some conveniente order also aswell for the repressinge of them as for the restitution of the sayde Quene Marie into her owne realme And the rather bycause our saide Quene ys learned and therefore not ignorante what greate coÌ„meÌ„dation and immortall fame manie kynges haue purchased to them selves for suche benefitt bestowed vpon other Princes beynge in the like distresse and extremitie The monumeÌ„tes of antiquitie as well prophane as Ecclesiasticall are filled withe the memorie of suche noble factes In holye scripture we reade that Abraham cowragiouselie and manfullie delivered hys brother Lothe Genes 14. whith certaine Kynges taken prisoners by they re enimies Esdrae â–ª 1. Cyrus deliuered the Iewes from captiuitie 4. Reg. c. vlt. Evelmerodache delivered Ioachim the Kynge of Iuda ovvte of prison 1 Machab. 15. The Romans dyd write to divers Kynges in the favour of the Ievves vniustlie oppressed What shall I speake of Alexander the greate that restored Ada the Quene of Caria Or of the foresaide Romans that restored Masinissa the Kynge of Numidia with manie other Kynges Or of our noble Cordell that sett vp agayne in the Royall throne of our Britannie her father driuen from thence by hys two other vnkinde and vnnaturall dowghters Some Princes of this our realme haue in they re greate calamitie amoÌ„ge other kinge Henrie the sixte fownde muche coÌ„forte freÌ„dshippe succour and relief at the kinges handes of Scotlande This Ladie Quene desierethe nowe to taste the like at our Quenes handes Whereby she shall winne greater commendation then did Charles the late Emperour for restoriÌ„ge either of FraÌ„cis Sfortia to the dukedome of Millane or of Muliasses to the kiÌ„gdome of Tunes or of his soÌ„ne kinge Philippe for ê“curinge the restitution of the Duke of Sauoye For this Ladye and Quene ys her most nighe neighbour by place And her nighe cosen and sister by bloude She ys a Quene and therefore this vvere a fitt benefitt for her relief from a Quene Yea she ys as yt were her dawghter bothe by dawghterlye reuereÌ„ce she bearethe her maiestie and by reason she ys of God called to the daughters place in the succession of the crowne yf her maiestie faile of issewe And I dowbte nothinge yf she imploye this motherlye benefitt vpon her but that she shall finde her a myndefull thankfull an obediente dawghter For of all women in this vvorlde she abhorrethe ingratitude She hathe hitherto depended onlye vpon the hope The greate truste that the Quene of Scottes hathe euer had in her deare sister the Quene of EnglaÌ„d to haue helpe and succour of her maiestie geuinge ouer partelye voluntarie partelye at the motion of her maiestie diuers profers of ayde and succour by other mightie and puissante Princes her frendes frelye to her offered reposinge her self vpoÌ„ the fayre and princelye promises that her Maiestie hathe made to her sondrye tymes aswell by lettres as by messengers for her relief when so euer oportunitie shoulde occasion her to craue yt For theys and manye other coÌ„siderations there ys good hope as ys a foresayde that our gratiouse Maistresse will take in hande her restitution Wher vpon I trust shall followe suche farther and entire amitie betwene them bothe and theire realmes that the benefitt fruite and commoditie therof shall plentifullye redowne aswell to all the posteritie of bothe the sayde realmes heare after as to vs presentlie ⧠The printer to the reader I Require aÌ„d hartelie praye the good and louinge reader that yf in this praesent Boke thou finde any alligation not dewlye coted or a poinct out of place a lettre lackiÌ„g or other wise altered as n for u and suche littill light faultes against orthographiae thov wilt neither impute the same to the authour of this worthie Worke nor yet captiouslye controule the errour but rather of thy humanitie and gentilnes amende that which is amisse with thy penne For if thou diddist knowe with what difficulté the imprinting herof was atchiued thou woldest rather curtouslye of frendlye faueur pardon many greate faultes than curiouslye withe rigorouse censure to condemne one litle Christe kepe the in his faithe and feare praesentlie and perpetuallye