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
heart fayleth me not yet nor will I faint in aduersitie I referre me to my confession made to Bromley now Lo Chancellor and Baron Lauar I am ignorant of the English lawes and Statutes I haue no Counsellers at law Who are my Peeres I know not My notes and writings are taken from me and there 's none dares mediate for me I am free from all trespasse against her Maiestie I haue animated none against her neither am I to be called into iudgement vnlesse it were for some word or writing of mine owne that could be produced against me wherein I haue recommended my selfe and cause to some forraigne Princes which I would not deny The day following Sir Ayme Poulet and Parker two of the Commissioners repayred to her who shewed her in writing her answer and demanded whether she would persist therein which after she had heard read distinctly and truly vnto her she commended it saying she would But this quoth she was out of my minde that which I would haue added now that the Queene wrote vnto me that I was subiect to the lawes of England and to be iudged by them because I liued vnder their tuition To which I answer That I came into England for ayde and hauing euer since beene detayned prisoner I could neuer enioy the tuition or benefite of the lawes nor till this present had I any to teach them vnto me In the afternoone certaine of the Commissioners with some learned Counsellers at the Ciuill and Canon Law came to her The Chancellor and Treasurer shewed their authoritie by Commission telling her That neyther her detayning in captiuitie nor her Princely prerogatiue could priuiledge or exempt her from answering in the kingdome gently intreating her That she would be pleased to heare what was obiected if not they were to proceed by course of Law against her though absent She answereth She was no subiect and that she would rather dye a thousand deathes than acknowledge her selfe to bee one seeing that by such acknowledgement shee should preiudice the soueraignty of her royall Maiesty and become lyable to the Lawes of England yea in case of Religion notwithstanding she was ready to answere to all things in open Court of Parliament though shee knewe that this Convention was for formalities sake purposely continued for the taking away of her life already condemned in opinion She wisheth them to examine their owne consciences and to remember that the spacious Theater of the world was more than the Kingdome of England Then she began to complaine of some iniuries offered her but the Treasurer interrupting her recited fauours which she had receiued from her Maiestie namely that she had punished some for impugning the title of her right to England stayed the State when they would haue condemned her for seeking to haue married with the Duke of Norfolke and for consenting to the rebellion in the North. But when they saw she made no reckoning thereof they departed from her After a few houres Sir Aimé Poulet and the Sollicitor presented the Commission and the names of the Commissioners to her that thereby she might see they were to proceed by no fraudulent but a legall course in equity As for the Commissioners she tooke no exception but that shee excepted against was the seuere new Law as vniust and purposely deuised against her and vpon which their Commission depended whereof they could shew no president neither would she euer yeeld vnto it She demanded by what Law they should proceed Ciuill or Canon saying they must send for Interpreters from Padua Poytiers and other outlandish Academies because there were none in England that vnderstood them adding further that by the expresse words of the Queenes letters it appeared she stood already conuicted of diuers crimes and condemned before she was tryed and therefore had no need to come before them to a second hearing but desired to be resolued of some scruples she had found in the letters yet would not deliuer them out in writing because shee said it became not a Queene to play the Scribe For this cause the selected Commissioners went again to her of whom she desired to know what these words meant For that she was vnder the Queenes protection To which the Chancellor made answer This was easie to be vnderstood by any yet was it not the subiects part to interprete their Soueraignes meaning neyther were they come for that cause She likewise required them that they should shew forth the Protestation which once she had made But it was answered That it had not beene allowed nor should it be now because it was preiudiciall to the Realme of England Then she demanded by what authoritie they were to proceed To whom it was answered By the authoritie of the Commission and the Ciuill Law of England But sayth she you make Lawes as you list and I am not bound to submit my selfe to them seeing the English long since refused to be subiect to the Law-salique of France and that if they would proceed by the Ciuill law of England they must produce examples for that that Law consisteth for the most part of presidents and ancient customes But if by the Canon Law none but the founders therof ought to be the expositors Answer was made They would proceed neyther by the Ciuill nor Canon but by the Law of England yet by the Caesarian and Canon Law both it was plaine if she would heare it that she ought to appeare She refused not shee said to heare them by way of discourse but not iudiciarily From this she fell into other speeches That she neuer had any thought to destroy the Queene That she had been forced to endure many iniuries That she should become a common stone of offence if she were thus stil abused That she had offered to imploy Nauue for the repealing of the Popes Bull and that she would sundry times haue excused her innocencie by letters but was not permitted finally That all the offers of good-will which she had offered for twentie yeares space were still reiected As she slipped aside by these prettie digressions they brought her to the point and intreated her to say plainly whether she would answer the Commissioners She replyed Their Commission was grounded vpon the new Law which was made to entangle her hauing therefore iust cause of suspioion she could not endure it and hauing alwayes carried a true heart she would not now trespasse so much against the Kings of Scotland her ancestors as to acknowledge her selfe a subiect to the Crowne of England For what were that else but to proclaim them rebells and traytors notwithstanding she refused not to answer yet by no meanes in the nature of a subiect for that shee had rather perish than to answer as a malefactor Then answered Sir Christâ—pher Hatton Vice-Chamberlaine saying You are accused of conspiracy against our soueraigne La the Queene an anointed Queene but not condemned You say you are a Queen Admit it yet
are you not of royall estate neyther by the Caesarian Canon nor Law of nations or of nature exempt from answering in such a case For all iustice would swarue nay ly dead if such crimes should escape vnpunished If you be innocent you dishonour your selfe in your reputation to refuse to come to iudgement You protest your selfe to be so but the Queene thinkes otherwise yet not without cause to her great griefe and hath appointed persons honourable wise and vpright to examine your innocency who must heare you with equity and fauour and will be very ioyfull that you shall cleare your selfe of these crimes Beleeue mee the Queene her selfe will greatly reioyce for she assured me at my departure that no greater griefe had euer befalne her than this of your accusation wherefore setting aside this vaine conceit of soueraignety which at this time standeth you in no stead shew your selfe blamelesse attract no more suspicion to your selfe by subterfuge but rather wipe away the spot which else will sticke perpetually vpon your reputation I refuse not said she to answer in open Court of Parliament before the States of the Realme lawfully conuecated so I may be declared next heir to the crown or else before the Queene and Councell so my protestation be admitted and I acknowledged the Qâ—eenes next kinswoman The Chancellor asked her if she would answer when her Protestation was admitted Neuer will I quoth she put my selfe vnder this new Law mentioned in the Commission Whereupon the Treasurer concludeth We will proceede notwithstanding in the case to morrow be you absent or obstinate Examine said she your owne conscience respect your credite and God reward you and your children as you deale with me in yâ—ur iudgement The morrow after which was the 14. of the moneth shee sent for some of the Commissioners to come to her and desired them that her Protestation might be admitted and approued The Treasurer asked her if she would answer the Commission if it were simply admitted and recorded in writing without approbation At last she condescended though very hardly because she would not seeme to derogate from her predecessors or successors And then she said that being perswaded by Hattons reasons after she had thought of them considerately she desired to purge her selfe of the imputed crime Instantly the Commissioners came together in the Chamber of presence at the vpper end whereof was placed a Chaire of Estate for the Queene of England and in a remote place below a Chaire for the Queene of Scotts opposite to the other By the wals on the otherside were seats on the one side sate the Lo Chancellor of England the Earles of Oxford of Kent Derby Worcester Rutland Cumberland Warwick Pembroke and Lincolne and the Viscount Montagu on the other side the Barons d'Abergaveny Zouch Mâ—rley Stafford Gray Lumley Sturton Sands Wentworth Mordant S. Iohn of Bletso Compton and Cheny After these the Knights that were of the Priuy Councell Crâ—fts Hatton Walsingham Sadler Mildmay and Poulet Right ouer against the Earles sate the two chiefe Iustices and the chiefe Baron of the Exchequer on the other side the two Barons the other Iustices Dale and Ford Doctors of the Ciuill Law and at a little table in the midst of the roome Popham Atturney Egerten the Queenes Sollicitor Gaudy Sergeant at Law the Clerke of the Crowne and two other Notaries When she was come and set in her place Bromley Lord Chancellor turning towards her spake to this effect THe Queenes most excellent Maiesty of England being certified to her extreame griefe of heart that you haue practised the subuersion and ruine of her the Kingdome of England and the Religion established therein to discharge her selfe of her duty towards God her selfe and her subiects without any malice of hart hath appointed these Commissioners to vnderstand the things you are accused of how you can discharge your selfe of them and demonstrate your innocency Vpon this she rose vp and said She was come into England to craue the ayde that was promised her and yet euer since she had beene kept a prisoner protesting withall that she was no subiect to the Qu. of England but a free and absolute Queene and therefore ought not to be brought to appeare vpon any cause whatsoeuer before any Commissioner or Iudge but God the soueraigne Iudge of the World nor would she derogate so much from royall Maiestie or her sonne the King of Scotts her successors or other absolute Princes But shee was now come in presence to answer what should be obiected and desired her seruants to beare witnesse of the same The Chancellor taking no notice of her being promised ayde answered That this protestation was vaine forasmuch as whosoeuer in England of what condition or estate soeuer shall offend the law must be subiect to the same and be examined and iudged according to the late established Act. Therefore this protestation made as it were in preiudice both of the Queene and her Lawes was not sufferable The Commissioners notwithstanding commanded it to be recorded with the L. Chancellors answer Then the Commission which was grounded vpon this Law whereof I haue so often made mention being openly read she with great an imositie againe reinforceth her former protestation is a thing directly enacted against her and of set purpose whereof she charged them vpon their credites The Treasurer hauing answered that euery one in this Kingdom did hold the Lawes euen the newest of all not to be contradicted said That the Commissioners should iudge her accordingly what protestation or interruption soeuer shee made or interiected In conclusion she said she was ready to giue attention and to answere any fact against the Queene of England Gaudy expounded the Law from point to point affirming that she had offended against it and then entring into an historicall narration of Babingtons conspiracie he concluded That shee had knowne approued and consented to the same promised assistance and had shewne the way and maner To which she answered boldly THat she neuer knew Babington nor had receiued any Letter from him nor written to him nor attempted the Queenes death and to make it good they must shew some signe vnder her owne hand That shee neuer had heard speech thereof neyther did she know or assist Ballard But she had learned of some that the Catholicks suffered great troubles in England and that shee had writ to the Queene intreating her to haue compassion on them That many persons whom she knew not had offered her their seruice yet she stirred not any vp to commit any crime and being in prison she neyther knew of nor could hinder their practises Moreouer they insist vpon Babingtons confession that there had beene entercourse of letters betwixt them She confessed that shee had had conference by letters with diuers yet notwithstanding it followed not that therefore she was accessary to their wicked designes Shee desired them to shew any
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
hand to your presence and if you be pleased to commiserate my case I will at large informe you of all God grant you a long and happy life and me the patience to attend that comfort I hope for from Him by your gracious meanes and dayly Prayer for with all my heart Queene ELIZABETH returning her great comfort in Letters and by the mouth of Francis Knowles and others promised her assistance according to the equitie of her cause but neuerthelesse she refused her accesse because shee was commonly taxed with many grosse crimes and commanded she should be conuayed to Carlile where shee might remaine in greatest security if her Aduersaries attempted any thing against her by Lowder Lieutenant Gouernour of the place and the Gentlemen of the Countrey Hauing receiued this answere and refusall she once againe made her request by Letters and by the mouth of Maxwell Baron of Heris to this effect THat she would admit her in her own presence to report the iniuries and indignities had been offered her and to answer those crimes laid to her charge Intimating to her Maiesty how it was iust that Qu. ELIZABETH who was so neere vnto her in blood should giue care to her in her banishment and to re-establish her in her Kingdome against those who hauing beene expelled for their offences committed against her by Queene ELIZABETHS intercession they were againe restored and to her owne finall ruine if the storme were not out of hand preuented Wherefore shee requested her that either shee might bee admitted to speake personally to her and to grant her some ayde or else to permit and be pleased that she might presently depart out of England to seeke for succour some where else and that she might not be detained any longer time in the Castle of Carlile in that shee came voluntarily into England vpon the confidence shee had in the loue and affection which had so many times beene honourably promised her by Messengers Letters and Remembrances These Letters and Heris words seemed for who can diue into the secret thoughts of Princes and wise men lay them vp in their hearts to moue Queene ELIZABETH to compassion of a Princesse her neere Kinswoman and so deepely distressed who hauing been surprized by her own Subiects with force and Armes committed to prison brought to extreme danger of her life condemned and depriued of her Kingdome without beeing heard although no Iudgement can passe vpon a priuate man without former hearing shee was retyred into England vnto her with infallible hopes of finding ayd and succour And the free offer which this vnfortunate Queene made to pleade her owne cause in her presence the charge she tooke vpon her to conuince her Aduersaries of the same malefacts whereof they accused her though most innocent were to her hopefull and encouraging motiues thereunto What pitty and commiseration soeuer Queen ELIZABETH had of her the Councell of England deliberated grauely and aduisedly what in this case was to bee done They fear'd that if shee remained any longer in England hauing a perswasiue and mouing tongue she might drawe many to her partie who fauoured the Title which she pretended to the Crowne of England who might peraduenture inflame her ambition and attempt all meanes to maintaine her claime That forraigne Ambassadours would be present at her Consultations and the Scots would not in this case forsake her seeing so rich a booty to offer it selfe Besides they considered that the fidelity of her Guard might be doubtfull and if shee chanc'd to dye in England though it were of some infirmity or sicknesse many slanders might be rais'd and so the QVEENE should be dayly encumbred with new cares If she were sent into France the Guizes her Cousins would againe set on foot the Title whereby she laid claime to the Crowne of England That what opinion soeuer was conceiued of her she might preuaile greatly in England with some for pretext of Religion with others for the probability of her right as before I told you and with the most part of men out of their precipitate affection of Nouelties That the Amity betweene England and Scotland so behoofefull and beneficiall would be broken and the ancient Allyance between Scotland and France renewed which would then bee more dangerous then heretofore because the Burgundians who had no infallible friends but the Scots should bee linckt to the English by a firme Alliance If shee were sent backe into Scotland those that tooke with the English partie should thereupon be banisht and that of France rais'd to the publike administration of gouernment of Affaires the young Prince exposed to danger Religion chang'd the French and other strangers still retained in Scotland Ireland would bee more grieuously molested by the Scots of Hebrides and her selfe exposed to the perill of life within her owne Kingdome Wherefore the greater part ioyned in opinion that shee was to be retained in England as beeing taken by the Law of Armes and not to bee releast till shee had giuen ouer her present claime to the Crowne of England which shee tooke vpon her and answered for the death of the Lord Darley her husband who was a naturall Subiect of England For the Countesse of Lenox mother to the Lord Darley blubbered all ouer with teares had not long before prefer'd a Petition about her and her husband to the Queene of England with supplication that she might be brought to Iudgement for the murder of her Sonne But the Queene graciously comforting her admonisht her that she would not accuse so great a Princesse who was her very neere Kinswoman of a crime which could not be prooued by any euident testimonies intimating vnto her how the times were bad and wicked and hatred blind imputing offences oftentimes to the Innocent On the contrary the Baron of Heris was a suiter to Qu. ELIZABETH that she would suddenly beleeue nothing to the preiudice of truth and that Earle Murray might not hurrie vp Assemblies of Parliament in Scotland to the iniurie and wrong of the Queene who was expelled and the absolute ruine of her good Subiects But though the Queene of England much pressed this point Earle Murray the Vice-Roy summoned them still in the Kings name banished some that remained yet behind of her partialitie and vented the malice hee bare to them vpon their demeanes and houses The Queene of England beeing herewith mightily incens'd certified him in expresse termes by Mildemay that she could not endure for a most pernicious President to Kings that the Royall Authoritie of sacred Maiestie should bee esteemed vile and abiect amongst the Subiects and trampled vnder-foot at the will and pleasure of men turbulent and factious That howsoeuer they forgot the duety and fidelitie which Subiects owe to their Prince yet for her part shee could not bee vnmindfull of that pitty and Commiseration which obliged her to a Sister and a neighbour Qu. Wherefore she wisht him either to come in person or
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
