euerie sworde an Image of Copper hanging with many other Instrumentes beside he stoode on a high Scaffolde before Paules Crosse holding a sworde in his right hand and a Scepter in his left arrayed in a meruailous strange attire and after the Sermon was doone by Maister Lawe Bishoppe of Rochester he abiured all Articles belonging to the Arte of Necromancie or against the Faith Afterward these two were condemned of Treason Thomas South well died in the Tower of London but Roger Bolingbrooke was drawne from the Tower to Tiborne and there hanged and quartered Iohn Dauid seruaunt to William Catur an Armorer dwelling in Saint Dunstones Parishe in Fléetstréete appeached his Maister of Treason and a day being assigned for them to fight a Combate together in Smithféeld the Maister was there slaine by his saide seruaunt The Duke of Glocester being arrested by the Lord Beaumont high Cōstable the Duke of Buckingham the Duke of Sommerset other for speciall matters within few daies after he died with sorrow but two thirty of his principal seruauntes being sent to diuers prisons fiue of them were arraigned and condemned at London whose names were Sir Roger Chamberlain Knight Middleton Herbert and Arteyse Esquiers and Richard Nedham Gentleman all which fiue were drawne from the Tower of London to Tiborne and there hanged but they were let downe quicklie stript naked marked with a knife to be quartred and then a charter was shewed them for their liues but the Yeoman of the Crowne had their liuelode and the hangman had their cloathes Thomas Thany otherwise called Blew beard a Fuller was taken beside Canterburie for raysing a rebellion who afterward was hanged and quartered The Commons of Kent arose against the King hauing to their Captaine Iacke Cade who named himselfe Mortimer Couzin to the Duke of Yorke and of some he was called Iohn Amend all this Captaine and his company came to Blacke Heath and there kept the Féeld more then a moneth pilling and spoyling the Countrie round about At length the Kinges Proclamation going abroad against the Rebelles Iacke Cade was taken by a Gentleman of Kent named Alexander Eden in a Garden in Sussex there was he slaine at Hothféeld afterward brought in a Cart to London where he was quartered his head set on London Bridge and his quarters sent to diuers places in Kent eight men were executed at Canterburie for the same offence and in other Townes of Kent and Sussex was doone the lyke execution In the raygne of King Edward the fourth WAlter Walker a Grocer that dwelt in Chepe for certaine wordes that he spake touching King Edward was beheaded in Smithféeld on the twelfth day of March. Nicholas Faunt Mayor of Canterburie Spicing Quintin and other were hanged and headed at Canterburie for rebelling against King Edward the heads of Spicing and Quintin were set on Algate of London Thomas the Bastard Faulconbridge who tooke parte with the Rebelles in Kent against the King was taken at Southhampton and was beheaded at the Castell of Mildeham in Yorkeshiere his head was sent to London and there set on the Bridge Thomas Burdet an Esquier of Warwickeshiere sonne to Sir Nicholas Burdet for speaking of Treasonable wordes against the King was condemned of Treason drawne from the Tower of London to Tiborne and there beheaded In the raigne of King Edward the fift TO set downe the troublesome accidentes happening in this Kinges raigne would require a verie large discourse growe to greater quantitie then the scope that I haue intended beside for that troubles did still follow one in an others necke both in his life time as also after his death by reason he left two Sonnes who were so young in yéeres as they could not take the gouernment vpon them I will therefore referre you to the Chronicles which at large will certifie you of that which I am loth héere to rehearse yet it shall not be a misse to report vnto you howe the King lying on his death bedde desired to pacifie and set in good agréement those that had long time béene heauie enimies especiallie the Lord Marques Dorset the Quéens Sonne by her first Husband and William the Lorde Hastinges a Noble man then Lord Chamberlaine and for his Highnesse would gladlie sée all enmitie ceased before he died he called them into his Chamber when lyfting himselfe vp and being vp helde with pillowes he vttered to them a woorthy Oration which Oration for that it sheweth notable examples to vnsteadie and wilfull heads and deliuereth good councell to all ingenerall I haue béene so bolde to insert it héere to shew the Princelie aduise of so noble a King as also to giue some light of the troubles in those dayes The Oration of the King which he spake lying on his death bedde MY Lordes my déere Kinsemen alyes in what plight I lie you sée and I féele by which the lesse while I looke to liue with you the more déepelie am I mooued to care in what case I leaue you for such as I leaue you such be my children like to finde you Which if they should as God forbid finde you at variaunce might hap to fall themselues at warre ere their discretion would serue to set you at peace Ye sée their youth of which I recken the onelie suretie to rest in your concorde for it suffiseth not that all you loue them if eche of you hate other if they were men your faithfulnesse happilie would suffise but childehoodde must be maintained by mens aucthoritie and slipper youth vnder-propped with elder councell which neither they can haue but ye giue it nor ye giue it if ye grée not For where eche laboureth to breake that the other maketh and for hatred of eche others person impugneth eche others councell there must it néeds be long ere any good conclusion goe forward And also while either partie laboureth to be chéefe flatterie shall haue more place then plaine and faithfull aduise of which must néedes ensue the euill bringing vp of the Prince whose minde in tender youth infected shall readilie fal to mischéefe riot and draw downe with his noble Realme to ruine but if Grace turne him to wisedome which if God send then they that by euill meanes before pleased him best shall after fall furthest out of fauour so that euer at length euill driftes drawe to naught and good plaine waies prosper Great variaunce hath there long béene betwéene you not alway for great causes sometime a thing right well intended our misse construction turneth vnto wurse or a small displeasure doone vs either our own affectiō or euill tongues agréeueth but this I wot well ye neuer had so great cause of hatred as ye haue of loue That we be all men that we be Christian men this shall I leaue for Preachers to tell ye and yet I wot nere whether any Preachers wordes ought more to mooue ye then his that
