God shewed to Israel dâ—uers waies and this hath he like wise shewed to the Church of Christians and then especially when the Church hath beene most oppugned And this mercy hath God declared to no Church more then to the Church of England wee haue the Oracles of God among vs and these wee labour to preserue without mixture that no Oracles of men may be ioyned with them in any equality This we professe and for this we suffer This is our glory that wee suffer as the Church of God hath all waies suffered This is our glory that we are persecuted by a people that haue forsaken their God For they that haue forsaken â—he onely preferment by the Oracles of God committed to their trust and haue against that trust thrust in mens Oracles mens traditions to match the Oracles of God in equall authority they who worship not God according to Gods Oracles deliuered to them but according to their owne inuentions these men haue forsaken their God And these bee they that glory so much of the name of the Catholike Church against vs God knoweth his Church for the Lord knoweth who are his But our aduersaries deale not with God to please him but with men to deceiue them If they should deceiue some men with the maske and with the empty title oâ— the Catholike Church what haue they gotten thereby God is not deceiued and God will in his time make it knowne where his Catholike Church is God will not haue his Catholike Church maintained with lyes with wicked and vngratious Practises with treasons and rebellions with conspiracies they who practise such things can neuer proue themselues to bee the Catholike Church but the true Catholike Church is knowne by holding the Oracles of God by worshipping God according to his own Oracles by suffering patiently the practises of wicked men by committing their cause to God by trusting in God and in the power of his might and by miraculous deliuerances out of danger by the onely hand and power of God This holy and heauenly protection of God of the Church of England may plainely proue vnto all the world that the Church of England is a part and true member of that Catholike Church that serueth God in truth and sincerity enioying those priuiledges and fauours which God doth vouchsafe to no people sauing to his owne Church Now let the Pope goe on in his course and fulfill his measure let him honour wretched and wicked rebels the scum of the earth let him send a peacockes taile as he did to Stucley let him send a plume of Phoenix seathers as hee did to Tyrone if they were Phoenix feathers or if the Pope did not collude in one thing as that Fryer did in another thing who vndertooke to shew to the people a feather of the wing of the Angell Gahriell a plume of whose feathers was more befitting the Pope to send if his holinesse hath such command ouer Angels as they say he hath Let them I say proceed in the workes of darkenesse as they haue done and as they continue to doe let vs trust in the Lord who hath manifested to all the world by his great mercifull and manifold deliuerances that hee hath taken the protection of vs. And as he hath done hitherto assuredly he will doe to the end if we faile not for God will not forsake vs if we forsake not him Indeed if we forsake him and fall away from the truth of Religion in the Church and from the execution of iustice in the State and from obedience to the faith then may wee loose our part in God and loose our confidence in his helpe and loose the blessed benefit of his protectâ— on They can neuer preuaâ—le against vs by any other way then by our forsaking of God When Balac the King of Moab had sent for Balaam the false Prophet and by him vnderstood that it was impossible for him to preuaile against Israel though Balaam was sent to curse them At last hee was informed by his false Prophet Balaam that there was no hope to preuaile against Israel vnlesse there were some meanes deuised to draw Israel into sinne against God and so would God be offended with them and then might their aduersaries preuaile against them this aduise was most pernicious against Israel For the women of Moab were sent among the Israelites to intise them both to bodily and spirituall fornication And this indeed prouoked Gods anger and therefore the Lord commanded Israel to vexe the Midiaâ—nites and to smite them for they trouble you with their wiles The King of Spaine hath proued Balaam the false Prophet the Pope of Rome to curse the Church and State of England hee hath beene as greedily bent to curse England as euer Balaam was to curse Israel His curses by Gods goodnesse haue beene turned into blessings vpon vs. The more hee hath cursed the more haue wee receiued blessings from God The Pope perceiuing that his curses cannot preuaile against vs hath entred into the consultation of Balaam the false Prophet to send among vs Priests and Iesuites secretly who as they say are well acquainted both with carnall and spirituall fornication These come among vs and trouble vs with their wiles And if by their wiles we be once drawn away from God then may they preuaile but not otherwise