commendatorie to the King of Spaine returnes to Spaine and from thence with those Diuines three Ships and a few Souldiers they came and arriued about the Calends of Iuly at the Village of Saint Marie which the Irish call Smerwick in Kerrie a-pen-Insule in Ireland and after that the Priests had consecrated the place raised a Fort and brought the Ships neere vnto it those Ships Thomas Courtney an English Gentleman made haste with a Ship of warre which lay in a Road neere vnto them by and by to assault and taking them carries them away and barres the Spaniards from all benefit of the Sea Iohn and Iames brethren to the Earl of Desmond with great speed drew together a few Irish ioyne with their Confederate Fitz-Morris and the Earle himselfe who fauoured
in them lay to be in hatred within the Kingdome and accused him to Qu. ELIZABETH to be sent by the Guizes to ouerthrow Religion to procure the liberty of the captiue Queene and to disunite the amitie which was between the Kingdomes of England and Scotland They are easily beleeued and notwithstanding that he purged himselfe by Letters to the Queene and made profession of the Protestants Religion serious deliberation is hereupon taken in England The Councell of England was afraid that he would oppresse those Scots that stood best affected to the English and fauour the incursions which were made vpon the Borders and allure the King to marry in France or else-where vnknowne to the English and that the King now in his youth would molest the affaires of England and beeing come to more maturitie of age would assume the title of King of England as his Mother had done Which if he did the danger would fall more heauily from him than from his Mother in regard his birth gaue him an assured hope of two Kingdomes and gaine more friends to fauour his cause and that the Scots trayned vp in the ciuill warres and the warres of the Low-Countries were more expert to learne warlike offices Therefore from hence it is thought good by some meanes or other to infringe the fauour and authoritie that Lenox had with the King or to driue him out of Scotland and that without delay because rumours were giuen out that Balfour was sent for out of France who had found I know not what Writing of his owne hand to conuince him of the Murder of the Kings Father to ruine Morton and that he had for no other end obtained the gouernement of the Castle of Dunbriton but to set in stranger-forces into Britaine or to transport the King into France It was likewise said that he had perswaded the King to resigne the Kingdome to his Mother who had beene vniustly and by a most wicked example deposed by her Subiects after hauing taken her faithfull promise to resigne it by and by after vnto him againe by a lawfull resignation which would be a solid confirmation to him and a meanes to extinguish all factions and make him knowne to all to be lawfull King After this Sir Robert Bowes Treasurer of Barwicke is sent into Scotland to accuse Lenox of these things before the King and his Councell and to aduertise the King of the eminent dangers thereof As soone as hee had beene admitted hee demanded that Lenox might for a while be remoued from that place but the Councell would not agree vnto it as being a thing new and vnheard of to cause one of the Kings Councell to be put out from the Councell without shewing cause Also they made a doubt whether or no the Queene had giuen him that in charge expresly and therefore willed him to shew his instructions which he refused to doe saue to the King and to one or two others And seeing that he could not be heard hee was presently called backe and tooke leaue of the King when it was little thought on complayning that the wholesome admonitions of a well-deseruing Queene were reiected Shortly after Alexander Hume is sent from Scotland to excuse these matters hee had not admittance to the Queene but was sent to the Lord Burghley Treasurer who grauely and succinctly gaue him to vnderstand THat it was not any contempt of his person that was cause why the Queene would not permit him to see her knowing very well by experience that he was well affected to Religion to his Prince and Countrie and most studious for the peace of both the Kingdomes but out of a iust sence and sorrow for the contempt which was shewed towards her Maiestie and of the trust of her Ambassadour who had contained himselfe within the prescribed bounds of his Legation Layes all the blame vpon the new and ill-aduised Councellors excuseth the King as not being of age to haue much experience and wished him to lend an eare to the holy and wholesome counsels of the Queene who truely bare him a maternall affection and not to make lesse account of them than of those from a French kinsman the King of France his subiect who laboured to marry him to a French woman of the Romish Religion and peraduenture goes about now the Hamiltons exulting to be designed the Kings Lieutenant Let the King saith he remember that no passion is more feruent than ambition and let the Scots remember what troubles the French had caused in ScotlaÌ„d if the Queen by her wisdome and power had not preuented it So Hume was sent backe into Scotland and all of purpose to strike terrour into the King and to make him beleeue that the Earle of Lenox had some pernicious designe against him and the Kingdome Neuerthelesse within a while after Morton who was most addicted to the English was accused by Arran Laesa Maiestatis and cast into prison The end of the second Booke of the Annals and History of that mightie Empresse Queene ELIZABETH of most happy and blessed memory THE HISTORIE OF THE MOST HIGH MIGHTY AND Euer-glorious Empresse ELIZABETH Inuincible Queene of England Ireland c. True Defendresse of the Faith of immortall Renowne and neuer-dying Fame and Memory OR ANNALLES OF ALL SVCH REMARKable things as happened during her blest Raigne ouer her Kingdomes of England and Ireland as also such Acts as past betwixt her MAIESTY and Scotland France Spaine Italy Germany and the Netherlands The third Booke Fâ—â—thfully translated out of the French and â—â—â—â—isht in English with the KINGS leaue and Authority granted by his most Excellent Maiestie to ABRAHAM DARCIE To the euery way Noble and accomplished with all vertues Sir EDVVARD CONVVAY the Kings Secretary of State Sir WILLIAM HARVEY Lord HARVEY Baron of Rosse Sir ORACE VERE Sir ARTHVR THROCKMORTON Sir ROBERT MAVNCELL Sir FRANCIS POPHAM Sir WILLIAM MOVNSON Sir RICHARD WESTON The Right vertuous generous Sir THOMAS HATTON AND CHRISTOPHER HATTON Sir CARIE RAVVLEIGH EDVVARD WRAY Esquire I Here presume to consecrate to your perpetuall Honour this Booke which vnder the Honourable Shield of your Noble protections I haue sought to shelter knowing the Fame of this Heroicke Empresse to be no lesse deare vnto you then your Illustrious Persons are carefull to propagate to all Posterities your cleere and vntainted Names which by your pious liues and religious conuersations you haue engrauen in the Temple of Eternity your vertues cannot but cherish this History which containes the life of so matchlesse a Queene whose Diuine perfection the whole world admired as one who was the perfect Patterne of Princesses and the true Mirour Honour of Virgin-kinde I confesse many far better able then I a Stranger could haue discharged this Enterprise with far more skill and both in smoother and more elegant termes if they had beene willing to honour their Labours and Industries with so rare
and worthy a Subiect But howsoeuer I was willing the best I was able to pay this my humble Duty to Her blessed Memory and to your Honorable selues by my poore endeuours to make knowne the desire I haue to intitle my selfe A true denoted to your resplendent vertues ABRAHAM DARCIE THE HISTORIE OF THAT EVER Most blessed and Glorious Empresse Queene ELIZABETH of happy renowne and matchlesse Fame OR ANNALLS Of all such things of note as hapned during her happy Reigne as well in England France Ireland as Scotland Spaine Italy Germany and the Netherlands The third Booke and the foure and twentieth yeere of her Raigne Anno MDLXXXI HEreupon in the beginning of Ianuarie next was Thomas Randolph Captaine of the Light-horse sent into Scotland with cōmand that he should attempt nothing that might any way bee preiudiciall to the present religion or the peace of the two Nations he was also to sollicite in the behalfe of the Lord Morton that Lenox might be sent out of Scotland and such of the Nobility as fauoured the English faction might bee encouraged Randolph the better to effectuate his message for the good of Morton maketh recitall of his many great merits and good services done to his Maiesty the inueterate malice of his aduersaries the high respect and honor they ought to haue of Queene ELIZABETH who expected nothing lesse then to haue her suit now reiected in so honest a cause The King answered that by the duty of his royall charge hee was to execute iudgment and iustice vpon a person so conuicted in matter of Maiesty that he ingeniously acknowledged the Queenes manifold fauours nor would hee act any thing might any way bee iustly offensiue to her Maiestie Then after Randolph being admitted into the Assembly of the States of the Kingdome reckoneth vp the well knowne benefits which both the King and Country had earst receiued from the Queene namely HOW by the blood of the English their Country had beene deliuered from the French and of their King his Kingdome and Religion she had euer been a chiefe supporter but for any way seducing the King although some but most falsly did intimate so much or seeking to hold one foot of ground in Scotland shee neuer entertained such a thought yet were they not ignorant that she wanted not opportunity the King being in his cradle the Queene-mother in Prison and the Nobles in combustion But on the contrary all her royall care was for the conseruation of their King her neere and deare kinsman and allyed to her in a triple bond of neigborhood religion and consanguinity nor had shee euer found him or any of his Regents or Vice-Roies defectiue towards her in their loues before this Aubigny of France came into Scotland but since his ariuall hee wholly vsurped the Regall authority hee had withdrawne all affection from the English to bestow it vpon the French who before his ariuall neuer somuch as acknowledged their King had remoued from his person his most trusty friends brought in strangers had conferred with foraigners by letters which he shew'd for inuading England that he had brought the Scotish Presbytery into contempt with the King as a people altogether turbulent seditious had peruerted the administration of iustice vpon the borders Nor could her Maiesty endure a Prince so vertuous so neerely allyed vnto her to bee thus abused and caried away by such sinister practices Notwithstanding this for the present there was nothing done either for Morton or against Lenox whom the Scots for the most part supposed no way guilty of such aspersions or calumnies as had beene obiected Randolph seeing that thought hee would try another conclusion consorts himselfe with the friends of Morton and Lenox aduersaries bewaileth the miserable estate of Scotland representeth to them the imminent perills which hang ouer the heads of the King the Country and them all complaineth that the Queens message by way of intercessiō hath beene slieghtly respected suggesteth with them secretly to attempt to gaine that by force of Armes which they cannot get by faire meanes promising to further and furnish them out of England with men money and munition This Oratory of his proued so perswasible with them that thereupon the Earles of Argathel Mont-Rosse Angus Mortons Nephew by the brotherside Glencarne Reuthen Lindsey others became all of his side But soone after they fell at discord amongst themselues and seeing the King wholly caried away with the fauour of Lenox nor no whit danted for the English forces which were now vpon the borders and had already encountred theirs generally respecting the kings personall presence with them though a child were not affraid to bend all the powers they could make vpon Lenox and thought it was enough to haue pity on Morton notwithstanding the Earles of Angus and Marre practised couertly and cunningly with Randolph in the behalfe of Morton and against Lenox whereof Whittingham hauing aduertised the King Angus was commanded to retire himselfe beyond the riuer Spea Marre to yeeld vp the Castle of Sterlin into the Kings hands Randolph hauing an apprehension of feare got him priuately into Barwicke and seeing matters proue desperate aduiseth Angus Marre to prouide for themselues either in submitting themselues to the King or to seeke the protection of the Queene of England The English forces were no sooner withdrawne from the borders but Morton conuicted of murthering the King had his head cut off for he had confessed as the report went that Bothwel Archebauld Douglas had imparted their intent of making away the King but in so tumultuous a time as that was hee durst not reueale it Nor could hee deny but that since the Kings death hee had beene very inwardly conuersant and more familiar then before with Douglas the Kings murtherer and had promised by his letters if Bothwel should at any time be accused to defend him the best he might Instantly Douglas and others the friends of Morton fled into England In the Low-Countries against the Graue Van Reneberg who had there valiantly serued the King of Spaine and now laid siege to Stenwicke in Friezland the States sent the English vnder the conduct of their General Norris who with no lesse courage then good successe after he had twice releeued the besieged with victuals caused the Enemy to raise his siege But after that comming to fight with Verdugues the Spaniard hauing the victory in his hands his enemies put to flight suddenly fortune changing he is beaten off the field dangerously wounded and many of his men slaine amongst which not to nominate the rest were these men o◠note Captain Cotton Fitz-Williams and Bishop I know not well whether I should here recite a Combate which was betweene Thomas Chieftaine of the Wallons and Generall Norris but Norris by the Law militarie being not permitted to admit of because he was Generall of the Armie his Lieutenant Roger Fitz-Williams
accepted the Challenge which two after a while trauersing their ground to and fro without one drop of blood-shed betooke themselues to drinke freely together and so of enemies became friends and parted Yet here wee must not omit to obserue that our Englishmen who of all the Northerne Nations haue beene most commended for sobrietie haue learned since these Low-Country warres so well to fill their cups and to wash themselues with Wine that whilest they at this day drinke others healths they little regard their owne And that this vicious practice of drunkennesse hath so ouerflowed the Land that lawes proscripts of restraint are vsually made for the drying vp of the same But whilest they were all this while contending in the Low-Countries for Dorppes Villages the King of Spaine getteth into his hands the rich Kingdome of Portugall For Henry which was King hauing paid Natures tribute the yeare before left the Realm to diuers Competitors amongst whom Philip King of Spaine sonne of his eldest Sister puissant enough in force though not in right by reason of his priority in blood and descent comming of the elder line and being Male thought with his friends himselfe worthiest to bee preferred to the succession of the said Kingdome before the women the yonger sort and such as did lesse participate of the blood The Duke of Sauoy reiected for that he came of the yonger Sister Farnese sonne to the Prince of Parma borne of the eldest Daughter of EDWARD brother King HENRY and KATHERINE of Brabant second daughter to the said EDWARD grounding themselues only vpon the benefit of Representation a simple fiction could not annihilate the true Title of Inheritance nor intercept the King of Spaines lawfull succession and this the Spaniards stood to maintaine And as touching Don Antonio Prior of Crates sonne to Lewis the second brother of King HENRY he was ipso facto reiected for that he was illegitimate The King of Spaine neuerthelesse propounded the matter twice to his Clergy and men of Law to decide the cause charging them in the name of God and vpon their faith and saluation to tell him freely whether hee had rightfull claime or no to that Kingdome They hauing with vnanimous voice assured him that it was proper to him he quickly putting forth first the Duke of Alua put to flight Antonio elected of the people and within 70 dayes brought all Portugall vnder his iurisdiction But touching the Right of Katherin de Medicis the Queen of France who claimed it from Alphonsus and the Earles of Boulogne for 320 yeares agone that the Spaniards laughed at as a Title out of date and fetcht from the old Prophetesse the Mother of Euander a thing iniurious to so many of the Kings of Portugal which had lawfully and lineally succeeded one another and therefore ridiculous to both Spaniards and Portugals Whereat the Queene incensed with anger and considering how mightily the Spaniard now in his ascendant enriched himselfe farre and neare by the accession or surcrease of this new-got Kingdome his Ilands and the East Indies breeding a feare within her to her selfe and the Princes her neighbouring friends aduised them and amongst the rest the Queene of England that it was already high time to stay the Spaniards in his mounting and to stop him vp within his owne bounds before his ambition should extend any further Queene ELIZABETH who was not to learne what shee had to doe in that nature for her selfe and her friends and foreseeing how dangerous the growing greater of the neighbour Princes would be lent eare thereto with no light attention but with great and Royall kindnesse entertained Antonio banished out of Portugall and recommended to her from France thinking that Spaine could not take exception thereat because hee was of her Alliance issued from the Blood Royall of England and of the House of Lancaster as shee well knew nor in any Treaties that euer had past betwixt Spaine and England was any caueat at all inferred forbidding England to receiue or to haue commerce with the Portugals At the same time for the more confirmation of assured amitie the Queene of France and the King her sonne prosecuting the mariage of the Duke d' Anjou addrest an honourable ambassage into England for the consummation thereof came ouer François de Bourbon Prince of Daulphiné Arthur de Cosse Cont de Secondigny Marshal of France Louis de Lusignan M. de S. Gelais Lansac Salignac Mauuisser Bernarde Brisson President of the Parliament of Paris and one of the learnedest men of France and others who as they they were of Honorable ranke were very nobly receiued and banqueted in a Banquetting-House built on purpose neere Westminster richly adorned with rare and sumptuous furniture and Titls and Tournaments proclaimed which were presented in a most princely manner by Philip Earle of Arundell Fred Lord Winsor Philip Sidney and Fulk Greuill Knights against all commers with sundry other courtly sports and Princely recreations not necessarily coincident to our History To conferre with them concerning these Nuptials were appointed the Baron of Burghley Lord high Treasurer of England the Earles of Sussex Lincolne Bedford and Leicester together with Sir Christopher Hatton and Secretary Walsingham Amongst whom these matrimoniall Contracts following were concluded vpon THe Duke d' Anjou and the Queene of England within six weekes after the ratification of these Articles shall personally contract mariage here in England The Duke and his associates seruants and friends being no English subiects shall haue libertie to vse their owne Religion in a certain place in their houses without molestation or impeachment He shall not alter any part of the Religion now receiued in England Hee shall inioy and haue the Title and Dignity of King after the mariage shall bee consummate but notwithstanding shall leaue intirely to the Queene the managing of affaires And whereas his demand was that immediately after the celebration of the mariage he should be crowned King instantly to inioy the title and dignity during the gouernment of the Kingdome in the minority of their children The Queene answered she would propound and further it at the next high Court of Parliament to be holden within fifteen dayes after the ratification Letters Patents and other things shal be passed in both their names as in the time of Philip and MARIE The Queene by Act of Parliament shall ordaine an Annuall pension for the Duke but the valuation thereof shall bee left to her pleasure she will also ordaine the said Pension to continue if he shall surviue her The Duke in Dowry shall bestow on the Queene to the value of forty thousand Crownes per annum out of his Duchy of Berry and shall forthwith infeofe her therein As touching their Issue it shall likewise be enacted by Parliament in England and registred in the Annals of France as followeth That the Heires of them as well Males as Females by maternall right of
