might discouer his plot laying all the blame vpon himselfe Whereunto he said he was moued onely for Religion and conscience sake denying the King to be his lawfull Soueraigne or the annointed of God in respect he was an Heretike and giuing himselfe no other name then Iohn Iohnson seruant to Thomas Percy But the next morning being carried to the Tower hee did not there remaine aboue two or three dayes being twice or thrice in that space re-examined and the racke onely offered and shewed vnto him when the maske of his Romiâ—h fortitude did visibly begin to weare and slide off his face And then did he begin to confesse part of the truth and thereafter to open the whole matter Out of his conscience and especially out of the confession of Thomas Winter haue we drawne the praeceding narration The confession of Fawkes was taken presently after his apprehension The confession of Winter was taken the 23. of Nouember before the Lords of the Councell They that were first in the treason and laboured in the mine were Robert Catesby Robert Winter Esquires Thomas Percy Thomas Winter Iohn Wright Christopher Wright Guido Fawkes Gentlemen and Bates Catesbyes man They that were made acquainted with it though not personally labouring in the mine nor in the cellar were Euerard Digby Knight Ambrose Rookewood Francis Tresham Esquires Iohn Grant Gentleman and Robert Keies The newes was no sooner spread abroad that morning which was vpon a Tuesday the 5. of Nouember and the first day designed for that session of Parliament but some of those conspirators namely Winter and the two Wrights brethren thought it high time for them to hasten out of the towne for Catesby was gone the night before and Percy at foure of the clocke in the morning the same day of the discouery and all of them held their course with more hast then good speed to Warwicke-shire toward Couentry where the next day morning being Wednesday and about the same houre that Fawkes was taken in Westminster one Grant a Gentleman hauing associated to him some others of his opinion all violent Papists and strong Recusants came to a stable of one Benock a rider of great horses and hauing violently broken vp the sâ—me carried along with them all the great horses that were therein to the number of seauen or eight belonging to diuers Noblemen Gentlemen of that country who had put them into the riders hands to be madâ— fit for their seruice And so both that company of them which fled out of London as also Grant and his complices met altogether at Dunchurch at Sir Euerard Digby his lodging the Tuesday at night after the discouery of this treacherous attempt The which Digby had likewise for his part appointed a match of hunting to haue beene hunted the next day which was Wednesday though his minde was Nimrod-like vpon a farre other manner of hunting more bent vpon the bloud of reasonable men then of bruit beasts This company and hellish society thus conuened finding their purpose discouered and their treachery preuented did resolue to runne a desperate course and since they could not preuaile by so priuate a blow to practise by a publike rebellion either to attainâ— to their intents or at least to saue themselues in the throng of others And therefore gathering all the company they could vnto them and pretending the quarell of Religion hauing intercepted such prouision of armour horses and powder as the time could permit thought by running vp and downe the Country both to augment peece by peece their number dreaming to themselues that they had the vertue of a snow-ball which being little at the first and tumbling downe a great hill groweth to a great quantity by increasing it selfe with the snow that it meeteth in the way and also that they beginning first this braue shew in one part of the Country should by their sympathy and example stir vp and incourage the rest of their Religion in other parts in England to rise as they had done there But when they had gathered their force to the greatest they came not to the number of fourescore And yet were they troubled all the houres of the day to keepe and containe their owne seruants from stealing from them Who notwithstanding of all their care daiâ—y left them being farre inferâ—our to Gedeons host in number but fâ—rre more in faith and iustnesse of the quarrell And so after that this Catholike troupe had wandred a while through Warwickshire to Worcestershire and from thence to the edge and borders of Staffordshire this gallantly armed band had not the honour at the last to be beaten with a Kings Lieutenant or extraordinary Commissioner sent down for the purpose but onely by the ordinary Sheriffâ— of Worcestershire were they all beaten killed taken and dispersed Wherein ye haue to note this following circumstance so aâ—mirable and so â—iuely displaying the greatnesse of Gods iustice as it could not be concealed without betraying in a manner the glory due to the Almighty for the same Although diuers of the Kings Proclamations were posted downe after these traitors with all speed possible declaring the odiousnesse of the bloudy attempt the necessity to haue had Percy preserued aliue if it had beene possible and the assembly of that rightly-damned crew now no more darkened conspirators but open and auowed Rebels yet the farre distance of the way which was aboue an hundreth miles together with the extreame deepnesse thereof ioyned also with the shortnesse of the day was the cause that the hearty and louing affections of the Kings good Subiects in those parts preuented the speed of his proclamations For vpon the third day after the flying downe of these Rebels which was vpon the Friday next after the discouery of their plot they were most of them all surprised by the Sheriffe of Worcestershire at Holbeach about the noone of the day in manner following Grant of whom mention was made before for the taking of the great horses who had not all the praeceding time stirred from his owne house till the next morning