beséech thée to heare me thy creature which am thy seruaunt and at thy commaundement trusting by thy grace euer so to remaine About which time it was spread abroade that her Grace should be carried from thence by this new iollie Captaine and his Soldiours but whether it could not be learned which was vnto her a great gréefe especiallie for that such a companie was appointed to her garde requesting rather to continue there still then to be led thence with such a sort of rascalles At last plaine aunswere was made by the Lord Shandoyes that there was no remedie but from thence she must néeds depart to the Manour of Woodstocke as he thought Being demaunded of her for what cause for that quoth he the Tower is like further to be furnished She being destrous to know what he meant thereby demaunded wherwith with such matter as the Quéene and the Councell were determined in that behalfe wherof he had no knowledge and so departed In conclusion on Trinitie Sunday being the ninetéene day of Maie she was remooued from the Tower the Lord Treasurer being then there for the lading of her Cartes and discharging the place of the same where Sir Henrie Benifield being appointed her Gaoler did receiue her with a company of rakehelles to garde her beside the Lord of Darbyes band wafting in the Countrie about for the Moone-shine in the water Unto whome at length came my Lord of Tame ioyned in Commission with the saide Sir Henrie for the safe guiding of her to prison and they together conueied her Grace to Woodstocke as héereafter followeth The first day they conducted her to Richmond where she continued all night being restrained of her owne men which were lodged in out Chambers and Sir Henrie Benifieldes Soldiours appointed in their roomes to giue attendaunce on her personne Whereat she being meruailouslie dismaied thinking verilie some secrete mischéefe to be working towardes her called her Gentleman Usher and desired him with the rest of his company to pray for her for this night quoth she I thinke to die Wherewith he being stricken to the heart saide God forbid that any such wickednesse should be pretended against your Grace So comforting her as well as he could at last he burst into teares went from her downe into the Court wher were walking the Lord of Tame and Sir Henry Benefield Then he cōming to the Lord of Tame who had proffered to him much fréendshippe desired to speake with him a word or two vnto whom he familiarlie said he should with all his heart Which when Sir Henrie standing by heard he asked what the matter was To whome the Gentleman Usher aunswered No great matter Sir saide he but to speake with my Lord a woord or two Then when the Lord of Tame came to him he spake on this wise My Lord quoth he you haue béene alwaies my good Lord and so I beséech you to remaine The cause why I come to you at this time is to desire your Honour fréendlie to declare to me whether any daunger is meant to my Mistresse this night or no that I and my poore fellowes may take such part as shall please God to appoint for certainlie we will rather die then she should secretlie and innocentlie miscarie Marie saide the Lord of Tame God forbidde that any such wicked purpose should be wrought and rather then it should be so I with my men are ready to die at her foote also And so praised be God they passed that dolefull night with no little heauinesse of heart Afterward passing ouer the water at Richmond going towards VVindsor her Grace espied certaine of her poore seruants stāding on the other side which were verie desirous to sée her Whome when she behelde turning to one of her men standing by she saide Yonder I sée certaine of my men goe to them and say these wordes from me Tanquam ouis So she passing forward to VVindsore was lodged there that night in the Deane of VVindsores house a place in déede more méet for a Priest then a Princesse And from thence her Grace was garded and brought the next night to Maister Dormers house where much people standing by the waie some presented to her one gift and some an other so that Sir Henrie was greatlie mooued therewith and troubled the poore people verie sore for shewing their louing hearts in such a manner calling them Rebels and Traitours with such like vile wordes Beside as he passed through the Uillages the Townsemen rang the Belles as being ioyfull of her comming thinking verilie it had béene otherwise then it was in déede as the sequell prooued after to the said poore men For immediatlie the said Sir Henrie hearing the same sent his Soldiours thether who apprehended some of the Ringers setting them in the stockes and otherwise vncourteouslie misusing othersome for their good willes On the next morrowe her Grace passing from Maister Dormers where for the time of her abode there was a straite watche kept came to the Lord of Tames house where she laie all that night being verie Princelie entertained both of Knightes and Ladies gentlemen and gentlewomen Whereat Sir Henrie Benifield grunted and was highlie offended saying vnto them That they could not tel what they did and were not able to aunswer their dooinges in that behalfe Letting them to vnderstand that she was the Quéenes Maiesties prisoner and no otherwise aduising them therefore to take héede and beware of afterclappes Wherevnto the Lord of Tame aunswered on this wise That he was well aduised of his dooinges being ioyned in Commission as well as he adding with warrant that her Grace might should in his house be merie The next day as she should take her iorney from Kichmond toward VVoodstocke the Lord of Tame with an other Gentleman being at the Tables playing and dropping vye Crownes the Lady Elizabeth passing by staied and saide she would sée the game plaide out which Sir Henrie Benifield would scarce permit The game running long about and they playing drop vye Crownes Come on sayth he I will tarie sayth she and will sée this game out After this Sir Henrie went vp into a Chamber where was appointed for her Grace a Chayre two Cushions and a foote Carpet very faire and Princelike wherein presumptuouslie he sate and called one Barwicke his man to pull off his Bootes Which as soone as it was knowne among the Ladies and Gentles euerie one mused thereat and laughed him to scorne obseruing his vndiscrete manners in that behalfe as they might verie wel When Supper was doon he called my Lord willed him that all the Ladies and gentlemen should withdraw them selues euerie one to his lodging meruailing much that he would permit there such a company considering so great a charge committed to him Sir Henry quoth my Lord content your selfe all shall be voided your men and all Nay my Soldiours quoth Sir Henrie shall watch all night The Lord
