Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
religion_n	king_n	prince_n	state_n	2,872	4	5.6626	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
B12208	The copie of a leter, vvryten by a Master of Arte of Cambrige, to his friend in London concerning some talke past of late betvven tvvo vvorshipful and graue men, about the present state, and some procedinges of the Erle of Leycester and his friendes in England. Conceyued, spoken and publyshed, vvyth most earnest protestation of al duetyful good vvyl and affection, tovvardes her most excellent Ma. and the realm, for vvhose good onely it is made common to many.	Morgan, Thomas, 1543-1606, attributed name.; Parsons, Robert, 1546-1610, attributed name.	1584 (1584)	STC 5742.9; ESTC S108682	125,586	206

daughters to vvit the daughters of Frauncis and Elenor if that they had any to any such condition Thirdlie ther may be diuers causes and argumentes The third reason The presupposed vvil is not Authentical aleaged in lavve vvhy this pretēded vvil is not authentical if othervvise it vvere certaine that king Henrie had meant it First for that it is not agreable to the minde and meaning of the Parliament vvhich intended onlie to giue authoritie for declaration and explication of the true title not for donation or intricating of the same to the ruin of the Realm Secōdly for that ther is no lavvful Authentical Copie extant therof but onlie a bare inrolment in the Chauncerie vvhich is not sufficient in so vveightie an affaire no vvitnes of the Priuie Councel or of Nobilitie to the same vvhich had bene conuenient in so great a case for the best of the vvitnesses therin named is Sir Iohn Gates vvhos miserable death is vvel knovvē no publike Notarie no Probation of the vvil before anye Bishop or anie lavvful Court for that purpose no examination of the vvitnesses or other thing orderlie done for lavvful authorizing of the matter The disprouing of the vvil by vvitnesses The Lord Pagett But of al other thinges this is moste of importaunce that the king neuer set his ovvn hande to the foresaid vvil but his stamp vvas put therunto by others either after his death or vvhen he vvas paste remembrance as the late L. Paget in the beginning of Quene Maries dayes being of the priuy Councel first of al other discouered the same of his ovvn accorde and vpō mere motion of consciēce confessing before the vvhole Councel and aftervvard also before the vvhole parliament hovv that him self vvas priuie therunto and partlie also culpable being dravven therunto by the instigation and forcible authoritie of others but yet aftervvard vpon other more godlie motions detested the deuice and so of his ovvn free vvil verie honorablie vvent and offered the discouerie therof to Sir Edvv. Mōtague the Councel As also did Sir Edvvard Montague Lord chiefe iustice that had bene priuie and presēt VVillm Clarcke at the said doinges and one VVillm Clark that vvas the man vvho put the stamp vnto the paper and is ascribed among the other pretensed vvitnesses confessed the vvhole premisses to be true purchased his pardō for his offence therin VVher vpon Q. Marie and her Councel caused presentlie the said inrolment lying in the Chauncerie to be canceled defaced and abolished And sithence that tyme in her Ma. dayes that novv liueth about the 11. or 12. yeare of her reign if I compt not amisse by occasion of a certen litle boke spred abrode at that tyme verie secretlie for aduauncing of the house of Suffolk by pretence of A meting together about this matter of the nobility this testament I remember vvel the place vvhere the late Duke of Norfolke the Marques of VVinchester vvhich then vvas Treasurer the olde Earls of Arundell and Penbrooke that novv are dead vvyth my L. of Penbrooke that yet liueth as also my L. of Leicester hīself if I be not deceyued vvith diuers others met together vpō this matter after long conferēce about the foresaid pretēsed vvil manie proffes reasons layd dovvn vvhy it could not betrue or authētical the olde Earle of Pēbrook protesting that he vvas vvyth the K. in his Chābet frō the first day of his sicknes vnto his last houre therby could vvel assure the falsificatiō therof at length it vvas moued that from that place they should go vvyth the rest of the nobilitie and proclaime the Q of Scotland heire aparent in Cheapside My L. of Leycester agayne playeth double VVherin my L. of Leycester as I tak it vvas thē as forvvard as anie man els hovv be it novv for his profit he bee turned aside and vvould turne back againe to morovv next for a greater commoditie And albeit for some causes to them selues best knovvē they proceeded not in the opē publishīg of their determination at that time yet my Lord of Penbrook novv liuing can beare vvitnes that thus much is true and that his father the olde Earle The olde Earle of Pēbroks admonition to the Earle his sonne yet liuīg at that tyme tolde him openlie before the other noble men that he had brought him to that assemblie and place to instruct him in that trueth and to charge him to vvitnes the same and to defende it also vvyth his svvorde if need required after