vnrighteousnesse at the commandement of the Pope or any superior These I am sure are the practises of vnrighteousnesse would to God these men would once looke backe vpon themselues and their owne actions and consider what a difference is betweene ancient Bishops of Rome and these of late betweene godly Divines and the Popes Clergie The ancient Bishops did never draw the sword to propagate the faith the Apostles left no such example to them but by their labours in Preaching and their patience in suffring they gathered a Church and established the faith but behold how vnrighteousnes and villany is now come in place An vngracious bloudy wretch kills a man in his bed a man that was his friend such a thing chancing in the Warres may be borne with but in bed to murther his friend is an extraordinary signe of barbarous crueltie And yet that Sanders the Popes Legat should pronounce this thing to be a sweet sacrifice to God this passeth all imagination Can any either practise these things or commend these practises but onely such men as the Apostle describeth that are given vp to beleeue lyes and to worke vnrighteousnesse If any man shall answer me here with that old worn Cuckow long that these things are not vnderstood by them to be vnrighteoâ—s which the Pope commandeth that they doe these things in obedience to Christ his Vicar I answer they that would make such an answer are either such as are men of conscience or altogether without conscience If they be men without conscience I haue nothing to say to such but wish them better then they doe to themselues that they had some fecling of conscience If these men haue any sparke of conscience then would I intrâ—at them seriously to consider what is that which the Apostle in the place before cited calleth the deceivablenes of vnrighteousnes For this word sheweth that there is some plaine and down-right vnrighteousnesse and also some deceivablenesse of vnrighteousnesse What is that deceivablenesse of vnrighteousnesse Surely there is something herein for them to study that are so ready at the Popes command to doe vnrighteous things and make not Gods Word but the Popes word to be the rule to know what is righteous what vnrighteous When the law of God the law of nature the law of nations the law of our Land when I say all lawes forbid a thing and onely the Pope commands it and commands it against all lawes then if a man obey the Pope in such things he is deceived and he doth vnrighteously Here is the deceivablenesse of vnrighteousnesse But you must vnderstand that these men are thus deceived by him whose coÌ„ming is by the working of Satan with all power and signes and lying wonders and in all deceivablenesse of vnrighteousnesse in them that perish because they receiue not the loue of the truth Let men that haue any care to saue their soules learne to loue the truth the truth will deliver them And let them obserue that maintaining of false doctrines and of vnrighteous actions are things ioyned together one followeth the other Now because we see false doctrines or lyes maintained by Papists and vnrighteous and vngracious actions by them ordinarily attempted therefore we hold them vndoubtedly to be the servants of Antichrist who are given vp to beleeue lyes because they louâ— not the truth But for our selues we know that the Scriptures are the Word of God We beleeue the Scriptures We trust in God We worship him as himselfe hath revealed and commanded If our enemies wrong vs we haue recourse to God by prayer we haue found by continuall experience that God taketh the protection of them that thus trust in him We haue trusted in him we haue found his protectioÌ„ We rest in patience and commit the vengeance to God Is there any man in the world that knoweth any thing of religion that can denie that we are in a good state and our enemies in a desperate state we haue comfort but they can haue none Consider this you that forget God least he plucke you vp and there be none to deliver you Now which is our chiefe end in these collections for our deliverance we blesse the name of God and we doe acknowledge with all humilitie and thankesgiving that all our deliverances come from the vndeserved loue and favour of our most gracious God and Father And we finde our selues most sirictly oâ—liged vnto this dutie because we see God hath made our enemies his enemies they cannot fight against vs but they must fight against God how much then are we bound to honor serue this great God of heaven and â—arth that hath shewed such favour to his Church in England CHAPTER VI. AT this time An 1580. the seminary Priests and â—esuites increasing in England necessary lawes were provided against them These in truth were maintained by the adversaries of England as a seminary of rebellion for so still they proued Their first foundation was at Doway in the Low-Countries where by the procuring of William Alan an Oxford-man afterward Cardinall there was a Colledge provided for them in the yeare 1568. Where fugitiue Priests were brought vp not so much in Religion as in new and strange practises of treason The Pope assigned them a yearely stipend Thus they stood for some yeares But when the Low-Countries began to be troubled with Warres Requesenius who was governour there vnder the Spanish King did thrust out all English fugitiues out of the Low-Countries Wherevpon they that were willing to make vse of such instruments to trouble England thought good to giue entertainment to them And therefore two Colledges were set vp for the English sugitiues the one at Rhemes by the Guises another at Rome by Pope Gregory 13. From these Colledges they were sent into England vnder pretence of Religion but indeed to withdraw subiects from obedience to their Prince and to draw the Land vnto the subiection of strangers they called themselues Seminaries because they were to sowe the seed of the Roman Religion in England And what is that seed of Roman religion but the seed of Rebellion Certainly so it hath euer proued These men to shew their zeale to their new founders and their hatred to their Country disputed and defined the Popes authoritie by Gods law to haue the plenitude of power ouer the whole world in all things Ecclesiasticall and Politicall out of which plenitude he might excommunicate Kings and after excommunication depose them from their thrones and absolue their subiects from all oaths of alleagance Thus was the Bull of Pius V. published An 1569. From whence rose the rebellion in the north of England and those rebellions of Ireland of which we haue spoken Hanse Nelson Main Sherwod Prieâ—ts then taught that Queene Elizabeth was a schismatike and an heretike and therefore worthily to be deposed for which they suffred deservedly but still others were sent into their places and though they came in vpon desperate points as souldiers vpon
much laâ—our and singular skill he ioyned them together againe and found that they contained new practises of the Pope the Spanyard the Guises resolution to invade England Whereupon and because many other rumors of dangers were increased to the end that the wicked and treasonable practises might be in time prevented and the Queenes life and safetie might be procured vpon whose safety both the estate of the Kingdome and of Religion depended A great number throughout all England of all sorts of men out of common charity whilst they shewed their loue and care of the Queene bound themselues by an association as then it was called by their mutuall promises subscriptions of their hands and seales to prosecute all such by all their force even to death whosoever should attempt any thing against the life of the Queene the Earle of Leicester was supposed to be the author of this association Surely it was vsefull and held many in order The Queene of Scots tooke this as devised to bring her into danger and was so continually set on by seditious spirits that if they may haue accesse are able to draw the greatest Princes to destruction And what hath beene their practise but to bring great personages and great houses to ruine Lamentable experience sheweth openly the fruit of their malice and wicked plots for treason which they call religion The Scots Queene led on by her blind guids dealt somwhat rashly but with importunity to the Pope and Spanyard by Sr Francis Inglefeld that by all meanes they would with speed vndertake their intended busines There were some also that laboured to draw Queene Elizabeths affections altogether from the Scots Queene They told her that Cardinall Alan for the English Catholikes ecclesiasticall Inglefeld for the Laiks and for the Queene of Scots the Bishop of Ross had vndertaken were among themselues agreed and with the consent also of the Pope and Spanyard had fully resolved vpon these points That Queene Elizabeth should be deprived of her Kingdome the King of Scots as a manifest favourer of heresie should vtterly be disinherited of the Kingdome of England that the Scots Queene shall marry some noble-man of England which is a Catholike that this man must be chosen King of England by the Catholikes of England that the choice so made must be confirmed by the Pope that the children of him so chosen begotten of the Scots Queene must be declared successours in the Kingdome All these things were confirmed to be true by testimony of Hart the Priest Who was this noble English man that