from comming home to her Scotland as yet wauering and that the forces of the Spaniards might not be too farre extended in the adiacent Countries vvhich would be most commodiously seated for the transporting of warres into England for exercising of traffique as well by sea as the Riuer of Rhine And to hinder that there might not be any prouision of Nauigation caried to her enemies which besides were well prouided of strong Shipping and men of valiant spirits that if they should bee ioyned vvith the English Nauy it would be an easie thing for them to be soone Commanders of the Sea so rich and powerfull that they had long time since without any foraine aide supprest the insolencies of their proudest enemies and that they might not commit themselues to the trust and faith of the French She resolued that she was bound in Christian charitie to succour the afflicted Dutchmen being professors of the same Religion and in wisedome to prouide for the conseruation of a people which God had committed vnto her by cutting through the ruinous complots of their enemies not for any desire of glory but for the necessitie of goodnesse Whereupon shee openly tooke vpon her the defence of the Netherlands The Christian Princes admiring such a Masculine valour in a woman to haue such a magnanimous spirit as to denounce warre as it were to so potent a Monarch Insomuch that the King of Sweden speaking of her said that she had taken the Diadem from off her owne head to expose it to the doubtfull and dangerous euent of warre These were the conditions that were agreed vpon betweene Queene ELIZABETH and the Estates of Holland THe Queene would send as succours to the Vnited Prouinces 5000 foot and a thousand horse vnder a generall Commander of famous remarke and during the warre would pay the souldiers which should after the Peace were made be paid backe by the Estates that is to say in the first yeare of the Peace such summes as had beene disbursed in the first yeare of the warres and the rest in the foure yeares following In the meane time they should deliuer into her hands for assurance the towne of Flushing the Castle of Rameken in Zeland and the I le of Breil with the towne and both the Skances The Gouernors that should bee appointed should not haue any command ouer the Inhabitants but onely of their Garison which should pay the Tributes and Imposts as well as the inhabitants Those places should after the money were repayed bee deliuered backe not to the Spaniard but the Estates The Gouernors and two other English which the Queen would name should be admitted into the Councell of the Estates and the Estates should not entertaine any League without the Queenes aduice nor she the Estates not acquainted therewith Ships for their common defence in equall number and at a common expence should be set forth vnder the command of the Admirall of England The Ports of either should he freely open to either With other conditions which were printed and exposed to all mens view For the memoriall of this alliance the Zealanders triumphing with ioy caused new money to be coyned bearing vpon one side the Armes of Zealand which is a Lyon floating vpon the waues with this inscription Luctor emergo Ie comba et me sauue J fight and I saue my selfe On the other side the Armes of the townes of Zealand with this Authore Deo fauente Regina God Author the Queene fauourable The Queene by a booke set forth gaue all to vnderstand that in times past Leagues and Societies were contracted betweene the Kings of England and the Princes of the Netherlands for the mutuall faith and defence one of another She remonstrateth the barbarous cruelty of the Spaniard against the miserable Netherlanders and the mischieuous complots which they had wrought against her selfe that had with much labour sought a Peace and had done this to keepe the Dutch from reuolting Neither did shee propose any other thing to her selfe in aiding of them then that the Dutch might inioy peaceably their former liberty her subiects safety and either Nation a secure commerce and traffique And to prouide that warre should not assaile her at home and set the Spaniard to worke abroad She set forth a Nauy to the West Indies vnder the command of Sir Francis Drake and Christopher Carlile of one and twenty sayle in which besides Saylors were 2300 voluntary souldiers which surprized in the I le of Saint Iames neere to Cap-Verd the towne of Saint Iames which gaue name to the Iland where they celebrated with the thunder of the Cannon the Coronation day of Queene ELIZABETH which was vpon the fourteenth of Nouember and pillaging the town they found great store of Meale Wine and Oyle but no money at all The fourteenth day after they set sayle and many which kept their quarters guard in the open aire and slept vpon the ground were taken with grieuous sicknesse called Calentura whereof they dyed a disease very familiar in â—hat Iland and dangerous to strangers which sleepe in the open fields The first of Ianuary they ariued at Hispaniola where the souldiers being landed in a secure place by the direction of a Spaniard whom they had taken and kept to that purpose they marched in order against the towne and hâ—uing repulst a hundred and fifty Spanish horsemen which opposed their passage and putting to flight certaine Musketiers which were placed in Ambush they entered pell-mell into the towne with them by the two westerne gates and all the inhabitants being strucke with feare and terrour fled out at the North gate of the said City The English brought their troops into the Market-place neere to the great Temple and because they were not in number sufficient to man the towne they fortified it with rampars of earth after that they seized vpon other conuenient places So hauing the whole towne in their possession and command they remained a moneth there And seeing the inhabitants offered but a small summe of money to redeeme their towne they began first to set fire vpon the suburbs and after vpon the fairest house in the towne vntill the inhabitants had redeemed their towne with 25000 Crowns of gold which with much paine they gathered They found there no great store of pillage excepting some pieces of Artillery with Corne and Sugar for they vsed there nought but Copper money and glasse vessels with some made of earth which were brought out of the East India Amongst other things in the towne Court were found the Armes of the King of Spaine with the world vnder placed from whence a horse with his foure-feet rampant was figured leaping out with this inscription Non sufficit orbis The world doth not suffice Whereat some scoffing tooke it for an argument of the infinite auarice and ambition of the Spaniard as neuer satisfied From thence sayling vp into the Continent of America
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
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
put these words into her eares Mortua non mordet Being dead she will byte no more And notwithstanding as she was naturally slow to anger she had this custome that she neuer would enter vnaduisedly or without premeditation into any action so she began to weigh in her minde whether it were better to put her to death or to let her liue From putting her to death she was disswaded By her owne naturall clemency not to vse cruelty to her who was a Princesse and her next kinswoman from the feare that she had Histories should make her infamous to posterities and from the dangers which might fall vpon her as from the part of the King of Scotland who then was the next in succession to the Crowne of England so also from the Catholick Princes and from desperate people who would attempt any thing From pardoning of her likewise she foresaw no lesse danger to ensuâ— That the Nobility which had giuen the sentence against her would couertly seeke to regaine the fauour of her and her sonne and that could not be done without danger to her selfe That her other subiects would take it ill when they perceiue their labour to be lost and though then they were carefull for her welfare yet hereafter they might grow carelesse and that many would change their religion and become Popish vpon a supposition of greater hopes seeing her preserued as it were by fatall prouidence to inherite the Kingdome of England That the Iesuites and Seminaries whose eyes were all cast vpon her seeing her sickly and not like to liue long would be so much the more busie to procure the death of Q. Elizabeth to set vp their religion Her Courtiers also ceased not to suggest these and the like things vnto her Wherefore should you pardon so monstrous a malefactor being already iustly condemned who after shee had subscribed to the combination made for the preseruation of your health and safety notwithstanding presently after attempted the taking away of your life and thereby to procure the vtter ruine of Religion the Nobilitie and commons Clemency indeed is a Princely vertue but not to be shewed to such as are mercilesse Let the vaine shew of mercy yeeld to life-preseruing seueritie and haue regard that your mercy bring you not to misery It is enough to haue the commendation of clemency in that you haue once giuen pardon to pardon her againe were nothing else but to pronounce her innocent to condemne the States of the Kingdome of iniustice to animate her agents to attempt new mischiefes and to discourage your faithfull subiects from hauing any care for the preseruation of the weale publick Religion the Common-wealth your own welfare the loue of your countrey the oath of association the care of posteritie to come doe all together begge and beseech you that she which desireth the destruction of all these may speedily be brought to destruction her selfe If these be not heard there is no safety left for this State and Historians will leaue it recorded to the ages to come that the fayre sunne-shine dayes of all prosperity which were in England vnder Q. Elizabeth ended in a darke and dreadful euening nay turned into a dismall night of eternall obscurity Our posterity shall find that we wanted wisedom hauing power to foresee our miseries but not to preuent them the which will thereby become the greater the grossenesse whereof will be imputed not so much to the malice of our enemies as the improuident stupidity of these times That the life of a titulary Queene of Scotland was not so much worth as the safety of this whole kingdome nor is there any place left for lingring for delayes are dangerous We should not giue malefactors of that monstrous nature leaue to breathe which from their insolency will take their last support and from the impunity of their crime expect some recompence He which keepeth not himselfe out of danger when he may seemeth rather to tempt God than to trust in him All the danger that can be from strangers will cease with the cause and cannot harme England vnlesse it be by her What will or power soeuer the Pope can haue to hurt will cease with her death The Spaniard can haue no cause to finde fault who for his own security put his onely sonne Charles to death and doth what he can at this present also to make away Don Antonio King of Portugale the more to extend his ambition The king of France entertayneth an inuiolable league of loue with England and is aboue all things so interested herein that by the present dispatch of the Q. of Scotland the hope of the Guises shall be layd flat vnder foot since it is so that out of the desperate hope they haue in the long looked-for ayde from their kinswoman their insolency is growne so great at this time against him That the King of Scotland euen in nature and out of a true respect of his royalty cannot but be moued to displeasure at his mothers death yet he will rather out of better deliberation wayt wisely till time shall ripen his hopes with security than to attempt out of season the things which can affoord him nothing but disturbance and danger And the neerer he shall growe to his great hopes the farther off will forraigne Princes who of customary course are alwayes opposite to the growing greatnesse of others estrange themselues from him They propounded also to her domesticall examples because that that which is warranted by president is the more tolerable As What comportment the Kings of England for their securities haue had with their competitors namely Henry the first with Robert his elder brother Edw. the third or rather his mother with Edward the second Henry the fourth with Richard the second Edward the fourth with Hen. the sixt with his sonne the Prince of Wales and George of Clarence his owne naturall brother Henry the seuenth with the Earle of Warwick the yonger sonne of the Duke of Clarence and HENRY the eightth with De-la-Poole Earle of Suffolk with Margaret of Salisbury and Courtney Marquesse of Exeter all which in comparison of their offences dyed for very sleight matters Neyther did the Courtiers only suggest these and the like to the Queene but diuerse fiery-tongued Preachers also tooke occasion to exercise with all asperity of spirit the heate of their desires in hastning on her death Sundry also of the vulgar sort were of the same temper according as their affections or humours carried them away with hope or feare Amidst these sad-afflicting thoughts of minde which so troubled the Queene of England's perplexed heart as that she delighted to be all alone and to sit solitary by her selfe neyther looking vp nor vttering any speech yet would suddenly many times breake out into these words and sighing say AVT PETERE AVT PERCVTE and withall also a kinde of Emblem PREVENT THE STROKE BY STRIKING shee deliuered Secretarie Dauison letters vnder her
these things They resolue to driue the French out of Scotland The English are sent into Scotland both by Land and Sea The death of Francis L. Talbot Earle of Shrewsburie Booke 1. 1560. A Treaty of peace in Barwicke Martigues comes and brings French-men into Scotland D'Elbeuf driuen by a Tempest The Spaniard counsels to Peace The Spaniards detaine from the English their munition The French doe endeuour to call the English backe from Scotland The French protest againg the English that they are meerely cause that the peace is broken An Answer to them The Guizes are sworne and professed enemies to Queene Elizabeth The French offer to render vp Calis Her Maiesties Answer to them She sends the Lord Vicount Montaigue into Spaine Who makes known to the Spaniard the cause of the Wars of Scotland he also excused the Scots Confederates Arthur Gray son heire to the Lord Gray is wounded Lieth is besieged The English repulsed Croft is accused The Queene Regent of Scotland dyes The treaty of Edenborrough A peace is published Queene Elizabeth is sought in marriage by Charles Arch-Duke of Austria by Iames Earle of Arran and by Erric King of Sueden Adolphe Duke of Holsatia Sir W. Pickering The Earle of Arundel Robert Dudley Whom shee fauoured Vicount Montaigu Ambassador to the King of Spaine He fauoured notwithstanding Elizabeth against the French He re-deliuered the order of the Garter He disdained to be refused in things of small importance The Count Ferie whets his indignation He incenses the Pope against the Queene The Pope writes to Elizabeth The Pope Pius the fourth of that name his Letter sent vnto Queene Elizabeth by his Nuncio Vincent Parpalia The King and Queene of France refuse to confirme the Treatie for Edenborrough The reasons Francis the second dyeth The Edict of Qu. Elizabeth against the Anabaptists Her Maiesties Edict against sacreligious persons The Colledge of Westminster founded The Coine brought to full value This was corrupted by King Henry the Eighth His lauish expence The Earle of Huntington dyeth Shan O-Neale stirs vp sedition in Ireland Booke 1. 1561. The Queene of Scotland puts off the confirmation of the Treatie The Queene of England denieth passage to the Queene of Scotland She complained to Throgmorton Ambassadour from England Throgmorton's answer to the Qu. Mary of Scotland Contestation betweene the Queene of Scotland and Throgmorton Queene Elizabeths Ambassador into France The Queene endeuours to content Qu. Elizabeth But in vaine She returnes into Scotland Elizabeth answers him Qu. Elizabeth presseth the confirmation of the Treatie Receiues the Guizes courteously The Guizes vse the English ill That the right to assemble a Councell belongs not to the Pope Carne dyes How far an Ambassadour ought to beare an offence Qu. Elizabeth prepares things necessary for Warre Qu. Elizabeths husbandrie S. Pauls Steeple burnt The death of Earle Bathon Booke 1. 1562. Pole had vnder examination Katherine Gray imprisoned He is fined He is fined The Guizes practice against Elizabeth H. Sidney is sent into France After into Scotland They deliberate the inter-view of the Queene of Scotland Which puts her in doubt Vnlesse it were vpon certaine conditions The Cardinall of Lorraine propoundeth a marriage to the Queen of Scotland Queene Elizabeth endeuoureth to diuert her from it Giues her reasons Shee excuses the French fugitiues The death of the Earle of Oxford Defends his cause Booke 1. 1563. Fifteenths Tenths Subsidies The Prence of Condé taken in the Battell of Dreux The Kings answer Hostages giuen for the restitution of Calais attempt to fly away Peace made in France War proclaimed between the French and the English The Qu. Maiestie offers to surrender Haure de grace for Calais The English Soldiers molested with the Pestilēce Haure de grace beleagred and assailed by the French Articles for the restitution of Haure de grace France reioyceth for recouery of Haure de grace The English Soldiers bring the Plague into London and other parts of England Marriage againe propounded to the Queene of Scots The Queene of England recommends Dudley for her husband The French diuert her They insult ouer their Queene The Baron of Gray dyes And the Bishop of Aquila The Spaniard against the English Lord Paget dyeth The supreme dignities of honour in England Death of the Earle of Rutland Duchesse of Suffolke Booke 1. 1564. Articles of peace accorded on betweene the English and the French The King of France enstalled in the Order of the Garter The English ill entreated in Spaine And in the Low-countries The mutuall complaints of the English and Flemmish English Merchants prohibited in the Low-Countries The English constitute a Faire or Mart at Embden Guzman labors to atone this difference Queenè Elizabeth visits the Vniuersity of Cambridge Robert Dudley raised to honors Dudley accuseth Bacon Diuers opinions about the point of Succession The Queene of Scots cal◠home the Earle of Lenox into Scotland The discent of the Earle of Lenox Causes of the Repeale of the Earle of Lenox The Queene of England endeuours to preuent the Qu. of Scots proiect Another commendation of the Earle of Leicester A Treaty of Marriage betweene the Queene of Scots and the Earle of Leicester Booke 1. 1565. Darley goes into Scotland He is beloued of the Queene of Scotland Asketh Qu. Elizabeths consent Deliberation vpon it Throgmorton is sent to hinder He is answered Lenox and Darley are re-called out of Scotland They excuse themselues The Queene of Scotland marries the Lord Darley The Earle of Murray and others murmure The Queene of England indures it with moderation Some Scots take distaste about the marriage They are put to flight They are maintained in England They counsell the Qu. of England to marry The Emperour recommendeth his Brother It causeth hatred to grow in the Court. The Queene reconcileth them Tamworth not admitted They answere by writing Cecillia Queene of Sueden comes into England Creation of the Earle of Glencar Vice-Royes and Iustices of Ireland Affaires of Ireland Discord betweene the Earles of Desmond and Ormond Chiefe President of Mounster The death of Sir Thomas Chaloner Booke 1. 1566. The Duke of Norfolke and the Earle of Leicester Knights of the Order of France Prouision of Corne. The Earle of Arundel goes out of the Kingdome The English carry their Armes and their courages to the Hungarian Warre The birth of King Iames the sixth of Scotland The Queene of England reioyceth Visits the Vniuersity of Oxford Holds a Parliament The States sollicite her to marry and to declare her Successor The modestie of the great Ones The popular sort eagerly The Queene is angry She sweetens the moued spirits Giues backe part of the Subsidie Chides the States Maketh it plainely to appeare that the Queene of Scotland had the right of Succession The ordination of Bishops is confirmed Promoters supprest The Earle of Bedford sent Ambassrdour to the Queene of Scotland for the baptizing of her Sonne The death of I. Mason and Sir R. Sackuile Booke 1.