after the attempt should be put in execution he then laying his accompt without his Host as the prouerbe is that their plott had without failing receiued the day before their hoped-for successe tooke or rather stole out those Horses for inabling him and so many of that soul-lesse society that had still remained in the Country neare about him to make a sudden surprise vpon the Kings elder daughter the Lady Elizabeth hauing her residence neare to that place whom they thought to haue vsed for the colour of their treacherous designe his Maiestie her Father her Mother and male-Children being all destroyed aboue And to this purpose also had that Nimrod Digby prouided his hunting-match against the same time that numbers of people being flocked together vpon the pretence thereof they might the easilier haue brought to passe the sudden surprise of her person Now the violent taking away of those horses
Gunnes to be cast of Brasse and Iron And Gods providence and favour appeared in her protectioâ— For new Mines of Brasse were found at Keswike that had long beene neglected From Whence there was not onely sufficient matter to supply her wants but abundance thereof to be transported to other Countries The stone called Lapis Calaminaris whose vse is needfull for working in Brasse was also at the same time first found in England There was provision made at home also for the making of Gunne-powder Which was done first here by her Commandement For before it was bought and imported Berwick before her time was weake and had but fiue hundred Souldiers She fortified the Towne made the new inner Wall and increased the number of Souldiers and their stipends that provision might be made for the training vp of experienced Souldiers and martiall men She provided a Navie the best furnished that euer England sawe Neither needed she to doe as her Father and Ancestours were wont to doe when they wanted Shippes to send for Shippes and hire them from Hamburg Lubeck Dantisk Genua and Veniâ—e for she had them ready at home to serue her Yea all the good Townes vpon the Sea-coast beholding this incredible alacritie and forwardnes in their Prince strived also to imitate the same and therefore with great chearfulnesse and readinesse built Shippes for Warre So that in a short time the Queenes Shippes and those of the Subiects ioyned together rose to such a number that they were able to imploy twentie thousand men in Sea-fight at once The Noble-men the Gentlemen and Yeomen did all striue to answer so noble a resolution of their Prince And therefore great store of Armour and Weapons were every where provided And braue spirits were bred and inabled to service whereby they became an helpe and ornament to their Countrey So that Queene Elizabeth was quickly growne so strong that all her adversaries were not able to hurt her And was not this a great worke of God That so weake a Woman should be able to defend her selfe against so many so potent enemies Yea and not onely to match them but to master them This was Gods doing Behold what it is to trust in God and not in an arme of Flesh. God will haue his great Workes to be had in remembrance that all men especially Princes may be taught to know that their safetie is not in worldly policie but in God which never forsaketh them that trust in him Here then we haue a Worke for which we are bound to glorifie God Elizabeth a Prince at the beginning weake destitute of friends vnfurnished of treasure vnprepared of all things had in no other accompt of her great neighbours round about her but as one left as a prey to the strongest that would inuade her and her kingdome yet preparing her heart to God giuing God the glory establishing his truth in her Land trusting in him She was in a few yeares made strong against her enemies they feared her more then she feared them This is an example can hardly be paralleled It was a worke oâ— God in defence of his Church here and we yeeld all glory and prayse vnto God for his mercies shewed herein From this example Princes may take a worthy instruction to rest vpon God and to seeke his glory and know assuredly that when they are at the weakest state if they giue their hearts to God and their service to his true Religion God will raise them to greatnes who hath promised to honor them that honor him and threatned that they that dishonor him shall be despised Before I leaue this example of Gods protectioÌ„ of this noble Queene in her first entrance Let this be remembred that as all the great Princes adioyning with the Pope and all were her great enemies so there were no friends able to helpe her for they that were friends and would haue helped if they could stood all need of her help The Scots were sore troubled with the French Armies procured by the Guysians but shee helped them and protected the King in his minoritie and freed that State from the tyranny of the French governement The Low-Countries were tyrannised by the Duke D' Alva who changed their governement and inhibited their meetings in councell For to speake somewhat of the ancient governement of that people to stop the common imputations cast vpon them by such as are not well affected to them Their governement was by a generall assembly of the States Their governours were such as were borne within the 17. Provinces no strangers These were anciently the Clergie the Nobility and the Deputies of the Provinces and of good Townes meeting together in their generall Assemblies These so meeting made lawes and orders whereby that State was governed The Deputies were sent to the generall Assemblies by the Suffrages of the people and vpon cause they were recalled by the people and other sent in their roomes This manner of governement some of the Dukes of Burgundy and some others disliked as giving too much power to the people and to little to their Dukes and therefore laboured to change it but could not Charles the fift Emperour would gladly haue changed their governement but when he saw that it