Amen ⧠A DEFENCE OF THE HONEVR OF THE ryght hyghe ryght myghtye and noble Princesse Marie Quene of Scotlande aâ—d Dowagere of France The fyrste Booke IT WERE to be wisshed that as God and nature hathe moste decentlie ordinatelie and providentlye furnisshed and adorned man with two eyes whie that nature hathe geven co man too eyes and tvvo eares aud but on tongue two eares and butt withe one mowthe and one tongue woÌ„derfulye brydled and kepte in with the lippes the teathe â–ª So men wolde coÌ„sider the cause of yt aÌ„d the greate prouideÌ„ce of God therein And after dewe consideration vse them selues accordingelie Then shoulde we sone learne and practise a good lesson to heare and see manye thynges and yet not to rune headloÌ„ge nor rudelie aÌ„d rashelie to talke of all we here and see But to talke within a coÌ„passe and to referre all our talke to a temperancie and sobrietie and to a knoven tryed trevthe especiallie where the sayde talke maye sownde to the blemishinge and disgracinge of anie mans good name and estimatioÌ„ But nowe a daies the more pittie thereis nothinge almoste but that as sone as yt ys perceaued by the eye or eare must forthwithe be lasshed owte agayne by the mowthe suche a superfluouse and curiouse ytchinge we haue dissolutelie and vnadvysedlie to talke of all matters thowghe they tende to the greate hynderance and infamie of manye of our bretherne And thowghe we be nothinge assured of the certaine trewthe of the matter yea withoute respecte to pryuate or publike persons Of suche vnbrydeled talke no man or woman in our dayes hathe as I suppose more iuste cause to coÌ„plaine then the ryght excellente Princesse ladie Marie Quene of ScotlaÌ„de whose honour manie haue gone abowte to blotte and deface in charginge her most falselie and iniustlie withe deathe of her late husboÌ„de the lorde darley For the defence and mainteynynge of whose innocencye in thys behalf we intende to laye forthe before the gentle reader the moste cheif and principall reasons grounds and arguments where vppon the patrones the inuenters and workers of all theis myscheavouse and develyshe dryfts grownded them selves and all they re owteragyouse doyngs And then consequentlye to infringe and repulse the same For to rehearse answere to and repell all they re assertions and obiections yt woulde require a verie longe tediouse and a superfluouse discourse in as muche as theis iolye gaye oratours measuringe theire doings more by nombre of false obiections then by trewe substanciall and pithie matter to make a goodlie florishe and a trime shewe to face owte and countenance they re craftie iuglings And to cover they re disordered dealings there with all have raked vppe and heaped together onevppoÌ„ an other against they re good maistresse and Sovereyne Quene no small nomber
to travaile muche or farre for the findiÌ„ge oute of this matter For he mowght at all times have fovvnde the heades of the conspiratours vpon the Erle MortoÌ„s his ovvne shulders Th' Erles Murraie mortoÌ„ the heads of the conspiracie against the lorde Darley vve saie farther that as yt ys a straÌ„ge aÌ„d a newe kiÌ„de of deuotioÌ„ in the Erle Murraye so to quarrell for lacke of soleÌ„nitie at the buryall of him for whose saide buriall he longed and loked for so loÌ„ge So we saie likewise that yt seamethe Wonderfull to love him so teÌ„derlie beinge deceased and deade WhoÌ„ he so deaplie hated livinge And to seake so seriouslie and severelie to punishe the murtherers of hym whoÌ„ he wolde so ofte haue murthered hym self This geare seamethe to vs poore simple and slender witted men vnlikelie incredible and half repugnaÌ„te to nature And what soever the cause be we be of that minde that yt ys not like to ê“cede of anye feruente zeale or greate affectioÌ„ he bearethe to the partie or to the executioÌ„ of Iustice. Ye are good Reader desierouse paradueÌ„ture to learne what other cause there might be of so straÌ„ge dealinge Well as straÌ„ge as yt ys we lacke not examples of the like craftie and subtile policie aswell in holie scripture in the monumeÌ„ts of antiquitie of other coÌ„trees as of EnglaÌ„de especialie ScotlaÌ„de yt selfe We finde then in holie scripture that there was one Onias at Hierusalem the high priest a man of singulier vertue and perfection and one that maruelousely tendred God his honour and the honour aÌ„d welth of his countrie There vvas also at the same time one SimoÌ„ a verie eauell disposed aÌ„d vvicked creature which went abowt certaine naughtie and wicked deuises Lib. 2 Machab ca. 3. 