his death And I knovve that his Lordship is of that honour and nobilitie as he can not leaue of easilie the remembraunce or due regarde of so vvorthie an admonition And this shal suffice for the second impediment imagined to proceed of this supposed testament of king Henrie the eight As for the third impediment of religion it is not The third impediment of Religiō general to al for that onlie one person if I be not deceyued of al the Competitours in K. Hērys line can be touched vvyth suspition of different religiō from the present state of England VVhich person notvvythstanding as is vvel knovven vvhile she vvas in gouernmēt in her ovvn Realm of Scotlād permitted al libertie of conscience free excercise of religion to thos of the contrarie profession and opiniō vvythout restreynt And yf she had not yet do I not see either by prescript of lavv or practize of thes our times that diuersitie of religiō may stay iust inheritours from enioying their due possessiōs in anie state or degre of priuate men and much lesse in the clayme of a kingdom vvhich alvvayes in this behalf as hath bene said before is preferred in priuilege This vve see by experience in diuers countries Princes of Germanye and partes of the vvorld at this daye as in Germanie vvhere among so manie Princes and so de in religiō as they be yet euerie one succedeth to the state vvherto he hath right vvythout resistaunce for his religion The examples also of her Ma. that novv is and of her sister before is euidēt Q Mary Q Elizabeth vvho being knovven to be of tvvo different inclinations in religion and the vvhole Realm deuided in opinion for the same cause yet both of them at their seueral tymes vvyth general consent of al vvere admitted to their lavvful inheritaunce excepting onlie a fevv * The Dudleys Mōsieur traytours against the former vvho vvythstood her right as also in her the right of her Ma. that is present that not for religion as appeared by their ovvn confession after but for ambition and desire of reigne Monsieur the kings brother and heire of Fraunce as all the vvorld knovveth is vvel accepted fauored and admitted for successoure of that Crovvne by al the protestantes at this day of that Countrie not vvythstanding his opinion in religion knovven to be diffeferent And I doubt not but the king of Nauarre or Prince

of Condie in the contrarie parte vvould King of Nauarre Prince of Condye think them selues greatlie iniuried by the state of Fraunce vvhich is different from them in religion at this day if after the death of the king that novv is his brother vvithout issue yf God so dispose they should be barred frō inheriting the Crovvn vnder pretence onlie of their religion My Lord of Huntingtō him self also is he not knovvē to be of My L. of Huntingtons religion a different religiō from the present state of Englād and that yf he vvere king to morovve next he vvould alter the vvhole gouernment order condition state of religion novv vsed estblished vvythin the Realm But as I said in the beginning yf one of a vvhole familie or of diuers families be culpable or to be The title of thos vvhiche ensevve the Q. of Scottes touched herein vvhat haue the rest offēded therby vvil you exclude al for the mislike of one And to descend in order yf the first in K. Henries line after her Ma. may be touched in this point yet vvhy should the rest be damnified therby The king of Scotland her sonne that next ensueth to speake in equitie vvhie should he be shut out for his religion And are not al the other in like maner protestantes vvhos discent is consequent by nature order and degre SCHOL For the yong king of Scotland quoth I the trueth is that alvvayes for mine ovvn parte I haue had great hope and expectation of him not onlie The yōg k●ng of Scotland for the conceipt vvhich commonlie men haue of such Orient youthes borne to kingdomes but especialie for that I vnderstod frō tyme to time that his educatiō vvas in allearning prīcelie exercises instruction of true religiō vnder rare and vertuous men for that purpose VVherby I conceyued hope that he might not onelie become in tyme an honorable and profitable neighbour vnto vs for assurance of the ghospel in thes partes of the vvorld but also yf God should depriue vs of her Maiesty vvhithout issue might be a meane by his suc●ssion to vnite in Concord and Gouernment the tvvoe Realmes together vvhich heretofore hath bene sought by the price of manie a thousand mens blood and not obteyned Marie yet novv of late I knovv not by vvhat meanes ther is begon in mens hartes a certaine mislike or grudge against him for that it is giuen ou● euerie vvhere that he is inclyned to be a Papist an enimie to her Ma. proceedinges VVhich argueth him verelie of singular ingratitude if it be true considering the great helpes and protection vvhich he hath receyued from her highnes euer sithence he vvas borne GENTL And are you so simple quoth the Genleman as to beleeue euerie report that you heare of this matter knovv you not that it is expedient for my L. of Leycester and his factiō that this youth aboue al other be held in perpetual disgrace vvyth her