Inheritance should succeed to the Crowne of England And if there bee two males the elder shal succeed to the Crown of France and the yonger shal haue the hereditary Right of his Mother And if one sole male he shal come to both the Crownes and shall resyde in England euery two yeares eight moneths And if the Duke shall not attaine the Kingdome of France the children shall succeed in Appanage If he suruiue the Queene he shall haue the tuition of his children till the sonnes shall accomplish the age of eighteene yeares and the daughters fifteene But if hee die before the tuition shall be left to the Authoritie of the Parliament Hee shall not promote any stranger to any Office in England nor shall hee change any ancient Rite or Custome He shall at no time carry the Queene or her Children out of the Realme without consent of the Nobilitie If shee dye issuelesse hee shall no longer challenge any right in England nor carie or conuay any of her Iewels out of the Land he shall suffer euery one and all places of the Kingdomes to bee guarded kept by the natiue English shall not take or cause to be taken away any munition of Warre Hee shall not engage England into any foraine warres Hee shall to his power procure the Land peace with other Nations The Queene shall onely enioy the Supremacie nor shall assume any Title which may happen to fall vpon the Duke as it were holding by the custome of England The Duke by this match intendeth not to preiudice the Right of his succession to the Kingdome of France The present Contract shall bee read published and kept vnder Record in all the Courts of France and England within six moneths after the Espousals with the Authoritie of the most Christian King for the ratification of these Articles There shall bee made a Treatise Confederation and League betwixt England and France These things shal be confirmed de bona side with an Oath on the part of the King of France as well for him as for his Heires who shall deliuer Letters of the confirmation thereof with all possible expedition hee may carying assurance that the Articles in the present Treaty contained shall be kept inuiolably also A reseruation apart was added vnder the hands and seales of all the Commissioners implying thus much That ELIZABETH was not bound to the consummation of the mariage till the Duke she should haue commutually satisfied and reciprocally setled each other in certaine things betwixt themselues and concerning these points they were within six weekes by writing to certifie the King of France Before the six weekes were expired Secretarie Somer was sent into France about this businesse But the King refuseth to giue him audience vrging the instant celebration of the mariage already concluded as if there had been nothing else remaining to bee done Somer shewing vnder signe and seale that there was first a defensiue league offensiue to bee performed maintaineth the contrary To moderate the matter there was sent ouer Sir Fran Walsingham with Sir Henry Cobham Leiger Ambassador in France and Somer who deliuered this or the like speech ALthough the vulgar sort doth censure hardly of the procrastinating of this contracted mariage Queene ELIZABETH intendeth nothing more then to content her people who are instant to haue her marry that they may be secured of a succession in her children Her Maiestie being sought to by the Duke of Anjou by good right hath his loue preferred before all other Princes by reason of his vertues and resplendent race and shee protesting to beare vnto him most soueraigne loue holding off from the consummation of mariage onely vntill she could haue knowledge from her people how they stand affected thereunto holding it a point of wisdome in the meane time rather to foresee then to repent too late seeming in these respects to demurre the more by reason of the ciuill warres in France the vnfortunate Duke of Anjous vndeseruedly falling out of the Kings fauour and in England an auersion of heart in most of the best of her Subiects since the first motion of the mariage yet all this breeds nor brings no diminution of true loyall loue in her Maiesty towards the said Duke Also it was at this time out of season for the French King to vrge a present consummation knowing the Duke was newly entred into warre against the King of Spaine the which he might not suddenly abandon or relinquish without great dishonour to himselfe discommoditie to the Kingdome of France and England as also the ruine of Flanders the Spaniard there growing dayly greater and greater Moreouer in stead of continuing peace at home for which the people prayeth they must of necessitie bee brought to bloody warres the Queenes husband being so deepely engaged thereinto For these reasons from henceforth that Treaty of sudden mariage is to surcease vntill the Duke of Anjou were dis-intangled out of these warres and that interchangeable conditions of Offensiue and Defensiue Alliance bee passed betwixt the two Kingdomes of France and England And assuredly the Queene desired it aboue all things But the French would promise no other thing but to passe to couenants of mutuall defensiue and as for the offensiue would heare it no further spoken of vntill the Nuptials were celebrated Within a short space after the Duke whom the States had elected Gouernor of Flanders comes into England after he had happily raised the siege of Cambray at the charge and cost of Queene ELIZABETH who had supplyed him with great summes of money by the hands of Henry Seimor Palauicine an Italian and Bex a Frenchman The hope he relyed vpon was this that if he should not presently dispatch the mariage yet should hee so effect that by the fauour of the Queene whom the Dutch honoured as an earthly Goddesse he should bee the better welcome to the Low-Countri-men at his returne He ariued safe in England and was magnificently entertained and receiued with all royall courtesies could be expected euident testimonies of honour and loue which her Maiestie shewed apparantly insomuch that on a time on the day of the solemnization of her Coronation he being entred into amorous Discourse with her Maiestie the great loue which shee bore him drew a Ring from her finger which shee gaue him vpon certain condâ—tions meant and agreed vpon betwixt them The assistants tooke that for an argument and assurance that a mariage was by reciprocall promise contracted betweene them Amongst others Aldegondy Gouernor of the City of Antwerpe dispatched messengers suddenly ouer into the Low-Countries where for great ioy at the hearing thereof both in Antwerpe and all ouer Flanders were made bonefires and their great Artillerie shot off But this bred sundry opinions among the Courtiers For as some reioyced exceedingly others were astonisht at it some quite strucke downe with sadnesse The Earle of Leicester who had laid a secret plot
the publike peace and good of the Land by the Kings perswasion but their impulsion although he might easily haue stood vpon his guard and withstood them departed quietly from Dunbriton where he tooke shipping for France Not content with this they forced the King by his Letters to signifie to Queene ELIZABETH this his interception and that it was a meeting made by his willing consent with some of his Lords concerning speciall businesses But Buchanan they could not possibly perswade to approue this Act or by composing any booke of this subiect nor by perswasions of a messenger but he wept bitterly and sorrowed grieuously that he had to-fore taken the Rebels part against the Prince and soone after dyed A man as himselfe sings in his Poems though borne in a countrey barren for learning yet hee attained to the soueraigne degree of Poesie so as by right hee ought to bee accounted the Prince of Poets of our age The French King hauing had certaine intelligence of the passages in Scotland sendeth both with one message Mons de la Moteff through England and Mons de Manninguille by Sea into Scotland by all possible means to haue the King set at liberty to confirme the French faction to draw the King into loue amity with France and to let him vnderstand that his mother to make him be knowne true and legitimate King by Christian Princes and all Scotland setting aside all partialitie out of her motherly piety and indulgence yeelded him freely the title of the Kingdome and admitted him into the society freely to Raigne Shee distressed Queene in the meane time afflicted with many miseries the calamities of a prison in indurance without hope of deliuery bewayled the dismall fortunes of the King her sonne with her owne in a large Letter written in French to Queene ELIZABETH which the tender loue of a mother and the disquietnesse of her Spirit extorted from her the which out of the originall Copy of her owne hand-writing I haue more briefely recollected as followed AFter I was certainly informed that my sonne was intercepted and detained in captiuitie as my selfe haue beene for some yeares a sudden feare suggested into my minde that hee and I were to drinke of one cup of sorrow I cannot therefore in opening my sad afflicted heart but vtter my anguish to imprint them if it may be vpon yours offer the same to your conscionable commiseration that the ages to come may know my innocency and their tyrannie by whose meanes I endure these intolerable indignities But for that their subtil plots and mischieuous practices haue all this while been preferd with you before my iust complaint it being in your gracious power to doe equity and iustice where violence treadeth downe vertue and might suppresseth right I doe appeale vnto God immortall whom alone I know to haue power ouer vs Princes coequall in right and honour and him in whom there is no place for fraud or falshood I will inuoke that at the last day hee will recompence vs according to our demerits howsoeuer my Aduersaries the whilest haue cautelously cloaked their treacheries from men and perhaps from you I beseech you now then in the name of God and by his all-powerfull Maiestie I adiure you to call to minde how cunningly some sent forth in your name to me could stirre vp the Scots my subiects whilest I liued with them into open rebellion against me and haue been the first mouers of all the mischiefe which euer since hath hapned in that countrey as euidently appeareth by sundry plain testimonies thereof and Mortons confession from his own mouth who for such matters grâ—w vp to great honors whom if I could haue prosecuted according to his desert and if your assisting the Rebels had not bâ—en they could neuer haue stood vp so long against mee and my friends as they did When I was detained Prisoner in Lake-Leuin Sir Nich. Throckmorton was the first that came to me in your name who perswaded me to quit the Kingdome vndâ—r Letters Patents signed with my hand which he assured me should be of no effect as all the world knoweth them so to be vntill that you had assisted the Authors of these Letters with your fauour and Armes But say in good sooth would you acknowledge that your subiects should haue such power ouer you The regall power I had in the meane time by your aide aduice was taken from me to be conferred on my sonne a yong child by reason of his Infant-age vnfit to manage the administration of a Kingdome And when as of late I determined to make him a lawfull resignation for the certaine establishing of him in the Kingdome hee was by force of Armes caried violently away by Traitors who doubtlesse had no other intent then to depriue him as they did me of the Crowne and perhaps of his life After I got out of Lake-Leuin and was to raise Armes for the suppressing of the Rebels I sent you then the Diamond which formerly you had giuen me as a pledge of mutuall loue betwixt vs when you made me many large promises and faithfull protestations to succour and support me against the Rebels when also you promised that if I should come towards you you would meet me in person vpon the frontiers and would assist me I relying vpon these promises so often and so seriously iterated although your messengers had many times before deluded me resolued to resort to you as to a Sanctuary And assuredly I had come had I but found the way as open to me and as easie to passe as it was for those who reuolted against me But before I could come at you I was arrested vpon the way guarded with troops of men shut vp in strong places and since that time haue endured things worse then death I know you will obiect some intercourses of businesse haue past betwixt the Duke of Norfolke and me but I assure you there hath neuer any thing past preiudiciall to you or your Kingdome as also your chiefe Counsellors haue giuen approbation thereto as I can proue who likewise promised mee by the way of attestation to procure your consent And how I pray you should these so great persons promise your consent to a thing which might despoile you of honour life and Diadem And notwithstanding you would that euery one should be so perswaded Besides as diuers of the Rebels by a tardy repentance re-aduising themselues and by a Commission held betwixt our Deputies at Yorke vnderstood how wickedly they had dealt with me they being besieged with your Souldiers in Edenburgh-Castle two of the principall dyed miserably the one by poison the other in a halter And that came to passe for that twice I had dismist the Armies at your request in hope of peace which God knowes whether euer my Aduersaries once haue thought on Since that I had resolued to try whether patience can haue power to conquer cruelty in suffering all
for the contracting of a mariage But then those that were keepers or detainers of the Kings person seeing that the French Ambassadors were departed out of Scotland began to take courage which after was increased by the death of the Duke of Lenox who finding small comfort from the French King that then was intangled with diuers intestine troubles and striuing likewise to please Queene ELIZABETH departed this life at Paris and by the testimonies which he gaue on his death-bed being at the point of death in the presence of all the assistants hee declared himselfe to be truely of the Protestants Religion confuting and conuicting the malice of those that had falsely accused him to be a Papist This the death of Lenox much secured those that detained the King who reioyced for the still retaining of him in their power whereupon they began to exult But see they little suspecting any such matter the King although he had scarce yet attained to the age of eighteene yeares disdaining to submit himselfe any longer to the rule and gouernment of three Earles being an absolute King of himselfe as he before-times had giuen way to the time so now finding a time opportune to his purpose he set himself at liberty and with a few selected men retired himselfe to the Castle of Saint Andrewes taking occasion by a rumour that was spread that the Nobilitie disagreeing amongst themselues had brought with them seuerall troopes of Souldiers into that part of the Country there to hold an assembly which hee appointed fearing lest he amongst these tumultuous iarres should be exposed to some vnexpected danger And to that effect he dispatcht Letters to Queene ELIZABETH wherein hee promised to entertaine a constant league of amitie with her and to embrace her counsell in the establishment of his affaires excusing himselfe that these things fell out so suddenly and vnawares to him that it was not possible for him to giue her notice thereof sooner Afterwards vsing gentler speeches and milde perswasions shewing an affable countenance to those that were his guardians he admonished them for the better shunning of turmoyles to retire from the Court promising to them his gracious fauour and pardon if so be they would intreat it Of these Gowry onely asked pardon and submitted himselfe vsing this small distinction That he had offended not in matter but in forme After this he call'd backe the Earle of Arran to the Court accepting him for one of his fauourites much labouring to establish the hearts of his Nobilitie in a mutuall peace and amitie and to purge both the kingdome and the Court from intestine iarres and discord Whilst he was thus busied continually in these matters there ariued at his Court Sir Francis Walsingham sent from the Queene of England out of her earnest loue great care that she alwaies had of him lest by ill counsels being of a flexible age he should bee diuerted from the amity of England which would bee to the preiudice of both the Kingdomes Walsingham at his ariuall found the King accompanied with the chiefe and flower of his Nobility and the affaires of Scotland better setled then hee expected Being receiued admitted after much discourse he rehearst those admonitiōs takē out of Isocrates which the Queen before in her letters had instructed him with That he which commands ought so to cherish truth as to giue more credit to its simple affirmation then to the oaths of others That he should take heed of euill counsellours remaining still constant alway like himselfe The King made this free and hearty reply That what he writ more then his thoughts meaning was against his will much refusing yet inforced by the compulsion of others that he being a free Prince ought not to bee reduced to such streights that others should force counsellors vpon him whom hee altogether misliked That he had done nothing but for his owne honour and safeguard That the pledge of his loue which he before had vowed to his indeared Sister the Queene of England hee now freely and deseruedly offered and that now hee could produce more fairer fruits of amitie being obeyed of all his Nobilitie then before when he himselfe was made obedient to one and to another and rul'd as it were rather by intreating then by power or commandement After this Walsingham requested the King not to impute to Queene ELIZABETH any thing that had happened in Scotland shewing him how good profitable their friendship had hitherto been and how expedient both for himselfe as also for either Kingdome if so bee shee suffered no neglect but were firmely assured and if the differences and contentions which happened amongst the Nobility of Scotland were but for a certaine Amnestia abolished by the authority of the Parliament that those that were remoued from the Court should bee taken into grace that Religion should be conserued entire in it selfe and a firme league established betwixt the two Kingdomes Neither was Walsingham any way defectiue in the distribution of his money amongst the Kings Officers and Attendants that by their meanes hee might effect these things The King thus modestly replyed That he willingly embraced the friendship of England and would not be wanting in any obseruance towards the Queene but most constantly defend the Religion receiued With this answer he graciously discharged Walsingham notwithstanding he suspected him to be transported both against himselfe and his mother and with an intentiue prouidence beyond the expectation of his yeares hee managed his affaires and proposed to the great praise of his clemencie letters of grace to all those that had seized his person if they within a time prefixt would come and intreat pardon But so farre they were from asking it that they priuatly tooke counsell together and complotted how they might haue him againe vnder their power which was the cause that he presently commanded them within a certaine time to leaue the Kingdome whereupon some retired them to one part and some to another that is to say Marre Glan Boide Zester-wemi and Loch-leuin into Flanders Dunfermelin into France and Angus was confined to Angus within certaine prescribed limits Onely Gowry hatching in his braines new stratagems remained in the Realme beyond the prefixed day but to his owne confusion as hereafter shall be recited Thus those that before had driuen the Duke of Lenox out of Scotland were within the reuolution of the same yeare themselues expulst the Land And the King to whom Lenox in his life time was much indeared and beloued after his death cherishing the memory of his goodnesse he reestablished and vnclouded his reputation by suppressing certaine defamatory bookes which some malignant persons had dispersed to eclipse his worth and vertues he likewise recalled his children out of France confirmes his sonne Lodowicke in his fathers honors and his daughters after they were growne to ripe yeares he preferred them in mariage one with the Lord
for the rebellion had spoiled and deuasted the same But some of those that had Commission for the enquiry and searching out of the possessions of the Rebels and others that were to prize and set the same to hyre began to expell and chase from their possessions with such violence those who were true subiects that the Queen was constrained to represse them by an Edict lest the violent auarice of some particular men might kindle and inflame a new rebellion In which the Vice-Roy tooke much laudable paines although by the English he was accused and blamed for being too indulgent and fauorable to the Irish and too too rough to them But he equally distributing iustice to either part by fauouring as well the Irish as the English brought the Prouince into a most desired tranquilitie and with a milde and gentle command subiected to the obedience of the Lawes the most barbarous inhabitants of the same holding the Scotchmen of Hebrides that from their Ilands did breake into Ireland to a hard taske And inforc'd Donel Gormi that is to say blue with his brother Mac-Conel who had possest thēselues of the little Country of Glinnes and Surley-boy that is to say Red their Vncle that had inuaded the Countrey of Rout neighbouring and adioyning to the Iland Richnee now called Raclis to such a point that after many of their kindred were ouercome and slaine by the valorous exploits of Captaine Meriman they receiued the oath of allegeance to the Queene accepting from her Maiesty certaine Lands in that corner vnder conditions that they should serue the Kings of England onely in their warres and not any other whatsoeuer without their permission that they should furnish forth vpon any expedition a sufficient number of horse and foot and that a certaine number of Beeues and Hawkes should euery yeare be truely paid Thus much for what hath past in Ireland THE SEVEN AND TWENTIETH YEERE of Her Raigne Anno Dom. M.D.LXXXIV DIVERS Scots that had compacted with Gowry who now againe was plotting of new stratagems to get the King of Scots into his power secretly returned from Ireland into Scotland vpon the entrie of the Spring There they protested openly that their intent was onely for the honour of God the truth of Religion and to secure the King the Realme and the League with England against those that with wicked deuices would seduce the King not being as yet of sufficient age The King hauing notice of these things hee forthwith commanded Colonell Stuart to apprehend before all Gowry the chiefe Architect of the conspiracy who presently retired himself to a Port called Dundey as though he would haue departed the Kingdome where he knowing himselfe guilty despising the Kings authoritie obstinately withstood them and defended himselfe in his lodging but after two houres he was apprehended and led to prison In the meane while the Conspirators surprising the town of Sterlin they constrained the Castle to yeeld But vnderstanding that the King was marching towards them in person with an armie and finding themselues but weakely accompanied in respect of the number vvhich Gowry had promised them also in vaine attending succours out of England they forsooke their hold And as euery one being full of feare sought to shift for himselfe the Earles of Marre Glan and Angus holding together vvith others took their flight through many by-wayes into England humbly requesting the Queene to releeue them in their afflictions and bee an intercessor for them to their King seeing that they vvere depriued both of their fortunes and the Kings fauour by endeuouring for the good of her and her Kingdome The King on the contrary accused them to the Queene of many hainous things demanding according to the league of alliance betweene them that they might bee deliuered into his hands But there were some about the Court that perswaded the Queene that they were men most obedient to their King and most desirous of his welfare that hauing him vnder their custody and power yet neuer attempted any thing against his state or person and that law which was vsually expressed in leagues concerning the deliuerie and restoring backe of Rebels was long since abolished and out of vse amongst Princes These men also endeuoured to perswade the King of Scots that he should deale more mildly and gently with men of such and so great ranke and not to driue them as it were headlong through despaire to more bad designes Remonstrating to him that terrour and violence vvere but feeble and vnhappy props of power alledging to that end two tragicall examples drawne out of the Scottish History attributing great praises to his mother Francis her husband that at the first rising of the French ciuill war past ouer the iniuries and offences of the Nobility without regard Walsingham that studiously fauoured the fugitiues by letters commanded that they should bee receiued into the Island called the holy Iland but Hunsdon who shewed himselfe a greater friend to the King of Scots then any other opposed it because the iurisdiction of the place appertained to him as gouernor of the East frontiers hee thought it altogether vnfit that any entrance should be permitted to the Scots in a place of strength neither would he obey the letters of the Secretary without expresse command from the Queene From hence arose a controuersie whether a Secretary could by his authority direct or execute the affaires of his Prince without receiuing speciall command from him and without the counsell of the gouernor of the place What was determined thereupon is not manifest but the Scots were not admitted into the Isle Neuerthelesse it was esteemed expedient that they should be in some sort fauored to oppose the contrary faction which arose in Scotland which was that the Ministers had spred rumored abroad that the King was about to forsake his religion but they could not produce or alledge any argument probable although they had framed many but onely that he was wholy transported with a filiall loue towards his mother and receiued as a most indeered to him those which he knew were affectionate to her In the meane space Gowry was brought to iudgment before the Peeres at Sterlin And was accused to haue plotted a new conspiracy against the King after he had been confin'd prisoner to his house Notwithstanding that the King had lifted him vp to great honours riches and Commands and accounted of him as a kinsman To haue consulted by night which the seruants of Angus for the taking of Perth Sterlin To haue resisted by force of Armes the authority royall at Dundey To haue concealed the conspiracy which was complotted to ruine the King and the Queene his mother And lastly To haue consulted with the sorceresse Maclene To all this he pleaded innocency and an vnspotted faith towards the King He acknowledged the benefits which hee had receiued He complained bitterly of the Earle of Arran as
