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
Christian Princes to let them vnderstand Queen MARY's decease She therefore appointed and sent with all speed to the Emperour Ferdinando Sir Thomas Chaloner with letters of her owne hand-writing by which shee gaue him notice of her Sisters death and that first by Gods speciall grace next by her hereditary right and through the generall loue and consent of all her Subiects she succeeded these her Crownes and dignities And that now she desired nothing more than to maintaine the loue and to encrease the ancient amitie which of long time had beene betweene the Houses of England and Austria To the King of Spaine who at that time was in the Low-Countries she also sent Ambassador the Lord Brook Baron of Cobham with the like Embassage and Commission by which shee of new imployed and delegated the Earle of Arundell Turlbey Bishop of Ely and L. Wotton who before had beene delegated and appointed by Queene MARY for the treatie of peace in the Citie of Cambray and adioyned to them W. Howard Baron of Effingham She also secretly sent Sir Henry Killigrew Ambassadour to the Princes of Germany to inflame them in the zeale of Gods pure Religion To the King of Denmarke D. B. was sent Ambassador and to the Duke of Holsatia also Armigild Waade Philip King of Spaine hearing of the death of Queen MARY fearing one way to lose the title of King of England and the force of that Realme which were vnto him most vsefull and profitable and likewise that the kingdomes of England Ireland and Scotland should be vnited to the Crowne of France by the meanes of the high and mighty Princesse the Queene of Scotland hee therefore treats seriously of a match with Queene ELIZABETH with promise to obtaine a speciall dispensation from the Pope And to that effect imployed the Earle of Ferie who had visited her MAIESTIE by the like meanes as he had done Queene MARY in her sicknesse This Sutor puts Queene ELIZABETH into great anxiety and perplexity considering how inconsiderate and ingratefull her Maiestie might seeme to be in refusing a Christian Prince who had already obliged her in other things much but yet more in this as to seeke her to his wife through his owne free desire and motion The French King likewise was in an extasie considering how important and dangerous it was to France if Spaine her enemy should vnite adioyne to his kingdoms the Realmes of England and Ireland therefore hee vseth his best endeuours at Rome by the intermission of the Bishop of Angoulesme to hinder the grant of such dispensation shewing to that end that Queene ELIZABETH was held for Supportresse of the Protestant Religion and rather than faile went about to declare her illegitimate But all this most secretly and closely for feare to irritate England before that his affaires were throughly well settled The Earle of Ferie contrariwise on the other side labours as hard to bring this marriage to passe and to that end giues the English Papists to vnderstand who were dispersed throughout all parts of the Realme that it was the sole and onely way left for them to preserue their Religion and defend their ancient dignities and honours and that if they should contemne it hee could not but deplore the misery and calamity of England as being out of money vnprouided of men trained vp and vnskild in the military discipline void of fortification and lacking munition and garrisons for Warre and her Councellors of State depriued likewise of good aduice And indeed to speake truely Englands affaires were at that time in a most miserable case and lamentable state for England had warre on the one side with Scotland and on the other side with France and was in a manner vndone by those debts that King HENRY the Eighth and King EDWARD the Sixt had run into and her treasury was exhaust and empty and the Town of Callais had beene but newly lost and the whole Countrey of Oyes with all the munition and furniture of warre The people here were diuided into contrarieties through differency of religion and the Queene left without any powerfull friend to assist her hauing no alliance at all abroad with forrain Princes But when as her Maiestie had more seriously agitated her spirit and carefully considered in her minde the proposition of this match shee findes the holy Scripture expressely inioyning that no woman ought to ioyne with him who had beene her sisters Husband no more than it is lawfull for a man to marry his brothers widdow and therefore that such marriages were directly illegitimate and wholly forbidden by Gods Law although the Pope should neuer so much grant a Dispensation And moreouer that if she should contract it by vertue thereof shee should acknowledge and proue her selfe illegitimate sith shee was issued from the match that King HENRY her father had contracted after his diuorcing and putting away Katherine of Spaine for hauing beene his brothers wife which neuerthelesse had beene approued iust and lawfull according to the Diuine Law by all the Academies of Christendome and likewise the Synod of London as well as that of Katherine vniust and vnlawfull Her Maiestie therefore endeuours to stop preuent and hinder by little and little the course of King Philips suite by an honest answer truely modest and well-beseeming the chaste integrity of her constant virginity and chiefly grounded vpon scruple of her conscience But he notwithstanding all this surceased not his suite but persisted therein vrging her with feruent and frequent Letters By which shee obserued the manners and behauiours of so great a King compounded with grace and graue modesty and truely worthy his Maiestie the said Letters being much by her admired in the often publishing of them yea her Maiestie taking pleasure to imitate them vntill some Nobles of her Court began to defame and speake against the matchlesse pride and practices of the Spaniards Also some of the intimate Lords and fauorites of her Maiesties Priuy-Councell fearing lest the tender and young spirit of a Maide often moued might easily condescend to their desires told to her MAIESTIE secretly that both her Maiestie and friends with the whole Realme of England were vndone if in such Dispensations or in any thing else whatsoeuer she should giue any credit or make the least estimation of the Popes authoritie and power since that two of them had declared and published her Mother illegitimate and vnlawfully ioyned in wedlocke with King HENRY the Eighth Also that by vertue of such Declaration the most high and most mighty Princesse the Queene of Scotland should pretend right to the Crownes of England c. and that the Pope would neuer retract nor goe from that iudgement and that her Maiestie should not expect nor looke for any thing good or iust from the Popes hand who had beene enemies and shewed themselues vniust both towards her Maiestie and her Mother And that the French King laboured hard vsing his vtmost power and
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
security she should in her life-time set her winding-sheete before her eyes yea she should likewise make her own funerall liuing and seeing it Hauing made this answere she sweetly admonisheth her againe by Letters which were deliuered her by Peter Meutis to confirme the Treatie which she refused not directly but gaue him to vnderstand that she could not commodiously doe it vntill the Affaires of Scotland were well established In the meane time Queen ELIZABETH with all maner of courtesie entertaines Monsieur le Duc D' Aumale the Grand Prior and Monsieur le Duc D'elbeuf her Vnkles and other French Noble-men which had conducted her into Scotland And yet notwithstanding Monsieur de Guize behaued himselfe in that sort that the English Ships are taken vpon the Coasts of Brittanie and the Marchants vnworthily handled and labours againe closely at Rome to procure Queene ELIZABETH to bee excommunicated Howbeit the Pope Pius the fourth aduised that it behoued to deale more gently with her Maiesty and as he had already sought by courteous Letters as I haue said vpon the last yeere hauing then also to appease the discords which were for matter of Religion assigned a day to the Councell of Trent long sinnce begunne and broken off by continuall Warres and drawing gently thither all the Princes which had forsaken the Romish religion hee deputed into England the Abbot of Martinegues with Letters full of assurance of loue But because that by an ancient Law it is most expressely forbidden the Popes Nuncio's to goe thither before he had obtained leaue from thence and taken Oath not to worke any thing by subtilty there tending to the preiudice of the King and Kingdome The Abbot being vpon the way stayed in Flanders and demanded leaue to come hither But Englands Councell of State iudg'd that it was not safe to admit him hither in regard that so many people from all parts nourished in the Romish religion laboured carefully both within and without the Realme to trouble the affaires thereof The Abbot not being permitted to come into England the Bishop of Wittenberg the Popes Nuncio with the King of France labours that Queene ELIZABETH should send Ambassadours to the Councell and many Princes of Christendome viz. the Kings of France of Spaine and of Portingall Henry Cardinall of Portingall and aboue all the Duke of Albe who yet bore good will to her Maiestie counselled her that in matters of Religion which is the onely Anker of Christians and stay of Kingdomes she would rather asscent to the Oecumenique Councell of Trent than to the particular opinions of a few men although they be learned She answers them That shee desired with all her heart an Oecumenique Councell but that shee would not send to that of the Popes with whom she had nothing to doe his authority being vtterly beaten downe and reiected in England with the consent of the States of the Kingdome That it is not for him but for the Emperour to assigne a Councell and that he hath no greater authority then any other Bishop At the same time that this Abbot was denyed accesse into England beeing the last Nuncio that the Popes of Rome haue sent hither Sir Edward Carne aforementioned being a most iudicious and wise man very well vnderstood in the right of Emperours by the Emperour Charles the fifth honoured with the dignitie of Knight-hood he dyed at Rome and was the last Ambassadour sent from the Kings of England to the Pope Chamberlaine Ambassadour for England in Spaine perceiuing that this answere did more and more alienate the affection of Spaine who iudged it to bee iniurious to the Pope and fearing no more that England Scotland and Ireland should fall into the hands of the Kings of France since that King Francis was dead began to make no more account of the English tooke leaue of him and returned into England Thomas Chaloner is sent in his place who as he was impatient of iniuries and had beene many times Ambassadour in Germany where he had receiued all manner of courtesies as soone as he was arriued in Spaine instantly besought by Letters to be reuoked complaining that according to the custome of the Countrey they had searched his Trunkes But Queene ELIZABETH admonished him that an Ambassadour must support all that which is of equity prouided that the honour of his Prince were not wronged Queen ELIZABETH being then capable of good counsell and very prudent and prouident and Religion somewhat wel established to strengthen her selfe with remedies against forces prouides for the safety of her selfe and of her Subiects and to enioy Peace more sweetly although she found the Coffers empty at her comming began to establish a Magazin of all sorts of Instruments of War and to that end employed great summes of money in Germany The Spaniard retained those Furnitures which shee had agreed for at a price at Antwerpe causeth many Cannons of Brasse and Iron to be cast discouers in the Country of Cumberland neere Keswicke by a speciall fauour from God on what occasion how farre and at what time shee should vse her liberality and indeed was prouidently bountifull to those that deserued it For notwithstanding that King HENRY her Father howsoeuer charged with three Children and EDVVARD and MARIE who had none had beene bountifull of the Crowne Land shee neuerthelesse hauing none neither gaue very little of it and yet what she gaue was vpon condition that for default of issue it should returne to the Crowne for which both the Realme and their successors ought to remember her and thanke her as a carefull fore-seer Whilest this good correspondencie was betweene the Queene and her people the Common-wealth seeming to take life and strength to the common ioy of all fell out a sad accident A most rare Piramide of the Cathedrall Church of Saint Paul in London which was frō the ground to the top of the square Tower 525. foote from thence 260. and was couered with wood ouer-laid with Lead was strucken at the top with fire from heauē which was so deuouring and burnt downeward with such violence to the great terrour of all the Inhabitants that in the space of fiue houres it reduced it to ashes with the whole couering of the Church which was most ample and spacious but the vaults which were of solid stone remained entire Notwithstanding all this couering was new made by the Queenes liberality and to the effecting of the same gaue great quantity of money and materials beside the collection of Ecclesiasticicall persons and others So all was repaired saue the Piramide This yeere dyed Iohn Bourchier a man of ancient Nobility Earle of Bath second of that name and Baron of Fitzwarin who by Elenor daughter of George Baron of Rosse had a great Progenie and left his Sonne William yet liuing his Successor THE FIFTH YEERE OF HER RAIGNE Anno Domini 1562. THe troubles of France begunne then to
of O-Neales would not The grant which his father had made to King HENRY the Eighth and the restitution that HENRY the Eighth had made vnto him were nothing considerable seeing that Cone had nothing in the things granted but during her life could not haue made this grant without the consent of the Peeres and of the people who had elected him to the honor of O-Neale That such Letters also could not be of any valew vnlesse witnessed by the othes of twelue men that hee was the certaine Heire of the House which had not been done in this matter That by diuine and humane right he was vndoubted Heire moreouer the eldest Sonne of his Father begot in lawfull marriage designed O-Neale with a generall consent of the Peeres people by vertue of the Law of Temster which was his Countrey by which a man of ripe yeeres ought to be preferred before a Child and an Vnkle before a Nephew whose great Grand-father out-liued the Father To conclude hee had not vsurped any authority ouer the Lords of Vlster though in times past his Ancestors by a particular right had vsed it But of this I haue spoken else-where Which when the Queene found true he was sent home with honour where he behaued himselfe both faithfully and industriously against the Irish Rebels THE SIXTH YEERE OF HER RAIGNE Anno Domini 1563. IN the moneth of Ianuary the States of the Kingdome assembled at Westminster and established Lawes for the reliefe of the poore for the increase of traffique by Sea and for husbandry to represse South-sayers Negromancers Sodomites Coyners and Periury and translated the Holy Bible and Liturgy into the Welsh Tongue And to maintaine the Maiesty of the Queene and Realme tooke order that the like inconueniences might not happen to them which shamefully fell out by the Popes vsurped authority and to curbe the violence of those which vpheld it declared them criminals laesae Maiestatis whosoeuer after three admonitions should maintaine in print in words or in deedes that any Prince Prelate or stranger should haue any authority in Spirituall things in England or any other Countries of the Queenes Dominions or whosoeuer should refuse twice to take the Oath which should be offered to him for acknowledging of the Queenes soueraigne authority in Spiritual things and ouer Ecclesiasticall persons yet with this charge without spilling of blood neither that it should bee required of any Baron of this Kingdome or of those of more eminent dignity the Queene not doubting their fidelity nor any others Saue those which were which had been or hereafter should be of some Ecclesiasticall Order or those who after hauing bin aduertised of the forme of seruice of the English Church will not obserue it or shall publikely in words or actions depraue it which shall celebrate or heare Masse with like things which is seene in the Ordinance established for it Now to witnes the ioy which they had to see the prosperity of the times the Clergie granted the Queene a Subsidie and the Lay people another together with two Tenths and two fifteenths in acknowledgment of her reformation of Religion establishment of Peace deliuering England and Scotland from stranger Enemies to put downe base money repaire the Fleet make preparation for Warre and Nauigation beyond expectation and of the laudable designe which she had for France to assure England and the yong King of France and to recouer Calais Now this Tenth and Fifteenth that I may make it remarkable in the behalfe of strangers is a Taxe which long agoe hath bin imposed vpon euery City Borrough and village not by the pole but by generalities according to the fifteenth part of the reuenew of the places A Subsidie is that which is imposed vpon euery particular for goods and lands which he possesseth But neither of these two Taxes are euer imposed but by the Parliament In the meane time the Prince of Conde who made haste to get into Normandy to the English succour is taken in the famous Battell of Dreux and with him Nicholas Throgmorton who suffered himselfe voluntarily to bee taken by the Protestants to communicate some secret designes vnto them And beeing presently after set at liberty he presented the money which was promised to Coligni who was marched forward with the Troupes of auxiliary English to the Castle of Cane which he then besieged and easily compelled Cane Bayeux Falexe and the Temple of Saint Lo to render While things were thus carried in France Queen ELIZABETH made knowne to the King of Spaine by Chaloner her Ambassadour that to preuent the Guizes in time who insultingly and with deadly intent rais'd vp against her pernitious things and dangerous Treaties that shee had sent an Armie into France and kept still in her hands Haure de grace which was deliuered vp to her till shee receiued full satisfaction for Calais He answered her That if she demanded onely the restitution of Calais it was all shee desired from the beginning but if she vndertooke this warre for Religions sake he could not likewise abandon that of his Grandfathers and Predecessors As for the Guizes who are they said he for a most puissant Queene of England to feare they beeing of no alliance to the King of France as hereto fore they haue beene Whereunto she made no other reply but conformable to that English Prouerbe which sayes Euery one must looke to their own when their neighbours House is on fire And the King of Spaine vnderstood well inough how shee politikely treated with the Protestant Princes of Germany by the sollicitation of then Henry but now Lord Knowles and Christopher Hill for the Prince of Condé's reliefe and to defend the common cause of Religion whereat being more highly offended he likewise secretly sought meanes against her vnder the colour and pretext of Religion Withall those French Hostages who were sent into England for the security of the payment of â—ne hundred thousand Crownes promised in case Calais were not restored perceiuing all things enclining to a warre laboured all they could to flye away but beeing ready to take Barke they were taken and brought backe againe together with that famous Pylot Iohn Ribant who came secretly into England to conuay them ouer In the meane while peace was accorded in France between the King and the Prince of Condé allured thereunto out of hope that hee should haue the generall managing of all affaires and marry the Queene of Scots the Protestants and the Queenes Maiestie of England being no waies therein comprehended all men with one generall voice protested that if the English withdrew not themselues forthwith out of Haure de grace the promise of surrendting Calais intimated by the Treaty of Cambray should be frustrate and take no effect and by publique sound of Trumpet the French were permitted in this case to assaile the English to take and pillage them while they yeelded it vp The Queenes Maiesty of
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
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
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
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
to incite him to doe good to the religious Princesse the Lady Charlotte of Bourbon daughter to the Duke Mont-pensier who fled for her Religion into Germany But hee obtained nothing for France as it were pushed by fate ran headlong into a direfull warre Neuerthelesse the King and his mother the Queene writ iointly into England and sent La Garde to prosecute the marriage of the Duke of Alanzon For seeing this young Prince grow cholericke to see himselfe so vnworthily handled by his mother on all sides as if he had beene a prisoner and vnderstanding that he held secret Councel with the Politicians of France they thought it safest to diuert him from warre to send him into England In the interim they imployed all their cunning in Scotland to get Iames the young King ouer into France and to displace Morton the Vice-roy from his charge and for this purpose they sent thither the Kings Scottish guard The Queene of Scotland greatly desired this perswading her selfe that if her sonne were in France out of danger shee and the Catholikes should be more gently handled in England that the English faction which was in Scotland and alwaies relying vpon the Kings name would quickly be ruinated as he riper increased in yeres so the English should increase in feares as well of the French partie as of the Scots side The French did no lesse desire it fearing that the Regent of Scotland who was altogether at the deuotion of the English would breake the ancient Alliance which was betweene them and the Scots and neuertheles then when he instantly required that they would contract the Alliance of mutuall defence against strangers betweene England and Scotland it was denied him lest perhaps he should by the same meanes demand an annuall Pension to bee assigned to him and certaine Scottish men But eare was giuen to those who vpon a light suspicion accused the Queen of Scotland the Countesse of Shrewsbury and the Earle himselfe to haue without the Queenes priuity made the marriage between Charles the Paternall vncle of the King who had a little before confirmed vnto him by Parliament the County of Lenox and the Lady Elizabeth Cauendish the Countesse of Shrewsburies Daughter by her first Husband Wherevpon the mothers of either sides and others for this cause being kept prisoners a little time imputed and laid all the fault vpon the Queene of Scotland As it was vnknowne whither this marriage tended and that diuers suspicions had their birth by it Henry Count of Lidington was established President of the Assembly of the North with new instructions and secrets for this affaire This kind of Magistrate which at this present is very honourable hath in a little time from weake beginnings growne to this greatnesse and now what I haue learned of it by a free and short digresion I meane to leaue to posterity When in the reigne of HENRY the Eighth the rebellion of the inhabitants of that Countrie had stirred vp for the destruction of Monasteries was laid asleepe many made complaint of the iniuries which he had receiued during that Rebellion vnto the Duke of Norfolke who remained in those parts some of which he determined and left the rest to be finished by persons which to this purpose hee had established with Commissions sealed with his owne Seale but the King being aduertised hereof sent him a particular Seale to serue in such causes and hauing reuoked him gaue that Commission to Tunstall Bishop of Duresme and appointed Commissioners with power to heare and determine the complaints of the poore Hee was the first which bare the name of President and since the authority of his Successours hath bin of great value In these times the superfluity of Apparell so preuailed in England by a Vice peculiar to the Nation which pleaseth it selfe by imitating others that the ancient fashion fell in such disgrace that the men by a new fashion of habit and too much brauery made manifest the filthinesse and insolency of their spirits swaggering euery where couered with silke gold and siluer pure and mingled The Queene marking that this superfluity drew euery yeere out of the Kingdome to the dammage of the publike great quantity of money for the buying of silke and other strange Merchandizes and that many Gentlemen who might doe good seruice to the Publike and others to seeme to be He did not onely consume their demeanes to their particular dammage but also increased their debts vsed deceits and by this meanes fell into the nets of the Law and after they had prodigally lauisht their goods studied to make a change she endeuoured to prouide a fit remedy for it And although by the Lawes of HENRY the Eighth and MARY she could preuaile against them and draw from it great summes of money neuerthelesse she rather lou'd to preuent it by a simple commandement She commanded therefore that within 14. dayes euery one should forme his apparell to the prescribed fashion if he would not incurre the seuerity of the Lawe and shee herselfe began this reformation in her Court But by the malice of time this Edict and these Lawes by little and little gaue place to this superfluity which grew to a greater height of insolency was immediately traced by the riotousnesse of Feasts and splendor of Buildings for since that time more magnificent ample and faire Countrie houses of Noble-men and priuate men haue beene raised vp in England then in any other Ages whereby truly the Kingdome was greatly adorned but the glory of Hospitality greatly decreased The English which were at warre in Holland vnder Chester and Gainsford failed this yeere the one in vertue the other in successe For those which lay in Garrison at Valkenburgh gaue ouer the place and yeelded to the Enemy neuerthelesse they were pardoned for feare lest Queene ELIZABETH should not suffer the Spanish Fleet which was sayling towards Flanders vpon the Sea of Great-Brittaine to enter into her Hauens to victuall themselues The others which were in the Channell of Sluce after they had sustained a sharpe Combate and couragiously repulsed the Spaniards being surprized by theit enemies who had trauersed the Riuer were ouerthrowne and chased from the place with the losse of three hundred men and three Ensignes I know not whether it be expedient to record these triuiall things That this yeere the pious credulity of certaine Preachers of London was deceiued by a young wench who fained herselfe possessed with a Deuill That there was a great Whale found dry on the Shores of the I le of Thanet whose length was twentie Elles of our measure the breadth from her belly to her backe bone thirteene foote the space betweene her eyes eleuen foote That the Thames did ebbe and flowe twice in one houre That in the moneth of Nouember from the North to the South fuming Clouds were gathered together in a round the night following the Skie seemed to burne the Flames running
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
and marked it with dignities and Royall preheminences The which the States of Ireland had liberally offered to Henry the eighth and the Queene a little before vsed and enioyed the same But these things are not for this place The Romane Religion seemed then to be well established in England howbeit the Ecclesiasticall company seeing that Mary was now fortie yeeres old growne dry and sickly scarce hoping for any ofspring began forthwith to be afraid of ELIZABETH For they knew she was brought vp in the Protestant Religion and obserued that all men cast as vpon a rising Sunne both heart and eye vpon her Therefore they seriously consult from the very beginning of Maries Raigne how to preuent that the Religion now called backe should receiue any detriment by her The wiser and more consciencious sort iudged it to be an exceeding foule crime to destroy Royall Linage and Mary herselfe who was a godly Princesse though displeased with her Sister for the discord of their Mothers yet certaine sicke-braind fellowes who neither durst vndertake any thing nor performe any thing by right or wrong to establish the Catholike Religion did thinke it fit And it happened very commodiously for them that Tho. Wyat Peter Carew Iames Crofts and others for the Protestants seditiously endeuoured to doe rash and turbulent things labouring with all haste to mary ELIZABETH to Edward Courtney Earle of Deuon-shire She as being guilty hereof is thrust into prison first of all vncertaine rumors are dispersed that she was a partaker of sedition thereupon many are brought in question for their heads and others brought to the Racke Croft with a religious asseueration openly affirmed that she was no way guilty and out of all offence for sedition Wyat also it was thought who was ready to vnder-goe his last punishment would haue accused her and hee openly professed the same Neuerthelesse she is put into the hands of Keepers who hurry her this way and that way at length her Seruants and Maides are laide in fetters harder dealing then her dignity deserued In the meane time the French King Henry the second by priuate Letters full of loue comforts her and by many and great promises seekes to draw her into France whether for loue or by deceit to beget her a greater danger I will not say to make way to the Queene of Scots his Neece to the Crowne of England after Queene MARY In like manner Christian the Third King of Denmarke who long before made profession of the Protestants Religion endeuours all he can and treates vnder-hand to marry her to Frederick his Sonne Which when the Papists of England perceyued they againe threaten perill and mischiefe and fearing her cry out that all of the Romane Religion Queene and Kingdome are in ieopardy while shee subsists therefore necessarily to condemne her eyther Laesae Maiestatis or as a depraued Heretique and during that storme whilest cruelty was rigorously exercised vpon the meaner sort of Protestants I. Storie Doctor of the Law and others cunningly giue it out in all places in seuerall assemblies that they vnderstood it was practising to extirpate and ridde out Heresie ayming at her without sparing the smallest branches Notwithstanding moderating her selfe imitating the Mariner when a storme violently increaseth heard diuine Seruice according to the rule of the Romish Church came often to Confession and verily beeing oft rudely and churlishly disturbed by Cardinall Pole the terrour of death made her confesse her selfe to bee a Romane Catholique Howbeit MARY hardly beleeued it not forgetting that herselfe being forced by the same apprehension had by Letters written to her Father with her owne hand which I haue seene renounced for euer the authority that the Pope pretended to haue in England and acknowledged her Father to be Soueraigne Head of the Church of England and that the marriage betwixt him and her Mother was incestuous and vnlawfull Neyther could the Cardinall and other Prelates perswade themselues to it who to assure the Romane Church wished her to be taken out of the way But Philip MARY'S Husband and other Spaniards being more iust on ELIZABETHS behalfe would not heare of that Not that the fortune of an afflicted Princesse mooued them so much to mercy as their owne reason circumspectly aduised them Because fore-seeing if ELIZABETH were cut off that by Marie Queene of Scots next Heire to the Kingdome of England now married to the Dolphin of France England Ireland and Scotland might be ioyned to the Scepter of France then which nothing could be more fearefull to the greatnes of Spaine with whom they haue continuall warres When therefore without impietie they could not put ELIZABETH to death many thought it would be most aduisedly done to remooue her farre from England and marry her to Emanuel Philibert Duke of Sauoy Neyther did this please Spaine who before had purposed her for Charles his sonne And Thomas Cornwallis who was of the Queenes Councell likewise disswaded it telling Her that the people of Englād would hardly beare it yea in no wise suffer it that the next Heire of the Kingdome should be carryed away into a forreine Countrey At which time MARY for her inueterate hatred to ELIZABETH and because shee refused to marry with Sauoy grew to that heat of anger that shee ouer-charged her with reproaches and often-times would not stick to say that Marie Queene of Scotland was the certaine and vndoubted Heire of the Kingdome of England next to her selfe These consultations holden against ELIZABETH were taken away by a warre which MARY denounced in the behalfe of her Husband against France which although that was the prime and principall cause shee neuerthelesse alledged others and those most true viz. That France against the Lawes of couenant had nourished and sustained by his Agents and ministers the Rebellions of the Duke of Northumberland and Tho. Wyat the machinations and workings of Dudley and Ashton against her person sent out Pyrats against the English Merchants furnished Stafford with Ships and Armes to possesse the Castle of Scarborough had attempted by wicked practices to surprize Callais permitted English mony to be counterfeited and adulterated in France and inuaded the Low-Countries which the English by couenant are bound to defend In this flaming warre and the Scots stirred vp by the French inuading the Frontiers of England Calais is lost the Castles of Lisbanck Newnambrig Mere Oyes Hammes Sandgate the Castle and Towne of Guines and amongst the frequent Funerals of Prelates which sad presage seemed to fore-shew the displeasure of the diuine power MARY neglected of her Husband and with concocted griefe for the losse of Callais which had beene Englands rightfully two hundred yeeres with a Feuer and the Dropsie the seuenteenth day of Nouember 1558. departed hauing reigned fiue yeeres foure moneths A Princesse of a holy behauior to al her piety to the poore liberalitie to the Nobles and Clergie can neuer enough be praysed But the time was
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
who was father to the gracious Princesse Frances Dutchesse of Richmond and Lenox now liuing Moreouer her Maiestie created Sir Henry Carie Baron of Hunsdon who was allyed to her Maiesty by the Lady M. Bullen and that Noble Gentleman Oliuer Saint Iohn shee made Baron of Bletso who all were free from the Popish Religion After this her Maiesty is conuayed in pompe and Royall Magnificency from the Tower of London to Westminster thorow the Citie of London with incredible applause and generall acclamations which as her Maiestie was equally venerable in sight and hearing increased meruailously and the next morning her Maiestie was there inaugurated with the right of her Ancestors and anoynted by Owen Oglethorpe Bishop of Carlile when as the Arch-Bishop of Yorke and diuers other Prelates had refused the performance of that duty through a suspicious feare of the Roman Religion conceiued partly because her Maiesty had beene brought vp from the Cradle in the Protestant Religion and partly also that she had a little before forbidden a Bishop at the Diuine Seruice from lifting vp and adoring the Hoste and likewise permitted to haue the Letany Epistles the Gospell in English which they held as execrable Yet Queen ELIZABETH was truely godly pious and zealously deuoted for her Maiestie was not so soone out of her bed but fell vpon her knees in her priuate Closet praying to God deuoutly Certaine houres were by her Maiestie reserued and vowed to the Lord. Moreouer her Maiestie neuer failed any Lords day and holy day to frequent the Chappell neither was euer any Prince conuersant in Diuine Seruice with more deuotion then her sacred Maiestie was Shee zealously heard all the Sermons in Lent beeing attyred in blacke and very diligently gaue attention thereunto according to the ancient vse and custome although shee said repeated oftentimes that which she had read of HENRY the third her Predecessor that her Maiestie had rather in her Prayers speake to God deuoutly then heare others speake of Him eloquently And concerning the Crosse our blessed Lady and the Saints she neuer conceiued irreuerently of them neither spake her selfe nor suffered any others to speake of them without a certaine kinde of Reuerence Within few dayes after there was a Parliament held in which was enacted by a generall consent First that Queen ELIZABETH was and ought to bee both by the Diuine and Ciuill Law and the Statutes of this Realme and as I may vse their proper termes and forme the lawfull vndoubted and direct Queene of England rightly and lawfully descending from the Royall Blood according to the order of succession which was likewise formerly enacted by Parliament in the fiue and thirtieth yeere of King HENRIE the Eighth yet neuerthelesse that Law was not abolished by which her Father excluded both her and her Sister MARY from succeeding him in the Crowne And therefore it was thought by some that the Lord Bacon vpon whom her Maiesty relyed as an Oracle of the Law had forgotten himselfe and was destitute in that particular of his wonted Prudencie in not foreseeing the euent and especially because the Duke of Northumberland had obiected the same both against her Sister MARY and her selfe and to that end Queen MARY had abolished it in as much as concerned her selfe At which time there were some that drew against her Maiestie most dangerous inuectiues and conclusions in such manner as if she had not bin lawfull Queene although the Lawes of England many yeeres agoe determined Que la Couronne vnefois prinse ofte toute sorte de defaults That the Crowne once possessed cleareth and purifies all manner of defaults or imperfections But many on the other side commended the wisdome of the Lord Bacon therein as vnwilling in regard of such confusion of the Lawes and Acts to open a wound already clozed vp with the Time For that which made for Queene ELIZABETH seemed to tend to the shame and disgrace of Queene MARY And therefore shee held her selfe to the Law made in the fiue and thirtieth yeere of King HENRY the Eighth who restored and vpheld in a certaine manner each of their Honours Afterwards there was in the Parliament likewise propounded that forasmuch as concerned the Crown of England and the ancient iurisdiction in Ecclesiasticall matters should be re-established with the Lawes of King HENRY the Eighth against the Sea of Rome and of EDVVARD the Sixth in the behalfe of the Protestants which Queene MARY had vtterly abolished ordaining That all Iurisdictions Priuiledges and Spirituall Preheminences which heretofore were in vse and appointed by Authority for to correct Errours Heresies Schismes Abuses and other Enormities in Ecclesiasticall Affaires should for euer remaine as vnited to the Crowne of England and that the Queenes Maiestie with her successors should likewise haue full power to appoint Officers by their Letters Patents to execute this Authority neuerthelesse vpon this charge that they should not define any thing to be haereticall but that which had beene declared such long agoe by the holy and Canonicall Scriptures or by the foure first Oecuminike Councels or others according to the true and naturall sense of the holy Scripture or which should afterward in some Synod by the authority of the Parliament and approbation of the Clergie of England be declared That euery Ecclesiasticall Magistrate and such as receiue pension out of the publike Treasure to aduance and promote themselues in the Vniuersities to emancipate Pupils to inuest Domaines or receiue seruants of the Royall House were oblig'd by Oath to acknowledge her Royall Maiestie the sole and soueraigne Gouernour of the Realme for as much as concerneth the Title of Soueraigne Head of the Church of England it pleased her not in all things or causes as well spirituall as temporall all forraigne Princes and Potentates excepted entirely excluded to informe of any causes within the Lands of her obeysance But there were nine Bishops that sare the same day in the vpper House of Parliament and opposed themselues and were wilfully refractary against these Lawes beeing then but foureteene aliue namely the Arch-Bishop of Yorke the Bishops of London of Winchester of Worcester of Landaff of Couentrie of Exceter of Chester and of Carlil with the Abbot of Westminster And amongst the Nobility there were none that gaue aduice that England should bee reduced againe to the vnity of the Romane Church and obedience of the Apostolike Sea except the Earle of Shropshire and Anthony Browne Vicount Montaigue who as I said here before was in Queene MARIES Raigne sent in Ambassage to Rome by the States of the Kingdome with Thurbey Bishop of Ely who by a feruent zeale of Religion insisted sharpely that it were a great shame for England if she should retire so suddenly from the Apostolike Sea vnto which it was but lately reconciled and more danger if by reason of such reuolt it should be exposed by the thunder of an Excommunication to the rage of her enemies That by
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
forged reasons Queen ELIZABETH doubting lest they intended the ruine of England resolued to suppresse them Shee sent thereupon T. Randolph into Scotland to perswade the Peeres to a mutuall amitie grounded vpon the vnity of Religion aduertising them that the Princes of Germanie were vnited together against the Pope and that shee desired nothing more than that the English and Scottish were combined in this accord shewed them that the Queene of Scotland being a Widdow now was the onely opportunitie for the appeasing of all discords betwixt England and Scotland who had so many Ages the one fought against the other with so much bloud-shed on either part whether in contracting a perpetuall League with the English or in razing out of the ancient league with the French those Couenants which were wont to breed discord betweene England and Scotland Lastly shee exhorted them to beware that the Queene who was now a Widdow should not dispose her selfe in marriage to a stranger Prince by whose power shee might reuenge her selfe vpon those who had lately resisted the French and so expose their freedome to the hazard of seruitude In the meane time the Queen of Scotland who thought to retyre her selfe into her Kingdome hauing sent before Doysell a French-man intreating ELIZABETH by him to giue her Highnesse leaue to passe by Sea and to Doysell through England vnder the common faith ELIZABETH vtterly denyed her in presence of a whole multitude of her Assistants alledging for excuse that shee had not yet ratified the Treaty of Edenborrough as shee had promised to doe and assured her that in case shee should performe all that shee might expect from a Queene being her Cousin and Neighbour shee might freely passe either by Sea or Land into Scotland The Queene of Scots extremely stomaking this refusall called for Throgmorton and intertained a great deale of discourse with him about this occasion which I will briefly here insert according to the Contents of Throgmortons Letters collected by mee howsoeuer I must repeat diuers things of which I haue formerly spoken to the end that the originall and degrees of the secret grudges and hatred betweene two of the prudentest and most puissant Princesses of our Age might more euidently and clearely appeare Shee being then withdrawne a little aside and there being no more but her selfe and Throgmorton she spake in this manner vnto him ALthough I were so weake that I did not sufficiently know it nor whither the heat of my spirit might carry mee yet am I not so weake that I should desire so many witnesses of mine infirmitie as your Mistresse not long sithence held discourses with my Ambassadour Doysell Nothing vexeth mee so much as to haue intreated her for that I could well haue beene without and as I am come hither against her will and notwithstanding the hinderance by her Brother EDWARD I shall also be as well able God willing to returne into my Countrey without asking her leaue And I want not friends nor friends that are willing and powerfull to bring mee backe thither as they were to bring mee hither But I chose rather to try her friendship than any others I haue often heard you say that it was chiefly necessary to our two Kingdomes to intertaine amity the one with the other and neuerthelesse it seemes that shee hath another meaning otherwise shee would not haue refused mee so small a courtesie But peraduenture she loues those Scots better which are Rebels to me who am Queene of Scotland of equall Maiestie to her her neere Kinswoman and the most certaine Heire Doe you thinke that with so great a faith and loue which is betweene her and me she should keepe correspondency with the Scots which rebell against me Does shee thinke that I shall be forsaken of my friends Truely shee hath brought mee to that passe that I haue reclaymed the ayde of those which otherwise I would not haue imployed and I cannot maruell enough by what counsell she hath heretofore assisted my Subiects against mee and now that I am a Widdow am hindered from returning into my Countrey I stirre not vp any businesse nor meddle with those of England although I be assured that many English are not content with such as passe there at this present She reproches mee for my small experience I confesse age brings that yet neuerthelesse I haue so much as to know how to carry my selfe louingly and iustly with my friends I doe not cast at randome any word against her which may be vnworthy of a Queene and a Kinswoman and by her permission I dare say that I am a Queene as well as shee and want no friends more than shee doth and can carry my courage as high as shee knowes how to doe insomuch as it is fitting for vs to measure our selues with some equality But I leaue comparisons which cannot be but with debate and hatred As for the Treaty of Edenborrough it was made in the life-time of the King my Husband to whom I was bound by duety to obey in all things and since hee deferred the confirmation of it the fault ought to be his and not mine Since his death the Councell of France hath left me to be guided by mine owne friends and my Vnkles would not meddle with the affaires of Scotland for offending in any thing either Queene ELIZABETH or the Scots The Scots that I haue neere about me are priuate persons and are not such as I would aske their counsell in things of so great importance As soone as I haue consulted with the States of my Kingdome I will giue you a reasonable answer and to giue it so much the sooner I goe forward to returne to my House But shee makes account to stop my passage insomuch that shee her selfe is the cause that I cannot satisfie her and peraduenture she does it to the end that there may not be any end of our discords Shee often obiects vnto me as to my shame that I am young and truely shee might rightly say it both very young and very ill-aduised if I would treate of a businesse of that importance without the consent of my States A woman as I haue learned is not bound either by honour or conscience to her Husbands fact But I will haue no dispute vpon that and neuerthelesse I will truely say that I haue done nothing to my most deare Sister that I would should not haue beene done vnto my selfe I haue rendred her all duties of friendship but shee either beleeues them not or despiseth them I would to God that I were as deare to her as I am neere to her for that would be a precious kinde of proximitie God pardon those which sow discords betweene vs if there be any But you who are her Ambassadour say if you dare wherefore shee is so much offended against mee who vntill this present neuer offended her neither in word nor in effect To which Throgmorton told her I Haue no Commission to answer