Ma. and vvyth this Realm You knovv that Richard The deuice to set out her Ma vvith the yong king of Scotlād of Glocester had neuer bene able to haue vsurped as he did if he had not first persvvaded kīg Edvvard the fovverth to hate his ovvn brother the Duke of Clarence vvhich Duke stood in the vvaye betvvene Richard and the thing vvhich he moste of al thinges coueted That is the possibility to the Crovvn and so in this case is ther the lyke deuice to be obserued For truelie for the yong king of Scotlands religion it is euident to as manie as haue reason that it cā be no other of it self but inclined to the best both in respect of his education instruction cōuersation vvith thos of true religion as also by hi● former Actions Edictes Gouernment and priuat● behauiour he hath declared Marie thes men vvhos profit is nothing lesse then that he or any other of that race should do vvel do not cease daylie by al secrete vvayes driftes and molestations possible to driue him either to mislke of our religion or els to incur the suspitiō therof vvith such of our Realm as othervvise vvould be his best friendes or if not this yet for verie need feare of his ovvn lyfe to make recourse to such other Princes abrode as may most offend or mislik this state And for this cause they suborne certaine busie felovves of their ovvn crevv and faction perteyning to the ministerie of Scotland but vnvvorthy of so vvorthie a calīg to vse such insolēcy tovvards The intolerable procedinges of certayne Ministers in Scotlād agaīst they● kig by s●bornation of ●ys ●●ymyes in England their king and Prince as is not onlie vndecent but intollerable For he may do no thing but they vvil examin and discusse the same in pulpit If he go but on hunting vvhen it pleaseth them to cal him to their preaching if he make but a dinner or supper vvhen or vvhere or vvyth vvhom they like not if he receiue but a coople of horses or other presēt frō his friendes or kinsmen beyond the seas yf he salute or vse courteouslie anie mā or messiger vvhich cōmeth from them as you knovv Princes of their nobilitie courtesie are accustomed though they come frō their enimies as often hath bene seene highlie commended in her Ma. of England yf he deale familiarlie vvyth anie Ambassadour vvhich liketh not them or finalie if he do say or signifie any one thing vvhatsoeuer that pleaseth not their humour they vvil presentlie as seditious tribunes of the people exclame in publique and stepping to the pulpit vvher the vvord of the Lord only ought to be preached vvil excite the commonaltie to discontentation inveying against their souerain vvith such bitternes of speech vnreuerend tearmes and insolēt controlmentes as is not to be spokē Novv imagine vvhat her Ma. her graue coūcell vvould do in England if such procedinges should be vsed by the cleargie against them STHOL No doubt quoth I but that suche vnquiet spirites should be punished in our Realm And so I said of late to their moste Reuerend and vvorthie Prelat Primat the Archbisshop of S. Andrevves vvith vvhom it vvas my Luck to come acquainted Sir Patrik Adamson Archbishop of S. Andrevves in London vvhether he vvas come by his kings apointment as he said to treate certaine affaires vvith our Quene and Councell And talking vvith him of this disorder of his Ministerie he confessed the same vvith much greife of minde tolde me that he had preached therof before the king him self detesting and accusing diuers heades therof for vvhich cause he vvas become verie odious to them and other of their faction both in Scotland Englād But he said that as he had giuen the reasons of his doinges vnto our Quene so meaneth he shortlie to do the same vnto Monsieur Beza and to the vvhole church of Geneua by sending thither the articles of his and their doinges Protesting vnto me that the procedinges

religion for thes are not al said he do cōsequentlie vvishe and labour some chaunge in the state but yet vvhether so far furth in so deep a degre of proper treason as here in this boke both in general and patticular is presumed and inforced that quoth he is somvvhat hard I vvene for you or me in respect of some other differēce betvvene vs to iudge or discerne vvith indifferencie GENTLEMAN Nay truelie said the gentleman for my parte I think not so for that reason is reason in vvhat religion so euer And for my self I may protest that I beare the honest Papist if ther be anie no malice for his deceiued cōscience vvherof among others your self can be a vvitnes mary his Practizes against The Papistes practizes against the state the state I cannot in anie vvise disgiest and much lesse may the cōmon vvealth beare the same vvher of vve al depend beyng a sinne of al other the most heinous and least perdonable And therfore seing in this you graunt the Papist both in general abrode at home and in particular such as are condempned executed and named in this boke to be guiltie hovv can you insinuate as you do that ther is more presumed or enforced vpon them by this boke then ther is iust cause so to do LAVVYER Good Sir said the other I stand not here to examine the doinges of my superiours