could not be done without the commotion of the whole State he left it vndone Philip 2. Anno 1549. Iuly 8. tooke his oath which he made and renued againe Annoâ—555 â—555 to keepe maintaine and preserue these Countries in their ancient rights priviledges and customes without breaking them or suffering them to be broken in any sort or manner But when the Duke D' Alva was governour there vnder the King he practised the contrary and professed that the King was not to governe them as his ancient inheritance but as vpon a new conquest making what lawes he would and setting what governement best pleased him Whereupon his whole drift and practise was for a newe conquest of all the Provinces and Townes The pretence of religion was sought but it was resolved by the Counsell of Spaine to change the whole governement and to erect a new This appeared aswell by the Dukes open profession as by those designes which he practised vpon the persons of some of the Nobility and vpon the good Townes For when the Earles of Egmont and Horne were apprehended and putto death mistrusting nothing because they knew no cause to mistrust they that did this could not pretend religion because these Earles were of the Popish religion they could not pretend any disloyalty against them for their firme loyalty and their great services to the King made them so confident onely it was thought that these Noble men would neuer yeeld to the change of the government of that State therefore they were cut off The like appeared in the strange surprises and cruelty practised against many Townes which were of the popish religion For divers townes that were firme to the Spaniard in the point of religion and in obedience to the
much laâ—our and singular skill he ioyned them together againe and found that they contained new practises of the Pope the Spanyard the Guises resolution to invade England Whereupon and because many other rumors of dangers were increased to the end that the wicked and treasonable practises might be in time prevented and the Queenes life and safetie might be procured vpon whose safety both the estate of the Kingdome and of Religion depended A great number throughout all England of all sorts of men out of common charity whilst they shewed their loue and care of the Queene bound themselues by an association as then it was called by their mutuall promises subscriptions of their hands and seales to prosecute all such by all their force even to death whosoever should attempt any thing against the life of the Queene the Earle of Leicester was supposed to be the author of this association Surely it was vsefull and held many in order The Queene of Scots tooke this as devised to bring her into danger and was so continually set on by seditious spirits that if they may haue accesse are able to draw the greatest Princes to destruction And what hath beene their practise but to bring great personages and great houses to ruine Lamentable experience sheweth openly the fruit of their malice and wicked plots for treason which they call religion The Scots Queene led on by her blind guids dealt somwhat rashly but with importunity to the Pope and Spanyard by Sr Francis Inglefeld that by all meanes they would with speed vndertake their intended busines There were some also that laboured to draw Queene Elizabeths affections altogether from the Scots Queene They told her that Cardinall Alan for the English Catholikes ecclesiasticall Inglefeld for the Laiks and for the Queene of Scots the Bishop of Ross had vndertaken were among themselues agreed and with the consent also of the Pope and Spanyard had fully resolved vpon these points That Queene Elizabeth should be deprived of her Kingdome the King of Scots as a manifest favourer of heresie should vtterly be disinherited of the Kingdome of England that the Scots Queene shall marry some noble-man of England which is a Catholike that this man must be chosen King of England by the Catholikes of England that the choice so made must be confirmed by the Pope that the children of him so chosen begotten of the Scots Queene must be declared successours in the Kingdome All these things were confirmed to be true by testimony of Hart the Priest Who was this noble English man that should marry the Scots Queene was now much inquired after Sir Francis Walâ—ingham sought it out with all diligence yet found it not out There was suspition of Henry Howard brother to the Duke of Norfolke who was noble by birth vnmarried and a favourer of that Religion and in great grace and favour with them These things that were discovered by Throgmorton by Creightons papers and other mens were matters which bred suspitions and feares though they were never so effected as they were intended But we find by these things that France and Spaine and the strength of the Pope were here all combined against Queene Elizabeth and King Iames for no other cause but for their religion because both Queene Elizabeth and King Iames had established the same religion Against which religion all the great powers of the world were combined and were therefore ready with their vtmost indevours to root out these two Princes from England and Scotland If a man shall consider the Councels the Pollicies the strength of these great powers which were set against these two Princes it is a matter to be wondred at how they should stand against so deepe and desperate dangers Here I wish that a Papist of any vnderstanding would take this matter into his consideration And looke but a little further to the end and event of things What man purposed What God wrought What became of these two Princes Queene Elizabeth King Iames against whom the world thus conspired Queene Elizabeth after so many malicious proiects against her by open warres by secret conspiracies yet lived to see all the malicious practises against her defeated and overthrowne the practisers themselues ruinated her people and Kingdome defended Gods truth maintained her service for