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
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
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
These signifie to the French Ambassadour that they sent for him to let him know the cause why they intercepted Trappius his Secretary when he was ready to goe into France and they did open every thing which Stafford Moody and Trappius himselfe had confessed And that they might testifie the same in his presence they commanded them to be called in The Ambassadour who bending his brows heard these things with much impatience rising vp said that himselfe being an Ambassadour would not heare any accusations to wrong his King or in the preiudice of Ambassadours But when they answered that these men should not be produced as accusers but onely that he might be satisfied that these things were not fained nor false then he rested As soone as Stafford was produced and began to speake he presently interrupted him and railing vpon him affirmed that Stafford first proposed the matter to him and that himselfe had threatned to send him bound hand and foot to the Queene if he would not desist from so wicked an enterprise yet that he spared him for the singular affection which he bare to the mother the brother and sister of Stafford Stafford falling vpon his knees protested in many wordes vpon his salvation that the Ambassadour proposed the matter first to him But when the Ambassador seemed to be extraordinarily moued Stafford was commanded to depart and Moody was not produced Herevpon when Burghly had mildly charged the Ambassadour to be guiltie of such a conceived wickednes both from his owne words and out of the confession of Trappius he answered that if he had beene conscious yet being an Ambassadour he ought not to disclose it but to his owne King But Burghlâ—y interposing told him that if that were not the office of an Ambassadour which thing is yet in question to disclose such a mischievous practise which bringeth the life of a Prince in danger yet was it the office of a Christian to represse such notorious iniuries not onely for the safety of a Prince but for the safety of any Christian. But the other stoutly denyed that and withall said that not long since the French Ambassadour being in Spaine and having notice of a conspiracy to take away the Spanish Kings life yet disclosed it not to the Spanish king but to his owne King and was therefore commended of the King and of his Councellers The Lord Burghley gaue him a graue admonition to take heed that hereafter he offended not in such a point of treason against the Prince and not to forget the office of an Ambassadour nor the Prince her clemency who would not wrong good Ambassadours by the punishment of an evill one and though he were not punished yet was he not iustified but did carry with him the guilt though not the punishment of such an offence Though this intended evill came to no effect as all the other bloudy practises haue bin without effect yet may we make good vse of it to blesse Gods name for all his great and manifold deliverances That it was disappointed it was his goodnes for against those Kings that had not given their service to God for the maintenance of true Religion great and bloudy practises haue bin committed by lesse and more contemptible meanes And as we haue iust cause to blesse God for all his deliverances so the adversaries of our peace haue iust cause to feare to examine their owne doings and seriously to consider whether they haue not all this while striven against God in striving so long against those whom God doth so miraculously defend Not long after this followed the ignominious prodition of William Stanly and Rowland York This York was a Londoner a man of loose conversation and actions and desperate He was famous among the Cutters of his time for bringing in a new kind of fight to run the point of a rapier into a mans body this manner of fight he brought first into England with great admiration of his audaciousnes When in England before that time the vse was with little bucklâ—rs and with broad swords to strike and not to thrust and it was accounted vnmanly to strike vnder the girdle This man provoked as he tooke it by some iniury of the Earle of Leicester fled to the Spanyards and for some time after served among the Spanyards Afterward being reconciled was made Captaine of a Sconce neare to Zutphen After all this he was so set vpon revenge that being corrupted with money he did not onely betray the place to the enemy but drew also Stanly with him being a man that had served with great fidelitie and valour in the Irish warres Stanly was not easily perswaded to be false but this desperate fellow