then as the dâ—uell hath sometimes permission to preuaile against Gods people But so long as wee stand the Church of God holding the Oracles of God committed to vs morshipping God according to the rules of the holy doctrine wee may with ioy of hâ—â—rt expect the protection of God as we haue had Of these things what can our aduersaries deny Can they deny that wee haue the Oracles of God among vs onely reuerencing them Can they deny the miraculous proâ—â—ction of God ouer vs from time to time against all their wicked practises let our enemies be iudges herein Can they deny that the Pope hath runne the course of false Balaam against vs Can they deny that their Priests and Iesuites come creeping in among vs to draw vs away from God to bee partakers with them in their superstition and idolatry these things are manifest to the world and to their owne consciences then we leaue them vnto the seruice of their Balaam let them leaue vs to the seruice of our God CHAPTER XV. QVeene Elizabeth after so many bloudy and dangerous practises attempted against her being mightily protected by God ended her dayes in peace and safety The enemy was not permitted to hurt her with all their bloudy and barbarous practises After her succeeded our peaceable Salomon King Iames who laboured to establish peace if it might bee But when hee spake of peace they prepared themselues for warre He was first encountred with such a practise whereof because I know not the truth and bottome I must follow such relations as I finde King Iames ourâ—gracious Soueraigne being called into the right of his owne inheritance
whatsoeuer haue beene attempted against vs the Pope is firme on their side God hath manifested himselfe many waies to be on our side What cause haue we then how many waies are we prouoked to trust in God to loue him to worship him that so miraculously hath defended vs to cleaue with all singlenes of heart to that cause that hath bin so mightily maintayned by Gods hand and power And what cause haue our aduâ—rsaries to examine themselues and more narrowly to examine the cause which God by so many iudgements hath condemned The people of Israel were mightily protected by the hand of God so long as they truely serued God al their aduersaries could neuer preuaile against them they were defended by power from aboue God did watch ouer them but when they fell from God God did suffer them to fall into the hands of their enemies There will hardly be found any president euen among the people of God that for so many yeeres together they haue bin continually deliuered from so many so cruelly intended so dangerous assaults The deepest deuises of malice reaching euen from hell vnto hellish men vpon earth haue beene practised against vs as this last which came from the deepenesse of Satan wherein without sword or speare without any shew of warlike preparations their hellish deuise was at one blow to root out religion to destroy the state the head with the body the King with the statâ— the Father of our Country the Mother of our Country the oliue branches the hopefull succession of our King the Reuerend Clergy the Honourable Nobility the faithfull Councellors the graue Iudges the greatest part of our Knights and Gentry the choisest Burgesses the Officers of the Crowne Councell Signet Sâ—ales and of other seates of iudgement the learned Lawyers with an infinite number of common people the Hall of iustice the houses of Parliament the Church vsed for the Coronation of our Kings the monuments of our former Princes all Records of Parliament and of euery particular mans right with a great number of charters and other things of this nature all these things had the diuell by his agents deuised at one secret blow to destroy If the Lord had not beene on our side may Israel now say if the Lord had not beene on our side when men rose vp against vs they had then swallowed vs vp quicke when their wrath was kindled against vs praised be the Lord which hath not giuen vs vp a prey to their teeth our soule is escaped as a Bird out of the snare of the Fowlers the snare is broken and we are deliuered our helpe is in the name of the Lord which hath made heauen and earth We labour against the Papists to proue our Church a true Church of God They on the other side labour to proue themselues the onely Catholike Church and our assemblies to be as they call them assemblies of Heretikes God hath determined this controuersie most euidenâ—ly by his word and most powerfully from heauen by his continuall protection of vs and destruction of all the wicked practises which they haue attempted against vs. Was there euer any cause in the world so strongly maâ—ntained on the one side as our cause hath beene was there euer any execrable practises in the world so powâ—rfuâ—ly condemned from heauen as their practises haue beene God open their eyes that they may see and vnderstand that they fight against God The Church of Rome so long as it stood the Church of God did neuer practise either by open warres or by secret conspiracies to destroy Kings and subuert Kingdomes but by