the truth rewarded and after all dyed quietly in her bed and hath left a blessed memory behinde her King IAMES that was in the same cause with her in the same manner threatned for his Religion to be made incapable of the inheritance of England and then neither could he haue holden Scotland for he must either haue all his right or loose all for there is no middle-way in the inheritance of Kings yet after all these threatned dangers by the great powers of the world after a number of dangerous and devilish practises against him at home he hath not onely quietly possessed that which he had but is in the peaceable possession of England with such loue such gladnesse of heart and common reioycing that the like hath not beene knowne in former times And which was never done by any before though much wished and attempted he hath in his royall person knit England and Scotland together he hath not onely maintained the truth of Religion by his authoritie as all Christian Princes are bound to do but also by his wisedome by his learning confirmed the truth drawne many to the knowledge of it by his learned Labours Wherein he hath not onely farre exceeded all his progenitours in this Kingdome but hath left all the Kings and Emperours in the world farre behind him in this honour so that since the beginning of the time of grace to this day the world never saw a King so furnished and inabled to maintaine the truth and to discover the blindnesse and superstition of false Religion And therefore hath God blessed him with extraordinary blessings the loue of his subiects the peaceable estate of Ireland which before his time was never governed in peace especially the fruit of Religion and the reward of Religion maintained is the greatest blessing that Kings can looke for This hath beene and is the state of these religious Provinces so that men shall say Doubtlâ—sse there is a reward for the righteous verily there is a God that iudgeth the earth And because my purpose in writing this Booke is to declare the great Workes of God in the defence of this Church of England since Religion planted here by Queene Elizabeth and to giue God all the glory both of the planting and maintaining thereof We therefore remember these things with great gladnesse and ioy of heart to Gods glory giving thankes to his holy name for the favours that he hath exhibited to his Church here by the faithfull service of these two royall servants of God in whom is truely verified that which the Prophet Esay foretold speaking of Gods favour to his Church Kings shall be thy nurcing Fathers and Queenes
IX AT that time was Henry Percy Earle of Northumberland in the Tower suspected to be of councell with Throgmorton and the Lord Paget and the Guises to invade England and to free the Scots Queene He was found dead in his bed shot with three Bullets vnder his left pap the chamber doore bolted on the inside The Crowners enquest found a dagge and gun powder in the chamber and examining the man that bought the dagge and him that sold it they found that the Earle had beene the cause of his owne death Three dayes after the Lords met in the Starre-chamber The Lord Chancelour Broumley briefly declared that the Earle had entred into treasonable councels against his Prince and Countrey which now when he perceived that they were come to light troubled in conscience for the thing hath offred force to himselfe And to satisfie the multitude then present he willed the Queenes Atturney generall and the rest of the Queenes Councell plainly to open the causes why he was kept in prison and the manner of his death Wherevpon Popham then Atturney beginning from the rebellion of the North sixteene yeares before he declared that for this rebellion and for a purpose to deliver the Scots Queene that he was called into question acknowledged his fault submitted himselfe to the Queenes mercy was fined fiue thousand markes That the Queene of her clemencie tooke not of that fine so much as a farthing and after his brothers death confirmed him in the honor of the Earledome Notwithstanding all this he had entred into pernicious counsel to deliver the Scots Queene to overthrow the English Queene with the State and Religion that Mendoza the Spaniard had told Throgmorton that Charles Paget vnder the name of Mope had secretly dealt with him in Sussex of these things that the Lord Paget had signified the same to Throgmorton as appeared from Creighton the Scots Iesuites papers And that Charles Paget had shewed the same things to William Shelley when he returned out of France After that Egerton the Queenes Sollicitour inferred the same from circumstances and a care of concealing the matter That when as there was none in England that could accuse the Earle of this crime except the Lord Paget with whom Throgmorton had familiaritie he had provided a shippe for the Lord Paget by Shelley a few dayes after Throgmorton was apprehended So was the Lord Paget sent away into France And when Throgmorton began to confesse some things the Earle departed from London to Petworth and sending for Shelley told him that he was in danger of his life and fortunes he intreated him to keepe counsell and to put away those that knew of the departure of the Lord Paget and of the comming of Charles Paget Which was presently done and himselfe sent far off that servant which he vsed to send to Charles Paget The Sollicitour addeth that when he was in prison he dealt often with Shelley the keepers being corrupted to vnderstand what those things were which he had confessed But when by a poore woman secretly sent betweene them Shelley had signified that he could keepe counsell no longer that there was great differēce between their two conditions that he must come vnder the racke which the Earle in respect of his place and order was freed from and had written to him what he had confessed The Earle therevpon sighed and said as Pantin his Chamberlain hath confessed that Shelley his confession had vndone him