never ceased to draw him into the fellowship of wickednesse with him by many asseverations and oaths often repeated telling him that it was certainly knowne in England that he was of Babingtons conspiracy that he was already discovered by their confessions that out of hand he should be sent for to the gallowes Thus he perswaded Stanly to betray the rich and well fenced Towne of Deventer to the Spanyards against his oath given to Leicester and to the States And seeking some pretence of honesty against a fact so dishonest and disloyall he seemed to please himselfe in this that he had restored a place to the true Lord which was held from him by rebells And being extreame Popish he sent for Priests to his company which consisted of 1300 English and Irish to instruct them in the Popish Religion boasting that this should be the seminary legion which should defend the Roman Religion with Armes as the seminary Priests defend it with writings To this purpose Alan who a little after was Cardinall sent Priests presently to him and wrote a Booke also wherein he commended this proditorious act from the authoritie of the Bull of Pius V against Queene Elizabeth and stirred vp others to such perfidiousnes as if they were not bound to serue and obey a Queene excommunicated But looke I pray to the end The Spanyards set York and Stanly together in contention one against the other and soone after they poyson York and take his goods his body after three yeares was digged vp by the commandement of the States and hanged till it rotted They drew Stanly and his companies out of Deventer and tossing them from place to place they make them the obiect of all dangers and so vsed them with all conâ—umelies that some of them died for hunger others secretly fled away Stanly himselfe went into Spaine in hope of reward and offred his helpe to invade Ireland but neither found he entertainment according to his expectation neither could he be trusted for the Spanyards vsed to say that some honor might be given to a traytor but no trust It was now too late for him to learne but yet he learned that he had most of all betrayed himselfe CHAPTER XI WE are now come to that fatall yeare which the
vs a Lanterne to our feet and a light to our pathes but the word of God being confirmed to vs by his workes is made more sweet to vs. This must needes be comfortable to vs that haue the word of God among vs sent vnto vs planted among vs by his owne hand we were as farre from deseruing this fauour as they that sit in darkenesse and in the shadow of death for so wee sate in â—arkenesse and in the shadow of death so long as we fate in the ignorance of Popery but when it pleased God of his owne free mercy to send his light among vs the truth of his Gospell and out of the same fountaine of his goodnesse and mercy raised beleeuing Princes among vs which haue established his true religion in our Land a Queene of such Piety a King of so great Knowledge and Learning and Piety as knoweth the truth and is so able to maintaine it God I say hauing of his goodnesse raised such blessings to vs hath neâ—uer ceased to maintaine his owne worke Let vs neuer cease to giue him the glory But can our aduersaries take any comfort in their doings The King of Spaine may once enter into the consideration of things he may remember how hee and his predecessours haue beene so many times beguiled by the Pope how often hath the Pope and his Iesuites consecrated his banners promised him victory against vs as against Heretikes forsaken of God and man let them know that there is a God that ruleth the world and not the Pope If they would haue their designes to prosper they must follow the examples of our godly Princes who are blessed for the sincerity of Religion which they imbrace They must giue ouer iniustice and cruelty for the cruelty of the Spaniards haue lost them all that they lost in the Netherlands Their pride and cruelty was highly raised against vs but to their owne hurt and dishonour not to ours because we trust in God They would haue extinguished the true lights of Britain which then did shine like two glorious Candles put in their sockets and held vp in the hand of Christ and as now to the comfort of both nations ioyned in one great light these they laboured to extinguish and to tread down the soule of the Turtle but our Prayer is Giue not the soule of thy Turtle Doue vnto the Beast and â—orget not the congregation of the poore for euer Consider thy couenant for the darke places of the earth are full of the Habitation of the cruell Arise O Lord and maintaine thine owne cause remember the daily reproach of the foolish forget not the voice of the enemie for the tumult of them that rise against thee