brought her vp she would be no lesse to the loue of her Sister Queene ELIZABETH Notwithstanding as shee was subtill of spirit shee was afraid if shee should tye her selfe with a stricter friendship to Queene ELIZABETH to incurre the disgrace of the King of France and to be abandoned of the Guizes her Vnkles and lose the money which shee drew from France for her dowry while shee should preferre this friendship which was vncertaine and as shee said her selfe there is none but transgresseth and of the friendship of the French she was assured And that that was the cause why the interuiew which had beene in deliberation many moneths came to nothing chiefly after she had declared by Letters that shee altogether refused it vnlesse that for to ground a certaine peace and the vnion of the two Kingdomes so much desired she were by authority of the Parliament designed Heire of the Kingdome of England or adopted Queene ELIZABETHS Daughter and that if these things were granted her she promised to be wholly at the deuotion of Queene ELIZABETH though she quitted all consideration and respect to the Guizes her Vnkles Furthermore she assured that she did not presse these things but vpon aduice which she had giuen her of the secret practices of some vnder pretence of religion intended to suborne some other Successour than her selfe howbeit she tolerates the Protestants Religion in Scotland But as the Cardinall of Lorraine treated at the same time with the Emperour Ferdinand to marry her with Charles his Sonne Arch-Duke who then sought to haue Queene ELIZABETH ELIZABETH declareth vnto her by Thomas Randolph that if shee lent any eare to this marriage to the Cardinall capitall enemy to the Engglish she might dissolue the amity betweene England and Scotland and peraduenture therewith to include the losse of the Kingdome of England admonisheth her amiably not to fall off but to chuse her a Husband in England first to please her selfe and afterwards for the contentment of her owne Subiects and of the English and to intertaine the friendship which was betweene them and to prepare her selfe a way to a certaine assurance of the succession of England of which declaration could not be made if it did not first appeare with whom she meant to marry All these cares held Queene ELIZABETH in great suspence neuerthelesse she was altogether attentiue to the warres of France to hinder that the flames of it in Normandie should not be blowne into England and after mature deliberation receiued into her protection the King of France his Subiects which were in Normandie and implored her succour by a Couenant which shee passed with the Princes of Condé Rohan Coligni and others to this effect That shee would send them a hundred thousand crownes and passe ouer sixe thousand Souldiers of which three thousand should be employed for the defence of Deepe and Roüan That they would put into her hands for assurance Ville-Franche which is situated at the mouth of Sene and was built by King Francis the First the French calling it Haure de grace and the English New-Hauen to be kept by a Garrison of three thousand Engglish Souldiers vnder the name of the King of France vntill Calais be rendred The same day that this agreement past to giue a reason of her designe shee published a manifestation to this effect That shee sent not an armie into Normandie to recouer this Prouince an ancient patrimony of England which had been wrongfully vsurped but to conserue it for the King of France being but yet a Childe and to warrant it against the Guizes who had begun cruelly to ouer-runne those who professed the pure Religion and iniustly to robbe her of her right which shee had to Calais and to take possesssion of the Ports of Normandy from thence they threaten next to fall vpon England which they haue by hope deuoured already insomuch as shee could not chuse but meete their attempts vnlesse shee should seeme to be fayling to the young King her Brother and Confederate and his Subiects that are oppressed to enuy the quiet of Christendome and which is more cowardly betray her Religion her securitie and her saluation And as Paul de Foix Ambassadour of France in England summoned her by vertue of the Treaty of Cambray to deliuer into the Kings hands the Vidame of Chartres of Hai and others who had signed the accord as Traitors to their Countrey shee excused her selfe of that by her Letter to the King discharging them of the crime and charged the turbulent spirits of the Guizes for it who had wrapped in the tempest of warre the Kings Father and Brother and the King himselfe In the moneth of September one part of the English Army landed at New-Hauen vnder the conduct of Adrian Poining who was appointed Marshall where they were with ioy receiued by the inhabitants the other part landed at Deepe The Earle of Warwicke Generall of the Army arriued there later hauing been by contrary windes twice driuen backe into England Afterwards they made diuers incursions into the Countrey neere thereabout but to hinder the same the Ringraue came and camped neerer The English and the French had notwithstanding often light skirmishes and those which were men of warre vpon the Sea brought in rich spoyles taking and bringing in euery day French ships from the neighbouring harbors This yeere Iohn Vere the Earle of Oxford died the sixteenth of that illustrious House who by his first Wife Daughter to Ralph Neuill Earle of Westmerland had Katherine who was wife to Edward Baron of Windsor by his second Wife Margaret Goulding Edw. Earle of Oxford who ouer-threw and wasted his Patrimony and Mary who was married to Peregrine Bartie Baron of Willoughbie At the same time Shan O-Neale came out of Ireland to performe that which he had promised the yeere before hauing for his Guard a troupe of Galloglassorum who had their heads naked and curled haire hanging on their shoulders yellow shirts as if they had beene died with Saffron or steeped in Vrine wide sleeues short Cassockes and rough hairy Clokes The English admired them no lesse than they should doe at this day to see those of China or America Hauing beene receiued with all courtesie hee cast himselfe at the Queenes feete and with teares acknowledged his crime asked pardon and obtained it After being graciously questioned Wherefore he had excluded Matthew his Brother from the succession of his great Grand-father answered fiercely as hee was vsed to doe in Ireland that it was his right and being the certaine and lawfull sonne and Heire of Cone borne of a legitimate woman he had taken his succession That Matthew was the issue of a Lock-Smith of Dundalke married with a woman named Alison after this marriage and notwithstanding had beene deceitfully supposed by his Mother Cone to be her sonne to the end falsly to take away the dignity of O-Neale And although he should suffer it some of the House
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
to euery bodies knowledge shee sends Lidington to Queene ELIZABETH to haue her consent to contract with Darley and not to be any longer detained with a vaine hope of marriage Queene ELIZABETH propounds the matter to her most intimate Councellors who by the secret suggestions of the Earle of Murray easily beleeued that the Queene of Scotland had no other designe but to strengthen her selfe by such a marriage to carry the right which shee pretended for the Kingdome of England and at length to establish it and likewise the Romish Religion that some did adhere vnto her seeing that by reason of her children the succession was ascertained to her House and others for the affection which they bare to the Romish Religion there being found more Eirenarch's in England deuoted to the Romish Religion than to the Protestants That to preuent these accidents it was chiefly requisite first to pray the Queene to marry speedily to the end that the affaires and hopes of England should not depend else-where but of the certainty of Succession which should come of her and of her Linage for they feared that if the Queene of Scotland did marry and should haue issue first many would incline towards her for the certainty and assurednesse of succession Secondly to ruine as much as may be the Romish Religion in England and to aduance and carefully establish the reformed the one by vsing more moderately in things indifferent such Protestants that are carried with a feruent zeale the other in setting Guards againe vpon the deposed papisticall Bishops who were then dispersed through the Countrey by reason of the plague conferring vpon the other Bishops greater authority to execute the Ecclesiasticall Ordinances then they had contrary to the terrifying Praemunire which the Lawyers doe obiect suppressing those Bookes which Harding and the fugitiue Diuines had sent out of the Low-Countries into England driuing out some Scottish Priests who hid themselues in England depriuing the English fugitiues of the Ecclesiasticall Benefices which they enioyed vntill then and compelling the Iudges of the Land who were for the most part Papists to acknowledge the Queenes Soueraigne authority and to sweare vnto it And that to hinder the marriage of Darley it was fit to leuy Souldiers vpon the Frontiers of Scotland to the end to raise a terrour to fortifie the Garrison of Berwicke to set a guard vpon the Countesse of Lenox Darley's Mother and on Charles her Sonne and to re-call out of Scotland into England the Earle of Lenox and Darley his Sonne vpon paine of losse of their goods before they made any alliance with the French or with Spaine and to assist those which were bent against this match and to receiue the Earle of Hertford and Katherine Gray somewhat into fauour which thing onely was thought that the Queene of Scotland very much apprehended in regard that shee likewise pretended a right to the Kingdome and it seemed none other could bring a greater impediment to this marriage than she From hence Throgmorton is sent to the Queene of Scotland to aduise her that it behooued to deliberate long of a thing that can be but once determined on and that a precipitate marriage was followed with repentance to re-commend Leicester to her againe and againe and that it was altogether contrary to Canon Law to contract with the Sonne of her Aunt by the Father-side For Queene ELIZABETH desired aboue all that some of the English Race should by her meanes succeed to both the Kingdomes albeit there fayled not who for matter of Religion and for the two Kingdomes made account to succeed if shee dyed without issue She answers That it was now past reuoking and that Queene ELIZABETH had no cause to be angry seeing that by her Councell she had made choyce of a Husband which was no stranger but an English man borne of the Royall bloud of both the Kingdomes and the most noble of all Great Brittaine Amongst these things Lidington treateth of affaires in England and dissembling with Leicester often spoke vnto him touching marriage with the Queene of Scotland as also to the Duke of Norfolke much more worthy to marry a Queene who then refused it with a modest excuse The Qu. of England to interpose some hindrance to this so hastened marriage calls backe Lenox and his Son Darley as being her Subiects according to the forme of the leaue which she had granted them The Father excuses himselfe modestly by Letters the Sonne prayes her not to hinder his aduancement representing vnto her that hee might be vsefull to England his dearest Countrey and openly declared vnto her that aboue all things hee loued and honoured the Queene of Scotland To answere which loue she had adorned him forthwith with the dignity Equitis Aurati with the titles of Baron of Ardmanock Earle of Rosse and Duke of Rothesie and fiue moneths after his comming into Scotland marries him with the consent of many Peeres and declares him King The Earle of Murray who imbraced nothing so affectionately as ambition and vnder pretence of Religion had drawne to his faction the Duke of Chastelraut a man without leauen Murray murmuring exceedingly and others storming and stirring vp such like questions Whether a Papist might be admitted King or no If the Queene of Scotland might chuse her selfe a Husband If the States might not impose their authoritie The Queene of England bare this peaceably knowing the sweete and tractable nature of Darley and the open heart of his Father and taking pitty to see a kinsman and a Queene very young to haue to doe with turbulent men who hauing beene already more than twenty yeeres loosed from Royall command could not indure Kings and feared them not seeing that the power of this Queene who enuied her was not increased by so meane a condition hauing Darleyes Mother in her power and fore-seeing that troubles in Scotland would spring out of this marriage as it happened quickly after for some great ones of the Kingdome and the chiefe of them Hamilton and Murray disdaining this match the one because it had beene contracted without the consent of the Queene of England the other for the enuy which he bare to the House of Lenox but both the one and the other pretending the conseruation of Religion to disturbe the marriage brought their Ensignes into the field insomuch as she was constrained to raise forces to celebrate it in safety and with the helpe of the King her Husband pursued the Rebels so swiftly that she constrained them to flie into England before the English troupes which were promised them for ayde were arriued and the Queene of England conniuing with Murray who was much addicted to the Engglish assigned him a conuenient place to lye heere in safetie and sent him money vnder-hand by the Earle of Bedford vntill his returne into Scotland which was the morrow after the murder of Dauid Riz as wee shall speake of it
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
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
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
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
ordinarily fals out comming at last to be neglected and contemned the vse of them grew out of request From the Month of Nouember in the precedent yeere Charles the Ninth King of France had a Daughter borne The King to make sure with Queene ELIZABETH and aswell to render her fauourable by all offices of humanitie and to take away from the Protestants of France all hope of succour from England intreated her to receiue her at the sacred Font of Baptisme and to this end as also to obtaine some certaine Moneyes from her hee sent into England De Gondy vulgarly called the Count of Rez who by an elaborate discourse indeuoured to perswade her that they had made the Massacre of Paris which some could call by no other name than a great and capitall wickednesse hee a safe and wholesome remedy not in hatred of the Protestant Religion but to dissipate the conspiracy of the Admirall Coligni and others and that the King most inuiolably kept the Edicts touching Religion That shee would not giue eare to those fearefull spirits that did nothing but adde to their owne affrightment and causelesly complaine but that Shee would religiously conserue the alliance of the new contract and exhort them to obey the King assuring her that they should finde him most mercifull To which shee promised to be mindefull of the Alliance and that shee would not faile the King in any thing that was fitting and agreeable for a most affectionate Ally but for the Money shee excused her selfe Nor did he demand it but as a designe to giue impeachment to her ayding of the Protestants in case they should require it after shee had made deniall of it to the King of France And surely shee tooke occasion from hence to make refusall of it to them calling to minde how euilly they had requited her for that which shee had lent them in their first Ciuill Warre By this Ambassage the Count of Rez obtained that from that time the Protestants found lesse fauour with her than they had done before A little after the Lord Somerset Earle of Worcester was sent into France with a Baptistrey of Gold for in Qu. ELIZABETHS name to promise the duetie of a Godmother at the christening of the French Kings Daughter with the Lady Mary the Emperours Wife and the Deputies of the Duke of Sauoy This arriuing to the knowledge of the Protestants of France and Flanders who at the same time were as Pirats vpon the Sea they suspecting the said Earle of Worcester to be a Papist mist him narrowly for they robbed two of his Ships and slew diuers of his people at which Queene ELIZABETH being highly offended sent to Sea Sir William Holstoc Controller of the Royall-Nauy who as much by his taking as chasing of them recouered some Ships loden with goods and purged the Sea of such And forasmuch as the most part of them had vowed their seruice to the Count de-Mont-Gommery who then was in England for helpe to succour those of Rochell besieged it hindered his dispatch parting from thence late and with so little an Army that hee did no good at all to Rochell This occasioned the French Protestants refuged in England being much moued to vse in iniurious manner some other Allens being French Papists in hatred of contrary Religion yea they assaulted them armed and among others the seruants of Monsieur Flery secretly sent into England from the Duke of Aniou to treat of a match with Queene ELIZABETH whereof Monsieur le Vidame de Chartres not knowing his comming accused Flery before the Councell of State as to be come of purpose and hyred to kill the said Earle of Mont-Gommery The ordinary Ambassadour of France contrariwise complained to the Queene that against the Alliance the Earle of Mont-Gommery had through the helpe of England vndertaken a voyage to Rochell and the English Merchants furnished the besieged Towne with victuals and prouisions To this her Maiesty answered THat she had alwayes inuiolably kept and would still to future times keepe her promise mentioned in the alliance That this aide and Succour was compounded of Pyrats and Vagabonds who could not tarry in their Countries and that they were parted out of England without her command vnder false Ensigne and that shee desired they should bee punished Moreouer that such English Merchants basely dealt withall in Bourdeaux were gone to Rochell without leaue and that men of their calling and kind vsed to sayle euery where chiefly where their profit and gaine was greater Shee likewise required that in stead of Rochell they should appoynt in France some Hauen-Towne more commodious for Negotiations The French were much pleased with this answer being assured that Qu. ELIZABETH would still keepe promise and that shee was so farre from sending helpe to the Protestants of France who expected none from her The King of France and his Mother loued intirely more and more Queene ELIZABETH seeing her Maiesty bore vnto them a true amitie and sincere affection they made the Duke of Alanzon write many amorous Letters vnto her from the Royall Campe before Rochell endeuouring with much care and no lesse pain to bring that marriage to passe that whole yeere by their Leger Ambassadour Monsieur de Chasteau-Neuf extraordinarily sent to that effect And truely her Maiesty was moued to consider it seriously by a double apprehension shee had both for the want of a Husband and Children The first was that her Maiesty should perhaps be contemned by her owne Subiects The second that forreiners would plot wicked practices against her Scepter her Maiesty was perswaded and said often that a Husband and Progeny are firme Fortresses against it her Courtiers contrarywise ayming at their particular ends maintained THat true Religion and Equitie were assured Forts and defensiue Rockes against all sorts of plots and designes That her Maiestie ought not to apprehend to be despised or contemned by her subiects for they had settled their fortunes ankered their hopes and grounded their solace vpon her Maiestie onely as much obliged vnto her by a long race of Ancestors affecting and taking pleasure more and more in the contemplation and admiration of her splendant and lustrous vertues With such other discourses familiar to Courtiers But as her Maiesty had often in her mouth that the most part contemned the setting Sunne these Flatterers alledged WHat is hee that will contemne the salutiferous Beames of a Sunne brightly shining for to aspect the fatall and confounded light of little Starres which rise all at once So they often termed her Competitors Among these things the Queene-Mother of France prayed her Maiestie to be so farre pleased as to permit that the Duke of Alanzon her Sonne might passe into England to see her which request finally Queene ELIZABETH granted wearied with the multiplicity of Letters sent to her Maiestie to that end prouided hee should not repute her leaue fraudulous or iniurious if hee should
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
Pyrates and imprisoned them vpon the sea-coast And for the goods which were taken away William Winter Knight and Robert Beale Counsellor and Secretary for the Queenes Letters were deputed into Zeland to accord the differences on eyther side and vpon equall conditions to cause restitution to be made But the Auarice of the English Merchants and the insolency of the Zelanders broached new contentions which were presently brought to conclusion with little dammage to either Nation Then there grew a great confusion throughout the Netherlands the Spaniards imprisoning certaine of the Councellours of the Estates and persecuting with all sorts of outrages and excesse of iniuries the inhabitants of the Prouinces in such manner that the Estates were forced to take armes and send forth messengers to all parts to manifest their wrongs They dispatched towards Queene ELIZABETH Aubigni to demonstrate to her Maiestie the iniuries and causes for which they tooke vp armes Queene ELIZABETH by Wilson exhorted as much as was possible both the Estates and the Spaniards to lay aside their Armes studiously inquiring the causes why the Counsellors of the Estates were so violently imprisoned In the meane space the City of Antwerpe being the Illuminary of other Cities which scarce giueth place to the second of the most flourishing Marts in Europe was miserably sacked by the Spaniards the House of the English Merchants there pillaged and themselues although innocent were constrained to pay large ransomes to the Souldiers Aubigni taking hold of this occasion with much importunity requested Queene ELIZABETH in the name of the Estates to lend some notable summe of money to be imployed for the repressing of the Spanish insolence But her Maiesty knowing that they had before demanded assistance of the French made refusall neuerthelesse she promised incontinently and with all diligence to make intercession to the Spaniard in their behalfe for a peace and league and to this end she sent Iohn Smith Cousin-German to Edward the Sixth a man perfect in the Spanish behauiour and well knowne to the King of Spaine who was graciously receiued of the King and so wisely retorted vpon Gasp Quirague Arch-bishop of Toledo and the Inquisitors the contumelious iniuries which they spake against the Queen out of hate to the Religion and willing her not to adde to her titles the Defendresse of the Faith that he receiued many thankes from their King who was much offended with the Arch-bishop requesting Smith to conceale from the Queene those passages and commanded seuerely that that attribute should be allowed of The King knew well that the Queenes Councel were sufficient and expedient for her affaires yet would he not consent thereto the fate of the Netherlands if I may so call it carrying him another way At the same time Iohn of Austria naturall Sonne to the Emperour Charles the Fifth arriued in Flanders with a soueraigne command to whom the Queene in like manner sent Edward Horsey Gouernour of the I le of Wight to congratulate his arriuall and offer him her assistance if the Estates should call the French into Holland Neuerthelesse by the importunate sollicitation of Sweuingham pleading for the Estates shee sent them 2000. pounds of English money with this condition that they should not change their Prince nor admit the French into Holland nor refuse the peace if Iohn of Austria should descend to any equall conditions But if he should accept of a peace then the moneyes should be imployed for the payment of the Spanish Souldiers which had for want of pay raysed all these troubles Such was her care and study to detaine these wauering Prouinces vnder the obedience and alleageance of the Spaniard neuer pretermitting any occasion of well-deseruing and for the conseruation of peace In this instant England triumphed in an agreeable tranquillity and the traffique of the English with the Portugals which by the priuate auarice of some particular persons had beene shut vp was then opened againe and the English had permission to traffique in Portugall Algarbia the Iles of Medera and the Azores the Portugals likewise in England and Ireland for the space of three yeeres during which time all differences and contentions which had bin about the deteining of goods or merchandise were made void And this was publiquely diuulged by the sound of a Trumpet Likewise certaine learned Ingenies of the time inflamed with an honest desire of discouering the more distant Regions of the Earth and the secrets of the Ocean incited certaine well-monyed men who were no lesse inflamed with the desire of getting more to make discouery if in the North parts of America there were any way by which men might sayle to the rich Countrey of Cathay and so by a mutuall commerce to ioyne the Riches of the East and Occident together Those learned men probably disputed taking it for granted that the shore lay on that side that the neerer we approach to the shore the shallower the waters be and by experience those which saile from the shore of the Westerne Ilands meet with higher Seas which seeme to be all one with that Sea which Nauigators call Del-Sur on the other part of America Furthermore that when the Sea is carried by the diurnall motion of the primum mobile it is driuen backe by the opposition of America and runnes toward the Northerne Countries of Cabo Fredo that is to say the cold Promontory there to vnburthen it selfe through some Chanell into the Del-Sur Sea except it be by the like violence repulsed into Lappia and Finmarch in which Region of the Southerne world from the Insulous strait of Magellan being incapable of such a masse of waters by reason of the narrownesse of the Chanels of those Ilands they are beaten backe to Cabo Fredo by the Easterne shores of America And they adde for Witnesses Ienkenson an Englishman who better knew then any other the Northerne Climate of the world who shewed that those huge and massie heapes of waters of the Sea Cronio doe disimbogue themselues necessarily into the Sea Del-Sur and Bernard le Tor a Spaniard who affirmed that returning from the Moluccus into America aboue the Equinoctiall Line Northward he was cast backe againe by force of waters comming from the North violently rushing against his Ship into Moluccus and other Witnesses they produce to proue this Whereupon monyed-men were perswaded to send Martin Furbisher with three Ships to discouer this Strait who loosing from Harwich the 18. of Iune entred the ninth of August into the Gulfe or Strait vnder the latitude of sixtie three degrees where hee found men of blacke hayre broad faces flat wry noses of a swart and tawny colour clothed with Sea-Calues skinnes and the women were painted about the eyes and the balls of the Cheeke with a deepe azure colour like the ancient Britans but all things being so bound vp with Ice in the Moneth of August it was not possible for them to hold on their
nominate would be bound by writing to repay it within a yeere and made alliance with them of mutuall succour both by Land and Sea vnder these conditions THe Queene shall send for succour to the States a thousand Horse and fiue thousand foote to whom they shall pay three moneths after their imbarking their intertainement and expence in the City of London and the warres ended shall defray their expence for their returning into England The Generall of these forces who shall be an English-man shall be receiued into the Councell of the States and nothing shall be ordered concerning warre or peace without consulting thereupon either with the Queene or him nor make league with any whosoeuer without her approbation and if shee please to be comprehended in the same If any Prince doe any hostile act against the Queene or Kingdome of England vnder any pretext whatsoeuer the States shall resist as much as in them lye and shall send ayde to the Queene in the same number and vpon the like conditions If any discord arise among the States it shall bee referred to her arbitrement If the Queene be to prepare a Nauie against enemies the States shall furnish xl Ships of a competent burthen with Mariners and euery thing else necessary which shall obey and follow the Admirall of England and shall be defrayed at the Queenes cost The States shall in no wise admit into the Low-countries such English as the Queene hath declared Rebels If they conclude a peace with Spaine they must take heede that the Articles whether ioyntly or seuerally bee confirmed by the Queenes pleasure Immediately as this Treatie begun the Queene lest shee should be calumniated as a nourisher of Rebellion in the Low-Countries sent Thomas Wilkes to the Spaniard to declare vnto him as followeth FOrasmuch as there neuer want malicious spirits which studie craft and subtiltie to breake friendship betweene those Princes and by vniust suggestion to cast aspersions vpon their honours by supposall as if shee had kindled this fire in the Low-Countries First shee prayes the King and the Gouernours of the Low-Countries that they would call to minde how often and how earnestly like a friend shee long-agoe forewarned of the euils hanging ouer the Low-Countries And then when they thought of reuolting what studious paines she tooke in often Missitations to the Prince of Orange and the States that they should continue in dutie and obedience to the King yea euen when those most opulent Prouinces were offered her in possession what sinceritie shewed shee not to take them into protection Finally when all things were deplorable how much money did shee lately furnish to hinder the States being pressed by vrgent necessitie not to subiect themselues vnder another Prince and trouble the treatie of the late propounded peace But when shee had notice that the Prince of Orange was vnwilling to embrace the peace already begun shee did not onely admonish him to embrace it but also shee most sacredly protested interposed threatnings and in some sort commanded him If these things be vnworthy of a Christian Prince studious of peace and most desirous to deserue well of her good Confederate the King of Spaine let the King himselfe and all the Princes of the Christian World iudge And that wars might sleepe on both sides and that hee might haue the Hollanders obedient aduiseth him to receiue them as an afflicted people into his ancient fauour restore their priuiledges obserue the last couenants of peace and elect out of his owne Family some other Gouernour Which could by no meanes be effected vnlesse Don Iohn were remoued whom the States distrusted with more than a hostile and implacable hatred and whom shee certainely knew by his secret practices with the Queene of Scots to be her vtter enemy Insomuch that shee could expect nothing from the Low-Countries but certaine dangers while He gouerned there But now when shee doth perceiue what great number of forces Don Iohn inrolled and how many Troupes of French there were in a readinesse shee profest that to keepe the Low-Countries to the King of Spaine and to repell danger from England shee had promised ayde to the States Who reciprocally had promised to persist in their obedience to the King and to innouate nothing in Religion From which if shee shall perceiue the King auerse but to haue determined breaking the barres of their rights and priuiledges to draw them into seruitude like miserable Prouinces captiuated by conquest shee cannot both for the defence of her Neighbours and her owne securitie be failing or negligent But also if the States doe breake their faith with the King or enterprise any thing contrary to what they haue promised she would speedily turne her Ensignes against them The Spaniard was not pleased to heare these things neuerthelesse knowing that it lay much in Queene ELIZABETHS power to establish or ruine his affaires in the Low-Countries and knowing for certaine that Don Iohn laide Ambuscadoes for her dissembled it and prayed her to prosecute the designe which shee had for establishing peace and not rashly to belieue the false reports that runne or that be practised vnworthily against a Prince that is his friend Whiles Wilkes exposeth these things in Spaine Don Iohn who feared Queene ELIZABETH and withall wished her ruine sends Gastell to her who blamed the States exceedingly accuseth them of many foule crimes and layde open at large the causes that moued Don Iohn to take armes againe Queene ELIZABETH like an Heroicke Princesse stood Arbitratresse between the Spaniard the French and the States insomuch as shee had power to apply this saying of her Father He shal carry it away for whom I am and that which he writ is found true that France and Spaine are the scoales of the Ballance and England the beame At the very same time the Iudges holding the Assises at Oxford and R. Ienke Stationer an impudent talker was accused and brought to triall for speaking iniurious words against the Queene the most part of the assistants were so infected with his poysonous and pestilent breath and by reason of the stinke whether of the prisoners or the prison that they almost all dyed within forty dayes besides women and children and this contagion extended no further Amongst others R. Bel chiefe Baron of the Exchequer a graue man and learned in the Law R. Doyley Sir G. Babington Vicount Doyley of Oxfordshire Harcourt Waineman and Fetiplace persons of great estimation in that Countrey and Barham a famous Lawyer being almost of one Iury and about three hundreth more died there Hitherto the Papists in England enioyed a cheerefull tranquillitie who by a kinde of merciful conniuency exercised their Religion in priuate houses in some sort vnpunished although it was prohibited by the Law vpon paine of a pecuniary mulct to be inflicted neither did the Queen thinke it fit to force the conscience But after that thundring Bull of Excommunication against the Queene which came
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
being so fit a place for ambuscadoes Notwithstanding this aduice they must vndertake it and hee exhorteth them to behaue themselues couragiously and himselfe being threescore and ten yeeres of age marched in the Front and the others followed him But they were no sooner gone downe but they were showred vpon with musket-shot like hayle driuen by a tempest from the bushes where the Rebels were placed and not a man of them to be discerned The most part of them were slaine there the rest retyring and clyming vp the Rockes and ragged wayes with much adoe came to the Deputie who stood vpon a Hill expecting the euent with the Earle of Kildare and Sir Iohn Wingfield Master of the Ordnance who knowing the danger would not suffer George Carew one of his Nephewes to goe thither reseruing him for greater honours Peter Carew the younger G. More Audeley and Cosby himselfe were slaine there Shortly after seuen hundred or threabout of Italians and Spaniards commanded by San-Ioseph an Italian sent by the Pope and the King of Spaine vnder pretext to establish the Romane Religion but the end of it was to diuide Queene ELIZABETH's forces and to call home those which shee had in the Low-Countries landed at Smerwick without any resistance in regard that Winter who had waited for them in that place seeing the Equinox of Autumne past was returned for England fortified the place with Bulwarkes and named it the Fort Del-Or But as soone as they had knowledge that the Earle of Ormond Gouernour of Mounster was comming towards them they by the aduice of the Irish quitted the Fort and went to the Valley of Grauingel being of difficult accesse by reason of the Mountaines and Woods which enuironed it The Gouernour tooke some of them by the way who being examined what number they were and what designe they had confessed that they were seuen hundred that they had brought armes for fiue thousand and looked daily for greater numbers from Spaine That the Pope and the King of Spaine were resolued to driue the English out of Ireland and to effect the same had sent store of treasure to Sanders the Popes Nuncio to the Earle of Desmond and to Iohn his brother The same night the Italians and Spaniards not knowing which way to turne themselues in regard they could not remaine in Caues and Dennes which were retreats for Cattell by the benefit of the darke night returned to the Fort and Ormond was camped before it but wanting Cannon other things requisit for battery was constrained to attend the Lord Deputies comming who was speedily there and with him Zouchey Raleigh Deny Mackworth Achin and other Captaines At the same time Winter being reproued for his comming away returned from England with his Ships of Warre The Lord Deputie sent a Trumpet to the Fort to aske those that kept it Who brought them into Ireland By whom they were sent and wherefore they had built a Fort in Queene ELIZABETH's Kingdomeâ— and to command them presently to quit it They answered that they were sent some from the most holy Father the Pope of Rome and the rest from the most Catholique King of Spaine to whom he had giuen Ireland Queene ELIZABETH being falne from it by reason of her Heresie and therefore would keepe what they had gotten and get more if they could Whereupon the Deputie and Winter hauing consulted of the manner how they should besiege it caused the Sea-Souldiers by night and without noyse to bring Culuerings from the Ships and hauing made a Bulwarke vpon the shoare drawes them easily forward and places them for battery The Land-Souldiers bent their greatest Ordnance to the other side and plaid vpon the Fort foure daies together The Spaniards make many sallies out but euer to their losse and the English lost but one man who was Sir Iohn Cheeke a braue and valiant young Gentleman sonne to Sir Iohn Cheeke a noble Knight most learned and iudicious San-Ioseph who commanded the Fort a very Coward and vnfit for the warres being affrighted with this continuall battery thinkes presently of rendring it and seeing Hercules Pisan and the other Captaines striuing to disswade him from it as an vnworthy thing to be done by Souldiers and insist that by their faint-heartednesse they should not diminish the courage of the Irish who were comming to their succour and prepared to sustaine the assault with a remarkable cowardlinesse sounds the intentions of the Souldiers and seditiously threatning the Captaines in the end brought them to condiscend to render it vp So seeing no succour neither from Spaine nor from the Earle of Desmond the fifth day of the said siege they put forth a white Flagge and demanded a Parley But it was refused them because they tooke part with Rebels with whom they were not to parley After they desired that they might goe out with bagge and baggage which was also denied them Also that it might be permitted to the General and the chiefe Commanders but that likewise was denied them though it was requested with much importunitie and the Deputie speaking outragiously against the Pope commands them to yeeld vpon discretion Insomuch as not being able to obtaine any thing else they put out the white Flagge againe and all together cry aloud Misericordia Misericordia And giue themselues vp to the Deputies mercy who presently tooke counsell what course hee should take with them But in regard they equalled the number of the English it was to be feared seeing the Rebels were aboue fifteene hundred and that lest the English who were destitute of Meat Apparell if they should not be comforted and refreshed with the spoyles of the enemy might be moued to reuolt also there being no shipping to carry them into their owne Countrey it was resolued against the Deputies will who full of mercy and compassion wept for it that all strangers the Commanders excepted should be put to the Sword and the Irish to be hanged which was presently executed Neuerthelesse the Queen who from her heart detested to vse cruelty to those that yeelded wished that the slaughter had not beene and was with much difficultie appeased and satisfied about it This is all that which passed in Ireland which I was willing to follow with a continued declaration to the end that the order of the History might not be interrupted though many things passed amongst them which I should haue remembred before if I had followed the order of the time Vpon the beginning of this yeere the ornaments of the head which exceeded in dressings and Clokes which came downe almost to the heeles no lesse seemly than of great expence were reformed by a Statute and Swords reduced to three-foot length Poniards to twelue inches from the hilt and Target-Pikes to two And forasmuch as the City and Suburbs of London were so increased in buildings by reason of the multitude of people which flowed thither from all parts so
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