Chronology Chronicles Ephemeride Epitomies Rhopsodies Abridgment History and ANNALS Chronology hath two conditions both particular and necessary called by the Greekes Alathea and Apathia which is the truth of things set forth without any passion The Chronicle aymes at the originall of matters and to seeke the immemoriall Time from the first antiquity and foundation of peoples and Nations as Herodole for Greece Titus Liuius for the Latine Lemaire in the illustrations of the Gauls Mr. Speed for England and others The Ephemerides describes that which hath been said or done betwixt two persons Rhapsodis and Epittonnes are short obseruations of History Annalls and History is different from all those for they describe all the memorable deedes and particular actions that hapned yeerely and from time to time such as Xenophon was in Greece Salust among the Latins Froissard in France and Mr. William Cambden in England and so diuers others The seuerall and yeerely acts must be described without any passion or affections * Such courtesie from your Honours will ingraue your worth in the Temple of Eternity making your names thereby immortall sith it is onely this or such like seruice that can make you liue againe in your graue keepe your noble fame fresh and your happy memory from fading sith it wil cause your ashes to bring forth Laurell and Palme flourish and spring out of your Tombes when the base ignorant contemners of learning which doe abound in this iron age will wither and fade they seeme now only to liue on earth but to warre against Vertues much like vnto wormes in Libraries to destroy and deuour learning which they should cherish Booke 2. 1570. The Earle of Murray demands that the Qu. of Scotland might be put into his hands He pursueth the English Rebells The Earle of Murray is suddenly kild Diuers opinions are had of him The Scots Rebels make incursions vpon England The English take reuenge thereof They succoured those in Scotland that were of the Kings partie They take the Castle of Hamilton The Earle of Lenox is establisht Vice-Roy of Scotland The King of Spaine giues succours against those who were of the Kings side The Lord Setone his Ambassage to the Duke of Alua. The answere of the Duke of Alua. The Bishop of Rosse is set at liberty Laboured the liberty of the Queene of Scots They consult about the freedome of the Queene of Scotland Rebellion in Norfolke assoone ended as begun Felton punished for sticking vp the Popes Bull. The Papists reproue the Bull. The greatest part cōtemne this Bull. Cecill aduiseth him to marry Diuers are imprisoned Sussex chosen a Priuy-Councellor Treaty with the Queene of Scotland The Answer to the proposition of the English They cannot agree The Bishop of Rosse requires helpe to free the Queene of Scots The death of the Earle of Cumberland The death of Throgmorton Rebillion in Ireland quenched before they saw the day Stukeley flieth out of Ireland Booke 2. 1571. The royall Exchange The ereation of Baron Burghley The manner of creating Barons Letters from the Pope to the Queene of Scotland Edict of the Scots against the authority Royall Condemned by the Qu. of England The demāds of the English for the freedome of the Qu. of Scotland The English refuse the offers of the Scots Alteration among the Scots Complaints of the Scots against the English A remembrance sent from the Q. of Scotland to the Duke of Norfolke The counsell of the Bishop of Rosse The attempts of oothers A great Earthquake The Ambassage of Baron Buckhurst A proposition of a match betweene Elizabeth and the Duke of Aniou The hopes which they conceiued Articles of marriage The Answer To what end this marriage was proposed They hasten the mariage of the Qu. of Scotland The Bishop of Rosse and others committed Money sent into Scotland He declines from the English witnesses Lenox Vice-Roy of Scotland is slain The Earle of Marre is elected Vice-Roy Lawes against disturbers Lawes against Papists Iohn Storie condemned to dye Differences appeased betweene the English and the Portugals Guienne The Marquis of Northampton dyes The death of Bishop Iewell Affaires of Ireland William Fitz William Deputy of Ireland Booke 2. 1572. Thomas Duke of Norfolke is presented before the Nobles and Peeres and arraigned in Westminster Hall Peeres of the Kingdome The maner of his arraignement The chiefe points of his accusation The Duke demandeth an Aduocate to plead his cause The second Article of his accusation The third Article of his accusation The Duke of Norfolke contrary to the Romane Religion The Letters of the Bishop of Rosse to the Qu. of Scots are produced The Dukes Letter to his seruant The Letters of Ridolfe Of the Pope The testimony of Strangers The third Article of his accusation The Peeres consult amongst thēselues The Sentence pronounced against the Duke Barney and Marter are put to death Earles created Barons elected Lawes established for the better security of the Queene and her Kingdome The Duke of Norfolke beheaded His speech at the houre of his death The Duke of Norfolke's head is cut off Sundry sensures of him after his death Catenes relations of the precedent matters Pope Pius the fifth incensed against Qu. Elizabeth How he imployed the English The King of Spaine The King of France The King of Portugal The Duke of Alua opposeth Wherefore A vaine successe Wherewith the Pope the King of Spaine are vext and angry The Queene of Scots accused Mary Qu. of Scotland her answere to her accusation Sedition in Scotland The Queene of England the King of France endeuour to accord them They differ in opinions Causes alleadged why the French fauour the Queene of Scotland The Queene of England contesteth with the French The loue and affection which the King of France and Queene of England bore once to the Queene Mary of Scotland growes cold The rebellious Flemmings commanded to goe out of England They take the Breele The Duke of Aluaes carelesnesse The English repaire into the Low-Countries to the warre Dissimulation of the King of France The Alliance of Blois The Articles of the same Confirmation thereof Mont-Morancy admitted to the Order of the Garter He intercedes to accord the differences of Scotland Answere made to him Hee also treats of a marriage with the Duke of Aniou Massacre of Paris Marriage of the Duke of Alenzon propounded to Queene Elizabeth The Earle of Northumberland beheaded Death of the Marquis of Winchester Cecill is made Treasurer Death of the Earle of Darbie And of Sir George Peters The Queene sicke She hath a care of the publike She cut off the superfluous number of followers which dayly augmented She curbeth enquirers after conceal'd Lands of the Crowne Rebellion in Ireland The Omors A strange Starre Booke 2. 1573. The Spanish Fleet discomfited Commerce betweene the Flemmish and English restored She dischargeth her Fathers and brothers debts Innouators trouble the Church The Papists troble the Common-wealth Their Libell is suppressed The
abound in riches leasure would repay this due and deserued thanks But when I had certainly obserued that weightier affaires hindred some that were best able to performe it others I know not for what causes with specious excuses refused it Afterwards I eftsoones betook myself to my interrupted study embraced it more vehemently than before I sought all manner of helps on euery side I sedulousâ—â— volued reuolued Characters of Kings Peers Letters Consultations held at the Councell-Table I ran through the instructions letters of Ambassadors likewise the Records Iournals of Parliaments Acts Statuts read ouer al ProclamatioÌ„s For most of which as I ought I hold my self chiefly bound to sir R Cotton kt Baronet who with great expence happy labor hath gatherd together most choice variety of Histories Antiquity for at his torch he willingly sufferd me to light my taper So as Reader if in this I haue don any thing pleasing vnto thee or profitable thou owest him the merited thanks I haue also made search throughout mine own Cabinets although I am an admirer of venerable antiquitie I am not iniurious to later things I haue seen obserued much haue from elder men than my selfe worthy of beliefe who were present when these were acted studious on both sides in this diuision of Religion receiued them haue weighed theÌ„ in the ballance of my Iudgment such as it is lest by a deceiueable credulity I should incline towards those which are false For the study of TRVTH as it hath been the only spur to prick me forward to this Worke so hath it beene mine only Scope To detract from Historie is nothing else than to pluck out the eies of a beautifull creature and for a medicinable potion to offer poison to the Readers vnderstanding All those things which are wont to hinder the light of Truth I purposely auoided and as much as in me lay haue vncased IGNORANCE FALSHOOD by the light of a Witnesse pure neat drawn from these VNSKILFVLNESSE her deriuatiues DOVBT FALSITY haue I dispelled as well as I could by the splendor of an incorrupt faith out of those monuments aboue al exception it may be from them haue gotten no lesse knowledge of those things than they which haue had long great imployment in the Common-wealth I haue auoided PREIVDICE as an abuser of the Iudgement which so infects the mind in affairs of Religion and the Reipublique that like them that haue sore eyes they see nothing cleerly I haue not feared DANGER no not from them who by their present power thinke the memorie of the succeeding Age may be extinguished And let them remember that as many as haue beene iniurious to Writers louers of the Truth haue procured to themselues dishonour to them glorie The hope of a LITTLE GAINE misse-led me not To make the dignitie of Historie mercenarie I who haue alwaies contented my selfe with a meane fortune haue held sordid and seruile I haue left no place to the SVSPICION OF FAVOVR OR PRIVATE GRVDGES for of these I am to write of Scarce two were known to me by any benefit by iniury not one that I should be reckoned among the PARTIAL or the OFFENDED Those which are aliue I haue scarse touched at Inueighing against the enemies of my Countrie I haue held it ridiculous to hunt after the name of a good Patriot with the aspersion of an ill Historian These things haue I been carefull of that as POLYBIVS commands I might SACRIFICE ONLY TO TRVTH Neither shall any man I hope finde wanting in me that ingenious liberty ioyned with modestie of speech worthy of an Historian That which vnder a false disguise ioyned with the poison of obtrectation personates libertie and is so pleasing to euery eare I detest from my heart Things MANIFEST I haue not concealed things DOVBTFVL I haue tenderly interpreted the more ABSTRVSE I haue not been too inquisitiue of The vnsearchable intents of Princes saith that Prince of Historie and what they out of reasons of State pretend is not fit to inquire being doubtfull not to be explored And with HALYCARNASS AEVS I am iustly angry which the ignorant critiques who go about to know or find out more than is iustly permitted As to the rest although I know that matters militarie and politique are the proper subiects of an Historian yet I neither could nor ought to omit Ecclesiasticall affaires for betwixt Religion and policy there can be no diuorce But seeing the Writer of the Ecclesiasticall Historie may lawfully challenge these things as proper to himself I haue not touched at them otherwise than as it were with a light and cursory hand whereas it is the Law and dignitie of an Historian to run through the most eminent actions and not to dwell vpon small ones I haue not therefore laboured in them yet there are passages of lesse coÌ„sequence which may concern another professor though not him I haue not omitted any circumstances by which not only the euents of things but their reasons also and causes may be known That of POLYBIVS pleaseth me exceedingly If you take out of History WHY HOVV TO WHAT END and WHAT IS DONE and whether the Actions answer the intents that that remaines is rather a mocking than an instruction And for the present may please but will neuer profit Posteritie I haue not betrayed my IVDGEMENT to affection for writing with an impartiall minde I haue rather desired to finde out the affections of other men I haue inserted little of mine own treating of matters in another kind it being a controuerted point whether or no it be lawfull for an Historian to doe it Let euery one abound in his owne sense I haue thrust in no occasions but such as were truly spoken or those reduced to fewer words much lesse haue I fained any I haue seldome vsed Sentences nor beautified my discourses with those obseruatioÌ„s which the Greeks aptly call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 my intent being as it were insensibly to instruct the minde I haue shunned digressions I haue vsed formall words I haue not neglected discriptions of places pedigrees nor Chronologies following as neere as is possible the order of the Times beginning the yeare as our Chronologers were wont from the first of IANVARY I haue inscribed my discourses with the name of ANNALS because I place euery passage in his owne yeare and because TACITVS directs vs that great illustrious Actions should be committed to Annals whose principall office it is to take care that Vertue be not obscured and by the relation of euill words or deeds to propose the feare of infamie with posteritie And that sterile and contracted kind of writing such as mine is is for Annals of all other most fit With these beginnings I applyed my mind to write with this resolutioÌ„ I proceeded intended to bestow the rest of my time and industrie in the beautifying polishing and exornation of these
meanes she adorned her tongue with pure words and instructed her mind with the best documents and good learning not for pompe or ostentation but to recreate her life and frame her selfe to vertue that among the learned Princes of her time shee was held Miraculous But the death of EDVVARD interrupted the studies of the Liberall Arts For scarce was he expired but Dudley Duke of Northumberland who earnestly coueted the Kingdome for Iane Gray to whom he had affianced his Sonne vsed some persons to perswade her to quit the right which shee had to the Kingdome for a certaine summe of money and great possessions in Land She modestly answered that they ought first doe well to agree with Mary her elder Sister because that during her life she could pretend no right to it Anon after by the publike voice of a Cryer Iane Gray HENRY the Eighth's Neece by his second Sisters Daughter was proclaimed Queene of England the cause thereof being sought out was found to bee that in regard of a Lawe by Act of Parliament which had neuer been duely abrogated MARIE and ELIZABETH had beene declared illegitimate although that by the same Lawe the King their Father had declared that after EDVVARD the Sixth if Issue fayled that they should succeede him in order and that by the Ciuill-Law of England such Sisters could not hereditarily succeede EDVVARD because they were not Cousin Germanes but as our learned in the Law say of the halfe Blood They adde likewise that HENRY the Eighth had by his last will nominated Iane Gray Moreouer it was shewed what danger there were if MARIE and ELIZABETH should marrie stranger Princes which would re-establish the Popes authority which was reiected out of the Kingdome And to that purpose they produce Letters Patents that EDVVARD the Sixth a little before his death had perfected and many of the Peeres Bishops Iudges and others by their signes in writing had fortified neuerthelesse the good-will that the Lords and the Commons bore to the Daughters of HENRIE the Eighth within twentie dayes had driuen away this storme and MARY proclaimed Queene through all parts of England who comming toward the Citie of London with an Armie ELIZABETH not to bee wanting her Sisters cause and hers being yet disquieted went accompanied with fiue hundred Horse to meet her vpon the way In the first Assembly of the Parliament that MARY caused to bee holden what things soeuer had beene decreed against the marriage betweene Qu. Katharine and HENRY the Eighth were abrogated and it was iudged lawfull by the Diuine Law and at all times and at all places auaileable for these reasons Because it had bin contracted by the consent of both their Parents of most Illustrious Princes of most graue Personages as well of England as Spaine and with a graue and constant deliberation of the learnedest men of Christendome and consummated by the procreation of Children The same religious Seruice and administration of the Sacraments which were in vse at the decease of HENRY the Eighth are re-established notwithstanding without any mention of acknowledging the Popes authority which thing put the Queene and Cardinall Pole into great trouble and vnquietnesse who thinke that for matter of the marriage consent of Parents and the iudgement of the wise did but onely depend vpon the Dispensation of Pope Iulius the second and were very angry that the vse of the Sacraments were permitted to those who were not as yet well and duely receiued into the Church without the authoritie of the Pope But the States of the Kingdome and MARY bethought her selfe of it feared to receiue and acknowledge the Popes authority which they had already shaken off neither could they suffer that the Queene should quit the Title of Soueraigne head of the Church of England to which the most part of them Prelates Peeres and Common-people had sworne to HENRY the Eighth his heires and successors and there were many of them that had got their riches from those of the Church But tooke it greatly to heart to forsake him perswading herselfe that all the right that she had to the Kingdome of England was vpholden by no other meanes then by the power of the Pope who gaue sentence of her side after her Father had declared her illegitimate Verily many at that time had the Popes power in such hatred and a strangers yoke that within tenne dayes after that MARY was married to Phillip King of Spaine Tho. Wyat and many others of Kent brake out into rebellion perswading themselues that this marriage was made to no other end but the more rigorously to presse them downe vnder the Romane yoke by the strength of Spaine and dispatch ELIZABETH out of the way who was next heire to the Kingdome of England Charles the fifth Emperour knowing what spirits were in England and that Cardinall Pole was going with power of Legate from the Pope cast a blocke in the way not without the Queenes counsell lest he should trouble businesse not as yet established that he should not come into England till fifteene moneths were expired when the third Parliament was ended and the marriage of MARY and Philip should be celebrated by the Dispensation of Pope Iulius the third because they were allied in the third degree and that the Emperour Charles himselfe had heretofore contracted to marry her being then vnder age for time to come At last being dismissed from the Emperour he came into England by demands and obtestations propounded orders that the lawes against Heretikes might be re-established all Lawes published against the Sea of Rome since the twentieth yeere of Henrie the eighth abolished and the whole body of the Kingdome reconciled to the Church of Rome The which with great difficulty he obtained yet not before the goods taken from the Monasteries Colledges Bishops c. by Henry the eighth and Edward the sixth were confirmed vpon like Couenant to the Queene and the possessors lest the Kingdome should be disquieted Foorthwith hereupon he absolued both the Clergie and people of the crime of Schisme and Pope Iulius the third himselfe with great ioy celebrated a solemne Masse at Rome ordained Prayers published a Iubile and granted a plenarie Indulgence to all who had giuen God thankes for the revnion of the Kingdome of England Then is sent vnto him Anthony Viscount Montaigue Thomas Thurlbe Bishop of Ely and Edward Carne to giue thankes for the pardon which he had granted for the Schismes and in the name of the King the Queene and the Kingdome and that due submission and obedience should be performed to the Pope and See of Rome Iulius then being deceased Paulus 4. gaue them audience and publike conference in the Apostolike Palace and in the Hall of Kings receiued their obedience approued the pardon and absolution granted by Cardinall Pole And for the well deseruing of Mary and Philip he out of the fulnesse of his power erected for euer Ireland to be a Kingdome and adorned