or to defend the guiltie but vvish hartely rather their punishment that haue deserued the same Onlie this I say for explication of my former speech that men of a different religion from the state vvherin they liue may Tvvoe s●●tes of dealinge against the state be said to deale against the same state in tvvo sortes the one by dealing for the encrease of their said different religion vvhich is alvvaies either directlie or indirectlie against the state Directly vvhen the said religion conteineth anie point or article directlie Directly impugning the said state as perhappes you vvill saie that the Romane Religion doth against the present state of England in the point of Supremacie and Indirectlie for that euerie different Indi●lye religion deuideth in a sorte and dravveth from the state in that ther is no man vvho in his hart vvould not vvish to haue the chiefe Gouernour and state to be of his religion if he could and consequentlie misl●keth the other in respect of that and in this kinde not onelie those vvhō you cal busie Papistes in England but also those vvhom vve cal hote Puritanes among you vvhose difference from the state especialie in maters of gouernment is verie vvel knovven may be called al traitors in mine opiniō for that euery one of thes in deed do labour īdirectlie if not more against the state in hovv much soeuer ech one ēdeuoreth to encrease his parte or factiō that desireth a gouernour of his ovvn religion And in this case also are the protestantes in Fraunce Flaunders vnder Catholique Princes the Caluinists as they are called vnder the Duke of Saxonie vvho is a Lutherane the Lutherans vnder Cassimere The state of al subiectes in a state of different religion that fauoureth Caluinistes the Grecians and other Christians vnder the Emperour of Constantinople vnder the Sophie vnder the Great Chame of Tartarie and vnder other Princes that agree not vvith them in religion Al vvhich subiectes do vvish no doubt in their hartes that they had a Prince and state of their ovvn religion in stead of that vvhich novv gouerneth them and cōsequentlie in this first sense they may be called altraitors euerie act they do for aduauncement of their said different religion deuiding betvven the state and them tendeth to treason vvhich their Princes supposing do sometimes make diuers of their actes tresonable or punishable for treason But yet so long as they break not forth vnto the second kinde of treason vvhich cōteyneth some actual attēpt The seconde kinde of treason or treatie against the life of the Prince or state by rebellion or othervvise vve do not properlie condemne thē for traytors though they do some actes of their religion made treason by the Prince his lavves vvho is of a different fayth And so to applie this to my purpose I think Sir in The application of the former example good sooth that in the first kinde of treason asvvel the zealous Papist as also the Puritanes in England may vvel be called and proued traytors but in the second sorte vvherof vve speake properlye at this tyme it can not bee so precyslye ansvvered for that ther may be both guiltie guiltles in eche religion And as I cannot excuse al Puritanes in this point so you cannot condemne al Papistes as long as you take me and some other to be as vve are GENTL I graunt your distinction of treasons to be true said the gentleman as also your application therof to the Papistes and Puritans as you cal them not to vvant reason if ther be anie of them that mislike the present state as perhaps ther be albeit for my parte I think thes tvvo kindes of treasons vvhich you haue put dovvn be rather diuers degrees then diuers kindes vvherin I vvil refer me to the iudgement of our Cambridge friend here present vvhose skil is more in logical distinctiōs But yet my reason is this that indeed the one is but a step or degree to the other not differing in nature but ra●her in tyme abilitie or oportunitie For if as in your former examples you haue shevved the Grecians vnder the Turk and other Christians vnder other Princes of a different religion and as also the Papistes and Puritanes as you terme them in England for novv this vvord shal passe betvven vs for distinction sake haue such alienation of minde from their present regiment and do couet so much a gouuernour and state of their ovvn religion Tvvo degrees of treason then no doubt but they are also resolued to imploye their forces for accomplisshing and bringing to passe their desires if they had oportunitie and so being novv in the first degree or kinde of treason do vvant but occasion or abilitie to break into the second LAVV. True Sir said the lavvier if ther be no other cause or circumstance that may vvythholde them GENTL And vvhat cause or circumstance may staye them I pray you said the gentleman vvhen they shal haue abilitie and oportunitie to do a thing vvhich they so much desire LAVV. Diuers causes quoth the lavvyer but especialie and aboue al other if it be at home in their ovvn countrie the feare of seruitude vnder forreyn nations may restrayne them from such attemptes As vve see in Germanie that both Catholiques and protestantes vvould ioyne together against anie straunger that should offer daunger to their libertie And so they did against Charles the fift And in Fraunce not long agoe albeit the protestants Feare of forrayne op●ressiō maketh friēdship at home vvere vp in armes agaynst their