to preuent the mariage the Vice-Chamberlaine Hatton and Walsingham were most of all malecontented as if the Queene Religion and Kingdome had been vndone Her women which were about her fell all in sorrow and sadnesse and the terror they put her into so troubled her minde that she passed all that night without sleepe amongst her houshold seruants who made a consort of weeping and sighing The next morning finding the Duke and taking him aside had serious discourse with him The Duke retiring himselfe after hee left her into his Chamber plucketh off the Ring casteth it on the ground taketh it vp againe rayleth on the lightnesse of women and inconstancie of Ilanders As she was perplexed with these passions shee called to minde what once the Lord Burley and the Earle of Sussex had told her that there was no Alliance offensiue to bee hoped for without marying with the Duke nor being alone and without assistancy was able to withstand the greatnesse of the Spaniard That the Spaniard offering his daughter in mariage to the King of Scots hee would easily draw the Papists in England to be his adherents and all the Fugitiues Rebels discontented persons and such as were sine spe sine re whereof the number was great to be on his side that al good people were now out of hope euer to haue issue of her body of the Blood Royall by this mariage and now hauing their hearts alienated from her hereby would cast their eyes and affections vpon some other of her Competitors That also shee could not but highly displease the King of France and the Duke his Brother who after the imploiment of so much time the holding of so many Counsels the sending of such honorable Ambassadors and the expences of so much money could hardly endure to finde himselfe in fine derided what colour so euer should be cast ouer the matter And to raise mony for the Duke of Anjou to imploy him in the warres of Flanders assigning him an annuall Pension for the time to come There remained also a scruple vpon her conscience that he so deluded of her might match himselfe in Spaine and then shee should bee in danger on both sides as well from France as from Flanders as euery one could breathe into her eares and her selfe presage Some thought that amidst this anxiety of doubtfull thoughts which troubled her minde about this mariage the necessitie of the time and matter made her put on a resolution that it would stand more with her honour and the good of her Common-weale to liue single then to be maried foreseeing that if she should marry with a subiect from such disparitie would grow disgrace to her selfe and kindle heart-burnings secret displeasures and domestique troubles and hatred If with a stranger she should bring her selfe and subiects vnder a foraine yoake and Religion in hazard remembring withall how vnfortunate that match of her Sister MARIES with King Philip was and that of her great grandfather EDWARD the fourth who was the first English King since the Norman conquest which tooke a subiect to wife She feared also to transfer vpon a husband that glory which whilst she liued vnmarried remained with her entire withall she was diuerted in minde from mariage by reason of the great perils she should be subiect to by conception and child-bearing as diuers women and Physicians bore her in hand Her Maiestie likewise burned with choller that there was a booke published in print inueighing sharply against the mariage as fearing the alteration of Religion which was intituled A gaping gulfe to swallow vp England by a French mariage In this Pamphlet the Priuy Councellors which fauoured the Match were taxed of ingratitude to their Prince and Countrey the Queene as not vnderstanding well her selfe by the way of flattery is tauntingly touched the Duke d' Anjou and his country of France in contumelious tearmes shamefully reuiled the mariage condemned for the diuersitie of Religions by poisonous words and passages of Scripture miserably wrested would seeme to proue that the Daughter of God being to match with the sonne of Antichrist it must needs bee the ruine of the Church and pernicious to the State neither would Queene ELIZABETH bee perswaded that the Author of this booke had any other purpose but to bring her into hatred with her subiects and to open a gap to some prodigious innouation it being so that shee neuer had respected so much the power shee had ouer her people as the loue they bore to her and as Princes are accustomed was neuer more carefull then of her royall reputation notwithstanding the writer of that booke neuer once made mention of meanes to establish in future securitie her selfe or Realme or for auoiding danger or how the States of the Land had in former times most importunately perswaded her Maiestie to mariage to giue an assured remedy against imminent euils And this she published in writing condemning the Author of the Libell made knowne the Dukes propensitie of minde towards her selfe and to the Protestants Religion grieuing to offer iniury to so worthy a Prince who neuer had once motioned to haue any change in State Common-wealth or Religion Shee also commended Sir H. Simier the Duke's Agent for his modesty and wisedome whom some had before in malignant speeches calumniated intimating to the people also that this Libell was a deuice of Traitors to stir vp hatred abroad seditions at home commanding it should be burnt in the presence of Magistrates Since that shee begunne to bee the more displeased with Puritans then she had been before-time perswading her selfe that such a thing had not passed without their priuitie and within a few dayes after Iohn Stubbes of Lincolnes Inne a zealous professor of Religion the Author of this Ralatiue Pamphlet whose Sister Thomas Cartwright the Arch-Puritan had maried William Page the disperser of the Copies and Singleton the Printer were apprehended against whom sentence was giuen that their right hands should be cut off by a law in the time of Philip and MARIE against the Authors of Seditious Writings and those that disperse them Some Lawyers storming hereat said the iudgement was erroneous and fetcht from a false obseruation of the time wherein the Statute was made that it was onely temporarie and that Queene MARIE dying it dyed with her Of the which Lawyers one Dalton for his clamorous speeches was commited to prison and Mouson a Iudge of the Common-pleas was sharply rebuked and his place taken from him after that Sir Chr. Wray chiefe Iustice of England had made it manifest by Law that in that Statute there was no errour of time but the Act was made against such as should put forth or divulge any seditious writing against the King and that the King of England neuer dyed yea that Statute likewise in the first yeare of Queene ELIZABETH was reuiued againe to the Queene and her Heires for euer Not long after vpon a Stage
set vp in the Market-place at Westminster Stubbes and Page had their right hands cut off by the blow of a Butchers knife with a Mallet strucke through their wrests The Printer had his Pardon I can remember that standing by Iohn Stubbes so soone as his right hand was off put off his hat with the left and cryed aloud God saue the Queene The people round about him stood mute whether stricken with feare at the first sight of this strange kinde of punishment or for commiseration of the man whom they reputed honest or out of a secret inward repining they had at this mariage which they suspected would be dangerous to Religion These things passed within a little after the Dukes ariuall in England and whilest hee stayed here the Queene to take away the feare conceiued by many that Religion should change and Papists should be tolerated by the importunity of Campian the Iesuite of whom I haue spoken Ralph Sherwing Luke Kirby and Alexander Brian who were indicted by an Act made in the 25 of Edward the third for attempting the ruine of the Queene and Kingdome for adhering to the Bishop of Rome the Queenes Aduersarie for raising sedition in her Realme and gathering forces together to the vtter subuersion of her Dominions of which they were found guilty and so condemned for that they obstinately defended the Papall Authoritie against the Queene they were put to death For Campian then condemned being demanded whether Queene ELIZABETH were right or lawfull heire answered nothing and againe If the Pope should inuade the Land whether he would take his part or the Queenes hee openly said the Popes which hee testified vnder his hand-writing After these some others were executed for the like matters and for ten whole yeares space together since the Rebellion but fiue Papists But I leaue the handling hereof to the Ecclesiasticall History neuerthelesse with permission I will briefely here obserue and note some such occurrences as are adioyning with those of States These times were such as that the Queene who was neuer of opinion that mens consciences should bee constrained often complained to haue beene of necessitie forced to these punishments lest vnder a pretext of conscience and Catholike Religion she should endanger her selfe and her louing subiects neuerthelesse her Maiesty beleeued not that the most part of these poore and miserable Priests had plotted the destruction of her country but that their Superiors made vse of them as instruments of their mischiefe for as much as they which were sent were wholly subiect to the power and authoritie of them which had sent them For when as such as were now and afterwards apprehended were demanded whether by the Authority of the Bull of Pius the fift the Queene of Englands subiects were so freed of their Oath of Allegeance that they might take Armes against her whether they esteemed her a lawfull Queene whether they approued the opinions of Sanders and Bristow touching the Authoritie of this Bul to which partie they would incline if the Pope should warre against the Queene Some of them answered so doubtfully others with such pertinacy and some with such preuarication or keeping silence so mocked the questions propounded to them that diuers Papists begunne to suspect that they nourished some falshood and Bishop although ingenious most zealous for the Roman Religion writ against them shewing that this Cannon which had passed vnder the name of the Lateran Councell vpon which was absolutely grounded the oath of absoluing subiects from their Obedience and fealty to their Princes and for the deposing of them was nothing else but a Decree of Pope Innocent the 3 which neuer was receiued in England as also that that Counsell was repeal'd and annihilated wherein nothing was done by the Fathers of the same at that time The more the number of the Priests comming by stealth into England increased the more increased suspitions of them who secretly practised to grope the hearts of men preached that it was lawfull to depose Princes excommunicated muttered and murmured that such as were not of the Roman religion were to be depriued of all regall power and Dignity and that such as had taken religious Orders were exempt from all obedience to Princes nor were any such held to be subiect either to them or their lawes That the Pope had supreme power ouer the whole world yea euen in politick affaires That the Magistrates of England had no lawfull institution and therefore were not to bee obeyed as Magistrates And that whatsoeuer Queene ELIZABETH had done since the publication of the Bull Declaratory of Pius the 5 was by the Lawes of God and Man disanull'd and to be held for naught And some of them denyed not in publike hearing that they were sent for no other causes into England then to absolue euery one seuerally and apart of all oath of fidelitie and obedience towards the Queene as the Bull had absolued all in generall which they did in taking confessions of their reconciliation And this they seemed to doe with more ease in promising Absolution from all mortall sinne and with more securitie because it was done priuately and vnder the Seale of Confession THE FIVE AND TWENTIETH YEERE of Her Raigne Anno Dom. M.D.LXXXII THese and the like things brought vpon Papists new and sharper lawes made by Act of Parliament at Westminster in the moneth of Ianuary where all such were declared guilty of high Treason which disswaded any of her Maiesties subiects frō their obedience to their Prince or from the Religion now profest in England or that should reconcile any to the Church of Rome or which should haue beene so perswaded turned or reconciled Two hundred markes fine and a yeares imprisonment inflicted vpon those which should celebrate Masse so long till they had paid And such as had willingly beene at any of their Masses one hundred markes and one yeares imprisonment and such as were not found to resort to their owne Parish Churches to diuine seruice for euery moneths omission ten pounds Which was maliciously vnderstood and interpreted by the Papists of Lunarie months who before had paid but one shilling to the poore for euery Sunday or Holidayes absence But I referre it to the Ecclesiasticall Historie to intreat of these things more at large The Duke d' Anjou after some three moneths abode in England tooke his way towards Flanders in the moneth of February Queene ELIZABETH in person accompanied him to Canterbury and commanded the Earle of Leicester the Lord Charles Howard the Barons of Hunsdon Willoughby Winsor and Sheffeild Sir Philip Sidney Sir Francis Russel Sir George Bourchier Knights and diuers other noble Gentlemen to accompany him to Antwerpe where he was created Duke of Brabant of Lymbourg Lotharing c. For the confederated States of Flanders had from thence proclaimed the King of Spaine falne from his Principality for infringing their Lawes broken his Seales cast downe
his Armes and so absolued the people from all oath of Fealtie so that it was lawfull and free for them to elect another Prince The Duke permitted all those the vse of the Romish Religion which would sweare Allegeance to him and abiure the Spaniard After this hee betooke himselfe to the field where he lost Aldenard and tooke in Alost But six hundred English souldiers exclaiming of General Norris his imperious seueritie ouer them forsaking him fled to the Spaniard vnder the leading of Captaine T. Norris Barney Cornish and Gypson who exposing themselues to all perils and being basely respected were paid with slow and late repentance and infinite miseries the paine of their perfidiousnesse But notwithstanding General Norris with three hundred horse and the rest of his foot-companies got the renowne of a valorous and most iudicious Warriour for his couragious encountering the Duke of Parma who fell vpon him with a farre greater power the whilest he warily and wisely made his retreat into the City of Gand in sight of the two Dukes of Anjou and Orleans admiring his martiall valour from off the Ramparts where they stood to behold him But why insist I vpon these matters The Duke d' Anjou hauing now without successe spent huge summes of money sent him out of England weighing with himselfe that only apparant Titles were bestowed vpon him and considering that all the managing of these matters were in the power of the States assayed by a precipitate counsell with his Armie to enter by force Antwerpe and some other townes but all in vaine and with the losse of many of his men and shortly after was constrained shamefully to quit leaue Flanders It shall suffice to note in a word in passing that nere vnto CHAPELLE in the month of May in the 12 degree of Gemini appeared a Comet or blazing starre with bright shining beames streaming ouer the right sholder of the Dragon About that time happened a horrible tempest in Norfolke with fearefull flashes of lightning and thunder of long continuance with violent furious winds and hailstones of three inches about Queene ELIZABETH for better security and to fortifie her selfe the more abroad against the Spaniard whom shee knew to be infest against her for that she had furnished the Duke d'Anjou with moneyes admitted into the fraternity of the order of Saint George Frederick the second King of Denmarke who had alwaies shewed himselfe most affectionate towards her Maiesty and to inuest him therewith sent ouer Sir Peregrin Bertie whom shee as her Maiesty was euer nice in conferring honors had with some difficulty honoured with the title of Lord Willoughbey of Eresby before he had giuen any proofe of his martiall vertue howsoeuer the Duchesse of Suffolke his mother was daughter and sole inheritrix to the ancient Baronry of Willoughby of Eresby The King of Denmark with ioyfulnesse put the chaine of Roses about his necke and the Garter about his legge the other Robes he locked vp in his Chest but refused to put them on because they were exotick or to take the oath for that he had taken one afore when by the French King hee was installed Knight of the Order of Saint Michael The whilest the Lord Willoughby was in Denmarke he propounded to the King a complaint from the English Merchants concerning the raising of Imposts and customes for that in times past for passing the Oresunde or straits of Denmarke they vsed to giue for euery ship but a Rose-Noble which made the fourth part of an ounce of gold as much for the fraught with some smal peeces of siluer for the fire-beacons giuing light by night vvhich vvere to direct them by their Sea-markes ouer the Shallowes and by the Shelues bankes Rocks He treated also for the Merchants that the tribute vvhich they call their LAST GELT might be remitted by the vvhich they begunne vvhen the Warres were so hot betwixt the Kings of Denmarke and Sueden to exact by vvay of borrowing the thirtieth part of all manner of Merchandizes vvith promise to repay them or the value of them againe the warre once ended But these as matters of importance vvere referred till another time For Princes doe seldome or neuer abate of their Custome Taxes or Imposts esteeming that such things as these vvhich they call Royalties belonging to the rightfull liberty of euery Kingdome are not things subiect to be moderated or abrogated by any strangers Queene ELIZABETH the better to secure her state at home imployed Sir Walter Mildmay to comprimise businesse with the Queene of Scots But finding that the Guises had consulted with certaine English Fugitiues about the setting her at liberty and gathering forces together vnder the pretext of sending supplyes to the Duke of Anjou in Flanders vvhich in very deed vvere to haue beene past ouer from the Hauens of Aux or Ew obscure harbours of Normandy into England which the French King hauing notice of out of his loue to Queene ELIZABETH certifieth her thereof and stayed them hereupon the matter was intermitted and the Queene of Scots affaires deferred But by the vvay to meet with the Guises attempts in Scotland whither it is supposed he employed the Earle of Lennox to dissolue the League betweene the King of Scots and the English whilest Will Ruthen lately created by the K. Earle of Gowry begunne to be mutinous He for that hee vvould not degenerate frō his Father bearing a mortall malice to the Kings Mother together with others of his confederacie were to put in practice the best wits they had for the vvorking of the Duke of Lennox and the Earle Arran both out of the Kings fauour and company vnder a colour of Religion the Kings securitie and the league of amity vvith England Now behold their subtilty and crafty proiects They begin to perswade Lennox vvho had been established L. High Chamberlain of Scotland to exercise the rigor of his iurisdiction though then out of vse for no other purpose but to purchase his owne disgrace with the people vvhilest the Presbytery out of their Pulpits should declaime against him as a Papist of the faction of the Guizes and a rude and seuere Executioner of the Law should publikely foretell and denounce his ruine and destruction When as therefore Lennox was departed from Perth where the King remained to execute his office at Edenburgh and the Earle Arran absent from the Court Gowrey Marre Lindsey and others taking their opportunity inuited the King to the Castle of Ruthen being there they held him in such feare that hee durst not walke abroad such of his seruants as he thought best of they sent away the E. of Arran they arrested and cast into prison and compelled the King by the intercession of Queen ELIZABETH to recal the Earl of Angus out of exile and to sends the Duke of Lenox into France who as he was a Noble man of milde disposition and altogether inclin'd to
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
whole yeare were the English affaires caried in the Netherlands In England Phillip Earle of Arundel who all the yeare had beene kept close prisoner was accused in the Starre-Chamber THat hee contrary to the Lawes had succoured the Priests had interchange of letters with Alan and Parson Jesuits and enemies to the Queene That he had derogated from the Justice of the Kingdome by publike writing and had enterprised to depart the Kingdome without licence But hauing made protestation of his obedience to the Queene and loue to his Country he modestly excused himselfe out of his zeale to the Catholike Religion and his ignorance of the lawes and submitted himselfe to the iudgement of the Assembly who adiudged him to be fined 10000 pounds and so long imprisonment as the Queenes pleasure should prescribe But of these things in the yeare 1589 must more amply be discoursed About this time ariued in England frō Frederick 2. King of Denmarke Hen. Ramely Chancelor for the German affaires with a warlike traine guard of Muskettiers who at large declared with what affection the K. of Denmarke was transported towards Queene ELIZABETH and the generall peace of Christendome to which he promised with his best indeauors to moue the King of Spaine to condiscend THat as hee said the common enemie of mankinde might not any longer with humane blood water those seeds of warre which he had sowne in the Netherlands The Queene gaue him a gracious hearing and hauing often graciously entertained him with diuers discourses she highly commended the pious intention of the King of Denmarke And by the Lord Burghley Treasurer Charles Howard Lord High Admirall Henry Lord Carie Baron of Hunsdon Chamberlaine and Sir Francis Walsingham principall Secretarie she gaue him this answer THat she desired nothing more then to embrace a League of amity in which were coucht no treacheries with her neighbouring Princes But considering the complots of the Spaniard which hee had practised against her shee could not but prouide for her owne safety the defence of the True Religion of Christ and the conseruation of the priuiledges of her allyed neighbours in their entier The selfe-same answer to the same purpose she gaue to Bodellan sent into England by the Duke of Parma to treat of a Peace In the meane space shee furnished the King of Nauarre by the hands of Horatio Pallauicine vvith a large summe of money in whose person onely the Guises oppugned the reformed Religion in France But the Queene was to nothing more attentiue then to confirme a solid amity betweene England and Scotland and to conioyne them in one vnited League of mutuall offence and defence vvhereby she might not onely cut off all hope of ayde from Scotland to foraine Nations but to the Queene of Scots her selfe For Queene ELIZABETH suspected that shee being greatly incensed had imbraced some perilous counsell since that the conditions which vvere presented by her vvere reiected the association agreed vpon and she as is before related deliuered into the custody of Sir Aimé Poulet and Drury And it was apparantly manifest that the Iesuites on one side and the fugitiue Nobilitie of the other had suggested her with diuers designes and abrupt counsels by their Letters written one against the other For the Iesuites perceiuing that there was no other hope left for the establishing of the Roman Religion either by her or by her sonne they framed to themselues new deuices they beganne to coyne for the Spaniard whose greatnesse they alwayes laboured to encrease a new and fained right to the succession of England And as Pasquier reported they sent Saumier if the name be not fained into England vvhich vvas one of their owne society for to draw the Nobility to the Spanish faction and to force her to some dangerous matter denouncing that if she were any way troublesome that neither shee nor her son should raigne at all And by inciting the Guises her alliance to new commotions against the King of Nauarre and Prince of Conde to the intent to hinder them from aiding of her and her sonne But to conclude the League which was begunne by Wotton and interrupted by the slaughter of Francis Russell which also Desneuall the French Ambassador and Corselle a man of an impatient disposition who not long before was ignominiously driuen out of England began now to hinder Thomas Randolph vvas dispatched vvhose dexteritie in the Scottish affaires was accounted wise and fortunate although to the King hee was scarce welcome by reason of the troubles which he formerly moued in Scotland He proposed to the King the same conditions of the League which Wotton had before propounded The King would haue to be added the Articles concerning the yearely pension assigned and the preiudice not to be offered to his Right to the Crowne of England and vvould haue them inserted into the Contract The Ambassador according to his instructions promised him an assurance of these things in a writing separate by it selfe prouided that hee constantly embraced the League The King out of the loue vvhich hee bore to his subiects propounded that the Scots might inioy the self-same immunities in England as the English themselues But the Ambassador shewing him that it could not be done except by the Parliament authoritie and the States of England vvould not easily accord thereto the King deliberately proposing the Articles to himselfe agreed vnto them and commanded them to be imparted to his Nobility to the entent that they likewise should confirme them with their subscriptions Yet the French Ambassador murmuring first said that the Queene had desired this League not out of any loue to the King but for the iust feare vvhich shee had lest shee should bee ruined by her enemies which were ioyned against her then hee iniected many feares intermixt with threats that the amity of France which is most profitable to the Scots vvould be by this meanes dissolued Lastly he coniured the King that hee would not doe any thing without the King of France his counsell But the King who wel knew these to be but vaine speeches could not be retarded or diuerted from his purpose For hee wel knew that the English forces were much encreased by Englands League with the Low-Countries made this serious answer THat he had reposed his confidence in the diuine bounty and not in the friendship of such as were contrary to the glory of God Neither was it lesse lawfull for him to contract a League with the Queene without the French Kings counsell then it was of late for the King of France to ioyne in friendship with her without his aduice And although the Queene that she might not be thought to buy this alliance did send him lesse money then he expected and made lesse expression of the assurance of the succession neuerthelesse for the zeale which hee bore to Religion and his singular affection to the Queene hee commanded the League to bee
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
safeguard of the Common-wealth so much as for their owne particular as Boniface the eightth put to death Celestine the fift deposed from the Papacy fearing that he should be called againe because of his singular piety Vrban the sixt who caused fiue Cardinalls to be sewed vp in sackes and cast into the Sea beheaded some and two others he caused to be baked in an Ouen and for the more terror commanded they should be laid on Mules and carried about the countrey Moreouer that Secretaries are not to be held for seruants and that domestick witnesse is to be admitted for proofe of secret things done in the house And it was argued vpon whether the accusers which haue sworn voluntarily and those which are suspected of crimes ought to come face to face in criminall matters to maintain the accusation Lastly That there is no such perfect example but hath some thing in it which is not iust These and such like are the matters which then were debated In the meane time the K. of Scotland for the remarkeable deare loue he bore his mother laboured with all his power by the imploimēt of W. Keith to saue her omitting nothing beseeming a good vertuous sonne but without successe because the Scots were diuided into factions amongst themselues more fauoured Q. Elizabeth than their prisoned Q. insomuch that some of them by priuate letters sollicited Q. Elizabeth to hasten her punishment and that the Ministers of Scotland being commanded by the King to pray to God in the Churches for his mother they obstinately refused so to do for the hate they bore the Religion which she professed And though the King had formerly beene earnest by messages and letters with Q. Elizabeth in his mothers behalfe yet then he became more instant complayning That it was most vniust that the Nobles the Counsellors and subiects of England should giue sentence against a Queene of Scotland borne of the English blood and as vniust also but to thinke that the States of England can by authority of Parliament exclude the true heyres from the right of succession and their lawfull inheritance The which some did often threaten to cause the more terrour He sent also Patrick Gray and Robert Meluin to delare to Q. Elizabeth That the great proximitie which was betwixt them would not let him beleeue that shee would violate that renowned reputation which shee from all parts had purchased by her vertues and especially by her mercifulnesse which shee had reserued vnstained with any spot of cruelty and that she would by no meanes now defile it in his mothers blood who was of the same princely dignity parentage and sexe whom he because his mothers blood had so great an interest in him could not forsake nor leaue to the cruelty of those who had so long breathed after his death as well as hers After he had by other letters shewed at large with what heauinesse of heart and doubtfull perplexities he was afflicted by reason of this weighty businesse which touched and bound him in nature and honour and into what extremities of distresse and danger his reputation was like to fall among his subiects if any violence were offered to his mother these things he propounded to her serious consideration drawne from the inward sense of his sorrow and filiall affection How greatly it concerneth his honour being a King and sonne if his dearest mother who was also an absolute Princesse should dye an infamous death and that by her commandement who was the next in league of loue and consanguinitie Whether by the word of God any thing may iustly be enacted by law against those whom God hath established for the administration of iustice whom be vouch safeth to call gods vpon earth whom he hath anoynted whom he hath forbid to touch because they are his anoynted and whom he will not permit to suffer wrong vnreuenged How monstrous a thing were it that an absolute Prince should be subiect to the censure of subiects How prodigious that an entyre Prince should leade the way to giue such a detestable example to prophane the diadems of others What should inforce her to this bloody cruelty Honour or profit If honour then might she acquire more and greater in pardoning for so to her eternall glory for her clemency should she binde to her for this benefite both Him and all the Kings of Christendome whose affection otherwise she should lose together with her reputation and brand her selfe with the marke of cruelty If profite it is to be considered whether any thing can be accounted profitable but that which is iust and honest And then concluded in desiring her to send such an answer by his Ambassadors as should be welbeseeming so pious a Princesse and not vnworthy for such a King as was her most affectionate kinsman But these Ambassadors intermingling tempestiue menaces with their messages were not pleasing and so taking their leaue some few dayes after returned back carrying with them as little comfort as hope Pomponius Bellieure sent for this cause from the King of France had accesse to the Q. of England accompanied with l'Aubespine de Chasteauneuf the ordinary Ambassador and hauing giuen her to vnderstand how many contrary thoughts had troubled the K. of France on the one side for the singular affection which he bore her on the other for the neere alliance of kindred which was betwixt him and the Q. of Scotland propounded to Q Elizabeth at two seuerall times in writing these and the like things viz. That it neerely concerned the K. of France and other Kings that a free Queen and absolute Princesse should not be committed to death That the safetie of Queene Elizabeth would be in more danger by the death of Mary than by her life and that being set at libertie she could not attempt any thing against the Queene of England because that her want of health did promise no long life That she had arrogated to her selfe the Kingdome of England was not to be imputed as a crime so much to her as to that she had learned in her youth of naughty Counsellors That shee came into England as a suppliant and therfore she could not be iustly detained but was at the last to be released eyther for money or mercy And besides that an absolute Prince ought not in any sort to be brought to arraignement which made Cicero say that it was a thing neuer heard of that a K. should bee called in question of accused of any capitall crime That if she were innocent she ought not to be punished if culpable she should be pardoned because that would redound to the greater honour and profite and would remaine an eternall example of the English clemency Alledging to this purpose the History of Porsenna which drew out of the fire the right hand of M. Sceuola who had conspired his death and let him go That the first precept to raigne well is to spare blood
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
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
the Noble House of the Seymors at Dudley Earle of Warwickes perswasion during his plotting of the ruine of this puissant and princely House and all to preuent lest shee who was Wife to this Noble Protector should giue place or precedence to this Queene Dowager who then was her Husbands Brothers wife The next was Sir Ralph Sadler Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster a prudent and learned man whose worth and vertue had beene approued in diuers weighty and important affaires of State He was the last Banneret of England which worthy dignity of Knighthood had bin conferred on him at the famous Battel of Musselborough After him also died Sir Thomas Bromley Lord High Chancellor of England hauing scarce attained to the sixtieth yere of his age a man excellently well seene in the Law Six dayes after he was followed by Edward Manner Earle of Rutland to whom the Queene had chosen and appointed for his Successour the third of the Noble House of Manner a Noble man most learned and skilfull in the Law and humane Arts hauing but the Lady Elizabeth one onely Daughter for heire then but very young who was married to William Cecill Baron of Burleigh Lord High Treasurer Sir Christopher Hatton who was a Noble personage excellently endued with rare vertues flourishing at that time illustriously at the Court as one whose merit had purchased him the honour to be dearely affectionate intimate to her Maiestie in whose fauour his worth greatly aduanced him was from a Courtier established to this high dignity of Lord Chancellour of England not with little discontent of the Iudges and professors of the Law who since Church-men had bin depriued and dismist of that honour had iudiciously discharged that place with no lesse glory and equity than prudence and discretion which is the supreme magistracy of the Law yet in former times past it was oftner prouided for with Ecclesiasticall men and Nobles than of others Neuerthelesse though Sir Christopher Hatton had been aduanced to that place by the subtill art of some Courtiers who hoped that by his absence from Court and the difficulty he should haue to exercise duly so high and so weighty a Magistracy should weare out and diminish the great fauour he was in neere Queene ELIZABETH Neuerthelesse hee behaued himselfe in that high Seat of Iustice discreetly and worthily to the well-liking of the Queene and admiration of all her Subiects discharging that Dignity with as great magnificence and honour as any whatsoeuer had done before him studying to supply by equitie that which he wanted in the knowledge of the Law Sir Iohn Perot being this yeere sent for out of Ireland left that Kingdome very peaceable to Sir William Fitz-Williams for he had drawne from those persons whom hee suspected to be apt to rebell oathes and hostages which they as soone granted vnto him as hee demanded for not seeming any way to fauour rebellion hee imprisoned diuers Irish Rebels and such as were more dangerously giuen to rebellion he hanged them shewing admonishing the rest of their duety and the fidelity which they ought to their Soueraigne in so doubtfull a time The Irish seeing the sincere loue respect and affection he bore to them who were true subiects most willingly lent their eares thereunto and were true obseruers of his instructions Hitherto that I may a little stray were the Irish warres very easie to the English and eight hundred foot with three hundred horse were esteemed an inuincible Army For Randolph with sixe hundred English with much facility defeated O-Neale with foure thousand Irish Collier in the yeere 1571. with his onely one Company preuayled likewise against one thousand Hebridians in Connach The Butlers with a great Company of the Rebels were ouerthrowne by three hundred Horse-men And to passe the rest ouer two Companies of foot surprized in one day aboue twenty of the Irish Castels But after that the Perots had by command daily exercised themselues at home in their owne Countrey and were well instructed in the discipline of Armes and in the vse of their Muskets to resist the Hebridians and being practized in the wars of the Netherlands had learned the arts of fortification they vexed the English as wee shall finde with a difficult and dangerous warre THE THIRTIETH and most maruelous yere of her Reigne the euer-remembred Yeere of the Lord. Anno Dom. 1588. TO this admirable yeere of Christ 1588. are we now arriued Which by Regiomontanus the Astrologian was foretold about a hundred yeeres before to be a Yeere of Wonder and by the Germane Chronologers to be the Climacterical yeere of the World The rumors of warres which were before but slender relations began now daily to be augmented and were now become not as before a variable report but an assured certainty by the generall voice of all men that the Spaniard had prepared a most inuincible Nauy against England and had out of Italy Sicilie and also America gathered into Spaine the old experienced Commanders such as were most famous Captaines skilfull in military affaires For the Pope of Rome with certaine religious and deuout Spaniards and some English Fugitiues had long agoe diligently exhorted the Spaniard to inuade and conquer England but that counsell was by the Portugals warres for tenne yeeres before interrupted which now they carefully reiterated and with much instigation perswaded him that since Heauen had heaped vpon him infinite benefits and blessings by subiecting to his Empire the Kingdome of Portugall with the East-India and many other wealthy Ilands that it was now his part of duety to enterprize something which might bee agreeable and pleasing to God That there could be nothing more acceptable to God nor ought more worthy himselfe than the aduancing of his Church That the Church could not with more glory and merit be aduanced than by the conquest of England and there by the extirpation of Heresie to plant the Roman Catholique Religion That these warres would be most iust not onely because they were most necessary but because they were vndertaken to propagate the Religion of Christ seeing that the Queene of England being excommunicated notwithstanding obstinately persisted against the Church of Rome had succoured the Rebels in the Netherlands molested the Spaniards with continuall pyracies had surprized and pillaged diuers townes both in Spaine and America and lately violating the Maiesty of all Princes had caused the Queene of Scots to be put to death Therefore such warres should bee no lesse profitable than iust Because by this meanes the King of Spaine making addition to his Empire of the most flourishing Kingdomes he might easily extinguish the Netherlandish Rebellion which was nourished as it were by the breath of England hee should assure to himself the voyages to both India's in safetie and so lessen the annuall expences laid out for the conuoying of his Fleetes forward and backward To prooue this to him with more facility
there were twenty thousand Souldiers dispersed vpon the South shores besides two Armies of choyce trained Souldiers were leuied and enrolled Of the one consisting of one thousand horse and two and twenty thousand foot Leicester was Generall and had his Campe at Tilbury not far from the mouth of the Thames for the Enemy had certainely determined to approch London first And of the other which consisted of thirtie foure thousand foote and two thousand horse for the Queenes guard shee made the Baron of Hunsdon Generall Arthur Lord Grey Sir Francis Knollys Sir Iohn Norris Sir Richard Bingham Sir Roger Williams Knights great and expert Souldiers were appointed to consult about the Land-seruice They aduized That all those places which were fit for the Enemies approch eyther from Spaine or the Low-Countries as Milford-Hauen Falmouth Plimouth Portland the I le of Wight Portsmouth the Downes vpon the Shore of Kent the Thames mouth Harwich Yarmouth Hull c. should be fortified with workes and with Garrisons that the trayned Souldiers vpon all the Sea-coasts should meet vpon giuing a signe to defend these places they should with all their endeuour hinder the Enemies landing But if hee should happen to land that they should waste the Countrey farre and neere spoyle euery thing that was vsefull that he might finde no victuals but what he brought vpon his shoulders and to keepe the Enemy continually busied and distracted with assiduous alarmes and crying Arme arme day and night But that they should not fight till other Commanders should ioyne their forces with them That amongst the Leaders they should nominate one which should command the forces of euery seuerall Prouince But it is superfluous to set downe in particular what inland Prouinces were appoynted to guard both the shores what number what armes and what manner of fight was prescribed by them About this time there were diuers who made often remonstrances to the Queene that the Spaniards were not more dreadfull abroad than the Pontificians dangerous at home for that the Spaniards had not dared to haue entred into hostility with England but vpon confidence of and from them and therefore that some pretences were to be deuised to make them shorter by the head alledging the example of HENRY the Eighth when the Emperour and the French King vpon the Popes instigation were ready to inuade England Presently as soone as hee had caused the Marquesse of Exceter the Baron Montacute Edw. Neuill and others whom hee suspected to fauor the Enemy to be executed the inuasion fell with them but shee refusing this counsell as too cruell thought it sufficient to commit to prison to Wisbich in the Fen-Countries certaine of the Pontificians and those none of prime note neyther And hauing an eye and a care of euery place with frequent Letters excites those of the Nobility and Gentry which were without them ready enough giues instruction what was to be done in Ireland by Fitz-Williams the Deputy Admonisheth the King of Scotland both by his owne Seruants and her Messengers to be vigilant ouer the Papists and Spanish Faction in his Country But hee well knowing how great a tempest and destruction threatned him out of his perpetuall loue to true Religion and the Queene of his owne accord had now before refused to giue audience to the Bishop of Dunblan sent to him from the Bishop of Rome and had caused a League to be made amongst the Protestants in Scotland to resist the Spaniards And hee himselfe marching with his Army into Annand hauing taken Maxwels campe who contrary to his faith giuen was then lately returned out of Spaine and enclining to the Spanish faction caused him to be cast into prison proclaymed the Spaniards Enemies and with great alacrity prouided armes against them Amongst these great preparations of Warre on both sides ouertures of peace were neuerthelesse made About two yeeres before when the Prince of Parma had considered with himselfe how difficult a thing it was to end the Low-Countrey warre while they were daily aided with supplies from the Queene had by Letters vsing also the assistance of Iames Crofts a Priuy-Counceller a man very studious of peace and of Andrew Loe and others seriously negotiated for a treaty of peace and that hee had authority from the Spaniard to that purpose Shee fearing that this was but a pretence whereby to make a breach of friendship betwixt her and the Confederate-Prouinces and secretly to draw them to the Spaniard deferred the matter for a time But now that the imminent warre might be auerted and auoyded she resolued to treat of peace but with the Sword in her hand and the Duke of Parma refused not the treaty Therefore in February there were sent into Flanders Henrie Earle of Derby William Brooke Lord Cobham Iames Crofts Controller of her Houshold Valentine Dale and Iames Rogers Doctors of the Lawes who being with all humility receiued in the Dukes name they forthwith sent Dale vnto him to consult of the place of meeting and to peruse his Commission from the Spaniard Hee appointed a place neere to Ostend not in Ostend it selfe which was now held against the King by the English and promised to shew his Commission at the meeting He aduized them to be speedy lest something might fall out which might disturbe or interrupt the treaty of peace Richardot said openly That hee knew not what might bee done to England in the meane time Not long after Rogers was sent to the Prince by the Queenes expresse commandment to know certainly if the designe for the inuasion of England were yet enterprized which both hee and Richardot seemed to intend Hee affirmed That hee had not so much as thought of the inuasion of England When he desired a quicke dispatch and expedition of that affaire hee blamed in some manner Richardot who was sorry to haue vttered any such words concerning Englands inuasion The twelfth of Aprill the Earle of Arenberg Champigny Richardot Doctor Maesie and Garnier Commissioner from the Duke of Parma sat in Commission with the English vnder Tents neere the Towne of Ostend to whom they gaue place and precedence and after their protestations that the Duke had full power giuen him to treate and conclude a Peace the English propounded to them that before all things it was requisite to embrace a truce But they refused it alledging that if a Peace was not forthwith concluded it would be preiudicious to the Spaniard who since sixe moneths had to their great charges maintained a puissant Army The English insisting replyed that that Peace was promised before those troupes were conueyed into Flanders They answered againe that it was true they had promised it sixe moneths agoe but that it was not then accepted Moreouer that it was not in the Queenes power to vndertake it for the Hollanders and Zealanders who daily acted deeds of hostility But the English maintained that it would be generall for all the Queenes Dominions
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
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
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.