may be great crueltie when it ouerfloweth to the good mens daunger The other Conclusions that followe haue great difference from these whereof I haue made some explication yet haue I not made so large an explication as trueth is well and easilie able to furnishe neither can I so well make it as the expedience of the cause asketh to giue the vauntage of eloquence to the goodnesse of the matter to helpe to drawe it into credite and effect of well moouing But being as it is rude and true great cunning and finenesse is the lesse néedefull where those for whome it is intended are so wise as it is farre more easie for naked troth to enforme them then for any gaie spéeche to leads them As for the other Conclusions that followe I neither haue nor will wade so farre in them because they are matters of consultation and meditation The effect thereof which is the safe preseruation of the Quéenes royall Maiestie and the Realme the auoiding of daungers that threaten the same the establishing of assurednesse boldnesse courage and fréedome of her Highnesse most good Councellours and Subiectes the taking auauntage of oportunitie and occasions the wéeding out of deceiuers and vnderminers the defence of her Maiesties honour and dignity the meanes to aunswer their charge toward God and namelie in dealing with men as they be affectioned to or against God The effect I saye of these other Conclusions I knowe doo continuallie busie her Maiestie and her most honourable Counsailours in thinking on them and prouiding for them therefore it shall no furder occupie me and other meane Subiectes then in prayer and readinesse to serue as her Maiestie and her Councell shall sée fitte to imploy vs. It shall suffise me and so ought it to content all other to knowe as we doo knowe what a wise Prince we haue what good Councell she hath chosen how well they haue gouerned what fruite we haue had of it so as nothing is left to vs but to giue thankes to beware that our sinnes giue not the occasion of losse and chaunge to serue duetifullie and to pray deuoutlie The Conclusion THus haue I England bréefelie collected such matters héere together as if thou héedfullie marke thou mayst make great profite of them And in trueth great néede thou hast to be carefull of them for Papistes were neuer bolder nor treason put more in practise then it hath béene of late dayes Remember that cruell murder in Fraunce at the mariage when the famous Admirall Shatilion was so vnnaturallie murdered Remember the late and horrible murder of the noble Prince of Orange and let these teach thée to be more circumspecte to that daungerous broode I could wade into furder matters as to tell thée of many other crimes and offences which thou hast meruailous néede to looke vnto but because I entended this present purpose in this Watchwoord I referre the rest to my other Booke called the Court of Conscience which thou shalt shortlie receyue from me And I dare awarrant thée that thou neuer readst not such a Booke in all thy life both for the circumstances of the matter and the woorthinesse of the whole in generall but tyll it come that thou thy selfe mayst iudge of it I will bréefelie desire thée to ioyne in prayer with me for the good successe of all happinesse that may please God to send thée Let vs praye that we may sée when those that shall wrest or procure to chaunge Lawe to erect the courage of any daungerous Uiper to such endes or to any aspiring hope of preuenting and vndermining vnder what couller name pretence or otherwise or to the safegarde of their persons that haue so attempted that they maye be declared and executed as enimies to the state and to the Quéenes safetie Let vs praye that we may sée such Lawes prouided for her Highnesse preseruation and the same so executed without restraint or slackenesse for any respect as the hope of Papistes such as be enimies to God the Quéene and the Realme may if they repent not be cutte off for euer Let vs praye to liue to sée that none may haue place Office or accesse into her Maiesties Court nor household no nor once into her presence that shall not be knowne to fauour both God and her so farre as any circumspection or policie can prouide it Let vs praye that no Office of dignitie Lawe or Iustice may be in their handes who doo not fauour the Lawe of God and acknowledge her Maiesties right that is head of Lawe and Iustice in this Realme Let vs praye that her Maiestie and her Councell may haue such particular knowledge of men that those that haue well deserued yea haue and yet doo hazard their liues in her Maiesties defence and haue vtterlie wasted themselues and their fréendes in her Maiesties seruice yet remaining vnrecompenced that they maye not loose the benefite of their labours that no euill tongue maye raise slaunder to their discredite but that they maye according to their good seruice be effectuallie and duelie rewarded the onelie meane to encourage other to earnest taking of paines Let vs praye that all such as be her Maiesties enimies may be weakened and her faithfull fréendes and well-willers strengthened that all auauntages may be vsed for her safetie and all subtill deuises and practises may be supplanted We trust it will be so for God hath not drawne these late mischéefes into lyght for nothing But before all thinges let vs praye to GOD to sende vs true repentaunce more ioyfull and effectuall receyuing of his Gospell and more and more vertuous ensuing it least as we lost our best King with liuing yll wee loose our best Quéene with liuing wurse And that therewith it may please him to direct all the dooinges of her Maiestie and her Councell to procéede in their good aduauncing his glorie and preseruation of the estate which without ielous circumspection for preseruing the Quéenes most royall personne can not be doone And that such good meanes and prouisions as GOD offereth to that ende be not refused or neglected which were to tempt GOD to forsake his cause to betraie our noble Prince and to giue away or rather cast away the Realme These be the daylie and nightlie prayers of good Subiectes and while we busie our selues with these prayers we doo after our principall confidence in Gods goodnesse rest our selues vppon the trust of her Maiestie and her most honourable Councell for whome we prayse God and to them we referre the guiding of vs and ours readie to followe them when we are commaunded with the vttermost of our power and perill knowing how they spare not their vttermost endeuour and perill with susteining the most vnpleasaunt life God knowes that may be for our sakes for our quiet profits and defence FINIS God long preserue and blesse our Queene Elizabeth and confound all her enimies Honos alit Artes. A. M. A comparison betweene a mans body and a
is by and by going to the place that they all preach of But this shall I desire you to remember that the one part of you is of my blood the other of my alyes and eche of you with other either of kindred or affinitie which Spirituall kindred of affinitie if the Sacraments of Christes Church beare that weight with vs as would God they did should no lesse mooue vs to charitie then the respect of fleshly consanguinitie Our Lord forbid that you loue together the wurse for the selfe cause you ought to loue the better and yet it happeneth and no where finde we so deadlie debate as among them who by nature and lawe ought most to agrée together Such a pestilent Serpent is ambition and desire of vaineglorie and soueraigntie which among States where he once entreth créepeth so farre foorth till with deuision and variaunce he turneth all to mischéefe first longing to be best afterward equall with the best and at last chéefe aboue the best Of which immoderate appetite of worship and thereby of debate and discention what losse what sorrowe what trouble hath within these fewe yéeres growne in this Realme I praye God as well forgette as we well remember which thinges if I could as well haue foreséen as I haue with my more paine then pleasure prooued by Gods blessed Lady for that was euer his oath