After the manner of his death was declared by the testimony of the Enquest and by Pantins testimony Many good men were very sorrowfull that a man of such nobility wisdome and valour was so lost My purpose is in this Narration to obserue the great and manifold deliverances of this Church When I am drawne by the course of the History to open these practises in which noblemen haue beene misled this I confesse I relate with great commiseration for seeing that Noble houses are the honor of the King the ornament of the Kingdome there is no man that loueth the honor of his owne Country that can write or speake of the fall of such men but with griefe and sorrow Of such I will make no other observations but onely the testification of mine owne sorrow But yet here I must obserue one thing for the good and instruction of their posteritie or the like that they may take heed of these pernicious instruments Priests Iesuites and those that are infected yea and poysoned with the infection of them These gracelesse merchants haue vtterly vndone many noble persons which without their restlesse suggestions and councels might and doubtlesse would haue bin great ornaments of their Countries both in peace and warres Was there ever any noble house in these times ruinated without the practise of these wicked miscreants Let all the bloud that hath bin shed in this Land in the Northern rebellion at other times be laid vpon these wicked instruments of bloud And let the world consider the outragious wickednesse of this generation that having in formertimes sucked the bloud of the Saints as greedy instruments of the great Whore that is drunke with the bloud of the Saints now by a iust but strange iudgement of God they are fallen into such practises as shed their owne bloud and the bloud of such as are misled by them God is to be reverenced in all his iudgements and let not men striue against God to maintaine a cause which God will overthrow with all the maintainers thereof And it is not much to be marveiled if these cunning stirrers haue deceiued some of our Nobles for we see that they haue cousened great Kings and Princes For soone after this in the yeare 1586. these pernicious medlers these Iesuites shewed themselues in other colours for when these bloudy instruments that had so long laboured the ruine of England were out of hope to restore the Romish Religion to England either by the Scots Queene which was now more strictly kept or by the King then of Scotland who had plainly professed and established the Gospell in his Kingdome they fell now to a new and a strange practise which might make the world to wonder they began out of their false and lying forgeries to set a foot an imaginary title of the King of Spaine to the right and succession of the English Crowne To this purpose as Pasquirus discovered they sent into England one Shamiers if it be not a counterfeit name a lesuit which might draw the discontented Nobles vnto the Spanish side throw the Scots Queene headlong into dangers and despayre signifying to her that if she should be trouble some to hinder their designes that neither she nor her sonne should raigne here And stirred vp new troubles in France to withdraw her cousens the Guises from hindering their devises by wrapping them in new garboiles against the King of Navarre and the Prince of Condy. In which the King of Spaine had a hand to set France in
King when armies were sent to them intertaining the armies in all obedience opening their gates shewing all loue and friendship to the Spanish armies were of a suddaine surprised and brought to vtter ruine The Spaniards killing and massackring all taking their goods abusing their wiues and daughters as the manner of such barbarous men is in a new conquest exâ—rcising more cruelties against their professed friends then they could doe to their enemies Such barbarous cruelties were practised against the Townes of Machlin Maestrich Zutphen Naerden Antwerp and others who were their friends agreeing in the same religion with them holding as then their obedience firme to the King yet were they spoyled killed ransacked and overthrowne like enemies Which strange cruelty declared that it was not religion that moved this cruelty but that which the Duke D'Alva did openly professe that the King must hold all the Low-Countries by a new conquest that so he might change the governement and impose what lawes he would It may seeme a strange vse of the Popes Authority which King Philip made when from the Pope he got a dispensation of that oath which he had taken at his entrance into the Low-Countries This is an vse of a Pope fit indeede for them that would doe whatsoever they list without conscience or the feare of Gods lawes or mans If such an vse may be made of the Popes power then Popish Princes must needes in the sight of the world seeme to haue a great advantage over others But if they may so dispense at their pleasure with oathes and promises then may all those of their religion see plainely that there are neither humane nor divine bands or securitie that can binde Papists for when they please the Pope will free them from all bands of conscience from the lawes of God of man of nature of nations But God will not be thus served And therefore by Gods iust iudgements they that rely vpon such vngodly practises loose more in the ende then they gaine by such profane dealings This was the cause of their troubles in the Low Countries That state being then so troâ—bled could yeelde no helpe to Queene Elizabeth yet did shee yeelde helpe to them The King of Denmarke and the Protestants in Fraunce were not able to helpe her nor to helpe themselues without her meanes This must needes be acknowledged an extraordinary blessing of God to make her able to withstand the greatest enemies and to helpe all that were distressed for Religion This famous Queene though troubled by forraine states in the beginning of her Raigne yet had great peace and quietnes at home This was the