Prayse of those who were of the English Nauy ibid. Publike ioy encreased by good newes out of Scotland ibid. Leicesters goods are sold 289 Bergen ap Zone besieged by the Duke of Parma ibid. Who rayseth the siege ibid. Innouâ—tions in England ibid. Martin Mar-Prelate and other scandalous bookes 290 FINIS THE HISTORIE OF THE MOST High Mighty and Inuincible Princesse Queene ELIZABETH of most happy and neuer-dying memory OR ANNALLS Of all the most remarkable things that happened during her blessed Raigne ouer the Kingdomes of England and Ireland c. The first yeere of her Raigne Anno 1558. AFter that for certaine houres the decease of Queene MARY had beene concealed the Peeres Prelates and Commons of England being at that time assembled together in Parliament First notice was giuen to them of the vpper house which were in a manner strucke silent with griefe and astonishment for a while But they presently after rowzed vp their spirits and amazed senses moderating their mournings with ioy either not to seeme altogether sad or sorrowfull that Queene ELIZABETH succeeded the Crowne or else ioyfull that by the death of Queene MARY the succession thereof fell to her Maiesty so they bent their cares to publike affaires and with a common accord and firme resolution concluded and agreed that by the law of succession in the 35. yeere of King HENRY the eighth ELIZABETH was ought to be declared true and legitimate Heire of the Kingdome Therefore at that instant Nicholas Heath Lord Archbishop of Yorke and Lord Chancellour of England carried the first newes to those of the Lower-house giuing them to vnderstand with much sorrow and sighs that death preuenting the course of nature had depriued them of a Queene no lesse fauourable to the Roman Religion then kinde and louing to the Common wealth and that each member of the Vpper-house had receiued such extreme griefe thereby that they seemed to be comfortlesse without hope of consolation if God through his speciall grace fauour towards the English Nation had not reserued for them ELIZABETH another Daughter to King HENRY the â— to succeed her Sister and that her right to the Crowne was so euident and true that no man could nor ought to make any doubt or question thereof and that the Peeres and Prelates of this Realme had all with one accord and voice determined that she should be forthwith publisht Queene and proclaimed Soueraigne if they were so pleased to condescend thereunto Which words being scarce vttered the whole Assembly immediatly with a common acclamation cryed aloud GOD SAVE QVEENE ELIZABETH that her Raigne may be long and happy And immediatly the whole Parliament rising she was openly proclaimed Queen by sound of Trumpets first in Westminster-Hall and then soone after thorow the whole City of London by the title of Queene of England France and Ireland and Defendresse of the faith with the happy applause and ioyfull shouting of all the people vndoubted presages truly most happy for indeed no Prince was euer cherisht of his people and Subiects with more ardent and constant loue and zealous affection then this Queene was nor none receiued and welcommed with more respect and ioy then she hath beene nor blessed and prayed for with more vowes and prayers so often iterated as this happy Princesse hath beene all her life time chiefly when shee shewed her selfe in publike or openly abroad Queene ELIZABETH was about fiue and twenty yeeres of age when her Sister died But she was so rarely qualified by aduersity and so well accomplisht and accommodated by experience which are most effectuall Tutors that she had purchased Prudence and Iudgement farre aboue the capacity of her age and of her pregnant wit and admirable wisdome she gaue sufficient proofe and worthy testimony in the election and choice that shee made of her Priuie Councellors for she tooke into her Priuie Councell the aforesaid Nicholas Heath Archbishop of Yorke a Prelate no lesse prudent then modest and discreet William Poulet Marquesse of Winchester Lord high Treasurer of England Henry Fitz-Allen Earle of Arundel Francis Talbot Earle of Shrewsbury Edward Stanley Earle of Darby William Herbert Earle of Pembrooke Edward Baron of Clynton Lord high Admirall The Lord Howard Baron of Effingham Lord Chamberlaine Sir Thomas Cheney Sir William Peter Sir Iohn Mason Sir Richard Sackuile Knights and Nicholas Wotton Deane of Canterbury All which had beene Priuie Councellors to Queene MARY and professing her owne Religion Shee adioyned to them by temporizing according to the time these vndernamed who were all Protestants and had had no office at all nor charge of gouernment in Queene MARIES Raigne William Parr Marquesse of Northampton Francis Lord Russell Earle of Bedford Thomas Parr Edward Rogers Ambrose Caue Francis Knollys and William Cicill who before had beene Secretary to King EDVVARD the sixth a noble Gentleman most wise vnderstanding and iudicious whose learning and worth exceeded many others and a little after she brought in Sir Nicholas Bacon whom she made Lord Keeper of the great Seale of England She so ordered and tempered them in place with all those which succeeded since in such sort that they were true faithfull and affectionate to her Maiesty and she alwaies free and not subiect to any At these happy beginnings her first and chiefest care was to re-establish the Protestant Religion the which as much by the instruction and knowledge that shee had receiued thereof from her infancy as also by her owne particular iudgement she firmely held and maintained to be very true and most conformable to the holy Scripture and to the sincerity of the primitiue Church so effectually resoluing in her heart to settle and re-establish the same that she imployed to that purpose some of her Councellors being the most intimate with the rest of the other Lords of her most honorable Priuy-Councel she tooke order that the Ports Hauen-Townes should be fast shut secured and fortified The Tower of London she committed to the care of one whose fidelity and loyalty had been fully approued a new Commission she sent to Thomas Earle of Sussex Lord Deputie of Ireland who with a Garrison of three hundred and twenty Horse and one thousand three hundred and sixty foot yeelded in submission the whole Countrey which otherwise had not bin quiet nor peaceable Also the like Commission shee sent with a clause or restraint not to conferre any office to Iudges and Magistrates for to hinder the Conuocation of the Assembly of the iurisdiction by the authority there appointed New Iustices and Sheriffes shee likewise established in each County and tooke order that no money nor coine should be transported by exchange out of the Realme to forraine Nations beyond Sea and that the Preachers should desist and abstaine from treating of questions or disputing about Controuersies in Religion and withall concerning State-affaires out of the Kingdom she gaue order that Ambassadors should be sent to all
order and authority of the States hee had in the name of the whole Kingdome of England offered obedience vnto the Pope and hee could not but acquite himselfe of this promise And therefore he tryed and endeuoured to preuaile so much by Prayers that they would not retyre or draw backe from the Sea of Rome of which they held the Christian Faith which they had alwaies kept But when these things were brought to the Lower House there were many more than in the vpper House that consented ioyntly to these Lawes Wherevpon the Papist murmuring much said that of a deliberate purpose they had elected the most part of the Deputies amongst the Protestants aswell of the Shires as of the Cities Corporations and that the Duke of Norfolke and the Earle of Arundell the most powerfull and mightyest amongst the Peeres had industriously bribed the suffrages for the profit which they drew or hoped to draw thereby Spirits then disagreeing for matters of Religion by one and the same Edict all persons were forbidden to speake irreuerently of the Sacrament of the Altar and permitted to communicate vnder both species And a Conference appointed against the last of March betwixt the Protestants and the Papists in which the States of the Land should bee present and for the same to keepe and hold elect for the Protestants Richard Coxe Whitehead Edmund Grindall Robert Horne Edward Sandes Edward Guests Iohn Elmar and Iohn Iewell For the Papists Iohn White Bishop of Winchester Rad. Bain of Couentrie and Lichfield and Thomas Watson of Lincolne Doctor Cole Deane of Saint Paul Doctor Landgal Arch-Deacon of Lewis Doctor Harpesfield of Canterbury and Doctor Chatsie of Middlesexe The Questions propounded were these following Of the celebration of the Diuine Seruice in the Vulgar Tongue of the authority of the Church for to establish or abolish Ceremonies according as it is expedient and of the Sacrifice of the Masse But all this Disputation came to nothing for after some conference and writings deliuered from the one to the other side and not agreeing vpon the forme of the disputing the Protestants began to triumph as obtayning the Victory and the Papists to complaine of their hard vsage for not beeing aduertised but a day or two before and that Sir Nicholas Bacon the Lord Keeper being a man little read in Theologie and their great Enemie sate as Iudge although he was but meerely appointed for Moderator But the truth is that hauing thought more seriously vpon this matter they durst not without expresse order frō the Pope call in question such high points which are not argued in the Church of Rome And they cryed of all sides When is it that one shall knowe what hee ought truely to beleeue if it be alwaies permitted to dispute of Faith Disputers of Religion alwaies returne to the Scepters and such like things And the Bishops of Lincolne and Winchester were so offended with it that they were of opinion that the Queen and those that had caused her to forsake the Church of Rome should be excommunicated and punished with imprisonment for it But the wiser sort that it must be left to the Iudgement of the Pope for feare that those which were her Subiects should not seeme in doing this to shake off their obedience due to their Princesse and to display the Ensigne of Sedition And that was not hidden to the Pope who beeing also presently moued with Choller commands Sir Edward Carne of Wales a Ciuill-Lawier who had beene Ambassadour at Rome for HENRY the Eighth and MARY and was then for Queene ELIZABETH to quite this charge and to vse the same termes by the vigor or force of the commandement that was made vnto him by the Oracle of the liuely voice of our most holy Lord the Pope in vertue of the most holy obedience and vpon paine of the greatest Excommunication and losse of all his goods not to goe out of the Citie but to take vpon him the administration of the Hospitall of the English And did it to hinder that hee should not giue notice of the secret traines of the French against Queene ELIZABETH as he had done before with a great care for the loue he bore to his Countrey Neuerthelesse some thought that this old man voluntarily chose this exile for the zeale he bore to the Roman Religion In the meane time I omit for a while the affaires of the Church and Parliament to obserue the order of time the Embassadours of England Spaine which treated of Peace in the Citie of Cambray were in debate with the French about the restitution of Calais but they could not in any manner obtaine it although they should haue propounded to quit thē of three Millions of Gold which France ought by lawfull obligation The Spaniard who otherwise altogether different from Peace held the English side and surely with as much trueth as honour because the Queene had lost this Town by his occasion fore saw that it was expedient for Flanders that it should be in their obedience The French interrupted him saying that shee alone could not recompence the damages which the English had done them their Townes beeing taken by the Spaniards by reason of their ayde and many Borroughs in base Brittaine were sackt and burned many Ships taken and their Commerce or Traffique which is the sinewes of War broken That they had disbursed infinite summes of money to hinder their firings that Calais was the ancient patrimony of France and that if it had beene lost by Warre long agoe it had also then beene recouered by Armes therefore that it ought not to be restored and that the States of France had so resolued That surrendring it were to put weapons into their Enemies hands and withdraw for euer the Kings Subiects from his obedience and therefore that it was an vniust thing for the English to demand it The English on the contrary maintained that they demanded it with reason and Iustice because say they during one yea two ages he had tooke Englands part and that they had not onely conquer'd it by Warre but that it was also falne vnto them by hereditary succession and by cession made by vertue of the pactions and agreements in exchanges of other places which the Kings of England had likewise granted to them of France That these damages ought not to be imputed to them but to the Spaniards who against their will had drawne and associated them in this Warre in which through the losse of well-fortified places the taking of many of their Captaines they had receiued much more damage than the French and had had no profit therby That all that the States of France order or decree is not reasonable because it is only profitable and that Calais could not be lawfully or iustly detayned seeing that by the Conditions already agreed vpon all the places that were taken in the late Warres were restored vnto other Princes To which the French replyed
that it was done in consideration of the marriages which ought to be contracted with the other Princes and hereupon propounded to marry the first Daughter who should issue by the mighty Princesse Mary Queene of Scotland and the Dolphin of France with the first Sonne that might be procreated by Queene ELIZABETH to whom she should bring in dowry the Towne of Calais and that for this cause the Queene of Scotland should quit her right which shee had vnto the Kingdome of England or otherwise to marry the first Daughter which should be borne of Queene ELIZABETH with the eldest Sonne that should descend from the Queene of Scotland and hereupon the English should renounce the right which they pretend vnto the Realme of France and the French should be discharged of all the debts they ought to England and that Calais should in the meane time remaine in their hands But these propositions being vncertaine for another time they sought to win time and increase the delayes but were contemned by the English who made as if they seemed not to haue heard them As they stood vpon these termes the Spaniard hauing aduice that Queene ELIZABETH did not onely breake the marriage which hee had offered her but likewise changed many things in Religion began to giue ouer the desire which he seemed to haue before the restitution of Calais and his Ambassadours almost losing their patience were somewhat of accord with the French for the rest made account to continue the warres no longer for Calais vnlesse the English would contribute more men and money as before and would aduance it for sixe yeere This raised the heart of the Cardinall of Lorraine who assured the Spaniards that the Queen of Scotland his Niece was truely and vndoubtedly Queen of England and therefore that the King of Spaine ought to imploy all his forces if he made any account of iustice to cause Calais to be deliuered into the hands of his Niece the direct Queene of England But the Spaniards which suspected the power of France not hearing that willingly tryed secretly to draw out of England the Lady Katherine Gray the yonger Niece of King HENRY the Eighth for his Sisters sake to oppose her to the Queene of Scotland and the French if Queene ELIZABETH should happen to decease and to hinder thereby that France might not be augmented by the surcrease of England and Ireland And strongly insisted that there should be a Truce betwixt England and France vntill such time they should agree together and that in the meane time Calais should be sequestred in the hands of the King of Spaine as an Arbitrator of honour But that was refused as much by the French as the English Queene ELIZABETH had well presaged that for shee could not hope for any good from the Spaniards side seeing that she had contemned and despised to marry with their King and changed Religion She also had knowledge that the treatie of Cambray was not made for any other purpose but to exterminate roote out the Religion of the Protestants And truely the consideration of her Sex and the scarsitie of treasure made her Maiesty finde that peace was more to be wisht for than warre though most iust Also it was her ordinary saying that there was more glory in settling a peace by wisdome than in taking vp armes to make warre neither did shee thinke that it was beseeming either to her dignity or to the dignity of the name of the English to relye vpon the defence of the Spaniard And she thought therefore that it was better for her to make a peace aside and separably and to go thorow and conclude for Calais with the King of France being sollicited thereunto by continuall Letters from the Duke of Mont-morancy Constable of France and the Duke of Vandosme as also by message of the Duke of Guise who sent the Lord Gray who had beene taken prisoner at Guienne and released to that end And for to conclude this agreement B. Caualcance a Lord of Florence was employed who from his infancy had been brought vp in England with whom the French King hauing conferred in secret did hold that it should be safer to treat thereof by new Commissioners in such priuat Country-houses of the Kingdomes of England or France that were of no great note But Queene ELIZABETH being mooued shewed her selfe to be of a manly courage in declaring that shee was a Princesse absolutely free for to vndergoe her affaires either by her owne selfe or by her Ministers and although that during the reigne of her Sister nothing was concluded but according to the Spaniards aduice and that shee would neuerthelesse without giuing him the least notice or taking his counsell dispatch these affaires betweene the Deputies of both sides not in an obscure and priuate place but openly in the Castle of Cambresis neere Cambrai This offended no lesse the Spaniard than the refusall and contempt of his marriage with her Maiestie with the alteration of Religion had done heretofore Neuerthelesse the French who was crafty and cunning enough to discouer how she was affected to match with Spaine prayed her Maiestie first of all to take away two scruples from them before the yeelding of Calais to wit that they forsaking that Towne before they were assured whom shee should marry it might easily fall into the hands of the Spaniard because that he would haue her Maiestie if possible vpon any condition and that there is nothing so deare but women will part with it to their beloued husbands the other whether as the Spaniards boast that the English haue such neere alliance with them that they ought to ioyne in armes with them against all Nations whatsoeuer to these it was answered that her Maiestie bore such motherly affection toward the Kingdome of England that she would neuer part with Calais for to fauour a husband and that although her Matie shold grant it yet England would neuer suffer it Moreouer that betwixt her Maiesty and Spaine there was not any such alliance but a meere forced amitie and that her Maiesty was most free for any contract with any Prince which might be commodious and beneficiall to England Vpon this it was thought good and expedient that the Commissioners of each part should equally vse their vtmost endeuours in the Castle of Cambray to agree all differences and to conclude a peace Therefore Queene ELIZABETH sent for England as Commissioners Thurlbie Bishop of Elie the Lord Howard Baron of Effingham Lord high Chamberlaine to her Maiesty and Doctor Wotton Deane of the two Metropolitan Sees of Canterburie and Yorke For the French King Charles Cardinall of Lorraine Archbishop and Duke of Rheims the chiefest Peere of France Anne Duke of Mont-morancy Peere Constable and great master of France Lord Iames Aulbon Lord of Saint Andrewes Marquis of Fronsac and Lord Marshall of France Iohn of Moruillier Bishop of Orliens and Claude Aubespine Secretary of the Priuy-Councell of France These ioyntly
the time Tho. Watson of Lincolne very pregnant in the acutest Diuinity but somewhat in an austere graue manner Rad. Bain of Couentrie and Lichfeild who was one of the restorers of the Hebrew tongue and chiefe professour of the same in Paris vnder the Gouernment of Francis the first vnder whom Learning beganne to flourish Owen Oglethorp of Carlile Ia. Turberuile of Exceter and D. Pole of Peterborough Fequenham the Abbot of Benedictins a sage and good man who liued long and by his publique almes wonne the heart of his Aduersaries but was put by his place All these were first imprisoned but forthwith for the most part left to the guard either of their friends or the Bishops except these two more turbulent then the rest the Bishop of Lincolne and the Bishop of Winchester who threatned to excommunicate the Queene But these three Cuthbert a Scottish-man Bishop of Chester Richard Pat of Wigorne and Tho. Goldwell of Asaph voluntarily forsooke the Countrey in like maner some religious and afterward some Nobles amongst whō the most remarkable were H. Baron of Morle Inglefeild and Pecckam both whom were of the Priuie-Councell to Queene MARY Tho. Shelle and Ioh. Gagd The learned'st Protestants that could bee found were prefer'd to the places of Bishops deceased and of Fugitiues and Mat. Parker a godly wise and right modest man who was one of the Priuie-Councell to King HENRY the 8. and Deane of the Colledge Church of Stocclair beeing solemnly chosen Arch-Bishop of Canterbury after preaching of the Word calling of the holy Ghost and celebration of the Eucharist was consecrated by the imposition of hands of three ancient Bishops Gu. Barlo Bishop of Bath Ioh. Scor. of Chester Miles Couerdall of Exceter Ioh. Suffragant de Bedford de Lambeth and afterward the same Bishops consecrated Ed. Grindall a rare Diuine Bishop of London Richard Coxe who was Tutor to EDVVARD the Sixth when he was a Child of Ely Edward Sands an eloquent Preacher of Winchester Rob. Merick of Bangor Tho. Yong a deepe professor in the Ciuill and Canonicall Law of Saint Dauids N. Bolingham Councellour of the Law of Lincolne Iohn Iewell absolutely iudicious in all liberall Science of Salisburie Richard Dauis of Asaph Edward Guests of Rochester Gilbert Barde of Bath Thomas Bentham of Couentrie and Lichfield Gu. Alle a pithy expounder of the holy Scripture of Exceter Iohn Parkhurst a famous humanist of Norwich Robert Horne of a hardie and copious spirit of Winchester Richard Chesne of Glocester and Edw. Scamber of Peterborough but they placed Gu. Barlo Bishop of Chester who during the reigne of HENRY the Eighth was Bishop of Saint Dauids and afterward of Wells for B. of Hereford was appointed Ioh. Scori a skilfull and iudiciall man who was formerly Bishop of Chichester in like maner in the Prouince of Yorke Yong being transferred from his place of Saint Dauids to Yorke consecrated Ia. Pilkinton a most godly and learned man Bishop of Dunelme Io. Best of Carlile and Gu. Downham of Chester I leaue Ecclesiasticall Historians to relate what these men were and what miseries they suffered vnder the Gouernment of Queene MARY being either fugitiues in the Low-Countries or hidden close in England And forasmuch as Learned men were rare to be found diuers Mechanicke Shop-keepers as simple as the Papists Priests attained vnto Ecclesiasticall Dignities Prebends and Benefices of good reuenue which diuers Priests perceiuing and hoping aboue all things to expulse the Protestants out of their Churches and by this meanes to get something to relieue the necessities of such amongst them as were deposed thought it most expedient both for the aduancement of themselues and their Religion to sweare obedience to their Princesse in renouncing the Authority of the Pope deeming this wisedome meritorious and were in some hope to procure from his Holinesse according to his Iurisdiction a Dispensation for his Oath Thus was Religion chang'd in England all Christendome beeing amazed that it could so easily bee effected without Sedition But the truth is that this change was not so suddenly made neither can it since it is so be easily tolerated but by little and little by degrees For summarily to repeat what I haue herevpon spoken The Romane Religion continued in the same state it was first a full Moneth and more after the death of Queene MARY The 27. of September it was tolerated to haue the Epistles and Gospels the ten Commandements the Symbole the Lettany and the Lords Prayer in the Vulgar Tongue The 22. of March the Parliament being assembled the Order of EDVVARD the Sixth was re-established and by Act of the same the whole vse of the Lords Supper granted vnder both kinds The 24. of Iune by the authoritie of that which concern'd the vniformity of publike Prayers and administration of the Sacraments the Sacrifice of the Masse was abolished and the Lyturgie in the English Tongue more more established In the Moneth of Iuly the Oath of Allegiance was proposed to the Bishops and other persons and in August Images were thrown out of the Temples and Churches and broken and burned And because some malignant spirits detracting from the Queene as if shee had assumed vnto her selfe the Title of Chiefe Soueraigne of the Church of England and authority to celebrate sacred Rites in the Church she declared by Proclamation That she attributed no more vnto her selfe then what did of long time belong to the Crowne of England which was that next vnder God she had supreme Soueraignetie and power ouer all States of England whether Ecclesiasticall or Laye and that no other Forraigne Power had or could haue any Iurisdiction or authority ouer them By this alteration of Religion as Politicians haue obserued England became the freest Kingdome in all Christendome because by this meanes it had freed the Scepter from forraigne slauery of the Pope of Rome and most rich because it preuented the great summes of mony which were dayly transported to Rome for First-fruites Indulgences Appellations Dispensations and such other like things and thereby the Common-wealth was voide and depriued beyond all imagination The Protestants Religion being thus establisht by th' authority of of the Parliament the first and principall care of Queene ELIZABETH was to defend and maintaine it still sound and impregnable against all sort of machynation whatsoeuer in the very middest of her Enemies which through this occasion she had incurred against her And shee would neuer endure to heare the least Newes at all Her second care was to maintaine equity all her life time and in all her Actions in token whereof shee tooke this deuice vnto her selfe ALWAYES ONE For her other designes she concluded them to prouide for the safety of her Subiests For as she often said that to the end the Common-wealth should bee in safety her selfe neuer could bee And that to make her Subiects loue her her Enemies feare her and all to praise her knowing that what was begunne
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
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
to that but to heare that which you haue to answer touching the confirmation of the Treaty of Edenborrough But if it please you to heare the cause of this offence hauing quitted the qualitie of an Ambassadour I will tell it you in few words As soone as the Queene my Mistris was sacred and inaugurated you vsurped the name and armes of England although you had not done it before in the reigne of Queene MARY You shall iudge in your owne wisdome if a greater offence can be done to a Prince Surely priuate persons themselues doe not willingly digest these offences much lesse Princes But said She my Husbands Father and my Husband would haue it so commanded it As soone as they were deceased and that I was of my selfe I presently quitted both the Armes and the Title And notwithstanding I know not if this be to defraud the Queene that I who likewise am one and Grand-child to the eldest Sister of HENRY the Eighth carry these Armes seeing that others haue borne them which are further off of kinne than I am Indeed Courtney Marquis of Exceter and the Dutches of Suffolke Neece to HENRY the Eighth by his yonger Sister by a speciall fauour carryed the Armes of England in adding to them the Limbes for a marke of difference The Queene of Scotland not being able by these words to giue Qu. ELIZABETH content who stedfastly beleeued that shee sought but delayes to husband some new hope seeing that at the holding of the States of Scotland who had assembled twice since the death of Queene MARIE shee had not made any proposition which concerned the confirmation of this Treaty as shee was already vpon the way to come for Scotland shee caused Throgmorton a second time to come to her to Ableville and asked him curteously How shee might either by word or deed giue satisfaction to Queene ELIZABETH In ratifying sayes he the Treaty of Edenborrough as I haue often told you Whereupon she said vnto him HEarken then to iudge if this which shee thinkes to be delayes and vaine excuses are not most iust reasons The first Article of this Treaty which concernes the ratification of that which passed in the Castle of Cambray betweene England and France toucheth mee nothing at all The second which concernes that of the Treatie passed in the same place betweene England and Scotland hath beene ratified by my Husband and mee and I cannot ratifie it more amply if it be not concluded in my name alone seeing my Husband is there expresly named The third fourth and fifth Articles are already effected for the preparatiues of Warre haue ceased the French Garrisons are called backe out of Scotland the Fort which was neere Aymouth is razed Since the death of my Husband I haue refrained to carry the Armes and the Title of England and it is not in my power to raze them out of the Vtensils Edifices and the Letters Royall which are dispersed through France no more than I can send backe the Bishop of Valence and of Raadan since they are not my Subiects to contest vpon the sixth Article As to the last I hope that my seditious Subiects will not complaine of my inclemencie But as I see shee which thinkes to hinder my returne will goe about to hinder that they shall not try my clemencie What remaines now in this Treatie which is preiudiciall to your Queene Neuerthelesse to heape her vp with satisfactions I will write to her of it more amply with mine owne hand though shee vouchsafes not to write to mee but by a Secretarie As for you Ambassadour I pray you to doe the duetie of an Ambassadour rather to sweeten businesses than make them sowrer But these Letters did not giue Queen ELIZABETH any contentment who had euer in her heart the iniury which shee had done her in taking the title and armes of England and at that time feared much that shee tooke them yet if by the confirmation of this Treatie and the Religion of the othe shee was not bound to forbeare them In the meane time the Queene of Scotland finding the time fit goes to Calais and gets into Scotland hauing the fauour of Heauen which was cloudy and darke got the winde of the English Ships that some thought had beene sent to Sea in honour to conuoy her others to take Pirates and others to take her they grounding it vpon this that Iames her bastard-brother a little before returning from France and passing through England had counselled Queene ELIZABETH to doe it if shee would prouide for Religion and her owne safetie The which Lidington being ioyfull that Doysell was retayned in England perswaded as his Letters make mention Lest being returned shee should stirre vp Tragedies take away the commerce of letters and messages with the English ruine the faction which was at their deuotion and exercise crueltie vpon the Protestants of Scotland not vnder colour of disloyaltie but of heresie euen as MARIE Queene of England had lately done Howbeit her Maiestie being returned into Scotland shewed all gentlenesse to her Subiects shee changed nothing in Religion although tumultuously brought in and begun to temper the Common-wealth by excellent Lawes and good Ordinances Her Maiestie sent Lidington to Queene ELIZABETH with Letters from her selfe and from the Peeres of Scotland by which shee referred to her all the care to make and intertaine the peace betweene England and Scotland prayed her to seeke some good dispatch thereof and gaue for her aduice that shee did not thinke of a better and more certaine remedie than that Queene ELIZABETH dying without issue should declare her Heire to succeed her in the Kingdome of England c. by authority of Parliament This seemed strange to Queene ELIZABETH who expected to receiue the Confirmation of the Treaty of Edenborrough promised both by word and writing Notwithstanding she answers him THat for concerning the matter of Succession shee hoped that the Queene of Scotland would not violently take the Scepter from her nor from her Children if shee should haue any Promiseth not to derogate in any manner from the right which she had to the Kingdome of England howsoeuer by the precipitate and ouer-hasted ambition of others shee had attributed to her selfe the Title and the Armes of the same for which it were iust and requisit shee should make some satisfaction And said shee feared that the Designation of a Successour would disioyne their friendship rather than re-vnite it by reason that those which rule haue alwayes those in suspition which ought to succeed them That the inconstant people vexing themselues at the present state of things turne away the eyes from the Sunne-setting and looke toward the Sunne-rising and that those which are once designed Successors cannot containe themselues within the limits of equitie nor can keepe vnder the ill desires of their owne and of others insomuch that if she did confirme and assure the succession she should depriue her selfe of all
waxe hot in the minority of Charles the Ninth the Princes which enuied one another pretending on both sides the specious name the defence of Religion and those of the reformed Religion beeing grieuously oppressed And herevpon the Papists of England by I knowe not what hope which they had conceiued thereby to oppresse the Protestants many discourses of importance were whispered very secretly in priuate assemblies and all full of suspicion Margaret Countesse of Lenox who had a secret intelligence with the Queen of Scotland and the Earle of Lenox her husband were for a time put and detayned vnder the custodie of the Master of the Rolles Arthur Pole and his Brother Nephews sonnes to George Duke of Clarence King Edwards Brother Anthony Fortescue who had married their Sister and others were brought into examination for hauing conspired to withdraw themselues into France to the Guizes and from thence to returne with an Armie into Wales and declare the Queene of Scotland Queene of England and Arthur Pole Duke of Clarence as they at their Tryall ingenuously confessed neuerthelesse protesting that they intended not to doe it while Queene ELIZABETH liued and that they had been seduced by diuiners to beleeue that shee should dye that yeere for which they were condemned to dye notwithstanding for the respect which was had vnto their bloud they were suffered to liue But as many haue thought they vsed Katherine Gray very seuerely though she was much neerer of kinne to the Queene being Daughter to the Duke of Suffolke For hauing beene married to Henry eldest Sonne to the Earle of Pembrooke by him lawfully repudiated and left long time in great contempt finding her selfe with child neere her lying down was put in the Tower of London although shee protested that she was married to Edward Seimor Earle of Hertford and great by him Hee himselfe being returned from France whither he went for his pleasure by the Queenes permission hauing made the like acknowledgement was also imprisoned in the same Towre the Arch-bishop of Canterbury and others were appointed to examine and decide the Cause without appeale and when hee could not produce witnesse of his marriage within the time prescribed him the Arch-bishop by a definitiue Sentence pronounced That the Carnall company which he had had with her was illegitimate and vnlawfull and that for this offence they ought both to be punished This Sentence was impugned as wicked and vniust by Iohn Hales a man very opinatiue but otherwise very learned who maintained that their sole consent did legitimate their coniunction for which reason he himselfe was committed She was deliuered in prison of her first-borne and afterwards her Keepers being corrupted by the Earle of Hertfords deuice Edward Warner Lieutenant of the Towre was punished as conscious of the fact and displaced Hertford is accused in the Starre-Chamber of three crimes that he had deflowred a Virgine of the Bloud-Royall broken the Prison and had accompanied with her since Whereupon after hauing protested that hee was lawfully married to her he confessed that hauing found the doores of the Prison open hee had visited her in the affliction which was caused by the sentence pronounced against them and had payed her the duty of wedlocke For which cause hee was fined fiue thousand pound for euery offence and kept Prisoner nine yeeres Yet neuerthelesse by perswasion of Lawyers hee insisted against the Arch-bishops sentence by interiecting an appeale and continued to visit her priuily But in this time hee voluntarily and publiquely left it off and she after some yeeres to the end I may in the time of their separation speake ioyntly of them fell into a grieuous sicknesse after hauing in the presence of Hopton Lieutenant of the Towre demanded pardon of the Queene in regard shee had married without her aduice and with Prayers re-commended her Children to her trust and Hertford his libertie She dyed in Christ piously and peaceably Warre renewing then in France betweene the Princes of the Bloud and the Guizes vnder a feigned pretence of Religion as I haue said one sought for to strengthen both parties Queene ELIZABETH began to feare lest neighbour-warres should intangle England therein For she had learned that the Guizes to draw Anthonie of Burbone to their partie had boasted to put him in possession of Nauarre to marry him to the Queene of Scotland and to giue him in dowry the Kingdome of England at the expence of the Spaniard and by the authority of the Pope who would breake the marriage because his Wife was an Heretique and by the same meanes depose Qu. ELIZABETH of her Kingdome as being so Vpon that she sent H. Sidney a man of great renowne that he might informe himself more surely of these things to exhort vnto peace the Conductors of these seuerall parties But the businesse was come to such a passe that the eares of both parties were shut against peace Sidney being returned from France is forthwith sent to the Queene of Scotland that the Colloque which shee desired to be holden in England with Queene ELIZABETH might be prorogued vntill the yeere following or vntill the Warres in France were abated Now it is consulted on whether it were expedient or not that these two Princesses should speake together in that the Queene of Scotland desired it the first it was not without suspition she did it to serue her owne ends and sought out stratagems in their season or to affirme the right which shee pretended to haue in England or to giue hope and increase of courage to the Papists of England and to the Guizes in France Some thought the contrary that this would be a meanes to vnite them with a firme friendship to decay by little and little the alliance with France and to draw the Queene of Scotland to the Protestants Religion Others obserued that such communications might rather sow seedes of emulation than of loue and that the shew of riches and power of the one would euer excite the enuy of the other and that the presence not answering to the opinion and reputation of the body of the grace in speaking and of the gifts of the spirit would leaue both to the one and the other some thing of reprehension The Queene of Scotland did likewise iudge that it were not safe for her to expose her selfe into the power of Queene ELIZABETH with whom shee had contended for the right of the Kingdome and as shee had learned that shee had openly declared her selfe for the Protestants of France shee was likewise in doubt on what side to ranke her selfe considering how shee her selfe had written that of the Father side she had drawne her extraction from England and of her Mother side from France that shee had beene crowned Queene of France and was Dowager of it that shee was the most certaine Heire of England and looked for the succession that if shee were obliged to her Vnkles of France who
the English who prouoked hereat constituted a Faire of English cloth and merchandizes at Embden in East Frizeland as if they feared the Spanish Inquisition which now was entred into the Low-Countries and fore-saw that troubles would presently ensue Against all this the Regent published an Edict importing an expresse prohibition of all men vpon paine of confiscation to entertaine any traffique with the English at Embden or any where else or to transport into the Low-Countries any Merchandizes bought of them Guzman blam'd these proceedings as beeing too strict and rigorous dammageable both to the one and other part For this wise man conceiued truely what wealth dayly came into Flanders by meanes of the English Taffique euer since Lewis Malan Earle of Flanders about the yeere 1338. by a Grant of great immunities had drawne the English to settle a Mart or Staple of English Wools at Bruges for euer since that time in a manner all Nations flocking into Flanders to buy Clothes and other English Merchandizes as also to sell their owne there it is incredible what Traffiques Commerces Nauigations and Fishings haue euer since flourisht among the Flemmings So as this wooll was vnto them a true Golden Fleece and that Noble Order of the Golden Fleece forcheth from hence its originall and the Dukes of Burgundy their great wealth and Treasure And questionlesse in these very dayes wherein wee liue I speake according to the papers of Account the Commerce that is betweene the English and the Flemmings hath amounted to aboue twelue Millions of gold each yeere And the Clothes transported euery yeere to Antwerpe omitting to speake of Lead Tinne and other things is estimated at fiue Millions of gold Wherefore vpon these considerations Guzman employing all meanes possible to atone this difference at last hee obtained that the Commerce lately broken off betweene the two Nations might be resettled in its former state and that whatsoeuer had beene ordained and decreed from the first day of the first yeeres raigne of Queene ELIZABETH both of the one side and on the other should surcease till by Deputies both for the one and the other partie more ample prouision could be made But the yeere following when my Lord Mountaigue Nicholas Watton and William Haddon Master of the Requests Delegates for the English Montigny Assonuil and Io. Egidius for the Flemmings had begunne twice to treate of these matters in the Towne of Bruges the Flemmings falling into their precedent tumules interrupted this Treatie after an Agreement made that this Commerce and Traffique should be free while one of the Princes made an opposite denountiation to the other the Marchants of both parties being aduertised forty dayes before to prouide and take some order for their liuing commodities These things beeing thus ordain'd out of the Kingdome the Queenes Maiesty betooke her selfe to the pleasure and recreations of the Countrey and to this end shee visited the Vniuersity of Cambridge which is one of the two resplendent Lampes of England where beeing entertained of the Schollers with all manner of honours and taken contentment in beholding their Comedies Tragedies and exercises of Armes she personally visited all the Colledges and in a Latine Oration gaue them great thanks for their singular loue and affection highly commended their profound and diuers Eâ—uditions exhorting them to apply their hearts to the studies of piety and learning and for their vertuous stimulation promising alwaies to fauour and cherish them When shee returned the more to honour Robert Dudley Sarlatan a speciall Fauourite of hers whoÌ„ with a secret designe she made choice of for an husband to the Q. of Scots she created him Baron of Denbigh giuing him the Castle of Denbigh in property with all the appurtenances of soyle and Demeanes and the day after Earle of Leicester to himselfe and the heires males of his body lawfully begotten hauing likewise before for his sake confer'd vpon Ambrose his elder Brother the dignities of Baron of Lisle and Earle of Warwicke to him and his lawfull heires males for euer The Lord Dudley exalted by all these supereminent honours and to currey fauour with the Queen of Scots whom he affected and studied by all manner of Offices to deserue well of presently before Queene ELIZABETH he accused Sir Nicholas Bacon Lord Keeper of the great Seale of discussing the point of Succession against the Queene of Scots and that he was priuy to a Libell wherein that same Hales of whom before I spake laboured to intimate that if the Queenes Maiesty of England then liuing dyed without Issue the right of the Crowne came to the House of Suffolke For which cause he was committed prisoner and as for Sir Nicholas Bacon though he absolutely denyed it my Lord Cecill resoluing to conceale what hee thought vntill the Queene whose Maiestie hee was assured would neuer in this case impose on him any demand should command him to speake his minde had much adoe to recouer him her fauour and long time he was a compassing it for nothing could be more distastfull to her then to heare any debatements about this Title of Succession But so the wiser and wealthier sort were more carefull and studious of nothing then of this they obseruing how by reason of the contrariety of Religion the Protestants transported with an ardent zeale held opinion that the Queene of Scots being of an opposite Religion though otherwise her right was neuer so much as called in question ought neuerthelesse by the subtill construction of the Lawes to bee reiected from succession Some Papists againe and those who had reference to that which was iust and equall maintain'd how she was to be receiued as the true right and vndoubted Inheritrix Others there were who prefer'd before her MARGARET her Aunt by the Mothers side and Wife to Mathew Stuart Earle of Lenox and her Children of whom they conceiued good hopes because they were borne in England All this lay not hid from the Queene of Scots who to preuent it so farre as was possible by the Countesse of Lenox her Aunt sent for Mathew Earle of Lenox to come into Scotland vnder pretext to re-establish and settle him in the Inheritance of his Predecessors But this was to consult further with him who by his Wiues meanes obtained leaue and Letters from Q. ELIZABETH after he had bin banisht out of his natiue Countrey for the space of 20. yeeres This Earle of Lenox to the end that relating the same from the essentiall extraction of his eminent Nobility I may giue the better light lustre to things was descended from the very same race of the Stuarts as the Royall Progeny of the Scots came from and moreouer lately by the Hamiltons of the bloud-Royall For Marie daughter to Iames 2. King of Scotland had by Iames Hamilton Iames who was the first Earle of Arraine Mary who was wife to Matt. Stuart first Earle of Lenox of that name Iames Earle of Arraine