for the restitution of Calais Fol. 95. Attempt to flye away ibid. Peace made in France ibid. Warre proclaymed betweene France and England ibid. The Queene offers to giue Haure de grace for Calais Fol. 96. The English Souldiers are afflicted with the plague ibid. Haure de grace beleagred by the French Fol. 97. Articles for Haure de grace's Restitution Fol. 99. The Souldiers comming ouer infect London and other places in England with the plague ibid. Another marriage propounded to the Queene of Scotland Fol. 100. Queene ELIZABETH recommends Robert Dudley vnto her for a Husband ibid. The French diuert the Queene from it Fol. 101. The Baron of Gray dyes and the Bishop of Aquila ibid. The Spaniards against the English Fol. 102. The Lord William Paget dyes ibid. The supreame dignities of honour in England Fol. 103. The death of Henry Manners Earle of Rutland ibid. And also of the Lady Frances Brandon Duchesse of Suffolke ibid. Anno M.D.LXIIII THe Articles of peace concluded betweene France and England Fol. 106. The French King enstalled in the Order of the Garter Fol. 107. The English and Hollanders ill vsed in Spaine ibid. A Mart established by the English in Edenborough Fol. 108. Robert Dudley created Baron of Denbigh and Earle of Leicester who accused Sir Nicholas Bacon Fol. 110. Cambridge honoured with Queene ELIZABETHS presence ibid. Diuers opinions about Englands succession Fol. 111. Lenox sent for by the Queene of Scotland ibid. The true discent and extraction of the Dukes of Lenox ibid. Leicesters treatie of a match with Scotlands Queene Fol. 114. Anno M.D.LXV THe Lord Darley's iourney into Scotland where hee is beloued of the Queene Fol. 116. Queene ELIZABETHS consent required about that marriage Fol. 117. Throckmorton sent to hinder it Fol. 118. Lenox and Darley re-called out of Scotland who excuse themselues and the Queene marries with the Lord Darley Fol. 119. Queene ELIZABETH endures it with moderation but some Scots take distaste about that marriage Fol. 120. The Emperour is a sutor for his Brother to Queene ELIZABETH Fol. 121. As the Queene of Sheba came to see Salomon so the rare vertues of Queene ELIZABETH brought Cecilia Queene of Sueden bigge with Childe from the furthest part of the North to see so compleat a Maiestie ibid. Creation of the Earle of Glencarne ibid. Nicholas Arnold sent Deputie into Ireland Fol. 124. The death of Sir Thomas Chaloner Fol. 125. Anno M.D.LXVI THomas Duke of Norfolke and Robert Earle of Leicecester are honoured with the chiefe order of Knighthood of France Fol. 126. The Earle of Arundell in voluntary exile Fol. 127. The English carry both their armes and courage to the Hungarian warre Fol. 127. The happy birth of King IAMES ibid. Queene ELIZABETH reioyceth much thereby visits Oxenford and holds a Parliament Fol. 128. The States sollicite her to marry and declare her Successor Fol. 129. The Great-Ones modestly and the popular sort eagerly Fol. 130. Queene ELIZABETH is thereby angred Fol. 131. The Queene of Scotlands right to England apparant Fol. 134. Bishops Ordinations confirmed ibid. Bedfords Earle Ambassadour from Queene ELIZABETH to the christning of King IAMES in Scotland Fol. 135. The death of Iohn Masson and Sir Edward Sackuille Fol. 136. Anno M.D.LXVII THe murder of the Lord Darley who was married to the Queene of Scots Fol. 137. Buchanan condemned for falshood by the States of Scotland Fol. 138. Iames Prior of Saint Andrewes the Queenes bastard-Brother discontented for want of greater aduancement returnes into Scotland ibid. Hee seekes to be Regent of Scotland whereof being frustrate hee opposeth against the Queene and makes his ambition openly and euidently knowne Fol. 139. Hee is created Earle of Murray he persecutes the great men of Scotland and disswades the Queene from marriage Fol. 140. He takes armes against her after shee was married and flyes into England Hee seekes to sow discord betweene the Queene and her Husband the Lord Darley Fol. 141. The murder of Dauid Rice in the Queene of Scots sight Fol. 142. Murray is repealed Fol. 142. Earle Morton flyes into England Fol. 143. Dissention betweene the King and the Queene Fol. 144. Earle Bothwell and others murder the Queenes Husband ibid. Earle Bothwell commended to the Queene for her Husband ibid. Testimony of the murder of the Lord Darley Fol. 145. Earle Bothwell is freed of the murder of the King Fol. 147. Hee marries the Queene ibid. They conspire both against him and the Queene ibid. Earle Murray retyres into France Fol. 148. Earle Bothwell is expelled ibid. The Queene is imprisoned ibid. Queene ELIZABETH by Throckmorton complaynes thereof to the Confederates ibid. They consult what is to be done with the Queene-prisoner Fol. 149. Throckmorton defends the Queenes cause ibid. The Scots maintaine the contrary out of Buchanans reasons Fol. 150. They extort from their Queene a resignation of the gouernement Fol. 151. IAMES the Sixth consecrated and inaugurated King Fol. 152. Earle Murray returnes into Scotland ibid. Hee prescribes the Queene what shee should doe Fol. 153. Hee is established Regent or Vice-Roy ibid. Some of the Murderers of the King are put to death ibid. They acquit the Queene of all suspition Fol. 154. The Queene of England and the King of France labour to procure her libertie Fol. 154. Queene ELIZABETH demands the restitution of Calais ibid. The French maintaine how they ought not to doe it Fol. 155. Sir Thomas Smith's answer to the French Fol. 157. Anno M.D.LXVII THe Earle of Sussex is sent to the Emperour Fol. 160. The Earle of Leicester hinders it representing to the Queen all the discommodities that might happen if shee married a stranger ibid. Articles of the marriage propounded Fol. 162. Ambassadours sent from the Emperour of Muscouia Fol. 163. The English open the way to goe to Russia by sea Fol. 164. The Company of Muscouy Merchants instituted ibid. A secret message from the Emperour of Muscouie Fol. 165. The death of Nicholas Wotton and of the Duchesse of Norfolke ibid. Shan O-Neale raiseth troubles and rebelleth Fol. 166. Sir Henry Sidney armes against him and discomfits him Fol. 167. Shan re-assumes courage he vseth cruelty to his men Fol. 168. Hee meanes to yeeld ibid. Hee is slaine Fol. 169. Turlogh-Leinich proclaimed O-Neale by the Queens permission ibid. Hugon Nephew to Shan who was afterwards Baron of Dungannon receiued to grace for an opposite to Turlogh ibid. Troubles in Munster Fol. 170. Anno M.D.LXVIII THe Papists absolue many Fol. 171. The innouators shew themselues and procure vnto themselues thereby the odious style of Puritans Fol. 172. The second ciuill warre in France ibid. The Duke of Aniou commended to Queene ELIZABETH for a Husband Fol. 173. The English Ambassadour vsed disgracefully in Spaine ibid. Hawkins ill intreated by the Spaniardâ— in America ibid. The Queene of Scots escapes out of prison Fol. 174. Shee is vanquished ibid. Her Letter to Queene ELIZABETH Fol. 175. Shee writes againe Fol. 177. Queene ELIZABETH
Aimé Stuart Lord Aubigny into Scotland 393. Sir Nicholas Bacon Sir Thomas Bromley Sir Thomas Gresham dye one after another 396. Dauile murdered in his bed 398. The death of the Lord Druty Deputie 401. Anno M.D.LXXX ARthur Lord Gray made Deputie of Ireland 405. The Spaniards and Italians land in Ireland 406. They are all slaine and the subiects hanged 407. The taking of Malines And of an Earth-quake 409. The beginning of the English Seminaries 410. Persons and Campian Iesuites came into England 413. Sir Francis Drake returnes into England 417. Iohn Oxenham sayleth into America 419. Drakes voyage and warlike exploits 424. The Spaniards demand his riches 428. The death of Fitz-Allen Earle of Arundell 430. The Earle of Lenox enuyed by the Scots is accused by them to Queene ELIZABETH 432. Alexander Earle of Homes Baron of Dunglas is sent from King IAMES to excuse it 434. Regent Morton is cast into prison 435. The end of the Contents of the Second Booke THE CONTENTS Of this royall and famous HISTORY THE THIRD BOOKE RANDOLPHS intercession for Morton against Lenox Folio 1. The King of Scotts answer 2 Norris his victories in Freezland 4 Albanois 5 Drunkennesse brought out of the Low-countries ibid. By what right the King of Spaine possesseth Portugall ibid. The Qu. of France her title to Portugall reiected 6 Antonio banisht Portugall 7 Couenants of marriage betweene the Duke of Anjou and Q. Elizabeth concluded on 8 The K. of France vrgeth the marriage and the Q. of Engl. deferreth 10 Qu. Elizabeth giueth the Duke of Anjou a Ring 12 The queene much disquieted 13 Reasons disswading her from marriage and a booke set out against it 14 The Queens declaration against this pernicious libell 15 Champian the Iesuite and other Priests put to death 17 New lawes against Papists 18 The Duke of Anjou sayleth into Flanders 19 A Comet 21 Qu. Elizabeth bestoweth the Order of the Garter vpon the King of Denmarke 21 The treaty concerning the queene of Scotts is deferred 22 Gowry and others tumult in Scotland 23 The Duke of Lenox driuen out of Scotland ibid. An Ambassie from the French K. for the deliuery of the king of Scots 24 The qu. of Scotland's letter to queen Elizâ—beth 25 The Duke of Lenox returnes thorough England 33 Consultations about the deliuery of the queene of Scotland 34 The K. of Scotland seekes the loue of the queene of England 36 The King of Scotland sets himselfe at liberty 37 Walsingham is sent into Scotland from queene Elizabeth ibid. The king of Scots answers him freely 38 Walsinghams remonstrations to his sacred Maiesty ibid. The King answereth them 39 His Maiesty reestablâ—shed the reputation and honour of the Duke of Lenox causing likewâ—se his children to returne into Scotland 39 The Ministers of Scotland are against their Kings authority 40 A peace obtained for the King of Sweden ibid. The Emperour desires alliance with England and is a suiter to her Maiesty to graunt him an English Lady for his wife ibid. The Emperours death 41 A Polonian Nobleman commeth into England to see queene Elizabeth 42 A wonderfull earth-quake in Dorset-shire ibid. The death of Thomas Ratcliffe Earle of Essex 43 Sir Humfrey Gilbert drowned by shipwrack 44 The death of E. Grindall Archbish of Canterbury ibid. Iohn Whitgift preferred to bee Archbishop of Canterbury 45 The English betray Alost and do deliuer it into the hands of the cruell Spaniard 48 A miserable end of traytors ibid. The Earle of Desmond is slaine ibid. Nicholas Sanders an English Seminary Priest famisht himselfe 49 Viscount of Baltinglasse fled out of Ireland 50 Labouring men sent into Ireland 51 The gestures and behauiour of Sir Iohn Perrot Viceroy of Ireland ibid. Troubles in Scotland 52 The Earle of Gowry is taken the conspirators are dâ—spersed queene Elizabeth succoureth some of them the king demandeth them by the league but in vaine 53 Walsingham fauoureth the fugitiue Hunsdon against them 54 The power of a Secretary argued ibid. The arraignement of Gowry ibid. He is beheaded 55 The treason of Fr. Throkmorton 56 The Lo Paget retyreth into France ibid. The queenes clemency towards Papists 57 The Priests are banished 58 Spanish Ambassadour sent out of England 59 Thokmortons confession 61 A new treaty with the qu. of Scots 63 She answereth propositions made vnto her 64 She demandeth to be associated to the kingdome with her sonne 65 The queene of Scotts maketh new propositions 66 The Scotts of the English faction oppose them 67 The insolency of the Scottish Ministers 68 Buchanans writings reproued ibid. The Scottish and English make incursions one vpon another 69 Patrick Grayes Ambassage ib. The queen of Scotts committed to new guardians 72 Councell holden amongst the Papists 73 The death of the Earle of Westmerland ibid. The death of Plowden ib. Alancon dyeth and the Prince of Orenge is slaine 74 The French king inuested with the Order of the Garter 75 Is accused of treason 76 His confession 77 He consulteth with the Iesuites about the murdering of the queene ibid. He discloseth the matter to the queen 78 Alans booke addeth fresh courage to him 79 Neuill offereth him his helpe ibid. Parry is arraigned and executed 80 Lawes demanded in Parliament against Bishops and against Non-residents 81 Lawes against Iesuites and Priests 82 The Earle of Arundell resolueth to flye out of England 83 The Earle of Northumberland is found dead ibid. The causes of his imprisonment manifest 85 Lamentation for the Earle of Northumberland 87 Queene Elizabeth laboureth to contract a league with the Princes of Germany ibid. The like with the king of Scotts 88 Arâ—atâ—on of the death of Russell and the manner thereof ibid. The death of Thomas Carre 90 The fugitiue Scots are sent out of England back into Scotland ibid. They are reconciled vnto the King 92 The rebellion of the Bourkes in Ireland 93 The Sccots of Hebrides called into Ireland 94 The Gouernour laboureth for a peace but in vaine 95 He pursueth the Scotts and defeateth them 96 The States of the Netherlands consult of a Protector 97 They are refâ—sed of the French and the English consult about it 98 The Dutch offer themselues to the queene 100 Antwerpe is yeelded vp the queene deliberateth with her selfe and takes vpon her the protection 101 Vnder what conditions 102 Queene Elizabeth publisheth the causes and sends to the West Indies to diuert the Spaniard 103 Iames town taken from the Spaniard 104 Hispaniola or S. Dominick surprised ibid. Spaniards motto Auarice and Couetousnesse 105 Carthagena assaulted ibid. Saint Anthony and S. Helena fired by the English 106 Booty of the English voyage and expedition 107 A search made for a discouery of a way to the East Indies ibid. An Edict against Woad 108 Death of the Earle of Lâ—ncolne and of the Earle of Bedford 109 Earle of Leister sent into Holland ibid. His instruction 110 Absolute authority giuen to the Earle of Leyster by the States 111 Queen Elizabeth offended thereat