or enterprize ought in France the King according to equitie would chastise them but whatsoeuer they had done in England the King would neither enquire after nor execute the Law vpon them That all Kingdomes were free and open to fugitiues and that euery King should labour to defend the liberties of his Kingdome That ELIZABETH her selfe had not long before receiued into her Realme Montgomerie the Prince of Conde and others of the French Nation And that at that time Seguri the King of Nauarre his Ambassador remained in England plotting new deuices against the King of France Whilst these things past on Bernardin Mendoza Spaines Ambassador in England secretly past into France murmuring and raging as if he contrarie to the right of Ambassie had beene forc'd out of England being indeed a man of violent and turbulent nature and hauing himselfe abused the holy and sacred rights of Ambassadors did deserue according to the opinion of many after the ancient seueritie to bee pursued with sword and fire Hee was commanded to depart the Realm because he had intermixt himselfe amongst those wicked conspiracies with Throckmorton and others that laboured for the bringing in of Strangers into England and dispossessing of the Queene for which being gently reproued he in stead of excusing and purging himselfe by a modest reply accused the Queene and her Councel about the money which was detained from the Geneuois for the aide and succours which were sent to the States of the Netherlands to the Duke of Anjou and to Antonio King of Portugall and also for the Pyracies of Drake But lest the King of Spaine should thinke the rights of Embassie vvere violated by this and not the offence of Mendoza reuenged W. Waade one of the Queenes Councell for the expedition of Letters was dispatched into Spaine there plainely to demonstrate how mischieuously Mendoza had behaued himselfe in his Ambassage And to signifie likewise lest the Queene should be thought by returning of Mendoza to renounce the ancient friendship between the Kingdomes that she was ready to performe all Offices of humanitie towards him if the King in Mendoza's place would send any other more carefull for the maintaining of friendship prouided that the like might be performed to her Ambassador in Spaine But the King disdaining to receiue or conferre with Waade referred him to his Councell Whereat Waade somewhat incensed boldly declared that it had beene an ancient custome ouer all that the Ambassadors should bee admitted to speake in presence euen of their enemies and in time of Warre And that the Emperor Charles the fifth father of the King gaue admittance to the Herald that denounced warre against him from the King of France refusing to impart to the Councell the tenour of his Ambassie Now Idiac Secretarie to the King of Spaine endeuoured himselfe much to come to the knowledge of those matters but his Art and policies failing him hee was fully instructed out of France of the whole passage by Mendoza Whereupon laying aside the quality of a publike person he familiarly declared to Waade that to his griefe hee saw many men which bent all their studies to breake and seuer with mischieuous deuices the Leagues and amity of Princes and to increase their enmities That the iniury was done to the King of Spaine himselfe and not to Ambassadors first on the person of Dispez and then of Mendoza That there was no reason why he should any more accuse Mendoza to the King that had receiued for his fault if hee committed any sufficient punishment being so ignominiously and disgracefully sent backe That the Catholique King had dealt iustly in rendering like for like and as the Queene had dismissed Mendoza without hearing but appointed him to bee heard by her Councell the King in like manner had appointed him to the Cardinall Granuellan To this Waade made answer that there was a large difference between himselfe that had neuer giuen the least distaste to the Catholike King and Mendoza who had highly grieuously offended the Queene hauing insolently a great space disdained and refused to come neere her and committed many things vnfitting and vnworthy an Ambassador Notwithstanding all this Waade could not bee admitted but returned into England without being heard All those crimes for the most part which were obiected against Mendoza were taken out of the confession of Throckmorton For when Throckmorton saw himselfe at the point of being apprehended hee sent vnto Mendoza a little trunke wherein were contained his secrets neuerthelesse his other trunkes being diligently searched there were found two Catalogues in one of which were contained the names of the Ports which were most appropriate and conuenient for the landing of their troopes in the other the names of such Noblemen in England as did entertaine and imbrace the Roman Religion Which Catalogues when hee saw produced he cryed out aloud that they were things suborned and that he neuer saw them before that time and that they were purposely inserted into his trunke by some that plotted his destruction and being tortured to force him confesse hee still persisted but tortures being applyed the second time he confessed all that he knew and being examined touching the Catalogues to what end they were written he made this Declaration THat a few yeares since taking his iourney to the waters of Spaw with one Ieney and Englefield they consulted among themselues of the meanes by which England might bee inuaded of the strangers and the forme of the gouernment changed and to that end the names of the Ports and Noblemen were set downe in those Catalogues That Morgan had signified to him by Letters out of France that the Catholique Princes had already deliberated vpon the inuasion and by the auspicious succours of the Duke of Guise to set at libertie the Queene of Scots the Guise wanting nothing but money and some helping hands in England That to procure these things C. Paget vnder the assumed name of Mopus was sent into Sussex where the Guise had determined first to land his troops That he had communicated the businesse and shewed the names of the Ports and Noblemen to Mendoza who was now perfectly instructed by the rect of the conspiracie Neither doth he deny that hee had promised his owne helpe and industry And had also aduertised Mendoza with what Noblemen being a publique personage he might conferre with with whom he himselfe being but a priuate man could not without danger hold parley And with him found the meanes by some of the principall Catholiques to take vp souldiers in the Queenes name then when the stranger forces should ariue to bee ioyned with them These things he freely confessed Neuerthelesse being accused publikely in the Court at London hee precisely denied all affirming that hee had spoken out of his owne inuention and not the truth onely to free himselfe from the tortures againe and openly accused the Queene of cruelty and those of the Inquest of falshood framing
memory all iniury and offences She would acknowledge her the true and lawfull Queene of England and neuer pretend or take vpon her any claime or right to the Crowne during her life neither would shee euer enterprise any thing either directly or indirectly against her but for euer renounce all interest in the title and Armes of England which by the command of Francis her husband and the Popes Buls of deposition she arrogated vnto her selfe Yea furthermore would be included in that association and defensiue League for the Queenes saueguard without preiudice to that ancient alliance which hath been betweene France and Scotland Prouided that nothing be enterprised during the life of Queene ELIZABETH or after her death to the preiudice of her her sonne and their heires in the succession before it were first declared before the assembly of the Estates of England She would for the confirmation of these things remaine in England for a time as a pledge and if so be she might bee permitted to depart out of England she would leaue other hostages Furthermore she would not alter any thing in Scotland onely she desired that shee and those of her Family might be suffered to haue the free vse of their Religion in her owne house Shee would forget and forgiue all iniuries which shee had receiued in Scotland with this condition that whatsoeuer had beene raised to her infamy and disgrace might be abolished Shee would recommend to the King such Counsellors as she knew to be studious of peace with England She would reconcile the fugitiue Noblemen if it were possible for her if also they would submissiuely acknowledge their fault and if the Queene of England would promise to assist the King against them if after their reconciliation they should fall from obedience As for the mariage of her sonne shee would doe nothing without the priuitie of the Queene Shee desired that because she would doe nothing without the counsell and consent of her sonne he might be ioyned in this treatie for the more solid and firme assurance thereof Shee doubted not but the King of France would intercede and conioyntly oblige his faith with the Princes of Loraine to entertaine and effect the conuentions thereof Shee entreats for a mature and happy answer lest any discommoditie or hindrance should fall betweene And finally requested that shee might bee allowed a little more liberally in her imprisonment whereby shee might clearely perceiue the loue of the Queene towards her Queene ELIZABETH seemed to take a great delight in these things as being full of courtesie and honour and was then almost perswaded to grant her libertie but there were some in England that with new propositions apprehensions of strange doubts did disswade her But the matter being almost knowne all ouer those Scots of the aduerse faction did labour to trouble and hinder the same Crying out that it would be the finall ruine of Queene ELIZABETHS safety if shee were set at liberty of both the Kingdomes if she were admitted to the administration of Scotland conioyntly with her sonne and lastly of the true Religion through Great Britaine if she were onely permitted to exercise the Roman Religion Not contented with this certaine Ministers in Scotland after they had charged the Queen with slanders and calumnies euen in their Pulpits common assemblies they vehemently bitterly exclaimed against the King and his Counsell whereupon being commanded to appeare before them with disdaine and contempt they refused it As if the Pulpits were exempt from the authoritie of Kings and Ecclesiasticall persons subiect not to the command of the Prince but of the Presbytery contrarie to the Lawes enacted the same yeare by the assembly of the estates wherein was confirmed the Kings authoritie for euer ouer all his subiects as well Ecclesiasticall as Lay-men that is the King and his Councell to be fit and competent Iudges in all causes and whosoeuer denyed or refused the same to be holden guilty Laesae Maiestatis The assemblies of Ecclesiasticall persons as well generall as speciall as also those of the Lay-men wherein they arrogated to themselues an infinite power of calling of an assembly at their owne pleasure against the Kings consent in which they would prescribe lawes to the King and Kingdome were vtterly prohibited and abolished The popular equalitie of Ministers was abrogate The authoritie and iurisdiction of Bishops whose calling the Presbyters condemned as Antichristian was established And all defamatory writings against the King the Queene his Mother and the Councell were interdicted And namely the History of Buchanan and the Dialogue of the right of the Kingdome as containing many things worthy to bee condemned and extirpate Some of the Ministers receiued these things with such impatience that they streight left their Countrey and powred out their complaints and griefes throughout al England as if the True Religion had now beene chased out of Scotland But Queene ELIZABETH with a deafe eare neglected them deeming of 〈◊〉 as authors of â—ouation neither would she permit them to preach in England neuerthelesse she made vse of them to hinder all preiudice and detriment which the Religion in Scotland might receiue And likewise when the Earle of Arran was with all respect imployed for the conseruation of the amity with England Shee thought they would opportunely serue to the purpose that the fugitiue Scots might not be banisht from the assemblies which were instantly to be holden nor the King diuerted from the friendship of the English Whereupon a parley was appointed betweene the Earle of Arran and Hunsdon Gouernor of Barwicke But before it was holden the fugitiues and all those which were in the expedition with Sterlin were banished from the Assemblies which were hastily to be Conuocated Whom Arran likewise in his Parley which presently followed charged with many weighty accusations and amongst the rest that they had of new conspired the ruine of the King But he deuoutly promised not to pretermit any thing which hee thought would content and pleasure Queene ELIZABETH neither would he doe any thing that might endamage her so long as he remained in grace and fauour with the King Notwithstanding these things the Scottish borderers by the priuat practices of the Spaniard who laboured to withhold Queen ELIZABETH from the Flemmish warres being a moneth after brought into Rhedisdale performed there all the deeds of hostilitie the bordering English in like manner vvith fire and slaughter reuenged themselues of that iniurie vpon Liddesdall Then was sent Ambassador from Scotland Patricke Gray heire of that Family a complete yong man that thought himselfe equall if not exceeding for the dispatch of greatest affaires The especiall tenour of his Ambassie was for the repressing of the incursions on both sides for the restoring of goods taken by Pyracie and for the reconciling according to the League of the Scottish fugitiues or else remouing of them from the frontiers of Scotland because they continually
inuented new stratagems with other of their confederacie in Scotland against the King And the better to obtaine these demands and incline the Queenes mind and affection towards the King more fully hee promised to discouer hidden enterprises that were plotted against the Queene To the first and second Article she answered as she thought fitting but as for the sending backe of the fugitiues she thus replyed THat she was verily perswaded that those Noblemen had not so much as entertained a thought of enterprizing any mischiefe that that vprore which so happened in Scotland proceeded not from any euill intent to the King but of the mutuall discords which dayly arise amongst the Nobilitie about the vnder-age of the King and therefore that belonged to the King to appease and to tye his subiects to him by suppressing factions in one bond of obedience Yet that shee might in some sort yeeld satisfaction to the Kings iust Petition and also receiue intelligence of those secret practices which hee spoke of shee commanded the Scottish fugitiues to remoue themselues farther from the limits But the Queene made shew that what he had reuealed then vnto her she had knowledge of before Whereupon arose a suspition amongst many that the Ambassador had beene hyred by some to disclose something to the preiudice of the King and his mother and had oppos'd against the acceptance of these most iust conditions which the mother of the King had proposed by her Secretary Naue Whereupon the patience of the Queene Mother that had so oftentimes beene deluded began now to breake out into flames of griefe and indignation and the desire which shee had to obtaine her libertie caused her to lay open her eares and minde to all the pernicious counsels of her friends or enemies And so much the rather because she perswaded her selfe that the generall association was deuised to take her life from her because likewise she had intelligence that by the practices of some shee was to be remoued from the custodie of the Earle of Shrewsbury who was a iust man and one that no wayes fauoured their designe and deliuered into the hands of new guardians But to bring this more fairely about lest the singular fidelitie and trust of the Earle of Shrewsbury might be thought to be suspected for it was not thought good to offend the reputation of so great a personage albeit it had been diminished with priuate calumnies by the reproachfull criminations of his importunate wife certaine suspitions were collected of some designes for her deliuery through certaine Emblemes which were sent vnto her importing thus Argus with his many eyes cast into a sleepe by Mercury sweetly playing vpon his Flute with this Motto Eloquium tot lumina clausit Vn Beau Discours â ferme aultant de Lumieres Mercurius beheading Argus keeper or watcher of Io A yong branch set in an old stocke and bound about with cords whereabout was written Per vincula cresco Ie crois Par les liens A Palme depressed yet rising againe with these words Ponderibus virtus innata resistit La vertu qui vient de Naissance resiste à l' oppression That Anagram also gaue much distaste ARMATA VERITAS MARIA STEVARTA Besides all this Letters were produced as though intercepted wherein the friends of the Queen Prisoner did complaine that they should be depriued of all hope of libertie if she were deliuered into the custody of Puritans Vnder this collected pretext shee was withdrawne from the Earle of Shrewsbury which he had often desired and committed to the custody of Drugon Drurey with others And that of purpose as some supposed that thereby being driuen to despaire she might be made the readier to entertaine mischieuous counsels and deuices and so brought into the Ambushes which were prepared for her For the Earle of Shrewsbury had beene her guardian for fifteene yeares with such watchfull and warie prouidence that hee left no place or space for her to enterprise ought against others nor for others to plot any thing against her Then shee sollicited with much importunitie the Pope of Rome and the Spaniard by Inglefield to finish with all mature expedition what they had begunne whatsoeuer betided her And Leicester who was thought to labour in the peruerting of the lawfull succession priuately sent murderers as some report to dispatch her out of the way But Drury more respecting honesty and equity in his heart hated those trecherous designes would not suffer any to haue accesse vnto her Some priuate messengers neuerthelesse conueyed Letters some true some false vnto her by which she might be transported through the imbecility of her sex to a pernicious ruine as shall hereafter be related That the loue of Queene ELIZABETH might wholy be diuerted from her it was whispered in her eares how that Alan for the Ecclesiasticall Catholickes of England Inglefield for the Lay Catholickes and the Bishop of Rosse for the Queen of Scots by common suffrages and with the consent of the Pope and Spaniard had decreed to spoile Queene ELIZABETH of her Kingdome to disinherite the King of Scotland from the same as manifested Hereticks to giue the Queene of Scots in mariage to a Catholicke Nobleman of England and by the English Catholicks to elect him King which Election should by the Pope bee confirmed his children by the Queene of Scots to bee openly declared legitimate successours to the Crowne of England and all these things by the faith of one Hart a Priest Who this Englishman should be Walsingham studiously indeauoured to find but to no purpose but the suspicion lighted vpon H. Howard brother to the Duke of Norfolke one of the Nobilitie not maried a great Papist and mightily fauoured of the Papists This yeare obscurely dyed in miserable exile C. Neuill that perfidious rebell against his Prince and Country being the last Earle of Westmerland out of that family which hath beene so fertile in Nobility that besides sixe Earles of Westmerland haue sprung of the same name two Earles of Salisburie and of Warwicke one Earle of Kent one Marquesse of Montague one D. of Bedford one Baron Ferrers of Ousley diuers Barons of Latimer and Abergauenny a Queene fiue Duchesses omitting Countesses and Baronnesses with the Archbishop of Yorke and a copious off-spring of Nobility In England none dyed more worthy of memory then Edmund Plowden who as in the knowledge of the Lawes of England of which he well deserued in his writings he was aboue others excellent so in integrity of liuing amongst those of his profession he was second to none But in France Francis Duke d'Alancon left the world forced by a malady proceeding of the griefe of mind and in Holland William Prince of Orange who with three bullets from a Pistoll was shot through the body Queene ELIZABETH much lamented the death of these two and dispatch into France B. to signifie to the King how greiuously she bore the death