in its owne place Now the reasons why shee receiued the Scottish Rebels into England were these Because the the Queene of Scotland had receiued into her protection Yaxley Standon and Walsh English Fugitiues and the Irish Oneale and that she had held Councels with the Pope against the English and had not done iustice vpon Theeues and Pirates This marriage being accomplished those which laboured most for Religion and Englands safetie thought that Queene ELIZABETH could not doe better for that purpose than to take away all hope of the Succession to England from the Queene of Scotland And it fell very commodiously for at the same time Maximilian the Second Emperour sent word by Adam Smicorit his Ambassadour of very honourable conditions for her to marry with his Brother Charles But there arose instantly a most vehement hatred in the Court betweene Sussex and Leicester I know not whereupon vnlesse about this marriage which Sussex sought very eagerly to bring to passe and Leicester vnder-hand hindered hoping to haue her for himselfe verily great and vnsatiable hopes doe those conceiue who haue obtained things beyond their hope Indeede Sussex iniuriously despised him as an vpstart and to detract him would say that hee could cite onely two of his pedigree that is to wit his Father and Grand-father both being enemies to their Countrey and attempters against the State that put the Court in diuision Insomuch as when the Earles went abroade they drew great troupes after them armed with Swords and piked Targets which were then in vse as if it were come to the extremitie But within few dayes the Queene reconciled them and rather smothered than tooke away their malice but endeuoured what shee could to extinguish it quite For shee condemned dissention among Peeres and that old prouerbe vsed by many Diuide Impera and some who were of opinion that the force of command is by the obeyers consent And she delighted her selfe at the emulation and grudging of inferiour women yet not without making speciall good vse thereof Among these things shee is not vnmindfull of the affaires of Scotland A moneth after the solemnization of the marriage there she sent one Tamworth a Gentleman of her Priuy-Chamber to the Qu. of Scotland to exhort her not to breake the peace to expostulate about the marriage which shee had so rashly contracted without her consent and withall to send backe Lenox and Darley his Sonne according to the trans-action and to receiue Murray into grace She perceiuing whereunto this tended admitted not Tamworth but by Articles in writing Promiseth by the word of a Princesse that neither shee nor her Husband would enterprise any thing to the preiudice of the Queene of England or to her Children lawfully begotten of her bodie or to the tranquillity of the Kingdome by admitting of Fugitiues or making alliance with strangers or by any other means but to the contrary they would most freely contract such an alliance with the Queene and Kingdome of England as should be commodious and honourable for both the Kingdomes and innouate nothing in Religion contrary to the Lawes and liberties of England if they should happen to enioy the same Notwithstanding vpon condition that Queene ELIZABETH on her part should fully performe the same to her and her Husband and by authoritie of the Parliament should confirme the Crowne of England vpon her and her issue lawfully begotten and for fault of such issue vpon Margaret Countesse of Lenox her Husbands Mother and of her Children lawfully begotten Moreouer as soone as shee had resolued to marry shee had assured the Queene that it should be with Darley and had no answere from the Queene vpon it That shee had satisfied her demands seeing shee had married an English man and no stranger whom shee knew to be more nobly descended and more worthy of her than any in Great-Brittaine But it seemed strange that shee might not retaine Darley by her to whom she was bound in the sacred bond of marriage or Lenox who was naturally Earle of Scotland As for Murray whom shee had proued to be her sworne enemy shee graciously intreated her to giue her freedome ouer her Subiects seeing she meddled not with the affaires of England Tamworth returned with this answere not hauing been intertained according to his worth And indeed being an impudent man hee had wronged the reputation of the Queene of Scotland and disdained to giue her Husband title of King At the same time Queene ELIZABETH had this augmentation of honour that at the report of her vertue which was equally spred in all places Cecillia Henry the Second King of Suedens Sister and Wife to Christopher Marquis of Baden being then great with Childe came from the furthest part of the North and a great iourney through Germanie to visit her She intertained her and her Husband very magnificently gaue him a yeerely pension christened his Sonne and named him Edward the Fortunate And Donald Mac Cartymore one of the greatest Peeres of Ireland humbly submitted himselfe and his large Territories to the Queene to hold them from her hereafter in fee for him and his heires males lawfully begotten and for default of such issue to the Crowne of England This Princesse who was borne to draw the affections of men according to her humanity most graciously receiued him installed him solemnely and like himselfe Earle of Glencar and Tegue his Sonne Baron of Valance gaue them gifts payed the charge of their voyage and all this to get a party against the Earle of Desmond who was suspected to renouate new things The same yeere Nicholas Arnold of the Country of Glocester Knight was sent to gouerne Ireland with the title of Iusticiary and had for his Garrison onely one thousand fiue hundred ninety sixe Souldiers But within a while after being called backe hee gaue vp his place to Henry Sidney who in the reigne of Queene MARY was Iudge and Treasurer of Ireland and presently after President of Wales Now to note this by the way the chiefe Gouernours of Ireland which now in Latine are termed Proreges since the first entrance of the English vntill the time of Edward the Third were called Iustices of Ireland and their Lieutenants Deputies Since according to the pleasure of the Prince they are called one while Iustices and another while Lieutenants which is a most honourable title but for the most part of like authority And without doubt these chiefe Iustices of Ireland as the Iustices of England which were called at that time simply Iustices were ordained to keepe the peace and to doe Iustice to all and to euery particular as in times past the Romanes had their Pro-Pretors and Pro-Consuls which were sent into Prouinces with Soueraigne authority Sidney being Gouernour of this Prouince found the Countrey of Mounster which lyes toward the South in great confusion in regard of great and sharpe troubles which were betweene Girauld Earle
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
differences between the Earles of Ormond and Desmond who in an ill time bandied one against another Shan re-assuming courage after he had spoyled and ranged farre vp into the Countrey he againe besieged Dundalch which he was presently constrained to giue ouer with great losse and shame many of his men being slaine insomuch that enraged with fury and madnesse he practised most barbarous cruelty against them for many had forsaken him and he perceiuing that his number was greatly diminished for besides those that left him he lost a thousand in fight and how the passages were stopped and all places of retreat seyzed vpon by the English he resolued to prostitute himselfe at the Deputies feet and to craue pardon with an Halter about his necke But being disswaded by his Secretary and first to try the amity of the Scots of Hebrides who were returned into Clande-boy from whence he had formerly driuen them and were there re-entred into an hot warre vnder the conduct of A. Oge which is to say the youngest and M. Gillespic whose Brethren Anne and Ioh. O-Neale himselfe had slaine in fight he first sent vnto them their Brother Surley-boy that is to say Surley the Redde to recouer their fauour and then went to them himselfe with the Wife of Odonel whom he had stolne away They boyling with choller to bee reuenged for their brethren and cousins whom he had slaine entertayned him but with feigned courtesie but presently leading him into their Tent in drinking they quarrelled with him vpon some obscene speeches he vsed of their Mother and so falling vpon him with their naked swords slew both himselfe and many others of his company And thus you may see what a bloudy end this Shan came to in the middest of Iune after he had taken away all gouernement from his Father and life from his bastard-Brother A man wonderfully polluted with Homicides and Adulteries a great gourmand and an infamous drunkard who to refresh his body inflamed with too-much Wine and Vsquebagh he was faine to bury himselfe often-times in ground vp to the chin He left behinde him Henry and Shan his Sonnes that he had by his Wife and many others whom he begot on the Wife of Odonel his other Concubines His possessions and goods were confiscated by the Parliament of the Kingdome of Ireland and Turlogh-Leinich the mightiest man of the Family of O-Neale and of a stayed spirit proclaimed O-Neale by the Queenes permission and the peoples election Neuerthelesse the Queen for an opposite to him if he should chance to exceed the bounds of his duety receiued to grace Hugon Nephew to Shan by reason of Matthew his Brother who was commonly called the Baron of Dungannon a young man then of small note and yet afterwards he proued the Tempest yea the very Plague and Pestilence of his Countrey Thus peace was concluded vpon Vlster But in the meane while new troubles grew in Munster through the debate and secret grudgings about their seuerall limits and borders which fell out betweene the Earles of Ormond and Desmond so as they came to hand-blowes neere to Dromell and were both summoned into England to plead their causes before the Qu. Priuy-Councell But they the matter much encombred sent them backe to the Vice-Roy in Ireland where they might haue both their titles and testimonies neere at hand Both of them being equall in the number of warlike subiects in courage and friends at Court contemning the decision of Lawes they resolued to end their suite by the sword The Vice-Roy hindred it as much as he could both by his authority and armes But Ormond who would be thought to haue the best cause so wrought that the Vice-Roy was blamed for bearing too-much with Desmond and commanded to seyze his person which he did when hee least thought of it and together with himselfe he tooke Ioh. Desmond his Vnkle by the Fathers side neere to Kilmalec and so he sent them both into England where they had a strong Guard set about them THE ELEVENTH YEERE OF Her Reigne Anno Dom. 1568. WHen Tho. Harding N. Sanders and T. P. Diuines and Fugitiues out of England boldly exercised the Episcopall Authority they had lately receiued from the Pope IN iurisdiction of conscience to absolue all those English that would returne into the bosome of the Romane Church to dispence in cases of irregularity except in poynts proceeding from voluntary manslaughter or growne to a contentious iurisdiction and of irregularitie by reason of Heresie so the absolued abstaine for three yeeres from ministring at the Altar On the other side it hapned that Colman Button Hallingham Benson and some others who with ardent zeale professed the more pure Religion reprehended whatsoeuer was performed without authority out of the holy Scriptures and whether transported with a desire of purer doctrine of nouelty or of dissentions but in the open view of all men they questioned the Discipline of the English Church authorized and receiued the Liturgie and vocation of Bishops expresly condemning them as senting too strongly of the Romane Church with which to hold any thing in common they daily preached to be a singular impiety vsing all meanes and endeuour that matters in the English Church might be reformed according to the forme of Geneua And although the Queene commanded them to be clapt vp in prisons yet they had an incredible number of Followers who were presently branded with that odious style of Puritans And in all places they encreased out of a wilfull obstinacy the imprudence of the Bishops and the secret fauours of some of the Nobilitie who barked at and maligned the riches of the Church And when some French likewise laboured after reformation of Religion and fearing lest the Papists would enter into league against them they repayred to the King with armes in hand by reason of the iust feare they stood in and in this manner presented vnto him a Supplication A second ciuill warre hapned for cessation whereof the Queene commanded her Ambassadour Norris to sollicite the King and so hereupon a Peace was agreed vpon but questionlesse hollow and full of deceit and stratagem At the same time the Queene mother to the King of France shewing great affability and grace both to the Ambassadour himselfe and diuers of the English couertly shee vsed some speech as pretending to treat of other affaires that shee was desirous to marry Henry Duke of Anjou her Sonne to Queene ELIZABETH who was hardly seuenteene yeeres old to diuert her as diuers supposed from assisting the Protestants of France in the third Ciuill-Warre which shee plotted presently to be set on foote But then in Spaine Man the English Ambassadour was disgracefully entreated For it beeing imputed to him that he had spoken vnreuerently of the Pope hee was prohibited the Court afterwards banisht from Madril to a little Village among boorish and rusticall people he is forced to heare Masse and
the exercise of his owne Religion forbidden him Wherein I am not able to say whether the Spaniards shewed greater hatred to Queene ELIZABETH or to Religion considering that at the same time she vsed all manner of humanity to Guzman the Spanish Ambassadour in England permitting him the exercise of his religion Her Maiestie was wonderfully moued with this Insult esteeming it offered to her own person in that they vsed her Ambassadour so as likewise for the iniurie which was done at the same instant to one Iohn Hawkins This man went to traffique at the Port of S. Iohn de Vlua within the Mexican Gulfe hauing fiue Ships laden with merchandize and some Negro slaues of whom the English then made ordinary sale hauing learn'd it of the Spaniards but I know not with what honour they might so doe The day after his arriuall came in also the King of Spaine's Fleet which because he would not violate the Peace he suffered peaceably to enter into the Port though he might haue hindred it obtayning first a firme promise of security for himselfe and his people vpon certaine prouisoes and conditions The Spaniards thus entered scorning to haue conditions imposed vpon them in their owne Proprieties obserued a fit time and falling vpon the English slew many of them seized on three of their Ships and made pillage of the goods a victory notwithstanding that cost themselues much blood This treacherous Action caused the Souldiers and Sea-men of England to murmur vrging them to call out for warre against the Spaniard and dayly exclaiming how they were breakers of Peace and Accord because it was agreed vpon between the Emperour Charles the fifth and HENRY the Eighth that commerce should bee free betweene their Subiects in all and each of their Kingdomes and Dominions as also in the Ilands not excepting so much as America which then appertayned to Charles About the same time the second day of May the prisoner Queene at Lake-Leuin made an escape out of prison and retired to Hamilton Castle by meanes of George Dowglasse to whose Brother shee was committed in guard where vpon the testimonies of R. Meluin and others and with an vnanimous consent of all the Nobles who flockt thither in great numbers Sentence definitiue was vttered That the Grant or Resignation extorted by meere feare from the prisoner Queene was void from the beginning and the Queene her selfe beeing present tooke a solemne Oath that it was extorted and forced from her By meanes whereof in two dayes such multitudes of men repayred to her out of all parts as she raised an Army of sixe thousand braue Souldiers who notwithstanding when they came to ioyne battell with Murray fighting rather hare-braindly then with wit or discretion they were soone discomfited This timorous Lady beeing daunted with that hard successe betooke her selfe to flight and rode the same day threescore miles when comming by night to Maxwel's house Baron of Heris she had rather expose herselfe to the mercy of the Sea and rely vpon Queen ELIZABETHS Protection than vpon the fidelity of her Subiects But yet before her embarking shee sent vnto her Iohn Beton with a Diamond that Queen ELIZABETH had formerly giuen her for a gage of their mutuall loue and amitie to the end to aduertise her that shee meant to come into England and demand succour of her if her owne Subiects any longer pursued her by course of Warre Queene ELIZABETH promised her all the kindnesse and loue of a Royall Sister but she not staying the returne of the Messenger committed her selfe to a small Vessell against the aduice and counsell of her friends and so the seuenteenth of May with the Barons Heris and Flemming and some fewe others came to Werrington in Cumberland neere to the mouth of the Riuer Derwenton and the same day shee wrote to Queene ELIZABETH a Letter in French the principall heads whereof I thinke good to set downe euen as I extracted them out of the originall Copie it selfe which comprehend a Relation of that which passed against her in Scotland more at large then what before I haue deliuered MY most deare Sister you very wel vnderstand how some of my Subiects whom I haue raised to soueraigne degrees of honor haue conspired to suppresse and imprison both mee and my Husband as also that when by force of Armes I had expelled them out of my Kingdome I receiued them againe into grace at your entreatie notwithstanding all this they violently entred into my Chamber and though I was great with Child cruelly slew mine owne seruant in my presence and shut vp my selfe vnder guard and close keeping When I pardoned them of this crime then presently they perpetrate another the which though it were plotted by them and had obliged themselues to the execution thereof by seal'd writings subscribed with their owne hands yet they imputed it to mee and were ready with armed power to seize vpon me But beeing confident in mine owne innocence for the sparing of blood I was content to yeeld my selfe vnto them Foorthwith they committed mee to prison beeing depriued of all my seruants except two wayting-Maides a Cooke and a Phisician enforcing me by menacings and terrors of death to resigne ouer the gouernment of the Kingdome refusing to heare either me or my Attourneys in a Conuention of the Estates summon'd by their owne authority onely stript off all my goods and denyed the meanes to speake with any After this by Gods direction I vsed a course to escape this imprisonment and beeing assisted with the whole Flowre of the Nobilitie who cheerefully made recourse vnto me out of all parts I put mine enemies in minde of their duety and of the fidelity they had sworne vnto me offered them pardon tooke order that each partie might bee heard in the Conuention of the Estates to the end the Common-wealth might no longer bee rackt and tormented with intestine mischiefes and for this effect I sent towards them two Messengers But they imprisoned both of them proclaimed them Traytors that assisted me and ordayned that they should presently forsake me I entreated them vnder publike warrant and safety to negotiate with the Baron of Boyd for the according of these differences but in this motion they also refused me Neuerthelesse I conceiued some hope that they might bee brought vnder obedience by your procurements but when I saw that I must either dye or vndergoe another imprisonment I thought to goe to Dunbritton and was onward in my way They opposed and way-laid me beat and ouerthrew my people my selfe beeing constrained to flie Then I retired to the Baron of Heris and with him repayred into your Kingdome relying on your Princely and Royall affection that you will ayde me in my need and by your example inuite others thereunto Wherefore I request you in all kinde affection that beeing so deepely plunged in many distresses as at this instant I am you will cause mee to be conducted out of
Florentine who had lyen a long time Factor in London vnderhand to stir vp the Papists against Queen ELIZABETH as questionlesse he very industriously performed and with great secresie A slender but maruelous weake suspition was rais'd of some priuie conferences were held at Yorke betweene the Earle of Lidington the Bishop of Rosse and the Duke of Norfolke who being sollicited to employ his aduice and care for the safety of the afflicted Queen by the Earle and the Bishop who promised to marry him to her with a modest answere he made refusall thereof promising neuerthelesse that hee would not forsake her in her aduersities so far as might safely stand with his honour and the dutie and fidelity he ought to his Prince This suspicion was greatly augmented by meanes of Ligan one of the Dukes seruants being a great Papist by reason of the daily goings and commings he made to Bolton Castle which belonged to my Lord Scroope where the Queene of Scots was kept by Francis Knowles vnder colour to visit and salute his wife who was the Dukes Sister And though nothing was yet certainely knowne neuerthelesse the Queene was remooued from Bolton where a number of Papists dwelt neere together on all sides to be conducted to Tudberry situated in the heart of the Kingdome and was committed to the keeping of the Earle of Shrewsburie Queene ELIZABETH was then the more carefull both of her owne and of the safety of Religion and the Common-wealth because the Guizes in France and the Duke of Alua in the Low-Countries had begun to put in execution those Dessignes they proiected formerly at Bayon touching the vtter extirpation of the Protestants Religion For the Propositions of Peace set downe in France about the beginning of this yeere came to nothing For Edicts were publisht whereby the exercise of the Protestant Religion was absolutely prohibited they that made profession thereof depriued of their publike places the Ministers commanded to depart the Realme within a prefixt time they were threatned with warre all ouer runne vpon in euery place and cruelties practised against them though Queene ELIZABETH vsed many and importunate intreaties by her Ambassadour Seris to bring them to a firme and solid Peace perswading the King not to excite mens stomacks by vnseasonable courses and that he should take heed of them who by remouing from about him his faithfull Subiects laboured so to breake and dis-vnite the Forces of France that it might be exposed as a prey to other Nations When he made no account of her Entreaties or Remonstrances and forbare not to draw out of Italy Germany and Spaine both money and men to re-enforce Queene ELIZABETH also not to abandon them who ioyned with her in one and the same cause she sent an hundred thousand Crownes in pieces of gold cald Angels with great warlike preparations to the Protestants who then professed religiously that they tooke not vp Armes to make warre vpon the King but onely to defend themselues and shee with all humanity entertain'd the French that made their refuge into England as also the Flemmings who seeing that the Duke of Alua breathed nothing but blood and slaughter were in great multitudes retired thither as to an Asyle and planted by permission both at Norwich Glocester Sandwich Maidstone and Southhampton to the singular benefit certainely of England For they were the first that brought in the Art and knowledge of making those light Stuffes which are called Bayes and Sayes with other such like of linnen and woolen But because I must often commemorate the warres of Flanders as linkt and combin'd with the interest affaires of England I shall not digresse much from my purpose if I heere relate how they tooke their beginning When the Spaniard would by no prayers nor intreaties mitigate his bloody Edicts against Religion and those who made profession thereof in the Low-Countries but in stead thereof exercised all manner of cruelty against mens consciences by the meanes of the Spanish Inquisition prohibited all the Assemblies of the States Prouinciall of the Low-Countries which is the onely and most vsuall remedy for the appeasing and according of their differences but gouerned the Common-Wealth by Acts digested in Spaine and not by the Councels of the people of the same Countreys it so happened that a few of the very scumme of the Vulgar sort tooke certaine Images in euery place out of the Churches and tumultuously brake them in pieces and though this Tumult was as soone appeased as excited yet following their counsell who desired to impose a yoke on this Nation strongly bent to liberty and taking occasion from the temerity of some few particulars he entoyled all the people with a publike Delict of manifest Rebellion and as if they had then lost all their liberty to inuade the Gouernment he sent Ferdinando Aluarez Duke of Alua a cruell and bloody man who beeing constituted supreme Gouernour contrary to the ancient customes and immunities of the Countrie though hee was in no sort a Prince of Blood rais'd a long and fearefull Warre abridging the Authority of former Iurisdictions erecting new Tribunals condemning the Nobility of the Country by the ministery and prosecution of such as were not their Iudges putting them to death placing Spanish Garrisons in the Borroughs and Townes building Citadels and for each alienation and commotion drawing by force out of their purses the tenth part of their immouables and the twentieth part of their mouable goods At the very selfe-same time it happened that certaine Marchants of Genoa and other parts of Italy sent out of Spaine into Flanders a quantity of coine to haue it put out to vse in a great Ship of Biscay and foure lesse which the Spaniards tearme Zabres which beeing chased by Chasteler a French-man and defended by Winter an English-man had much adoe to saue themselues in the Ports of Plimouth Fawmouth and Southhampton in England So soone as the Queene was aduertised of it she commanded all the Magistrates of those Ports to vse the Spaniards very kindly and to defend their Shipping from the French and G. D'espes Knight of the Order of Calatraua Ambassadour Leager of the King of Spaine in England fearing the French obtayned of the Queene who thought verily that this money had belonged to the Spaniard that new Mandates might bee sent downe for the defence of these ships against the French who lay in wayte for them and afterwards hee vsed the meanes to haue this money brought into England and from thence to Antwerpe by Sea But in the meane while the French had almost taken away one of the Ships which had bin perform'd but that they were repell'd by the English And therefore it was thought expedient to land it for better security which was done out of hand But notwithstanding it was not all brought on shore for D' Espes supposing the Queenes intention to be other then is was gaue the D. of Alua to vnderstand how
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
Rosse was likewise examined and Ridolph that Florentine Councellor of whom both hee and others made familiar and common vse committed in keeping to Sir Francis Walsingham the Earle of Pembroke commanded to betake himselfe to his House and reserued to a priuate examination But by reason of his Nobility and old age it was agreed that by reason himselfe could not write his Confession should not be taken in writing After this some great men were prohibited the Court as Complices who exhibited their petitions and demanded pardon when they had acknowledged that they were consenting with the Duke to this marriage which Murray had formerly propounded yet after such a manner as the Queene of Scots the Duke and all the others were aduertized how the matter was first imparted to the Queenes Maiestie of England before any treatie of it The Earles of Northumberland and Westmerland being Confederates in this dessigne made in like manner their submissions to the Earle of Sussex then Gouernour in the North parts whom they intreated to sollicite the Queene for them Many Libels were in like manner dispersed against this marriage the Queene of Scots and the right and title whereby she layde claime to the Crowne of England as next heire apparant with such shamelesse insolency as the Queene resolued to send out prohibitions by a seuere Proclamation to the contrary and playing at hood-winke with the Bishop of Rosse she appointed him to answere them as hee did by another Booke intituled Morgan Philips wherein hee maintained the honour of the Queene of Scots her right of succession and that the Kingdome might be swayed and gouerned by women as this poynt was also called in question But since he ingeniously confest in his Commentaries that his reasons he set downe about her right of succession he drew out of Sir Anthony Brownes bookes chiefe Iustice of the common Pleas and of Carrell both very vnderstanding Gentlemen in the common Lawes of England In those daies there came from the Duke of Alua Chapin Vitelli Marquis of Ceton with Letters from the Spaniard who seemed to haue cleane loft his writing vnder pretext to accord some differences about commerce but really to obserue the issue of this rebellion which was presently to be raised and to command the Souldiers priuily to march downe into Flanders according to the Duke of Alua's promise who likewise sent for his fore-runner Le Mot Gouernour of Dunkerke apparelled like a Mariner that he might the better discouer and found the Ports as himselfe since hath auerred But when it appeared how this Marquis was onely substituted by the Duke of Alua who was the principall partie himselfe wherein the other was but a meere Lieutenant a doubt was made whether they should treatie with him as an Ambassadour Notwithstanding all this the Queenes Maiestie made knowne that she would acknowledge him for the Ambassadour of Spaine But when he made shew of no further Commission than to re-demand some moneys detained the Queene affecting peace aduised him to procure a larger Commission for the ordering of affaires while hee stayd and attended the same the rumor of that Rebellion to be excited in the North Countrey was daily augmented To relate the matter more originally there ran a great fame and brute of this Rebellion about the beginning of Autumne which at the first being contemned it presently strengthned and encreased by reason of the frequent meetings of the Earles of Northumberland Westmerland and some others so that the Earle of Sussex then Gouernour and Deputie of the North cited them before him and interrogated them precisely about these reports and rumors They could not deny but they had heard of it marry so they were in no wise guiltie or culpable with many and deepe protestations offering to lose their liues in the Queenes seruice against any Rebels whatsoeuer and thus he sent them backe to their owne houses with authoritie to enquire and search out the authors of this report which neuerthelesse daily so augmented as her Maiestie conceiuing that nothing was rashly to bee credited of so great men so commanded them by the Lord of Sussex to repaire presently to London for the remouing of all suspition Notwithstanding my Lord of Sussex I know not for what drift or policy enioyned them to come and meet him as if he meant to consult with them about some occasions of that Prouince At the first they drew backe but presently after expresly refused to repaire thither This ministred occasion to the Queenes Maiestie to command them by peremptory Letters which shee writ and caused to be conueyed with all expedition that laying apart all delayes and excuses they should incontinently appeare in her Royall presence and this onely to terrifie and absolutely diuert them from entring into this Rebellion or at least that they might precipitantly vndertake the same before they rallied their forces or that the matter grew to any maturitie For they relyed vpon some secret succours which the Scots Leaguers and the Duke of Alua were to land at the Port of Herripoole within the Bishopricke of Dunelme as afterwards it was manifested So soone as the Earle of Northumberland had read these Letters being of a tractable nature guiltie in his owne conscience deepely affected to the Romane Religion and excited to choller by reason that out of the prerogatiue Royall in Mynes a rich Copper Myne found in his owne grounds was taken from him wherein hee thought himselfe to be wronged but neuerthelesse fed with notable hopes of the Queenes clemency hee was in a wonderfull perplexitie whether he should flye or openly rebell His Friends and seruants being now prepared for a reuolt and seeing him floating in these ambiguities came vpon him a certaine night on a suddaine and headlongly and continually beating into his eares how Oswell Vlstrop and Vaughan his enemies were arriued with a troupe of armed men ready to take him prisoner they vrged entreated and coniured him that he would not forsake himselfe his friends and the Religion of his fore-fathers assuring him how the Catholiques were then in armes all England ouer to re-establish the Romane Religion and to stirre vp the multitude they tumultuarily sounded a Larum bell in all the Countrie Townes and Villages though 't was not yet time to attempt any such matter Affrighted hee presently start out of his Bed in the Chamber retyred to a Gallerie which looked into a Parke neere to Topcliffe and the night following he went to Blanspeth to the Earle of Westmerlands House where many were assembled who knew not what the matter was For to amasse and draw together an ignorant multitude they commanded some to take vp armes for the Queenes defence others were made beleeue that all the great men of England conspired with them to re-erect the Romane Religion othersome they told how they were enforced to take vp armes for preuention that the ancient Nobility of England might not be trampled vnder foot by late
start-ups and their Countrey yeelded as a prey to strangers This carried them violently into a manifest Rebellion and they were the first who disturbed the publique peace of this Kingdome which had continued vnshaken for the terme of eleuen yeeres vnder the happy Reigne of Queene ELIZABETH they being boldly and powerfully incited hereunto by Nicholas Morton a Priest sent from the Pope to denounce Queene ELIZABETH for an Heretike and therefore depriued of all power and gouernement Suddenly likewise they diuulge by a publique Manifestation That they tooke vp armes to no other end but to set vp againe the Religion of their Ancestors to remoue from about the Queenes bad Councellors to restore the Duke and some other great Men who were dismissed of their places and dignities to former libertie and grace But as for the Queenes Maiestie they would attempt nothing against her but vowed that both then and at all times they would perseuer and continue her most obedient Subiects They writ also to the Papists dispersed throughout the whole Kingdome to ioyne their forces together But in stead of cohering to them the most part sent to the Queene both their Letters and the Bearers All the particular men of the Kingdome and the Duke of Norfolke himselfe both their seruice and meanes and to be employed against them So that vpon this occasion shee made a iust triall of her Subiects singular and vnspotted fidelitie and of Gods rare clemency and protection for which shee gaue him great and vnfaigned thankes The Rebels went presently to Durham the next Episcopall See where they rent and trampled vnder foot the sacred Bibles and Bookes of the Liturgie written in the English Tongue as they light vpon them in the Churches Afterwards they celebrated Masse wheresoere they went they leuied and brought into the field many men vnder flying colours wherein were painted in some the fiue wounds of our Lord in others the Challice of the Eucharist Robert Norton a venerable and graue Gentleman who was old and bald carried the Crosse with the Colonell ensigne they came by small dayes marches to Chiffordmore which is not farre from Wetherbie where making a generall muster of their Army vpon the two and twentieth day of their Rebellion they could make no more but sixe hundred Horse and foure thousand foot and when they heard that the Queene of Scots for whose releasement out of imprisoment they had principally taken vp armes was conducted from Tudberie to Couentrey a strong Citie and committed to the guard and custodie of the Earles of Shrewsburie and Huntington that the Earle of Sussex of the one side of them had raised a mightie Armie to set vpon them that Sir George Bowes lay at their backes with chosen and maine troupes and had fortified Bernard-Castell and how the Earle of Cumberland and the Lord Scrope had manned and secured Carlile and dayly leuied more forces they retired from those quarters and returning speedily in a manner the same way they came they came before Rabie which is the principall house and seate of the Earles of Westmerland from whence departing they straitly beleaguerd Bernard Castle which in a short time yeelded to them for want of prouision victuall all and Sir George Bowes with Robert Bowes his brother and all the Souldiers of the Garison issued out with their Armes They were formerly proclaimed Traitors by sound of Trumpet The same very day my Lord of Sussex accompanied with the Earle of Rutland the Lords of Hunsdon Euers and Willowbie of Parham marched against them with seuen thousand men When they saw they were come to Ackland being terrified and daunted they fell to flight and fell backe toward Hexham which place also leauing speedily they crossed along by vnbeaten paths that so they might creepe couertly vnder the hedges and came to the Castle of Naworth where vnderstanding that the Earle of Warwicke and the Lord Clynton Vice-Admirall followed close at their heeles with twelue thousand men drawne out of the South parts of England the two Earles fled into the neerest parts of Scotland with a few men vnknowne to the rest where the Earle of Northumberland obscured himselfe for a while about Harclaw in the little countrey Hamlets amongst the Grymes most notable Theeues who deliuered him afterwards into the Earle of Murray's hands The Earle of Westmerland found some meanes to hide himselfe about Carry Furnhurst and Bucklie and at last scapt into Flanders with some other English in his company where he liu'd a long but a poore life vpon a small Pension which the King of Spaine allowed him The rest saued themselues some by flight some by lurking in holes and dennes For example and terrour sixe inferiour Magistrates were hanged at Durham and others among which one Plumtree a Priest was a man of greatest note There were formerly executed at Yorke Digbie Falthrope Bishop and Pouenham And certaine moneths after Christopher and Thomas Nortons brethren were put to death at London and some others in other places After this the most apparāt notable Rebels were condemned of high Treason and banisht as namely the Earles of North. Westm the Countesse of North. the Daughter to the Earle of Wigorne Edward Dacres of Morton Iohn Neuill of Leuerserg Io. Swineborne Tho. Marquenfield Egre. Ratcliffe brother to the Earle of Sussex Char. Neuill Ro. Norton of Nortonconniers Christ Marmaduke and Thomas of the Family of the Nortons Ro. and Na. Tempests George Stafford and about some fortie others of Noble and worthie Houses whose conuiction and banishment was confirmed by the whole house of Parliament and pardon granted to some who had no Estates nor euer went out of the Kingdome And thus the flame of this Rebellion was in a short time quencht Chiapine Vitelli who was priuie to it as I told you before openly admiring the same in the presence of her Maiestie and many great men of the Kingdome but no doubt inwardly greeuing this Rebellion was so easily and suddenly supprest and that so his owne comming into England tooke so little effect From the combustions of this Rebellion thus couered and extinguisht as out of the ashes of that former fire a little flame began to kindle at Naworth in Cumberland neere to the Valley of Seuerus which was raised by Lau. Dacres second sonne to Geor. Lord Dacres of Gilesland This man after the death of the young Lord Dacres his Nephew because he was the sonne of his elder Brother being angry that so large a Patrimonie should by Law discend vnto his Neeces whom the Duke of Norfolke their Father in law had betrothed to his three sonnes hee commenced suite against them but perceiuing that it would come to no prosperous issue on his side hee secretly combin'd with the Rebels and attempted to carry away the Queene of Scots but all in vaine But the Rebels being defeated sooner then he expected and proclaimed Traitors openly whilest himselfe
diuers strange iudgements vpon the same and among other surmizes his mothers dreame was then recalled to memory of a Lyon and a Dragon combating in her wombe after she had beene priuately knowne by Iames the Fifth Diuers were the opinions and censures of most men but especially of those of sounder iudgement and apprehension according to their diuers affections of some he was much commended because he was very studious for the expelling of the Romish Recusants out of Scotland for so carefully preseruing the King being yet an Infant and likewise for his great and liberall bounty to men of learning and aboue all to Bucchanan on the contrary part hee was of other-some greatly condemned because he vnder the colour and couerture of Religion enricht himselfe and his friends with the spoiles of the Church and with a most iniurious ingratitude insulted and tyrannized ouer the imbecillity of his Sisters weake Sexe hauing before obliged him to her by many benefits And of these some would presage through their suspicious coniectures grounded vpon the mischieuous inclination which is incident to most bastards That that man would not spare the Sonne that had bereaued the Mother of her Kingdome The Queen of Scots exprest much sorrow for him because such a violent and vnexpected death had snatcht him away before as she said he had by serious repentance expiated the multiplicity of the sinnes hee had committed against God his Countrey and his Prince But forasmuch as hee greatly fauoured such English as were affected to the Duke of Norfolke hee was thought and accused to bee a faigned and dissembling Politician The next succeeding night to this murder T. Carrey of Fernihurst and Walter a Scottish-man of Buchlui two of the hardiest and valiantest of those Frontiers and so much affected to the Queene of Scots that for their deuout following of her faction and party they suffered banishment with the confiscation of their goods breathing forth defiance and vengeance against the Queene of England because the Vice-Roy in her fauour had so cruelly afflicted the Frontier inhabitants they violated the peace and by force entred into England with a rout of Scottish and some English Rebells consuming and deuasting with sword and fire the neighbouring Countries as though they would haue made them desolate like Desarts whereupon T. Randolph was incontinently dispatcht into Scotland there in a publike Assembly of the Lords of the Realme to giue notice of this iniurious outrage And if by reason of the manifold troubles wherewith Scotland was at that present incumbred they could not represse the disturbers of the Peace the Queene would reuenge and right herselfe by force of Armes of that insolent affront which she had receiued without any way indamaging others saue those that had deseruedly incurred her vengeance To this was only answered That as yet there was no Vice-Roy chosen or designed amongst them Neuerthelesse that the iniuries done to the Frontier inhabitants might bee redressed a command was giuen to the Lord of Sussex to leauie a competent Armie and march against the Lords of Buchlui and of Fernihurst to pursue and chase with deserued rigour onely those that with the rebellious English had ouer-run pillaged those of the Frontiers Now the Earles of Huntley and Argathel that had all this while laboured in the behalfe of the Queene of Scots hearing of his approach sent vnto him one Trebon to demand a Truce and that they might obtaine so long respit vntill they should acquaint Queene ELIZABETH with their affaires But they perceiuing that they could by no meanes wrest him from his dessignes they began first to vse threatnings thinking to deterre him but that not preuailing they were enforst to vse submissiue intreaties that he would become an arbitratour for the abolishing of certaine ordinances which had beene created in Scotland some two yeeres before Neuerthelesse Sussex about the midst of Aprill entred into Scotland with the Baron of Hunsdon Drury Marshall of Barwicke and the English Armie where they burned through the whole Countrey of Tiuisdale the houses and villages of Buchlui and Carrey ouerthrew and destroyed their countrey and vtterly ruinated Fernihurst and Craling two of the principal Forts of T. Carrey At the same instant the Lord Scroope likewise entred vpon the East parts of Scotland laying desolate on euery side through the Earledome of Anaudale the possessions of Ionston others that had in like maner fauoured the English Rebells such was his expedition at his first cōming that there were 300. houses consumed by fire 50. Forts at least laid leuell with the earth A few dayes after the Lord of Sussex entred further into Scotland with the Baron of Hunsdon where they besieged the Castle of Hume which was the chiefe refuge of the English Rebels which yeelded vp as soone as the great Artillery were planted against it But there were found in it but two of the Rebells which they caused presently to be hanged and placing a Garrison in it Drury was forth-with commanded to batter downe Fast-Castle which was also a prime Fortresse of the Baron of Hume which likewise without resistance was yeelded vp The English Rebells then retired into the heart of Scotland associated with diuers other Rebels there with fire and sword they threatned the Frontier inhabitants of England and those in like manner of Scotland that were of the Queenes partie the Lord of Sussex againe sent forth Drury who returned within seuen dayes with 1200. foote and 400. horse Drury receiued from Collingham certaine hostages for the Earles of Angus of Morton of Mar of Glencarne and for the Barons of Reuuen and of Lindsay who with diuers others had recalled the English Then Sussex himselfe accompanied with G. Carrey P. Manours R. Constable which hee had honoured with the order of Knighthood with Druray A. Bowes G. Knolles T. Brichwell R. Gam Elrington Carnill with other Captaines and Commanders in the Armie marching toward Edenborrough ioyned his forces with those Earles and the Duke of Lenox then newly returned from England who before was suspected to be of the partie with the Duke of Norfolke and the Queene of Scots Thus marching through Limnuch towards Glasco where the Lord of Hamilton Duke of Chastelraut had retired himselfe and from thence towards the Castle Hamilton which after they had mightily battered with the Cannon and almost beaten it downe was yeelded vp in a small space Then were the houses of the Hamiltons with their stately and magnificent buildings defaced and consumed with remorcelesse fire ransacking their demaines of Cluisdale and at their chiefe Mannour house situated neere Limnuch Thus the Hamiltons with the rest that tooke part with the deposed Queene beeing extirpated and put to flight the Lords of Scotland and those of the Kings part beeing ready to assemble about the election of a new Vice-Roy they sent to demand counsell of Queene ELIZABETH who sent them this answer That because she would not preiudicate against