ascendeth continually God saued the soule of his Turtle he remembred the congregation of the poore that trusted in him he considered his couenant hee maintained his owne cause and of this we reioyce But where are those darke places of the earth which are full of the habitation of the cruell as the Prophet saith Surely let the Iesuites looke to that and let them expound those wordâ— if they be able for surely no man can expound those words but he shall finde superstition and cruelty inseparably ioyned together their superstition maketh the places of their habitations darke places their superstition breedeth cruelty for greater cruelty the world hath not seene then hath proceeded from them truely then may wee sing with the Psalmist the the darke plaâ—es of the earth are full of the habitations of the cruell There is no hope to make these Iesuites that haue giuen themselues ouer to the seruice of the man of sinne and to the practise of impiety of such I say there is no hope to perswade them because they loue not the truth But the Kings and Princes that haue beene so long abused and beguiled by them may in time vnderstand the difference betweene truth and falshood and may ioyne with our religious Kings against the great Deceiuer and our hope is that they will vnderstand his deceits and illusions and forsake him for otherwise they must perish with him They that are wise will vnderstand and consider the cause which God hath so long so strongly maintained they will consider the power the fury and rage of our aduersaries haue beene continually frustrated by Gods power they may consider that these extraordinary blessings vpon Gods Church among vs and the memorable iudgements of the aduersaries are but forerunners of some greater stroakes and heauier iudgements of God against them if they will not turne and forsake superstitious vanities and serue God with vs. Which God grant that the Kingdome of Christ may be inlarged his true Religion strongly maintained his name glorified his people comforted and let all that worship not the Lord IESVS and loue not his comming perish CHAPTER XIII AFter this great tempest from Spaine was past the Sunne did shine as pleasantly vpon England as before by all the Spanish preparation there was not a man called from his husbandry in England not any artificer from his trade there was not so much as one cottage burned did euer the English make any â—ourney into Spaine and returned without doing no more harme then the Spaniards did to vs The English made after this two iourneyes into Spaine and in both did that which they intended to doe that is ransacked Townes and put to flight the Armies which incountred them But this beyond the limits of my purpose which is onely to declare our deliuerances and to giue thankes and honour to God for the same The next danger intended and threatned brake out in Spaine by Tyrone They that haue written of Tyrone say that he was a bastard a banished fugitiue he lay lurking in Spaine promising to doe some seruice to the Pope and Spaniard as some had done before he was raised to the honour of an Earle by the Queene and being twice in danger once for a murther and then for vsurping the title of O-Neale was pardoned for both Hugh Baron of Dungannon now Earle of Tyrone being set on by the Spaniard to worke some mischiefe An. Dom. 1597. suddenly assailed the â—ort of Black-water which done he wrote to Kildare to side with him and at the same instant to Sir Iohn Norrice who was then sent out Lord Generall iâ—o Ireland with thirteene hundreth of the Nâ—therland ould Souldiers newly retired from the warres in Britaine to him Tyrone wrote that he might be mildly dealt withall and not be driuen headlong vpon the dangerous rockes of disloialty in the meane time he was alwaies guarded with a thousand Horse and 6280. foot of Vlster besides 2300. of Connaugh hereupon he and all his partakers were proclaimed traitors Thus was the rebellion raised which was hardly quenched with much bloud Sir Iohn Norrice was a Generall as well experienced in warre as any that then liued yet in the Irish warres he was not so acquainted The aduantage of the enemy was such that