she expostulateth the matter 112 The States excuse themselues 113 Leister sendeth succour to the city of Graue it is yeelded and the Spaniard expelled 114 An aduentrous enterprise ibid. Venolo is lost 115 Axell is taken ibid. Graueline attempted ibid. Ausborough beleagred ibid. Sir Philip Sidney slaine 116 States of Holland complaine to Leyster 117 He returneth into England 118 Earle of Arundell questioned and answereth for himselfe ibid. King of Denmarke intercedeth for a peace with the queene of England ibid. Queene Elizabeth answereth 119 She furnisheth Henry king of Nauarr with money 120 Shee desireth a league with Scotland ibid. Iesuites and Popish Priests suggest diuerse things to the queene of Scots ibid. King of Scotland propoundeth conditions and is not a whit deterred by the French 121 King Iames answer to them 122 A conspiracy against queene Elizab. 129 How discouered 130 Ballard returneth into France ibid. Ballard sent back into England meeteth with Babingâ—on ibid. Babington receiueth letters from the queene of Scots 131 He writeth back to her and she answereth him 132 His associates in the conspiracy 133 Babington giueth to euery one his taske 134 They consult together 135 Babington vndertakes to bring in forreine ayde and sends Ballard to worke for him 136 Gifford discouereth all the conspiracy ibid. Sendeth the letters hee receiued to Walsingham 137 Ballard is taken ibid. Babington solliciteth for Ballards liberty and falleth into the same net ibid. Getteth himselfe out lyeth in a wood and is found 138 All the rest of the conspirators are discouered 139 Queene of Scots kept with a guard and separated from her seâ—uants ibid. Her coffer with letters sent to the qu. ibid. Giffard sent into France dyeth miserably 140 The traytors come to iudgement ibid. Queene of Scots Secretary examined 143 King of France aduertised ibid. Sundry opinions how to dispose of the Sccottish queene ibid. By what law she should be iudged â—44 Commission granted to that end 〈◊〉 Who met at Fotheringham Castle â—46 Her sudden answer to the letters ibid. She refuseth to be tryed 148 Exception against the new law 149 Sir Christopher Hatton perswadeth her to appeare 150 Her tergiuersation 151 She yeeldeth at last to appeare and answer 152 Manner of the sitting ibid. Lord Chancellors speech 153 Her protestation recorded ibid. Proceeding 154 She denieth the former allegation ib. Copies of letters shewed 155 Extracts out of Babingtons confession ibid. Shee is vrged with the confessions of Sauage and Ballard 156 Walsingham is blamed ibid. Maketh his Apologie 157 Pagets and Babingtons letters produced 158 Secretaries testimonies ibid Their credites questioned ibid. Arguing about transferring the kingdome 159 Giuing of a pension to Morgan excused 160 Queene of Scots offereth the Duke of Guise and her sonne pledges 161 Lord Burghley's answer 162 She interrupteth him but hee proceedeth 163 Letters shewed againe 164 She interrupteth their reading ibid. Her Secretaries not to be credited ib. She is accused againe for transferring the kingdome and accuseth her Secretaries of periury 165 Sir Thomas Egertons demonstration ibid. She craueth a hearing in open Parliament ibid Sentence pronounced against her 166 Declaration that the sentence against the queen of Scotl. was not preiudiciall to her sonne 167 The States approue the sentence ibid. Queene Elizabeth's answer 168 Some other remedy desired by the qu. 172 Answer to her ibid Her reply to them 173 Queene of Scotland is certified of her Iudgement 177 French Ambassadour stayeth the publishing of the sentence 178 Courage of the queene of Scots ibid. A request made to queene Elizabeth 179 Opinions of the queene of Scots cause 180 Queen of Scotlands sonne intercedeth for her 18â— Some Scots against her ibid. King of Scots propoundeth some thingâ— considerable 18â— Bellieures reasons for the queene of Scotland 18â— Answers to his reasons 28â— French Ambassador attempteth queen Elizabeth's life 192 Stafford discouereth it 193 French Ambassador rebuked 194 Whether an Ambassador be bound to discouer any attempt against the Prince to whom he is sent ibid. Businesse weighed 196 Courtiers perswade by reasons 197 The queene perplexed with doubtfull feares 199 She causeth a Warrant to be drawne for the execution ibid. Her Councell send secretly 200 The queene of Scotland prepares her selfe for death ibid. Her speech 201 She is brought to the scaffold 202 Her speeches to Meluine her steward 203 Also to the Earles ibid. In the behalfe of her owne seruants ibid. Her attendance by officers to the scaffold 204 Her prayers ibid. Her last words ibid. Deane of Petherboroughs speech 205 Her variety of fortunes related 206 Her Epitaph 207 Gods prouidence plainly seene in her death 208 Queene Elizabeth is much grieued at her death ibid. Is angry with her Councell ibid. Her letter to the King of Scotland 209 Dauison brought into the Star-chamber 210 He is obiected against ibid. He answereth for himselfe ibid. He is vrged vpon his owne confession 211 He is reproued by the queenes Sergeants 212 Iudges giue their opinion ibid He is chekt 213 Lord Gray defendeth him ibid. Earles agree with him 214 Sentence giuen against Dauison 215 A request made to the Commissioners ibid. Dauison his particular Apology ibid. Indignation of the Scots 217 Suggestions to the king 218 Drake sent into Spaine 221 Stanley and Yorke traytors 223 Leycester blamed 228 Death of Henry Neuill 234 Baron of Abergauenny 236 Of the Duchesse of Somerset 237 Of Radolph Sadleir 238 Of sir Thomas Bromley 240 Of the Earle of Rutland 241 Of sir Christopher Hatton Lo. Chancellour 242 William Fitz-William Deputy of Ireland 250 Great preparations in Spaine to inuade England and by what counsail 252 The reason 253 Consultation how to assault and subdue England 254 Preparation in Flanders 255 The Pope giues assistance 256 Consultation how to defend the kingdome 257 King of Scotlands alacrity against the Spaniard 258 Commissioners sent into Flanders to treat of peace 259 Propositions of the English answered 260 Complaint made vnto the Duke of Parma 262 Conference of peace breakes 263 The Spanish Armado 264 Sets forth and is dispersed ibid. Sets out againe 266 The English Nauy sets out 267 The first fight 268 Ability of the English Elect. 269 Peter Valdes taken 270 The Ship of Oquenda taken 271 Admirall of Englands prouidence 273 The third fight 275 Knights created for their valour by the Lord Admirall 276 Diuers Noblemen and Knights ioyne with the English Fleet. 277 Spanish Fleet at anchor ibid. Duke of Parma sent for by the Spaniard but he is vnprepared 278 Hollanders good seruice ibid. Spaniards flight 279 Hugh Moncada slaine 280 Fourth combate 281 The Spaniards resolue to return home by the North Sea 282 Queene Eliz. visites her Campe. 283 Conditions offered vnto the King of Scotts 284 Money coyned in memory of this famous victory ibid. Misery of the Spaniards in Ireland 285 Causes of the defeat ibid Patience of the Spaniard in this ouerthrow 286 A generall thankesgiuing and publick reioycing in England ibid.
with wisedome and kept by care was firme and lasting Now how by her Masculine care and counsell she surmounted her Sexe and what shee did most wisely in preuenting diuerting and powerfully resisting the attempts of her Enemies those that now liue and shall hereafter will bee able to iudge of what I shall drawe out and set forth of things if I may call them so in the Kingdomes owne memory At that time the Emperour and the Christian Princes interceding by continuall Letters that she would vse the Bishops which were retyred out of her Realme gently and suffer the Papists to haue Churches in Townes by the Protestants She answered that although the Bishops had in the sight of all the world against the Lawes and Peace of the Kingdome and obstinately reiected the same Doctrine which the most of them had vnder the Raigne of HENRY the Eighth and EDVVARD the Sixth propounded to others voluntarily and by publike writings that she would vse them meekely for those great Princes sakes notwithstanding shee could not doe it without offending her Subiects But to let them haue Churches by the others shee could not with the safety of the Common-wealth and without wounding of her Honour Conscience neither had shee reason to doe it seeing that England imbraced no new Religion nor any other then that which Iesus Christ hath commanded that the Primitiue and Catholike Church hath exercised and the ancient Fathers haue alwayes with one voice and one mind approued And to allow them to haue diuers Churches and diuers manners of seruice besides that it is directly oppugnant to the Lawes established by the authority of the Parliament it were to breede one Religion out of another and drawe the spirits of honest people into varieties to nourish the designes of the factious to trouble Religion and Common-wealth and to confound humane things with Diuine which would be ill in effect and worse in example pernicious to her Subiects and not assured at all to those to whō it should be allowed and aboue all at their request she was resolued to cure the particular insolency of some by winking at something neuerthelesse without fauouring in any sort the obstinacie of their spirits The Spaniard hauing lost all hope to marry her and beeing ready to marry the Daughter of France notwithstanding thinkes seriously of England nothing desirous that it should be ioyned to the Scepter of France and to retaine the dignity of so great a Kingdome in his House obtained of the Emperour Ferdinand his Vncle that he would seeke her to wife for his second Sonne which he as soone did by very louing Letters and followed it very carefully by Iasper Preimour a resolute Baron of the Countrey of Stibing The Spaniard himselfe to bring her to that promised her speciall affection and she of her side made him offer by Thomas Chaloner of her Ships and commodity of her Hauens for his Voyage for Spaine which he was about with all remarkable duties of Friendship The French on the other side casting an eye vpon England left the French Garrison in Scotland in fauour of the King Dolphin his sonne and Mary Queene of Scotland which hee had promised to take from thence vpon the agreement before mentioned and sent thither vnder-hand supplies sollicites the Pope of Rome more vehemently than euer to declare Queene ELIZABETH an Heretique and illegitimate and Queene Mary of Scotland legitimate of England and although the Spaniard and the Emperour hindered by their contrary and most strong practices though secretly by the Agents which they had at Rome neuerthelesse the Guizes carried their credulous ambition with such a flattering hope to ioyne Englands Scepter to France by the meanes of the Queene of Scots their neece that hee came so farre as to challenge it for his Sonne and for his Daughter in Law and commanded them in all their Royall Letters to take this Title Francis and Mary by the grace of God King and Queene of Scotland England and Ireland and to let the Armes of England be seene in all places causing them to be painted and grauen together with the French Armes in their moueables and vtensils in the walls of their houses in their Heralds coates of Armes notwithstanding any complaint that the English Ambassadour could make that it was a notorious wrong to Queene ELIZABETH with whom hee had newly contracted a friendship being manifest that hee had not done it during the reigne of Queene MARIE though she denounced warre against him Hee also leuied horse and foote in France and Germanie to goe to the Territories of Scotland neerest adioyning to England insomuch that Queene ELIZABETH had good cause to apprehend it seeing that he breathed nothing but after the bloud slaughter of the Protestants But these enterprizes were broken by his vnlooked-for death hapning at the Tilting which was for the recreation and solemnizing of the marrriages of his Daughter with the King of Spaine and of his Sister with the Duke of Sauoy And much to the purpose it fell out for Queene ELIZABETHS businesse whom hee resolued to set vpon with all his forces as well for being an heretique as also illegitimate on the one side by Scotland and on the other side by France Neuerthelesse to giue him royall honours after his death shee caused his funerall solemnities to be performed as to a King a friend with the greatest pompe in Saint Pauls Church in London and forthwith sent Ch. Howard Effinghams sonne now great Admirall of England and Ireland to condole with him for the death of his Father and to congratulate his succession to Francis his Sonne and Successour exhorting him to entertaine inuiolably the friendship which had lately beene begun But Francis and the Queene of Scotland his wife by the counsell of the Guizes who then had some power in France behaued himselfe publiquely as King of England and Ireland kept alwaies the English Armes which hee had vsurped and made shew of them more than euer and N. Throgmorton ordinary Ambassadour a wise but a hote man complained to them of this They first answere him that the Queene of Scotland had right to carry those Armes with a barre to shew the proximity of bloud which shee had with the royall Race of England After when he had maintained that by the Law which they call the Law of Armes it is not permitted to any to take the Armes and Markes of any House vnlesse hee be descended of some of the Heires of it obseruing to tell him that shee carried them not but to cause the Queene of England to leaue those of France But hauing vpon that put them in minde how D. Wotton had afore-time treated at Cambray how twelue Kings of England had carried the Armes of France and by a right so seldome called in question that by any of the treaties which were made betweene the English and the French nothing had beene resolued to the contrary hee gained in the end
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
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
to consider amongst your selues whether hee is to be holden guilty or no and to giue vp your verdicts according to conscience and honour They likewise withdrawing themselues at his command consulted together after a while they returned to their places Then the Lord High Steward beginning at the lowest said Lord De la Ware Is Thomas Duke of Norfolke guiltie of the crimes of Laesae Maiestatis for which he is heere arraigned at the Iudgement-Seate De-la-Ware rising vp and laying his hand on his brest hee answered Guilty the like did euery one in order being demanded Then was the Duke againe brought before the Tribunall to whom the Lord High-Steward in this manner spake THomas Duke of Norfolke you are heere arraigned for diuers crimes of Laesae Maiestatis and haue submitted your selfe to God and these Peeres by euery one of whom you are pronounced guiltie Is there now any cause why Iudgement should not be pronounced The Duke answered The will of GOD be done that will be iudge betweene mee and my false accusers Then euery man being silent the edge of the Axe was turned towards the Duke and Barham in the Queenes name required the Lord High-Steward to pronounce his Iudgement which hee with teares in his eyes according to the forme pronounced in these words FOrasmuch as you Thomas Duke of Norfolke beeing accused of the crimes of Laesae Maiestatis haue pleaded Not guiltie and submitted your selfe to the Iudgement of these Peeres who declared you guiltie The whole Assembly adiudged you to be committed back to the Tower from thence to be drawne vpon a Sledde thorow the Citie to the place of execution there to be hanged and cut downe halfe dead then to haue your Bowels taken out your Head cut off and your Body quartered into foure parts whose Head shall be at her Maiesties disposing and at the Queenes pleasure But GOD bee mercifull vnto your Soule The Duke hauing heard this Sentence with a minde full of courage he said THis Sentence is pronounced against mee as a Traytor my confidence is in GOD and the Queene hoping that if I bee depriued of your company I shall reioyce with them in Heauen and so will prepare my selfe for my death I desire no other thing but that the Queene would shew her selfe propitious to my Children and Seruants and bee carefull for the payment of my debts These were the particulars that passed in these affaires which I haue here declared because it is expedient for our posterity that in great matters the lesse occurrences should be remembred A few dayes after Barney and Marter were put to death for hauing conspired against the death of certaine of her Maiesties Councell and plotted the freedome and libertie of the Duke One Herle was priuy thereunto and of the same company but hee soone reuealed the same and as hee was brought face to face before Barney Truely said Barney thou hast preuented mee but of an houre for if thou hadst not so soone discouered it I purposed to haue done it and so now should I be in thy place to accuse thee and thou in mine to be hanged This conspiration and other plots which were practised to set the prisoners at liberty was the cause that a Parliament was forthwith summoned At which time the Queene created Walter d' Eureux Earle of Essex for that by his great Grand-mother hee was descended from the Bourchiers sometimes Earles of Essex And Edward Lord Clinton who had large possessions in Lincolneshire Earle of Lincolne Her Maiestie likewise made Iohn Pawlet of Basing Sonne to the Lord Marquis of Winchester Henrie Compton Henrie Cheyney and Henrie Norrice Peeres of England summoned them into the Vpper-House there to haue their voyces and after to beare the Title of Barons Amongst other Acts it was made Felony to intercept ruinate or burne any of her Maiesties Ships Fortresses or Harbours Item It was enacted that whosoeuer should attempt to set at liberty any person or persons committed by her Maiesties expresse command or which had trespassed against her Maiestie or was held suspected to haue offended if the partie were not indicted he was to be punished with onely losse of goods in stead of life and imprisonment during her Maiesties pleasure if indicted with death if condemned to be held guilty of treason But as necessitie brought in Decrees for the time so the States thought good they should be temporary or during the Queenes life But as new practices were daily discouered so they serued to hasten on the Dukes punishment which notwithstanding was yet deferred some fiue moneths more or lesse nor before could either the Lower-House of Parliament the Lords of the Priuy-Councell or the importunacy of Preachers aggrauating how great and eminent danger there was ouercome her Maiesties mercifull clemency The fourth day of Iune by eight a clocke in the forenoone the Duke was brought to a Scaffold built vpon the Tower-Hill whereupon being mounted and Alexander Nowell Deane of Saint Pauls who was appointed his Comforter had requested the confused People to be silent he said among many other words that I heard these IT is not strange to see some suffer death in this place although that since her Royall Maiestie began to reigne I am the first and I pray God I may be the last with that the People cried all aloud Amen Then continuing his Speech he said I know well said hee the Peeres of the Realme haue iustly iudged mee worthy to dye nor haue I purpose to excuse my selfe I haue treated I freely confesse in matters of great importance with the Queene of Scots without the priuity of my Soueraigne which I ought not to haue done and for that I was first committed and hauing had my libertie vpon my humble submission I past my faithfull promise that I would neuer more conferre with her yet I did I confesse which torments my Conscience but I neither promised nor swore as they say at the Lords Table I went and but once to Ridolfe but with no intent of conspiracie against her Maiestie For it is well knowne that I had great dealings with him vpon my accounts and reckonings I found he enuied the present peace of the Land and was very subtill in plotting proiects of mischiefe Twice there came Letters to my hands from the Bishop of Rome to which I neuer gaue consent nor to the Rebellion in the North. I renounced Papistrie after I tasted the sweete of Religion and reiecting the Popes doctrine I embraced the true Religion of Iesus Christ beleeuing wholy and soly in his precious bloud my Sauiour and Redeemer yet I cannot deny but many of my Family and familiars were addicted to the Romish Religion wherein if I haue offended GOD the Church and Protestants I beseech him and them to forgiue mee Then after they had sung a Psalme or two he said with a lowd voyce Into thy hands O Lord I commend my spirit Then imbracing Henry