the Queene of Scots her cause not as yet being iudged of she would not intermeddle with that election Vpon which answere they chose Lenox first of all Inter-Roy and presently after Vice-Roy the Queene of England not any way gaine-saying it because she knew well that he was naturally addicted to loue the King his Nephew and was also assured that he was well affected to the English by reason of the many benefits receiued from them and would alwaies be at her deuotion in respect that his wife remained in her power In the meane time that the Queene thus fauoured the Kings party in Scotland the Spaniard failed not in any point towards the imprisoned Queene but at the motion of the Lord of Hamilton Rector of the Church at Dunbar sent vnder the hands of the Gouernour of Flanders certaine prouision for warre as a certaine quantitie of powder with seuen Peeces of great Cannon and some small summes of money to the Earle of Huntley Gouernour for the Queene in the North parts of Scotland Wherevpon the Earle of Huntley the Duke of Chastelraut and the Earle of Argathell by a common aduice and consent with the approbation of the Queene of Scots whose Lieutenants they were did send this Ambasie to the Duke of Alua by the Baron of Setone who thus in the Dukes presence proposed his message in these termes THat he was sent from a Realme which by the treacheries of rebellious Subiects was depriued of its publike peace and a most gracious Princesse and that the tenour of his Ambassie was to demand and entreat assistance and succours to recouer her from a miserable Captiuity being detayned in a strange Land and the Realme from the oppression of strangers That the Scottish Rebells might not be suffered to traffique in the Spanish Confines and that there might bee deliuered to the Queene the tenne thousand Crownes that were assigned vnto her shewing also that shee did wholly cast her selfe into the hands of the King of Spaine well knowing that he did alwaies harbour in his heart a sincere loue to true honour iustice and piety obiects most worthy and sitting for a Catholike Prince and employed for Intercessor the Duke D' Alua who she knew would endeuour himselfe to accomplish his desires That he propounded not to the King of Spaine any profit or commodity that might redound to him beeing a thing vnworthy of so great a Maiesty but onely offers to him from an vnfaigned heart the perpetuall amity and humble seruice of his most Illustrious Queene and her most warlike Countrey-men the Scots That the Glory of Charles the Fifth his Father would for euer liue eternized for re-establishing the Duke of Ferrara and the Mahumetan King in their first dignity But if hee should re-establish the Queene being a constant Professor of the true Catholique religion and an absolute Princesse of the consanguinity and alliance of the greatest Princes of Christendome and an vndoubted Heire to two flourishing Kingdomes it would bee to him an euer-liuing glory and an incomparable argument of most Christian piety That in so doeing hee should not onely binde France Denmarke Lorraine the Guizes S. Peter and all Christendome to his loue but also make his fame equally celebrated with his Fathers nay euen surpasse him farre in relieuing and re-establishing by his example Princesses that are iniustly and treacherously deposed from their lawfull Thrones That being himselfe the greatest Monarch in Christendome and hauing vnder his command and obeisance farre distant Countreys which might giue occasion with great ease of such and so insolent arrogance yet getting by this meanes interest in all Princes they may with more ease be supprest That this pernicious example of deposing Kings was neuer left vnreuenged That he should be a most excellent and fruitfull modell of rare Iustice and that if he should re-establish her that flieth and sueth to him for succour hee should tye in most fast bands of Amity and Alliance to himselfe a Queene Dowager of France absolute of Scotland and most certaine Heire to England with her the Scottish Nation which since Charles the Great haue manifested themselues to all the world most firme constant and faithfull in their Alliance with France And furthermore that now occasion was offered him to reuenge the many iniuries which hee had receiued from the Queene of England that aideth and fauoureth the Rebels of the Netherlands that hath vniustly seized vpon his Coine and the goods of his Subiects and also euill-intreated and abused his Ambassadours That to sit still any longer and see the Scottish Nation fall vnder the subiection of the English would be a lazie slumber and absurd sottishnes That through the increase of power and domesticke strength which that Woman hath acquired shee will at last proue terrible to her neighbours and as she is of a Masculine courage and of a sexe couetous of command shee may easily finde a meanes to entangle the King of Spaine in a long and troublesome warre But if shee were preuented in this she might easily be kept vnder her proper feare That there are but a very few in Scotland that will oppose the imprisoned Queene That all the Catholikes and the greatest part of the Nobles are fauourers of her cause That she hath all the Ports Hauens in her power and that the Pope would not spare the very goods of the Church to maintaine a warre so iust and holy And that it meerely depended vpon the Catholike King who was to muster his forces and shew his power in so iust pious and salutiferous a cause and that all the Catholikes of Great Brittaine expected from him onely in this occasion either their comfort or vtter ruine To this the Duke of Alua answered that he was ready and addrest himselfe to the King of Spaine for the aduancement of this affaire but could not deny traffique with the Scottish Rebels because that might infringe the liberty of Flanders promised to supply them for the most part with money In the meane time Setone the deeper to oblige the King of Spaine and the Duke of Alua passing ouer to the Flemmings Confederats in disguised manner procured by soothing flatteries feastings and other-like meanes of corruption the Scottish Companies vnder them to reuolt and as he was ready to be questioned about it and in great danger of his life saued himselfe with much adoe vnder the Duke of Alua who promised to furnish him with ten thousand Souldiers for sixe moneths but in vaine in regard they were so full of troubles in Flanders that they could not transport any Souldiers for Scotland Whiles these things were a doing the Bishop of Rosse who had meritoriously laboured the affaires of the Queene of Scotland in England and had beene committed to the custodie of the Bishop of London about a secret practice of Rebellion being now set at liberty brought it so to passe that the King of France by his Ambassadour De Monluc laboured most
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
credit to those hurtfull truces and assembles For whilest they treated of these things in England they receiued great dammages in the punishments of many and murdering of others the taking of Dunbrittō situated neere Glotte or Cluide vpon an arme of the sea beeing the strongest and best fortified Castle in all Scotland I. Hamilton Arch-bishop of S. Andrews brother to the Duke of Chastelraut was hanged as a confederate of murdering the King without being brought according to the custome of the Countrey to Iudgement onely vpon the testimony of a priest who iustified that vpon taking confession of the assassinates of the King he heard them say that he was of the confederacie The Queene being prisoner could no longer harbour in her heart what shee had a long time concealed perceiuing herselfe out of all hope plunged in a deepe sorrow that of all her seruants they had left her but onely 10. and a priest to doe her seruice and that all meanes both for her health and liberty being euer most charitable seemed to bee taken away She sent thereupon secretly vnto the Duke of Norfolke a forme of her dessignes which shee had written long before and certaine amorous Letters written in a particular Character only betweene them two with other Letters to perswade him still to rely vpon the Pope and the Spaniard by Ridolph whom shee recommended vnto him as one most affectionate to his seruice and very necessary to be employed in his Affaires But Higford the Dukes Secretary who copied out this remembrance and those Letters in the vsuall Character being commanded to throw them into the fire hid them secretly vnder the mats in the Dukes Chamber for some further Dessigne as it seemeth This Ridolph being one day in the Dukes presence spake and made Barker often iterate the same THat he had obserued that there was as well among the Nobles as meaner sort in England three sorts who studied nouelties some were such as had flourished vnder the authority of MARIE and were then but few in number others who beeing zealous of the Romane Religion fretted that they were not permitted the free exercise thereof others who being transported with a new hope grieued at their present fortune who to enterprize any thing that would be propounded vnto them wanted nothing but a Leader of some Noble Race money and forraigne assistance That there could not be found one more illustrious and capable in such respect then the Duke who had the generall fauour of the people and that it stood with reason that he should reuenge the iniuries done him in that they had so long kept him prisoner against the Lawes of the Countrie and that they had not called him to the Assembly of Parliament sithence hee had his place and voice as beeing chiefe amongst all the Peeres Earle Marshall of the Kingdome of England And with the greater efficacie to perswade him to these things shewed him a Catalogue of the Nobles who had deuoted both themselues and their fortunes to his seruice if hee vndertooke this assured him that for forraigne helpe the Pope would be at all the charges of the Warre prouided that the Catholike Religion might bee aduanced hauing to this end disbursed the yeere before a hundred thousand Crownes when the Bull was publisht of which he himselfe had distributed to the English Fugitiues 12000. promised that the Spaniard prouoked by the iniuries of the English would send him for aide 4000. horse and 6000. foot which might very conueniently be brought in about the beginning of summer at Harwich a Port in Essex at whose approch the Duke had a great number of strong ships and without suspicion because about the same instant the Duke Medinoe-Coeli was to come into Flanders with a great Fleet. Concluded lastly that this might be supposed to be a meanes to free the Duke from all suspicion of attempting the Kingdome and to prouide for the safety of the Queene of England prouided that she embraced or at least-wise tolerated the Romane religion and consented that the Queene of Scotland should marry the Duke The Duke conceiuing these things somewhat probable gaue eare vnto him but neuerthelesse refused to subscribe the Letters of Credit which were offered him by Ridolph being vpon departure and would not harken to the counsel which the Bishop of Rosse suggested to him by Barker after he had often reuolued it in his minde TO seize vpon the Queene on the suddaine with a number of choise Gentlemen to disturbe the Parliament being then assembled And that this might easily be done considering the opportunity of times since this Assembly afforded him so many Gentlemē at his deuotion which could not be conuented in any other place without suspition That he had iust cause to be mooued hereunto in regard they had kept him so long prisoner against the Lawes of the Countrey and that they would not admit him to the Parliament and that they had sought out most seuere Lawes against the Papists And by pregnant examples sithence Castriot in Italy and others in all Countreyes hauing inopinately enterprized waighty affaires haue happily succeeded in them And if not long since fiue Gentlemen of Scotland were able to breake off the Parliament by which Murray was to be banished and bring the Queene vnder their power they might by the same meanes and as easily if they would lay hold of the occasion offered vnto them seyze vpon Qu. ELIZABETH accomplish the marriage of the Qu. of Scotland and prouide in England for the Catholique Religion without any great noyse or need of forreine assistance The Duke who of his naturall good inclination was far from offending reiected this counsell from his heart as most pernitious and dangerous But now H. Percy offered the Bishop to imploy himselfe about the deliuerance of the Queene of Scotland from prison prouided that Grange and Carre Farnihurst should receiue him at his entrance into Scotland and that the Earle of Northumberland his Brother who was prisoner should be set free Howsoeuer being suspected because of his great familiaritie with Baron Burghley and for that hee so long deferred the enterprise they gaue as little credit to this counsell as to that of Powels of Stanford one of the company of the Gentlemen of the Guard and to that of Owen one of the vassals of the Earle of Arundell who should haue vndertaken this but the Bishop of Rosse perceiuing they were vnable to effect it being men of no note hindered them As for other businesses which were closely done in these passages wee will omit vntill the light discouer them Whiles all these things were secretly handled in London there happened a most feareful Earth-quake in the Easterne parts about the Countie of Hereford neere the Towne of Kinaston For vpon the twelfth of March about sixe of the clocke in the euening the Earth opened and a Mountaine with a Rocke vpon which it was situated after a hideous noyse and strange crash
Queene ELIZABETH in England and that shee had not treated of this marriage but to cause the King of France his Mother and Brothers to shew themselues more fauourable to the Protestants in France breake off the hopes of the Queene of Scotland and the plots which the Spaniard and the Irish practised against England by the negotiation of the Cardinall of Lorraine and to auoid the Thunderbolts of the Pope by the interposition of the French For about this time the Earle of Leicester who saw more cleerely into the deepest thoughts of Queene ELIZABETH then any other wrote vnto Walsingham Ambassadour in France THat the Queene had a desire to marry but that she was not very hot vpon it and that she was of opinion that it was more necessary then her desire was to effect it moreouer that when the Duke of Aniou went from the Article concerning the toleration of Religion which Queen ELIZABETH would with such caution haue bound him to that he no longer persisted in his suite As the French tooke care and paine to make vp this Match certaine of the English laboured no lesse to aduance that betweene the Queene of Scotland and the Duke of Norfolke which through their wicked counsels they had againe reuiued contrary to his promise which first of all was discouered by these meanes Ridolph the Florentine who we told you was sent vnto forraigne Nations about the affaires of the Queene of Scotland had declared vnto Charles Bayliffe a Flemming one of his houshold seruants all that he had laboured with the Duke of Alua and put into his hands a packet of Letters written in counterfait Characters to her to the Ambassadour of Spaine to the Duke of Norfolke to the Bishop of Rosse and to Baron Lumley which hee carried with him notwithstanding the Bishop commanded him to leaue it with the Gouernour of Callais to keepe But hee had no sooner landed at Douer but hee was apprehended and imprisoned and the Packet sent to the Lord Cobham Gouernour of the Cinque Ports The Bishop who first of all knew it wrought so quickly and craftily with Cobham who was partly of counsell in the dessignes of the Duke that he deliuered him this Packet and another in stead thereof was sent to the Queenes Councell wherein were old-dated Letters tending to small purposes and aduertised Bayliffe thereof who being brought into question neuerthelesse confessed something of what had past and amongst the rest that this Packet had past through the Bishops hands who beeing aduertised thereof forthwith sent away Cutbert his Secretary to disperse amongst his friends the counterfait Characters and all that might doe hurt so as when Sussex Burghley Mildmay and Sadler came to search his house they could finde nothing at all nor get any thing out of him by examination he standing vpon it that an Ambassadour ought not to giue an account of his dealings to any but his Prince He was notwithstanding committed for two daies after to the Bishop of Ely and a little while after that carried to the Isle of Ely Stanley and Gerard Knights and Rolston of whom I haue spoken were clapt vp in the Tower of London and Howard who aspired to the Arch-bishoprike of Yorke was deliuered vpon suspicion to the custody of the Arch-bishop of Canterbury The Queene of Scots hauing about this time sent a certaine summe of money to the Ambassadour of France to be conueyed to those that were of her partie in Scotland the Ambassadour deliuered it to Barker and Higford who aduising with the Duke put it into the hands of one Browne of the Towne of Shrewsburie a seruant to the Duke to be deliuered in Scotland to Baron Heris by Banister and Lowder Browne beeing a crafty fellow perceiuing by the weight that in stead of Siluer they had giuen him Gold deliuered it ouer to the Councell of State Hereby the wiser sort began to obserue that the Duke had already begun to trespasse against her Maiesty in lending ayde to Heris and to the Scots her professed enemies who had forâ—aged the Frontier Inhabitants of England And hereupon Higford was committed to prison who presently confessed all the businesse concerning the money and shewed where the Letters and other writings were and the secret Characters and the remembrances and instructions of the Qu. of Scotland of which I haue spoken hidden vnder Maâ—â—land Tiles importing THat the French approued of the intended meeting with the Scots but that the Proposition of marriage of the Duke of Aniou with Queen ELIZABETH was to no other end but onely the better to colour the assistance performed to the Queene of Scotland for her re-establishment That they secretly preuented any contract with Iohn of Austria but fauoured the other with the Duke of Norfolke very much for the hatred they bore to the Spaniard That the Duke of Alua did so farre disproue the Designe of sending the Queene backe into Scotland that it would certainely be the ruine of her selfe and of the Catholique Religion through all Great Brittaine because shee being returned must of necessity either hazzard the danger of beeing besieged or try her fortune of the warres against the Rebels who by the aide of the English might easily bring her vnder their power before such time that any Forraigne forces could arriue That being then in no safety in Scotland and no hope to be expected from France so pestred with intestine warres he thought it more expedient to procure ayde from the Spaniard who had made an offer of marriage with Iohn of Austria which notwithstanding she neuer intended sithence she had promised by meanes of the Duke of Norfolke to re-establish the Romane Religion in Great Britaine And moreouer to send her Sonne out of Scotland into Spaine where he might be safely preserued and instructed from his Infancy in the Romane Religion and by this meanes all pretence taken from the Scots who shaddowed their rebellion vnder colour of him and lastly for the effecting of these businesses presently to dispatch away Ridolph with caution first to conceale these things especially from the French The Councell hauing receiued these instructions the Letters whereof I spake and other dispatches from the Pope and Barker who was surprized hauing confest all these particulars they commanded Sadler with a Company of armed men to goe vnto the Dukes house in London which was then at Charter-House Two dayes after the Duke who was altogether ignorant that those people had confessed any thing and confident that those Letters and Remembrances were burned in the fire beeing questioned denyed all that they had confest and therevpon was brought backe the seuenteenth day of September by Sadler Smith Neuill and Wilson to the great griefe of the people vnto the Tower of London from whence he was but the yeere before deliuered Afterwards they imprisoned Banister a Lawyer whose counsell the Duke had taken and followed after that the Earles of Arundell and Southampton Baron Lumley and Cobham
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
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
Rebels at the Earle of Kildares perswasion came vnder due obedience and at the same time Sir Thomas Smith a learned and prudent man with pitty entring into consideration what small account was made of Ireland obtained of the Queene that a Colonie might be sent thither vnder the conduct of his owne onely bastard sonne into the halfe Iland called Ardes at the East entry into Vlster to instruct and ciuilize the Demibarbarous inhabitants and to make them humane hoping the place might easily bee defended if Garrisons were planted in the straight or Istmus which ioynes it to the rest of the Iland He gaue to euery Footman 120. acres to each Horseman 240. ammounting to fiue hundred acres of English ground paying euery yeere but a penny for an acre But this businesse footed not according to his desire for Thomas his sonne hauing conducted thither the Colonie was surprized and slaine by the treachery of Neel Brian Artho Afterwards Malbie an English Gouernour of Lecale a frontier Prouince iudging all meanes lawfull to kill a perfidious murderer slew him likewise not long after and so left him to the Wolues iawes to be deuoured and eaten I know not whether it be materiall or no here to make mention as all the Historiographers of our time haue done how in the moneth of Nouember was seene a strange Starre except you had rather haue me tearme it a Phinomene in the Chaire of Cassioperaes Constellation which exceeded in relucencie that 〈◊〉 himselfe then when he is in the Perigie of his Eâ—ceâ—trick or Epicicle as I obserued my selfe and seated in the same Spheare of the heauens as also moued by his diurnall motion remained there 16. moneths Tho. Digsay and Ioh. Dee rare Mathematicians among vs learnedly did demonstrate by the maximes of the Paralels that it remained not onely in the elementall Region but in the very Celestiall circle and were of opinion that daily mounting higher by little and little at last it vanisht out of our sight And certainely their Iudgement was good and sound for after the eighth moneth it continually diminished Theodore Beza ingeniously compared this Starre to that which appeared at the birth of Christ and at the massacre of Infants which was perpetrated vnder Herod and in this short verse Thou therefore cruell Herod shake and feare admonished Charles new King of France who confest himselfe to be the author of that which was executed at Paris to tremble and feare and this was not out of a vaine and credulous beliefe For fiue moneths after the disappearing of this Starre he dyed of a bloody fluxe rackt with long and terrible torments THE SIXTEENTH YEERE OF Her Reigne Anno Dom. 1573. THe proceedings of Spaine in the Low-Countries being wonderfully crost by the taking of Flushing the reuolt of the Townes of Holland and the losse and discomfiture of the Spanish Fleet by the Hollanders with which the Duke de Medina coeli had a Commission with Chapin Vitelli to succour the Papists in England The Duke of Alua was constrained in despight of himselfe to shew himselfe more fauourable to the English and so it happened that in the moneth of Ianuary the commerce of the English with the Flemmings which in the same moneth of the yeere 1568. was interdicted at last came to be opened for two yeeres and the Articles were agreed vpon at Bristoll confirm'd by the Spaniard in the moneth of Iune amongst which this clause was inserted THat though this mutuall correspondencie and amity had beene obscured yet was iâ— in no wise to be reputed dissolâ—ed and broken and it was accorded that if the Deputies within a 〈◊〉 pâ—â—â—script time could not arbitrate the businesse that then the said Entercourse should be expired when the two yeeres came to an end But when the troubles renewed in Flanders it grew dead by little and little nay and before the two yeers were fully accomplished and a new one was commenst betweene the vnited States And as for Queene ELIZABETH she recompensed all the dammages of the English Marchants with such Flemmish goods as she retained in her hands restored the rest to the Duke of Alua and amply contented the Genoa Marchants for the money of theirs she seized vpon and tooke vp at loane which was the first cause of the warre although the Duke of Alua restored nor one shilling to the Flemmings of the English-mens goods which did accrue to the wonderfull honour of Queene ELIZABETH And yet she performed a farre more glorious Action then this and more pleasing to her Subiects by discharging England of those debts which her Father and Brother had taken vpon credit of Strangers which were greatly augmented by reason of the long interests due and to the inexplicable ioy of the inhabitants of the Citie of London calling in all the Citie obligations which had beene so often renewed Neuerthelesse both the Queene and the whole Clergie were wonderfully vext with certaine Ecclesiasticall persons who boyling with zeale and breathing nothing but Euangelicall Purity reprehended not only the Ecclesiasticall Gouernment as still defiled with Romane corruptions as well publikely as priuately both by Sermons Books which were intituled An Aduertisement to the Parliament and An Appologie of the Aduertisement but refused also to be present at the receiued forme of Common-Prayer vsurping framing to themselues other courses of seruing God So as the Queene condemning them for people impatient of Peace greedy of nouelties and apt to subuert things well established to preuent Schisme coÌ„manded that throughout the Kingdome they should by rigour of Law be vrged to obserue a generall forme and manner of publike Prayers and that these Libels might be deliuered into the hands of the Bishops or some one of the Priuie-Councell vpon paine of imprisonment although Iohn Whitegift who was afterward Arch-Bishop of Canterbury had with learned soliditie refuted them There was also diuulged by the English Rebels and Fugitiues a booke full of iniurie and calumniation whose title was A Treatise of Treason which to make Sir Nicholas Bacon Keeper of the great Seale and the Lord Burghley Treasurer of England odious to their Prince because they had often by their prudence and vigilancie cut off their wicked hopes and designes they preferred an accusation against them of being Traitors to their Countrie But the Queene was so farre from giuing credit to such friuolous accusations that by a publike Proclamation shee declared them idle and frustrate false calumnious and inuented by sworne Enemies to Religion and their Countrie by their wicked and secret practices to depriue the Queene of her faithfull Councellours And therefore shee admonished euery one to giue no credit to them to contemne throw them into the fire except themselues would bee punished as seditious persons in stead of those that were the true Authors Notwithstanding through a speciall vice very incident to the naturall curiosity of men they were frequently read till as it
through all parts of the Horizon met together in the verticall point of Heauen Neuerthelesse let it not be imputed to me as a crime to haue made mention of these things in a few words and by a short digression since the grauest Historians haue recorded them in many words THE EIGHTEENTH YEERE OF Her Reigne Anno Dom. 1575. HENRY the third King of France being returned from Poland and already inaugurated in the City of Rhemes confirmed by his oath and signe of his owne hand before all things the Alliance passed in the City of Blois in the yeere 1572. betweene Charles his brother and Queene ELIZABETH and hauing giuen it to the Ambassador ordinary of England Queene ELIZABETH also for her part ratified it at Saint Iames neere Westminster Notwithstanding a while after he inquired by letters if the words mutuall defence against all mentioned in that alliance comprehended the cause of Religion And after that Queene ELIZABETH had discreetly replyed Yes and that she was alwaies ready prest and desirous to effect that mutuall defence euen in the cause of Religion if it was required by vertue of the alliance he tooke armes against the Protestants the Duke of Alanzon being drawne to the contrary part the marriage slept in a long and profound silence Notwithstanding Queene ELIZABETH in fauour of the Duke of Alanzon furnished the Duke Casimier with a great summe of mony to carry into France the Alman Rutters against the disturbers of the publike peace As her minde was busied about the affaires of France those of Flanders happened for De Requesens successor to the Duke of Alua was fully bent and endeuored nothing more then to recouer if it were possible the Sea which the Duke of Alua by a remarkable error in so great a thiefe had despised and by this meanes had caused that long warre of the Low Countries which indured so many yeeres but he being not well furnished with necessary things to set forth a nauall Armie because the tempest had broken and lost the Ships which for this purpose had a little before beene conducted from Spaine to Flanders by the aid of the English hee sent Boischot into England to leuy ships and furniture of warre with the Queenes leaue who being vnwilling to aduenture her ships and Sea-men in anothers cause denied it and gaue publike charge to all persons not to arme any Ships without her licence and did forbid the English Sea-men to enrole themselues vnder other Princes Vpon this refusall Boischot prayed her not to take it in ill part if the fugitiue English in Flanders should serue in a nauall Warre against the Hollanders vnder the command of the Spaniard and permit them to touch freely in the ports of England to victuall themselues But she would not approue that the rebellious English so she termed those whom he stiled Fugitiues should fight in the seruice of the Spaniard not to perswade her that Requesens would gratifie them prayed them not to doe it and namely T. Copely whom the Spaniards had loaded with the titles of the great master of the Muze Lord of Gaten and Rouchtey and intended to set to Sea to rob both English and Dutch For the ports she esteemed it exceeding folly to open them to Rebels and sworne enemies Yet Boischot to obtaine more vniust things required in the name of the Spaniard that the rebellious Dutch might bee banished from England But she refused that also knowing that those whom he called Rebels were poore miserable people of no note and had neuer enterprized any thing against him but being chased from their Country and spoiled of their goods during the warre had retired themselues into England thinking she should commit a great inhumanity and violate the lawes of Hospitality if shee should deliuer them into the hands of a Cut-throat She also remembred how far the affaires of Spaine were interessed in Flanders Then when at the prayer of the Duke of Alua she commanded 1572. the Dutch to leaue England and that hauing commanded the Count of March and other Dutch to be gone they had taken Brill and suscitated that warre neuerthelesse not to seeme altogether to depart from the ancient Alliance of the Burguinions although the Spaniard had refused to confirme it with him shee forbad by publike writing the Dutch Ships prepared for warre to goe forth and those Dutch that had taken vp armes against the Spaniard to enter into England and expresly the Prince of Orange and his house the Count of Culenberge of Berg of March and fifty others the most notable of that faction And she performed with more alacrity in regard Requesens at the intercession of Wilson the English Ambassador had caused the Earle of Westmerland and other English to retire themselues out of the Country of Flanders which was vnder the Spaniard and had dissipated the English Seminary which was at Doway in whose stead the Guizes at the sollicitation of Pope Cregory the 13. established another in the City of Rhemes The Prince of Orange finding his forces no way equall to those of the Spaniard and expecting no succour from England consulted with his friends in whom he might put his trust Now when Queene ELIZABETH vnderstood he had fixed his eye and heart vpon the King of France she first sent Daniel Rogers to disswade him but nothing being effected in regard he had before created with the Admirall Coligni and the King of France she sent H. Cobham to the King of Spaine to let him vnderstand how great the danger were if Holland and Zealand should reuolt from him and giue themselues to the King of France and by the most important reasons she could represent she perswaded him to make change of warre for peace to which he seemed to accord She then gaue aduice to Requesens by R. Corbet and ceased not by all meanes to turne the Prince of Orange from his designe by the imployment of I. Hasting but she could not obtaine her purpose being countermined by Villiers a French Church-man who came poore into England with a scuruy Cloake all torne I speake this because I knew him but was inriched by a collection which was giuen him to reade Diuinity Lessons fearing lest the Prince of Orange should cast his eye vpon the English maintained amongst other things nay by a publike writing that Queene ELIZABETH had no man of warre to whom she would trust an Army but the Earle of Sussex and that he bare no good affection to the Protestants and according as he had learned of Coligni he gaue forth that if the English did set foot in the Low-Countries they would renew their ancient hate against the French Neuerthelesse the intestine warres of France hauing taken away all hope of succour from the Prince of Orange and the Dutch they afresh consult to whom they may runne and rely vpon for aid They knew that the Princes of Almany were against the Spaniards also
they hauing no good intelligence did niggardly depart with their mony discorded with the Dutch in certaine points of Religion and that the Emperour a neere Kinsman of the Spaniards would giue impeachment to it They also saw the French so engaged in their owne ciuill warres that they could finde no end that there was simulated inueterate hate betweene the inhabitants of the Low-Countries and the French that the Brabanders Flemmish and the neighbouring people of France would oppose it with all their force that the Commandement of the French was rude and burthensome as well as that of the Spanish and that the hauens of France are not much commodious for the nauigation of the Dutch But for the English that were almost vnder one paralell with the Dutch who also seemed to be of the same nature and Religion with them that their language was not much different their Countrey neere adioyning furnished with Ports commodious for Nauigation and fruitfull in Merchandize That the Queen both by Sea and Land was very powerfull a milde and gracious Princesse temperate in her commands one that would conserue their Liberties and in no wise burthen them with exactions They forthwith sent into England Phil. Marnix Lord of Saint Aldegonde I. Douza of Nortwic Paul Busy and D. Melsen which with an honourable legacy and learned oration offered to the Queene Holland and Zeland eyther to possesse or protect as being a Princesse issued from the Princes of Holland of the bloud of Philip Wife to Edward the Third Daughter to William Bauier the third of that name Earle of Hainaud and of Holland by whose second Sister the Spaniard came to the inheritance of the Prouinces The Queene gaue a willing and an attentiue hearing to these things But first of all shee weighed and considered in her minde the cause which they had vndertaken against their Lord and King the enmities of the Spaniard the enuy of the French the great expences and doubtfull euents of the warre and also what offence might be taken by this insolent example Then shee doubted whether by her discent from Bauier she might make claime to Holland and Zeland and whether shee might lawfully contract a league of protection with the Subiects of another Prince and whether they themselues could doe this without the consent of the Emperour who was Soueraigne Lord of the Fee Then further she scarce gaue credit to what some whispered in her eares that the Prouinces fell not to the Spaniard by hereditary right but by the election of the Subiects Finally hauing maturely deliberated vpon these things after she had respectiuely rendred thankes to the Prince of Orange and the rest for their great good will she answered that she had alwayes had a speciall regard of the honour and faith worthy a Prince nor could shee yet conceiue how she could in honour and conscience receiue the Prouinces into her protection much lesse into her possession but she would imploy her best labours to mediate for a happy peace betweene them At the same time arriued at the Court Iohn Perenot of Champigni from Lodwick Zuniga of Requesens who in his name modestly aduised the Queene to entertaine the league betweene England and Burgundie and not to entermeddle in the affaires of the Netherlands To whom the Queene promised to obserue the league notwithstanding the Spaniard had refused to confirme it Yet would shee alwayes prouide for her owne honour and safety if shee perceiued the ancient forme of command amongst the Burgundians to be changed and forreine Souldiers in great numbers daily to be admitted into the adiacent Prouince Before Champigni was returned Requesens yeelded to death and a strange confusion had ouercast the Netherlands the Souldiers deuasting all places with Sword and Fire And the Estates of Brabant Flanders c. assuming their former authority in the administration of the Common-wealth which the Spaniard by necessity was constrained to confirme to them vntill the comming of Iohn of Austria whom hee had instituted Gouernour ouer the Prouinces Queene ELIZABETH carefully laboured that the Spaniard might receiue no discommoditie conserue as much as she possible could the Netherlāds intyre to him and sent Dauison diligently to exhort them to a peace But by reason of outragiousnesse of the Spanish Souldiers nothing was effected England for this whole yeere remained in a peaceable quiet excepting in the moneth of Iuly there happened vpon the Southerne borders of England towards Scotland a conflict betweene the borderers of eyther part whereof the occasion was this Iohn Foster Knight Gouernour of the Meridionall Frontiers and at the same time of Barwicke also entred into parley vpon the Mount Redsquire with I. Carmichell Warden of Liddisdale in Scotland notwithstanding it was a custome that none but Gouernours should meete with Gouernours and Wardens with Wardens as equals in dignitie they were of either side accompanied besides certaine Noble-men with a multitude of Fugitiues and Malefactours all armed of which the most part quarrelled with one another about inueterate and mortall hatreds betweene them These sort of fellowes according to their custome hauing put their horses out here and there to feed round incircled the Gouernour Warden whom when they heard breake out into eager termes about the sending backe of Fugitiues they whose Lawes were onely their weapons knowing themselues guilty were afraid lest they should be deliuered into the hands of iustice vpon a squabble which fell out about the taking away of a spurre they tumultuously ranne to armes and euery one to reuenge their priuate spleene assayled his particular enemy or made prey of his Horse Whether a Scot or an English-man was the beginner it is vncertaine At the first encounter the English repulsed the Scots and tooke Carmichell But as they being too confident in their owne forces ranged about for booty and trifling pillage a troupe of Scottish succours sallying out of Iedbourgh Carmichell escaped and the English were put to flight George Heron Knight Warden of Tyndale and Ridisdale with others was slaine and the Gouernour Forster himselfe Fran. Russell sonne to the Earle of Bedford and sonne-in-law to Forster Cuthbert Collinwood Iames Ogle Henry Fenwich and many others were taken and carried to Dalquith in Scotland where the Regent was resident who courteously receiued them but fearing lest if hee should so soone permit them to depart their bloud yet boyling for the murther should inflame their courages to vengeance and so rayse a warre betweene the two Kingdomes hee for a time deteined them and would not release them before they had promised by writing to appeare at a certaine day in Scotland When Queene ELIZABETH had certaine notice of these matters shee was then if euer anger had preuayled with her full of vexation and mightily incensed that the Scots which were as her selfe spake indebted to her for their rest and libertie should violating the peace assault and murder the
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
promised him a Croysado as for a sacred warre Moreouer when certaine news came that Stukeley and those Italians were lost in Mauritania and that Spaine thought on nothing else but Portugal they called backe the English Fleet which attended for Stukeley vpon the Irish coast and Henrie Sidney deliuered vp the Countrey to William Drury President of Mounster When he had beene xi yeeres at seuerall times Lord Deputie and being ready to imbarke he gaue this farewell to Ireland with a Verse out of one of the Psalmes of Dauid When Israel came out of Egypt and the House of Jacob from a barbarous people This Lord Sidney verily was a singular good man and one most laudable among the best that had beene Deputies of Ireland and although Deputies are often complained of yet Ireland cannot but acknowledge to be much indebted to him for his wisdome and valour THE TWO AND TVVENTIETH YEERE OF Her Reigne Anno Dom. 1579. IOhn Casimere Sonne to Frederick the Third Prince Elector Palatine who the yeere before had brought a powerfull armie out of Germanie into the Low-Countries with great charge to the States and to Queene ELIZABETH and at the latter end of the yeere without performing any thing being drawne to Gaunt by the tumult of the people who were in diuision came into England in the moneth of Ianuary in a sharpe Winter full of Snowes to excuse himselfe and lay the blame vpon the French King and after hee had beene sumptuously receiued and brought with a number of torches to the City of Londons Senate-house by the prime Nobility of the Court he was intertayned with Barriers Combats Bankets honoured with the order of Saint George and the Garter which the Queene tyed about his legge with her owne hands indued him with an annuall Pension being loaden with many honorable gifts about the middest of February hee passed into the Low-Countries in one of the Queenes Ships where hee found this mercenary Army dispersed For the Germanes seeing Alexander Fernesa Prince of Parma established Gouernour of Flanders by the Spaniard readie to thunder vpon them and they wanting their pay and being brought somewhat low required money from him that they might depart out of the Low-Countries But he with an imperious fashion neuerthelesse which carried a grace and grauity replyed that he had spoke for them that they might depart their liues saued they were contented so they might haue a sure passe they make haste home but not without the losse of reputation but with greater detriment to the States Queene ELIZABETH fayles them not for all that but furnisheth them with great summes vpon the old gage of the rich ornaments and vessels of the house of Burgundie which by Matthew Duke of Austria and them were deliuered to Dauison who being sent to appease the commotions in Gaunt which had falne vpon the Church and Church-men brought them into England During which time Semier ceaseth not louingly to call vpon the marriage for the Duke of Aniou and although shee excellently put him off for a long time yet he brought her to this poynt that Leicester being intirely against this Match and others had raysed a report that hee had charmed her and made her in loue with the Duke with drinkes and vnlawfull arts hee to the contrary sues that Leicester may be degraded and put out of the Queens fauour telling that hee was married to the Earle of Essex his Widdow whereat she was so moued that she commanded him from the Court to Greene-wich Tower and did purpose to haue put him into the Tower of London which all his Enemies much desired But Sussex who was his chiefe Emulator and wholly bent to aduance this marriage disswades her from it being of a right noble minde and in-bred generositie was of opinion that it hath alwayes beene accounted honest and honourable and that none ought to be troubled for lawfull marriage notwithstanding he was glad that it had made Leicester out of all hope to marry the Queene Neuerthelesse Leicester was herewith so prouoked that he thought of nothing but of meanes how to be reuenged and they were not wanting that would doe what he would haue them doe Tewdor one of the Queenes guard is suborned to kill Semier which caused the Queene by a publique proclamation to forbid all persons to offend by word or deed him his companions or seruants And there happened at the same time shee going for her recreation in her Barge vpon the Riuer of Thames neere to Greenewich and with her Semier the Earle of Lincolne and Sir Chr. Hatton Vice Chamberlaine that a young fellow from a-board a Ship-boat with a pistolet shot a water-man thorow the arme that rowed in the Queenes Barge who anon after was taken and brought to the Gallowes to terrifie him but when he had religiously affirmed not to haue done it maliciously hee was let goe Neither would the Queene beleeue that he had beene suborned of purpose either against her or Semier So farre shee was from giuing place to suspition against her Subiects that it was an vsuall saying with her That shee could beleeue nothing of her Subiects that Parents would not beleeue of their Children Within a few dayes after the Duke of Aniou himselfe came priuily into England accompanied with two men onely and went to the Queene to Greenewich who likewise knew nothing of it where they had priuate conferences together which is not lawfull to search after the secrets of Princes being an inextricable Labyrinth and afterwards went away vnknowne except to very few But a month or two after shee commanded Burghley the Treasurer Sussex Leicester Hatton and Walsingham that after they had seriously weighed the dangers and commodities that might arise vpon this marriage they should conferre with Semier vpon the Couenants of the marriage There appeared some danger lest the Duke of Aniou should attempt any thing against the receiued Religion or take possession of the Kingdome as the Popes gift or render it vp into the hands of the Queene of Scots and Queene ELIZABETH being dead should marry her or his Brother dying should returne into France and place a Vice-Roy in England which the English would neuer indure Furthermore lest hee should inuolue the English in forreine warres lest the Scots assuring themselues of their ancient alliance with France should take better courage against the English lest Spaine being of so great power should oppose it Lastly lest the people oppressed with taxations to maintaine his magnificence should stirre vp sedition The commodities may be seene a firme confederation with the French might be established the rebellions of Papists if any should be the more easily supprest all the Queene of Scots hope and of all that seeke her in marriage and fauouring her are excluded Spaine would be compelled to compound the businesse of the Low-Countries and confirme the League of Burgundie and England at length should enioy a solid and