I would neuer haue wunne the courtesie of mennes knées with the losse of so many heads But séeing thinges past cannot be called againe much ought we the more beware by what occasion we haue taken so great hurt before that we est soones fall not in that occasion againe Nowe is all these gréefes past and all is God be thanked quiet and likely right well to prosper in wealthfull peace vnder your Couzins my children if God send them life and you loue of which two thinges the lesse losse were they by whome though God did his pleasure yet should the Realme alway finde Kinges and peraduenture as good Kinges But if you among your selues in a Childes raigne fall at debate many a good man shall perishe and happilie he too ere this Land finde peace againe Wherefore in these last wordes that euer I looke to speake with you I exhort you and require you all for the loue that you haue euer borne to me for the loue that I haue euer borne to you for the loue that our Lord beareth vnto vs all from this time foreward all gréefes forgotten eche of you loue other which I verilie trust you will if you any thing regard either God or your King affinitie or kindred this Realme your owne Countrie or your owne suretie And therewithall the King enduring no longer to sitte vp laide him downe on his right side his face towardes them and none was there present that could refraine from wéeping But the Lordes recomforting him with as good wordes as they could and aunswering for the time as they thought to stand with his pleasure there in his presence as by their wordes appeared eche forgaue other and ioyned their handes together when as it after appeared by their déedes their heartes were farre a sunder The young King after the decease of his Father came towardes London when the Duke of Glocester his Unckle began greatlie to thirst for the kingdome and wexed very enuious that so young a Prince should reigne whervpon he depriued the young King of them that were néerest about him and whome he thought would hinder his aspiring minde First Sir Anthonie Wooduile Lord Riuers and brother to the Quéene who had the gouernaunce and ordering of the young King he caused to put him in duraunce and afterward euen in the Kinges presence he procured a quarrell to be picked with the Lord Richard Grey the Kings other Brother by the Mother and arrested him and Sir Thomas Vaughan Knight and so farre procéeded he in his determination by the aide of the Duke of Buckingham and others as the Lord Riuers the Lord Grey Sir Thomas Vaughan were sent into the North partes to sundrie prisons but afterward were all beheaded at Pomfret Then did he take vpon him the gouernance of the young King and was called the Lord Protectour when hauing the King in his custodie he could not be yet contented except he had the other brother too and therefore by meanes of the Lord Cardinall he preuailed in his purpose and brought the other Childe to the King his Brother into the Bishops Pallace at Paules and from thence through the Cittie honourablie into the Tower out of the which after that day they neuer came abroade When the Protector had both the Children thus in his custody he opened his intent more boldly both to certaine other men as also chéefelie to the Duke of Buckingham that he would néedes be King himselfe in all the haste and he should haue the Dukes aide to make him King besides the Protectors onelie lawfull Sonne should marie the Dukes daughter and that the Protectour should graunt him the quiet possession of the Earledome of Hertforde and beside these requestes of the Duke the Protectour promised him of his owne minde a great quantitie of the Kings Treasure and of his houshold stuffe In bréefe the Protectour taketh vpon him to be King and so preuailed that he was crowned King but when he remembred that his two Nephewes were liuing in the Tower and one of them the right King in déede he perswaded himselfe as verie well he might that men would account him to haue no right to the Realme therefore he thought to dispatch them out of the way as though the killing of his kinsemen could amend his cause make him a kindlie King Upon this he sent one Iohn Greene whome he specially trusted to Sir Robert Brakenburie Constable of the Tower with a letter credence also that the same Sir Robert should in any wise put the two Chyldren to death but when Iohn Greene had doone his errand to Sir Robert he plainlie aunswered that by no meanes he would put them to death When King Richard perceyued he could not preuaile that way he brake the matter to Sir Iames Tirrell whome he found verie tractable to his intent wherefore he sent him on the morrowe with a Letter to Sir Robert Brakenburie by which Letter he was commaunded to delyuer to Sir Iames all the keies of the Tower for one night to the ende he might there accomplish the Kinges pleasure in such thinges as he had giuen him commaundement After which Letter deliuered and the keies receiued Sir Iames appointed the night ensuing to destroy the two young Princes deuising before and preparing the meanes The Prince so soone as the Protectour had lefte that name and tooke vpon himselfe to be King was thereof infourmed that he should not reigne but his Unckle would haue the Crowne At which wordes the Prince being greatlie abashed fetching a heauie sigh saide Alas I would mine
her Graces waiting seruaunts and so warded them both in and out At the saide sute of her Officers were sent by the commaundement of the Councell to waite vppon her Grace two Yeomen of her Chamber one of her Robes two of her Pantrie and Ewrie one of her Buttry an other of her Seller two of her Kitchin and one of her Larder all which continued with her the time of her trouble Heere the Constable being at the first not verie well pleased with the comming in of such a company against his will would haue had his men to haue serued still with her Graces men which her seruaunts at no hand would suffer desiring his Lordship to be contented for that order was taken that no stranger should come within their Offices At which aunswer being sore displeased he brake out into these threatning words Well saide he I wil handle ye well enough Then went he into the Kitchin and there would néedes haue his meat rosted with her Graces meat and saide that his Cooke should come thither and dresse it To that her Graces Cooke aunswered My Lord I will neuer suffer any straunger to come about her diet but her owne sworne men so long as I liue He saide they should But the Cooke saide his Lordshippe should pardon him for that matter Thus did he trouble her poore seruaunts very stoutlie though afterwardes he were otherwise aduised they more courteouslie vsed at his hands And good cause why for he had good chéere fared of the best her Grace paid wel for it wherfore he vsed himselfe afterward more reuerentlie toward her Grace After this sort hauing béen a whole moneth there in close prison and being verie euill at ease therewithall she sent for the Lord Chamberlaine and the Lord Shandoyes to come speake with her Who comming she requested of them that she might haue libertie to walke in some place for that she felt her selfe