A. THANKFVLL REMEMBRANCE OF GODS MERCIE by G. C. London Printed for Robert M. Robinson A THANKFVLL REMEMBRANCE OF GODS MERCY In an Historicall Collection of the great and mercifull Deliverances of the Church and State of England since the Gospell began here to flourish from the beginning of Queene ELIZABETH Collected by GEO CARLETON Doctor of Divinitie and Bishop of CHICHESTER PSALM III. 2. The workes of the Lord are great and ought to be sought out of all them that loue Him LONDON Printed by I. D. for Robert Mylbourne and Humphrey Robinson and are to be sold at the great South doore of PAVLS 1624. TO THE HIGH NOBLE AND MOST VERTVOVS CHARLES PRINCE OF GREAT Britain Duke of Cornwall and of YORKE c. the spirit of wisedome with increase of honour SIR AS the great Workes of God ought to be had in remembrance of all men so this dutie is more required of Princes then of other men Because their charge is greater then the charge of other men for they must answer both for the government of themselues and of others vnder them Wherefore having observed the Workes of God in delivering this Church and State from the cruell plots of the Adversaries from the beginning of Queene Elizabeth to this time I found my selfe most obliged to present this to your Highness both because my service next to his Maiestie is most due to your Highness and because the remembrance of the great Workes of God is a Glasse fit for a Prince to looke on For your Highness may be assured that the Adversaries will not change their disposition vnlesse either we were reduced to their blindness or they drawne to imbrace the truth with vs. I haue made this Collection that by examples of things past We may better iudge of things to come My labour herein is nothing For I make not the Story but take it of others And when I light vpon the best Narration as that of the Gun-powder treason I haue set it downe as I find it without alteration Because as that cannot be mended so to set a worse Narration in the place thereof were no lesse then to abuse the Reader I leaue the honor entire to them that haue made the Story I take no part thereof to mee Onely my care hath beene to obserue vpon those great deliverances the Workes of God that God may be glorified and the cause iustified which God hath maintained from Heaven SIR I suppose it is hard to finde a Narration containing more miraculous Protection of Gods Church since that time wherein God shewed his Miracles in protecting the people of Israel Which consideration may serue to fasten your Highness to the loue and service of that great God that doth so strongly maintain his servants That as hitherto you haue had a gracious experience of his grace and goodnesse towards you so your noble heart may grow every day more and more in the loue and obedience of the truth We are all charged by Gods Word to pray for Kings and Princes That charge which God hath layd vpon vs all no man can put off But when your Highness hath effectually made knowne your singular care and loue to the common good to the rejoycing of all faithfull men this must needs draw the hearts of all faithfull men nearer to your Highness And this is a part of your happiness for the feare of God and loue of Subiects is able to make Kings and Princes strong against all their enemies God giue his iudgements to the King and his righteousness to the Kings sonne and therewith all blessings grace and honour here and glory hereafter Your HIGHNES ancient Chaplain and most humble Servant GEO CICESTRIENSIS ΑÎΑΚΕΦΑΛΑΙΩΣΙS OR RECAPITVLATION of the chiefe Passages in this Booke CHAPTER I. THE weake estate of this Kingdome at Queene Elizabeths entrance Her government blessed with might and money beyond expectation all on a suddaine to the terrour of the enemies of the Gospell and comfort of the Professors thereof The ancient government of the Low-Countries what it was The treason of Arthur Pool discovered and defeated The Popes Excommunication and curse against Queene Elizabeth turned by Christ whose Gospell shee maintained into a blessing CHAP. II. The rebellion of the Earles of Westmerland and Northumberland related distinctly by Hieronym Catâ—â—a so strongly plotted so secretly carried by the hand of God disappointed and broken into pieces Leon Dacres his over throw by it This is the fruit of Popery and the first effect of the Popes Bull. CHAP. III. A Commotion in Ireland inflamed by Io Mendoza extinguished by the Earle of Ormond The King of Spaine pretends the enlargement of the Scots Queene but intends the enlargement of his owne Dominion Don Iohn of Austria goeth about to deliver and marry the Scots Queene He sends out a perpetuall edict of peace and presently breaketh out into warre He dieth on a sudden and so his purpose disappointed CHAP. IV. Stucley his attempt and practise with the Pope and Spanyard for the subduing of Ireland and England with Italian souldiers by Gods providence annulled CHAP. V. Nich Sanders setteth on the rebells in Ireland animateth them in their bloudy practises getteth â— consecrated Banner from the Pope for them San-Ioâ—ephus with 700 Italians and Spanyards sent from the Pope and King of Spaine over into Ireland to helpe the rebells yeeldeth the Fort. The Earle Desmond a great maintainer of this rebellion killed by a common souldier in his wandring Sanders the firebrand of the rebellion falleth mad and dieth miserably of famine Observations herevpon The explication of that place 2 Thes. 2. 