kynge and could haue bene content by the help of vs in England to haue put hym dovvn and placed an other of theyr ovvn religion yet vvhen they savve vs once seazed of Nevvhauen and so like to proced to the recouerie of some parte of our states ●unce on that side the sea they quicklie ioined vvith ther ovvn Catholiques againe to expell vs. In Flaunders likevvise though Mōsieur vvere called Flaunders thither by the protestantes especialie for defence of their religion against the Spaniard yet vve see hovv daintie diuers chief protestātes of Antvvarpe Gaunt and Bruges vvere in admitting him hovv quick in expelling so soone as he put them in the least feare of subiection to the french And as for Portugal Portugall I haue heard some of the chiefest Catholiques among them say in this late contention about their kingdom that rather then they vvould suffer the Castilian to come in vpon them they vvould be cōtent to admyt vvhatsoeuer aides of a contrarie religion to them selues to aduenture vvhatsoeuer alteration in religion or other incōuenience might befal them by that meanes rather then endaunger their subiection to their ambitious neighbour The like is reported in diuers histories of the The old harred of east Grecians tovvardes the vvest Latins Greciās at this day vvho do hate so much the name and dominion of the Latines as they had rather to endure al the miseries vvhich dailie they suffer vnder the Turk for their religion and othervvise then by calling for aid frō the vvest to hazard their subiection to the said Latines So that by thes examples you see that feare horrour of external subiection may stay men in al states and consequentlie also both Papistes and Puritanes in the state of England from passing to the second kinde or degree of treason albeit they vvere neuer so deep in the first and had both abilitie time vvil and oportunitie for the other SCHOL Here I presumed to interrupt their speech said that this seemed to me most cleare and that novv I vnderstood vvhat the Lavvier meant before vvhen he affirmed that albeit the moste parte of Papistes in general might be said to deal against the state of England at this day in that they deal so earnestlie for the maintenaunce encrease of their religion and so to incurre some kinde of treason yet perhaps not so farfurth nor in so deep a degre of proper treason as in this boke is presumed or inforced though for my parte said I I do not se that the boke Not all Papistes properly traytors presumeth or inforceth al Papistes in general to be properlie traitors but onlie such as in particular are therin named or that are by lavv attainted cōdempned or executed and vvhat vvil you say quoth I to those in particular LAVV. Surelie quoth he I must say of thes much after the maner vvhich I spak before that some here named in this boke are openlie knovven to haue bene in the second degre or kinde of treason as VVestmerland Norton Saunders and the like But diuers The Priestes and Seminaries that vvere executed others namelie the Priestes and Seminaries that of late haue suffred by so much as I could see deliuered and pleaded at their arraignments or heard protested by them at their deathes or gathered by reason and discourse of my self for that no forrain Prince or vvise councellor vvould euer commit so great maters of state to such instrumentes I cannot I say but think that to the vvise of our state that had the doing of this busines the first degree of treason vvherin no doubt they vvere vvas sufficient to dispatch and make them avvay especialie in such suspitious times as thes are to the end that being hanged for the first they should neuer be in daunger to fal into the second nor yet to dravv other men to the same vvhich perhaps vvas moste of al misdoubted After the lavvyer had spoken this I held my peace to heare vvhat the gētlemā vvoulde ansvvere vvho vvalked vp and dovvn tvvo vvhole turnes in the gallerie vvythout yeelding anie vvorde againe and then staying vpon the sudden cast his eyes sadlie vpon vs both and said GENTL My masters hovv so euer this be vvhich in dede apperteineth not to vs to iudge or discusse but rather to persvvade our selues that the state hath reason to do as it doeth and that it must often times asvvel preuent inconueniences as remedie the same vvhen they are happened yet for my ovvn parte I must confesse vnto you that vpon some considerations vvhich vse to come vnto my mynd I take no smal grief of these differences among vs vvhich you terme of diuers different religions for vvhich vve are driuen of necessitie to vse discipline tovvards diuers vvho possiblie othervvise vvould be no great malefactours I knovv the cause of this difference VVise cōsideratiōs is grounded vpō a principle not easie to cure vvhich is the iudgemēt conscience of a man vvhervnto obeyeth at length his vvil