not well To the which they aunswered that they were right sory that they could not satisfie her Graces request for that they had commaundement to the contrarie which they durst not in any wise breake Furthermore she desired of them if that could not be graunted that she might walke but into the Quéenes lodging No nor yet that they aunswered could by any meanes be obtained without a furder sute to the Quéene and her Councell Well saide she my Lordes if the matter be so hard that they must be sued vnto for so small a thing and that fréendshippe be so straite God comfort me and so they departed she remaining in her olde dungeon still without any kinde of comfort but onelie God The next day after the Lord Shandoyes came againe vnto her Grace declaring vnto her that he had sued vnto the Councell for furder libertie Some of them consented thervnto diuers other dissented for that there were so many prisoners in the Tower But in conclusion they did all agrée that her Grace might walke into those lodginges so that he the Lord Chamberlaine and thrée of the Quéenes gentlewomen did accompany her the windowes being shutte and she not suffred to looke out at any of them wherewith she contented her selfe and gaue him thankes for his good will in that behalfe Afterwardes there was libertie graunted to her Grace to walke in a little garden the doores and gates being shutte vp which notwithstanding was as much discomfort vnto her as the walke in the garden was pleasant and acceptable At which times of her walking there the prisoners on that side were straightlie commaunded not to speake or looke out at the windowes into the garden till her Grace were gone out againe hauing in consideration therof their kéepers waiting vppon them for that time Thus her Grace with this small libertie contented her selfe in God to whome be praise therefore During this time there vsed a little boie a mans childe in the Tower to resort to their chambers and many times to bring her Grace flowers which likewise he did to the other prisoners that were there Wherevpon naughtie and suspicious heads thinking to make wring out some matter thereof called on a time the childe vnto them promising him Figges and Apples and asking of him when he had béene with the Earle of Deuonshiere not ignorant of the childes wunted frequenting vnto him The boye aunswered that he would goe by and by thether Further they demaunded of him when he was with the Lady Elizabethes Grace He aunswered euerie day Furthermore they demaunded of him What the Lord of Deuonshiere sent by him to her Grace The childe said I will goe know what he will giue me to carrie to her Such was the discretion of the child being yet but foure yéeres of age This same is a craftie boie quoth the Lord Chamberlaine How say you my Lord Shandoyes I praie you my Lord quoth the boie giue me the Figges you promised me No marie quoth he thou shalt be wipped if thou come any more to the Lady Elizabeth or to the Lord Courtney The boie aunswered I will bring my Lady my Mistresse more flowers Whervpon the childes father was commaunded to permitte the boie no more to come vp into their chambers The next day as her Grace was walking in the garden the childe péeping in at a little hole in the doore cried vnto her saying Mistresse I can bring you no more flowers Whereat she smiled but saide nothing vnderstanding thereby what they had doone Wherefore afterwards the L. Chamberlaine rebuked highlie his Father cōmaunding him to put him out of the house Alas poore Infaunt quoth the Father It is a craftie knaue quoth the Lord Chamberlaine but let me sée him héere no more The fift day of Maie the Constable was discharged of his Office of the Tower and one Sir Henrie Benifield placed in his roome a man vnknowne to her Grace and therefore the more feared which so sudden mutation was vnto her no little amaze He brought with him an hundred Soldiours in blew coates wherewith she was meruailouslie discomforted and demaunded of such as were about her whether the Ladie Ianes Scaffold were taken away or no fearing by reason of their comming least she should haue plaied her part To whome aunswere was made that the Scaffold was taken away and that her Grace néeded not to doubt of any such tirannie for God would not suffer any such treason against her person Wherewith being contented but not altogether satisfied she asked what Sir Henrie Benifield was And whether he were of the conscience or no that if her murdering were secretlie committed to his charge he would sée the execution thereof She was aunswered that they were ignorant what manner of man he was howbeit they perswaded her that God would not suffer such wickednesse to procéede Well quoth she God graunt it be so for thou O God canst mollifie all such tirannous hearts and disappoint all such cruell purposes And I
of Tame aunswered it shall not néede Well saide he néede or néede not they shall so doo mistrusting belike the company which God knoweth was without cause The next daie her Grace tooke her iourney from thence to Woodstocke where she was inclosed as before in the Tower of London the Soldiours garding and warding both within and without the walles euery day to the number of thrée score and in the night without the walles fortie during the time of her imprisonment there At length she had gardens appointed for her to walke in which was verie comfortable to her Grace but alwaies when she did recreate her selfe therein the doores were fast locked vp and in as straite manner as they were in the Tower being at least fiue or six lockes betwéene her lodging and her walkes Sir Henrie himself kéeping the keies and trusting no man therewith Wherevpon she called him her Gaoler and he knéeling downe desired her Grace not to call him so for he was appointed there to be one of her Officers From such Officers quoth she good Lord deliuer me And now by the way as digressing or rather refreshing the Reader if it be lawfull in so serious a storie to recite a matter incident and yet not impertinent to the same occasion héere mooueth or rather enforceth me to touch bréeflie what happened in the same place and time by a merie conceited man being then about her Grace Who noting the straite and straunge kéeping of his Lady Mistresse by the said Sir Henrie Benifield with so many locks doores with such watch and warde about her as was strange and wunderful espied a Goate in the warde where her Grace was and whether to refreshe her oppressed minde or to notifie her straite handling by Sir Henrie either els both he tooke it vppon his necke and followed her Grace therewith as she was going into her lodging Which when she sawe she asked him what he would doo with it willing to let it alone Unto whome the same partie aunswered No by saint Marie if it like your Grace will I not for I cannot tell whether he be one of the Quéenes fréendes or no I will carrie him to Sir Henrie Benifield God willing to knowe what he is So leauing her Grace he went with the Goate on his necke and carried it to Sir Henrie Benifield who when he sawe him comming with it asked him halfe angerlie what he had there Unto whome the partie aunswered saying