4. But seinge that he cold not achiue his mischeuous purpose by reasoÌ„ this blessed man Onias stayed stopped aÌ„d pÌ„uented him he practiseth this vvicked deuise he causeth kinge Seleucus to be informed of the greate and inestimable treasure remaninge and reposed in the temple at Hierusalem vvhere vppon the kinge sent Heliodorus to fetch awaye by force the said treasure But aftervvarde vvhen this purposâ— chaunced to be frustrated aÌ„d voide by reason that this Heliodorus beinge vvonderfullie plaged of God vvas coÌ„strained to forbeare and relinquish this entreprise and the people beinge vvonderfullie offended and in a greate rage to see such a hainous sacrilege attempted What doth nowe thinke ye this good and honest man Simon Surelie he playeth the same part that th'erle Murrie hath plaied vvith his moste gratious Quene openlie charginge the good innoceÌ„t Onias vvith his ovvne shamefull acte and sayinge that he solicited aÌ„d incensed the kinge to robbe and spoile the Temple We finde in the cronicles of our realme PolycronicoÌ„ FabiaÌ„ The cronicles in Engliss preÌ„ted anno 1498. that albeit Vortiger aspiringe to the crowne of the realme actuallie and reallie obtained the same by the murtheringe of kinge CoÌ„stance which was not done without hys craftie incensinge and previe consent yet he preteÌ„ded outwardlie greate sourowe weapiÌ„ge and lamentinge the murther of him the vvhiche he neuer theles locked for And vvas the occasion of the same Hector Boet. l. 11. As for Scotlande I reporte me to the tragicall hystorie of kinge Duffus slaine by a noble man named Dunvvaldus vvho was in greate estimatioÌ„ and aucthoritie wth the saide kinge The Erle of Murra asseÌ„bled to DuÌ„vvaldus that ê“cured the slawghter of kinge Duffus in Scotlande vvhen the kinge vvas a bedd in the Casole wherof this Dunvvaldus had the keapinge he banketed hys chamberlaines and so sore oppressed theÌ„ vvith immoderate surfetinge and drinckinge that vvhen they vvere ons gotteÌ„ abovvte hyghe midnight to sleape in theire bedds ye might haue ronge a greate-bell over theire heades loÌ„ge ere they wolde wake Who beiÌ„ge in theire deade aÌ„d deape sleape the kinge vvas murthered slaine by suche as this noble man had suborned His deade bodie vvas caried avvaie buried in a Riuer The laborers that buried him were also slaine that they might tell no tales In the morninge the kinge vvas missinge his bed vvas fownde â—mbrevved with bloud his drovvsie drunken chamberlaines that leaste knevve of the matter vvere had in greateste suspition aÌ„d With ovvte farther delaye by the sayde Dunvvaldus like a man zealouse to punishe malefactrÌ„s vvere slaine and put to deathe No man beinge farther a greate vvhile from suspition then he vntill firste his ovvne ouer busie searchiÌ„ge for the murtherers aÌ„d afterwarde other thiÌ„ges breade vppon him suche suspition that he vvas thervpon apprehended and beinge fownde gwiltie worthelie executed Idem lib. 16. The like praÌ„ke Played Duke Robert brother to the kinge of ScotlaÌ„de aÌ„d gouernour of the realme of vvhome vve spake before The like ê“te played by Duke Robert in Scotlande He procured the Prince his nephevve to be made avvaye aÌ„d murthered And yet pretendinge him self as holie as the E. Murraye dothe to be zealouse in the punishinge of such an heinouse facte caused certaine innocente ê‘sons to be executed therefore We saye then that the Erle Murrayes doinges ê“cede not from anie greate care he hathe to the maintenaÌ„ce of lawe and iustice vvho ys most culpable him self But onlie colorablie to cloke and hide his ovvne mischeuouse trecheries and to turne the blame of the fault from him self vpon his good ladie and Quene from whose person yt ys farthiest Wherof they them selues gaue in manner plaine testimonie and