10. appliable to the Papists in respect both of their doctrines and doings CHAP. VI. The Institution of the Colledges of seminary Priests to be the incendiaries of England different from the foundation of ancient Colleâ—ges The feates of Father Parsons and Edm Campian and others to draw the alleagiance of the English from their Queene This drew vpon them sevetitie of Lawes established in Parliament against Papists and approved by the paralell example of the Lawes made against the Donatists in S. Augustines time CHAP. VII The Priests seditious Bookes against the Queene brings on Somervills furious attempt to kill her They moue with the Ladies of honour to doe it The Queenes mildnesse and wonderfull mercy towardes this vermine Mendoza the Spanish Ambassadour for practising against the Queene is thrust out of England Throgmortons confeâ—ion and condemnation for treason CHAP. VIII New practises of our enemies discovered not without a miracle by Creightons torne papers The mischievous but vnsuccesfull conclusions of Alan Inglefield and Ross against Queene Elizabeth and King Iames. Parries treason opened his confession and execution Lawes in Parliament enacted against Priests and Recusants Philip Howards intention to leaue the Land discovered before it could be effected CHAP. IX The lamentable end of Henry Percy Earle of Northumberland in the Tower A pretended title of the King of Spaine to the Crowne of England
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
English fugitiues did much vrge him and the Pope promise a Cruciata in this Warre as in the holy Warre was vsed The King of Spaine was so wholly defixed vpon Portugall that nothing could remoue him from that resolution Now when it was knowne that Stucley and all his Italians in Mauritania were slaine and that the Spanyard thought of nothing but Portugall the English Navy that watched for Stucley vpon the Irish Seas was called home and all was quiet in England and Ireland By this Pageant we may obserue how zealous these holy Fathers of Rome are not to win soules to Christ but to winne Kingdomes to their Bastards Two Popes proceed in the same course of malice and malediction against Queene Elizabeth one English fugitiue makes them both fooles But our part is to remember who governeth the world and turneth the wise and politike counsells of all the enemies of his Church into foolishnes We giue God the prayse and remember these things for no other end but to giue the glory to him CHAPTER V. IN the next place comes vp Nicholas Sâ—nders that in the defence of the Roman visible Monarchy ecclesiasticall had written But finding that he could doe no good by writing he falleth now vnto another course to be the firebrand of a Rebellion in Ireland Iames fitz Morice being pardoned for a former Rebellion withdrew himselfe into France promising the French King that if he would send helpe he would ioyne all Ireland to the French Scepter and restore the Romane Religion in the I le But being wearied with delayes and finding himselfe derided from France he went to Spaine and promised the same to the Spanyard Who sent him to the Pope From the Pope at the earnest suâ—e of Nicholas Sanders an English Priest and one Alan an Irish Priest he obtained a little money And to Sanders authoritie Legatine was granted he got forsooth a consecracrated Banner and Letters of commendation to the Spanyard and so returned into Spaine From Spaine he came into Ireland with those Priests three shippes and a small company of souldiers He landed at Smerwick in Kirria a Chersones in Ireland about the first of Iuly An. 1579. Where when the place was first orderly consecrated he raised a fort and withdrew his shippes Which shippes were presently surprised and carried away by Thomas Courtney an English Gentleman who with a warre ship stayed by chance in a neare haven and so excluded the Spanyards from the benefit of the Sea Iohn Desmond and Iames brethren to the Earle of Desmond speedily ioyne themselues to their cousin fitz Morice The Earle himselfe who heartily favoured the cause counterfeiting the contrary called his men together in shew to resist them but craftily caused the Earle of Clanriâ—ket to withdraw himselfe who was comming to helpe him against the rebells The Lord Deputy vnderstanding by certaine messengers that the enemies were landed sent Henry Dauil an English Gentleman a man of valour and who had good acquaintance with the Desmonds to the Earle of Desmond and to his brethren commanding them