should marry the Scots Queene was now much inquired after Sir Francis Walâ—ingham sought it out with all diligence yet found it not out There was suspition of Henry Howard brother to the Duke of Norfolke who was noble by birth vnmarried and a favourer of that Religion and in great grace and favour with them These things that were discovered by Throgmorton by Creightons papers and other mens were matters which bred suspitions and feares though they were never so effected as they were intended But we find by these things that France and Spaine and the strength of the Pope were here all combined against Queene Elizabeth and King Iames for no other cause but for their religion because both Queene Elizabeth and King Iames had established the same religion Against which religion all the great powers of the world were combined and were therefore ready with their vtmost indevours to root out these two Princes from England and Scotland If a man shall consider the Councels the Pollicies the strength of these great powers which were set against these two Princes it is a matter to be wondred at how they should stand against so deepe and desperate dangers Here I wish that a Papist of any vnderstanding would take this matter into his consideration And looke but a little further to the end and event of things What man purposed What God wrought What became of these two Princes Queene Elizabeth King Iames against whom the world thus conspired Queene Elizabeth after so many malicious proiects against her by open warres by secret conspiracies yet lived to see all the malicious practises against her defeated and overthrowne the practisers themselues ruinated her people and Kingdome defended Gods truth maintained her service for the truth rewarded and after all dyed quietly in her bed and hath left a blessed memory behinde her King IAMES that was in the same cause with her in the same manner threatned for his Religion to be made incapable of the inheritance of England and then neither could he haue holden Scotland for he must either haue all his right or loose all for there is no middle-way in the inheritance of Kings yet after all these threatned dangers by the great powers of the world after a number of dangerous and devilish practises against him at home he hath not onely quietly possessed that which he had but is in the peaceable possession of England with such loue such gladnesse of heart and common reioycing that the like hath not beene knowne in former times And which was never done by any before though much wished and attempted he hath in his royall person knit England and Scotland together he hath not onely maintained the truth of Religion by his authoritie as all Christian Princes are bound to do but also by his wisedome by his learning confirmed the truth drawne many to the knowledge of it by his learned Labours Wherein he hath not onely farre exceeded all his progenitours in this Kingdome but hath left all the Kings and Emperours in the world farre behind him in this honour so that since the beginning of the time of grace to this day the world never saw a King so furnished and inabled to maintaine the truth and to discover the blindnesse and superstition of false Religion And therefore hath God blessed him with extraordinary blessings the loue of his subiects the peaceable estate of Ireland which before his time was never governed in peace especially the fruit of Religion and the reward of Religion maintained is the greatest blessing that Kings can looke for This hath beene and is the state of these religious Provinces so that men shall say Doubtlâ—sse there is a reward for the righteous verily there is a God that iudgeth the earth And because my purpose in writing this Booke is to declare the great Workes of God in the defence of this Church of England since Religion planted here by Queene Elizabeth and to giue God all the glory both of the planting and maintaining thereof We therefore remember these things with great gladnesse and ioy of heart to Gods glory giving thankes to his holy name for the favours that he hath exhibited to his Church here by the faithfull service of these two royall servants of God in whom is truely verified that which the Prophet Esay foretold speaking of Gods favour to his Church Kings shall be thy nurcing Fathers and Queenes
These signifie to the French Ambassadour that they sent for him to let him know the cause why they intercepted Trappius his Secretary when he was ready to goe into France and they did open every thing which Stafford Moody and Trappius himselfe had confessed And that they might testifie the same in his presence they commanded them to be called in The Ambassadour who bending his brows heard these things with much impatience rising vp said that himselfe being an Ambassadour would not heare any accusations to wrong his King or in the preiudice of Ambassadours But when they answered that these men should not be produced as accusers but onely that he might be satisfied that these things were not fained nor false then he rested As soone as Stafford was produced and began to speake he presently interrupted him and railing vpon him affirmed that Stafford first proposed the matter to him and that himselfe had threatned to send him bound hand and foot to the Queene if he would not desist from so wicked an enterprise yet that he spared him for the singular affection which he bare to the mother the brother and sister of Stafford Stafford falling vpon his knees protested in many wordes vpon his salvation that the Ambassadour proposed the matter first to him But when the Ambassador seemed to be extraordinarily moued Stafford was commanded to depart and Moody was not produced Herevpon when Burghly had mildly charged the Ambassadour to be guiltie of such a conceived wickednes both from his owne words and out of the confession of Trappius he answered that if he had beene conscious yet being an Ambassadour he ought not to disclose it but to his owne King But Burghlâ—y interposing told him that if that were not the office of an Ambassadour which thing is yet in question to disclose such a mischievous practise which bringeth the life of a Prince in danger yet was it the office of a Christian to represse such notorious iniuries not onely for the safety of a Prince but for the safety of any Christian. But the other stoutly denyed that and withall said that not long since the French Ambassadour being in Spaine and having notice of a conspiracy to take away the Spanish Kings life yet disclosed it not to the Spanish king but to his owne King and was therefore commended of the King and of his Councellers The Lord Burghley gaue him a graue admonition to take heed that hereafter he offended not in such a point of treason against the Prince and not to forget the office of an Ambassadour nor the Prince her clemency who would not wrong good Ambassadours by the punishment of an evill one and though he were not punished yet was he not iustified but did carry with him the guilt though not the punishment of such an offence Though this intended evill came to no effect as all the other bloudy practises haue bin without effect yet may we make good vse of it to blesse Gods name for all his great and manifold deliverances That it was disappointed it was his goodnes for against those Kings that had not given their service to God for the maintenance of true Religion great and bloudy practises haue bin committed by lesse and more contemptible meanes And as we haue iust cause to blesse God for all his deliverances so the adversaries of our peace haue iust cause to feare to examine their owne doings and seriously to consider whether they haue not all this while striven against God in striving so long against those whom God doth so miraculously defend Not long after this followed the ignominious prodition of William Stanly and Rowland York This York was a Londoner a man of loose conversation and actions and desperate He was famous among the Cutters of his time for bringing in a new kind of fight to run the point of a rapier into a mans body this manner of fight he brought first into England with great admiration of his audaciousnes When in England before that time the vse was with little bucklâ—rs and with broad swords to strike and not to thrust and it was accounted vnmanly to strike vnder the girdle This man provoked as he tooke it by some iniury of the Earle of Leicester fled to the Spanyards and for some time after served among the Spanyards Afterward being reconciled was made Captaine of a Sconce neare to Zutphen After all this he was so set vpon revenge that being corrupted with money he did not onely betray the place to the enemy but drew also Stanly with him being a man that had served with great fidelitie and valour in the Irish warres Stanly was not easily perswaded to be false but this desperate fellow never ceased to draw him into the fellowship of wickednesse with him by many asseverations and oaths often repeated telling him that it was certainly knowne in England that he was of Babingtons conspiracy that he was already discovered by their confessions that out of hand he should be sent for to the gallowes Thus he perswaded Stanly to betray the rich and well fenced Towne of Deventer to the Spanyards against his oath given to Leicester and to the States And seeking some pretence of honesty against a