vvitnes For thowghe they had openlie in theire pretensed and disordered parliamente detected her therof yet before the Quene of Englands comissioners they alleaged other matters as her voluntarie resignation of her crovvne c. The vvhich allegations when they vvell savve The Erle Murraye aÌ„d his fellovves beynge driueÌ„ from all shiftes at leÌ„gth layd to they re Quene the deathe of the lor. Darley before the Quene aÌ„d consaile of EnglaÌ„de vvolde not serue theire turne and that men did vnderstande hovve aÌ„d after vvhat sorte they had ê“ceaded against her in ScotlaÌ„de they vvere as yt vvere driueÌ„ and forced beinge excluded from all other appareÌ„te shifts after seauen or eighe vvekes aduisemeÌ„t after theire first inuectiue to obiecte the saide facte Wherof the good innocent Quene hearinge and astonied at theire strange and contumeliouse canuasings and impudeÌ„cie in theire doinges aÌ„d beinge sithe her apprehension crediblie enformed aÌ„d by appareÌ„cie of matter aÌ„d proof therof lead aÌ„d induced to beleaue aÌ„d geue creditt that this vviked entreprise vvas chefelie inuented aÌ„d coÌ„passed by the Er. Murraye aÌ„d mortoÌ„ made earnest suite by her coÌ„missioners to her God sister our noble Quene to arrest them that they shoulde not shrincke awaye aÌ„d departe vntill they had ansvvered that matter for them selues which she fullie inteÌ„ded moste effectuallie to prosequute against them and others And so did accuse them in deede by her comissioners And desidered farther that she might come in her ovvne person before her
Baracke willinge him to muster the people and with tenne thowsande men to sett vppon Sysira Iabins capitaine The greate victorie of Debora But Baracke wolde not go vnlesse she weÌ„te also well sayeth she I wyll go with the. WheÌ„ they shoulde haue buckeled Baracke and the Israëlytes fearinge the huge multitude of the enemyes wolde have recoyled backe into some saulfer and surer places Naye sayeth Debora departe not plucke vp your hartes for all ys ours And vppon this they encountred with the enemie and beholde there fell sodenlie vpon the enimies faces so vehemente à storme of rayne aÌ„d hayle that yt toke from theÌ„ theire sight and did so sore beate them that for verie coulde and weakenes they were not able to holde theire weapoÌ„s in theire haÌ„des There vpon beinge wonderfullie discowraged breakinge theire arraye they toke them to theire feete and in fleinge some were slaine by the Israëlites some by theire owne horse men and chariottes Sysiâ—a him self was also slaine I speake not this of Debora by cause I thincke warlike matters properlie and so well to apperteine to women as to men I knovve do vvell allowe the sayenge in Homer of Hectour to his wyfe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iiad 6. I speake yt to this purpose onelie to shewe that a women maye not onlie have ciuilll regimente in other thinges but maye intermedle also when the case requirethe vvith vvarlike matters The ceremonies that kiÌ„ges of EnglaÌ„d vsed in theyr coronation and be presente vvith the armye in the felde And this also amonge other aunciente and soleÌ„me ceremonies the gyrdinge of our Souereigne at her coronation vvith a sworde the settinge of a paire of Spurres to her heales maye well signifie Which ceremonies thovghe they haue bene vsed from the time of kinge Edwarde the confessour at least Vide speculuÌ„ histo Richa Cicest lib. 3. cap. 3. or from the noble Allured and that vpon kinges onelie except our ovvne time Yet the reason and significatioÌ„ of the same maye and dothe take place in womeÌ„ Princes also and in our Souereigne All be yt â— Ambr. li. de vid. thinketh her to haue bene a widove aÌ„d Barach to be her soÌ„ne saiÌ„ge strenuos enim noÌ„ sexus sedâ—tus facit vid. caeter ibidem to putt her in remembrance to chastice and represse malefactours with conuenient Iustice Yea vvith speade to pursue not onlye by her vnder officiers but in her owne Royall person yf the necessitie of the time dothe require yt her maiesties inwarde or owterwarde ennemies vvherein she hathe a presidente in this vvorthie Debora This Baracke of whome we haue spoken by the consente of