signifying to him that hee was at that instant in danger both of life and fortunes hee entreated him to conceale the matter and to cause them to retire that were knowing of the departure of the Lord Paget and the ariuall of Cha Paget all which hee presently dispatched and likewise remoued a farre off the seruant that hee had vsed betweene C. Paget and himselfe The Sollicitor further added That being a Prisoner hee had corrupted his Keepers and by their meanes gaue Shelley to vnderstand all what hee had confessed That Shelley also by a woman which was hyred to be a priuate messenger betweene them let him know that he could no longer abstaine from confessing that their conditions were farre vnequall because hee should bee forced by torments but the Earle by reason of his place and order not therefore sent him the copie of his confession Whereat the Earle groaned and would often say as Pantin the seruant of his Bed-chamber confessed that by the confession of Shelley he was vndone for euer After this the manner of his death was by testimony of the Coroners inquest of the Lieutenant of the Tower and of Pantin openly declared and from thence was gathered that he for feare lest his house should bee vtterly subuerted and himselfe dishonored had dispatched himselfe Certes diuers good men much sorrowed that so great a personage should perish by so miserable a death being induced thereto partly because they naturally fauoured Nobility and partly because he had obtained much praise by his valor What the suspicious fugitiues muttered against a certaine Bailiffe a seruitor of Hatton who a little before was appointed one of the Earles keepers I will ouer-passe as not certainely knowne Neither doe I esteeme it fit to insert any vncertaine things or vaine heare-sayes Queene ELIZABETH hauing seene the open conspiracies of the Guises against the Protestant Religion the King of France and her selfe well perceiued whence and by whom these mischiefes were dispersed through England Shee to oppose their designes and to contract a league amongst the Protestants for the defence of the Religion sent Thomas Bodley to the King of Denmarke the Elector Palatine the Dukes of Saxony Wittenbergh Brunswicke Lunbourgh the Marquis of Brandenburgh and the Landsgraue of Hessen And amongst other things she commanded him to aduertise the King of Denmarke that it behoued him aboue the rest to oppose the practices of the Guise because they haue made no question to claime the Kingdome of Denmarke as their kinsmans right for the duke of Lorraine as being son to the daughter of Christierne the 2 King of Denmarke neither did the Duke of Lorraine himselfe dissemble the same then when not long before he laboured to obtaine the Queene in mariage And to prouide least any danger should breake through Scotland as through a backe doore into England shee sent Edward Wotton to signifie to the King how acceptably she embraced the declaration of his loue to her by Patricke Gray and by Iustice Cleric And to draw him to a mutuall League of offence and defence by proposing to him the dangers that then threatned and menaced the profession of the Gospell And to offer him an annuall pension the better to maintaine his Royall Dignity because the reuenues of his Kingdome were much shortened by the negligence of the Regents And to commend vnto him in the vvay of mariage the daughter of the King of Denmark And earnestly in her name to make intercession for those Noblemen of Scotland that liued banished in England And to promise him that she would send them backe if she found the offence against the King to haue beene practised by them Wotton found the King affectionately bent to this League notwithstanding that the Earle of Arran and others of the French faction laboured to diuert him and the Estates of Scotland gaue their consent vnder their hands and seales for the conseruation of Religion to embrace this League prouided that the Queene would promise not to preiudice or hinder the Kings right in the succession of England so long as hee remained constant in his friendship and alliance But this matter was retarded and hindered by the death of Fra Russell sonne to the Earle of Bedford who was slaine the next day after For I. Forster and T. Carre of Fernihurst gouernors of the middle borders betweene the Kingdomes of England and Scotland hauing assigned an assembly vpon the seuen and twentieth of Iune to treat of the receit and emploiment of the Fynances of the Kingdome after the promise of safety made by both parties with their oaths and Proclamation that none should offend either in word deed or looke for so the borderers spoke The Scots brought with them to the place the number of three thousand men or thereabout being armed and set in order of battell with their ensignes displayed and their drummes beating contrary to the custome in such affaires but the English not surpassing three hundred The Gouernours were no sooner seated to heare the complaints but a tumultuous vproare was raised by the occasion of an Englishman taken in theft the Scots discharging a shower of bullets slue amongst others Russel and put the English to flight and eagerly pursuing them for the space of foure miles within England they caried some back with them as prisoners The author of this murther was not assuredly knowne but the English imputed the fault to the Earle of Arran then Chancelor of Scotland and to Carre of Fernihurst The Queene presently dispatched Ambassadors and Letters demanding that the murderers might be deliuered into her hands Because Henry the seuenth King of England had long time before deliuered into the hands of Iames the fourth King of Scots Will. Heron and seuen other Englishmen for murdering of Ro Carre of Cesford vpon a day of assembly and not long before Morton the Regent sent Carmichel a Scot into England for the murder of George Heron. The King after protestation of his innocency promised to send Fernihurst and the Chancelor himselfe also so soone as by cleare and lawful proofes they were conuicted of set purpose to haue violated the safety or to be guilty of the murder Fenwick an Englishman accused Carre before the King but was refuted by his simple deniall because hee could not produce any Scotchman for a witnesse For it hath beene a custome and so a Law amongst the borderers in their iudgements of causes bred by an inueterate hate that no witnesse can be admitted but a Scot against a Scot and an Englishmen against an Englishman Insomuch that though euery one of the Englâ—sh which were present had plainely beene beholders of this murder yet their testimony would preuaile nothing Arran neuerthelesse was confined within his owne house and Carre was kept prisoner at Dundey where in a short time he dyed Hauing beene a warlike man and one prompt and fit to enterprise matters of importance who for his constant loue and faith
concluded and further to acquite his promise he determined to send into England the Carrs which were suspected murderers of Francis Russell A little after vpon the beginning of Iuly the Earle of Rutland the Lord Euers and Tho Randolph for the Queene the Earle of Bothwell the Lord Boide and Iames Humy Coldingknoll for the King of Scotland were assembled at Barwicke and there consummated the League which was called The League of fast friendship because the word of offence was displeasing to the Scots as followeth FOrasmuch as the Raignes and Gouernments of of these Princes are falne into these doubtful and dangerous times wherein the neighbouring Princes which will be called Catholiques acknowledging the Papall authoritie doe contract Leagues and by mutuall alliances doe oblige their faiths to ruine and extirpate the true pure and Euangelicall Religion not onely out of their owne Territories and Dominions but also out of foraine Kingdomes To the end that those which doe embrace the Euangelicall Religion might not seeme lesse carefull to defend and protect the same then those which at this time doe exercise the Roman Religion are for the euersion ouerthrow of it The said Princes for their greater assurance and securitie of their owne persons vpon whose safety dependeth the good and welfare of the people and for the conseruation of the true ancient and Christian Religion whereof they at this present make profession haue consulted and agreed to combine themselues in a straiter knot of mutuall alliance and friendship then hath beene till now amongst the Predecessors of their Maiesties The first ARTICLE PRimarily then to the end that this so godly and necessary Proposition of either Prince in this turbulent estate of things might come to an effect for the common good and propagation of the truth of the Gospell it is conuented agreed and concluded that the said Princes shall by this mutuall and holy League be especially carefull to defend and conserue the true pure and Euangelicall Religion which they now professe against all others that for the ruine thereof shall enterprize any thing against either of them and shall labour and endeuour with all possible diligence that the rest of those Princes which are professors of the same Religion might accord with them in this holy propounded League and conioyning their forces conserue in their Dominions the true seruice of God and defend and gouerne their subiects vnder the said ancient and Apostolicall Religion The second ITem it is conuented accorded and concluded that this mutuall League for the defending and maintaining of the Christian and Catholique Religion which at this present is holden by either Prince and by the grace of God obserued and nourished in their Realmes and Dominions shall bee a League of offence and defence against all those that shall hinder or endeuour by any means to hinder the exercise of the same within their Realmes and Dominions notwithstanding all Treaties Leagues of friendship and Confederations past betweene either of them and all aduersaries and persecutors whatsoeuer of the same Religion That if at any time any Prince or State whatsoeuer of what condition so euer he be shal inuade or infest the Realmes Dominions or Territories of either of the said Princes or any part of them or indomage or iniure any manner of way their Maiesties persons or subiects or shall attempt these or any of these things The third IT is conuented accorded and concluded that neither of these Princes receiuing intelligence from the person inuaded iniured or indomaged shall directly or indirectly openly or couertly aide counsell or fauour at any time the said inuaders or infestors in what kinde of inuasion so euer it shall bee or by whomsoeuer it shall be attempted notwithstanding all kindred affinitie amitie or 〈◊〉 before contracted or after to bee contracted The fourth THat the said Princes shall reciprocally send aide either to other in manner as followeth If the Kingdome of England shall be inuaded or molested by any stranger vpon those parts which are farre remote from the Kingdome of Scotland the King of Scotland after demand made by the Queene of England shall incontinently and without delay send two thousand horse and fiue thousand foot or any lesse number according to the pleasure request of the Queene to bee conducted at the expence of the Queene from the frontiers of Scotland next adiacent to the Kingdome of England into any part of England whatsoeuer The fift THat if the Kingdome of Scotland shall bee inuaded or molested by any stranger vpon those parts which are farre remote from the Kingdome of England the Queene of England after demand made by the King of Scotland shall incontinently and without delay send three thousand horse and sixe thousand foot or any lesse number according to the pleasure and request of the King to be conducted at the expence of the King from the frontiers of England next adiacent to the Kingdome of Scotland into any part of Scotland whatsoeuer The sixt THat if the Kingdome of England shall by any one bee inuaded vpon the North parts within threescore miles of the borders of Scotland the most illustrious King of Scotland being requested and demanded by the most excellent Queene of England shall assemble all his forces and troopes to his possibilitie effectually and without delay and ioyning them with the English troops shall pursue in all hostile manner those that shall inuade the Kingdome of England their fauourers and assistants whatsoeuer for the space of thirty dayes together or longer if occasion and necessitie shall require according to the space of time which the subiects of Scotland were anciently accustomed and to this day doe hold for bringing of succours to the defence of the Kingdome The seuenth THat when the King of Scots shall haue notice giuen him from the Queene of England of any inuasion or deuastation happening in Ireland he shall not onely forbid the inhabitants of the County of Argathel of the Iles and places adiacent to the said County and the inhabitants of all other places whatsoeuer in the Kingdome of Scotland not to enter into the Kingdome of Ireland and to his power to hinder them from entring But also in what time so euer it shall happen that the inhabitants of any part whatsoeuer of the Realme of Scotland shall contrary to the intent of this Treaty enter in hostile manner into any part of Ireland with an extraordinary and vnusuall number of Souldiers the King himselfe after he had giuen notice to the Queene of the said entry shall by a publique Edict denounce the said inuaders breaking in hostile maner into the said Realme for Rebels disturbers of the publique peace and men guilty of attempt against the estate and as such shall pursue them The eighth THat neither of the said Princes shall giue or permit any other in any sort whatsoeuer to giue at any time hereafter any aide fauour or assistance to any conspirator rebell or one reuolted from
either Prince or suffer any such person or persons in publike or in priuate to make stay or aboade in their Dominions But either of the said Princes vpon the first notice or request of the Prince from whom they haue reuolted offered shall deliuer or cause to be deliuered vp the said conspirators or Rebels without any delay or procrastination according to the Conuentions in our former Treaties betweene our selues and our predecessors expressed or at least shal compell them to depart out of the bounds of their Dominions And furthermore so long as the said Rebels or conspirators shall remaine in the said Dominions either of the said Princes shall giue reasonable satisfaction for all the wrongs and damages done by the said Rebels The ninth THat to compound for all and singular the iniuries and controuersies which haue hapned since the time that the most excellent King of Scots tooke the gouernment of the Kingdome vpon him and for the space of foure yeares before by reason of the frontier limits or amongst the borderers The Princes shall on either side within six moneths after this league concluded send capable Commissioners desirous of peace well instructed with commands sufficient and proper for the same affaires to some commodious place vpon the frontiers of both Kingdomes which shall determine and end all causes controuersies by a friendly and honorable composition The tenth THat neither of the said Princes shall contract any League or confederation with any other Prince Common-wealth or Communalty whatsoeuer to the preiudice of this present League and vnion without hauing and obtaining an expresse consent from the other by Letters either subscribed with his hand or sealed with his Priuy Seale That both Princes when either of them shall bee duely requested by the Ambassadors or Commissioners of the other shall approue and confirme this holy League of Society both by Oath and vnder the Great Seale And further for the greater assurance and stabilitie of the same shall deliuer or cause to be deliuered Letters Patents at a certaine time which by the mutuall consent of either Prince shall be constituted The eleuenth THat all the precedent Treaties of friendship and Conuentions of Leagues betweene the Predecessors of the said Princes their Kingdomes and Dominions though now seeming out of vse shall remaine in their vertue force and vigour And likewise this present treaty of mutuall alliance and fast friendship shall not derogate in any manner from the precedent Treaties and confederations passed by the said Princes with other their Allies or diminish in any part their waight and authoritie onely excepted the defence of the pure Religion which the said Princes doe defend and exercise at this present in their Kingdomes in which manner we vnderstand that this present League of offence and defence in its owne force shall remaine ratified and inviolable That when the King of Scotland shall come to the age of fiue and twenty yeares he shall so soon as he conueniently may approue and confirme by a publique assembly of his Kingdome this present League Likewise the Queenes Maiestie shall doe and accomplish the same thing and shall cause to be done and accomplished in the Court of Parliament by the Nobility and other states of the Kingdomes of England and Ireland In the same moneth that this League was concluded of a most pernicious conspiracy was discouered against Queene ELIZABETH of which in as few words as may possible be I will expound the originall and progresse according to that which I haue extracted out of the voluntary confessions of the conspirators Some out of the English Seminarie at Rheims admiring as it were with astonishment a certaine omnipotency in the Pope of Rome beleeuing that the Bull of Pius Quintus against Queene ELIZABETH was dictated to him by the Holy Ghost perswaded themselues and others also that desired the glory of being Martyrs that it was a meritorious thing to murder such as were excommunicate yea and a martyrdome to dye in such a cause Giffard Doctor in Diuinity Gilbert Giffard and Hodgeson Priests so farre possessed the minde of Iohn Sauage with these things who was reputed to be a bastard a man ready at all assayes that hee freely and voluntarily vowed to murder Queene ELIZABETH And to make men beleeue that they desired to assure the Queene and her Counsellors they published a booke at the same time wherein they admonished the Papists of England not to enterprize any thing against their Queene but with their teares which are the weapons of Christians to combate against her enemies And also by this meanes they dispersed a false rumor that George Giffard a Gentleman of the Queenes Guard had sworne to murder her and to that end was by the Guise hyred with large summes of money In Easter Holydayes Iohn Ballard Priest of the same Seminary after hee had visited many Papists in England and Scotland and had sounded their minds hee returned into France accompanied with Maude Walsinghams Spy a most crafty dissembler that had seduced his easie nature and treated vvith Barnardino Mendoza then Leidger for the King of Spaine in France and Charles Paget who was wholly deuoted to the Queene of Scots about the meanes to inuade England representing to him the apt opportunitie of the time which then vvas because the men of warre were then absent and busied in the Low-Countries neither was there a fitter time to bee hoped for because the Pope Spaniard Guise and Parma had then determined to inuade England to diuert the warres from the Netherlands But Paget clearely demonstrated that it would be in vaine to goe about to inuade England so long as the Queene was liuing Ballard neuerthelesse was sent backe after hee had sworne to procure speedy succours to them that should inuade and the liberty of the Queene of Scots At Whitsontide this Priest ariued in England apparelled in Silks in the habite of a Souldier and by a borrowed name called himselfe Captaine Foscue Hee consulted at London about these things with Anthony Babington of Dethicke in Darbyshire a yong man of a famous house of a haughty spirit in learning surpassing his age and very zealous to the Roman religion who without leaue had before passed into France vnknowne and there became familiar with Thomas Morgan a seruant to the Queene of Scots and the Bishop of Glasco her Ambassador who continually sounded in the eares of his ambitious yong man the heroicall vertues of the great Queene of Scots in whose seruice hee might obtaine the meanes to rise to great Honours Whereupon the yong man conceiued a certaine hope and Morgan without his knowledge commended him by Letters to the Queene For after that he was returned into England the Queene of Scots graciously saluted him with her Letters after that Morgan made vse of him for conueyance of Letters to and fro vntill such time that she was deliuered into the custody of Poulet then he perceiuing the danger