and affection vvhat soeuer for a tyme he may othervvise dissemble outvvardlie I remember your speech before of the doubtful and daungerous inclination of such as lyue discontented in a state of a different religion especialie vvhen either indeed or in their ovvn conceipt they are hardlie dealt vvythal and vvher euerie mans particular punishment is taken to reach to the cause of the vvhole I am not ignorant hovv that misery procureth amitie and the opinion of calamitie moueth affection of mercie and compassion euen tovvardes the Miserie moueth mercie vvicked the better fortune alvvaies is subiect to enuie and he that suffereth is thought to haue the better cause my experience of the diuers raignes and procedinges of king Edvvard Q. Marie and of this our moste gratious soueraigne hath taught me not a litle touching the sequele of thes affaires And finalie my good friendes I must tel you plaine A good vvishe quoth he and this he spake vvyth great asseueration that I could vvysh vvyth al my hart that either thes differences vvere not amonge vs at al or els that they vvere so temperatlie on al partes pursued as the common state of our countrie the blessed raigne of her Ma. and the common cause of true religion vvere not endaungered therby But novv and ther he brak of and turned aside LAVV. The lavvier seing him holde his peace departe he stepped after him and taking him by the govvne said merylie Syr al men are not of your complexion some are of quicker and more stirring spirites and do loue to fishe in vvater that is troubled for that they do participate the Black moors humour that dvvel in Guinea vvherof I suppose you haue heard and seene also some in this land vvose excercise The nature and practize of the Guineans at home is as some vvrite the one to hunt catche and sell the other and alvvayes the stronger to make money of the vveaker for the

being left in Sir Iho. Hibbo● the roome absence of an other to ꝓcure frynds said in a place secretlie not far from Ludlovv that if the matter came to blovvs he vvould folovv his Mistres leaue his Master in the briars GENTL Marie Sir quoth the gentleman I trovv man●e more vvould haue folovved that example For albeit I knovv that the Papists vvere moste named and misdoubted of his parte in that cause for their open inclination tovvardes Monsieur and consequentlie for greater discredit of the thing it self it vvas giuen out euerie vvhere by this Champion of religion that her Ma. cause vvas the Papistes cause euen as his father had done in the like enterprise before him though al vpon dissimulation as apeared Leicester Father a trayteious Papist at his death vvhere he professed him self an earnest Papist yet vvas ther no man so simple in the Realm vvhich discried nor this Vizard at the first neither yet anie good subiect as I suppose vvho seing her Ma. on the one parte vvould not haue taken against the other parte vvhat so euer he had bene And much more the thing it self in controuersie I meane the mariage of her Royal Ma. vvy●h the brother and heire apparant of Fraunce being taken and iudged by the best vvysest and faythfulest protestantes of the realm to be both honorable The honour and commodities by the mariage vvith Fraunce conuenient profitable and needful VVherby onlie as by a moste soueraign and present remedie al our maladies both abrode and at home had at once bene cured al forreine enimies and domestical conspirators al differences al daungers al feares had ceased together Fraunce had bene ours moste assured Spaine vvould not a litle haue trembled Scotland had bene quiet our competitors in England vvould haue quaked and for the Pope he might haue put vp his pipes Our differences in religion at home had been either lesse or no greater then novv they are for that Monsieur being but a moderate Papist and nothing vehement in his opinions vvas content vvyth verie resonable conditions fot him self and his straungers onlie in vse of their conscience not vnliklie truelie but that in tyme he might by Gods grace and by the great Ethelbert Kinge of Kent cōuerted An. Do. 603. vvysdom vertue of her Ma. haue bene brought also to embrace the gospell as king Ethelbert an heathen vvas by noble Q. Bertha his vvyfe the first Christian of our English Princes Vnto all vvhich felicitie if the Lord in mercie should haue added also some issue of ther royall bodies as vvas not impossible vvhen first this noble matche vvas mouued vve then doubtles had bene the moste fortunate people vnder heauen and might haue bene perhaps the meane to haue restored the Gospell throughout all Europe besides as our brethren of Fraunce vvel cōsidered hoped Of al vvhich singular benefits both present to come both in RE and in SPE this Tyraunt for his ovvn priuate lucre fearing leste heerby his ambition might be restrayned his trecherie reueyled hath bereaued the realm done vvhat in him lieth besides to alienate for euer make our mortal enimie this great Prince vvho sought the loue of her Ma. vvyth so much honour confidence as neuer Prince the like putting tvvice his ovvn person to ieopardie of the sea to the peril of his