the moste parte of the expositors of holye scripture vvas Deboras husbaÌ„de Whereby ye maye see that the matrimoniall dewtye of the vvife to the husbaÌ„de dothe nothinge repugne to the publike administratioÌ„ office of the wife eache with other maye freÌ„delye and peaceablye agree She maye serue all turnes to the contentation of God her husbande of the commoÌ„ welthe For the respecte wherof the saide husbaÌ„de beinge but a member and percell of the same and as subiecte to his vvife in that respecte as any other She maye yea owght to coÌ„maunde the saide husbaÌ„de and as the case maye staÌ„de seuerelie to punishe his owteragiouse behauiour doinges tovardes the saide coÌ„mon wealthe This noble Debora therefore coÌ„demnethe your coÌ„clusioÌ„ bothe vnnaturall and derogatiue to holye scripture Neither will this euasion releaue you that some of your affinite for the maintenance of this so wronge an opinion haue vsed â–ª that this ys but one bare and an extraordinarye priueleged and ê‘sonall example One onlye exaple in scripture a sufficeÌ„te pÌ„â—idente hauiÌ„ge none other the like in scripture therefore not to be draweÌ„ to make therof a rule or presideÌ„te for womaÌ„lye gouernemeÌ„te Yf this your replie be effectuall then farewell the baptisme of yoÌ„ge childreÌ„ wherof yt wil be harde to finde more then one yf that one exaÌ„ple maye be fownde in all the holye scripture TheÌ„ fare wel a noÌ„ber of rightes ceremonies customes orders aswell iÌ„ ecclesiasticall as iÌ„ politicall affaires all which haue but one some no one example at all therein Yet yt so beinge that the vse therof ys not repugnaÌ„te to the saide holye scripture they haue bene they are maye well here after be kepte vsed and obserued And yet I knowe no cause but that the worthye Iudithe Iudith 13. maye be an other example also Wo thowghe she were not the gouernesse of the coÌ„mon wealthe at that time Iudith c. 8. but others Yet played she that parte that seamed moste abhorringe and strange to woman kinde in deuisinge yea and most manfullye and meruelouslye executinge in her owne ê‘son the renowned slawghter of the arrogante haughtye and prowde TyraÌ„te Holofernes The slawghter of Holofernes by Iudith As her stomacke and cowrage was manlye and stowte in that acte so vvas she not onlye a noble vertuouse womaÌ„ but a meruelouse vvise vvoman vvith all and so was taken iudged to be of all the people Whereby yt vvill follovve by good reason that in case she had bene the gouernesse of all the people her goâ—nemeÌ„te wolde haue bene aswell ê“fitable to the coÌ„mon welthe as coÌ„formable bothe to nature the holye scripture also Which example thowghe yt maye seame sufficiente to ouerthrowe your answere be yt neuer so artificiallye forged to Debora Yet to refute and to refell yt vtterlye not onlye by examples but eauen by plaine and full aucthoritie of holye scriptures lett me be so bolde as to demaÌ„de your answere to a questioÌ„ or two Firste whether if a man seased in landes and possessions die vvith owte issue male his dawghter by holy scripture shall enioye the saide landes and inheritaÌ„ce or no In case ye saye she shall not the plaine vvordes of the scripture euidentlye do reproue you Leuit. c. 6. Yf you graunte yt then aske I farther vvhat yf any ciuill gouernemente more or lesse be annexed and vnited to theis inheritances As yt ys not onlye in Empires and kingedomes but in manye Dukedomes Yt seameth plaiÌ„e by the rules and vvordes of holye scripture that a woman maye haue ciuill gouernemente Erledomes yea Lordeshippes also Whether she shal be excluded from the saide her inheritance Yf ye saye yea then do you saye against the scripture yf ye saye that the Inheritance muste remaine in her and the ciuill gouernemente to others then saye ye against all reason againste the vse manner and custome of the vvhole vvorlde Yt ys but your ovvne fonde folishe glose Where vpon I do inferre that vvomanlye gouernemente ys admitted not onlye by theys examples but eauen by the verye vvordes rules and decrees of the holye scripture And so I truste ye are â–ª or haue cause to be fullye satisfied as vvell towchiÌ„ge your allegatioÌ„ that vvomaÌ„lye