as the other Cities and Townes of the Kingdome were decayed that if it had not beene looked to in time the ordinary Magistrates would not haue sufficed to haue gouerned such a multitude nor the Countries neere about to haue fed them and if any Epidemicke infection should haue happened it would haue infected the ioyning-houses that were filled with Lodgers Inmates The Queen made an Edict prohibiting any new dwelling-house to be built within three thousand paces of the Gates of London vpon paine of imprisonment and losse of the materialls which should be brought to the place to build withall and euery one forbidden to haue more than one Family in a House In the Low-Countries Generall Norris and Oliuer Temple with some companies of Flemmings ioyned to their English forces at the breake of the day set Ladders against the walls of Malines a rich Towne of Brabant tooke it killed a great number of the inhabitants and religious persons the taking whereof got them some commendations of valour but they polluted it with a vile pillage and rauenous sacriledge For they did not onely with great insolency take away the goods of the Inhabitants but set vpon the Churches and the holy things to the violating euen the dead And we haue seene I am ashamed to say it many of their Tombe-Stones transported into England and exposed to sale to set out publique witnesses of this impietie It wil not be amisse to remember the great Earth-quake which is a thing that very rarely happneth in England The third of Aprill about sixe of the clocke in the euening the skie being calme and cleare England shooke in a moment from beyond Yorke and the Low-Countries as farre as Collen insomuch that in some places Stones fell downe from Houses and Bels in Steeples were so shaken that they were heard to ring and the Sea it selfe it being a great calme was exceedingly moued And the night following the Country of Kent shooke and likewise the first of May in the night Whether this was caused by the Windes which were entred into cliffes and hollow places of the earth or by waters flowing vnder the earth or otherwise I leaue that to the iudgement of the Naturalists After this followed a commotion against Papists throughout England but themselues were authors of these beginnings The English Seminaries who were fled into Flanders at the perswasion and instigation of William Allan borne at Oxford accounted and esteemed by them a very learned man assembled themselues together at Douay where they begun to set vp a Schoole and the Pope appoynted them an annuall pension Since Flanders beeing moued with troubles the English Fugitiues banished by the command of Requesens and the Guizes allied to the Queene of Scotland did the like in establishing such other Schooles for English youths in the City of Reims and Pope Gregory the Third in Rome who as fast as time depriued England of Priests and Seminaries he furnished the Land with new supplies of their young ones who sowed the seedes of the Roman Religion all ouer England for which cause they were called Seminaries As well as those who were there bred and borne As among other things the Ecclesiasticall and Politicall power the zeale borne to the Pope the Founder thereof the hatred of Queene ELIZABETH and the hope conceiued to reestablish the Roman Religion by the Q. of Scotlands means were debated and disputed of Diuers so perswaded verily beleeued that the Pope had by diuine right full power ouer all the Earth as well in Ecclesiasticall as Politicall matters and by this fulnesse of power power to excommunicate Kings and free-Princes to depriue them of their Crownes and Scepters after the absoluing their subiects from all oath of fidelity and obedience to them This caused the grant of Pope Pius the Fifth's Bull declaratory published Anno 1569. the Bull of Rebellions kindled in the North parts of England Irelād as I haue already spoken of also that many desisted from Diuine Seruice who before seemed to frequent the Church with much zeale and integrity and that Hans Nelson and Maine Priests and one Shrood durst affirme and maintaine that Queene ELIZABETH was a Shismatique and that she therefore ought to be deposed of Regall rule and so degraded for which they were soone after iustly put to death Such Seminaries were sent in diuers places both in England and Ireland first some young men prematurely inuested in that order and instructed in the said Doctrine then after as they increased a greater number for the administrating the Sacrament of the Roman Church and preaching as they seemed to make shew of but indeed as Queene ELIZABETH her selfe and the Lords of her Maiesties most honourable Priuy Councell found out it was meerely to seduce her subiects to withdraw them from all obedience and loyalty due to their Soueraigne to oblige them by reconciliation to put in practice and truely execute the Sentence of Pope Pius the Fifth pronounced against her Maiesty and by this meanes to make way to the Pope and Spanish designe for the inuading of England And as it was knowne that to the infringing and contemning of the Lawes authority diuers Children young men of sundry Callings were daily vnder-hand secretly sent beyond the Seas in those Seminaries where they hauing made a vow to returne were receiued that from thence new supply of others vnknowne came priuatly into England and that still more were expected to come with such Iesuits who then made here their first entrance and abode so an Edict was proclaimed in the moneth of Iune expresly charging and commanding all such who had children Wards kindred or such others in the Regions beyond the Sea to exhibit and giue vp their names to the Ordinary within ten dayes after to send for them to come ouer within the prefixt time of foure moneths and presently after the said return euery one ought to declare and giue notice thereof to the Ordinary prohibiting likewise to lay out or furnish with money such as should stay or dwell out of England either directly or indirectly neither to nourish relieue or lodge such Priest deriued of those Emissaries nor Iesuits vpon paine for them who should doe otherwise to be reputed and held for fautors of Rebels and supporters of seditious persons to incurre the seuerity and rigour exprest in the Lawes of the said Kingdome Before this Proclamation was published the Papists feined to haue too late taken aduice of the incommodities that this Bull produced they made a shew to be extreme sorry that euer it was sent ouer they supprest Sanders Apology and prohibited to dispute any more such question concerning the Popes authority to excommunicate and degrade Princes But all this most cautelously and cunningly as the euent made it euident for this disputation increased daily amongst them as naturally men are most addicted to things prohibited sith Robert Persons and Edmond
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
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
contract a mariage betweene her and Philip. Then againe into Spaine to the said Philip there to cause him to ratifie the conuented Articles Also for Queene ELIZABETH he went Ambassador to the Emperour Maximilian there likewise to contract a match betweene her and Charles Duke of Austria Hee was Lord Deputy of Ireland Gouernor of the Northerne Prouinces of England also the Queenes Chamberlaine chiefe Iustice in Eire of all her Maiesties Forests Parkes and Chases beyond the Riuer Trent famous for the victories hee had obtained against the Hebrides and Scots that made spoile of the frontiers Dyed at London after he had been afflicted with a long disease leauing no issue behinde him albeit hee had had two wiues the Lady Elizabeth Wriothesly and the Lady Francis Sidney and his brother Henry succeeded him in the Earledome Henry Wriothesly likewise Earle of Southampton paid like tribute vnto death a man much deuoted to the Roman Religion and to the Queene of Scots which hee bought with the anger of his Queene and restraint or libertie He was sonne to Tho Wriothesly who for his tryed vertues by Henry the 8 from the dignitie of Baron of Wriothesly of Tichfield and Knight of the Order of the Garter was aduanced to that soueraigne greatnesse of being Chancelor of England and appointed him one of the supervisors of his last Will. And by Edward the 6 he was graced with the style of Earle of Southampton Hee left by his Wife Daughter of Anthony Browne Viscount Mountague Henry his sonne that succeeded him and a Daughter maried to Thomas Lord Arundel Baron of Wardour About the same time Sir Humphrey Gilbert Knight a man acute and deliberate esteemed industrious both in Peace and Warre was by the raging Ocean depriued of life returning from the North parts of America which we call New-found-Land whither he a little before hauing sold his patrimonie made a voyage in hope to build there a Colonie And there by the sound of a Trumpet proclaimed the Countrey to be vnder the English regency For Sebastian Cabot in the yeare 1497 vnder the Reigne of Henry the 7 made the first discouery therof And then diuided the Land seuerally to his companions But he was taught too late by the deuouring seas and default of meanes which forc'd him to breake off his designes teaching others also by his example that it is a matter of greater difficulty by the expences of a priuate man to plant a Colony in farre distant Countries then he and others blind in their owne errors haue to their vtter ouerthrow perswaded themselues Vpon the same instant Edmund Grindal Archbishop of Canterbury Metropolitan and Primate of England being blind and aged aboue sixty yeares breathed his last Who at his returne from exile which hee endured vnder the Reigne of Queene MARY was first inuested Bishop of London then Archbishop of Yorke and finally of Canterbury liuing much honoured with the fauour of Queene ELIZABETH vntill by the foule deceits and treacheries of his enemies hee was suspected to be a fauourer of the Conuenticles of those turbulent Ministers and such as were called Prophets But the reason was indeed because hee condemned as vnlawfull the mariage of Iulius an Italian Physician with another mans wife which much distasted the Earle of Leicester Such small meanes as he had gathered he bestowed in the founding of a Schoole at Saint Bee in Cumberland where hee was borne and to the aduancement of Learning on both the Vniuersities The English besides is bound to him for the bringing in of Tamariske or Tamarin into England for hauing found by experience that it was a soueraigne remedie against the great and indurate passion of the Spleene hee was the first that caused it to be planted there Iohn Whitgift was his successor being aduanced from the Sea of Worcester to the Archbishopricke of Canterbury a man of singular goodnesse and learning He obtained much commendation for his Iustice in the precedencie of Wales and likewise for his great doctrine in the defence of the Ecclesiasticall policy which by his worth wisedome and patience he dayly increased The Queene who held for a maxime that she ought not to be more remisse in Ecclesiasticall affaires then in politick aboue all cōmanded him to re-establish the discipline of the Church of England that as then lay dismembred by the conniuency of Prelates the obstinacie of innouators and by the power of some great ones whilst some Ministers couertly impugned the authoritie of the Queene in things Ecclesiasticall separating the administration of the Sacrament from the preaching of the Word vsing to their owne fantasie new rites of seruices in their priuate houses vtterly condemning the Lethargie and the appointed manner of adminishing the Sacrament as being in many things contrarie to the holy Scripture and therefore many refused to goe to Church but openly became Schismaticks the Papists all this while applauding them and drawing many to their party as though there had been no vnity in the Church of England To abolish which things and to reduce them to an vnitie Hee propounded these Articles to the Ministers by them to bee subscribed FIrst That the Queene had Soueraigne power ouer all those that were borne within her Dominions of what conditions so euer they were and that no other Stranger Prince or Prelate ought to haue any power either Ciuill or Ecclesiasticall within her Maiesties Realmes Secondly that the Booke of Common Prayers and that of the ordination of Bishops and Priests contained not any thing contrarie to the Word of God but might be lawfully vsed and that they should vse that and no other forme of Prayer or administring of the Sacraments Thirdly That they should approue and allow of the Articles of the Synode holden at London the yeare 1562 published by royall Authoritie and should hold them as conformable to the Word of God But it is incredible what Controuersies and Disputations arose vpon this what hatred and reproach hee endured of the factious Ministers what troubles and iniuries hee suffered of certaine Noblemen who by placing men vnfit in the Church increased their estate or else had hopes vpon the goods of the Church But by his constancie and patience he ouercame all difficulties vsing for his Motto this which he chose not rashly Vincit qui patitur Neither was the Church onely tossed and turmoiled by those people within the Realme but by others who had left the Kingdome as by R. Browne a Cambridge Diuine of whom the new Sectaries were called Brownists and by R. Harison Master of an inferiour Schoole For these men presuming to iudge of Religion according to their owne imaginations by certaine books which they set forth at that time in the Countrey of Zealand and dispersed through many places in England vtterly condemned the Church of England as no Church Which bookes notwithstanding were prohibited by Royall Authoritie and strongly confuted by many learned men and two
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
his enemie and one thirsting for blood saying that hee was apprehended by his cunning policies being vpon the point of departure out of the Kingdome and by him was with the hope both of life grace which he promised him so farre allur'd and treacherously ouer-reacht that hee confessed all that was obiected to him and therefore those things ought not in right and equity or any consequence be brought against him being by treachery and deceit extorted from him As for the resistance which he made hee excused because he perswaded himselfe that the letters of protection sealed with the Kings great Seale which hee had with him were of greater consideration and value then which the Earle of Arran had written with his owne hand for his apprehending Hee likewise answered that hee was not so much blame-worthy in concealing for so short a time the conspiracy against the King and his Queene-mother as hee deserued praise at last for disclosing of it And finally protesting that from his heart hee vtterly hated all witches and sorcerers he openly said that if there were any at all hee verily beleeued that they liu'd in the Courts of Princes The Peeres after they had according to the custome sworne that they had in no waies moued or incited the Kings Aduocate to accuse him they pronounc't him guilty of Laesae Maiestatis and in the end his head was cut off which by his friends was presently taken and stiched to the body and so buried Euen in the same time whilst these Scots enterprised these things against their King in the seruice as they pretended of Queene ELIZABETH to their owne ruine Certaine English likewise to do seruice to the Queene of Scots began to plot against their own Queene things of no lesse weight and attended on with the like bad successe Of which was chiefe Francis Throckmorton eldest son of Iohn Throckmorton Iudge of Chester but by deuices of Leicester hee was degraded and punished because that if I faile not in these law matters hee had stuffed and corrected in many places a copie of iudiciall transaction taken out of the originall which was corrupted and did not present it with all faults and defects This Francis became first suspected by reason of letters which he had written to the Queene of Scots and were intercepted and therefore he was clapt into prison where hee beginning to confesse Thomas Lord Paget and Charles Arundell a Courtier secretly left their Country and fled into France where they with others zealous in the Roman Religion bitterly deplored their misfortune complaining amongst themselues that by the means of Leicester and Walsingham they had without any desert vtterly lost the fauour of their Queene that they were vnworthily afflicted with iniuries and opprobries that many stratagems were deuised against them and diuers snares laid to force them against their owne wills and intentions to runne into the crime of Laesae Maiestatis neither was there any hope of helpe or succour left for them within the Kingdome And surely at that time that they might with more ease sound the mindes of men there were put in practice many fraudulent deuices counterfeit letters were suborned in the name of the Queen of Scots and the rest of the fugitiues with their hands fasly thereto subscribed and these were cast into the houses of the Papists Spies were likewise sent forth to gather the dispersed rumors and captate scattered speeches Then reporters of tales and falsities were accepted and welcomed and many vvere suspected but amongst others the Earle of Northumberland and his sonne the Earle of Arondell vvho vvas cōfined to his house and his vvife vvhich was giuen in keeping to Shirley G. Howard brother to the Earle and H. Howard their Vncle brother to the Duke of Norfolke who was oftentimes examined about Letters written from the Queene of Scots Charles Paget and a certaine fellow as then vnknowne called Mopus and notwithstanding he was wise and innocent yet he had much to doe to defend and warrant himselfe from their traps Neither were these artificiall policies and easie credulities to bee holden or esteemed as things vaine when the matter lay vpon the safeguard of the Queene For then the detestable malice of the Papists began to manifest it selfe publiquely divulging bookes wherein they exhorted the seruants of the Queene to doe by her as Iudith to her immortall fame dealt with Holofernes The Author of these bookes could not certainly be discouered but the suspition lighted vpon one G. Martine of Oxford a man well learned in the Greeke and Latine tongues and one Carter a Booke-binder because he caused them to be imprinted was put to death And forasmuch as by these books the Queens honour was much distained and she rumoured abroad to bee tyrannous and cruell She which aboue all things laboured and studied to leaue to the world a happy memory of her goodnesse She was much moued and incensed against those that had knowledge of the causes which thus prouoked the Papists as barbarously cruell and iniurious to her honour Insomuch that they found it needfull for them to excuse themselues by divulged writings importing these protestations of their part THat they had alwayes entreated the Priests in a more milder fashion then they deserued neither euer vrged any questions to them concerning Religion but onely of their pernicious machinations against their Prince and Countrey moued by strong suspitions with probable signes and arguments thereto That Campian was neuer so extremely tortured but that hee was able to walke and subscribe his hand to his confessions But Brian refusing either to speake or write his name that was author of those mysticall writings which were found about him was kept from all food vntill by writing he demanded it But this yeelding no sufficient satisfaction to the Queene she commanded the Commissaries that were appointed for criminall proceedings that is to say the examiners to abstaine from tormenting and the Iudges from punishing And a short while after those seuentie Priests whereof some were condemned to be put to death and all of them had incurrred the censure of the Law shee caused to bee banished out of England amongst which the most eminent were G. Heywood sonne to that famous Epigrammatist the first Iesuite that entred into England I. Bosgraue a Iesuite also I. Hart of singular learning aboue the rest and E. Richton that monster of ingratitude who presently after vomited vp the poison of his malice against the Queene to whom hee was indebted for his life and published it in open writing Edward Stafford Ambassador for the Queene in France diligently obserued how the Baron of Paget and Arundell were ariued in France But could not penetrate into their designes Neuerthelesse he sollicited the King of France to expell as well them as Morgan and other English that vvere confederates and complotters against their Queene and Country But his answer was THat if they did plot
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
subiects In the meane time as I dayly laboured in the Court for the gouernment of Saint Katherines I receiued Letters from the Cardinall Comense wherein I found mine enterprize much commended and an absolution in the Popes name This I likewise imparted to the Queen What effect it wrought with her I know not But it gaue fresh courage to mee and remoued all scruple Neuerthelesse I had no will to offer any violence to the Queene if she would be perswaded to deale more mildly with the Catholiques But so often as I was to come into her presence I laid aside my dagger lest I should be transported to murder her And when I considered her person and her truely royall vertues I was distracted with many doubtfull cares for my vowes were recorded in heauen my Letters and promises amongst men These things did I often tosse ouer in my vnquiet minde She neuer deserued well of mee indeed she saued my life but if in such a cause had shee taken it away it had beene tyrannie Thus being discontented with my estate and condition I left the Court. At last I happened on a booke of Alans against the Iustice of Great Britaine out of which I was taught That Princes excommunicate for heresie might be lawfully depriued both of rule and life This vehemently incited me to prosecute my purpose This to Neuil whom I had inuited to my table I read ouer six whole moneths before he did accuse me After this he came home to me And let vs heare quoth hee somewhat since we can obtaine nothing of the Queen and so he propounded some things concerning the releasing of the Queene of Scots But quoth I a matter of more weight and more aduantagious to the Catholique Church is now hammered in my head The next day he likewise visited me and touching the Bible with his hand he did sweare he would conceale and constantly pursue all whatsoeuer that might bee profitable to the Catholique Religion I in the same manner took mine oath So we determined with ten Knights more to set vpon the Queene as shee rid through the fields and there to murder her which thing till now he hath concealed But receiuing newes of the Earle of Westmerlands death being transported with the hope of succeeding him he forthwith violating his oath discouered and accused me This was his confession in the presence of the Lord of Hunsdon and Fra. Walsingham Priuy Counsellors to the Queene acknowledging his fault he craued pardon by his Letters to the Queene to Burghley the chiefe Treasurer and to the Earle of Leicester A few daies after being brought to iudgement in the Palace of Westminster and the Articles of his accusation being read he confessed himself guilty His confession being recorded in the Acts Iudgment was demanded to be pronounced against him confessing himselfe guilty Whereupon Hatton thought it expedient to satisfy the multitude there present that the crime might openly bee declared according to his confession which Parry of his owne accord confirmed and desired the Iudges that he might reade it himselfe But the Clerk of the Crowne did read it with the letters of Cardinall Comese those which Parry had writ to the Queene to Burghley to Leicester which he acknowledged for true yet he denyed that he euer had any absolute determination to kill the Queene But being commanded to speake if he had any thing to hinder iudgement from being pronounced against him hee disturbedly answered as tormented in his conscience for the crime which he had vndertaken and said I see plainely that I must dye because I was not fast and constant in my resolution Being commanded to speake his meaning more amply My blood quoth he be vpon you So the sentence of death being pronounced he began to rage and summoned the Queene to Iudgement before God The fift day after he was set vpon a Slead and drawne through the middest of the Citie to Westminster being at the place of his execution after he had vaunted how faithfull a guardian he had beene vnto the Queene hee said hee neuer had any intention to take her life away Thus in boasting manner not in a word committing himselfe to God he was punisht like a Traytor according to the Law in the great Palace yard at Westminster where the States of the Kâ—ngdome were in great number assembled for the holding of the Parliament Iâ— this Parliament some either out of a desire of nouation or reformation earnestly persecuted the Ecclesiasticall estatâ— although the Queene had forbidden it demanding lawes to represse the iurisdiction of Bishops in that which conceâ—ned the gift of Faculties in the Collation of the holy Orders Ecclesiasticall Censures and the oath they take in their office proposing a new oath to be taken in the Chanâ—ery and Kings Bench that is they should not counterâ—and the ciuill Law of England They required that eueâ—y Pastor should be resident in his owne Church and decâ—â—med that the Church of England was destitute of learned teachers when without doubt it could then number vp more learned Diuines then any former age or any other reformed Church But the Queene fauouring aboue all the Ecclesiasticall moderation reproued those Nouators as changing still to worse and reiected their demands and propositions as intended to subuert her Prerogatiue and soueraigne power ouer Ecclesiasticall matters But as for the Association which I haue spoken of it was by the suffrages of all confirmed and established THat foure and twenty or more of the Queenes Priuy Councell or of the Nobilitie chosen by the Queenes Letters Patents should make inquest after those that would inuade the Kingdome incite rebellion or attempt to offend or offer violence to the Queenes Person for or by any one whomsoeuer that shall lay claime to the Crowne of England And that he for whom or by whom any such thing is attempted shall be altogether vncapable of the Crowne of England and depriued of all right and pursued to the death by all the Queenes subiects if by these foure and twenty Noblemen they shall be iudged culpable of inuasion rebellion offence or violence and so publikely declared Lawes also were enacted for the defence of the Queene against the Iesuites and Popish Priests which did then inuent by the Ball of Pius Quintus the Pope many mischieuous and dangerous matters That is to say That they should depart the Realme within fortie dayes And that those which should after that time come or stay in the Kingdome should bee holden guilty of Laesae Maiestatis And all such as wittingly or willingly did receiue or nourish them should be guilty of Felony For so are all capitall Crimes vnder Laesae Maiestatis called That those which were brought vp amongst the Seminaries if they returned not within sixe moneths after the denunciation made and submitted themselues to the Queene in the presence of a Bishop or two Iustices should be holden
guilty of Laesae Maiestatis But of those that submitted if within ten yeares after they should approach nearer to the Court of the Queene then ten thousand paces their submission should be void That those that should any manner of way send money to the Seminary students should bee lyable to the punishment of Praemunire that is perpetual exile with the losse of their goods if any of the Peeres of the Realme that is Dukes Marquesses Earles and Lords shall transgresse these Lawes hee shall vndergoe the iudgement of the Peeres Whosoeuer shall haue knowledge that any Iesuites and such as haue any secret abode within the Kingdome and not make discouery of them within twelue dayes shall be punished according to the Queenes pleasure and abide imprisonment If any one shall be suspected of the number of those Iesuites or Priests and shall not submit himselfe to examination he shall for his contempt be imprisoned vntill he shall submit Whosoeuer shall send his children or others to the Seminaries and Colledges of the Popish profession shall be amerced a hundred pounds of English money All such as shall be sent thither if they returne not within a yeare and conforme themselues to the Church of England shall be depriued of all succession and inioying of goods in what manner soeuer they shall fall vnto them If the Wardens of the Ports shall permit any other but Saylors and Merchants to passe beyond the Seas without Licence from the Queene or sixe of her Counsell they shall bee depriued of their offices and the Masters of such Ships shall bee punished with the losse of their goods and of their voyage besides imprisonment for a whole yeare The seuerity of these lawes which were thought for those times no more then needfull did much terifie the Papists of England and amongst others Phil. Howard Earle of Arundell the eldest sonne to the Duke of Norfolke was in such sort affrighted that he resolued lest hee should offend against them to leaue the Kingdome Three yeares before he was by the gracious bounty of the Queene reestablished in the Rights and Honours of his father But a short while after being secretly accused by some of the Nobility and men of power he was depriued of her fauour so being priuately deuoted to the Roman Religion hee embraced an austere course of liuing This was the reason that hee was twice called before the Priuy Counsell and notwithstanding that he iustified himselfe against all obiections yet was he commanded to confine himselfe within his owne house Six moneths after or thereabouts being established in his right he entred in to the assembled Parliament but the first day before the speech vvas ended hee vvithdrew himselfe The Parliament ended he being as it were certain of his escape hee writ Letters to the Queene which hee commanded should be deliuered after his departure wherein was contained a long and sorrowfull complaint OF the malice of his aduersaries to which hee was forced of necessitie to giue way because they began to triumph ouer his innocency A remonstration of the vnfortunate deaths of his Ancestors First of his great Grandfather who was condemned without answering for himselfe then of his Grandfather who lost his head for matters of small moment and lastly of his father who was circumuented by his enemies but neuer transported with hate to his Queene or Countrey And a Declaration that lest he should proue an heire to his fathers infelicitie that hee might more freely apply himselfe to the seruice of God and prouide for his soules health hee had left his countrey but not his dutifull allegeance to the Queene Before these Letters were deliuered he went into Sussex where being about to imbarke himselfe by the treacherie of his men and discouerie of the Pilot hee vvas apprehended and committed to the Tower of London In the Tower at that time remained prisoner Henry Percy Earle of Northumberland brother to Thomas that lost his head at Yorke a man full of a quicke vvit and haughty courage suspected priuately to haue consulted with Throckmorton the Lord Paget and the Guise concerning the inuading of England and freeing of the Queene of Scots to whom he had alwayes borne great affection In the moneth of Iune he was found dead in his bed being shot through with three bullets vnder the left pappe the doore of his chamber being barred to him on the inside The next neighbouring Enquest sworne after the manner by the Coroner hauing searched the body considered the place and finding a Pistoll in the Chamber with Gunpowder they examined the seruant that bought the Pistol with him that sold the same Whereupon they pronounced the Earle murderer of himselfe The third day after the Nobilitie vvere assembled in the Starre-chamber where Tho. Bromley Chancelor of England succinctly declared that the Earle had treacherously consulted against the Queene and his Countrey which he perceiuing to be discouered and terified with the guiltinesse of his conscience which conuinced him he became his owne murderer But to satisfie the multitude which is alwaies credulous of the worst he commanded the Queenes Attourney and her Counsellors at Law plainely to vnfold the causes of his imprisonment and the manner of his death Whereupon Popham chiefe Attourney to the Queene beginning from the rebellion raised in the North parts sixteene yeares before demonstrated by the publique Acts THat hee was arraigned for the rebellion and for consulting of the freedome of the Queene of Scots That he had acknowledged his fault and submitted himselfe and was therefore amerced fiue thousand Markes But the Queene such was her gracious clemencie exacted not a peny from him and after that his brother had beene deseruedly punished for the same Crime the Queene confirmed him in the honour of Earle of Northumberland Neuerthelesse hee vndertooke new counsels for the deliuering of the Queene of Scots the inuading of England and ouerthrowing of the Religion and the Queene That Mendoza the Spaniard had giuen intelligence to Throckmorton that Charles Paget vnder the name of Mopus had in priuate treated with him concerning these matters in Sussex That the Lord Paget had likwise signified the selfe-same thing to Throckmorton and was also manifested by the Papers of Chreicton a Scottish Iesuite and that Charles Paget had declared all to Shelley at his returne out of France thisâ—gerton â—gerton the Queens Sollicitor demonstrated that by the circumstances suspitious care which the Earle had to keepe himselfe secret and close he shewed himselfe guilty of these matters that is to say That the Earle knowing none of those to bee in England that could accuse him but the Lord Paget whom Throckmorton had familiarly entertained a few dayes after that Throckmorton was intercepted he prepared by the helpe of Shelley a Ship for Paget to passe into France That so soone as Throckmorton had begunne to make confession hee retired from London to Penworth and forthwith sent for Shelley to him
they should haue recourse either to the King of France or Queene of England for refuge succors For they were both at that time discōtented with the Spaniard but suspicious also one of the other The French could not endure that the English their ancient enemies should encrease their power by the addition of the Netherlands and the English in like sort the French De la Prune the French Ambassador for the Low-Countries that he might diuert the Estates from the English made this demonstration THat the Sea flowing betwixt England the Netherlands the English were too farre distant and could not at all occasions be ready to assist them their command also was intollerable and for that cause were in times past driuen out of France and were like then to hazard the same in Ireland That the succession of the Realme was vncertaine and whether MARIE Queene of Scots or IAMES her sonne did succeed both hee and shee would bee ready to giue vp the Netherlands to the Spaniard for the assurance of their owne affaires But that the French were opportunely adioyning and neighbouring their command most mild and their succession certaine in the person of the King of Nauarre who was of the same profession with them Such as fauoured the English maintained the contrary THat they were not so farre disseuered but they could commodiously send them ayde without the hindrance of any That it appeared by the Histories what the French Command had been of yore in the Netherlands what it now was by the surprise of Dixmond Donkircke and Dendermond and the furious and perfidious invasion of Bruges Alost New-port and Antwerpe and what their faith was hauing beene so often obliged by Edicts and nowithstanding violated by the cruell Massacres which haue beene committed in the townes That the succession of England was assured in the person of King Iames who was zealous in the true religion Besides the English were of the selfe-same religion and faitfull obseruers of the ancient League with Burgundie That their trafficke had brought infinite wealth to the Netherlands and their ports most commodious for them The Estates neuerthelesse by Ambassadors implored the ayde of the French King by whom they were receiued with a fearefull silence and a long time deluded with procrastinations by reason aswell of their enuy to the English as of hate to the Spaniard so the Ambassadours returned home at the last and conceiuing hope from the former bounty of Queen ELIZABETH they determined to fly to her for protection Hereupon vvas holden a consultation in England vvhether they vvere to be receiued into their protection or no Some vvere of aduice that they shold presently be receiued and ayde forthvvith sent them 〈…〉 brought them in subiection should become a vexation to the English on that side Other some aduised that they were to bee esteemed as Rebels and vnworthy of succours as being reuolted from the fidelitie which they ought to their Prince THe Spaniard had not violated any of the Articles of his Ioyfull entrance which they sought for as a colour and pretext for their rebellion and deposition of their lawfull Prince But admit that hee had violated them yet was hee not for that to bee punished with the losse of his principalitie And although some suppose that obedience should bee so long denyed him vntill hee had recompenced his fault yet others esteeme that the diuine Lawes to which humane lawes must yeeld Princes should as powers ordinated by God be simply and for conscience obeyed For God hath giuen them the Soueraigntie of command and to subiects the glory of obedience And that subiects should wish for good Princes but endure all whatsoeuer they be That these Prouinces were falne to the Spaniard not by the election of the people but by the hereditary right of their Ancestors and the donation of the Emperors That the Dutchmen had receiued priuiledges from their Princes but had lost the same by a crime of Laesae Maiestatis in taking vp Armes against them That these were not the estates of the Netherlands that had demanded protection but certaine Plebean persons that had attributed to them the Title of Estates It was therefore thought by the iudgement of these most expedient that the Queene should not intermeddle with the affaires of the Netherlands but rather strongly to fortifie her own Kingdomes indeuouring dayly by her naturall bounty to oblige the hearts of 〈…〉 encrease her treasurie to haue her Nauy alwayes well prepared and furnished with necessaries to fortifie with garisons the frontier townes towards Scotland to conserue the ancient militarie discipline of England which was corrupted by the Dutch warres That in thus doing England would be impregnable secured on all sides and a terrour to the enemy That this would be the most commodioas meanes to auoid the warres which might fall vpon such as are begirt with potent neighbours That none would offer to prouoke them seeing them so well furnished of money and forces garded with the good-will and loue of their subiects and alwayes ready and prepared to reuenge themselues And that it would be preposterous wisedome to consume money and Souldiers which are the life and soule of warre in anothers cause and for Princes or people of no ability being subiects to anothers rule and by reason of their pouerty must alwayes bee supplyed with fresh succours or by ingratitude totally prouiding for their owne affaires will neglect those that had assisted them as the English had while-ere in France experimented to their losse in the Bourgongnian cause and not long since in the defence of the Protestants But such as were of this opinion as men degenerate slothfull and addicted to the Spanish party moued the men of warre to much indignation So soone as the Ambassadors of the Estates presented themselues to the Queene with earnest affection they beseeched her to assume the rule of the vnited Prouinces of the Netherlands and to receiue them into her protection and perpetuall homage being vndeseruedly oppressed She graciously gaue them hearing but refused to take vpon her their rule and protection Neuerthelesse to raise the siege from before Antwerpe which was then reduced into great necessitie and oppressed by the Prince of Parma she promised them if they would deliuer for a Gage into her hands the towne of Sluce with all the artillery forthwith to send them foure thousand souldiers But whilst these things were propounded Antwerpe was yeelded vp because the passage of the Riuer Scald by admirable deuices was quite cut off After that the Queen had setled a while her thoughts and cares vpon these matters and perceiued the great cruelty of the Spaniards which they exercised vpon the Dutch her neighbours and the hate which they bore to England and the Religion which was there maintained for the Spaniards were verily perswaded that they could neuer reduce the Netherlands to order if they first subdued not England To hinder warre
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
at supper in a Tauerne After they had supped he riseth from the table leauing his Cloake and Rapier behind him as if he had gone to pay the shot taking the benefit of the darke night slipt away to Westminster where hee changed his cloathes with Gage which Gage soone after put off in Charnocks Chamber and put on his being so arrayed they went to saue them in Saint Iohns Wood neare the Citie vvhere Barnwell and Dun came to them The meane while they vvere proclaimed traytors thorow the vvhole countrie They lurked in woods and by wayes after the French Ambassador had refused to lend them money and Tichbourne horses Babington cut his head-haires and because he vvas faire of complexion they besmeared his face vvith the huskes of greene Wal-nuts Hunger at the last inforced them to retyre themselues into the houses of the Bellamis neare Harrow-hill a people zealously affected to the Romane religion which hid them in barnes and put them in Rusticke apparell and relieued them with meat But being found ten dayes after they vvere conueyed from thence to London and the Citizens to expresse their great ioy rung Bels made bonefires and sung Psalmes which the Queene much commended and gaue the City thankes The other Conspirators vvere taken presently after the most of them in the Suburbs Salisbury in Cheshire his horse being shot through by those vvhich pursued him and Trauers with him after they had swom ouer the Riuer Weauer and Iones in Wales who not vnacquainted with the treason had lodged them in his house after he had heard them proclaimed Traitors and had changed Cloakes with Salisbury and his man who vvas a Priest which fled on horsebacke Many dayes were spent in the examination of these which bewrayed one another not concealing any thing of the knowne truth Now whilst these things past thus the Queene of Scots and her seruants were by Sir Aimé Poulet kept with watch and ward that she might not heare thereof although it were knowne all the Land thorow But so soone as they were all taken Sir Tho Gorge vvas sent to aduertize her briefely hereof which he did purposely shee not dreaming of any such matter but was now mounted on horsebacke to goe hunt and vnder a show of honour is conducted vp and down from one Noble mans house to another not suffering her to returne home In the meane time Sir Iohn Manners Ed. Aston Ri Bagot and Wi Waade who knew not any thing of this businesse hauing beene lately sent into this Countrey receiued Letters and Commission from the Queen to execute the same to separate Naune Curle and the rest of her seruants to be kept safe and seueral from comming to haue any communication with her or shee with them And breaking open the doores of her Closet sent away to the Court all her Desks or Coffers wherein were any Letters vnder her owne hand and Seale Then Poulet as it was commanded him seized vpon all her money that she might haue no meanes to bribe any promising to restore it to her againe The Coffers being opened before Queen ELIZABETH diuers Letters were found written to her by Strangers copies of such as she had sent to sundry notes memorials and secret Characters â—o the number of threescore more or lesse with diuers amorous Letters and Letters of complement from some great men of England ELIZABETH notwithstanding passed all ouer in silence vsing her old Motto Video Taceoque J see and say nothing But as they had knowledge of these things those who before had fauoured the Queene of Scots from thenceforth were her aduersaries After this Giffard hauing first playd his part in this Tragedie was sent into France as if he had beene banished but before he went he left with the Ambassador of France an indented Paper willing him not to deliuer the Queene of Scots her Letters nor those of the Fugitiues to any but him that should show him a Paper sutable to that the which he left secretly with Walsingham Hee returning into France within a few moneths after being committed to prison for some impuritie of life and suspected of these matters ended his dayes miserably confessing that the most of that which hee had said was true as was apparant by that which was found in his Deske The thirteenth day of September seuen of the Conspirators were arraigned vvho confessed themselues guilty and vvere condemned of High treason The second day after the other seuen was likewise called to the barre who pleading not guilty put themselues as the manner is to be tryed by God and the Countrey and vvere by their owne confessions found guilty and condemned Onely Polley though he were guilty of all saying hee had something to speake to Sir Fran Walsingham was not brought forth Vpon the 20 day of the moneth the first seuen were hanged on a Gibbet a seaffold being set vp for that purpose in S. Gyles fields where they had commonly vsed to meet They were no sooner hanged but presently cut downe their priuy members cut off their bowels ript vp and quartered they yet aliue and looking about them which was not without some note of cruelty The first was Ballard the Arch-traytor after he had asked God and the Queene forgiuenesse if euer he had offended her Then Babington who neuer seemed dismayed at Ballards execution whilest the other turning aside prayed on their knees confessed his faults ingenuously and being cut downe from the gallowes and lying vpon the blocke to be quartered cryed aloud in Latine Parce mihi Domine Iesu Sauage the Rope being crackt fell from the Gibber and being presently snatcht vp by the executioner had his members cut off and was bowelled aliue Barnwell excused his crime out of a pretext of conscience and Religion Tâ—â—hbourne most penitently confessing his offence was much pitied of the beholders so also was Tilney a man of modest demeanor of comely personage Abington of a furious and turbulent spirit threatneth that shortly there should bee no little blood-shed through England The next day the other seuen being drawne to the same place suffered the same punishment But with lesse seueritie by the Queenes commandement who hated the first dayes cruelty after she heard it â—or they hung till they were dead and then were taken downe bowelled and quartered Salisbury was the first who dyed very penitently exhorting Catholikes neuer to attempt the restoring of Religion by force of Armes Dunne who vvas next spoke to the same effect Next was Iones vvho protested hee had diuers times disswaded Salisbury from the enterprize nor did euer approue the bringing in of foraine inuasion Charnock and Trauers were earnest in prayer commending themselues to God and to the Saints Gage acknowledgeth the bountifull fauours of her Maiestie towards his father and his owne detestable ingratitude by his treachery Hierome Bellamie who had concealed Babington after hee was proclaimed Traytor confused and