malitious enuiours here in England for her Ma sake LAVV. VVhen you speake of Mōsieur said the lavvyer I cannot but greatlie be mouued both for these considerations vvel touched by you as also for some other especialie one vvherin perhaps you vvill think me partiall but truelie I am not for that I speak it onlie in respect of the quiet good of my countrie and that is that by Mōsieurs matche vvyth our noble Princesse besides the hope of issue vvhich vvas the principal ther vvanted not also probabilitie that some vnion or litle tolleration in religion betvvene you and vs might haue bene procured in this state as vve see that in some other countries is admitted to their great good VVhich thing no doubt vvould haue cut of quite Toleration in Religion vvyth vnion in defence of our countrie al daungers and dealinges from forreine Princes and vvould haue stopped manie deuises and plotes vvythin the Realm vvheras novv by this breach vvyth Fraūce vve stād alone as me seemeth vvythout anie great vnition or friendship abrode and our differences at home grovve more vehement and sharp then euer before Vpon vvhich tvvoe heades as also vpon infinit other causes purposes driftes and pretences ther do ensue daylie more deep daungerous and desperat practizes euerie man vsing either the commoditie or necessitie of the tyme and state for his ovvn purpose Especialie novv vvhen all men presume that her Ma. by the contynual thvvartinges vvhich haue bene vsed against al her mariages is not like to leaue vnto the realm that pretious Ievvell so much and long desired of al English hartes I mean the Royall heires of her ovvn bodie GENTL Thvvartinges cal you the defeating of all her Ma. moste honorable offers of mariage said the other trulie in my opinion you should haue vsed an other vvorde to expresse the nature of so vviked a facte vvherby alone if theit vvere no other this vnfortunat man hath done more hurt to his common vvealth thē if he had murdered manie thovvsandes of her subiectes or betrayed vvhole armies to the professed enimie I can remēber vv●l my self fovver treatises to this purpose vndermined by his Diuers mariages of her Ma. defeated meanes The first vvyth the Svve●hen king the secōd vvith the Archduke of Austria the third vvith Henrie K. of Fraunce that novv reigneth and the fourth vvyth the brother heire of the said kingdō For I let passe manie other secret motions made by great Potentats to her Ma. for the same purpose but thes fovver are openlie knovven therfore I name them VVhich fovver are as vvel knovven to haue bene al disturbed by this DAVVS as they vvere earnestly pursued by the other Leicester de 〈…〉 to d 〈…〉 avvay all 〈◊〉 her Ma. And for the first thre Suters he droue thē avvaye by protesting and svvearing that him self vvas cōtracted vnto her Ma. vvherof her highnesse vvas fufficiētlie aduertised by Cardinal Chat●lian in the first treatie for fraunce the Cardinal soone after punished as is though● by this mā vvyth poyson But yet this speech he gaue out then euerie vvhere among his friēdes both str●ungers other that he forsooth vvas assured to her Ma. consequētlie that al other Princes must giue ouer their sutes for him VVherunto notvvythstāding vvhē the Svv●● then vvould hardlie giue eare this man conferred vvyth his Priuado to make a moste vnseemelie disloyal proofe therof for the others satisfaction vvhich thing I am enforced by duetie to passe ouer vvyth silence for honour to the parttes vvho are touched therin as also I am to cōceale his said

and attemptes of thos factious and corrupt men vvas moste scandalous seditious and perilous both to the kinges person and to the Realm being sufficient indeed to alienate vvholie the yong Prince from al affection to our religion vvhen he shal see the chiefe professours therof to behaue them selues so vnduetifulie tovvards him GENTL That is the thing vvhich thes men his competitours moste desire quoth the Gentleman hoping therby to procure him moste euil vvil daunger Treasons Plotted Against the K. of Scottes both at home frō Englād For vvhich cause also they haue practized so manie plotes treacheries vvith his ovvn subiectes against him hoping by that meanes to bring the one in distrust and hatred of the other and consequentlie the king in daunger of destruction by his ovvn And in this machination they haue behaued them selues so dexterouslie so couertlie vsed the manage and cōtriuing herof and so cunninglye conueied the execution of many thinges as it might indeed seme aparent vnto the yong king that the vvhole plot of treasons against his Realm person doth come from England therby to driue him into ielousie of our state our state of him and al this for their ovvn profit Neither is this anie nevv deuice of my Lord of Leycester to dravv men for his ovvn gaine into daunger hatred vvith the state vnder other pretences For I could tel you diuers stories and stratagemes of his cunning in this kinde and the one far different from the other in deuice but yet al to one end I haue a friend yet liuing that vvas tovvardes the olde Earle of Arundel in good credit and by that meanes had