had been intercepted at Blacknesh and should haue sent more had not the long Siege of Rochell hindred it Not being able then to draw them to any conditions of Peace neither by money which the Vice-Roy promised them nor by the perswasions of Queen ELIZABETH but they defended the Castle against the Vice-Roy molested the Towne of Edenborrough being the Seate of Iustice with Cannon-shot by issuing violently out and assaulting them euery day and would call for the ayde of France Queene ELIZABETH who by no meanes could endure the French to be in Scotland at length granted the requests of the Vice-Roy which were for Troupes Cannon and other warlike Munitions for the besieging and battering of the Castle vpon these conditions THe Vice-Roy shall not make any composition with the besieged without the aduice of the Generall of the English nor the English Generall without his and of those of the Kings Councell If the Castle fall into the hands of the English it shall bee within 6. dayes after deliuered to the King with all the Munitions of Warre Vtensils Memorials Euidences and Records belonging to the King or Kingdome the rest left to the besiegers The English shall not fortifie any place in Scotland but with the consent of the Vice-Roy and the Peeres The Vice-Roy shall lend the English such assistance and safe conduct as hee could possibly The Castle being taken the besieged shall be kept to haue iustice executed vpon them according to the Lawes the Queene of England beeing therevpon consulted with before hand If any English be kild their wiues and Children shall haue two yeeres pay If wounded they shall haue pay till they bee cured If any English Cannons be lost and the Powder and Shot bee wasted they shall haue Munition Royall in their stead which shall bee found in the Castle or else the Rebels goods Ten Hostages shall be sent into England for assurance of the Troupes and Ordnance which are to bee brought backe except such as are lost by the hazzard of Warre Vpon these Conditions William Drury Gouernour of Barwicke went into Scotland with some Peeces for battery and fifteene hundred Souldiers among which were G. Carey Henry Carey T. Cecill Hen. Lea W. Knollis Sutton Cotton Kelway and other Gentlemen Voluntaries And beeing ioyned with the auxiliary forces of Scotland besieged the Castle after hauing twice commanded them in the Kings name that they should render it vp but in vaine First they raised vp fiue Mounts from whence for the space of foure daies together they furiously beat against the Tower but especially vpon Dauids Tower which fell within a few dayes after After hauing giuen the assault they tooke the Bastion or Spurre till those which at the same made against them out of the Castle were repulsed with losse of men The morrow after the besieged hauing giuen the signe asked to speake to Drury and after they had receiued for hostages into the Castle Henry Lea and Fleck a Scottish-man they let downe by cords Kircald himselfe and Meluin who demanded life and goods that it might be permitted that Hume and Lidington might depart for England because of some particular enmities and Kircald to remaine in Scotland except he might depart with good license That not being granted them but onely the Souldiers permitted to goe out with their simple baggage and without Armes wanting men disagreeing amongst themselues wounded toyled and wearied with watching and labouring without hope of succour hauing no water because one of the wells which were within the Castle had beene filled vp with the ruines of a dry wall and the other was exposed to the shot of the Cannon within three daies after they yeelded which was the 33. day after the beginning of the Siege to the discretion of the Queene of England and Drury who after he had receiued Letters out of England deliuered vp the Castle to the Vice-Roy for the vse of the King with all that had yeelded themselues to him of which Kircald Iames his brother Mosman and Cock gold-smiths who had coined false money in the Castle were hanged although to buy Kircalds life an hundred of the House of the Kircalds had offered to be bound to doe perpetuall homage to the Vice-Roy and pay him three thousand markes of annuall rent and the first day twenty thousand pounds Scottish money and to giue sureties that for the time to come they should remaine faithfull and obedient to the King Hume and others being dispersed into diuers Castles obtained pardon of Queene ELIZABETH who got great praise by it for her clemency Lidington hauing beene sent to Lieth dyed of sicknesse not without suspition of beeing poysoned He was a person of great experience and of a neate spirit if he had bin lesse changeable as Buchanan who hated him painted him out in his life time by a certaine Writing which he intituled The Cameleon by which he represented him to be more changeable then the Cameleon and taxed him very sharpely to bee an enemy of diuers colours to the Kings Grandmother the Kings mother to the Earle of Murray to the King himselfe and to the Countrie Since that time Scotland hath beene free from Ciuill-Warre and aswell the Captaines of that side as the common-Souldiers carrying their courages to the wars of Sueden France and Flanders brought backe this great commendation of Vertuous and valorous Warriours To assure England from inbred enterprises in regard of the Queene of Scots Iohn Lesley Bishop of Rosse a faithfull seruant to her but not without the vndoing of many and of bringing no few in danger is commanded out of England and went into France but not without feare of the Earle of Southampton whose life he had called in question and likewise of Henrie Howard brother to the Duke of Norfolke whose anger to appease he writ an Apologie for himselfe Hee was scarce departed thence vntill Henrie Cockin his Secretary was apprehended and Morgan who was exceeding desirous to serue the Queene of Scots in her most secret affaires was detected and fled Atslow an Arch-papist Good a Doctor of Phisicke and Francis Berty who priuately intelligenced her by Letters were imprisoned for certaine moneths and for the same cause Henrie Goodyere and Richard Lowder were had in suspition In the meane time Rosse failed not to imploy all such dutifull endeuours for the Queene of Scots as a faithfull Subiect was obliged to doe towards the Pope the Emperour the King of France the Papists Princes of Germany all which gaue him hope but did nothing That this should fall out so ill hee complained exceedingly especially that the Duke of Alua in whom his greatest trust was planted was to leaue Flanders hauing obtained leaue vnder colour to recouer his health For without doubt he aduanced his victories so fast that he had reduced almost all Holland into his power Spaine called him away by the perswasion of Cardinall Granuellan and Roderico Gomezio de
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
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
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
in them lay to be in hatred within the Kingdome and accused him to Qu. ELIZABETH to be sent by the Guizes to ouerthrow Religion to procure the liberty of the captiue Queene and to disunite the amitie which was between the Kingdomes of England and Scotland They are easily beleeued and notwithstanding that he purged himselfe by Letters to the Queene and made profession of the Protestants Religion serious deliberation is hereupon taken in England The Councell of England was afraid that he would oppresse those Scots that stood best affected to the English and fauour the incursions which were made vpon the Borders and allure the King to marry in France or else-where vnknowne to the English and that the King now in his youth would molest the affaires of England and beeing come to more maturitie of age would assume the title of King of England as his Mother had done Which if he did the danger would fall more heauily from him than from his Mother in regard his birth gaue him an assured hope of two Kingdomes and gaine more friends to fauour his cause and that the Scots trayned vp in the ciuill warres and the warres of the Low-Countries were more expert to learne warlike offices Therefore from hence it is thought good by some meanes or other to infringe the fauour and authoritie that Lenox had with the King or to driue him out of Scotland and that without delay because rumours were giuen out that Balfour was sent for out of France who had found I know not what Writing of his owne hand to conuince him of the Murder of the Kings Father to ruine Morton and that he had for no other end obtained the gouernement of the Castle of Dunbriton but to set in stranger-forces into Britaine or to transport the King into France It was likewise said that he had perswaded the King to resigne the Kingdome to his Mother who had beene vniustly and by a most wicked example deposed by her Subiects after hauing taken her faithfull promise to resigne it by and by after vnto him againe by a lawfull resignation which would be a solid confirmation to him and a meanes to extinguish all factions and make him knowne to all to be lawfull King After this Sir Robert Bowes Treasurer of Barwicke is sent into Scotland to accuse Lenox of these things before the King and his Councell and to aduertise the King of the eminent dangers thereof As soone as hee had beene admitted hee demanded that Lenox might for a while be remoued from that place but the Councell would not agree vnto it as being a thing new and vnheard of to cause one of the Kings Councell to be put out from the Councell without shewing cause Also they made a doubt whether or no the Queene had giuen him that in charge expresly and therefore willed him to shew his instructions which he refused to doe saue to the King and to one or two others And seeing that he could not be heard hee was presently called backe and tooke leaue of the King when it was little thought on complayning that the wholesome admonitions of a well-deseruing Queene were reiected Shortly after Alexander Hume is sent from Scotland to excuse these matters hee had not admittance to the Queene but was sent to the Lord Burghley Treasurer who grauely and succinctly gaue him to vnderstand THat it was not any contempt of his person that was cause why the Queene would not permit him to see her knowing very well by experience that he was well affected to Religion to his Prince and Countrie and most studious for the peace of both the Kingdomes but out of a iust sence and sorrow for the contempt which was shewed towards her Maiestie and of the trust of her Ambassadour who had contained himselfe within the prescribed bounds of his Legation Layes all the blame vpon the new and ill-aduised Councellors excuseth the King as not being of age to haue much experience and wished him to lend an eare to the holy and wholesome counsels of the Queene who truely bare him a maternall affection and not to make lesse account of them than of those from a French kinsman the King of France his subiect who laboured to marry him to a French woman of the Romish Religion and peraduenture goes about now the Hamiltons exulting to be designed the Kings Lieutenant Let the King saith he remember that no passion is more feruent than ambition and let the Scots remember what troubles the French had caused in ScotlaÌ„d if the Queen by her wisdome and power had not preuented it So Hume was sent backe into Scotland and all of purpose to strike terrour into the King and to make him beleeue that the Earle of Lenox had some pernicious designe against him and the Kingdome Neuerthelesse within a while after Morton who was most addicted to the English was accused by Arran Laesa Maiestatis and cast into prison The end of the second Booke of the Annals and History of that mightie Empresse Queene ELIZABETH of most happy and blessed memory THE HISTORIE OF THE MOST HIGH MIGHTY AND Euer-glorious Empresse ELIZABETH Inuincible Queene of England Ireland c. True Defendresse of the Faith of immortall Renowne and neuer-dying Fame and Memory OR ANNALLES OF ALL SVCH REMARKable things as happened during her blest Raigne ouer her Kingdomes of England and Ireland as also such Acts as past betwixt her MAIESTY and Scotland France Spaine Italy Germany and the Netherlands The third Booke Fâ—â—thfully translated out of the French and â—â—â—â—isht in English with the KINGS leaue and Authority granted by his most Excellent Maiestie to ABRAHAM DARCIE To the euery way Noble and accomplished with all vertues Sir EDVVARD CONVVAY the Kings Secretary of State Sir WILLIAM HARVEY Lord HARVEY Baron of Rosse Sir ORACE VERE Sir ARTHVR THROCKMORTON Sir ROBERT MAVNCELL Sir FRANCIS POPHAM Sir WILLIAM MOVNSON Sir RICHARD WESTON The Right vertuous generous Sir THOMAS HATTON AND CHRISTOPHER HATTON Sir CARIE RAVVLEIGH EDVVARD WRAY Esquire I Here presume to consecrate to your perpetuall Honour this Booke which vnder the Honourable Shield of your Noble protections I haue sought to shelter knowing the Fame of this Heroicke Empresse to be no lesse deare vnto you then your Illustrious Persons are carefull to propagate to all Posterities your cleere and vntainted Names which by your pious liues and religious conuersations you haue engrauen in the Temple of Eternity your vertues cannot but cherish this History which containes the life of so matchlesse a Queene whose Diuine perfection the whole world admired as one who was the perfect Patterne of Princesses and the true Mirour Honour of Virgin-kinde I confesse many far better able then I a Stranger could haue discharged this Enterprise with far more skill and both in smoother and more elegant termes if they had beene willing to honour their Labours and Industries with so rare
and worthy a Subiect But howsoeuer I was willing the best I was able to pay this my humble Duty to Her blessed Memory and to your Honorable selues by my poore endeuours to make knowne the desire I haue to intitle my selfe A true denoted to your resplendent vertues ABRAHAM DARCIE THE HISTORIE OF THAT EVER Most blessed and Glorious Empresse Queene ELIZABETH of happy renowne and matchlesse Fame OR ANNALLS Of all such things of note as hapned during her happy Reigne as well in England France Ireland as Scotland Spaine Italy Germany and the Netherlands The third Booke and the foure and twentieth yeere of her Raigne Anno MDLXXXI HEreupon in the beginning of Ianuarie next was Thomas Randolph Captaine of the Light-horse sent into Scotland with cōmand that he should attempt nothing that might any way bee preiudiciall to the present religion or the peace of the two Nations he was also to sollicite in the behalfe of the Lord Morton that Lenox might be sent out of Scotland and such of the Nobility as fauoured the English faction might bee encouraged Randolph the better to effectuate his message for the good of Morton maketh recitall of his many great merits and good services done to his Maiesty the inueterate malice of his aduersaries the high respect and honor they ought to haue of Queene ELIZABETH who expected nothing lesse then to haue her suit now reiected in so honest a cause The King answered that by the duty of his royall charge hee was to execute iudgment and iustice vpon a person so conuicted in matter of Maiesty that he ingeniously acknowledged the Queenes manifold fauours nor would hee act any thing might any way bee iustly offensiue to her Maiestie Then after Randolph being admitted into the Assembly of the States of the Kingdome reckoneth vp the well knowne benefits which both the King and Country had earst receiued from the Queene namely HOW by the blood of the English their Country had beene deliuered from the French and of their King his Kingdome and Religion she had euer been a chiefe supporter but for any way seducing the King although some but most falsly did intimate so much or seeking to hold one foot of ground in Scotland shee neuer entertained such a thought yet were they not ignorant that she wanted not opportunity the King being in his cradle the Queene-mother in Prison and the Nobles in combustion But on the contrary all her royall care was for the conseruation of their King her neere and deare kinsman and allyed to her in a triple bond of neigborhood religion and consanguinity nor had shee euer found him or any of his Regents or Vice-Roies defectiue towards her in their loues before this Aubigny of France came into Scotland but since his ariuall hee wholly vsurped the Regall authority hee had withdrawne all affection from the English to bestow it vpon the French who before his ariuall neuer somuch as acknowledged their King had remoued from his person his most trusty friends brought in strangers had conferred with foraigners by letters which he shew'd for inuading England that he had brought the Scotish Presbytery into contempt with the King as a people altogether turbulent seditious had peruerted the administration of iustice vpon the borders Nor could her Maiesty endure a Prince so vertuous so neerely allyed vnto her to bee thus abused and caried away by such sinister practices Notwithstanding this for the present there was nothing done either for Morton or against Lenox whom the Scots for the most part supposed no way guilty of such aspersions or calumnies as had beene obiected Randolph seeing that thought hee would try another conclusion consorts himselfe with the friends of Morton and Lenox aduersaries bewaileth the miserable estate of Scotland representeth to them the imminent perills which hang ouer the heads of the King the Country and them all complaineth that the Queens message by way of intercessiō hath beene slieghtly respected suggesteth with them secretly to attempt to gaine that by force of Armes which they cannot get by faire meanes promising to further and furnish them out of England with men money and munition This Oratory of his proued so perswasible with them that thereupon the Earles of Argathel Mont-Rosse Angus Mortons Nephew by the brotherside Glencarne Reuthen Lindsey others became all of his side But soone after they fell at discord amongst themselues and seeing the King wholly caried away with the fauour of Lenox nor no whit danted for the English forces which were now vpon the borders and had already encountred theirs generally respecting the kings personall presence with them though a child were not affraid to bend all the powers they could make vpon Lenox and thought it was enough to haue pity on Morton notwithstanding the Earles of Angus and Marre practised couertly and cunningly with Randolph in the behalfe of Morton and against Lenox whereof Whittingham hauing aduertised the King Angus was commanded to retire himselfe beyond the riuer Spea Marre to yeeld vp the Castle of Sterlin into the Kings hands Randolph hauing an apprehension of feare got him priuately into Barwicke and seeing matters proue desperate aduiseth Angus Marre to prouide for themselues either in submitting themselues to the King or to seeke the protection of the Queene of England The English forces were no sooner withdrawne from the borders but Morton conuicted of murthering the King had his head cut off for he had confessed as the report went that Bothwel Archebauld Douglas had imparted their intent of making away the King but in so tumultuous a time as that was hee durst not reueale it Nor could hee deny but that since the Kings death hee had beene very inwardly conuersant and more familiar then before with Douglas the Kings murtherer and had promised by his letters if Bothwel should at any time be accused to defend him the best he might Instantly Douglas and others the friends of Morton fled into England In the Low-Countries against the Graue Van Reneberg who had there valiantly serued the King of Spaine and now laid siege to Stenwicke in Friezland the States sent the English vnder the conduct of their General Norris who with no lesse courage then good successe after he had twice releeued the besieged with victuals caused the Enemy to raise his siege But after that comming to fight with Verdugues the Spaniard hauing the victory in his hands his enemies put to flight suddenly fortune changing he is beaten off the field dangerously wounded and many of his men slaine amongst which not to nominate the rest were these men o◠note Captain Cotton Fitz-Williams and Bishop I know not well whether I should here recite a Combate which was betweene Thomas Chieftaine of the Wallons and Generall Norris but Norris by the Law militarie being not permitted to admit of because he was Generall of the Armie his Lieutenant Roger Fitz-Williams