the preaching of Gods word by examples of piety and sanctimony laboured to draw the ignorant vnto the knowledge and obedience of the truth that course is now vtterly forsaken of them for how can they teach the truth to others that are themselues in ignorance and in the shadow of death or how can they giue examples of an holy life whose whole practise and conuersation is in bloud in malice in wicked and wretched actions And will they neuer vnderstand that they who practise such things can not inherit the Kingdome of God cannot be the Church of God cannot pray to God or expect any blessing from him vpon their execrable practises there is a manifest change of their Church and they will not see it They aske vs when was this change vnder what King vnder what Emperour vnder what Pope But if they were wise they would first inquire whether there be a change or no and then inquire further of the time and manner of it We say that which no man can deny that there is a notorious change this is euident for the Church of old neuer allowed the cruelty the impiety the execrable wickednesse which is daily practised by the great Masters of the Church of Rome and allowed and approued by the Pope Then there is a change it is euident to all But this is a change of manners of the Church not of the doctrines If therefore they demand of vs how a change of the doctrines may be proued We are able to point out from time to time that the doctrines which they haue inuented were neuer heard of in the Church before such times as wee are able to point at Master Iewell the reuerend Bishop of Salisbury for piety and learning the mirrour of his time hath made full and faire proofe that of those Articles wherein he challenged all the Learneâ— of the Church of Rome not one of them was euer taught in the Church before the 〈◊〉 of Christ 600. his proofes stand vnanswered to this day Though Master 〈◊〉 haâ—â— done his best to examine them who wanted neither learning nor eloquence buâ— onely trutâ— wanting on his side the challenge is still made good We are also able to point to another time before the year of Christ 1000. many of the grâ—atest grossest errors in popery was neuer taught or heard â—n the Church as the doctrines of transubstantiatioâ— of the reall presence as it is vnderstood in the Church of Rome of the Popes power to depose Kings and absolue their subiects fâ—oâ— their allegeance or to warâ—ant their subiects to rebell â—gainst them of he doctrines of Grace and iustification as now they are taught in the Church of Rome of the doctrine of merits whether ex congruo or condigro of the seauen sacraments and many other of this nature of which we are assured that not one of them can be proued euer to haue beene taught or heard of in the Church before the yeare of Christ one thousand Wee are further able to point to another time before which the rule of faith was neuer changed in the Church this was their last attempt in the points of Doctrine a desperate attempt against the truth For from the Apostles time till the Councell of Trent the rule of faith was euer held in the Church one and the same that is the doctrine contained in
English fugitiues did much vrge him and the Pope promise a Cruciata in this Warre as in the holy Warre was vsed The King of Spaine was so wholly defixed vpon Portugall that nothing could remoue him from that resolution Now when it was knowne that Stucley and all his Italians in Mauritania were slaine and that the Spanyard thought of nothing but Portugall the English Navy that watched for Stucley vpon the Irish Seas was called home and all was quiet in England and Ireland By this Pageant we may obserue how zealous these holy Fathers of Rome are not to win soules to Christ but to winne Kingdomes to their Bastards Two Popes proceed in the same course of malice and malediction against Queene Elizabeth one English fugitiue makes them both fooles But our part is to remember who governeth the world and turneth the wise and politike counsells of all the enemies of his Church into foolishnes We giue God the prayse and remember these things for no other end but to giue the glory to him CHAPTER V. IN the next place comes vp Nicholas Sâ—nders that in the defence of the Roman visible Monarchy ecclesiasticall had written But finding that he could doe no good by writing he falleth now vnto another course to be the firebrand of a Rebellion in Ireland Iames fitz Morice being pardoned for a former Rebellion withdrew himselfe into France promising the French King that if he would send helpe he would ioyne all Ireland to the French Scepter and restore the Romane Religion in the I le But being wearied with delayes and finding himselfe derided from France he went to Spaine and promised the same to the Spanyard Who sent him to the Pope From the Pope at the earnest suâ—e of Nicholas Sanders an English Priest and one Alan an Irish Priest he obtained a little money And to Sanders authoritie Legatine was granted he got forsooth a consecracrated Banner and Letters of commendation to the Spanyard and so returned into Spaine