fact so dishonest and disloyall he seemed to please himselfe in this that he had restored a place to the true Lord which was held from him by rebells And being extreame Popish he sent for Priests to his company which consisted of 1300 English and Irish to instruct them in the Popish Religion boasting that this should be the seminary legion which should defend the Roman Religion with Armes as the seminary Priests defend it with writings To this purpose Alan who a little after was Cardinall sent Priests presently to him and wrote a Booke also wherein he commended this proditorious act from the authoritie of the Bull of Pius V against Queene Elizabeth and stirred vp others to such perfidiousnes as if they were not bound to serue and obey a Queene excommunicated But looke I pray to the end The Spanyards set York and Stanly together in contention one against the other and soone after they poyson York and take his goods his body after three yeares was digged vp by the commandement of the States and hanged till it rotted They drew Stanly and his companies out of Deventer and tossing them from place to place they make them the obiect of all dangers and so vsed them with all conâ—umelies that some of them died for hunger others secretly fled away Stanly himselfe went into Spaine in hope of reward and offred his helpe to invade Ireland but neither found he entertainment according to his expectation neither could he be trusted for the Spanyards vsed to say that some honor might be given to a traytor but no trust It was now too late for him to learne but yet he learned that he had most of all betrayed himselfe CHAPTER XI WE are now come to that fatall yeare which the
foot and two thousand horse to guard the Queene The Lord Grey Sr Francis Knolles Sr Iohn Norrice Sr Richard Bingham Sr Roger Williams men famously knowne for Military experience were chosen to confer of the land fight These thought fit that all those places should be fortified with men muâ—ition which were commodious to land in either out of Spaine or out of Flanders as Milford hauen Falmouth Plimmouth Portland the I le of Wight Portsmouth the open side of Kent called the Downs the mouth of Thames Harwich Yarmouth Hull c. That trained souldiers through all the maritim Provinces should meet vpon warning given to defend these places that they should by their best means and power hinder the enemy to take land if he should take land then should they wast the country all about and spoile every thing that might be of any vse to the enemy that so he might find no more vittals then what he brought vpon his shoulders with him And that by continuall Alarums the enemy should finde no rest day or night But they should not try any battell vntill divers Captaines were mett together with their Companies That one Captaine might be named in every Shire which might command At this time divers told the Queene that the Spaniards were not so much to be feared without as the Papists within for the Spaniards durst make no attempt vpon England but vpon confidence of their helpe within And therefore for the securitie of the whole their heads were vpon some pretenses to be cut off Producing for this thing the example of Henry 8. For when the Emperour French King at the Popes instigation were combined and ready to invade England King Henry presently executed the Marquess of Exceter the Lord Montacute Edward Neuil and others whom he suspected to favour the enemies which thing as soone as he had done the intended invasion was stopped and proceeded no further But this advise the Queene vtterly disliked as being cruell she thought it enough to commit some of the Papists to Wisbich Castle in cuâ—tody and casting her eyes and mind on every side she stirred vp her Nobles with Letters often though they were carefull watchfull of themselues She certified Fitz Williams Lord Deputy of Ireland what she would haue done there She sent to the King of Scots to warne him to take good heed of Papists and the Spanish faction But he knowing well what a tempest and desolation was hanging and threatning both alike having already set his heart vpon the maintenance of true religion and resolving to take part with the truth in prosperitie and adversitie which is onely able to saue and deliver her maintainers had a little before refused to heare the Bishop of Dumblan sent thâ—ther from the Pope and had caused a league to be made among the Protestants of Scotland for resistance of the Spanyards and himselfe comming to Anandale with an army besieged Maxwell and tooke him and committed him to prison who was lately returned out of Spaine against his faith and alleagance and came with an intent to favor the Spanish side he declared the Spanyards should be held as enemies and against them caused all with great alacritie to be ready in Armes Among these preparations for warre which were great on both sides the councels of peace were not vtterly cast away Two yeares before the Duke of Parma considering how hard a matter it was to end the Belgick warre so long as it was continually nourished and supported with ayd from the Queene he moued for a treaty of peace by the meanes of Sir Iames Croft one of the privy councell a man desirous of peace Andrew Loe a Dutch man and professed that the Spaniard had delegated authority to him for this purpose But the Queen fearing that there was some cunning in this seeking of peace that the friendship betweene her and the confederate Provinces might be dissolved and that so they might secretly be drawne to the Spanyard she deferred that treaty for some time But now that the Warres on both sides prepared might be turned away she was content to treat of Peace but so as still holding the weapons in her hand For this purpose in February delegates were sent into Flanders the Earle of Derby the Lo Cobham Sr Iames Croft Dr Dale and Dr Rogers These were received with all humanity on the Dukes behalfe they presently sent Dr Dale to him that a place might be appointed for the treating that they might see the authoritie to him delegated from the Spanish King He appointed the place neare to Ostend not in Ostend which then was holden of English against the King his authority delegated he promised then to shew when they were once met together He wished them to make good speed in the businesse least somwhat might fall out in the meane time which might trouble the motions of peace Richardotus spake somewhat more plainly that he knew not what in this interim should be done against England Not long after D. Rogers was sent to the Prince by an express commandement from the Queene to know the truth whether the Spanyard had resolved to invade England which he and Richardotus did seeme to signifie He affirmed that he did not so much as thinke of the invasion of England when he wished that the businesse might proceed with speed And was in a maner offended with Richardotus who denied that such words fell from him The 12 of April the Count Aremberg Champigny Richardotus D. Maeâ—ius Garnier Delegated from the Prince of Parma mett with the English and yeelded to them the honor both in walking and sitting And when they affirmed that the Duke had full authority to treat of Peace the English moued that first a truce might be made Which they denied alledging that that thing must needs be hurtfull to the Spanyard who had for six moneths maintained great Army which might not be dismissed vpon a truce but vpon an absolute peace The English vrged that a truce was promised before they came into Flanders The Spanyard against that held that six moneths since a truce was promised which they granted but was not admitted Neither was it in the Queenes power to vndertake a truce for Holland and Zealand who daily attempted hostility The English mooued instantly that the truce might be generall for all the Queenes territories and for the Kingdome of Scotland but they would haue it but for foure Dutch townes which were in the Queenes hands that is Ostend Flushing Bergen vp zom the Briel and these onely during the treating and twenty dayes after and that in the meane time it might be lawfull for the Queene to invade Spaine or for the Spanyard to invade England either from Spain or Flanders Whilst these delayes were made concerning the truce and place which at last was appointed at Bourburg Crâ—ft vpon an earnest desire to peace went privatly to Bruxells without the knowledge of the other Delegates and