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
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
to the Queene of Scots and the King her sonne was twice depriued of his goods and driuen from his Countrey and the fight of his children yet hee patiently supported his banishment remaining constant against all aduersities and bearing himselfe euer like himselfe Whilest the question of this murther was deferred and a gentle disputation raised whether the twelue thousand Crownes pension offered to the King were to bee accounted according to the English or the French account the Queene being much incensed for the death of Russel and the violation of the safety and being perswaded by some Scotchmen which enuyed Arran that hee was a fauourer of the Iesuites and that hee strongly laboured in France and Scotland to hinder the League that it might not be contracted shee gaue permission to the fugitiue Scots as Angus with Iohn and Claudius Hamilton Marre and Glan which were reconciled to him in their common exile and to the rest that liued banisht in England to returne into Scotland well furnished with money to worke the ruine of Arran The Earle of Bothwell and the Lord of Humey Humey Coldingknoll and others in Scotland had before promised them aide and aboue all Maxwell lately created Earle of Morton out of a certaine hope he had to shunne the penalty of the rebellion which he had raised in the Country of Annand if the Earle of Arran were once subuerted In the very Court also were Patrick Gray his bitter enemy Belenden a a Iustice of the Church and Maitland Secretarie drawne into parties against Arran The fugitiues being entred into Scotland they commanded all persons by a long Proclamation in the Kings name to giue them assistance for the defence of the Euangelicall truth to free the King from mischieuous Counsellors and to conserue loue and friendship with the English they appointed the place for their assembly at Fawkirk where they mustered 8000 men Arran who for suspition of the death of Russell was by the King commanded to keepe within Keneil hearing of these things he hastily retired to the King and accused Gray as the author of these enterprises Gray ingeniously excused himselfe in presence of the King But whilest Arran maketh great preparations for the defence of the towne the enemies appeared in readinesse to scale the walles He certainly knowing that they sought nothing but his head onely and suspecting the fidelitie of his men for hee was hated of most he secretly withdrew himselfe by the bridge the rest all abandoning the towne betooke themselues to the Castle with the King The fugitiues straight possest themselues of the Market-place and then besieged the Castle The King demanded by his Messenger Gray the cause of their comming they answered To submit our selues to the King and humbly to kisse his Highnesse hand He offered to restore to them all their goods if they would retire But they replyed that they made no esteeme of their goods in comparison of the Kings gracious fauour desiring him to admit them to his royall presence the King consented but vpon these conditions That they should not attempt any thing either against his Maiesties Person or their lines whom he should nominate and that they should not bring in any innouation into the gouernment of the Kingdome They vowed their liues for the safety of their Prince protesting that they conceited not so much as a thought of bringing in of Nouelties But they desired for their better assurance that their aduersaries might be deliuered into their hands with the fortified places of the Realme Of this matter they consulted the whole day but necessitie compelling by reason of the multitude wherewith the Castle was full stuffed and the want of prouision they were at last admitted to the King And forthwith the Earles of Montrosh of Crawford and of Rothese the Colonell Stuart Downi the brother of the Earle of Arran and others were deliuered into their hands the Earle of Arran was publiquely accused to haue conspired against the estate and as for themselues the King indulgently pardoned them as good and well-deseruing subiects Hamilton Arbroth was established Gouernor of Dunbriton Coldingknol of the Castle of Edenborough Angus of Tomtall Marre of Sterlin and Glan Captaine of the Kings guards After this hauing by their faithfull duty remoued out of the Kings opinion all such crimes wherewith their enemies had burdened them and all suspitions which they had raised of them by a generall Amnistie all banishments proscriptions which had for what cause so euer been adiudged and ordained since the Coronation of the King were abolished excepting only those which had relation to the murder of the Kings father such as were adiudged against the Archbishop of Glasco the Bishop of Rosse and of Dunblan And with a common most constant consent of their minds the Soueraigne Authority of the King in contracting of a league with the Queen of England and deputing of Ambassadors was confirmed vnto him Onely Maxwell abused this singular clemency of the King For hauing obtained by the benefit of the Amnistie free Pardon for the cruell slaughter and Pillage committed vpon the Iohnstons yet such vvas his audacious pride that contemning the authoritie of the Lawes he commanded the sacrifice of the Masse to be celebrated at Dunfrise which of nineteene yeares before had not been permitted in Scotland For which deed hee was punished with three moneths imprisonment Neither was in these turbulent times Ireland next adioyning free from the tempests of rebellion For when the rest of the Prouinces of that Isle were setled in a profound peace a great rebellion broke forth in Connach the west part of Ireland proceeding of the naturall disposition of that nation impatient of rest and quiet and also of the hate which they conceiued against Rich. Bingham their Gouernor complaining that his Commands were sharpe and bitter The Gouernour seeing the great and powerfull men of Ireland exercise such grieuous tyranny vpon the poore miserable peoples forcing them to acknowledge no other Prince then them he omitted no meanes to restaine them and confirme the royal authority although he was often for the same odiously accused of cruelty to the Queene and Deputy Thomas Roe-Bourk of the most noble family of Bourg in England was the first that opposed himself being sent for to the lawful assembly in the County of Maie he refused to come The Gouernor for a time dissembled seeming not to make account thereof but presently after he commanded him and two others turbulent spirits of the same house to be apprehended lest they should breake out into a more dangerous rebellion Thomas was slaine in fight ere he could be intercepted Meiler and Theobald the other two were taken and hanged and thus had the whole rebellion beene at the beginning compressed had not certaine English enemies to the Gouernor aduertised the rest of that family prouidently to beware of the Gouernor and by any meanes not to come neere him They
what a woman shee is for whose well-fare you haue been so circumspect Certainly I doe well and with gratitude of heart call your vigilant care to minde but neuer shall be able to giue you condigne thankes although I should liue as long as euery one of you So soone as I receiued the Scepter being not vnmindfull of God who gaue me his grace I begun my Raigne in his seruice and the Religion wherein I was borne and haue beene brought vp and I hope shall die And although I am not ignorant how many ieopardies haue encompassed Mee at home and how great Princes for changing Religion haue enuied Me abroad yet haue I not beene moued thereat For I know that God whom alone I respect will defend both Mee and My cause From thence haue sprung vp against Me so many attempts and conspiracies that I wonder I liue but God hath alwaies beene my succour and support and sent me aide beyond My expectation Since that to proue My selfe a Proficient in the Art of Raigning I haue of long time bethought Mee what things were fitting for Kings and haue found that nothing is more necessary than to be plentifully furnished with the predominant Vertues of Iustice Temperance Wisedome and Fortitude For the two last which appertaine more properly to men My sexe permits Me not to attribute them to my self but as for the two precedent and the more mild I dare say without glorying I haue with indifferency conioyned the highest with the lowest I haue not preferred any vnworthily Mine eares haue not beene too credulous nor haue I before I heard the cause past my iudgement rashly yet I will not say but many things perhaps haue bin brought by report to me by som too partially affected to the Parties For the good and wary Prince is often sold for that hee cannot heare euery Cause My iudgement the best it could hath euermore inclined to the Truth as he which admonished his Friend to make no answer before he had repeated the Alphabet so haue I done nothing vnaduisedly As concerning therefore your Counsels Consultations I acknowledge them so elaborate prudent and prouident for My conseruation issued from hearts so sincere and so well-affected to My seruice that it is My part to endeuour with all My power not to be vnthankfull to men of so great demerit But as concerning your demand I intreat and charge you to hold you content with an Answer without Answer I commend your Iudgements and apprehend the reasons thereof But excuse Me I pray for that doubtfull perplexitie of thought which troubleth Me. Let the most gracious affection which I beare you be acceptable and pleasing to you and withall this Answer if so be you esteeme it an Answer If I say I will not do your demand perhaps I shall say more than I thinke If that I will I whom you would so gladly preserue shall runne headlong vpon mine owne destruction And I thinke such is your wisdome you would not that if you obserue seriously the times and manners of persons After this the Parliament was prorogued At that time were sent to the Queene of Scotland the Lord Buckhurst and Beal to certifie her that Iudgement was giuen against her and that it was approued most iust by Authoritie of Parliament and that the States had demanded the execution thereof for Iustice Securitie and Necessitie And therefore they perswaded her that after she had acknowledged her offences to God Queen Elizabeth she should satisfie therefore by repentance before she dyed and to shew that if she liued the Religion receiued in England could not stand At which she seemed to triumph with extraordinary cheerefulnesse giuing thankes to God and reioycing that she was held to be a worthy Instrument for the re-establishing of her Religion in this Iland Shee did with great feruour and affection desire a Catholike Priest to direct her Conscience and to administer the Sacraments refusing vpon the first motion the Bishop and the Deane which they recommended to her to that end And she greatly blamed the English Nation saying often The English haue many times murdered their Kings it is no strange thing if they do the like to me who am deriued of their Royall blood L'Aubespine the Ambassadour of France stayed the publishing of this Sentence yet by suite and soliciting of some Courtiers it was published in the Month of December with the sound of a Trumpet thorow the Citie of London in the presence of the Maior the Sherifes and certaine selected Citizens And Queene Elizabeth protested seriously in the Preface of this publication that she had beene drawne to it with great griefe of heart by a certaine necessitie and the earnest request of the States of the Kingdome Notwithstanding there were some that thought it was done by a certaine familiar policie incident to women who seeme to doe by compulsion the thing they most desire The publishing of this Sentence of death being declared to the Q. of Scotland she was so far from fainting in courage or seeming disanimated that with alacritie casting vp her eies hands towards heauen she thanked God for it getting leaue of her keeper Sir Ayme Poulet she wrote to Q. Eliza. That She putteth off all malice of minde towards her giueth thankes to God for this Condemnation seeing it was his good pleasure to adde an end to the irkesome pilgrimage which she had in this life and desired her for that shee could not expect any good from some hot-spirited Nouators which held the chiefest ranke in England that she might be beholden to her alone and no other for the benefits following First that when her Aduersaries were glutted in her innocent blood her Body might be carried from thence by her owne seruants to some sacred and hallowed ground there to be buried and aboue all into France where her Mother lyeth in rest seeing that in Scotland they had offered violence to the dead bodies of her Ancestors profaned or ruinated the Churches and in England she could not hope for any buriall according to the Catholike solemnities amongst the ancient Kings both their Ancestors And so her Body that neuer had rest so long as it liued with her Soule may haue some at last after it is parted from it Secondly for that she feared the close tyrannie of some she may not suffer her punishment vnknowne to the Queene of England in some secret place but in the sight of her seruants and other people which may truly beare witnesse of the Faith which she shewed in Christ of her obedience to the Church and of the end of her life against the false rumors which her Aduersaries may bruit abroad Thirdly that her seruants may be suffered peaceably to depart whither they will and to enioy the goods she had bequeathed them by her Will. Shee beseeched her in the name of Iesus Christ to grant her these things and combined her thereto by their alliance in