fruit of true religion her Subiects lived in peace and tranquilitie no motions then attempted Only in the fourth yeare of her Raign Arthur Poole and his brethren comming of the race of George Duke of Clarence who was brother to Edward the fourth and Antony Fortiskue who married their sister with some other of that conspiracie were brought to their tryall for that they had conspired to flie to the Gâ—ise into France and thence to come with an Armie into Wales and there to declare the Scottish Queene to be Queene of England and Arthur Poole Duke of Clarence All which they freely confessed at their tryall yet protesting that it was not their purpose to execute this designe as long as Queene Elizabeth lived who as they supposed should dye within a yeare for so some cosening Astrologians had told them Whereupon they were condemned yet their liues were spared in respect of their blood Wherein wee may acknowledge the goodnes of God in discovering such a plot before it tooke strength and the noble nature of the Queene that dealt so nobly with her owne blood Thus the Land within rested in great quietnes for some yeares The Church was established and increased learning flourished godlines and true pietie prevailed Popish ignorance was driven into corners The Papists that then were were content to keepe themselues quiet Either they kept their Religion private to themselues or els they came to our Churches as most of them did But the enemy of all goodnesse envying this peaceable state of England stirred vp the Pope to giue occasion to new troubles and to wrap the Kingdome into dangers Whereby as the Church hath beene more troubled then it was before so the Papists haue got nothing by the bargain but lost much by stirring vp the peaceable inclinatioÌ„ of the Prince against them and by provoking the State to make severe lawes to curbâ— them Who might haue liued quietly if they had not procured their owne trouble Paulus IIII. was Pope when Queene Elizabeth began to Raigne this Pope was not troublesome against her His successor was Pius IIII. who seemed to be a moderate man For he was moved by the Count of Feria who served the King of Spaine to excommunicate Queene Elizabeth but he thought it not good to proceed to such extremities For seeing the Popes authority is a thing consisting rather in the conceits of some men then in any truth and substance If it should once appeare that this thunderbolt of excommunicate whereby he hath so much terrified the world should proue idle ineffectuall without all poâ—er then might this great authoritie fall into contempt and so be made ridiculous Whether for this cause or what other he would not be perswaded to vse this extremitie against the Queene but sent Letters shewing some loue and kindnesse by an Abbot Parpalia by whom also he sent certaine secret Mandates Which what they were was not openly knowne But some acquainted well with State affayres then reported that the Pope offred to recall and disanull the sentence as vniust which was given against her Mothers marriage and to confirme the English Liturgie by his authoritie granting also the vse of the Sacrament vnder both kindes so that she would ioyne her selfe to the Romane Church acknowledge the Popes supremacy And for the effecting hereof a great sum of gold was promised to some that should be vsed as instruments for this purpose But Queene Elizabeth remaining SEMPER EADEM ever like her selfe vtterly denied to haue any thing to do with the Pope But the next Pope Pius V. that succeeded tooke another course whether a better or worse let the event declare For in the yeare 1569. he sent out an excommunication against her and all adhering to her wherein her subiects were absolved from the Oath of their Alleagance and from all other offices and duties and that all that should obey her were accursed Which thing brought more trouble vpon the Papists then vpon the Queene or any of her obedient subiects And hath openly declared to all the world that the Popes curse is a thing proceeding from private splene and malice and now nothing feared but contemned when all men may see that the Popes curse is turned by the favour of God into an extraordinary blessing and that the Pope is not Christs Vâ—car in these ministeries
a breach yet others followed lowed as desperate as the first And would not vnderstand that they ventured both soule and body in the cause of the Pope against Christ for such is the cause of treason being commanded by the Pope and forbidden by Christ. The Priests and Iesuites at this time spent all their learning and skill to stirre vp rebellion in England giving out in corners and in publique Printing Bookes to declare that the Pope and King of Spain had conspired that England should be overthrowne left as a prey This was done of purpose to confirme their owne side and to deterre others from their obedience to their Prince Wherevpon the Queene set out a Proclamation signifying that she had never made attempt vpon any Prince onely defended her own not invading the Provinces of other Princes though she had beene provoked with wrongs and invited by opportunitie If any Princes should oppugne her she doubted not but by Gods favour she should defend her owne and had therefore Mustered her Forces by Land and Sea and was readie against any hostile incursion She exhorteth her faithfull subiects to hold their faith alleagance firme to God their Prince Gods Minister For others that had shaken off the loue of their Countrey and obedience to their Prince She commandeth them to carry themselues modestly and not to provoke the severitie of iustice for she would no longer indure sparing of evill men least so she might be cruell against the good Among the Iesuites that came then into England Robert Parsons and Edmond Campian were chiefe they had procured a temper or qualification of the Bull of Pius V. obtained of Greg. 13. in these words Let petition be made to our holy Father that the Bull declaratory of