From Spaine he came into Ireland with those Priests three shippes and a small company of souldiers He landed at Smerwick in Kirria a Chersones in Ireland about the first of Iuly An. 1579. Where when the place was first orderly consecrated he raised a fort and withdrew his shippes Which shippes were presently surprised and carried away by Thomas Courtney an English Gentleman who with a warre ship stayed by chance in a neare haven and so excluded the Spanyards from the benefit of the Sea Iohn Desmond and Iames brethren to the Earle of Desmond speedily ioyne themselues to their cousin fitz Morice The Earle himselfe who heartily favoured the cause counterfeiting the contrary called his men together in shew to resist them but craftily caused the Earle of Clanriâ—ket to withdraw himselfe who was comming to helpe him against the rebells The Lord Deputy vnderstanding by certaine messengers that the enemies were landed sent Henry Dauil an English Gentleman a man of valour and who had good acquaintance with the Desmonds to the Earle of Desmond and to his brethren commanding them presently to set vpon the fort which the enemies had raised But that they reâ—used to doe as a thing full of dangers And as Dauil returned Iohn Desmond followeth him and overtaketh him at Trally in an Inne And in the night time having corrupted the host came into his chamber with some other cut-throats having drawnâ— swords in their hands where Dauilus slept in securitie with Arthur Carter an old souldier a man of worth Deputy-governour of Monmuth But being awaked with the tumult when he saw Iohn Desmond with a naked sword rushing towards him What is the matter my â—onne quoth he for so was he wont familiarly to call him nay said Desmond I am no more thy sonne nor thou my father for thou shalt die And presently thrust him and Carter which lay with him through with many woundes and killed them both Dauilus his foot-boy defended his Master with his naked body receiving many wounds to saue his Master if he could Then he killed all Dauils servants which lay scattered in diverse places And returning to the Spanyards all imbrued in bloud he gloried of the slaughter which he had made Let this said he be to you a pledge of my faith to you and to the cause Doctor Sanders commended this action as a sweet sacrifice before God Iames fitz Morice blamed the manner of the slaughter he would haue had it rather in the way then in their bed The Earle when he heard of it vtterly detested it When the Spanyards saw but a few Irish ioyne themselues with them and they poore and vnarmed farre otherwise then fitz Morice had promised they began to distrust to cry out they were vndone to bewaile their fortunes seeing all wayes was shut vp so that they saw no meanes to escape by Sea or Land Fitz Morice exhorts them to expect with patience a while he told them great forces were comming to helpe them And himselfe tooke a iourney to the holy crosse of Tippararia pretending to performe a Vow which he made in Spaine but in truth to gather together the seditious of Conach and Vlster Whilst he was thus in iourney with a few horse and twelue foot as he passed by the land of William á Burg his kinsman and taking some horses from the Plow because his horses tyredâ— the husbandmen made Hue and Cry and raised the neighbourhood to recover the horses Amongst these that went to recover the horses were the sonnes of William á Burg forward young men who pursued them so sharply that they overtooke them Fitz Morice seeing Theobald á Burg and his brethren who had indeed in a former rebellion taken part with fitz Morice Cosins quoth he let vs not striue for two or three paltry lades I doubt not but if you knew the cause why I am returned into Ireland you would ioyne your selues with me Theobald answered It repenteth me my Father and all our friends of the last rebellion But now we haue sworne our fealtie to our most gracious Princesse who hath granted to vs our liues and we will keepe our faith and alleagance and therefore restore the horses or I will make thee restore them And withall he ran vpon him with his Speare They sought a while together Theobaldus and another of his brethren with some other were slaine Fitz Morice also himselfe being runne through with a Spâ—are and his head shot through with a Buller was slaine with divers of his men Queene Elizabeth hearing of this chance wrote Letters full of sorrow and loue to William á Burg comforting him for the death of his sonnes She honored him with the title of Baron of Conell Castle and rewarded him with a yearely Pension The old man being over-â—oyed with such vnexspected fauours dyed not long after Sir William Drury then Lord Deputy came neare to Kilmaloch and sent for the Earle of Desmond who comming to him promised his faith and alleagance to