which might ensue desisted Ballard as I said consulted of the aforesaid things with Babington hee plainely thought that the inuading of England would be to no purpose so long as Queene ELIZABETH liued But Ballard giuing him to vnderstand that she had not long to liue because Sauage who had vowed to murder her was then ariued in England Babington was of another aduice and thought it not fit that affaires of such greatnesse should be committed to him alone lest he should faile in the attempt But to sixe valiant and Noblemen of which he would haue Sauage to be one to the end he might not infringe his vow And therfore Babington sought out a new meanes for the inuading of England by the strangers at what Port they should land what assistance should be ioyned with them how the Queene of Scots should be set at liberty and lastly for committing the tragicall murder as he called it of the Queene of England Whilst hee wholly bent his cogitations vpon these matters hee receiued Letters by a boy vnknowne from the Queen of Scots written in a familiar Character betwixt them wherein she gently blamed him for his long silence and commanded him with all speed to send the packet of Letters sent from Morgan and deliuered to him by the Secretary of the French Ambassador which hee performed and by the same messenger sent her a Letter by which HE excused himselfe of his silence because hee was destitute of opportunitie to send to her since she was giuen into the custodie of Sir Aimé Poulet that Puritan wholly deuoted to Leicester and a cruell and bitter enemy to the Catholique faith He writ of the conference which he had with Ballard Hee gaue her notice that sixe Gentle-men were chosen to commit a tragicall murder and that he with a hundred others at the instant would deliuer her And he desired her to propound recompences to the heroicall actor of this tragedie so he called it or to their posteritie if they dyed in the attempt She answered these Letters the 27 of Iuly And SHe praised his singular affection to the Catholique religion and to her selfe But she admonished him to be considerate in this enterprise and that he should conclude an association amongst the authors and actors in the same for feare of the Puritans not to attempt any thing before he was sure of the foraine succors to stirre vp some combustion in Ireland whilest the blow was to be giuen here to draw to his faction the Earle of Arundel and his brothers with the Earle of Northumberland and secretly to repeale into the Kingdome the Earle of Westmerland Paget and others She prescribeth the meanes of her deliuerie EIther by subuerting of a Cart in the Port or setting fire vpon Stables or by intercepting of her when she should ride to take the aire or recreate her selfe betweene Chartle and Stafford Finally she requested Babington to promise recompences to the sixe Gentle-men and to all the rest He had now associated to him certaine Gentlemen of Noble race burning with zeale toward the Romane Religion amongst whom the principall were Edward Windsor brother to the Lord Windsor Baron of Bradnam a yong man of a pleasing and milde disposition Thomas Salisbury issued from a house of ancient Knighthood in Denbigh-shire Char Tilney of a remarkable and famous race who was the onely hope of that house with one of the Gentlemen Pensioners to the Queene whom Ballard a while before had reconciled to the Romane Church and Chidiock Tichborn of Hampshire and Edward Abington whose father was the vnder-Treasurer of the Queenes houshold two braue yong men Robert Gadge of Surrey Iohn Trauerse Iohn Charnock of Lancashire I. Iones whose father was keeper of the Wardrop to Queene MARIE Sauage of whom I haue spoken Barnwell of a Noble House in Ireland and Henry Dunne Clerke for the receipt of first fruits and tythes Into this company Polly insinuated himselfe vvell instructed in the affaires of the Queene of Scots very expert in dissembling vvho stil from day to day laid open all their counsels to Walsingham and by the mischieuous aduice which he suggested to these yong men being of themselues inclined to euill hee precipitated them to farre vvorse matters notwithstanding Naue the Queene of Scots Secretary had forwarned them of him To these Babington communicateth the matter but not to euery one all he shewed to Ballard Tichborne and Dunne his owne Letters and the Letters of the Queene of Scots Also he soliciteth Tilney and Tichborne to doe the deed At the first they refuse to staine their hands in their Princesses blood But Ballard and Babington labouring hard to teach and giue them to vnderstand how iust and lawfull it vvas to kil Kings or Princes excommunicated and that if right were to be violated it must needs be for the Catholike Religion yet notwithstanding they with much adoe are perswaded to it Abington Barnwell Charnock and Sauage yeelded their ready consent vvith alacritie swearing to act the murther Salisbury they could not possibly induce to bee a Regicide nor draw to any thing more then to imploy his best endeuours for the deliuerance of the Queene of Scotland Babington maketh choice of Tichnore to be the odde man ouer and aboue the number of those that should doe the deed of whose secrecie trust and resolution he made no doubt but he was then abroad in trauell Babington commandeth that before they had taken their oath they should not impart the businesse to any After this they met in Sr. Gyles fields to conferre further in Paules also and in Tauernes where they feasted often puft vp with vaine hopes of preferment to great honors and dignities whereupon they would often commend the noble courage of those valiant Scots which had lately seized on the Kings royall person at Sterlin and Girard the Bourgonian who slew the Prince of Orange at Delph Moreouer they grew to that height of vanity that thy would needs haue the pictures of them drawne in a table and Babington in the midst with this versicle or inscription Such be my consorts as dare incurre my dangers But this pleased them not so well as being a little too plain wherefore they exchanged it with this other Quorsum haec aliò properantibus Some are of opinion that this table was once show'd to Queene ELIZABETH in priuate of which shee could not discern or know any other man by his effigies but Barnwell onely who had had at diuers times accesse to her Maiesty from the Earle of Kildare whom hee serued but being instructed in the businesse she knew him to be the man should haue attempted her life for on a time walking abroad and espying Barnwell whom she beheld with an vndanted countenance turning herselfe suddenly towards Sir Christopher Hatton Captaine of her Guard and others she said Am not I fairly guarded now hauing not one man of my followers that is prouided of a
thing vnder her owne hand demanding withall what hurt any had receiued by any letters which came to her for a whole yeare together Then were the copies of Babingtons letters produced and read to her describing the plot of the conspiracy AS for these letters said she it may possibly be that Babington writ so but let it be proued that I euer receiued them If Babington or any haue affirmed it they haue belyed me Others crimes are not to be cast vpon me A whole Packet that had been detained a yeare together from me about that time came to my hands but sent from whom I know not To proue the receipt of Babingtons letters there was read the principall points of the letters out of his confession wherein he voluntarily granted that she had receiued them and had written back againe in which letters was mention made of the Earle of Arundell and his brethren and of the Earle of Northumberland which hearing she wept said NOw alas miserable woman that I am how many things hath that noble house of the Howards endured for my sake And after that hauing dryed her cheekes she said BAbington might confesse what he pleased but to say that she had practised to escape was a notorious vntruth That her aduersaries might as well as she get the same characters and write what falsities they would in the same nor was there any probabilitie that she should vse the helpe eyther of Arundell or Northumberland for her escape seeing the one was a prisoner and the other a young man and vnknowne to her They read also the abstracts of Sauages and Ballards confession importing that Babington had shewed them letters of hers But she protested He had neuer receiued any from her On the contrary she was so farre from consenting to the inuading of the Realme of England or giuing counsaile thereto that she alwayes perswaded the contrary Then they shewed her letters wherein she had commended and approued Babingtons proiects She demanded the sight of them which hauing seene she said These neuer came from her but peraduenture from the Alphabet of the letters she had in France That shee had labourd to recouer her liberty being a thing we all naturally desire and to sundry which had offered her helpe to that end whom she would not name she answered not a word yet notwithstanding she heartily desired that the persecution of Catholicks might cease in England and that she had begged it in loue of the Q. She would not purchase a kingdome with the bloud of the poorest subiect much lesse of the Queene That many had practised dangerous matters vnknowne to her and that by letters some had asked her forgiuenesse for so doing that neuer had spoken to her thereof That any might easily counterfeyt the cyphers or characters as a yong fellow in France not long since had done nominating himselfe the base brother of her sonne the King of Scotts and she suspected this was Walsinghams doing to haue her life who as she heard had practised both against hers and her sonnes She protested she had neuer conceiued any thing hurtfull to the the Queene and that she would more gladly lose her life than to be a cause that the Catholicks should be so afflicted and cruelly tormented And with that there gushed from her abundance of teares BVt said the Lo Treasurer there hath not any beene put to death for Religion which would become an obedient subiect onely some few for committing treason in maintayning the Popes Bull and authority against the Queene Yet I haue heard said shee the contrary and haue read as much in printed bookes The authors of such bookes replyed he write also that the Queene is to be depriued of all regall power Then Sir Francis Walsingham who was toucht a little before in words taking his time stood vp and hauing protested that he carried no ill will in heart said I Take God to record in the place of a priuate person I haue done nothing vnbeseeming an honest man nor any thing in publike but that becomes a person of my ranke I must say that out of my zealous care for the Queene and the good of the Kingdome I haue been inquisitiue in discouering conspiracies against her If Ballard had offered me his seruice I would not haue refused it but rather recompenced him for his paines If I conspired with him why bewrayed he it not to saue his owne life This answer as she said satisfied her And She desired him he would not be offended at that which she had heard by report and that he would no more beleeue her calumniations than shee did his for these pick-thankes are men of little credite which pretend one thing and say another and that he would not by any meanes beleeue that euer she had conspired the death of her dearest sister the Queene And here she brake forth into teares againe saying I will neuer make shipwrack of my soule by conspiring my dearest sisters death and ruine The Lawyers answered That would appeare by euidences This past in the forenoone In the afternoone to proue this they produced the copie of the letters which Charles Paget had written and Curle one of her Secretaries testified she had receiued touching conference had with Mendoza and Ballard for inuading the Realme and setting her at libertie This she said was nothing to the purpose nor any proof that she had plotted the Queenes destruction The Lawyers passing further said That they could proue she had conspired the Queenes death by the confession of Babington and letters of his wherein he called her his Lady and most excellent Queene as also out of those she had written vnto him And by the way put her in minde of consultation had how the kingdome of England was to be transferred to the Spanish King She confessed that once a Priest had visited her and said That if she interposed not her selfe her sonne and she both would be excluded from their inheritance but she would not name him He added That the Spaniard pretended a title to the crowne of England and would yeeld to none but her Then they pressed her vpon Babingtons confession from the testimonies of her Secretaries Nauue and Curle and letters written interchangeably betwixt them And though all the proofe was grounded vpon their bare assertions yet were they neuer brought forth face to face She confest Curle to be an honest fellow but no fit witnesse against her That Nauue sometimes Secretarie to the Cardinall of Lorraine had beene commended to her by the King of France and that he might be easily drawne for money hope or feare to depose falsly and had bound himselfe thereto by a rash oath hauing Curle a fellow of a flexible nature at his command to write what hee would And it may be they had put things into the letters which she dictated not possibly such letters might come to their hands which
Blood by the Ghost and memorie of Henry the seuenth Progenitor to them both and by the Princely honour which sometimes she had Then she complained that all her Princely Robes were taken away by the command of the Counsellors Shee presageth their malice will extend to worse things Shee added that if they had shewed without fraude or falshood the papers which they tooke from her it would clearely haue appeared by them that nothing had caused her vntimely death but the doubtfull care which some had of Queene Elizabeths safetie Finally she intreated her to returne her an Answer vnder her Hand touching these things Whether these Letters came to the hands of Queene Elizabeth I cannot say As for the rest there past according to the diuersitie of mens natures diuerse speeches vpon this matter not to speake of the declamations and exclamations made by the Clergie pro contra which commonly are very sharpe Some weighing the matters in equitie thought they had handled her too hardly because she was an absolute and free Princesse ouer whom God alone had the command being very neerely allyed in blood royall to Q. Elizabeth and that being driuen out of Scotland by the rebells shee was no sooner arriued in England but Q. Elizabeth promised her vpon her Princely word by Hen. Mildmore to shew her all courtesie and to welcome her with all royall deeds of hospitalitie yet neuerthelesse contrary to this promise imprisoned her and violated these sacred rights That shee could not be held but for a prisoner of warre and to such it was lawful to practise any meanes for their libertie and freedome That she could not commit treason because she was no subiect and that none hath power ouer his equall That that had disanulled the sentence of the Emperour against Rob. King of Sicily because he was not subiect to his Empyre That if Embassadors which â—â—e but Princes seruants shal haue conspired against those to whom they are imployed in Embassage are not culpable of treason much lesse the Princes themselues and that the will ought not to be punished vnlesse it take effect That it was a thing neuer heard of for a Queene to passe vnder the hands of a common executioner That she was condemned contrary to the law of God the Romane Ciuill Law and the English yea euen against the Statute of the Parliament Anno 13. of Elizabeth whereby it was ordained That no person should be called into iudgement for hauing attempted the ruine of the Prince but vpon the testimonie and oath of two lawfull witnesses who should be brought face to face before the accused and in her trial no witnes was produced against her but she was condemned from the testimony of two Secretaries absent They discoursed diuersly also of the credite that was to bee giuen to domestick seruants being prisoners They much commended the speech of Adrian the Emperour Testibus non testimonijs credendum That wee should rather trust the the witnessors than the witnesses Others priuately complained that Spyes or Intelligencers had beene suborned who by forgerie false letters and deceitfull sleights had deluded this Princesse exposed to iniuries had preuented her purposes encouraged her to bad matters of which shee had not so much as once thought had she beene kept as was requisite and if such fraudulent Machinators had not beene put to her to that purpose That it hath beene a familiar thing in all ages for those that are enuyed by Courtiers euen against their wills to be brought into treason and to heape more dangers more treacherously vpon the innocent being once restrained of liberty Others thought that she was not a free and absolute Qu. but only titulary because shee had forsaken her kingdomes gouernement and was vnder the protection of the queene of England so soone as she was come within the kingdome and as in doing well she had tasted the benefite of the Law so in doing ill she was subiect to the rigour thereof according to the Lawyers Maxime He deserueth no benefite of the Law which trespasseth against the Law Otherwise the condition of a stranger-stranger-king offending within the countrey of another should be better than of him which raigneth well That she was a subiect temporally but not originally because that in respect of regall authoritie there cannot be two absolute Princes together in one Kingdom That by the common receiued opinion of Lawyers The king out of his Territories is a priuate man except in expedition of warre and therefore can neyther conferre nor exercise the royall Rights Besides that that she had lost her soueraignety of Empire by her trespasse and that those which are subiect to a King by reason of domicile may commit treason As touching the parentage there is no neerer kindred than our country for that it is a second Diuinity and our first and greatest parent As touching the promises of the duties of humanitie and hospitalitie these are no priuiledges to commit euills vnpunished That promises are to be vnderstood so long as things remain in the same estate and are not changed That he which hath committed a crime deserueth not to enioy any promised security and the rights of hospitalitie as sacred but our countrey is more sacred That the Prince no more than the Pope neuer bindeth his hands and that all Princes are more neerely obliged to their CoÌ„mon-wealths than to their promises That if they should proceed with her as with a prisoner in warre they obiect I know not out of what author That onely captiues are to be pardoned from whom we can suspect no disturbance of the peace and no others And that euery one hath power ouer his equall alwayes and when the equall submitteth himselfe to his iudgement eyther expressely by word or secretly by contract or else by offending within his iurisdiction That the Pope had cut off the sentence giuen by the Emperour against Rob. King of Sicily because the fact was not committed within the Emperours dominions but within the Popes That by the law of Nations Ambassadors haue beene so fauoured for the necessity of their Ambassages as not to be violated but Kings which trespasse in the countrey of another haue no such graunt Finally that in matter of treason the will though wanting effect is punishable and to practise the death of the Prince nay to know of the practice to conceale it is held for treason That many Kings haue beene condemned and punished as namely Rescuporis of Thrace by Tiberius Licinius Maximinianus by Constantine the great Bernard of Italy Conrade of Sicily c. And that which is the summe of all The soueraigne Law is the safetie of the people now no law more soueraigne than the welfare of the Common-wealth And that Iupiter himselfe made this law That whatsoeuer is for the commodious good of the Common-wealth is lawfull and iust On the contrary that the Bishops of Rome haue put to death some Ecclesiasticall Princes not for the