Pius V. against Elizabeth and her adherents be interpreted which the Catholikes desire to be vnderstood so that it binde her and heretiques alwayes but not Catholiques things standing as they doe But onely then when the publike execution of the Bull may be had These foresaid favours the Pope granted to Robert Parsons and Edmond Campian now ready to goe into England the 13. day of Aprill 1580. in the presence of Oliver Manarcus assisting This was procured to giue some content to the Recusants that were offended at the publication of the Bull and found that it did them more harme then good Parsons and Campian came secretly into England and changed their exterior habit and apparel that they might the better passe vnknowne Somtimes they went like ruffians somtimes like ministers somtimes like noble men somtimes like souldiers somtimes like apparitours they walked secretly from Recusants houses to Recusants houses and did in words and writings roundly set forward the businesse for which they came Parsons was the superior a man of a seditious and turbulent spirit armed with audaciousnesse he brake out so farre among the Papists against the Queene as to propose the proâ—ect of deposing of her In so much that some Papists themselues as they themselues hauâ— said did thinke to haue delivered him into the hands of the Magistrate Campian was somewhat more modest yet by a Booke which he had much laboured and brought with him which as himselfe sayth might be taken with him if he were apprehended did provoke the Ministers of the Church of England to disputation the Booke was Intituled A Booke of ten Reasons or Arguments written politely in Latin to confirme the doctrines of the Church of Rome Parsons wrote more virulently against Mr Charke who had written soberly against Campians prouocation but Campians ten reasons were throughly and solidly answered by Dr Whittaker Campian was taken and brought to disputation where it was found that in learning and knowledge he came farre short of that expectation which himselfe had raised of himselfe the whole disputation was afterward set forth in Print In the meane time many threatnings were published against the Church and State of England and much speech was of the Pope and the Spanyards preparations to subdue England By which manner of proceedings it may appeare that the end why these other such were sent into England was not to draw men to God but to betray the Land to strangers for these men cared not what became of England so the Church of England might be displanted and Popery set vp againe For which purpose we may obserue the Colledges for Seminaries set vp at Rhemes and Rome These Colledges did strangely swarue from the end and foundation of the ancient Colledges The ancient Colledges were founded for learning and Religion these for meere faction the ancient Colledges were for the furtherance of godlinesse and piâ—tie these for the practises of â—ngodlinessâ— and vngracious treasons Let no man tell me that the ancient Colledges were founded by Papists so were these Seminaries and therefore for the maintenance of the same Religion for this is nothing but colouring and daubing of their new practises from the sight of the ignorant for all their hope is in the ignorance of men hoping that they shall haue the greatest part because the greatest part are ignorant But now God in his mercy hath so plentifully revealed the truth the ignorance of men is not so great as the Papâ—sts would haue it for men are taught to know that in the Councell of Trent there hath beene hatched a new birth of Popery Where they haue changed the rule of faith which was ever maintained in the Church of Rome before that time Wherevpon there followeth a change of the Church a change of Religion They that founded the ancient colledges knew not this new Church this new Religion which is newly hatched in the Trent Councell Therefore these late Colledges of Seminaries are founded vpon a new Religion This new Râ—ligion of Rome is nothing but the practâ—se of Treasons against States Surely it must be a sâ—rangâ— Religion that must be maintained by vngodly practises There was never any Religion that allowed such practises And herein the Papists exceed the Heathen who being guided onely by the light of nature yet haue disallowed such vngodly and vngracious practises which the Papists vse Let all men consider whence this new Religion of Rome proceedeth that in vngodly practises is founded and maintained that all such practises proceed from the devill no man can doubt that God hath preserved this Church of England from all these practises this is that which causeth vs to trust in God and to giue all the glory of our deliverance to his holy name Edmond Campian Ralfe Sherwin Luke Kirby Alexander Briant were taken in the yeare 1581. and being brought to iudgement were accused of treason against the Queene and State that they were directed by the Pope came into England to stirre vp sedition and to make a strong partie and herevpon they were condemned as offending against the lawes Campian was demanded whether he tooke Queene Elizabeth to be Queene of England by right and law to that he refused to answer
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