his Prince and sweare that himselfe and his men should fight against the rebells Wherevpon he was dismissed to gather his companies and to returne to the Lord Deputy Iohn Desmond the Earles brother who was by the rebells put in the place of Fiâ—z Morice lying in ambush did intrap Herbert Prise with the bandes which they led and killed them Himselfe being hurt in the face Some supplyes came out of England and Perrot was sent with six warre-ships to defend the coast the Lord Deputy grew so sicke that he was forced to withdraw to Waterford for his healths sake and appointed Nicholas Malbey governour of Connach a famous and approued Souldier to follow the Warres And worthy Sir William Drury soone after died Malbey sent to the Earle of Desmond and often admonished him of his dutie and promise and seeing it not good to linger in such a businesse he brought his forces into Conil a woody Country against the rebells There was Iohn Desmond who in battell array and with the Popes consecrated banner displayed received the forces of Malbey It was sharply fought on both sides But the vertue of the English prevailed Iohn Desmond fled first away and left his men to the slaughter Among them was found Alan the Irish Priest who exhorting them to the battell had promised them the Victory Malbey by a messenger sent for the Earle to come and his forces with him and when he in vaine expected him foure dayes he came to Rekell a towne of Desmond Here the Earle began to shew himselfe plainly for the rebells after that he had a long time vsed dissimulation in his wordes and countenance The same night the rebells set vpon Malbey his tents in the darke but finding them well fortified they went away and did no harme After the death of Sir William Drury William Pelhâ—m was sent Loâ—châ—eâ—e Instice into Ireland with the authoritie of a Deputy vntill a Deputy should be sent the Earle of Ormond was made goueâ—nour of Munster who sent Desmonds sonne which he had with him as a pledge to be kept at Dublin Pelham chiefe Iustice commeth to Munster sends for Desmond but he sending Letters by his wife excuseth himselfe Wherevpon the Earle of Ormond was sent to him to admonish him to deliver into the handes of the Lord chiefe Iustice Sanders the Priest the forrain souldiers and the Castles of Carigofoil and Asketten and to submit himselfe absolutely and turne his forces against his brother and the other rebells Which thing if he would doe he might obtaine pardon of his rebellion otherwise he was to be declared a traytor and enemy to his Country Whilst he held off with delayes and delusions he was declared a traytor in the beginning of December An 1579. That he had dealt with forrain Princes for invading and subverting his Countrey That he had retained Sanders and fitz Morice rebells That he had helped the Spanyards after they were gone out of the fort at Smerwick That he had hanged the Queenes faithfull subiects had advanced the banner of the Pope against the Queene that he had brought strangers into the kingdome After this proclamation the chiefe Iustice appointed the warres against Desmond to be prosecuted by the Eaâ—le of Ormâ—nd The Earle of Ormond with his forces destroyed Conilo the onely refuge which the rebells had he draue away their Cattell and gaue them a prey to be devided among his souldâ—ers He hanged the Balife of Yonghall before hiâ— dore because he had reâ—used to take a band of English into the Towne And then began to besiege the Spanyards in Strangiâ—all but they fearing such a thing had conveyed themselues out of danger Yet the English followed them and killed them all And every way through Munster pressed the rebells most sharply Desmond and his brethren were so hard driven hiding themselues in their lurking holes that they wrote to the chiefe Iustice signifying that they had taken vpon them the patronage of the Catholike faith in Irelanâ— and prayed him to take part with them This shewed their cause was desperate they had no hope vnlesse he that was come purposely against them would helpe them The Chiefe Iustice laughing pleasantly at the motion went to Munster and called the Nobles to him and kept them neither would dismisse them vntill they had given pledges and promised their helpe against the rebels to ioyne with him and the Earle of Ormond They therevpon deviding their bandes sought out the rebells They forced the Baron of Lixnaw to yeeld himselfe they besiegeâ— Carigoâ—oil-Castle which Iulius an Italian with a few Spanyards maintained and breaking the walls by the force of great Ordnance they entred and killed or hanged all that kept the place with Iulius also At this time came Arthur Lord Grey Lord Deputy into Ireland An 1580. Soone after his comming about seaven hundred Italians and Spanyards sent from the Pope and King of Spaine vnder the gouernment of San-Iosephus an Italian came into Ireland vnder the pretence of restoring the Roman Religion but the purpose was to divert the Queenes forces and call her from other cares to Ireland onely They tooke land without any trouble at Smerwick in Kirria for Winter that had a good while stayed in that coast with ships waiting for them was now returned to England thinking they would not come in winter They made the place strong and called it fort del or But as soone as they heard that the Earle of Ormond was comming towards