Sir quoth he I cannot tell what he is I praie you examine him for I found him in the place where my Ladies Grace was walking what talke they haue had I cannot tell for I vnderstand him not but he should séeme to me to be some straunger and I thinke verilie a Welch man for he hath a white fréese coate on his backe And for so much as I being the Quéenes subiect and perceiuing the straite charge committed to you of her kéeping that no straunger should haue accesse vnto her without sufficient licence I haue héere found a stranger what he is I cannot tell in place where her Grace was walking and therfore for the necessarie discharge of my duety I thought it good to bring the saide straunger to you to examine as you sée cause and so he let him downe At which wordes Sir Henrie séemed much displeased and saide Well well you will neuer leaue this géere I sée and so they departed Now to returne to the matter from whence we haue digressed after her Grace had béene there a time she made sute to the Councell that she might be suffered to write to the Quéene which at last was permitted So that Sir Henrie brought her pen inke and paper and standing by her while she wrote which he straitlie obserued alwayes she being wearie he would carrie away her Letters and bring them againe when she called for them In the finishing therof he would haue béen messenger to the Quéene of the same whose request her Grace denied saying One of her owne men should carrie them and that she would neither trust him nor none of his therein Then he aunswering againe saide None of them durst be so bolde he trowed to carie her Letters being in that case Yes quoth she I am assured I haue none so dishonest that would denie my request in that behalfe but will be as willing to serue me now as before Well saide he my Commission is to the contrarie and I may not so suffer it Her Grace replying againe saide You charge me verie often with your Commission I praye God you may iustlie aunswere the cruell dealing you vse towardes me Then he knéeling downe desired her Grace to thinke and consider how he was a seruaunt and put in trust by the Quéene to serue her Maiestie protesting that if the case were hers he would as willinglie serue her Grace as nowe he did the Quéenes highnesse For the which his aunswer her Grace thanked him desiring of God that she might neuer haue néede of such seruauntes as he was declaring further to him that his dooinges towards her were not good nor aunswerable but more then all the fréends he had would stand by To whome Sir Henrie replied and saide That there was no remedie but his dooinges must be aunswered and so they should trusting to make good account thereof The cause which mooued her Grace so to saye was for that he would not permitte her Letters to be carried foure or fiue daies after the writing therof But in fine he was content to send for her gentleman from the Towne of Woodstocke demaunding of him whether he durst enterprise the carriage of her Graces Letters to the Quéene or no and he aunswered yea Sir that I dare and wil with all my hart Wherevpon Sir Henrie halfe against his stomacke tooke them vnto him Then about the eight day of Iune came downe Doctour Owen and Doctour Wendie sent by the Quéene to her Grace for that she was sicklie who ministring to her and letting her blood tarried there and attended on her Grace fiue or sixe dayes Then she being well amended they returned againe to the Court making their good report to the Quéene and the Councell of her Graces behauiour and humblenesse towardes the Quéenes Highnesse Which her Maiestie hearing tooke verie thankefullie but the Bishoppes therat repined looked blacke in the mouth and tolde the Quéene they meruailed that she submitted not her selfe to her Maiesties mercie considering that she had offended her Highnesse About this time her Grace was requested by a secrete fréend to submit her self to the Quéenes Maiestie which would be very well taken and to her Grace great quiet and commodity vnto whom she aunswered That she would neuer submitte her selfe to them whome she neuer offended For quoth she if I haue offended and am guiltie I then craue no mercie but the lawe which I am certaine quoth she I should haue had ere this
as they haue béene Alas canst thou thus blindlie ouerthrowe thy selfe in conceite Doost thou not consider that all these euill impes haue béene of thine owne bréeding and that thou hast fostred such Children as haue pierced into thy bowelles shaken all thy sinewes yea and almost haue wrung the verie marowe out of thy ioyntes whereby thou hast béene so féebled and thy strength so farre decaied as without Gods great mercie thou hadst béene vnable euer to arise againe And cannot these irking occasions yet make thée mindful of thy good Cannot these bitter passions cause thée to look better to thy children To traine them vp in more awe of God in better affection to their Prince and in more effectuall loue then they yet shew to thy selfe If thy children be so vnnatural as to make their mother smart thou shalt but shew thy selfe naturall in ministring correction for better they wéepe then thou bléede so shall they in time finde it to their benefite and thou thy selfe liue to be a happy mother But if thou séeke that state of quietnesse and art desirous to weede out such badde plantes as trouble thy whole Soyle thou must looke into the dealinges of thy Children more heedefullie then thou doost and spying where the inconuenience lyeth rather slippe off that braunch suddenlie then hazard the perishing of the whole body and then thou shalt take an vndoubted good course then treason and tretcherous practises will neuer be so rife and such queazie stomackes as cannot brooke necessarie councell but follow euerie disordered humour will be glad to call themselues home againe and liue within compasse of duetie and modestie But whence grow these daungerous practises And who are they that set foote in these traiterous attempts Alas it is soone seene by reason the open apparaunce from time to time dooth make it euident There is no one that repineth at her Maiesties safety no one that lifteth at the wel setled gouernement of this Realme nor any one more ready to pul down the chéefe piller of our happines but either he is a Papist or else meruailously addicted that way And haue we not good cause so to perswade our selues when we sée it dailie before our eyes that they are men of that coate and either haue receiued encouragement amongst their fellowes beyond Seas or else haue béene imboldened by such as secretly flippe ouer into the Realme to follow that traiterous intent which they long time haue practised And then when God reuealeth their wicked spirites and bringeth them into the lyght that they may be example to other then they crie out I am a Catholique I will dye in the Catholique cause and thus vnder shewe of Religion they would deceiue the world with their horrible treasons It is now hie time therfore when Traitors themselues haue giuen warning of their owne treasons to search the confederacie yea and as Miners followe the signes euerie way as they spread in the ground till they be