that blood cryeth for blood and to be seuere vpon her cannot but seeme a thing cruell and bloody That the K. of France would endeuour seriously to dissolue the designes of those which conspired against Queen Elizabeth and that the Guises the Queen of Scotland's kinsmen should swear and subscribe to do the same who would take it very grieuously if she were put to death and perhaps would not suffer it vnreuenged Finally they required she should not be handled with such rigorous and extraordinary iudgement for if shee were the King of France could not but take it as a most grieuous offence howsoeuer the other Princes tooke it To euery one of these Articles answer was made in the Margent That the Queene of England hoped that the most Christian king of France made no lesse reckoning of her than of the Queene of Scotland who had practised her destruction she being an innocent Princesse her neere Kinswoman and in league of Alliance with the King of France That it is expedient for Kings and their Countries that wicked actions be not left vnpunished especially against Princes That the English who acknowledge Queen Elizabeth the sole Supreame Gouernesse of England cannot at once acknowledge two Soueraignes free and absolute Princes nor any other whilst she liued could participate in equalitie with her Neither could she perceiue how the Queene of Scotland and her Sonne which then raigned could be held at once for Soueraigne and absolute Princes Whether that the safetie of Queene Elizabeth be exposible to greater perils shee being put to death seeing it dependeth vpon future contingencie That the Estates of England hauing well weighed this point are otherwise conceited namely That whilst shee liueth there will alwaies be new plots of mischiefe breeding especially because it is now come to that issue that there is no hope left for the one if the other be not extinct and this saying should often present it selfe to her mind Either I shall dispatch her or shee me And the lesser time her life shall last the more celeritie will the Conspirators vse to execute their plots That hitherto she would neuer renounce her claime and challenge to the English Crowne and therefore was for iust cause to be detained in prison and detained must be till she renounce it although she came to England for succour and support And for what cause soeuer she was put in prison she is to be punished for the faults she hath cōmitted since the time of her imprisonment That the Queene of England had pardoned her before when shee was condemned of all the Estates for consenting to the Rebellion in the North the which was raised to haue made the Maryage betwixt her and tbe Duke of Norfolke and to pardon her againe were imprudent and cruell mercy That none are ignorant of that Maxime of the Lawyers An offender found within the Territorie of another is to be punished where he is found to haue committed the fault without respect of Dignitie Honour or Priuiledge And that the same is permitted as well by the Lawes of England as also by the examples of Licinius Robert King of Sicilie Bernard King of Italy Conradine Elizabeth Queene of Hungary Ioan Queene of Naples and of Deiotarus for whom Cicero pleading said It is not a thing vniust though vnusuall for a King to be arraigned His very words are these Primùm dico pro capite fortunisque Regis quod ipsum etsi non iniquum est in tuo duntaxat periculo tamen est ita inusitatum Regem capitis reum esse tante hoc tempus non sit auditum That shee that hath beene found guiltie by a iust Iudgement ought to vndergoe punishment forasmuch as that which is Iust is Honest and that which is Honest is also profitable That the History of Porsenna hath no allusion to the matter in question except it were to be thought that there are a great number yet behinde of them which conspire against Queene Elizabeth and so could perswade her out of feare and some little respect of honour to dismisse the Queene of Scotland without putting her to any paine as Porsenna past off Mutius after Mutius had told him there was yet 300. more of his Fellow-Confederates which had sworne his death Besides that Mutius set vpon Porsenna in open warre and assured himselfe that by sending Mutius away he was out of all danger That blood is to be spared but that is innocent blood That God hath said Blood cryeth for blood it is true and that France both before the Massacre of Paris since cā testifie this That punishment by death iustly inflicted cannot be accounted bloody no more than a wholsome medicine can be deem'd hurtfull Howsoeuer the Guises the Queene of Scotlands Cousens relish it Queene Elizabeth hath more nearer cause to respect her selfe her owne safetie her Nobilitie and the good of her People on whose loue shee wholly dependeth than the discontent of any other whosoeuer And that the matter was now at that point that the old Prouerbe of the two Princes Conradine the King of Sicilie and Charles the Duke of Anjou might be vsed and truly said of these two Queens THE DEATH OF MARY THE LIFE OF ELIZABETH And THE LIFE OF MARY THE DEATH OF ELIZABETH The promises of the French King or the Guises cannot secure the Queene of England nor the Realme of assured safetie much lesse make amends for her death if she be made away That the French King cannot discouer or keepe in the plots of Treason which are practised against him in his owne Country much lesse this against the Queene of England for that Treason is closely carryed and therefore ineuitable And if the wicked act were once committed what good would come on it to claime their promises How can the life of an incomparable Prince after death be repaired and what redresse can be found out for the Common-wealth failing with her in this sad confusion of all things That the hand-writings or oathes of the Guises can be of no great moment for that they hold it a meritorius matter to put to death the Pope of Romes Aduersaries and may easily haue a dispensation of their oath And when Queene Elizabeth shall be slaine and the Queene of Scotland which is of the House of the Guises aduanced to the Royaltie who is he will accuse them for her death or if they should be accused that can bring her to life againe But in that the Ambassadours haue said That the Iudgement was rigorous and extraordinary they haue spoken indiscreetly for they saw neither the proceedings of the businesse nor heard the proofes and haue with too much asperitie reprehended the Estates of the Realme of England being Personages of chiefest note in the Kingdome for noblenesse of Birth Vertue Wisedome and Pietie Yea and that they haue altogether deliuered these speeches from the King of France to terrifie the Queene of England and the Estates of the Land That the
should the more irritate and attended till the dolour being appeased by the protraction of time would suffer it selfe to be dealt withall For perceiuing then that the French did sharpen and incitate the young King to reuenge and fearing that through suttle sleights and eager desire of reuenge he might be diuerted from the Protestant Religion and from louing the English she imployed all her possible industry and Princely meanes to cure his wounded heart and alienated from her And for that cause propounded to him by such Agents as shee had in Scotland as also by the Lord of Hunsdon Gouernour of Berwicke FIrst what danger there was in making warre vpon England for this cause which now to all the Estates of England seemed necessary for the good of the whole Iland and most iust And whether hee were of power to goe thorow withall England being then neuer more potent in military men money and munition and Scotland neuer weaker being brought low and exhaust by ciuill and intestine broyles If hee would haue the assistance of forreine powers let him learne by the experience of his Mother who so long and often implored that in vaine what labour and trouble he would haue to obtaine it And if he should procure it what successe could he hope for by it seeing that England ioyning with the shipping of Holland and Zeland feared not the most puissant Princes of Europe What hope could he put the King of France or the King of Spaine in sith his power being once increased with the addition of England and Ireland to his Crowne ought to be contrary to their designe and that his Religion was so directly opposite to theirs that they could not ayde and succour him but to their owne preiudice That the King of France could not behold but with griefe the King of Scotlands Dominion augmented by the Kingdome of England without feare that he should pursue the ancient right which the English haue in France or giue assistance to the Guizes his Allies who at this instant gape for the Kingdome of France That the King of Spaine who would questionlesse giue place to his ambition because that he brags though falsly to be the first Catholique King issued from the Bloud-Royall of the English and of the house of Lancaster That to this purpose some Iesuites and others haue with their vttermost power endeuoured during the life of Queene MARY of Scotland to enthrone him by election in the Kingdome of England as most fit to re-establish there the Romane authoritie in eiecting from the Crowne both Mother and Sonne Nay moreouer they begun to perswade the Queene of Scotland to make him thereof a legacy by her Testament if King IAMES her Sonne would still perseuer in the Protestant Religion Let the King consider whither these things doe tend what succour hee can looke for from Spaine and to what ignominy hee will precipitate his Soule to his eternall damnation and all Great-Britaine to his vtter ruine if hee forsakes the true Religion in which hee hath beene educated That the Peeres and States who haue giuen sentence against his Mother seeing that hee meditates vpon a reuenge will not fayle to exclude him from the Crowne of England by a new Act of the right of Succession That in giuing place to necessity and keeping in the agitation of his courage hee will mediate easily their loue sith that which is done cannot be vndone Let him then expect to possesse in his time the most flourishing Kingdome of England and enioy in the meane while a Crowne of securitie and beleeue that those which can tell well how to weigh and prize things will iudge that hee hath sufficiently fore-seene to his honour in not fayling in due opportunitie to doe his Mother all the dutifull seruices of a most pious sonne Moreouer let him likewise assure himselfe that the Queene of England will accounnt hold and esteeme him as her owne sonne and will doe him all offices of amity and vse him as a Mother her dearest sonne These are the things that Queene ELIZABETH endeuoured with great care to possesse the King with and to the end hee should not doubt but that his Mother had beene put to death without Queene ELIZABETHS consent shee resolued to send him the sentence pronounced against William Dauison sealed with the broad Seale of England and all the Commissioners hands subscribed therunto and to appease his Maiestie the more another iudgement signed by all the Iudges of England certifying that that sentence pronounced could in nothing hinder or bee preiudiciall to his right to the Kingdome of England In the mean time that Q. ELIZABETH by these or such like reasons endeuoured gently to calme the King of Scotlands agitations fore-seeing the warre wherewith she was furiously threatned by the King of Spaine whose hopes to frustrate shee sent Sir Francis Drake with foure Royall Ships well appoynted to the Coast of Spaine and elsewhere with command to take burne and pillage all such Ships as hee could finde as well in the Harbours and Port-Townes as on the Ocean Drake arriuing in the Streight of Gibraltar entred the Hauen thereof where after he had caused sixe great Ships to flye vnder the Forts protection hee tooke and burnt a hundred Ships more or lesse in the which there was infinite prouision of warlike munitions victuals and among others the Great Gallion of the Marquis of Santa Cruz called Rageusa richly loaden with merchandize From thence returning to Cape S. Vincent hee there burnt all such Ships and Fisher-boats which lay in that Rode And then went to Cascalet Hauen which is situated at the mouth of Tage he vrged there the Marquis Santa Cruz to fight but hee not daring stirr'd not but let Drake freely sayle along that Coast and take their Ships without the least impeachment Then hauing turned saile to the Iles of Azoris met by chance which he tooke with ease a great and lusty Ship most rich and well furnished called Saint Philip which was returning from the East-Indies This act caused the vulgar sort of Mariners of diuers Countries to take the name of Philip for an ill signe or prognostication against Philip King of Spaine By this Drakes worthy though briefe expedition England was much enriched and the Spaniards sustayning so great a losse of munition and warlike preparations were constrayned to giue ouer their designe they had to inuade England for that yeere Since which time the English begun with alacrity couragiously to assault those great and huge Ships most like vnto Castles which they before did much dread and feare and discouered so plainely the opulent and rich commodities of the Indies the meanes how to trade and traffique in those Easterne parts in such sort that they haue since established an aduantagious trade and profitable nauigation in those Countries hauing established an East-Indie Company of Merchants At that very time Thomas Cauendish a Suffolke man which two
they suggested that the English Nauy was neither in number greatnesse nor strength comparable to the Spanish the Portugall Fleet being then added That England was altogether vnfortified neyther was it furnished with Commanders Souldiers Horse or prouision for warres but destitute both of friends and money besides there were many through the Kingdome which were addicted to Papistrie and would soone ioyne themselues in his ayde Last of all so great were the forces of the King of Spaine both by Sea and Land and the vertue of the Spaniards such that none would dare to oppose him and therefore they promised assuredly a certaine victory To this enterprise also that God had presented a fit opportunity for the Turke hauing then cōcluded a truce with him and the French beeing intangled with intestine warres were neither to be doubted or feared That it was more facile to subdue England than the Low-Countries because the passage out of Spaine into England is more short and commodious and through a vast and open Sea but into the Netherlands of greater length and difficultie through a narrow Sea and very neere adiacent to England That the Netherlands were in a manner continually a strong Bulwarke being on all parts fortified with Townes and Castles but England not with any and therefore it would be an easie matter euen at the first in an instant for him to penetrate to the very heart of the Land with an Army Finally according to that military Axiome That the Enemy should not be left behinde therefore it was most necessary for the Spaniard to subdue England being a mortall enemy by whose assistance the Low-Countries had so long sustained a great warre and with whom they could not at all stand So that if England were but once conquered the Netherlands must of necessity yeeld to subiection These matters thus resolued they began seriously to deliberate vpon some meanes for the inuasion of England Aluarus Bassanus Marquesse of Santa Croix Generall of the Nauy was of a minde That before all some Port or other in Holland or Zealand should by those Land-troupes which the Prince of Parma had and some few Spanish Ships sent before be vnawares to them surprized where the Spanish Fleete might make their retreate and from thence most opportunely begin the inuasion because that in the Brittish Sea being tempestuous the windes are subiect to often changing the ebbing and flowing thereof principally to be obserued the Fleete could not safely ride Of this aduice likewise was the Prince of Parma who earnestly vrged this expedition Others notwithstanding disallowed thereof as being a thing difficult full of danger requiring much time great labour large expence yet vncertaine of successe neyther could it be done secretly or vnawares and by the English would easily be hindred and frustrated And these were of opinion That one might at lesse charges and with more facilitie assault and subdue England if at the mouth of the Thames a puissant Army of Spaniards and Flemmings were placed and conuayed in a powerfull Nauy to take at the first vnawares the City of London the Capitall and Chiefe of the Kingdome This seeming easie was resolued vpon and speedily determined to be put in execution yet some neuerthelesse were of a mind that war should first be proclaymed by a Herauld and that in so doing it would be a sleight to take away all suspition from all Neighbouring-Princes and moue the Queene to call to her helpe forreine souldiers who as mercenary being insolent and vile would behaue themselues rudely and tumultuously ransacking and pillaging the Countries in such sort that it would take away the loue of her Subiects and put England in confusion But these mindes were not seconded by those who were obstinate as relying vpon the assurance of their forces and strength contenting themselues to put their cause their Nauy Armada's into the Popes hand and into the intercessions of the Catholiques to the Saints and to afright and terrifie England they set out a Libell printed containing the particulars of so great an equipage which truely was such that in Spaine Italy and Cicilia the Spaniards were amazed astonished at it and therefore audaciously termed it The inuincible NAVY The Duke of Parma caused also Ships to bee built in Flanders by the commandement of the Spaniard and likewise a number of Flat-bottom'd Boats each of them bigge enough to transport thirtie Horses with Bridges fitting to them hyred Mariners out of the East-Land Countries of Germany prouided Pikes sharpened at the one end and shod with Iron with hookes on one side twenty thousand Vessels and an infinite number of Wicker Baskets and placed in the Sea-Townes of Flanders one hundred and three Companies of foot and foure thousand horse amongst which were seuen hundred English Fugitiues a most contemned and despised Company Neyther were Stanley their Generall nor Westmerland nor any other who had assisted eyther with purse or person regarded but for their impietie against their Countrey prohibited all accesse and deseruedly and as ill presages not without detestation reiected And Pope Sixtus the Fifth lest hee should seeme to be wanting renewes vnto Cardinall Alane an English man sent into the Low-Countries The Declaratory Bulls of Pius the Fifth and Gregorie the Thirteenth excommunicates the Queene deposes her from her gouernement absolues her Subiects from their allegiance publisheth in print the Crusado as against Turks and Infidels whereby out of the Treasury of the Church hee bestowes vpon all assistants plenarie indulgence whereupon the Marquesse of Burgaw of the House of Austria the Duke of Pastraua Amadaeus of Sauoy Vespasian Gonzaga Iohn de Medices and diuers other noble Gentlemen serued in this warre as Volunteers On the other side Queene ELIZABETH lest shee should be vnawares opprest with singular diligence prepares as many ships and warlike necessaries as was possible And shee her-selfe who was of a piercing iudgement in distinguishing of dispositions and when shee was at her owne election without commendation of others alwaies happy designed by name the principall Officers to the seuerall Offices in the Nauie and made Charles Howard of Effingham Lord high Admirall of England Generall of whose good successe shee was very well perswaded as a man whom she knew to be skilfull in Nauigation prouident valiant industrious and of great authority amongst Sea-men by reason both of his moderation and Nobility Shee sends him seasonably enough to the West parts of England where Drake whom shee made Vice-Admirall ioyned himselfe with him Shee commands Henrie Seimer the second sonne of the Duke of Sommerset to lye in waite vpon the Belgique shores with fortie Ships English and Dutch to hinder Parma's comming out of the Riuers with his forces Although there wanted not some who earnestly aduised to expect the Enemy and receiue him in a Land-battel as it was deliberated in HENRY the Eighth's Reigne when the French threatned England with a mightie Nauy For the Land-seruice
and likewise for the Kingdome of Scotland Yet they neuerthelesse would not agree thereunto but meerely for those foure Cities which the Queen then had in possession as Ostend Flushing Bergen vp Zoom and the Breele and that during the said Treaty and twentie dayes after prouided that in the meane while it was lawfull to the Queene of England to assault Spaine and to the King of Spaine to inuade England as well out of Spaine as of Flanders During that time thus runned in speech about this Truce and the place appoynted for the conference which at last was appoynted at Bourbourgh Sir W. Crofts who for the great desire hee had of peace was gone to Bruxels without the knowledge of the rest of the Commissioners propounded in particular some Articles for which hee afterwards was imprisoned vpon the Earle of Leicesters accusation though that to the iudgement of others hee ought not to haue beene reproued or disauowed yet it is not lawfull to Commissioners to exceede the limits of their Commissions prescribed vnto them Finally the English seeing they could not obtaine a full and intyre cessation of Armes nor to see at all the Commission containing power for the Duke of Parma to treat of peace they propounded THat the ancient alliances betweene the Kings of England and the Dukes of Burgundie might be renewed and confirmed That the Flemmings might peaceably enioy their priuiledges and serue God with libertie of conscience That the Spaniards and other strangers might be sent out of Flanders to ridde the Flemmings and the neighbouring-Prouinces of all feare And that if they would grant these things the Queene to shew that shee had not taken vp Armes for her owne particular interest but for the necessary defence both of the Flemmings and her selfe would willingly hearken vnto any reasonable conditions touching the Townes which shee then possessed in the Low-Countries paying the mony which shee had laide out about them Whereunto the Dukes Deputies answered THat when it would please them friendly to conferre with them about the renewing of their ancient alliances there should be no disagreement in that regard That stranger Princes had nothing to doe with the Flemmings priuiledges of grace graunted as well vnto the reconciled Townes and Prouinces as vnto the rest which by force of Armes haue beene brought vnto obedience That their stranger-Souldiers were of necessitie retained there because they were vp in armes both in Holland England and France As for Townes taken from the King and expences of money the King of Spaine might well demand recompence of the Queene of many thousands of Crownes spent in the warres of the Low-Countries since her assisting and taking into her protection the rebellious Flemmings About this time Dr. Dale by the Queens cōmandement was sent vnto the Duke to make a friendly complaint vnto him of a Booke lately set forth by one Allin an English Cardinall by which hee admonished the Nobles and people of England and Ireland to ioyne with the forces of Spaine vnder the Dukes conduct for the execution of Pope Sixtus the Fifth his Sentence published by a Bull against the Queene by which he declared her an Heretique illegitimate and cruell against the Queene of Scots c. and commanded her Subiects to assist the Duke against her Many of those Bulls were printed at Antwerpe to be dispersed in England The Duke made him answere that hee had not seene any such Booke or Bull and that hee would not vndertake any thing in the Popes name yet that hee was to obey his King Moreouer that he honoured and admired so much the Queene for her Royall vertues that next vnto the King he made more account of her Maiestie than of any other Prince That hee had counselled the King to treate of that peace which would be more profitable to the English than to the Spaniards for quoth hee if the Spaniards be ouercome they can easily recouer their losse again but if you be once vanquished your Kingdome is vtterly lost Whereupon Doctor Dale replyed That the Queene was powerfull enough to defend her Kingdome and that himselfe might well iudge according to his graue wisdome that shee could not easily be ouerthrowne by the losse of one battell seeing the King of Spaine himselfe by so long a warre could not as yet recouer the inheritance of his Ancestors in the Low-Countries Well said hee these things are in the hands of the Almightie God Afterwards the Commissioners had many conferences and alterations and as it were weaued the same webbe againe When the English desired a toleration of Religion to be granted but for two yeres to the Vnited Prouinces it was answered That as the Spaniard interceded not in the like kinde for the English Catholikes so they hoped that the Queene in her owne wisedome would forbeare to request any thing of the Spaniard preiudiciall to his honour his oath and his conscience When they required re-payment of the money which the States of Brabant owed the Queene they answered That that money was lent without the Kings priuity or authoritie But all accounts beeing cast vp it might appeare both how much that money was and how much the King had spent in this warre to whom more ought to be paid By such kinde of answeres they deluded the English vntill the Spanish ARMADA approched the coast of England and the thunder of their Ordnance was heard from the Sea Then receiuing a conuoy from the Prince who during this treatie had brought almost all his forces to the shore by his Commissioners were honourably conducted to the borders neere Calais So vanished this treatie into nothing vndertaken by the Queene as the wisest sort of men iudged to auert the Spanish Fleete continued by the Spaniard to surprize England vnawares vnprouided so that both of them seemed to sew the Foxes tale to the Lyone skin That Spanish ARMADA the greatest and best furnished with men munition and all warlike preparations that euer the Ocean did see and arrogantly named Inuincible consisted of one hundred and thirtie ships in which were nineteene thousand two hundred and ninety souldiers eight thousand three hundred and fiftie Mariners two thousand eightie Gally-slaues chayned two thousand six hundred and thirty peeces of great Ordnance The Generall was Alphonsus Perez Guzman Duke of Medina Sidonia For Antonius Columna Duke of Palian of S. Cruz or of the holy Crosse designed Generall dyed during the preparation and vnder him was Iohn Martinus Recaldus a most skilfull Nauigator The third before the Calends of Iune they loosed from out of the Riuer of Tagus and bending their course towards the Groin in Galicia by a strong tempest they were dispersed three Gallies with three Oares on a seat beeing by the industry of Dauid Guin an English slaue and the perfidiousnesse of the Turkish Gally-slaues carried to the coast of Frāce after some time with great difficulty met at the Groin and the Hauens thereabouts So