occasion to deal vvith the late Duke of Norfolke in his chiefest affaires before his troubles This mā is vvount to report straunge thinges from the Dukes ovvn mouth of my Lord Leycester cunning deuice for ouerthrovvīg the Duke of Norforke of Leycesters moste treacherous dealing tovvardes him for gayning of his blood as after apeared albeit the Duke vvhen he reported the same mistrusted not so much my Lordes malice therin But the summe of al is this in effect that Leycester hauing a secret desire to pul dovvn the said Duke to the end that he might haue no man aboue him selfe to hinder him in that vvhich he moste desireth by a thovvsand cūning deuises drevv in the Duke to the cogitation of that mariage vvyth the Q. of Scotland vvhich aftervvard vvas the cause or occasion of his ruine And he behaued him self so dexterouslie in this drift by setting on the Duke on the The impudencie of Iudas one side and intrapping him on the other as Iudas him self neuer played his parte more cunninglie vvhen he supped vvyth his master and set him self so nere as he dipped his spoone in the same dishe durst before others aske vvho should betraye him meaning that night to do it him self as he shevved soone after supper vvhē he came as a Captaine vvyth a band of conspiratours and vvyth a courteous kisse deliuered his person into the hādes of thē vvhō he vvel knevv to thirst after his blood The very like did the Erle of Leycester vvyth the Duke of Norfolk for the arte of treason though in the parties betrayed ther vvere great difference of innocēcie Namely at one time vvhen her Ma. vvas at Basing in Hampshire the Duke attēded their lo haue audience vvyth great indifferencie in him self to folovv or leaue of his sute for mariage for The speaches of Leices to the D. of Norfolk that novv he began to suspect her Ma. liked not greatlie therof my Lord of Leicester came to him and counsayled him in anie case to perseuere not to relent assuring him vvyth manie othes and protestations that her Ma. must should be brought to alovv therof vvhether she vvould or no and that him self vvould scale that purpose vvyth his blood Neither vvas it to be suffred that her Ma. should haue her vvil herein vvyth manie other like speaches to this purpose vvhich the Duke repeated againe then presentlie to my said friend vvyth often laying his hand vpon his bosome and saing I haue here vvhich assureth me sufficientlie of the fidelitie of my L. of Leycester meaning not onlie the foresaid speeches but also diuers letters vvhich he had vvriten to the Duke of that effect Ley. cousynage of the Quene as likevvise he had done to some other person of more importaunce in the Realm vvhich matter comming aftervvard to light he cousyned most notablie her Ma. by shevving her a reformed copie of the said letter for the letter it self But novv hovv vvel he performed his promis in dealing vvyth her Ma. for the Duke or against the Duke in this matter her highnes can best tel and the euent it self shevved For the Duke being admitted soone after to her Ma. speech at an other place and receyuing a far other ansvvere then he had in hope conceyued vpon Leycester promisses retired him self to London vvhere the same night folovving he receyued letters both from Leycester The Duke of Norfolks flyīg into Norfolk and Syr Nicholas Throgmarton vpon Leycesters instigation for they vvere at that tyme both friēdes and of a faction that he should presentlie flee into Norfolk as he did vvhich vvas the last and final complement of al Leycesters former deuices vvherby to plunge his friende ouer the eares in suspition and disgrace in such sorte as he should neuer be able to dravv him self out of the ditch againe as indeed he vvas not but died in the same And herein you see also the same subbtile Machauilian Machauellian Sleyghtes sleight vvhich Imentioned before of driuing men to attēpt somevvhat vvherby they may incur daunger or remaine in perpetual suspition or disgrace And this practize he hath long vsed and doth daylie against such as he hath vvil to destroye As for example VVhat say you to the Leycester deuises for the overthrovv of Syr Christopher Hatton deuice he had of late to intrap his vvel deseruing friende Sir Christopher Hatton in the matter of Hall his Priest vvhom he vvould haue had Sir Christopher to send avvay hide being touched and detected in the case of Ardent therby to haue dravven in Sir Christopher him self as Sir Charles Candis he can vvel declare yf it please him being accessarie to this plot for the ouerthrovv of Sir Christopher To vvhich intent moste diuelishe drift perteyned I doubt not yf the matter vvere duelie examined the late interception of letters in Paris from one Aldred of Lyons then in Rome to Henrie Vmpton seruaunt to Sir Christopher in vvhich letters Sir Christopher is reported to be of such credit and special fauour in Rome as if he vvere the greatest Papist in England VVhat meaneth also thes pernitious late dealīges Leycester deuises against the Earle of Shrevvsburie against the Earle of Shrevvsburie a man of the moste auncient and vvorthiest nobilitie of our Realm vvhat