guided to the trunke or body of the Mettall so to followe the apparaunces of suspitions and likelyhoods tyll it appeare plainlie what light made the shaddowe or what fire made the smoke It is not good tarying tyll the flame mounting in the ayre aboue the house toppe the principals and pillers consumed and eche part so imbraced with fire that no aide dare approche doo plainlie declare the whole building past hope of recouerie Fires oftentimes negligentlie raked vp sticks endes not throughly quenched embers not regarded a candles ende not looked vnto haue brought many an honest man to pittifull calamitie I like therefore better the honest wisedome of those that studie how the Quéenes Maiestie our most gratious Ladie may stand and not fall then the reaching pollicie of those that deuise how themselues may stand when the Queene is fallen God preserue her Highnesse long for her falling would make a Sampsons poste with vs all yea and rightlie a Sampsons poste for no doubt it would broose them too that be busiest to pull it downe But now England I will be so bolde as to emblazon the Papists a little better that thou maist be the more héedfull to them and giue no credite to their secrete perswasions and according as a woorthy learned man hath héeretofore painted them foorth in notable conclusions euen so since the time place matter requireth it so fitlie it shall not be a misse héere to remember thée of the verie same conclusions and surelie all true Christians and all true Englishe subiectes ought to beléeue and may well knowe that these are verie true and vndoubted conclusions First that euerie Papist that is to saye euerie one that beléeueth all the Popes doctrine to be true is an enimie and traytour against the Maiestie and honour of God against the Crownes and dignities of all Kinges and temporall Princes and against the wealth and safetie of all ciuill Kingdomes policies and Common weales Secondlie that euerie such English Papist is a traitour to the Quéene of England and hateth her life wisheth the alteration of her gouernement and liueth in hope of an other world which euen by an ordinarie by-word it is said themselues doo call their Golden day Thirdlie that euerie such Englishe Papist is a speciall traitour to the Realme of England and hath no regard into what slauerie subiection to forreine tirannie dishonour or other miserie it be throwne so that their false Idolatrous and superstitious religion be restored with liberty to spoile and murder without respect of dignitie age sexe learning reuerence honestie or nature Fourthlie that no clemencie gentlenesse benefits or louing dealing can win a Papist while he continueth a Papist to loue her Maiestie how much so euer he dissemble nor bring them to ascribe their safetie to any her benefites nor to any praise of her owne goodnesse but either to their owne dissimulation practise and falsehood which some call cunning or to the holinesse of their cause for whome God forsooth so prouideth as his annointed ones may not possiblie by Lawe or at least execution of Lawe be touched Where in déede if they continue styll vnpunished it must be thought that GOD so purueyeth because the punishments of this world are not sufficient for them but yet in the meane time it serueth to make them vnexcusable by whose default so daungerous Woolues remayne in the flocke Item that Papistry hath this propertie of heresies contrarie to the nature of Gods trueth that is to be throwne downe with aduersitie and to flourishe with indulgence and lenitie Item that as it is reason that the owner of a shéepbiter Mastife knowing his dogges qualitie should either hang vp his dogge or pay for the shéepe that his dogge worrieth So those that haue notorious Shéepbiters murderers of Gods flocke in their custody and power must make their account either to hang vp or otherwise dispatche their curres or else to aunswer to God for the blood of
his shéep both such as they haue destroyed and such as they may destroie by any possibilitie héereafter Item that all aduises to great personages to perswade neutralitie or an entertaining of contrarie sides in Religion with vncertainty of countenaunce and fauour is the waie to supplant assured safetie to make sure enimies and vnsure fréendes to lye open to parasites and traitours to be vnknowne to other and to be vnable to discerne what other be to them Item that timerous policie is the wurst policie that may be whatsoeuer the cause be good or bad and wurst of all it is in best causes Wherein as her Maiestie hath neither want of constaunt magnanimitie nor cause of feare so is it méete that her enimies haue no stomacke to contemne her nor by excesse of clemencie to misconstrue her goodnesse as lacke of daring Item that by the great nouelties and alterations of times that haue happened within our memorie there is risen a coÌ„mon policie among the people to ioyne to strong and safe sides whereby they are aliened from the fearefull and therefore it is to be prouided that there be a boldnesse of safetie to serue the Quéenes Maiestie truelie and zealouslie and an assurednesse of daunger to her enimies Item by boldnesse and sharpe execution vpon enimies the fréendes are encouraged and contrariwise if the dauÌ„gerous traitour be not remooued the true Subiect may be left in perill and thereby the rest of good Subiects disabled or at least discouraged to venter so farre againe and the fréedome of consultation in the meane time for preseruing the Prince impeached Item that it is as truelie saide Improbum hominem praestat non accusasse quam absoluere It is better not to meddle with a daungerous naughtie man then to let him goe for what were it else but to set an house on fire and run away by the light Item that occasions and â—â—tte oportunities ouer slipped are not recouerable Item that many times it is as small an offence to giue a warrant to kill a true man as to pardon a murderer or a traitour as a wise Shéepheard will rather giue leaue to a Hunter to kill the best Lambe in his flocke then to let goe a Fore or a Woolfe Item that the liues of Kinges and Princes are the liues and soules of their Kingdoms and Common weales whereby they are to consider that in being prodigall of their owne safeties in excesse of clemencie to traitours or in securitie of exposing their personnes to perilles Largiuntur ex alieno they be liberall of that which is not their owne to giue Item that no Traitour is more perillous then he that wresteth the Lawe to raise an vnderminer of the Princes Crowne to her daunger Item that he is iustlie to be suspected that shall practise with any vaine deuise of pacification or coullored clemencie to rebate or blunt the edge of the Princes sword or so to tye it in the scabberd that it may not be drawne for her defence as if such qualifiers hiders and cloakers should séeke to abuse that most reuerend and holie figure of Maiestie to no good end or other end then God ordained it Item that God cannot well take it if he be lesse zealouslie serued then the deuill that there be lesse feruencie shewed by truelie learned Princes for auauncing of Gods honour against his enimies then hath