Gunnes to be cast of Brasse and Iron And Gods providence and favour appeared in her protectioâ— For new Mines of Brasse were found at Keswike that had long beene neglected From Whence there was not onely sufficient matter to supply her wants but abundance thereof to be transported to other Countries The stone called Lapis Calaminaris whose vse is needfull for working in Brasse was also at the same time first found in England There was provision made at home also for the making of Gunne-powder Which was done first here by her Commandement For before it was bought and imported Berwick before her time was weake and had but fiue hundred Souldiers She fortified the Towne made the new inner Wall and increased the number of Souldiers and their stipends that provision might be made for the training vp of experienced Souldiers and martiall men She provided a Navie the best furnished that euer England sawe Neither needed she to doe as her Father and Ancestours were wont to doe when they wanted Shippes to send for Shippes and hire them from Hamburg Lubeck Dantisk Genua and Veniâ—e for she had them ready at home to serue her Yea all the good Townes vpon the Sea-coast beholding this incredible alacritie and forwardnes in their Prince strived also to imitate the same and therefore with great chearfulnesse and readinesse built Shippes for Warre So that in a short time the Queenes Shippes and those of the Subiects ioyned together rose to such a number that they were able to imploy twentie thousand men in Sea-fight at once The Noble-men the Gentlemen and Yeomen did all striue to answer so noble a resolution of their Prince And therefore great store of Armour and Weapons were every where provided And braue spirits were bred and inabled to service whereby they became an helpe and ornament to their Countrey So that Queene Elizabeth was quickly growne so strong that all her adversaries were not able to hurt her And was not this a great worke of God That so weake a Woman should be able to defend her selfe against so many so potent enemies Yea and not onely to match them but to master them This was Gods doing Behold what it is to trust in God and not in an arme of Flesh. God will haue his great Workes to be had in remembrance that all men especially Princes may be taught to know that their safetie is not in worldly policie but in God which never forsaketh them that trust in him Here then we haue a Worke for which we are bound to glorifie God Elizabeth a Prince at the beginning weake destitute of friends vnfurnished of treasure vnprepared of all things had in no other accompt of her great neighbours round about her but as one left as a prey to the strongest that would inuade her and her kingdome yet preparing her heart to God giuing God the glory establishing his truth in her Land trusting in him She was in a few yeares made strong against her enemies they feared her more then she feared them This is an example can hardly be paralleled It was a worke oâ— God in defence of his Church here and we yeeld all glory and prayse vnto God for his mercies shewed herein From this example Princes may take a worthy instruction to rest vpon God and to seeke his glory and know assuredly that when they are at the weakest state if they giue their hearts to God and their service to his true Religion God will raise them to greatnes who hath promised to honor them that honor him and threatned that they that dishonor him shall be despised Before I leaue this example of Gods protectioÌ„ of this noble Queene in her first entrance Let this be remembred that as all the great Princes adioyning with the Pope and all were her great enemies so there were no friends able to helpe her for they that were friends and would haue helped if they could stood all need of her help The Scots were sore troubled with the French Armies procured by the Guysians but shee helped them and protected the King in his minoritie and freed that State from the tyranny of the French governement The Low-Countries were tyrannised by the Duke D' Alva who changed their governement and inhibited their meetings in councell For to speake somewhat of the ancient governement of that people to stop the common imputations cast vpon them by such as are not well affected to them Their governement was by a generall assembly of the States Their governours were such as were borne within the 17. Provinces no strangers These were anciently the Clergie the Nobility and the Deputies of the Provinces and of good Townes meeting together in their generall Assemblies These so meeting made lawes and orders whereby that State was governed The Deputies were sent to the generall Assemblies by the Suffrages of the people and vpon cause they were recalled by the people and other sent in their roomes This manner of governement some of the Dukes of Burgundy and some others disliked as giving too much power to the people and to little to their Dukes and therefore laboured to change it but could not Charles the fift Emperour would gladly haue changed their governement but when he saw that it could not be done without the commotion of the whole State he left it vndone Philip 2. Anno 1549. Iuly 8. tooke his oath which he made and renued againe Annoâ—555 â—555 to keepe maintaine and preserue these Countries in their ancient rights priviledges and customes without breaking them or suffering them to be broken in any sort or manner But when the Duke D' Alva was governour there vnder the King he practised the contrary and professed that the King was not to governe them as his ancient inheritance but as vpon a new conquest making what lawes he would and setting what governement best pleased him Whereupon his whole drift and practise was for a newe conquest of all the Provinces and Townes The pretence of religion was sought but it was resolved by the Counsell of Spaine to change the whole governement and to erect a new This appeared aswell by the Dukes open profession as by those designes which he practised vpon the persons of some of the Nobility and vpon the good Townes For when the Earles of Egmont and Horne were apprehended and putto death mistrusting nothing because they knew no cause to mistrust they that did this could not pretend religion because these Earles were of the Popish religion they could not pretend any disloyalty against them for their firme loyalty and their great services to the King made them so confident onely it was thought that these Noble men would neuer yeeld to the change of the government of that State therefore they were cut off The like appeared in the strange surprises and cruelty practised against many Townes which were of the popish religion For divers townes that were firme to the Spaniard in the point of religion and in obedience to the
because he is contrary to Christ and Christ contrary to him The Pope cursing and Christ blessing the Pope seeking thereby to destroy the Queene Christ maintaining her made her stronger after this cuâ—se then ever she was before Yet it is true that many troubles did rise thereby but God turned them all vnto her good that men may vnderstand the fruit of true Religion established which bringeth the protection of God with it CHAPTER II. THE first poysoned fruit of this excommunication was rotten before it could ripen There was an intention of a great and terrible Rebellion The Duke of Norfolke was excited to stirre what Forces he could and to ioyne with the Earles of Westmerland and Northumberland at the same time an Armie was to come out of Ireland and another Armie to be sent from Duke Dalva in the Low-Countries If all these had ioyned together as the intention was God knoweth what might haue inâ—ued But there is no counsell can prevaile against God All the plot was broken in peeces without any other trouble saving that which fell vpon the plotters themselues their instruments The King of Spaine who watched all opportunities to doe mischiefe wrote one Letter to the Duke of Norfolke exciting him to raise a power within England and wrote another to the Earle of Ormond to raise a tumult in Ireland But both the Duke and the Earle shewed the Letters to the Queene declaring thereby a purpose to be loyall The Duke suffred himselfe to be wrought vpon too much by pernicious instruments The instruments were the Bishop of Ross who lay in London vnder pretence of being Ambassadour for the Queene of Scots and one Robert Ridoâ—f a Noble-man of Florence who lay in London in the habit and pretence of a Factor These pestifâ—rous instruments laboured to perswade the Duke to marry the Queene of Scots who being next heire to the Crowne of England would bring great hopes with her and by subtill and pernicious counsell drew the Duke so farre that against his promise made to the Queene he began to thinke of that marriage and the hopes that might follow the same and entred inâ—o a secret course of writing and receiving Letters from the Queene of Scots by 〈◊〉 Characters All which together with a Commentary sent to him by the Scots Queene the Duke commanded his Secretary Higfoâ—d to burne But he laid them vnder the Matt in the Dukes Chamber And being apprehended declared where they were At the Dukes arraigâ—ment a Letter was produced written to him from the Scots Queene signifying her griefe for that the Earles of Westmerland and Northumberland were vp in Armes before the Duke had raised his powers For Queene Elizabeth finding wherevnto things tended apprehended the Duke sent for the Earles to come to Court but because they had once excused their absence she sent peremptorily for them all excuse laid aside vpon their alleagance to come vp Supposing that if they were innocent they would come but if guiltie then should their purpose sooner breake out into open sight As it fell out For they supposing by this the plot to be betrayed brake out into open rebellion before the helpe which they looked for from other parts could come to them This rebellion was plotted by the Pope Pius V. and by the King of Spaine and was so cunningly handled and carried with such secresie that it was well knowne to strangers before it was knowne to vs whom most the matter concerned And no marvaile seeing strangers were the devisers and first authors of it I will therefore declare it in the words of a stranger who set it forth in Print at