that blood cryeth for blood and to be seuere vpon her cannot but seeme a thing cruell and bloody That the K. of France would endeuour seriously to dissolue the designes of those which conspired against Queen Elizabeth and that the Guises the Queen of Scotland's kinsmen should swear and subscribe to do the same who would take it very grieuously if she were put to death and perhaps would not suffer it vnreuenged Finally they required she should not be handled with such rigorous and extraordinary iudgement for if shee were the King of France could not but take it as a most grieuous offence howsoeuer the other Princes tooke it To euery one of these Articles answer was made in the Margent That the Queene of England hoped that the most Christian king of France made no lesse reckoning of her than of the Queene of Scotland who had practised her destruction she being an innocent Princesse her neere Kinswoman and in league of Alliance with the King of France That it is expedient for Kings and their Countries that wicked actions be not left vnpunished especially against Princes That the English who acknowledge Queen Elizabeth the sole Supreame Gouernesse of England cannot at once acknowledge two Soueraignes free and absolute Princes nor any other whilst she liued could participate in equalitie with her Neither could she perceiue how the Queene of Scotland and her Sonne which then raigned could be held at once for Soueraigne and absolute Princes Whether that the safetie of Queene Elizabeth be exposible to greater perils shee being put to death seeing it dependeth vpon future contingencie That the Estates of England hauing well weighed this point are otherwise conceited namely That whilst shee liueth there will alwaies be new plots of mischiefe breeding especially because it is now come to that issue that there is no hope left for the one if the other be not extinct and this saying should often present it selfe to her mind Either I shall dispatch her or shee me And the lesser time her life shall last the more celeritie will the Conspirators vse to execute their plots That hitherto she would neuer renounce her claime and challenge to the English Crowne and therefore was for iust cause to be detained in prison and detained must be till she renounce it although she came to England for succour and support And for what cause soeuer she was put in prison she is to be punished for the faults she hath cōmitted since the time of her imprisonment That the Queene of England had pardoned her before when shee was condemned of all the Estates for consenting to the Rebellion in the North the which was raised to haue made the Maryage betwixt her and tbe Duke of Norfolke and to pardon her againe were imprudent and cruell mercy That none are ignorant of that Maxime of the Lawyers An offender found within the Territorie of another is to be punished where he is found to haue committed the fault without respect of Dignitie Honour or Priuiledge And that the same is permitted as well by the Lawes of England as also by the examples of Licinius Robert King of Sicilie Bernard King of Italy Conradine Elizabeth Queene of Hungary Ioan Queene of Naples and of Deiotarus for whom Cicero pleading said It is not a thing vniust though vnusuall for a King to be arraigned His very words are these Primùm dico pro capite fortunisque Regis quod ipsum etsi non iniquum est in tuo duntaxat periculo tamen est ita inusitatum Regem capitis reum esse tante hoc tempus non sit auditum That shee that hath beene found guiltie by a iust Iudgement ought to vndergoe punishment forasmuch as that which is Iust is Honest and that which is Honest is also profitable That the History of Porsenna hath no allusion to the matter in question except it were to be thought that there are a great number yet behinde of them which conspire against Queene Elizabeth and so could perswade her out of feare and some little respect of honour to dismisse the Queene of Scotland without putting her to any paine as Porsenna past off Mutius after Mutius had told him there was yet 300. more of his Fellow-Confederates which had sworne his death Besides that Mutius set vpon Porsenna in open warre and assured himselfe that by sending Mutius away he was out of all danger That blood is to be spared but that is innocent blood That God hath said Blood cryeth for blood it is true and that France both before the Massacre of Paris since cā testifie this That punishment by death iustly inflicted cannot be accounted bloody no more than a wholsome medicine can be deem'd hurtfull Howsoeuer the Guises the Queene of Scotlands Cousens relish it Queene Elizabeth hath more nearer cause to respect her selfe her owne safetie her Nobilitie and the good of her People on whose loue shee wholly dependeth than the discontent of any other whosoeuer And that the matter was now at that point that the old Prouerbe of the two Princes Conradine the King of Sicilie and Charles the Duke of Anjou might be vsed and truly said of these two Queens THE DEATH OF MARY THE LIFE OF ELIZABETH And THE LIFE OF MARY THE DEATH OF ELIZABETH The promises of the French King or the Guises cannot secure the Queene of England nor the Realme of assured safetie much lesse make amends for her death if she be made away That the French King cannot discouer or keepe in the plots of Treason which are practised against him in his owne Country much lesse this against the Queene of England for that Treason is closely carryed and therefore ineuitable And if the wicked act were once committed what good would come on it to claime their promises How can the life of an incomparable Prince after death be repaired and what redresse can be found out for the Common-wealth failing with her in this sad confusion of all things That the hand-writings or oathes of the Guises can be of no great moment for that they hold it a meritorius matter to put to death the Pope of Romes Aduersaries and may easily haue a dispensation of their oath And when Queene Elizabeth shall be slaine and the Queene of Scotland which is of the House of the Guises aduanced to the Royaltie who is he will accuse them for her death or if they should be accused that can bring her to life againe But in that the Ambassadours haue said That the Iudgement was rigorous and extraordinary they haue spoken indiscreetly for they saw neither the proceedings of the businesse nor heard the proofes and haue with too much asperitie reprehended the Estates of the Realme of England being Personages of chiefest note in the Kingdome for noblenesse of Birth Vertue Wisedome and Pietie Yea and that they haue altogether deliuered these speeches from the King of France to terrifie the Queene of England and the Estates of the Land That the
1567. The murder of the Lord Darley who was married to the Qu. of Scots Buchanan condemned for falshood by the States of Scotland A digression from Scottish affaires Iames Prior of Saint Andrews Hee seekes to be Regent of Scotland Being frustrated of it vnder-hand opposes himselfe against the Queene Makes his ambition to be openly and euidently knowne He is created Earle of Murray He persecutes the great men of Scotland Hee disswades the Queen from marrying He takes armes against her after shee was married He flies into England He seekes to sow discord betweene the Husband and the Wife The murder of Dauid Rice in the Queene of Scots sight Murray is repealed Earle Morton flies into England Dissention set betweene the King and the Queene Lord Darley the Queenes Husband murdered Earle Bothwell commended to the Queene to marry him Testimony of the murder of the Lord Darley Bothwell is freed of the murder of the King He marries the Queene They conspire both against him and the Queene Earle Murray retyres into France Earle Bothwell is expelled The Queene emprisoned Queene Elizabeth complaines They consult what is to be done with the Queene prisoner Throgmorton defends the Queenes cause The Scots maintaine the contrary out of Buchanans reasons They extort from their Queene a Resignation of the Gouernement Iames the 6. consecrated and inaugurated King Murray returnes into Scotland Hee prescribes the Queene what shee should doe Hee is established Regent or Vice-Roy Some of the murderers of the King are put to death They acquit the Queene of all suspition The Queene of England and the King of France labour to procure her libertie Queene Elizabeth demands the restitution of Calais The French maintaine how they ought not to doe it Sir Thomas Smith's answere The Earle of Sussex is sent to the Emperour Leicester hinders it Representing to her all the discommodities that might happē if she married a stranger Articles of the marriage propounded Ambassadours sent from the Emperour of Muscouie The English opened the way to goe to Russia by Sea The Company of Muscouie Marchants A secret message from the Emperour of Muscouy The death of N. Wotton And the Duchesse of Norfolke Shan O-neale raiseth troubles He rebels Sir Henry Sidney armes against him He is discomfited Shan re-assumes courage He vseth cruelty to his men He meanes to yeeld He is slaine Hugon who was afterwards Baron of Dungannon Troubles in Munster Booke 1. 1568. The Papists absolue many The Jnnouators shew themselues Puritans Second ciuill warre in France The Duke of Aniou commended to Queene Elizabeth for an Husband The English Ambassador disgracefully vsed in Spaine Hawkins ill intreated by the Spaniards in America The Queene of Scots escapes out of prison She is vanquished She writes to Qu. Elizab. She writes againe Queene Elizabeth pitties her The priuy Counsell consult of it The Councell resolues she should be retained in England The Countesse of Lenox complaines of her The Baron of Heris interceds for her Earle Murray is commanded to yeeld a reason of the Queenes deposition Deputies for the King of Scots For the Qu. of Scots Lidingtons declaration to the Scots The protestation of the Queene of Scots Deputies A declaration for the Queene The anwer of the Kings Deputies The Queens Reply Murray refuseth to yeeld an account of the Queenes deposition Authoritie of the Commissioners reuokt The Duke of Norfolke glad New Commissioners granted The Queene of Scots wil not submit her cause to their hearing But vpon certaine conditions The Proceedings dissolued Debate about the Gouernment of Scotland Murray offers to marry the Duke of Norfolke to the Qu. of Scots He disperseth rumors against her The Duke of Norfolke suspected The third Ciuill-war in France Who did good to England The beginning of the Wars in the Low countries The Duke of Alua. Moneys sent into the low-Countries detained in England The English mens goods detained and seized vpon in the Low-Countries The like done to the Flemmings in England The death of Roger Askham Booke 1. 1569. A Proclamation touching goods detained Another declaration against the former Proclamation Practices against Cecil The money detayned in England is demanded Free traffique established at Hamborrough for the English Doctor Story taken The Duke of Alua enraged against the English Men of war called in Traffique of Russia hindred Liberties of the English in Russia Their traffique into Russia And into Persia by the Caspian Sea A Russian Ambassador in England Alliance of Russia The Emperour of Muscouia and of Russia is irritated and inflamed against the English Murray appeased the friends of the Queene of Scotland Rumors spred through-out Scotland against Murray Queene Elizabeth is diligent and endeuours to quench such false rumors She deales by Letters concerning her restoring The first mention of of this marriage Murray's proposition to the Duke of Norfolke Throgmortons counsell Propositions of the match made by Leicester to the Duke The Articles of marriage propounded to the Queene of Scotland She agreed them in some manner A dessigne to free the Qu. of Scotland Notice is giuen thereof to Queene Elizabeth The Earle of Leicester reueales the whole busines to the Queen at Tichfield She rebukes the Duke of Norfolke The Duke parts from the Court without leaue Cecill findes out the matter The Duke of Norfolke goes into Norfolke Feare caused in the Court through Norfolke He returnes to the Court. Murray discouers the businesse The Duke is imprisoned And others Their Complices craue pardon Libels against this marriage Chapin Vitelli comes into England and why Rebellion in the North. Pretext of the Rebels They runne violently into a Rebellion Their declaration They write to the Papists They rent and tread vnder-foot the Bible Their Colours Their number They returne They take Bernard Castle They fly Some are put to death The rest are banisht A new Rebellion The Rebells are defeated Qu. Elizabeth lends succours to the reformed Churches in France * This Noble Family was honoured with the dignity of Lord Howard of Walden by Queene Eliz. * Their most ancient House was honoured with the title of Baron of Bleso by Qu. Eliz. As also this noble Countesses Husbands Predecessor was also graced with the Earledome of Bath by her MAIESTIE * This Noble Lord is most highly borne from a most Honourable bloud being by his Father-side descended from the illustrious Lord William Berkeley Earle of Nottingham Vicount Berkeley of Berkeley-Castell and also Lord Marquis of Berkeley Earle Marshall of England * An illustrious Branch of the Noble House of the Caries created Baron of Honsdon by Qu Elizabeth * Descended fro◠Charles Blunt Earle of Deuonshire Lord Deputy and Lieutenant of Ireland a braue valiant Nobleman who expulsed the Spaniards there and compelled the Irish Rebells to submission he was created Baron of Mount-ioy by Queene Elizabeth * Knighted by Queeene Elizabeth at Killingworth There is great differency and diuersity tending to the manner of describing Stories First there is
likewise his children to returne into Scotland The Ministers are against the King of Scotlands Authoritie Q. Elizabeth obtaineth of the Musconian Emperor a peace for the King of Sweden That Emperor requires an absolute alliance with England being a suter to her Maiesty to grant him an English Lady for his wife Sir Hierome Bowes is sent Ambassador to him from England The Emperor died A certaine kind of Deere called Maclis Theodore the New Emperor of Muscouia disallow'd the company or Monopolie of Englands Merchants Alberto Alasco a Polonian Nobleman came then to England to see Queen Elizabeth A wonderfull and fearfull Earthquake in Dorsetshire The death of Thomas Ratcliffe Earle of Sussex Likewise the decease of Henry Wriothesly Earle of South-hampton Sir Humphrey Gilbert Knight drowned vpon the Sea by shipwracke It is a most difficult matter and a very hard thing to bring the Colonies in farre countries The death of Edmund Grindal Lord Archbishop of Canterbury A wood called Tamarin first brought into England Iohn Whitgift is preferred to the Archbishopricke of Canterbury He endeuored to vnite the English Church Brownist Schismatiques One Someruille strangled himselfe in prison and Ardern is hanged The English betray Alost and doe deliuer it into the hands of the cruell Spaniard A miserable end of Traitors The Earle of Desmond is killed Nicholas Sanders an English Seminarie Priest affamisht himselfe Vicount of Balting glasse fled away out of Ireland Sir Iohn Perot is made Lord Deputy of Ireland Labouring men are sent into Ireland The gesture and behauiours of Iohn Perot Vice-Roy of Ireland Booke 3. Troubles in Scotland The Earle of Gowry is taken The conspirors are dispersed Queene Elizabeth succoureth some of them The King demandeth them by the League but in vaine Walsingham fauoureth the fugitiues Hunsdon against theÌ„ Controuersie or the power of a Secretary argued The arraignment of Gowry He defendeth his own cause He is beheaded The treason of Francis Throckmorton The Lord Paget retyreth into France The complaints of the Catholikes Spies are suborned Many suspected The malice of the Papists against the Queene The clemency of the Queene towards the Papists Priests are banished Fugitiues demanded of the King of France The answer of the King of France The Spanish Ambassador sent out of England Waade is sent into Spaine Is not receiued· Throckmortons confession He denieth all He seeketh an evasion Being condemned he inlargeth his confession About to dâ—e he denyeth all A new treaty with the Queene of Scots Propositions made to her She answereth She demandeth to be associated in the Kingdome with her sonne The treaty dissolued by surmises An association begun in England The Queen of Scots maketh new propositions The Scots of the English faction oppose them The insolencie of the Scotch Ministers Against the Lawes Ecclesiasticall Lawes of Scotland Buchanans writings reproued A fained conference The Scots and English make incursions one vpon another The Ambassie of Patrick Gray Hee is suspected of bad dealing The patience of the Queene of Scots offended She is committed to new guardians She earnestly seeketh for liberty Things plotted against her Counsell holden amongst the Papists The death of the Earle of Westmer land NEVILL a most nobleâ— most ancient and illustrious name The death of Plowden Alancon dyeth The Prince of Orange is slaine The power of Spaine growne terrible Booke 3. The French King inuested with the order of the Garter Is accused of treason He perceiueth not the euasion His confession He consulteth with Iesuits about the murthering of the Queene With the Popes Nuncio With Morgan With Priests With the Pope himselfe He discloseth the matter to the Queene He wauereth in his minde Alans book addeth fresh courage to him Neuil offereth him his helpe He discloseth the matter Parry is arraigned Punished with death Lawes demanded in the Parliament against Bishops Against Non-residents The association established Lawes against Iesuits and Priests Felony Praemunire The Earle of Arundel resolueth with himselfe to fly out of England He writeth to the Queene Is apprehended The Earle of Northumberland is found dead The Coroners Enquest The causes of his imprisonment manifested The Earle of Northumberland is lamented of diuers Queene Elizabeth laboureth to contract a league with the Prince of Germany The like with the King of Scots A relation of the death of Russell The manner of his death The proofes amongst the borderers The death of Thomas Carre of Fernihurst The fugitiue Scots are sent out of England backe into Scotland They haue intelligence of others remaining in the Kings Court. They enter into Scotland Sterlin is taken by them They are reconciled to the King Amnistie Maxwell establisheth the Masse The rebellion of the Bourgs in Ireland Mac-William * or Sheriffe The Scots of Hebrides called into Ireland The Gouernor laboreth for a peace but in vaine He pursueth the rebels And he brings them to submission Next the Scots of Hebride Whom he doth assault and defeats them The title of Mac-William abolished The Estates of the Netherlands consult of a Protector Reasons of the French side For the English They are refused by the French The English consult about the protection The Dutch offer themselues to the Queene Antwerpe is yeelded vp The Queen deliberateth with her selfe She takes vpon her the protection Vnder what conditions The Queen publisheth the causes She sends forth a Nauy to the West Indies to diuert the Spaniard The towne of S. Iames taken by the English froÌ„ the Spaniard A disease called Calentura whereby many perish The surprize of Hispaniola or Saint Dominick by the English The proud and audacious Motto of the Spaniards Auarice and Couetousnesse The English doe assault the City of Cartagena They set fire vpon the townes of S. Anthony and S. Helena They come to Virginia They bring the Colony thence Tobacco The booty of the English voyage and expedition Their pillage A search made for the discouerie of a way to the East India * Or Straits An Edict against Woad The company of the Barbary Merchants The death of the Earle of Lincolne Of the Earle of Bedford The Earle of Leicester sent into Holland His instructions Booke 3. Absolute Authoritie is giuen to Leicester by the Estates The Queen offended thereat She expostulateth with him With the Estates also They excuse themselues Leicester sendeth succours to releeue the City of Graue besieged But it is yeelded vp The Spaniards expelled out of the Betow An aduentrous enterprize Venlo is lost Axele is taken Graueline attempted Duisbourgh beleagerd Which yeelds Sir Philip Sidney is slaine The valour of Edward Stanley of the house of Elford The Estates complaine to Leicester against himselfe He returneth into England The Earle of Arundell is accused of many things He answered them well and is but fyned The King of Denmarke intercedeth for Peace with the Queene of England Queene Elizabeth answereth She furnisheth Henry King of Navarre with money She desireth a league with Scotland By what counsell The fugitiues