them by the perswasion of the Irish they left the fort and betooke themselues into the valley Glamingell which was compassed about with high mountaines and woods The Earle tooke some of them who being questioned of their number and purpose they confessed that 700. were come that so much armour is brought that may serue 5000. that mo are daily expected out oâ— Spaine that the Pope and King of Spaine are resolved to draw the English out of Ireland that for that end they haue sent an huge sâ—m of money which they haue delivered into the handes of Sanders the Popes Nuntio of the Earle of Desmond and Iohn his brother That night the Italians Spanyards were much to seeke not knowing what way to turne themselues not knowing to hide themselues as the Irish doe in dens and bogs and therefore in the darke they went backe to their Fort neare to which the Eâ—rle of Ormond had pitched but being vnprovided of Ordnance and other things needfull for oppugnation he stayed for the comming of the Lord Deputy Who soone after came accompanied with Zouch Ralegh Denie Maâ—worth Achin and other Captaines At that time came Winter out of Englanâ— with warre shippes much blamed for withdrawing himselfe when there was need of his service The Lord Deputy sent a trumpetter to the â—ort to demand what they were What businesse they had in Ireland Who sent them Why they had fortified a place in the Queenes Kingdome And withall to command them presently to depart
Queene and the Councell for the money taken from the Merchants of Genua and for helping the States of the Netherlands of the Count Antow of Antony of Portugall and charged them with the spoyles that Sr Francis Drake had taken from the Spany trds in the west Indies But that the Spanyard might the better vnderstand that this which Queene Elizabeth had done in sending away Mendoza was no violating of an Ambassadour but a censure of Mendoza his wicked practises Sr William Wade was sent to Spaine who might plainly informe the King how vnworthily he had behaved himselfe in his Ambassage and might also signifie that the Queene would not haue this sending away of him to be interpreted a renuntiation of friendship but that she would maintaine all offices of humanitie if he would send any other that were carefull to conserue friendship betweene them so that the like offices were performed to her Ambassadour in Spaine The Spanish King would not admit Wade to his presence but referred him to his Councell Wade herevpon declared boldly that the custome was received among Nations that even in burning warre Ambassadours were admitted into presence of their enemies that Charles the fift Emperour Father to the King of Spaine admitted into his presence an Herald who denounced to him warres from the French King and denied to communicate the instructions of his ambassage to his Councellers I diacius the Kings secretary could by no cunning fish out of Wade what were his instructions vntill he vnderstood the whole matter from Mendoza then lurking in France Then the Secretary laying aside his publike person did familiarly declare to Sr William Wade that he was sorry that some men did labour craftily to dissolue friendship among Princes and to nourish hatred betweene them The iniury that was done was not done to the Ambassadours but to the Catholike King that there was no cause for him to accuse Mendoza to the King who was sufficiently punished with an ignominious extrusion out of England for the fault if there were any which he committed Neither might he complaine if he were not admitted for the Catholike King did nothing herein but quit like with like seeing Mendoza was dismissed from the Queene vnheard And as she referred Mendoza to her Councell so the King had referred him to the Cardinall Granuillanus Wade answered there was great difference in their cases for himselfe he had never offended the Catholike King but Mendoza had grievously offended against the Queene and for a long time through his owne insolency disdained to come and had committed many things vnworthy the office of an Ambassadour yet he could not be admitted but returned vnheard The crimes that he would haue obiected against Mendoza were taken our of the confession of Throgmorton For Franâ—is Throgmorton when he was apprehended sent priuily one packet of letters to Mendoza His other packets being sought and opened there were two Catalogues found In the one of them were the names of all the havens of England that were for forces to land in In the other were contained the names of the Noble-men which here and there throughout England favoured the Roman Religion These papers when Throgmorton saw produced he cryed out that they were counterfeited that he had never seene them before that they were devised for his destruction But when he was againe brought to the racke he denied not to answer what he knew to the questioÌ„s proposed Being therefore demanded of those Catalogues to what purpose they had beene written he made this narration that not many yeares since he went to the Spaw water where with Ieney and Fr Inglefeld