all the Churches of England and went her selfe in triumph amongst the Companies and Societies of London which marched on both sides of her Maiestie with their Banners and roade thorow the Streetes which were richly hung with blue hangings in a Chariot drawne with two Horses Princes themselues not vsing foure as now adayes particular persons doe to Saint Pauls Church were shee gaue God humble thankes heard the Sermon which shewed the glory due to GOD alone and caused the Ensignes taken to be there set vp and shewed vnto the people Then shee assigned some reuenewes vnto the Admirall for the seruice which hee had performed with so good and happy successe praised highly her Sea-Captaines as men borne for the preseruation of their Countrey and as often as shee saw any of the other called them by their names to witnesse that shee tooke note of their deserts which they tooke as sufficient reward for their seruices Shee also recompenced the maymed and poorer sort with honourable pensions This publique reioycing was increased by the arriuall of Sir Robert Sidney who being come out of Scotland assured her Maiestie that the King of Scots embraced most affectionately the Queenes friendship made sincere profession of true Religion and would defend it with all his might Hee was sent vnto him before when Great Britaine was first threatned with the Spanish Fleete to acknowledge by his reioycings and thankes-giuing of the good will which he bore to the Queene to praise his forwardnesse to defend the common cause to promise him reciprocall succours if the Spaniard made any inuasion in Scotland To giue him to vnderstand with what ambition the Spaniard gapeth after the whole Monarchy of Great Brittaine solliciting the Pope to excommunicate his Royall person both to spoyle him of the Kingdome of Scotland and to exclude him out of the succession of the Kingdome of England To put him in minde of the threatnings which Mendoza and the Popes Nuntio vttered against him and that therefore hee was to take heed of Papists Whereunto that wee may note it by the way the KING answered graciously and merrily J expect no other courtesie of the Spaniard then such as Poliphemus promised to Vlysses to wit That he would deuoure him the last of all his fellowes About this time died the Earle of Leicester on the fourteenth of December of a continuall burning Feauer as hee was on his way to goe to Killingworth which death although the Queene much grieued at yet this ioy was neuer a whit diminished thereby Hee was the fifth sonne of Iohn Duke of Northumberland vnder King EDVVARD first Gentleman of the Kings Chamber vnder Queene MARIE who restored him to his first honours together with his Brothers and Sisters Master of the Artillery at the Siege of Saint Quintaines and vnder Queene ELIZABETH who affected him because of a simpathy of spirits betweene them occasioned perhaps by some secret constellation which the Greeke Astrologers call Sinastria he was Master of the Horse Knight of the Royall Orders of the Garter and of S. Michael one of the Priuy Councell Steward of the Queenes House Chancellor of the Vniuersity of Oxford Iustice in Eire of all the Forrests beyond Trent the Queenes Lieutenant and Captaine of the English Forces against Spaines Gouernour and Captaine generall of the vnited Prouinces of the Netherlands he began in his latter time to conceit a new hope and title of honour and authority looking to haue with Soueraigne power annexed thereunto a generall Lieutenancy vnder the Queene both throughout all England and Ireland of which he had gotten Letters Patents if that the Right Honourable William Cecill Lord Burleigh and Sir Christopher Hatton had not opposed themselues thereunto and also if the Queen had not betimes preuented the danger which might haue insued in giuing too-much power to one man alone Hee was reputed a compleat Courtier magnificent liberall a protector and benefactor of Souldiers and Schollers very skilfull in temporizing and fitting himselfe to the times to serue his owne turne very officious and cunning towards his ill-willers for a time much giuen to Women and finally a good husband in excesse To conclude as long as he preferred a power subiect vnto enuy before a solid vertue euill speakers tooke occasion to tugge and teare at him continually during the best of his fortune by defamatory libels which contained some slight vntruths And to say the truth hee was openly held to be in the ranke of those which were worthy of praise but the things which hee secretly plotted displeased many The Queene who was flexible ynough in all other things was hardly euer seene to remit any thing due to her treasure caused his goods to be sold to their vttermost value to pay that which he ought her The Duke of Parma hauing now broken off his purpose of inuading England to carry away notwithstanding with this great prepared Army for that end some glory from the English and by the same meanes to open the way of Zeland and deliuer Brabant from incursions besiegeth Bergen ap Zoom a Towne of Brabant strong by reason of the situation thereof and the Forts round about it and garded by a garrison the most part English But his indeuour was frustrated by the fore-sight of the Noble Lord Willoughby and the valour of the Garrison Souldiers For although that during the whottest of the siege there arose a great discord amongst the besieged some fauouring Drury Gouernour of the place established by the Lord Willoughby the English Generall and others adhering vnto Morgan prouided thereof by the Queenes Letters each of them notwithstanding hauing a care of the common good behaued themselues valiantly and by sallies and other military deuices did all of them so finde the Enemy busied that after hauing slaine taken or drowned about foure hundred which Grimston and Redhead feigning themselues to be Fugitiues had drawne into the Fort by great promises protestations and oathes the Duke hauing lost all hope of shutting vp their Hauen and to make himselfe Master of the Towne and seeing the Winter at hand and victuals fayling raysed his siege two Moneths after And the Lord Willoughby to honour with some recompence the well-deseruing knighted Sir Francis Vere who then began to shew himselfe Sir Thomas Knowles Sir N. Parker and Sir I. Pooly for their worthy valours England being now freed from the present feare of a forreine Warre found not her selfe so happily deliuered of an inward Schisme For schismaticall impiety waxeth alwaies insolent when any Warres be stirring nor euer did shamelesse and rebellious impudence and outragious malice more insolently beard the Ecclesiasticall Magistracie For whereas the Queene who was EVER THE SAME was very vnwilling to innouate any thing in Religion thinking it the way to cut the nerues of the Ecclesiasticall administration and the Royall Prerogatiue some which onely admired the discipline of the Church of Geneua iudging that there was no
better way to establish it than by blazoning the English Hierarchie and bringing the Prelates in hatred with the people did in scurrilous maner spit out their slanderous venome against this Hierarchie by certaine iniurious printed Bookes which carryed the Titles of Martin Mar-Prelate or A Whip for the Prelates Minerales Diotrephes demonstration of Discipline c. That the Authors of them seemed not to be professors of Pietie but rather Roysters neuerthelesse they were Ministers the one was named Penry and the other Vuedall and Iob Throckmorton a learned man but a merry conceited fellow and had for their fautors or supposts Sir Richard Knightlie and Sir R. Wigston worshipfull Knights graue and prudent personages who had beene seduced by like Ministers had bin fined deepe in the Starre-Chamber in case the Arch-Bishop of Canterburie according to his accustomed goodnesse and mildenesse had not with much adoe appeased the Queene Whilest these I say by slandering made way to this discipline other companions in this their enterprize in contempt of the Laws began to put it in practice in diuers corners of the Kingdome holding Synods and Assemblies in certaine places establishing to that end Presbyteries of which number Thomas Cartwright Edmund Snap Andrew King Proudlous Pain and other Ministers beeing committed some turbulent spirits thought to haue rescued them But I leaue vnto the Ecclesiasticall Historian the description of the petulancy of these people which was stayed by the wisedome and patience of the Lords Archbishops vnto whom the knowledge of that businesse appertained Although that tempest which had thundered so loude and with such threatnings from out of Spaine was now blowne ouer yet fell there some little gusts as reliques thereof in Ireland and Scotland and out of England vpon Spaine rushed out a more grieuous as anon wee shall declare For in Ireland by reason that Fitz-Williams the Lord Deputie who made search for all Spanish goods lost by wrecke did exact them with rigour and by occasion thereof imprisoned some as fauourers of the Spaniards amongst other matters occasion was thence giuen taken of all the troubles since hapning Daniel Rogers sent into Denmarke to condole the death of Frederick the Second and confirme the ancient alliances with his Successour treateth with the Curators of the Kingdome to procure THat the Danes should not beare Armes against the Queene in the seruice of any Enemies of her Kingdome That they should not grant permission to stay Ships for particular faults in the straits of Denmarke or Seiland That the Iland-fishing whereof the libertie was to be renewed euery seuen yeeres according to ancient order might not be hindered by any new deuices That the English might not pay any custome in the Sound but at their returne from the Baltique Sea nor in other Money than with that of Denmarke That the proprietaries of the Ships should not be holden by the fraud or deceits of Pilots and Ship-masters That the things wherewith Cloth are made vp were free and exempted from paying any custome and that the Tribute called Last gelt should be forgiuen to the English But these things were put off to another time because of the Kings being vnder age for the Danes were in some fashion ill pleased discontēted with the English for not passing then by the straits of Denmarke going into Russia but along the Coast of Norwegue Finmarck Lappy Scrufinic and Biarmie But Boris Theodoride elected and chosen Theodore Iahannide's Successor to the Empire of Russia who dyed vpon the beginning of this yeere he mist no occasion to helpe and succour the English purchasing carefully by all meanes possible the Royall amity of Queene ELIZABETH FINIS To the READER MAruell not READER why I should produce In the Omega of my Worke excuse And craue remission of my errours past Lest any Zoylus should aspersion cast On this my labours of-spring but doe know Though I such height of basenesse will not show To say all 's bad so my ambition is No wayes so great to say that nought's amisse The Sunne sometimes eclipst denyes his light So that the Day seemes turned into Night Faire Venus had a Mole vpon her Chinne The luckiest Gamester cannot alwayes winne The rarest Man may erre and t is most sure There 's none but GOD that spotlesse is and pure Then farre be such a Philautie from mee To say that none faults in this Worke can see 'T were strange if that a Strangers Penne and Presse Should haue no faults when best Workes haue no lesse Then stay rash Censurer and forbeare To condemne all though some mistake be there A. D. As there is nothing in this world in euery respect blessed in each particular happy so there is no constancy in humane things especially and according to Saint Jerome of the felicity of this world whilest we seeme to possesse it we part from it We see and dayly experience proues vnto vs what the condition and state of this life with the goods of it is the motion of it being as Saint Gregory saith so swift the possession so vncertaine as now we bee fatted in the fragrant posture of prosperity now pined and languishing on the bare commons of misery so that neither in weale or woe there is any constancy but all things are suddenly changed and vary in a moment so that we may repose more trust in letters written in the wind or water then in the happinesse of this humane life According to Herodotus it is as a circle of humane things which by her turning suffers not a man to be alwaies fortunate and prosperous Virgil exclaimes Time alters all things and Cicero tels vs The course of this mutable life is vnconstant and all the fortunes of men are vaine voluble and variable a meere Euripus for ebbing and flowing of worldly goods in a moment our mirth being turned to mourning our sorrow into solace The Royall House of the STVARTS and the illustrious Family of the SACKVILES not long since had wofull experience Of the Royal one there being pulled from the boughes of it two beautifull Roses to wit the two Noble Dukes of Lenox LODOVVICKE and ESME two rare Brothers of most vertuous and laudable conuersation Of the other a Noble branch was cut from that Tree of Honour RICHARD the most good and most Noble Earle of Dorset and Baron of Buckburst of happy and blessed memory All which in this yeere within the space of fiue moneths piously and peaceably slept with Christ Of Iustice IVSTICE is a constant and perpetuall will to giue impartially euery one their iust due the one is generall diuided in politicke and oeconomicke the other speciall diuided in distributiue and commutatiue her subiectiue parts are to doe good acts and fly from bad ones It stands therefore much in need of Religion Piety Obseruance Obedience Thanksgiuing of expulsions of iniuries also of Truth Affability Amity and Liberality Of Valour VALOVR which moderates feare and
these things They resolue to driue the French out of Scotland The English are sent into Scotland both by Land and Sea The death of Francis L. Talbot Earle of Shrewsburie Booke 1. 1560. A Treaty of peace in Barwicke Martigues comes and brings French-men into Scotland D'Elbeuf driuen by a Tempest The Spaniard counsels to Peace The Spaniards detaine from the English their munition The French doe endeuour to call the English backe from Scotland The French protest againg the English that they are meerely cause that the peace is broken An Answer to them The Guizes are sworne and professed enemies to Queene Elizabeth The French offer to render vp Calis Her Maiesties Answer to them She sends the Lord Vicount Montaigue into Spaine Who makes known to the Spaniard the cause of the Wars of Scotland he also excused the Scots Confederates Arthur Gray son heire to the Lord Gray is wounded Lieth is besieged The English repulsed Croft is accused The Queene Regent of Scotland dyes The treaty of Edenborrough A peace is published Queene Elizabeth is sought in marriage by Charles Arch-Duke of Austria by Iames Earle of Arran and by Erric King of Sueden Adolphe Duke of Holsatia Sir W. Pickering The Earle of Arundel Robert Dudley Whom shee fauoured Vicount Montaigu Ambassador to the King of Spaine He fauoured notwithstanding Elizabeth against the French He re-deliuered the order of the Garter He disdained to be refused in things of small importance The Count Ferie whets his indignation He incenses the Pope against the Queene The Pope writes to Elizabeth The Pope Pius the fourth of that name his Letter sent vnto Queene Elizabeth by his Nuncio Vincent Parpalia The King and Queene of France refuse to confirme the Treatie for Edenborrough The reasons Francis the second dyeth The Edict of Qu. Elizabeth against the Anabaptists Her Maiesties Edict against sacreligious persons The Colledge of Westminster founded The Coine brought to full value This was corrupted by King Henry the Eighth His lauish expence The Earle of Huntington dyeth Shan O-Neale stirs vp sedition in Ireland Booke 1. 1561. The Queene of Scotland puts off the confirmation of the Treatie The Queene of England denieth passage to the Queene of Scotland She complained to Throgmorton Ambassadour from England Throgmorton's answer to the Qu. Mary of Scotland Contestation betweene the Queene of Scotland and Throgmorton Queene Elizabeths Ambassador into France The Queene endeuours to content Qu. Elizabeth But in vaine She returnes into Scotland Elizabeth answers him Qu. Elizabeth presseth the confirmation of the Treatie Receiues the Guizes courteously The Guizes vse the English ill That the right to assemble a Councell belongs not to the Pope Carne dyes How far an Ambassadour ought to beare an offence Qu. Elizabeth prepares things necessary for Warre Qu. Elizabeths husbandrie S. Pauls Steeple burnt The death of Earle Bathon Booke 1. 1562. Pole had vnder examination Katherine Gray imprisoned He is fined He is fined The Guizes practice against Elizabeth H. Sidney is sent into France After into Scotland They deliberate the inter-view of the Queene of Scotland Which puts her in doubt Vnlesse it were vpon certaine conditions The Cardinall of Lorraine propoundeth a marriage to the Queen of Scotland Queene Elizabeth endeuoureth to diuert her from it Giues her reasons Shee excuses the French fugitiues The death of the Earle of Oxford Defends his cause Booke 1. 1563. Fifteenths Tenths Subsidies The Prence of Condé taken in the Battell of Dreux The Kings answer Hostages giuen for the restitution of Calais attempt to fly away Peace made in France War proclaimed between the French and the English The Qu. Maiestie offers to surrender Haure de grace for Calais The English Soldiers molested with the Pestilēce Haure de grace beleagred and assailed by the French Articles for the restitution of Haure de grace France reioyceth for recouery of Haure de grace The English Soldiers bring the Plague into London and other parts of England Marriage againe propounded to the Queene of Scots The Queene of England recommends Dudley for her husband The French diuert her They insult ouer their Queene The Baron of Gray dyes And the Bishop of Aquila The Spaniard against the English Lord Paget dyeth The supreme dignities of honour in England Death of the Earle of Rutland Duchesse of Suffolke Booke 1. 1564. Articles of peace accorded on betweene the English and the French The King of France enstalled in the Order of the Garter The English ill entreated in Spaine And in the Low-countries The mutuall complaints of the English and Flemmish English Merchants prohibited in the Low-Countries The English constitute a Faire or Mart at Embden Guzman labors to atone this difference Queenè Elizabeth visits the Vniuersity of Cambridge Robert Dudley raised to honors Dudley accuseth Bacon Diuers opinions about the point of Succession The Queene of Scots cal◠home the Earle of Lenox into Scotland The discent of the Earle of Lenox Causes of the Repeale of the Earle of Lenox The Queene of England endeuours to preuent the Qu. of Scots proiect Another commendation of the Earle of Leicester A Treaty of Marriage betweene the Queene of Scots and the Earle of Leicester Booke 1. 1565. Darley goes into Scotland He is beloued of the Queene of Scotland Asketh Qu. Elizabeths consent Deliberation vpon it Throgmorton is sent to hinder He is answered Lenox and Darley are re-called out of Scotland They excuse themselues The Queene of Scotland marries the Lord Darley The Earle of Murray and others murmure The Queene of England indures it with moderation Some Scots take distaste about the marriage They are put to flight They are maintained in England They counsell the Qu. of England to marry The Emperour recommendeth his Brother It causeth hatred to grow in the Court. The Queene reconcileth them Tamworth not admitted They answere by writing Cecillia Queene of Sueden comes into England Creation of the Earle of Glencar Vice-Royes and Iustices of Ireland Affaires of Ireland Discord betweene the Earles of Desmond and Ormond Chiefe President of Mounster The death of Sir Thomas Chaloner Booke 1. 1566. The Duke of Norfolke and the Earle of Leicester Knights of the Order of France Prouision of Corne. The Earle of Arundel goes out of the Kingdome The English carry their Armes and their courages to the Hungarian Warre The birth of King Iames the sixth of Scotland The Queene of England reioyceth Visits the Vniuersity of Oxford Holds a Parliament The States sollicite her to marry and to declare her Successor The modestie of the great Ones The popular sort eagerly The Queene is angry She sweetens the moued spirits Giues backe part of the Subsidie Chides the States Maketh it plainely to appeare that the Queene of Scotland had the right of Succession The ordination of Bishops is confirmed Promoters supprest The Earle of Bedford sent Ambassrdour to the Queene of Scotland for the baptizing of her Sonne The death of I. Mason and Sir R. Sackuile Booke 1.