Rome before it was well knowne in England Hieronymus Catenâ— in the life of Pius V. wâ—iteth thus When Pius V. was inflamed with a zeale to restore the Romane Religion in England and to displace Queene Elizabeth out of that Kingdome and yet could not haue his Nuntio Apostolicall nor any other publique person fit to effect this thing he ordered the matter so that Robert Ridolf a Gentleman of Florence who â—tayed in England vnder colour of merchandise should stirre vp the mindes of men vpon the destruction of Elizabeth Which thing he diligently executed not onely among the Catholikes but also among some Protestants who conspired together herein some out of private hatred against them that aspired to the Kingdome others out of a desire of a change Whilst these things were secretly carried a contention rose betweene the Spaniard and Elizabeth vpon the occasion of a sum of money going to the Duke Dalva but intercepted by Elizabeth This occasion the Pope apprehended to perswade the Spaniard that he would helpe the conspiratours in England against Elizabeth that so he might haue his affaires in the Netherlands in greater securitie and the Romane Religion might be restored in Bâ—itaigne The Pope also perswaded the French shewing him that this he ought to the Scots Queene affianced to him and worthily to the Scots who by their incursions had withdrawne the forces of England that they could do lesse helpe to the Protestants of France neither did the noble conspiratours of England deserue lesse favour of him who by their cunning haue hindered the Queene of England to giue any helpe openly to the Protestants of France In this respect the French King promised them ayd for the deliverance of the Scots Queene but failed of performance of any thing In the meane time Ridolphus effected thus much that the conspiratours should draw the Duke of Norfolke into their societie and make him chiefe therein to whom they promised marriage with the Scots Queene whereto she consented The Pope to set these things forward by his Bull published deposed Elizabeth from her Kingdome and absolued her subiects from all oath and alleagance sending the printed Coppies to Ridolphus which might be dispersed ouer England Whereupon the Earles of Northumberland and Westmerland tooke Armes against their Prince who presently money and meanes failing withdrew themselues into Scotland The Duke of Norfolke with others were committed to prison Among them was Ridolphus whom the Pope had appointed to helpe the conspiratours with an hundreth and fiftie thousand Crownes which thing he could not doe being clapt vp in prison But when the Queene could not pierce into the secrets of the conspiracy he was sent out of prison with others and then he distributed those Crownes to the conspirators Who sent him to the Pope to informe him that all things were prepared in a readines and ordered against Elizabeth and to intreat the Spanish King to ioyne his Forces from the Netherlands as soone as may be the Pope commended the enterprise albeit the Duke Dalva did not like it as being full of difficulties when as Ridolphus in his iourney told him the matter The Pope sent Ridolfe to the Spaniard vnder another pretence and to the King of Portugall with insâ—ructions and at the same time writing to the Duke of Norfolk promised him ayde He did much
deliverance of the Scots Queene but it appeareth that his intention was for himselfe as the Duke Dalva vnderstood it This is evident by that which we haue mentioned out of Catena For Duke Dalva was in some feare that if Queene Elizabeth were overthrowne yet the Kingdome of England might not fall to the Spanyard but to the French So that it was in their intention certainly to be cast vpon the French or Spanyard and here was no reckoning made of the Queene of Scots So that howsoever the pretence was for her deliverance yet there was another thing intended For seeing Queene Elizabeth was excommunicated and deposed if she could once be ouerthrowne then they made no other reckoning but that England would fall to the strongest Now the Spanyard thinking himselfe the stronger sought this prerogatiue for himselfe and therefore he ceased not to raise troubles to the Queene and the rather because he held it a thing impossible for him to recover the Low-Countries vnlesse he had England But because he found it a matter of great difficultie to set vpon England his first enterprise was to set vpon Ireland But when that succeeded not at last with all Forces that might be raised with many yeares preparations he set openly vpon England But these things are to be spoken in order Onely this I premise that we may know from whom all our troubles haue proceeded Many conspiracies brake out one after another vnder pretence of delivering the Queene of Scots To effect this thing Thomas Stanly and Edward his brother the yonger sonnes of the Earle of Darby Thomas Gerard Rolston Hall and other in Darâ—yshire conspired But the sonne of Râ—lston which was Pensioner to the Queene disclosed the conspiracy And they were imprisoned all except Hall who escaped into the 〈◊〉 of Man From whence by the commendation of the Bishop of Ross he was sent to Dumbrâ—toâ— Where when afterward the Castle was wonne he was taken and brought to London where he suffred death Before the Duke of Norfolk was beheaded there were that conspired to deliver him out of Prison The Bishop of Ross at this time a dangerous instrument against England and as dangerous against the Scots Queene for whom he laboured gaue desperate counsell to the Duke that with a choice company of Gentlemen he should intercept the Queene of a suddain and â—rouble the Parliament To shew that this was â—asâ—e he gaue some reasons But the Duke abhorred to heare of that counsell as pernicious and dangerous Sir Henry Percy at that time offred to the Bishop of Ross his helpe to free the Scots Queene so that Grange and Carr of â—ernihurst would receiue her at the borders and his brother the Earle of Northumberland might be delivered out of Scotland But when he was suspected for the inward faâ—iliaritie which he had with Burghly and deâ—erâ—ed the matter a longer time this counsell came to no effect As did also that of Powell of Samford one of the Gentlemâ—n Pencioâ—ariâ—s and of Owen one that belonged to â—he Earle of AruÌ„dell These two vndertooke the same busines also for the Scots Queenes deliverance but the Bishop of Ross stay'd that because he tooke them for men of a meaner ranke then to be â—it for â—hat busines After the Duke was the second time imprisoned many were for this matter imprisoned also The Earles of Arundell Southampton the Lord Luâ—ly the Lord Cobham Thomas his brother Sir Henry Percy Banister Lowther Godier Powell and others were committed who in hope of pardon told that they knew Barnes and Muthers ioyned with Herle in a bloudy practise to deliver the Duke and kill certaine of the Privy Councellers But Herle being the châ—efe in the villany opened the Proiect. When Bâ—rnes was brought before him found Herle to be the accuser he smiling vpon him said Herle thou hast prevented me if thou hadst stayed but one houre longer I should then haue stood in thy place the accuser and thou in my place to be hanged When Iohn Duke of Austria came into government of the Low-Countries he found the States strong The cruelty that the Duke of Dalva and others had vsed was so farre from bringing them into a servile subiection that it rather armed them with resolution to defend their liberties their lawes their religion and their liues Which may admonish great Princes to vse moderation in government for much hath beene lost by crueltie nothing gotten by it but nothing can serue to moderate restlesse spirits such a spirit brought Don Iohn with him into the Low-Countries who beholding the vnlucky ends of them that stroue to deliver the Queene of Scots he notwithstanding sought to worke her deliverance and to marry her and so to enioy both England and Scotland But to hide his purpose the better he made show of a perpetuall Edict for Peace as he called it and for that purpose sent Gastellus to Elizabeth Who throughly vnderstanding the Dukes meaning yet as if she had beene ignorant sent Daniel Rogers to Don Iohn to congratulate for his perpetuall Edict of Peace Albeit she certainly knew that he had resolved to deliver and marry the Scots Queene and in his conceit had devoured the Kingdomes of England and Scotland by the perswasion of the Earle of Westmerland and of other â—ugitiues and by favour and countenance of the Pope and the Guyses And that Don Iohn had a purpose out of hand to surprise the â—le of Man in the â—rish Seas that he might haue a fitter opportunitie to invade England out of Ireland and the North coast of Scotland where the Scots Queene had many at her deuotion and the opposite parts of England as Cumberland Lankyshire Cheshire Northwales had many that as he was informed favoured Popery The truth is Don Iohn of Austria as it was knowne from Peresius Secretary to the King of Spaine being before this carried away with ambition when he was disappointed of the hope which he had of the Kingdome of Tunis practised secretly with the Pope for the ouerthrow of Queene Elizabeth marrying of the Scots Queene and subduing of England That the Pope might excite the King of Spain to warre against England as out of a desire of the publique good Don Iohn before he came out of Spain to goe to the Netherlands did fâ—rward this motion in Spaine what he could and afterward sending Esconedus out of the Netherlands to Spaine did desire to haue the havens in Bisâ—ay whence a Navie might invade England But King Philip happily reserving England as a morsell for his owne mouth neglected Don Iohn as a man too ambitious Queene Elizabeth vnderstood not these things vntill the Prince of Orange opened them to her Don Iohn in the meane time prosecuteth the matter of the marriage with secresie And to dissemble the matter sent messengers to Queâ—ne Elizabeth to hold her with a tale of perpetuall peace but of a sudden brake out into warre and tooke divers Townes and