he had counsell and communication how England might be taken by strangers and the forme of the government changed For that purpose he described the names of the havens and of Noble-men that Morgan had certified him by Letters out of France that the Catholike Princes were resolved to invade England that the Queene of Scots should be set at libertie by the forces of the Guises To this proiect there was nothing wanting but money and the helpe that was expected out of England To effect this the better Charles Paget vnder the name of Mope was secretly sent into Sussex where the Guise purposed to take land that he had communicated the matter to Mendoza and told him the names of the noble-men who knew all these things before fully of the conspirators Neither denied he that himselfe had promised his help to Mendoza and withall that he admonished Mendoza of those Nobles that were fit for him being a publike person to deale withall which himselfe being a private man could not doe without danger And that he had taken order with him and concluded of the meanes to be vsed namely that the chiefe Catholikes as soone as ever the forraine forces drew neare should muster souldiers in the Queenes name who should ioyn themselues with the forraine forces Thus much he confessed willingly Yet when he came to iudgement in the Guild Hall at London he denied all said that all these were fained devises to saue him from the racke and openly accusâ—d the Queene of crueltie the examiners of falshood seeking a starting hole from the space of time which passed between the time of the committing his crime and the time of his iudgement for in the XIII of Elizabeth certaine crimes are made treason for which no man should be called in question vnles the delinquent were accused within six moneths after the crime committed and the crime were proued by witnesse and oath of two or by the partie his owne free confession Now he pleaded that this time was past and therefore that he was not to be called into iudgment But the Iudges answered and shewed that the crimes obiected against him were of another kind for he had offended against an old law of treason made in the time of Edward 3. which admitteth no circumscription of time or proofe And from that law he was condemned Afterward being perswaded and better thinking on the matter he craued the Queenes mercy and by writing confessed all at full againe which he had done before and as a man vnconstant began to deny againe at the gallowes CHAPTER VIII QVeene ELIZABETH at this time sought a faire opportunitie and meanes to set the Queene of Scots free and for that purpose had sent Sr William Wade that was now returned out of Spaine to conferre with her of the meanes and was about to send Sr Walter Mildmay to bring that matter to a farther end But some terrors and feares broke in between them which disturbed that proiect Especially by a discovery of papers which Creighton a Scots Iesuit sayling into Scotland did tare then when he was taken by Dutch pyrats Creighton tore the papers threw them into the Sea but they were by the force of the winde blowne backe againe into the ship not without a miracle as Creighton himselfe said the papers being brought to Sr William Wade with
long before day did seeme to be so great a riot in the eyes of the common people that knew of no greater mystery and the bold attempting thereof did ingender such a suspition of some following rebellion in the hearts of the wiser sort as both great and small began to stirre and arme themselues vpon this vnlooked-for accident Among whom Sir Fulk Greuil the elder Knight as became one both so ancient in yeeres and good reputation and by his office being Deputy Lieuetenant of Warwickshire though vnable in his body yet by the zeale and true feruency of his minde did first apprehend this foresaid riot to bee nothing but the sparkles or sure indices of a following rebellion Whereupon both stoutly and honestly he took order to get into his owne hands the munition and armour of all such Gentlemen about him as were either absent from their owne houses or in doubtfull guard and also sent such direction to the townes about him as thereupon did follow the striking of Winter by a poore Smith who had likâ—wise beene taken by those vulgar people but that he was rescued by the rest of his company who perceiuing that the Country before them had notice of them hastened away with losse in their owne sight sixteene of their followers being taken by the townesmen and sent presently to the Sheriffe at Warwicke and from thence to London But before twelue or sixteene houres past Catesby Percy the Winters Wrights Rookwood and the rest bringing then the assurance that their maine plot was failed and bewrayed whereupon they had builded the golden mountaines of their glorious hopes they then tooke their last desperate resolution to flock together in a troupe and wander as they did for the reasons aforetold But as vpon the one part the zealous dutie to their God and their Soueraigne was so deepely imprinted in the hearts of all the meanest and