béen by abused and deceiued Princes for setting vp of the kingdome of the deuill and Antichrist Item that Gods commaundements of placabilitie and forgiuenesse extend to our owne enimies but not to his enimies against reuenge of priuate displeasures and not against seueritie and sharpe execution in cases of Gods honour and Common weales wherein is alwayes to be noted that the Prince is so not a priuate but a publique person as no attempt against her Maiesties safetie can or ought to be accounted a priuate cause The full proofe and large explication of these conclusions though it be easie as a thing which not onelie all conueniencie of reason affirmeth but also daylie experience laieth before all mens eyes that haue a frée consideration not accombred with corrupt zeale and affection so yet surelie were it a méete thing to be handled by some man as could adde thereto such ornamentes of spéeche such strength of eloquence and pith of perswasion as might not onelie be vnderstoode and beléeued but be felt and mooue Héere any most excellent Orators speciall vertues might be well imployed A fit argument sure it were to shewe wit and knowledge but speciallie trueth good meaning But tyll some fit person shall take it in hand to bestowe his more profitable trauaile that waie let vs yet for vnlading of some of the aboundaunce of intire deuotion for Gods trueth for her most excellent Maiestie and our Countrie haue some remembraunce of the particularities thereof For the first article that defineth Papistes that accuseth them of treason to God to Kinges and to Realmes if it be well weied it cannot but quicklie be séen for vndoubted trueth Though it be true that euerie one that holdeth any one error or article of doctrine that the Pope teacheth varying from the word of God is in that article a Papist as for example the heresie of Transubstantiation the blasphemie of popishe Masse or any such other yet count I not euerie such a one wholie a Papist within compasse of this article that is vnder the title of a traiterous Papist But such a one as holdeth all the Popes doctrine to be true that the Romane Church erreth not that it hath rightfully such superioritie and primacie in others Kingdomes and Dioceses as it hath proudlie claimed and vsurped and that Christians are bound to referre their faith vnto it and to hang vpon the Popes determinations Many men otherwise good and honest Subiectes are not purged of all errors wherewith Rome hath infected them and must haue their time to be better instructed But those that are perfect Papistes that publishe the Pope to be head of the Church which yet in déede is no member of the true Church and would haue vs with an implicite and bonde faith to depend vpon that Sea and for that reason will refuse by all meanes to confesse the right of Princes in their Kingdomes ouer all their Subiectes they be perfect traytours in déede yea and the learned sort of them be wilfull Heretikes and Traitours For though in the darke times when controuersies of Religion were not brought into searching the streame of error carried men away without doubting yet since that by debating the light hath béene euidentlie opened and men haue sought and throughlie examined the matter there is no learned Papist but he knoweth that he maintaineth error and in defending and spreading the same he defendeth spreadeth and so directlie aduisedlie wilfullie and maliciouslie putteth in execution to his vttermost power high treasons against
are mur derers of Gods flocke The seuenth conclusion of the causes of supplan ting assured safetie The eight conclusion how tymerous policie is wurst in a good cause The ninth conclusiō of zealous boldnesse in seruing the Queen The tenth conclusion that boldnesse dooth encourage the freendes The eleuenth conclusion of the daunger in medling with a naughty man The twelfth conclusion of tyme. The thirteenth conclusion as good the killing a true mā as sparing a traitour The foureteenth conclusion that the life of a king is the lyfe of his kingdome The fifteenth conclusion the most perillous traytour The sixteenth conclusion of such as stand against the Princes defence The seuenteenth conclusion when God is lesse serued then the deuill The eighteenth conclusiō that no attempt against her Maiestie ought to be accounted a priuate cause The meaning and proofe of the first conclusion Not all Papistes are traitours Note this England Which Papistes are traytours Learned Papists wilfull traitours Treason offence against Maiesty Treason against God Papists violate the Maiestie of God which is high treason against him The Pope an high Traitour against God and the Turke but an enimie Papists Traitours to Kinges and Kingdomes Traiterous doctrines of Popes for Kinges and Kingdomes The Pope will giue heauen to Subiectes to rebell against their Prince Traiterous dooinges of Papistes against Kinges Kingdomes speciall matter for England to marke Behold the horrible pride and villainous dealing of Popes Papistes and slauerie of Princes Example of the Popes Papistes dealing with King Iohn The great deuision between the two noble houses of Lancaster and Yorke caused by the Popish Clergy and Papistes Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury practised the deposing of King Richard the second King Henry the eight assaulted by the Pope and Papistes King Edward the sixt vexed by the Papistes The conspiracie of the late Coūcell of Trent The Pope teacheth to keepe no faith The whoore of Rome an actuall dealer in all wicked practises against Kinges Kingdomes The second conclusion prouing Englishe Papistes traytours to the Queene Papists that hold the Pope head of the Church in England are traytours to her Maiestie Papistes that hold the Popes excommunication against the Queene lawfull are traytours The Pope cannot excommunicate in England vnlesse he had iust authoritie so to doo Papistes drawe obedience from the Queene Papistes meritorious treason Seditious writers that send theyr trayterous Lybelles into England The circūstances of those trayterous Bookes These trayterous Bookes want no fauourers to spread them abroad and to credit them with what cōmendations they may The euyll dealing of Papistes a good lesson for England The third conclusion proouing English papistes traytours to the Realme of England The Papistes reuerence to theyr Pope hath made them carelesse of theyr Prince and Countrie Such an one as alloweth of all these wicked causes must needes be a traytour to his Countrie Clemencie cannot win a Papist whyle he continueth a Papist speciall examples for England to remember All dueties of loue kindred and nature broken by Papistes Example of the Papistes thankefulnes to Bishop Cranmer Example of the Papistes kindnes toward her Maiestie for the great lyberalitie of her most noble Father Papistrie increaseth and flourisheth by lenitie Christian trueth respecteth Heauen and Papistry the world Too much clemencie may be great crueltie A Booke called the Court of Conscience which I entend God aiding me to publish verie shortly God graunt that such Papistes as be enimies to her Maiestie and the Realme may be quickly cutte off