Then he was demanded if the Pope should send an Armie into England against the Queene whether he would take the Popes part or the Queenes To this he protested openly that he would take the Popes part and confirmed it by his hand-writing he was put to death and some others for the same cause When as yet from the time of the rebellion there was but fiue put to death in this cause The Queene thinking that mens consciences should not be forced did often complaâ—ne that she was necessarily driven to these courses vnlâ—s she would suffer a mischiefe to fall vpon her selfe and her subiects by them that sought to colour their treasons vnder a pretence of consciencâ— and Catholike Religion And yet she thought that some of the poore Priests that were sent were not acquainted with the secret plots of treason but found that their superiors vsed these as instruments of their wicked intentions and they yeelded the whole disposing of themselues to the iudgement of their superiors for they that were then and afterward apprehended being demanded whether by the authoritie of the Bull of Pius V. the subiects were so absolved from their oath and alleagance that they might take Armes against the Prince Whether they held her for a lawfull Queene Whether they yeelded their coÌ„sent to the opinioÌ„s of Sanders Bristow concerning the authoritie of that Bull Whether if the Pope should warre against the Queene they would take his part or hers To these things they answered some so ambiguously some so fiercely some by preuarication or by silence shifting that diverse other Papists who were not acquainted with the secrets of their villanies began to suspect that surely they nourished some secret mischiefe and Iohn Bishop otherwise much addicted to their Religion wrote and soundly proued that the constitution obâ—ruded in the name of the Councell of Lateran from which they founded all their authoritie to absolue subiects from their alleagance and to depose Princes was indeed nothing but a decree of Innocentius III. nor was ever admitted in England Yea that Councell was no Councell and that nothing was decreed there by the Fathers Suspitions were still increased by reason of the number of Priests daily comming into England and creeping in corners who secretly sought out the minds of men and taught that Princes excommunicated were to be throwne out of their Kingdomes that Princes that professed not the Roman Religion were fallen from the title and Kingly authoritie that they who had taken orders were by the libertie of the Church freed from all iurisdiction of Princes neither were bound to their lawes or bound to reverence their Maiestie that the Magistrates of England were not lawfull and therefore not to be accounted as Magistrates Yea and moreover that what things soever had bin established by the Queenes authoritie after the publishing of the Bull of Pius V. were voyd altogether by Gods law and mans law and to be respected as things of no account Neither did they dissemble their purpose that they were come into England for this end that this Bull might be effected and that they might in private confessions reconcile men and so absolue them from all faith and alleagance toward the Queene This thing seemed to be more easily effected when men were absolved from all mortall sinne as the Priests perswaded them and this way was the safest because the most secret and vnder the seale of Confession These practiâ—es extorted of the Parliament held then â—n â—anuary An 1582 new lawes and more severe against these Popish practises By which lawes it was made treason to disswade any subiect from their alleagance to their Prince and from the Religion which was then established in England or to reconcile any to the Romish Church the same punishment was to be inflicted vpon them which were so perswaded or reconciled To say Masse was punished with two hundreth markes and a yeares imprisonment and to be farther punished vntill they had payed To be present at Masse willingly was punished with an hundreth marke fine and a yeares imprisonment They that refused to come to their Parish Churches were to pay twentie pound a moneth This manner of punishing refractary men that in matters touching the Church were troublesome and seditious was taken from an ancient manner of punishing such men in the time of St Augusâ—in for he speaketh diverse times of the Pecuniary mulct of the Emperours which was inflicted vpon the Donaâ—ists And because the seminary Priests and Iesuites who haue bin punished not for Religion but for Treasons in the execution of civill Iustice for offending against the lawes of the Land haue given out that they haue bin perfecuted for Religion and some of them haue beene made Martyrs these be a new kinde of Martyrs not for Christs cause but for the Popes cause against Christ and against his Word and Commandement It shall not be amisse to obserue the State of the Church in S. Augustines time and the iudgement of the Church then which in diverse resemblances doth answer to our times for then the Emperour had that power and authoritie which we now giue to our Kings The Pope had no more authoritie then then we would yeeld him now if he would maintaine the doctrine that the Popes then did The Pope was then vnder the Emperour the Emperour punished both Pope and others if they offended his lawes Parmenianus a Donatist complained they were punished by the Emperour and persecuted and called their persecution Martyrdome as did the Papists that were punished S. Augustin answering the Donatists saith Si quis quis ab Imperatore c. If every man that is punished by the Emperour or by the Iudges which he sendeth must presently be accompted a Martyr then shall we haue all Prisons full of Martâ—rs c. And after he sayth Therefore not every one that in some question of Religion is punished by the Emperour must presently be accompted a Martyr for he is iustly punished for superstition which he thought to be religion No man verily that in any respect is a Christian dare avouch this for such men proceeding like blind men see not that they who thus thinke proceed so farre as to proue that the very devils may thus chalenge to themselues the glory of Martyrs because they suffer this persecution by the Christian Emperours for as much as their temples are destroyed over all the world in a manner their ldols are broken in peeces their sacrifices are forbidden they who honor them are punished if they be found Which if it be madnesse to mâ—intaine then it followeth that righteousnesse is not proued by suffering but by righteousnesse suffering is made glorious therefore the Lord said not blessea are they that suffer persecution but he addeth that which maketh the difference betweene pietie and sacriledge blessed are they which suffer persecution for righâ—â—ousnesse c. And after he sayth If these men being convicted of their wicked practises shall
acknowledge that they who are thus punished â—or their mad tricks may not be accompted Martyrs but yet they will say that these things ought not to belong to the Emperour to punish Iust as the Papists say the punishment of their Clergie belongeth not to the Magistrate I demand then sayth Augustin Whether they thinke that the superior powers ought not to haue care of Religion of punishing false religion The Apostle saith The works of the flesh are manifest which are adaltery fornicatioÌ„ vncleannes wantonnes idolatry witch-craft hatred debate emulation wrath contentions seditions heresies envie murthers drunkennesse gluttony and such like What reason can these men render why it should be justice for the Empeperours to punish Idolaters Murtherers and such and not by the same reason to be like justice in them to punish heretiques When as they are accompted in the same fruits of iniquitie Someruill was found strangled in the prison For feare belike that he might haue discovered moe Ardern being condemned was hanged the next day This is the common end that Priests bring such Gentlemen vnto who are willing to heare them and be perswaded by them The next yeare after for seldome did any yeare passe without some treason some English Gentlemen began to practise the deliverance of the Queene of Scots Francis Throgmorton fell first into suspition by certaine Letters intercepted written to the Queene of Scots As soone as he was committed to prison and beganne to confesse something presently Thomas Lord Paget and Charles Arundell a Courtier secretly fled the land and went into France These men meeting with other devoted to the Roman Religion did much complaine recounting their sorrowes among themselues that the Queene was estranged