poorest sort of the people although then knowing of no farther mysterie then such publike misbehauiours as their owne eyes taught them as notwithstanding their faire shewes and pretence of their Catholike cause no creature man or woman through all the Country would once so much as giue them willingly a cup of drinke or any sort of comfort or support but with execrations detested them So on the other part the Sheriffes of the Shires where-through they wandred conuening their people with all speed possible hunted as hotly after them as the euilnesse of the way and the vnprouidednesse of their people vpon that sudden could permit them And so at last after Sir Richard Verney Sheriffe of Warwickeshire had carefully and straightly beene in chase of them to the confines of his County part of the meaner sort being also apprehended by him Sir Richard Walsh Sheriffe of Worcestershire did likewise dutifully and hotly pursue them through his Shire And hauing gotten sure triall of their taking harbour at the house aboue-named he sent Trumpetters and messengers to them commanding them in the Kings name to render to him his Maiesties Minister and knowing no more at that time of their guilt then was publikely visible did promise vpon their dutifull and obedient rendring to him to intercede at the Kings hands for the sparing of their liues who receiued onely from them this scornefull answere they being better witnesses to themselues of their inward euil consciences that he had need of better assistance then of those few numbers that were with him before hee could be able to command or controll them But here fell the wondrous worke of Gods iustice that while this message passed betweene the Sheriffe and them the Sheriffe and his peoples zeale being iustly kindled and augmented by their arrogant answer and so they preparing themselues to giue a furious assault and the other party making themselues ready within the house to performe their promise by a defence as resolute it pleased God that in the mending of the fire in their Chamber one small sparke should flye out light among lesse then two pound weight of Powder which was drying a little from the Chimney which being thereby blowne vp so maimed the faces of some of the principall rebels and the hands and sides of other of them blowing vp with it also a great bag full of powder which notwithstanding neuer tooke fire as they were not onely disabled and discouraged hereby from any farther resistance in respect Catesby himselfe Rookwood Grant and diuers others of greatest accompt among them were thereby made vnable for defence but also wonderfully stricken with amazement in their guilty consciences calling to memory how God had iustly punished them with that same instrument which they should haue vsed for the effectuating of so great a sinne according to the ould saying In quo peccamus in eodem plectimur Inasmuch as they presently see the wonderfull power of Gods iustice vpon guilty consciences did all fall downe vpon their knees praying God to pardon them for their bloudy enterprise And after that giuing ouer any further debate opened the gate suffered the Sheriffes people to rush in furiously among them and desperately sought their owne present destruction The three specialls of them ioyning backs together Catesby Percy and Winter whereof two with one shot Catesby and Percy were slaine Winter was taken and saued aliue And thus these resolute and high-aspiring Catholikes who dreamed of no lesse then the destruction of Kings and kingdomes and promised to themselues no lower estate then the gouernment of great and ancient Monarchies were miserably defeated and quite ouerthrowne in an instant falling into the pit which they had prepared for others And so fulfilling that sentence which his Maiestie did in a manner prophesie of them in his oration to the Parliament some presently slaine others deadly wounded stripped of their cloathes left lying miserably naked and so dying rather of cold then of the danger of their wounds and the rest that either were whole or but lightly hurt taken and led prisoners by the Sheriffe the ordinary Minister of Iustice to the Goâ—le the ordinary place euen of the basest malefactors where they remained tiâ—l their sending vp to London being met with a huge confluence of people of all sorts desirous to see them as the rarest sort of Monsters fooles to laugh at them women and children to wonder all the common people to gaze the wiser sort to satisfie their curiositie in seeing the outward cases of so vnheard-of a villany and generally all sorts of people to satiate and fill their eyes with the sight of them whom in their harts they so farre admired and detested seruing so for a fearefull and publick spectacle of Gods fierce wrath and iust indignation They liued blindely they practisea diuellishly they dyed desperately Their memory is cursed throughout all generations Now what haue our aduersaries to say to these or what can wee say to these things but that there is a God in heauen that destroyeth all the purposes of the Pope on earth