silent concluded the Tragedy For Babingtons brother being guilty of the same had strangled himselfe in prison After this execution M. Nauue a Frenchman and Curle both Secretaries to the Q. of Scots being examined of the Letters copies of Letters Notes and Characters found in the Queenes Closet presently confest and subscribed that they vvere their hand-writings dictated from her to them in French taken by Nauue and translated by Curle into English and vvritten out in secret Characters Neither denyed they that they had receiued Letters from Babington and that they by her bidding had written backe to him againe I will not say that they were hyred to say what they did yet this was plainely to be seene by their Letters and what Curle challenged at that time by Walsinghams promise but he reproued him as vnmindfull of the gracious fauours hee had receiued saying that hee had confessed nothing but what his fellow Nauue vrging him to hee could not deny Presently after Sir Edward Wotton is sent into France vvho was to certifie the King of all the Conspiracy and to shew the Copies of the Letters of the Queene of Scots and of others of the Nobility of England to testifie the truth of the cause that the King might perceiue in what perill the Queen was by the practices of Morgan Charles Paget and others then resident in France The Councell could not determine what should be done vvith the Queene of Scots Some aduised not to deale with her too rigorously but to haue her kept 〈◊〉 in Prison for that shee was not the Author of the conspiracie but conscious and because she was sickly and not likely to liue long Others were of opinion to haue her put to death by course of Law for feare of endangering Religion But the Earle of Leicester thought it better to dispatch her with poison and sent a Diuine to Sir Francis Walsingham to tel him that he thought it might lawfully be done But Sir Fr. Walsingham protested that he was so farre from consenting to haue any violence offered her as that he had diuerted Mortons purpose which was to haue had her sent into Scotland and to haue slaine her on the Borders It was argued againe amongst them by what Law she should be iudged Whether by that of An. 25 of Edward the 3 by which such were held guilty of Treason as conspired the death of the King or the Queene which should bring warre vpon their Kingdom or take part with their Enemies or by that of Anno 27 of ELIZABETH which I spoke of But the aduice of those which thought better of the latter preuailed for it vvas made in the case which vvas now to be handled and therefore proper There vvas chosen by Commission many of the Priuy Councell and of the Peeres of the Realme to proceed by vertue of the Law aboue-mentioned and to passe iudgement against such as had raised rebellion inuaded the Land or offered violence to the Queene c. And behold the words of the Statute as they are in the originall ELIZABETH by the Grace of God Queene of England France and Ireland c. To the most Reuerend Father in Christ Iohn Archbishop of Canterbury Primate and Metropolitane of England and one of our Priuy Councell and to our beloued and faithfull Tho Bromley knight Chancellor of England and of our priuy Councell as also to our welbeloued and faithfull William CECILL Baron of Burghley Lo high Treasurer of England our Priuy Counsellor c. Greeting c. The rest of the Lords Cōmissioners names for breuities sake are thus inserted Then after the rehearsing of the Law or Act as wee tearme it these words follow FOrasmuch as since the last Session of Parliament to wit since the first of Iune in the xxvij yeare of our raigne diuers things haue beene attempted and conceiued tending to the hurt of our royall Person aswell by Mary daughter heyre to Iames the fift late King of Scotland and Dowager of France pretending a title to the crowne of the Kingdome of England as also by diuers other persons with the priuitie of the said Mary according as it hath beene giuen vs to vnderstand And whereas we intend and determine that the said Act should in all and by all be well duely and effectually executed according to the forme and tenour of the said Act. And that all the offences in the aforesaid Act and the circumstances of the same aboue mentioned be duely examined and sentence or iudgement accordingly be giuen agreeable to the tenour and effect of that Act We giue to you or the maior part of you full and absolute power licence and authority according to the purport and meaning of the aboue recyted Act to examine all euery thing and things tending to the impeachment of our royall person which haue beene practised or conceiued aswell by the aforesaid Mary as by any other persons whatsoeuer with the knowledge and priuity of her all circumstances of the same and other forenamed offences whatsoeuer specified as hath beene abouesaid and all circumstances of the said offences and euery of them And moreouer according to the forenamed Act to pronounce sentence or iudgement according as the matter shall appeare to you vpon sufficient proofe And therefore We command you that yee proceed diligently vpon the foresaid matters in maner abouesaid vpon certaine dayes and in certaine places as you or the maior part of you shall thinke good Most part of these Commissioners met together the 11. of October at Fotheringham in the countie of Northampton vpon the riuer Nen where the Queene of Scotts was then kept The next day after the Commissioners sent to her Mildmay Sir Ayme Poulet and Barker publick Notary who deliuered vnto her the Queenes Letters which when she had read with a bold spirit and maiestick countenance she thus answered IT grieueth me that my dearest sister the Queene hath beene so badly informed against me and that after so many yeares as my body hath beene shut vp and kept with watch and ward the many iust conditions which I haue offered for my liberty haue been neglected and my selfe abandoned I haue sufficiently aduertised her of many dangers yet neuerthelesse she hath not giuen credite vnto me but alwayes reiected them though I be the next of her bloud When a combination was begunne and an Act of Parliament thereupon made I foresaw that what dangers soeuer might happen eyther from forraigne Princes abroad discontented persons at home or for Religion would redound vpon me hauing so great enemies in Court I might take it ill to haue my sonne contracted without my knowledge but I omit that Now as touching this Commission it seemeth strange to me to be arraigned in iudgement like a subiect being an absolute Queene not committing any thing preiudiciall to the Queenes royall Maiesty to any Princes of mine owne ranke and dignitie or against my sonne Mine
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
notwithstanding she neuer saw Then she broke into these or the like speeches THe state of all Princes is at a weake stay if they depend vpon the writings and testimonies of their Secretaries for my part I deliuered nothing to them but what nature put into my minde for the recouery of my libertie nor ought I to be conuicted vnlesse it be by mine owne words or writing If they haue written any thing preiudiciall to the queene my sister they did it without my knowledge and therefore let them be punished for their inconsiderate insolency I know for certainty that if they were present they would cleere me in this case and if I had my manuscripts here I could answer all this particularly my selfe With that the Treasurer obiected that shee had determined to send her sonne into Spaine and to conuey to the Spaniard the right she challenged to the Kingdome of England Whereto she answered That she had no kingdome to bestow yet was it lawfull for her to giue her own at her pleasure neyther was she to be accountable to any therefore And when they obiected further out of Curles testimony that she had sent her Alphabet to D. Lodowick and Fernhurst she denied not But she had written out many of them and amongst others that for D. Lodowick after she had recōmended him and another to the honour of Cardinal And without offence she hoped it was as lawfull for her to haue entercourse of letters for the dispatch of her affayres with people of her own religion as it was for the Queen with those of another religion After this they vrged her againe vpon the euidences of Nauue and Curle which agreed together whereto shee eyther replyed as before or reiected them with a precise deniall protesting againe that she neyther knew Babington nor Ballard With this the Treasurer interrupting her said That she knew Morgan very well who had secretly sent Parry to slay the Queene and that she had giuen him an annuall pension She said She knew not that Morgan had done so but she knew well that he had lost all he had for her sake and therefore it stood with her honour to relieue him neyther was she bound to reuenge the wrongs done to the Queen by one who had well deserued from her yet had she alwayes done her best to disswade him from such wicked enterprises saying withall that out of England likewise there were pensions giuen to Patrick Gray and other Scotts enemies to her and her sonne Whereto the L. Treasurer answered Because the treasure of Scotland had beene much impayred by the negligence of the Regents or Vice-royes therefore the Queene had dealt the more bountifully with her neere kinsman your sonne Then was shewed some of the letters which shee had written to Inglefield to the Lo Paget and to Bernard Mendoza touching the forraigne supplies but when she had answered that That tended not to the ruine of the Queene because some strangers had a desire to procure her liberty and that she had manifested plainly enough to the Queene that they sought nothing but her freedome the matter was prorogued till the next day On the day following she reiterateth her protestation before mentioned requiring to haue it recorded and a copie thereof to be deliuered her lamenting That the most reasonable conditions which she had offered the Queene were still reiected especially hauing promised to deliuer her sonne and the Duke of Guise Hostages that neyther by her nor by her meanes the Queene nor kingdome should receiue any detriment That she her selfe altogether excluded from all hope of liberty was now most vnworthily handled whose honour and reputation was called in question by common Lawyers who by their contorted arguments make slender circumstances matters of great consequence wheras anointed and consecrated Princes are not subiect to lawes as priuate persons Moreouer whereas the authoritie of their Commission is to examine matters tending to the hurt of the Queens person yet they so handled the matter and so wrested their letters of Commission that they called in question the Religion she professeth the immunitie and maiesty of forraigne Princes and the priuate commerce they haue amongst themselues by writing and brought her to be arraigned at a Barre like a malefactor to the preiudice of Maiestie and soueraigne dignitie And this was done to no other end but to bring her in disgrace with the Queene and to seclude her from the right of inheritance to the Kingdome She called to mind withall How Qu. Elizabeth her selfe had bin questioned about Wyats rebellion though she were most innocent protesting most deuoutely that notwithstanding she wished the Catholicks welfare yet shee desired not the procurement thereof by the slaughter or bloud of any one She had rather play the part of Hester than Iudith rather make intercession to God for the people than take away the life of the meanest Expostulating the matter she complained that her aduersaries had bruited it abroad that she was of no religion Which was that time she said when she desired to be informed of the Religion of the Protestants but none would vouchsafe her the fauour a signe they had little care of the safety of her soule Then concluding When you haue done all you can said she against me you shall aduance your selues nothing in your cause or hope And so inuocating God and appealing to the Princes of her acquaintance desired she might haue another day of hearing and that she might be allowed an Aduocate to pleade her cause and being a Queene she might be beleeued vpon her royall word For it was extreme imprudence in her to be arraigned before those whom she perceiued to be armed with preiudice against her To this the Lo Treasurer made answer FOrasmuch as I represent two persons the one of a Counsellor the other of a Commissioner first heare me speake as a Commissioner Your protestation is registred and you shal haue a copie of it The power which we beare hath bin imposed vpon vs vnder the Queens signet and the great seale of England from the which there is no repeale Nor are we come with any preiudice but to censure according to the rules of Iustice Nor doe the Lawyers exaggerate the matter otherwise than to make it plainly appeare wherein you haue offended against the person of the Queene Our authoritie is to heare and examine the matter in your absence yet notwithstanding we haue willed you should be present for that wee would not seeme to derogate in any thing from your honour Nor haue wee any purpose to obiect against you any thing but what your attempts haue beene against the person of the Queene or with those with whom ye haue beene confederate Your letters were read only to shew your practising against the queenes person and such other things as concerne the same which are so intermixt they cannot bee sequestred therefore the letters were read wholly and not in parts to
hand and seale wherein hee was commanded to make ready a Warrant vnder the great seale of England for the execution of the Qu. of Scotland and to keepe it priuate not acquainting any therewith lest happely in this turbulent time of feare some sudden violent danger might happen But the morrow after some sudden affright mixing it selfe with her pensiue thoughts and meditations of minde changing her former purpose she recommanded Dauison by Killegray to dispatch his Warrant Dauison going to her told her it was ready and sealed Whereat she grew very angry saying He was too hasty But for all this he forbore not to publish the matter and to impart it to the Councell who beleeuing that willingly which they desired earnestly were easily perswaded that the Queene had giuen commandement for the execution and vnknowne to her sent presently away Beale who out of a feruour of zeale which he bore to religion was more eagerly bent against the Queene of Scotland than any other and with him two executioners and letters Patents whereby authoritie was granted to the Earles of Shrewesbury Kent Derby Cumberland and others to proceed in this execution And although the Queene had told Dauison at that time that shee had a purpose to deale otherwise with the Queene of Scotland yet for all that he did not stay or recall Beale Now assoone as the Earles were arriued at Fotheringham they found the Q. of Scotland with Sir Ayme Poulet and Sir Drue Drury to whose custody she was committed and then reading the Mandate shewed the cause of their comming admonishing her in few words to prepare her selfe to dye against the next morrow Sh ehearing that with an vndanted courage and countenance answered them I Neuer thought that my sister the Queene of England would haue consented to my death seeing I am not subiect to your law but since her pleasure is such death to me shall be most welcome And surely that soule were not worthy the eternall ioyes of heauen whose body cannot endure one stroke of a Headsman She desired of them to haue conference with her Almner her Confessor and Meluine her Steward As for her Confessor they flatly denyed her him and appointed her for comforters the Bishop and Deane of Peterborough whom shee refused Thereupon the Earle of Kent a zealous professor of Religion amongst other his speeches vttered this Your life will be the death and your death the life of our Religion Then hauing made mention of Babington shee confidently affirmed she neuer knâ—w of his practices Shee referred the due reuenge of all to God and hauing inquired what was become of Nauue and Curle asked If euer it was heard of in former times that the Seruants should be suborned to betray their Lady and Mistresse to death and also be admitted as Euidencers against her When the Earles were departed shee called in for supper the better after to dispose of her businesses Shee supped that night as her manner euer was very temperately and noting her seruants at supper time both men and women to weepe and mourne with cheerefull aspect and hearty alacritie shee comforteth them bidding them to wipe their eyes and rather to reioice with her for that shee was now to depart this Gulfe of miseries Then turning to Burgon her Physician she said Haue you not obserued how powerfull and great the Truth is For quoth she the common report is That I am to dye for conspiring the Queene of Englands death but the Earle of Kent notwithstanding told me euen now That the feare they haue of their Religion is the cause of my death Now this is no criminall fact committed against the Queene of England but the feare they haue conceiued of me which hath brought this slaughter vpon me the whilst some besides euery one for himselfe seeking to serue his owne turne conspired vnder a pretext of Religion and the Common-weale Supper being almost done she dranke to all her Seruants who in order one by one vpon their knees tooke her pledge mingling their teares with the wine and crauing pardon of her wherein soeuer they had beene negligent in doing their duties so did she likewise of them After supper she perused her Will lookt ouer the Inuentory of her vtensiles and Iewels and so set downe the names of such to whom shee had bequeathed any thing to euery one their share apart To some of them shee distributed money with her owne hands Shee wrote also to her Confessor to pray for her And to the King of France and the Duke of Guise by her Letters she recommended her Seruants This done she retired herself at her ordinary time to her rest slept a few hours and awaking past the rest of the night away in Prayers The fatall day beginning to appeare which was the 7. of February she attired her selfe in such garments as she vsually wore vpon Festiuall daies and calling her Seruants about her caused her Will to be read desiring them to take in good part the Legacies she had giuen them seeing it was not in her power to make them better Then wholly fixing her mind vpon God she betook her self into her Oratory or place of Prayer where with sighs grieuous gronings and feruent prayers she called vpon God till such time as Thomas Andrey Sherife of the Shire signified to her that it was now time for her to come forth Then forth shee came in gesture carryage and demeanour right Princely and majesticke cheerefull in countenance and in attire very modest and Matron-like shee wore a linnen vaile vpon her and before her face which shee discouered at her girdle hung her Rosarie or rowe of Beades and in her hand she held a Crucifix of Iuory In the Porch or passage of her lodging met her the Earles and the rest of the Noblemen where Meluine one of her Seruants falling on his knees and pouring forth teares bewailed his vnlucky fortune that he was design'd the man that should carry into Scotland the sad message of the tragicall death of his dearest Mistresse Oh weep not quoth she for you shall shortly see Mary Stuart at an end of all her sorrowes You shall report that I dye true and constant in my Religion and firme in my loue to Scotland and France God forgiue them which haue thirsted after my blood as the Hart doth for the Water-brooke Thou oh God which art Truth it selfe and which soundest the deepest secrets of my inward heart euen thou knowest how earnestly I haue desired the vnion of the two Kingdomes of England and Scotland Recommend me to my Sonne tell him for certainty I neuer did or attempted any thing preiudiciall to the Kingdome of Scotland Counsell him to entertaine amitie with the Queene of England and be you his true and trusty Seruant By this the teares flowed from her eyes shee repeating againe and againe Adieu Adieu Meluine who wept all the while no lesse lamentably Then turning her towards the Earles she intreated
vnwilling to contest against the Qu. so was he loth his modesty should be preiudiciall to the truth or his owne reputation Sir Thomas Gaudy and Sir William Pickering the Queenes Sergeants at Law likewise in many and sharpe speeches rebuked him for that he had fraudulently abused her Maiesties Priuy Councell as was confessed by William Cecill Baron of Burghley Lo high Treasurer to whom doubting whether the Queene had granted that they should proceed to the execution of the Queen of Scotland he affirmed and protested she had as also he said the like to the rest who had subscribed to the Warrant or Mandate for the execution of the said Q. of Scotland Here Dauison shedding teares desired the Lawyers not to vrge him any further but that they would remember That he was not to contest against the Queen wherefore he wholly submitted himselfe to her Maiesties conscience and the Commissioners censure Sir Roger Manwood beginning made an historicall relation of the Queene of Scotland how from her tender age she had vsurped the Armes of England and so continuing his discourse to Babingtons conspiracie commended the sentence pronounced against her by vertue of the law made knowne the clemency of the Queene and gaue censure that Dauison for his inconsiderate anticipation should be fined at ten thousand pounds and imprisonment during the Qu. pleasure Sir Edmund Anderson argued that he had done right but not rightly otherwise the man was honest Gerard was of the same opinion Sir Walter Mildmay after he had declared with what mature deliberation and setled grauity they had proceeded in iudgement against the Queene of Scotland and by what great and how many intreaties and imprecations queene Elizabeth was drawne thereto produced against Dauison this passage out of the holy Scripture The heart of the King is in the hands of the Lord and therefore none much lesse a seruant ought fraudulently or couertly to anticipate the determinate purposes of Princes without whose aduice nothing ought to be done especially in matters of so great moment as is the death of a Prince But he cleered Dauison of malice yet reproued him as hauing beene inconsiderate in Princes affaires and too forward in preuenting the queenes determination And for a caueat hereafter to men of his ranke and place not to commit the like errour accorded with the rest concerning his fine and imprisonment Sir Iacob Croft checkt and chid him for hauing vnwisely vttered the things which he ought to haue concealed for that Princes impart that to some one of their Councell which they conceale from the rest Iohn Baron Lumley was of opinion with the Iudges that the sentence against the Qu. of Scotland was iustly giuen yet seriously auerred That in the memory of the precedent times it was neuer heard or read so high a contempt to haue beene committed against a Prince that the Lords of the Councell in the queenes house at the Councell Table where her Maiestie was as it were President of the Councell should haue decreed such a businesse and that without her priuity they and Dauison too hauing free accesse vnto her when they pleased protesting That if he had but one only sonne that were faulty in such a fact he should think him worthy to be very seuerely punished But being perswaded of the honest disposition of the man he would censure him no deeper than others did Arthur Lord Gray inflamed with a religious zeale in a set speech yet somewhat exasperate excepted against him saying DAVISON is accused to haue behaued himselfe contemptuously towards the Queene and this contempt is vrged to the full for that he imployed his diligence in dispatching the Q. of Scotl. That he bewrayed secrets and concealed from the Q. the sending away of the Warrant But what was this Qu. he was so busie to make away Was it not shee I pray you by whose life our religion the queene the kingdome and euery one of vs were in continuall danger yet it is for her being so cut off that wee haue this dayes businesse in hand Now my opinion is That he which hath deliuered our England from so great euills deserues to be royally recompenced I do not thinke him to haue reuealed any secrets for hauing imparted the matter onely to the Councell and Magistrates appointed for matters of State whom chiefly it concerned to vnderstand that and such like and which the queene her selfe before had vttered to two or three If Dauison haue offended in any thing it is chiefly in this That the queene meaning to take another course he told her not that the Warrant was already sent away But questionlesse he was driuen into a double doubt whether to lose the queenes fauour in sending away the Warrant without her knowledge or by recalling it to bring new plots and perills to the queene Who remembreth not how turbulent the time was what fearfull rumours were euery where dispersed If any wrong or violence had then hapned to the queene or religion whilest the Mandate was in his hands had not the fault truly beene in him Should not we our wiues and children haue falne furiously vpon him Should we not haue imbrued our hands in his blood haue curst his imprudence and haue erected to his eternall ignominy a trophee of indiscretion engrauen in letters of blood What mulct or penaltie soeuer you impose vpon him shall not displease me but surely I will alwayes hold him for an honest man This is the Orator-like speech which we heard the Lord Gray made and deliuered with a good grace and manly countenance The three Earles agreed in opinion with the rest concerning the premised penaltie inflicted vpon Dauison and with the Lo Gray touching his reputation The Archbishop of Yorke discoursed of matter of Religion and shewed the blindenesse of heart and naturall corruption to be the fountaines from whence it sloweth The Lords Grace of Canterbury approued the act and commended the author of it but discōmended withall the maner or circumstance of proceeding which he had vsed Lastly Sir Christ Wray Lord Keeper of the priuy Seale hauing made a briefe recapitulation of all the Commissioners opinions confirmed the penaltie imposed by them and declared That although the queene being iustly moued to displeasure had submitted her Counsellors to examination yet notwithstanding she did then pardon them acknowledging that what they had done was from a desire and designe tending to the defence of Religion and the State and the repelling of eminent dangers Dauison became humble Petitioner to the Cōmissioners That they would intreat for him not to be restored to the honourable place of Secretary which he formerly enioyed nor to haue his liberty granted him nor his fine or punishment mitigated but that he might yet be partaker of her Maiesties gracious fauour The which for all this he neuer regained neuerthelesse she sometimes supplyed and relieued his wants And thus this Dauison a man of honest disposition and esteeme not cunning
nor acquainted with Court-tricks was purposely brought vpon the Stage as diuers haue thought to be an actor in this Tragedie and being put out of his part as being at a non plus in the last Act was for a long time after shut vp in prison to the great griefe of many Hitherto hath beene related what was publikely done against him Now obserue in briefe how he excuseth himselfe as I haue collected out of his owne accusation and the Apologeticall discourse which he made thereof to Sir Fr. Walsingham The queene said he after the Ambassadors of France and Scotland were departed wished me to shew her the Warrant for the execution of the sentence pronounced against the queene of Scotland Hauing shewed it she willingly set her hand thereto and bid me likewise affixe the great Seale of England and iestingly said You will shew this now to Walsingham who is sicke already but will dye when he sees it She added by and by That she had put it off so long because shee would not seeme to be carried away by violence yet knowing well the necessitie thereof Then blaming Sir Ayme Poulet and Sir Drue Dâ—ury for not hauing eased her of that care and trouble commanded Walsingham to know the cause of their cessation and delay The day after I had sealed the Warrant she forbade me by Killegray to doe it then telling her that it was done already shee checkt me for my diligence saying That by some wise-mens aduice another course might haue beene taken I answered that iust courses are alwayes good and sure But fearing she would cast some blame on me as she had formerly done vpon the Lo. Burghley about the Duke of Norfolks death I disclosed the whole matter to Sir Christ Hatton protesting that I would neuer hereafter be so forward in so weighty a busines Hatton presently discouered it to Burghley and he to the rest of the Councell who all concluding vpon the dispatch of the execution vowed as reason was to be faulty alike and to effect it sent Beale instantly away with the Warrant and Letters The third day after I perceiuing the Queene to be troubled in minde to haue the precedent night as her MAIESTY sayd dreamed of the Queene of Scotland's death I asked her if shee had changed her purpose She answered me That some other meanes might haue beene vsed and then inquiring of me Whether I had receiued any answer from Sir Ayme Poulet I shewed her his letters wherein he refused to vndertake the execution as vniust to which in great choler she replyed He and his confederats are all faithlesse periured in promising great matters and not performing but she should find some that for her sake would doe it As for my selfe I told her how ignominious it was and into what perills shee should bring Poulet and Drury If she approued the deed being done her renowne would be blasted with iniustice and disgrace besides other dangers and in disallowing it she should ruinate men of worthy merite and their posterity for euer would be vndon To conclude the very day that the queene of Scotland dyed her Maiesty checkt me iestingly for that it was not yet dispatched Now setting aside to speake of the anger and sorrow which the Queene of England conceiued for the death of the Queene of Scotland and her anger against William Dauison the truth is that the King of Scotland her onely Sonne drew thereof extreme anguish bitter and passionate torments shewing himselfe a more pious Son then any that can be heard or read of he lamented night and day his deare Mothers lamentable end in weeping and shedding many sad and brinish teares in his bitter agony not thinking that Queene ELIZABETH in regard of the mutuall loue which was betwixt them the late and strait contracted league of amity and the intercession of so many mighty Princes would haue suffered his Mother to haue beene exposed into the cruell hands of an Executioner she beeing a Princesse of coequall Maiestie of her neerest alliance and consanguinity from the Blood Royall nor could he receiue in Scotland Sir Robert Carie Sonne to Henry Baron of Hunsdon who was sent with Letters from ELIZABETH to excuse her Maiestie and to cast the fault vpon Dauison and the Councell He heard him but hardly from the mouth of another and hardly receiued the Letters he brought He reuok't the authority of his Ambassadour in England and thought of reuenge For there was no want of folke which were busie to egge him on by perswasions that the Christian Princes would not leaue vnreuenged so great and grieuous an iniury offered to Royall Maiesty and to the Royall Name The Estates of Scotland which were then gathered together in multitudinous numbers protested to his Maiestie that they were ready and prest to reuenge this death to defend the rightfull Title which hee had vnto England and in that to hazzard both life and goods and that they could not digest this iniury offered not so much to his Maiestie as to the whole Nation of Scotland Some perswaded him to demand Nauall assistance of the K. of Denmarke with whom he had then begun a Treaty touching marriage with his Daughter Others addicted to the Roman Religion exclaiming against the Queene of England that She which had slaine the Mother would willingly slay the Sonne too put it into his head to ioyne rather with the Kings of France and Spaine and with the Pope of Rome and that he might easily by this meanes possesse himselfe of England Aboue all he should not trust the Protestants of England That they were now at the full height of their power and sought secretly his ruine Others admonished him not to shew himself openly inclin'd to any party but to hold both Papist and Protestant in suspence Because that if he should openly ranke himselfe with the Protestants all the Papists of Europe in their practices would make him their marke to shoot at and would prouide them in England some other Support then he to rely vpon which could not be without danger to him Others aduised him to continue constant in amity with England not to expose or put foorth a certaine hope into the vncertaine hazzard of warre and to perseuer in the Religion now receiued wherein if he should seeme to wauer he could neither purchase friends nor put off enemies These were the things propounded to him by one and other as euery mans particular pleasure or desire carried him The King himselfe of perspicuity and politique apprehension aboue his age beeing some times alone by himselfe and sometimes with some few others not with precipitate rashnes which is alwayes blind but with deliberate consideration at many times and for a long space together cast these things in his mind But Queene ELIZABETH after shee had laid all the fault vpon Dauison and the rash credulity of her Councell seeketh by little and little to weare away his griefe lest consolations vntimely applyed
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
loued him affectionately though hee stood zealously affected to the Romane Religion Hee left behinde him Henry and Thomas his Children who succeeded him one after another in his dignity of a Baron Charles who purchased renowne to his name and some Daughters who were married into honourable Families Henry Mannors or Manners Earle of Rutland died who was Sonne to Thomas the first Earle of that Family Nephew to Iames Baron of Rosse who came of the Daughter of Thomas S. Leger and Anne his wife who by reason she was Sister to EDVVARD the Fourth gaue wonderfull lustre and splendor to that name Cousin-germaine to Robert who hauing married the Daughter and Heire to the Baron of Rosse an honourable and ancient Family augmented his owne with mightie reuenewes and the title of Baron of Rosse and he had by the Lady Neuill Daughter to Ralph Earle of Westmerland two Sonnes Edward and Iohn who were each of them in their due times Earles of Rutland and a Daughter who was married to William Courtney of Powderham Frances Duches of Suffolke Daughter to Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolke and Mary second Sister to HENRY the Eighth and Queene Dowager of France died who was afflicted with many miseries during her life She saw her eldest Daughter Ianes head cut off after shee had beene proclaymed Queene and presently after her Husbands her second Daughter married to the Earle of Pembroke to be diuorc'd and imprison'd and her third Daughter meanly married to Key who in his time was Master of the Reuels at Court And then her selfe forgetting from what degree she descended to her great dishonour yet notwithstanding for her best security married with Andrew Stoakes a meere priuate Gentleman THE SEVENTH YEERE OF HER RAIGNE Anno Domini 1564. FRance then reioyced for the peace shee enioyed which in some manner was maintayned with the Queene of England as being established to shut vp all entry to the English who began to flye out in calling to mind the cruell slaughters made by them in former ages when the Duke of Burgundie called them in for reuenge of his peculiar rancours and hatreds But this peace hauing rather slaked the feruent heat of warre than fastned any true concord or amity betweene the English and the French and the Queenes Maiesty perceiuing how the Protestants neglected and contemned her ingratefully returning those pleasures and fauours shee had done them resolued to trouble her selfe no more in others behalfe to the preiudice and hinderance of her owne proceedings Wherefore she bent all her care and thoughts to her owne occasions deliberated to make peace commended the ouerture thereof to Sir Thomas Smith a wise and learned man and the French lending a ready eare to the same gaue him Throgmorton for his Assistant who was then in France a prisoner at large to the end they might both together negotiate and procure the same The French King for his part assigned a Commission to Moruillier Bishop of Orleance and to Iohn Bourdin one of his Secretaries You may hereunder see the Articles whereupon they came to an accord in the moneth of Aprill within the Towne of Troyes in Champaigne THat one should not violently assaile the other neither yeeld succours to any other that made assault either vpon the one or other particulars onely should be lyable to their peculiar insults and offences No Traytors nor Rebels of eyther side were to be receiued All former iniuries were to be buried in obliuion Excepted all rights actions suites and pretensions which eyther they haue or pretend to haue respectiuely one against another shall remaine forcible and entire and so likewise all exceptions and prohibitions to the contrary These Articles concluded vpon the day following they annexed these Couenants separately and apart That a certaine summe of money should be payd to the Queene of England at daies constituted and appointed The Hostages in England were to be deliuered after the satisfaction of fiue hundred crownes And so this Treaty being ratified and confirmed Throgmorton might freely returne into his Country The King of France made Bone-fires of ioy according to the custome and after the Queene of England had ratified the same by oath in the presence of Gunor and Foix himselfe likewise within a very small time confirmed it in the presence of the Lord of Hunsdon who hauing at the same instant admitted his Maiesty to the Order of S. George he solemnely invested him with the Garter the Robe of honour a Collar of Esses whereat hung the picture of Saint George and other ornaments belonging to that Order In those dayes there arriued in England clad in the habit and grauity of a Priest to appeare more venerable Diego or Drilaco Guzman de la Forresta a Canon of Toledo sent in stead of the Bishop of Aquilar deceased some moneths before during which internall Roderic Gomez de la Forresta out of an hatred to Religion had bin the procurer of some rude entreaties of the English in Spaine who notwithstanding was much qualified by the Duke of Alua no man being able truely to say whether hee did it out of any loue he bare to the English or hatred to Gomez The like ill entreaty they also found in the Prouinces of the Low-Countries that liued vnder the Spanish gouernement at the instigation of the Cardinal of Granuella who to sow dissention betweene them and the Flemmings who held friendly and neighbourly commerce together in hatred to the said Religion he so brought it to passe that the yeere before the Flemmings complayned by Assonuil that the customes of England were enhaunst though this was performed during the reigne of Philip and MARY and that by Act of Parliament many of their handy-workes were there interdicted The English on the other side they exhibited also Bills of complaint how for small and trifling occasions their goods were confiscated in Flanders by vertue of new Edicts which also prohibited the bringing in of certaine merchandizes or to goe into Italie and Germanie by way of Flanders with horse Salt-Peter and Powder That they iniuriously exacted of them greater Imposts than euer were so much as mentioned in former times and all this against that Treaty of Commerce heretofore concluded on which was called the Grand Intercourse In the meane while the Princesse of Parma Regent of the Low Countries caused publique prohibitions to be diuulged first that no forbidden merchandize should be transported into England and then presently after for the importing of any English clothes into Flanders colouring it with the pretext of the plague which not long before had spred it selfe all England ouer But the naked truth is all these things were managed by the cautelous counsels and stratagems of Cardinall Granuelle to cause the Clothiers and other workemen depending on them to rise when they saw no clothes to be transported and yet the traffique of Clothes was established in Flanders to the preiudice of
worth Moreouer that her Maiestie could finde no reason wâ—y Spaine should hinder her Subiects and those of other Princes from sayling to the Indies that shee could not be perswaded that they were his owne although the Pope had ne'r so much giuen them to him that shee acknowledged no such Prerogatiue in the Pope much lesse the least authority as to oblige Princes who owe him no obedience at all vnder his to power inuest put the Spaniard as in fee and possession of that New-World also that shee could not see how he could deriue the least right but by those desconts and landing here and there of his Subiects who built there small cottages to inhabit and named the Promontorie Things neuerthelesse that can purchase no propriety So that by vertue of such donation of other mens goods which in equitie is nothing worth and of this proprietie that is meerly imaginary hee cannot iustly hinder other Princes to negotiate in those Regions but they without infringing any waies the Lawes of Nations may lawfully bring in Colonies in those parts that are not yet inhabited by the King of Spaines Subiects sith Prescription without possession is of no validity euen as to sayle vpon the mayne Ocean that the vse of the Sea as of the Ayre is common to all and that publique necessitie permits not it should be possessed that there is nor people no particular that can challenge or pretend any other right therein Neuerthelesse since this great summes of money were pay'd backe to Piedro Sâ—bâ—re a Spaniard who styled himselfe Attourney for the recouery of the Gold and Siluer though hee could shew no such Letter of procuration or receits And it was discouered but too late that he made no retribution at all to particulars but spent it against Queene ELIZABETH vpon the Spaniards who maintained the warre of Flanders While Sir Francis Drake circuited so prosperously the World Iacman and Pet renowned Pylots sent by the Merchants of London with two Ships did seeke with lesse happy successe a short way or passage to sayle into the East Indies by the Sea of Cronie but hauing past some miles beyond the Iles Vaigats they found ebbing and flowing so vncertaine so many shelues and so great store of Ice that they could not possible goe any further hauing much adoe to returne At the beginning of this yeere died Henry Fitz-Allen Earle of Arundell and with him the name of that most noble House which had flourished in honour aboue three hundred yeeres sonne to Richard Fitz-Allen sprung from the Albaines ancient Earles of Arundel and Sussex in the reigne of EDVVARD the First which title they had without creation in regard of the possession which they had of the Castle and Lordship of Arundell This man being heaped with honour had beene a Priuy-Councellor to all the Kings vnder whom he liued and performed great offices vnto his end Vnder HENRY the Eighth he was Gouernour of Calice Marshall of the Army at Bullen and Lord Chamberlaine At the inauguration of EDWARD the Sixth hee was Lord Marshall of England in which charge he continued at the Coronation of Queene MARIE and was after made Lord High-Constable Lord Steward of her house and President of her Councell Vnder Queene ELIZABETH hee was made the second time Lord Steward And when he began to grow old he sought to marry her for which he lost much of her fauour afterwards he intermeddled in the Duke of Norfolkes matters and openly withstood the marriage of the Duke of Aniou He professed himselfe an open-hearted man and made it appeare that he loued not the French and would often say that his father dwelling in Sussex neighbour vnto France would teach him not to beleeue them He had three Children by Katherine his Wife daughter to Thomas Gray Marquis of Dorset which children hee suruiued Henry being young and of great hope dyed at Bâ—axels Iane who was Wife to the Lord Lumley and Marie who married Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolke and bare vnto him Philip Earle of Arundel of whom wee will speake in his owne place Arthur Lord Gray Deputie of Ireland being gone against the O-Conores who were stirring vp new troubles in Ophalia by Law executes Hugh O-Moloy a seditious man and pacifies this Countrey and that of Magohiganores and Ocaroles and in the very bud crushed a great conspiracie that was a growing and beginning to spread For some of the chiefest Families in Lemster and many others that were originally English driuen partly by the affection they bore to the Romish Religion and partly for their hatred to the new-come English who since their comming had excluded them contrary to the Law from all gouernments and Magistracy as if they had beene naturall Irish had conspired to kill the Lord Deputie and his Family to surprize the Castle of Dublin wherein was all the prouision of war and to kill all the English that were in Ireland and this conspiracy was so closely carried that it was neuer conferred vpon with more than two in a company Neuerthelesse among so many complices it came to light and was extinct with the death of a few men and amongst them of chiefest note was I. Nogent Baron of Fiske a man singular in fame and life who was as the Irish report seduced by the craft of those that enuyed him and his conscience assuring himselfe of his innocency chose rather though the Deputie promised to giue him his life if hee would confesse himselfe guiltie to dye an innocent by an infamous death than to liue in infamy for betraying his innocency And verily howsoeuer the truth of this businesse was in it selfe the Queene was much offended with the Lord Gray for the death of those men whom the Earle of Sussex being more offended therewith for rarely is true loue betweene great Ones the more stirred vp by reason of the cruelty which before hee had vsed toward the Spaniards which yeelded and now against Subiects that he had diminished the glory of his Princesse and augmented the number of her enemies Howbeit hee forbare not to terrifie Turlough-Leinich who began to raise tumults in Vlster and driue him to conditions of peace Whereby hee likewise brought the O-Brins the O-Mores and the Cauanaghies Rebels in Lemster humbly to desire peace and to offer Hostages These matters of Ireland though time doth much disioyne them for the helpe of memory I haue thought to put them together In Scotland some Ministers and some of the great Ones considering the Earle of Lenox of whom I haue spoken to be strong in the Kings fauour stirred vp Iames Stuart of Ochiltrie Captaine of the Guard who carried the title of Earle of Arran I know not by what grant from Iames Hamilton Earle of Arran a man of an vnable spirit for which cause he was ordained his Tutor to be his Emulator But the King quickly reconciled them When this would not succeed they brought him as much as