from them without their fault by the cunning of Leicester and Walsingham that them selues were exposed to vnworthy contumelies ignominies that singular tricks were found out and secret snares laid so cunningly that improvident men will they nill they must needs be intangled in such snares that to remaine at home there could be no safety for them It was thought at this time that some cunning was practised to feele mens affections and that counterfeit Letters were written vnder the name of the Scots Queene and of some fugitiues knowne traytors to the State which Letters might be left in the houses of Recusans and that spies were sent abroad to gather rumors and to catch suspitions Diverse were drawne into snares Among others Henry Earle of Northumberland and his sonne Philip Earle of Arundell was commanded to keepe his house his wife was committed to Sr Thomas Shirly to be kept and Henry Howard the Dukes brother was often examined of Letters sent from the Scots Queene from Charles Paget and from one Mope then vnknowne Some blamed the narrow searching of things and the manner of drawing men into danger Others thought that all the means that might be vsed to prevent the Queenes danger and to saue her life was but necessary And indeed the outragious maliciousnes of the Papists against the Queene brake out daily for by Bookes imprinted they exhorted the Queenes maides and Ladies of honor to doe the same against the Queene which Iudith did against Holofernes The Author of that Booke was not found Gregory Martin was suspected a man learned in the Greeke and Latin tongues and chosen by the Duke to be the bringer vp of his children Carter the Stationer that caused the Books to be Printed was punished for it The Queene that was much traduced for crueltie knowing her owne mildnes and desirous to leaue a good remembrance of her name behinde her was much offended with the Iudges of the Papists apprehended if they passed any cruell sentences against them which might be iniurious to her honor Insomuch that they were forced to excuse themselues by publike writings wherein they protested that the Priests were much more mildly vsed then they deserved that no question of Religion was moued to them but onely of such pernicious machinations against their Country against their Prince whereof they were either found guiltie or by the discovery of others suspected That Campian was never so racked but that presently he was able to walke or to subscribe to his confessions But for Briant who stubbornly denied to vtter by speech or by writing who was the man that wrote these secret things which were found about him to this man meat was denied vntill by writing he would aske it For all this the Queene was not satisfied and therefore she commanded the Examiners to abstaine from tormenting men and the Iudges from punishing And short after she commanded seventie Priests to be sent out of England whereof some were condemned to die all of them were intangled within the danger of the lawes The chiefe of these were Gasper Haywod the sonne of Haywod the Epigrammatist who of all the Iesuites first entred England Iames Bosgraue which was also a Iesuit Iohn Hart the most learned among them with whom Doct Reinolds had conference and Edward Rishton a wicked and vngrateful man who wrote a Booke presently after shewing forth the poyson of a cankred heart against the Queene to whom he owed his life The Lord Paget and Arundell who went into France were narrowly observed there by Edward Stafford the Ambassadour Leiger there for Queene Elizabeth but he could not find out what they practised yet he dealt with the French King that they Morgan and some other English fugitiues who were knowne to be practisers against their Prince and their Country might be thrust out of France But it was answered that if they practised any thing in France the King would by law punish them but if they had practised any thing in England that of such things the King could take no notice nor by law punish them that all Kingdomes were free for fugitiues that it behooued Kings to maintaine their owne liberties That Elizabeth not long before had admitted into her Kingdome Montgomery the Prince of Condie and others of the French Nation and that Segneres Ambassadour of the King of Navarre was in England practising of some things that concerned the French state In the meane time Bernardinus Mendoza the King of Spaine his Ambassadour for England stole fecretly into France fretting and fuming that he was thrust out of England by a violation of the right of an Ambassadour When as indeed he was a man of a troublesome spirit and had abused the reuerend right of Ambassadours by the practises of treason against this State wherein he was He was commanded to depart out of the realme whereas many thought fit that he should haue beene with some severity censured for violating the office of an Ambassadour For he had practised with Throgmorton and others to bring in strangers into England to invade the land and to remoue the Queene And being gently reprooued for these things he was so far from offering to excuse these things with a modest answer that he began to accuse the
by the great and admirable applause and affections of all good men from the highest to the lowest of England And declaring his constant resolution for the maintenance of Religion deferred his Coronation till Saint Iames day In the meane time some vnquiet spirits entred into a conspiracy their vaine hopes for aduancing of their Religion failing their designe as is said was to surprize the King and Prince Henry Of forces they presumed meaning to retaine them prisoners in the Tower and with treasures therin to maintaine their intent or to carry them to Douer Castle and there by violence either to obtaine their owne pardons a tolleration of Religion and a remouall of some Counsellors of state or else to put some other proiect in execution To conceale this treason Watson the Priest deuised oathes for secrecie and himselfe with Clark another Priest taught that the act was lawfull being done before the Coronation for that the King was no King before hee was annointed and the Crowne solemnly set vpon his head The other persons inuolued in this practise were Henry Brooke Lord Cobham Thomas Lord Gray of Wilton Sir Walter Ralegh Sir Griffin Markham Sir Edward Parham George Brooke Bartholomew Brookesby and Anthony Coply All which were apprehended and committed The sicknesse being then rife in London the Tearme was kept at Winchester the place designed for their arraignement whether they were conueied vnder strong guard The first brought to triall was George Brooke brother to the Lord Cobham Sir Griffin Markham Sir Edward Parham Brooksly Coply Watson and Clark The inditement was that they had conspired first to destroy the King then to raise rebellion to alter Religion to subuert the State to procure forraine inuasion These their intents they had made known to the Lord Gray whom they intended to make Earle Marshall of England Watson Lord Chancelour Georke Brookes Lord Treasurer Markham Secretary that with the King the Lords also should be surprized in their Chambers at Greenwich and the Lord Maior and Aldermen of London should be sent for and so shut vp in the Tower George Brooke answered that he had commission from the King to doe that he did onely to trie faithfull subiects but being required to shew his Commission hee could produce none Sir Griffin Markham excepting onely the imputation of bloud confessed his offence penitently alledging it was through a discontented minde and desired the Lords to bee a meane to the King for mercy Watson and Clark the former of which confessed that he had drawne all those Gentlemen into those plots like true Roman Priests auerred that they held the King for no King vntill hee was crowned and therefore it could not be treason alledging that Saul was no King till hee was chosen in Mispeh though hee had beene annointed in Ramoth by the Prophet Samuel Neither Ieroboam who in the dayes of Salomon had beene confirmed by the Prophet to raigne ouer Israel vntill the people made him King vpon the foolish answere of Rehoboam making no difference betweene the mediate and ordinary succession of lawfull Kings in Common-wealths established and those which God himselfe extraordinarily aduanced to be scourges to an vngratefull land It was tould them that in England the King neuer dieth that there is no interregnum that the Coronation is but a ceremony to shew the King to the people Two dayes after was Sir Walter Ralegh brought to the barre hee was indited for combining with the Lord Cobham his accuser as it was said in the foresaid designes he pleaded not guilty and so stood for his purgation Hee pleaded for himselfe a long time and with some admiration of men who thought that a man of such vnderstanding would hardly bee drawne into a plot so foule and so foolish yet hee was found guilty and had sentence of death The like iudgement a few dayes after passed vpon the Lord Cobham and Gray arraigned on two seuerall dayes The former was indited for combining with Sir Walter Ralegh and George Brooke to procure forces from the King of Spaine and the Arch-Duke for inuasion the other for ioyning with the foresaid Priests Knights and Gentlemen in their conspiracies Sir Edward Parham was only acquitted by the Iury. Of the rest onely