being present with his Highnesse at that time Where without any other speech or iudgement giuen of the Letter but onely relating simply the forme of the deliuery thereof he presented it to his Maiesty the contents of the Letter are as followeth My Lord out of the loue I beare to some of your friends I haue a care of your preseruation Therefore I would aduise you as you tender your life to deuise some excuse to shift off your attendance at this Parliament For God and man haue concurred to punish the wickednesse of this time And thinke not slightly of this aduertisement but retire your selfe into your Country where you may expect the euent in safety for though there be no appearance of any stirre yet I say they shall receiue a terrible blow this Parliament and yet they shall not see who hurt them This counsell is not to be contemned because it may doe you good and can doe you no harme for the danger is past as soone as you shall haue burned this Letter And I hope God will giue you the grace to make good vse of it To whose holy protection I commend you The King no sooner read the letter but after a little pause and then reading it ouer again he deliuered his iudgement of it in such sort as he thought it was not to bee contemned For that the stile of it seemed to be more quicke and pithy then is vsuall to be in a pasquill or libell the superfluities of idle braines But the Earle of Salisbury perceiuing the King to apprehend it deeplier then he looked for knowing his nature told him that he thought by one sentence in it that it was like to be written by some fool or mad man reading to him this sentence in it for the danger is past as soone as you haue burned the Letter which he said was like to be the saying of a foole For if the danger was past so soone as the Letter was burnt then the warning behooued to be of little auaile when the burning of the Letter might make the danger to bee eschewed But the King by the contrary considering the former sentence in the Letter That they should receiue a terrible blow at this Parliament and yet should not see who hurt them ioyning it to the sentence immediately following already alleadged did thereupon coniecture that the danger mentioned should bee some sudden danger by blowing vp of powder for no other insurrection rebellion or whatsoeuer other priuate or desperate attempt could be committed or attempted in time of Parliament and the authors thereof vâ—seene except it were onely by a blowing vp of powder which might be performed by one base knaue in a darke corner Whereupon he was moued to interpret and construe the latter sentence in the Letter alleadged by the Earle of Salisbury against all ordinary sense and construction in Grammer as if by these words for the danger is past as soone as you haue burned the Letter should be closely vnderstood the sudden and quicknesse of the danger which should be as quickly performed and at an end as that paper should be of bleasing vp in the fire turning that word as soone to that sense of as quickly And therefore wished that before his going to Parliament the vnder-roomes of the Parliament house might be well and narrowly searched It must be confessed that God put this vnderstanding in the Kings heart For albeit now vpon the euent made knowne a man may easily see that no other construction can bee made of the Letter then that which the King made yet before the euent was knowne the wisest did not apprehend that vnderstanding And therefore we must acknowledge that God would haue it knowne and brought to knowledge by the King himselfe that all the body of the Kingdome might rest most vnder God beholding to the King their head for the generall deliuerance The Earle of Salisbury wondring at his Maiesties commentary which hee knew to be farre contrary to his ordinary and naturall disposition who did rather euer sinne vpon the other side in not apprehending nor trusting due aduertisments of practises and perils when hee was duely informed of them whereby hee had many times drawne himselfe into many desperate dangers and interpreting rightly this extraordinary caution at this time to proceed from the vigilant care he had of the whole state more then of his owne person which could not but haue all perished together if this designement had succeeded he thought good to dissemble still vnto the King that there had beene any iust cause of such apprehension And ending the purpose with some merry ieast vpon this subiect as his custome is tooke his leaue for that time But though hee seemed so to neglect it to his Maiestie yet his customable and watchfull care of the King and the State still boyling within him and hauing with the blessed Virgin Mary laid vp in his heart the Kings so strange iudgement and construction of it he could not bee at rest till hee acquainted the foresaid Lords what had passed betweene the King and him in priuate Whereupon they were all so earnest to renew againe the memory of the same purpose to his Maiestie as it was agreed that he should the next day being Saturday repaire to his Highnesse Which hee did in the same priuy Gallery and renewed the memory thereof the Lord Chamberlaine then being present with the King At which time it was determined that the said Lord Chamberlaine should according to his custome and office view all the Parliament houses both aboue and below and consider what likelihood or appearance of any such danger might possibly be gathered by the sight of them But yet as well for staying of idle rumors as for being the more able to discerne any mystery the nearer that things were in readinesse his iourney thither was ordained to be deferred till the afternoone before the sitting downe of the Parliament which was vpon the Munday following At what time he according to his conclusion went to the Parliament house accompanied with the Lord Monteagle being in zeale to the Kings seruice earnest and curious to see the euent of that accident whereof he had the fortune to be the first discouerer Where hauing viewed all the lower roomes he found in the vault vnder the vpper house great store of prouision of Billets Faggots Coales And inquiring of Whinyard keeper of the Wardrop to what vse hee had put those lower roomes and cellars he told him that Thomas Percy had hired both the House and part of the Cellar or Vault vnder the same And that the wood and coale therein was the said Gentlemans owne prouision Whereupon the Lord Chamberlaine casting his eye aside perceiued a fellow standing in a corner there calling himselfe the said Percy his man and keeper of that house for him which was Guido Fawkes the instrument which should haue acted that monstrous tragedy The Lord Chamberlaine looking vpon all things with