their owne hands which they sent to the Queene of England BEcause Earle Murray and others to couer their owne Rebellion against the Queene whose authoritie they vsurped openly imputed her as culpable and guiltie of her Husbands death wee publikely protest and testifie this which ensues In the Moneth of December 1556. the Queene being at Cragmill the Earles of Murray and Lidington acknowledged in our presence that Morton Lyndsay and Rauen murdered Dauy Rice to no other end but to preserue the Earle of Murray who the same day was to be proscrib'd Wherefore that they might shun the note of ingratitude their desire was that Morton and others banished by reason of this murder might be repealed But withall they implyed that this could not be done except the Queene by a Diuorce were separated from her Husband and they promised to doe it if wee would yeeld our consents After that Earle Murray promised to me of Huntley that I should re-enter the inheritances of my Ancestors and haue the perpetuall loue and affection of the banished if I did but further and procure this Diuorce Then they went likewise to Earle Bothwell to draw also from him his consent and liking and lastly they went to the Queene whom Lidington in the name of all the rest instantly requested to release Morton Lindsay and Rauen of their banishment in very outragious termes he exaggerated the Kings faults and the offences hee had committed against the Queene and the Realme prouing how the Queene and the State were deepely interessed in procuring speedily this Diuorce because the King and Queene could not liue securely together in Scotland Her Maiestie made answer That she had rather for a time returne into France while her Husband did more truely discend into the errours and vnstaidnesse of his youth not willing any thing should be done to her Sonnes preiudice or her owne dishonour Whereunto Lidington replyed Wee of your Councell will looke to this well-enough But in any wise said Shee I prohibite you to performe any thing that may in the least manner blemish my honour or burthen my conscience Let things stand as they doe till God from aboue vouchsafe some fitter remedie I much feare lest that you iudge requisite for my good may redound to my hurt A few dayes after when the King was murdered after a most execrable manner wee are assured out of the inward touch and testimony of our Consciences that the E. Murray and Lidington were the Authors Proiectors and Plotters of this abominable Parricide whosoeuer the other were that put it in execution This is that which they affirmed in writing The Confederates aymed then at nothing else but how to free Bothwell of this Parricide Wherefore a Session of Parliament was ordained for this onely cause and apprehension of their bodies enioyned of whom the least suspition was conceiued and the Earle of Lenox accusing Bothwell and feruently vrging that he might come to a triall before the States were assembled it was granted and so command imposed vpon the Earle to appeare within twenty dayes But within the compasse of this time hauing receiued no instructions nor aduertisements from the Queenes Maiestie of England and in that hee could not liue without danger of his life in a place replenished with his enemies Earle Bothwell made his appearance and hauing Morton for his Aduocate preuayled in the cause and so was sent away absolu'd by the Sentence of all the Iudges This businesse being thus contriued the other Complices so wrought that diuers of the Nobility consented to the marriage whereof they made a Draft in Writing subscribed and sealed for feare that if it should euer be broken Bothwell might haue accused them to be the Authors of all that villany This marriage thus solemnized with Earle Bothwell who was created Duke of the Orcades caused euery one to surmize that the Queene was guiltie of this murder and the Conspirators strengthened the same opinion by Letters sent into all parts as likewise they held assemblies at Dundagh where they conspired to depose the Queene and destroy Earle Bothwell Although Murray because he would not appeare to be one of this Combination obtained leaue of the Queene to goe into France and for the remouing of all distrust hee re-commended to her Royall care and Bothwell's fidelitie all his proceedings and occasions whatsoeuer in Scotland He was scarcely arriued in France but they who absolued Bothwell of that crime and gaue consent to this marriage tooke vp armes as if they would haue seyzed on his person But in effect vnder-hand they priuily admonished him speedily to with-draw himselfe for feare lest being taken he might haue reuealed the whole Complot and that from his flight they might draw argument and subiect whereof to accuse the Queene for the murder of the King they seyzed on her person and entreated her so ignominiously and disgracefully that although shee had nothing on but a very homely night-Gowne yet they so clapt her vp in prison at Lake-Leuin vnder the custody of Earle Murray's Mother who was Iames the 5. his Concubine who further persecuted her with most shamelesse malice during her restraint boasting how shee was lawfull Wife to Iames the 5. and her Sonne lawfully descended from him So soone as Queene ELIZABETH had certaine notice of all these proceedings detesting in her heart this vnbrideled insolency of Subiects towards a Princesse who was her Sister and Neighbour terming them perfidious rebellious ingratefull and cruell Shee sent into Scotland Nicho. Throgmorton to complaine hereof vnto the Confederates and to consult of some meanes how to restore the Queene to her former liberty and authority for the punishments of the Kings murderers and that the yong Prince might bee sent into England rather than into France for his more secure preseruation and safety For that which passed successiuely while Throgmorton lay in Scotland I will deliuer it faithfully euen as I collected it out of his owne Letters which questionlesse are very sincere and well approued of Many in Scotland were very much incens'd against the Queene insomuch as they absolutely refus'd to behold her as likewise Villeroy and De Croc Ambassadours for France Yet the Conspirators could not agree among themselues how to dispose of her The Lord of Lidington and some others were of opinion to haue her re-established in her authority vpon these conditions That the Murderers of the KING should be punished according to the Lawes and the young Prince his safety procured That Bothwell should be separated from her by a firme Diuorce and Religion established Others perswaded a perpetuall banishment of her eyther into France or England so the Queene of England or King of France would be content to be Cautions and Pledges that shee should transferre all the Regall authority to her Sonne and some other great and eminent persons of the Kingdome Againe some would haue cited her to a peremptory triall haue had her
Ormond pursues the Rebels The Earle of Desmond writes to the Lord Chiefe-Justice Booke 2. 1580. James taken being wounded to death Desmond miserably oppressed Arthur Lord Gray Deputie of Ireland He pursues the Rebels They kill the English Italians and Spaniards land in Jreland They raise a Fort. They are besieged They answer to the Deputies demands They disagree Their Generall shewed himselfe a Coward They aske a parley They yeeld vpon discretion Strangers slaine with the Sword the Subiects hanged Excesse in apparell reformed The taking of Malines in Brabant The sacriledge of the English An Earthquake The Papists begin to be afflicted The beginning of English Seminaries Their Doctrine is then thought The euent proceeding thereof New Seminaries are sent into England To what end Jesuites doe steale priuately into England A Proclamation against Seminaries and Iesuites Robert Persons and Edmond Campian English Iesuits came into England Power granted to the Papists Who and what haue beene these Jesuits The English Fugitiues doe moue and excite strangers to war against their Prince and Countrey Queene Elizabeths declaration against them The seuerall Sects of Holland The house of LOVE A Proclamation against these Sects Francis Drake His originall extraction Francis Drakes education Drakes expedition in America A Vow Iohn Oxenham sayleth into America Jsla de Perlas John Oxenham depriued of life falls from a great and famous enterprize Drakes second voyage Doughtey beheaded Passeth the straightes of Magellan Eclipse of the Moone South Stars Little clouds of Magellan Drake finds booty both by land and sea Meets by chance with great wealth Sir Francis Drake takes a Spanish ship called Shite-Fire which hee made shite Siluer He thinkes of his return Drake discoueres a land which hee called the Nouam Albion He arriued at the Molucques Falls into a great danger He passeth beyong the Cape of Bona Esperance Returnes into England Drakes ship is consecrato perpetuall memory Francis Drake is knighted by Queene Elizabeth The King of Spaine by his Ambassadour demandeth Drakes goods which he had pirapirated He is answered The Spaniard hath part of Drakes money deliuered backe Iackman and Pets Nauigation to seeke away to the East-Jndies The death of the Earle of Arundell who was the first that brought the vse of Coches into England The Lord Gray represseth the Rebels in Ireland Innocency is an assured comfort Rebels supprest The Earle of Lenox is enuied of the Scots They accuse him in England Consultation holden against him They rayse false reports against him The Scots will not admit Bowes to accuse him Hume excuseth it Burghley's admonitions to him Morton imprisoned These Noble Knights for their worth and Vertues were honoured with the dignity of Knighthood by Qu. Elizabeth most of them in that Honourable euer-remembred Voyage of C. Howard Earle of NotinghaÌ„ L. high Admirall and that renowned Souldier the late Generous Earle of Essex c. in Spaine bâ—fore Cadiz taken ranâ—acked by the English Iun. 26. Anno 1â—96 * Their Honourable Predecessours were for their deserts aduanced both to Honour Dignity Sir Ch. Hatton was Lord Chancelor of England vnder Qu. Elizabeth he dyed in Hatton house the 20. of Nouember 1590. * Sir Walter Rawleigh Knighted and employed about diuers worthy affaires of waight and consequence by Queene Elizabeth * Wray Lord Keeper of the priuy Seale * And wherefore It is that these Noble persons haue by their worthy liues purchased Honour to their noble selues or else their Prodecessors haue by their Vertues deserued both Honour and Dignity from this vnparalel'd Empresse who as she was a true aduancer of Vertue and destroyer of Vice did liberally bestowe her Royall gifts of Honour vpon those and their Ancestors Booke 3. Randolphes intercession for Morton against Lenox The King of Scots his answer Randolph complaineth to the Nobles of Scotland Endeauoreth to raise Rebellion Getteth him out of Scotland Morton beheaded His friends fled for England Norris victorious in Friezland Is discomfited * Albanois A ridiculous combate Drunkennes brought out of the Low-Countries into England The King of Spaine possesseth Portugall By what right The Queene of France her title to Portugall fetcht farre and reiected Inciteth the Q. of England secretly against the Spaniard Antonio banisht Portugall commeth into England Delegates sent into England from France about the Duke of Anjous mariage Couenants of mariage concluded vpon A reseruation added The King of France vrgeth the mariage The Queen of England deferreth Wherefore Duke d' Anjou returneth againe into England Queene Elizabeth giueth a Ring vnto the D. of Anjou A motion of sundry conceits in Court The Queen greatly disquieted Her Maiesty thinks what inconueniencies might ensue in contemning and despising the Match with the Duke of Anjou Reasons disswading her from marying A book published in print against the mariage The Queens Declaration against this pernicious Libell The Author discouered and he that had dispersed the bookes Right hands cut off The Iesuite Edm. Campian with other Priests are put to death The punishing of Catholikes needfull Suspition of them increased By their tergiuersation False positions spread abroad Booke 3. New Lawes against Papists The Duke d' Anjou sayleth into Flanders Hee is made there Duke of Brabant c. Certaine English reuolt from him Generall Norris carieth himselfe generously and behaueth himself valorously The Duke d'Anjou departed from Flanders with shame A Comet Queene Elizabeth bestoweth the Order of the Garter vpon the King of Denmarke * Or the Coller of Esses The Merchants complaint not regarded The Treaty with the Queene of Scots is deferred Gowry and others begin tumults in Scotland Gowries conspiracie They intercept the King The Duke of Lennox driuen out of Scotland An Embassie from the French King sent to deliuer the King of Scots Mary Q. of Scotland her Letter to Quene Elizabeth The Q. of Scots deploreth her sons intercepting and her owne desolation Lidington and de Grange Booke 3. The Duke of Lenox's returne through England It is consulted about the deliuery of the Q. of Scots The Scots of the English faction are against it The English and French in emulation striue to obtaine the fauor of the King of Scotland The King of Scotland seekes the loue of the Queene of England The Lord Esme Stuart Duke of Lenox reputed a Papist by some malicious ill-willer of his dyed at Paris a true and sincere Protestant The King of Scotland sets himselfe at libertie His Maiesty vseth kindly those who formerly had seaz'd themselues of his Royal person Cals to the Court all such Nobles as stood and were of his side Walsingham is sent into Scotland from Q. Elizabeth The King of Scotland answers him freely Walsingham â—emonstrations to his sacred Maiestie The King answered them The King propounds a Pardon to those who had seaz'd themselues of his person Hee commands such as refus'd it to void the Kingdome His Maiesty re-established the Reputation and Honor of the Duke of Lenox causing
likewise his children to returne into Scotland The Ministers are against the King of Scotlands Authoritie Q. Elizabeth obtaineth of the Musconian Emperor a peace for the King of Sweden That Emperor requires an absolute alliance with England being a suter to her Maiesty to grant him an English Lady for his wife Sir Hierome Bowes is sent Ambassador to him from England The Emperor died A certaine kind of Deere called Maclis Theodore the New Emperor of Muscouia disallow'd the company or Monopolie of Englands Merchants Alberto Alasco a Polonian Nobleman came then to England to see Queen Elizabeth A wonderfull and fearfull Earthquake in Dorsetshire The death of Thomas Ratcliffe Earle of Sussex Likewise the decease of Henry Wriothesly Earle of South-hampton Sir Humphrey Gilbert Knight drowned vpon the Sea by shipwracke It is a most difficult matter and a very hard thing to bring the Colonies in farre countries The death of Edmund Grindal Lord Archbishop of Canterbury A wood called Tamarin first brought into England Iohn Whitgift is preferred to the Archbishopricke of Canterbury He endeuored to vnite the English Church Brownist Schismatiques One Someruille strangled himselfe in prison and Ardern is hanged The English betray Alost and doe deliuer it into the hands of the cruell Spaniard A miserable end of Traitors The Earle of Desmond is killed Nicholas Sanders an English Seminarie Priest affamisht himselfe Vicount of Balting glasse fled away out of Ireland Sir Iohn Perot is made Lord Deputy of Ireland Labouring men are sent into Ireland The gesture and behauiours of Iohn Perot Vice-Roy of Ireland Booke 3. Troubles in Scotland The Earle of Gowry is taken The conspirors are dispersed Queene Elizabeth succoureth some of them The King demandeth them by the League but in vaine Walsingham fauoureth the fugitiues Hunsdon against theÌ„ Controuersie or the power of a Secretary argued The arraignment of Gowry He defendeth his own cause He is beheaded The treason of Francis Throckmorton The Lord Paget retyreth into France The complaints of the Catholikes Spies are suborned Many suspected The malice of the Papists against the Queene The clemency of the Queene towards the Papists Priests are banished Fugitiues demanded of the King of France The answer of the King of France The Spanish Ambassador sent out of England Waade is sent into Spaine Is not receiued· Throckmortons confession He denieth all He seeketh an evasion Being condemned he inlargeth his confession About to dâ—e he denyeth all A new treaty with the Queene of Scots Propositions made to her She answereth She demandeth to be associated in the Kingdome with her sonne The treaty dissolued by surmises An association begun in England The Queen of Scots maketh new propositions The Scots of the English faction oppose them The insolencie of the Scotch Ministers Against the Lawes Ecclesiasticall Lawes of Scotland Buchanans writings reproued A fained conference The Scots and English make incursions one vpon another The Ambassie of Patrick Gray Hee is suspected of bad dealing The patience of the Queene of Scots offended She is committed to new guardians She earnestly seeketh for liberty Things plotted against her Counsell holden amongst the Papists The death of the Earle of Westmer land NEVILL a most nobleâ— most ancient and illustrious name The death of Plowden Alancon dyeth The Prince of Orange is slaine The power of Spaine growne terrible Booke 3. The French King inuested with the order of the Garter Is accused of treason He perceiueth not the euasion His confession He consulteth with Iesuits about the murthering of the Queene With the Popes Nuncio With Morgan With Priests With the Pope himselfe He discloseth the matter to the Queene He wauereth in his minde Alans book addeth fresh courage to him Neuil offereth him his helpe He discloseth the matter Parry is arraigned Punished with death Lawes demanded in the Parliament against Bishops Against Non-residents The association established Lawes against Iesuits and Priests Felony Praemunire The Earle of Arundel resolueth with himselfe to fly out of England He writeth to the Queene Is apprehended The Earle of Northumberland is found dead The Coroners Enquest The causes of his imprisonment manifested The Earle of Northumberland is lamented of diuers Queene Elizabeth laboureth to contract a league with the Prince of Germany The like with the King of Scots A relation of the death of Russell The manner of his death The proofes amongst the borderers The death of Thomas Carre of Fernihurst The fugitiue Scots are sent out of England backe into Scotland They haue intelligence of others remaining in the Kings Court. They enter into Scotland Sterlin is taken by them They are reconciled to the King Amnistie Maxwell establisheth the Masse The rebellion of the Bourgs in Ireland Mac-William * or Sheriffe The Scots of Hebrides called into Ireland The Gouernor laboreth for a peace but in vaine He pursueth the rebels And he brings them to submission Next the Scots of Hebride Whom he doth assault and defeats them The title of Mac-William abolished The Estates of the Netherlands consult of a Protector Reasons of the French side For the English They are refused by the French The English consult about the protection The Dutch offer themselues to the Queene Antwerpe is yeelded vp The Queen deliberateth with her selfe She takes vpon her the protection Vnder what conditions The Queen publisheth the causes She sends forth a Nauy to the West Indies to diuert the Spaniard The towne of S. Iames taken by the English froÌ„ the Spaniard A disease called Calentura whereby many perish The surprize of Hispaniola or Saint Dominick by the English The proud and audacious Motto of the Spaniards Auarice and Couetousnesse The English doe assault the City of Cartagena They set fire vpon the townes of S. Anthony and S. Helena They come to Virginia They bring the Colony thence Tobacco The booty of the English voyage and expedition Their pillage A search made for the discouerie of a way to the East India * Or Straits An Edict against Woad The company of the Barbary Merchants The death of the Earle of Lincolne Of the Earle of Bedford The Earle of Leicester sent into Holland His instructions Booke 3. Absolute Authoritie is giuen to Leicester by the Estates The Queen offended thereat She expostulateth with him With the Estates also They excuse themselues Leicester sendeth succours to releeue the City of Graue besieged But it is yeelded vp The Spaniards expelled out of the Betow An aduentrous enterprize Venlo is lost Axele is taken Graueline attempted Duisbourgh beleagerd Which yeelds Sir Philip Sidney is slaine The valour of Edward Stanley of the house of Elford The Estates complaine to Leicester against himselfe He returneth into England The Earle of Arundell is accused of many things He answered them well and is but fyned The King of Denmarke intercedeth for Peace with the Queene of England Queene Elizabeth answereth She furnisheth Henry King of Navarre with money She desireth a league with Scotland By what counsell The fugitiues