three died Watson Clark and George Brooke Watson had before in Print laid open at large the treasonable practises of the Iesuites and at his death left this suspition on them that they in reuenge had cunningly drawne him into this action which brought him to his end After this the Lords Cobham and Gray and Sir Griffin Markham were by a Warrant to be executed the Friday next But the King inclined to mercy sent at the day appointed a Pardon for them the manner whereof was such as gaue vnexpected ioy to them that looked for nothing but death The Pardon was brought to the place where they were to be executed by Master Gibb a Gentleman so secretly that none present vnderstood any thing thereof Sir Griffin Markham was first brought to the Scaffold erected in the Castle Greene and made himselfe ready for the stroke of the Axe When secretly Master Gibb deliuered to the High Shiriffe the Kings warrant to the contrary who vnderstanding his Maiesties intent tooke backe the prisoner as if he were first to confront the two Lords vpon some seruice of the King and brought him vnto the Castle Hall Then was the Lord Gray brought forth who hauing poured out his prayers vnto God at length kneeling downe for the stroke of death the Sheriffe bad stay telling the Lord that some further seruice was expected of him and thereupon led him likewise into the Castle Hall The Lord Cobham was last brought forth who being in preparation and prayers the Lord Gray and Sir Grâ—ffin were brought backe againe All the three prisoners appearing together on the Scaffold the Sheriffe notified his Maiesties warrant for the stay of the execution At which example of Clemency vnexpected both of the prisoners and spectators there arose great shoutes of the people crying God saue the King The condemned wished that they might sacrifice their liues to redeeme their faults and to repurchase so mercifull a Prince his loue This attempt seemed to be a matter of lesse danger because there appeared neither strength to act the businesse intended nor heads to carry it But our thankfulnesse must appeare to God for our least deliuerances It is certaine by their confessions that a great mischiefe was intended howsoâ—uer they might seeme vnable to effect it And this we may obserue that no treason was euer attempted without a Romish Priest The treasons attempted in England haue that proper and peculiar marke to haue a Priest in the practise CHAPTER XVI NOw I enter vpon a Narration which may fully open our aduersaries to the world wherein appeareth the profundity of malice and cruelty and vngodlinesse and whereby all men may vnderstand by what spirit these men are led The Histories of former times containe no example
God shewed to Israel dâ—uers waies and this hath he like wise shewed to the Church of Christians and then especially when the Church hath beene most oppugned And this mercy hath God declared to no Church more then to the Church of England wee haue the Oracles of God among vs and these wee labour to preserue without mixture that no Oracles of men may be ioyned with them in any equality This we professe and for this we suffer This is our glory that wee suffer as the Church of God hath all waies suffered This is our glory that we are persecuted by a people that haue forsaken their God For they that haue forsaken â—he onely preferment by the Oracles of God committed to their trust and haue against that trust thrust in mens Oracles mens traditions to match the Oracles of God in equall authority they who worship not God according to Gods Oracles deliuered to them but according to their owne inuentions these men haue forsaken their God And these bee they that glory so much of the name of the Catholike Church against vs God knoweth his Church for the Lord knoweth who are his But our aduersaries deale not with God to please him but with men to deceiue them If they should deceiue some men with the maske and with the empty title oâ— the Catholike Church what haue they gotten thereby God is not deceiued and God will in his time make it knowne where his Catholike Church is God will not haue his Catholike Church maintained with lyes with wicked and vngratious Practises with treasons and rebellions with conspiracies they who practise such things can neuer proue themselues to bee the Catholike Church but the true Catholike Church is knowne by holding the Oracles of God by worshipping God according to his own Oracles by suffering patiently the practises of wicked men by committing their cause to God by trusting in God and in the power of his might and by miraculous deliuerances out of danger by the onely hand and power of God This holy and heauenly protection of God of the Church of England may plainely proue vnto all the world that the Church of England is a part and true member of that Catholike Church that serueth God in truth and sincerity enioying those priuiledges and fauours which God doth vouchsafe to no people sauing to his owne Church Now let the Pope goe on in his course and fulfill his measure let him honour wretched and wicked rebels the scum of the earth let him send a peacockes taile as he did to Stucley let him send a plume of Phoenix seathers as hee did to Tyrone if they were Phoenix feathers or if the Pope did not collude in one thing as that Fryer did in another thing who vndertooke to shew to the people a feather of the wing of the Angell Gahriell a plume of whose feathers was more befitting the Pope to send if his holinesse hath such command ouer Angels as they say he hath Let them I say proceed in the workes of darkenesse as they haue done and as they continue to doe let vs trust in the Lord who hath manifested to all the world by his great mercifull and manifold deliuerances that hee hath taken the protection of vs. And as he hath done hitherto assuredly he will doe to the end if we faile not for God will not forsake vs if we forsake not him Indeed if we forsake him and fall away from the truth of Religion in the Church and from the execution of iustice in the State and from obedience to the faith then may wee loose our part in God and loose our confidence in his helpe and loose the blessed benefit of his protectâ— on They can neuer preuaâ—le against vs by any other way then by our forsaking of God When Balac the King of Moab had sent for Balaam the false Prophet and by him vnderstood that it was impossible for him to preuaile against Israel though Balaam was sent to curse them At last hee was informed by his false Prophet Balaam that there was no hope to preuaile against Israel vnlesse there were some meanes deuised to draw Israel into sinne against God and so would God be offended with them and then might their aduersaries preuaile against them this aduise was most pernicious against Israel For the women of Moab were sent among the Israelites to intise them both to bodily and spirituall fornication And this indeed prouoked Gods anger and therefore the Lord commanded Israel to vexe the Midiaâ—nites and to smite them for they trouble you with their wiles The King of Spaine hath proued Balaam the false Prophet the Pope of Rome to curse the Church and State of England hee hath beene as greedily bent to curse England as euer Balaam was to curse Israel His curses by Gods goodnesse haue beene turned into blessings vpon vs. The more hee hath cursed the more haue wee receiued blessings from God The Pope perceiuing that his curses cannot preuaile against vs hath entred into the consultation of Balaam the false Prophet to send among vs Priests and Iesuites secretly who as they say are well acquainted both with carnall and spirituall fornication These come among vs and trouble vs with their wiles And if by their wiles we be once drawn away from God then may they preuaile but not otherwise then as the dâ—uell hath sometimes permission to preuaile against Gods people But so long as wee stand the Church of God holding the Oracles of God committed to vs morshipping God according to the rules of the holy doctrine wee may with ioy of hâ—â—rt expect the protection of God as we haue had Of these things what can our aduersaries deny Can they deny that wee haue the Oracles of God among vs onely reuerencing them Can they deny the miraculous proâ—â—ction of God ouer vs from time to time against all their wicked practises let our enemies be iudges herein Can they deny that the Pope hath runne the course of false Balaam against vs Can they deny that their Priests and Iesuites come creeping in among vs to draw vs away from God to bee partakers with them in their superstition and idolatry these things are manifest to the world and to their owne consciences then we leaue them vnto the seruice of their Balaam let them leaue vs to the seruice of our God CHAPTER XV. QVeene Elizabeth after so many bloudy and dangerous practises attempted against her being mightily protected by God ended her dayes in peace and safety The enemy was not permitted to hurt her with all their bloudy and barbarous practises After her succeeded our peaceable Salomon King Iames who laboured to establish peace if it might bee But when hee spake of peace they prepared themselues for warre He was first encountred with such a practise whereof because I know not the truth and bottome I must follow such relations as I finde King Iames ourâ—gracious Soueraigne being called into the right of his owne inheritance