presently to set vpon the fort which the enemies had raised But that they reâ—used to doe as a thing full of dangers And as Dauil returned Iohn Desmond followeth him and overtaketh him at Trally in an Inne And in the night time having corrupted the host came into his chamber with some other cut-throats having drawnâ— swords in their hands where Dauilus slept in securitie with Arthur Carter an old souldier a man of worth Deputy-governour of Monmuth But being awaked with the tumult when he saw Iohn Desmond with a naked sword rushing towards him What is the matter my â—onne quoth he for so was he wont familiarly to call him nay said Desmond I am no more thy sonne nor thou my father for thou shalt die And presently thrust him and Carter which lay with him through with many woundes and killed them both Dauilus his foot-boy defended his Master with his naked body receiving many wounds to saue his Master if he could Then he killed all Dauils servants which lay scattered in diverse places And returning to the Spanyards all imbrued in bloud he gloried of the slaughter which he had made Let this said he be to you a pledge of my faith to you and to the cause Doctor Sanders commended this action as a sweet sacrifice before God Iames fitz Morice blamed the manner of the slaughter he would haue had it rather in the way then in their bed The Earle when he heard of it vtterly detested it When the Spanyards saw but a few Irish ioyne themselues with them and they poore and vnarmed farre otherwise then fitz Morice had promised they began to distrust to cry out they were vndone to bewaile their fortunes seeing all wayes was shut vp so that they saw no meanes to escape by Sea or Land Fitz Morice exhorts them to expect with patience a while he told them great forces were comming to helpe them And himselfe tooke a iourney to the holy crosse of Tippararia pretending to performe a Vow which he made in Spaine but in truth to gather together the seditious of Conach and Vlster Whilst he was thus in iourney with a few horse and twelue foot as he passed by the land of William á Burg his kinsman and taking some horses from the Plow because his horses tyredâ— the husbandmen made Hue and Cry and raised the neighbourhood to recover the horses Amongst these that went to recover the horses were the sonnes of William á Burg forward young men who pursued them so sharply that they overtooke them Fitz Morice seeing Theobald á Burg and his brethren who had indeed in a former rebellion taken part with fitz Morice Cosins quoth he let vs not striue for two or three paltry lades I doubt not but if you knew the cause why I am returned into Ireland you would ioyne your selues with me Theobald answered It repenteth me my Father and all our friends of the last rebellion But now we haue sworne our fealtie to our most gracious Princesse who hath granted to vs our liues and we will keepe our faith and alleagance and therefore restore the horses or I will make thee restore them And withall he ran vpon him with his Speare They sought a while together Theobaldus and another of his brethren with some other were slaine Fitz Morice also himselfe being runne through with a Spâ—are and his head shot through with a Buller was slaine with divers of his men Queene Elizabeth hearing of this chance wrote Letters full of sorrow and loue to William á Burg comforting him for the death of his sonnes She honored him with the title of Baron of Conell Castle and rewarded him with a yearely Pension The old man being over-â—oyed with such vnexspected fauours dyed not long after Sir William Drury then Lord Deputy came neare to Kilmaloch and sent for the Earle of Desmond who comming to him promised his faith and alleagance to
to Neuil whom I entertained at my table and this was done full six moneths before he accused me After this he came to me And let vs dare said he to doe something seeing of the Queene we can obtaine nothing And he proposed some things of the delivery of the Scots Queene I did here interpose O but I haue a greater matter in my head and more profitable for the Catholike Church The next day he came and swearing vpon the Bible that he would keepe my counsell and constantly prosecute whatsoever was vsefull for the Catholike Religion And I sware in like sort Our determination was to set vpon the Queene with ten horsemen as she was riding in the fields and so to kill her Which thing Neuil concealed all this while But when the newes came that the Earle of Westmerland was dead whose inheritance he hoped to haue presently not respecting his oath he opened these things against me These things Parry confessed in the presence of the Lord Hunsdon Sir Christopher Harton and Sir Francis Walsingham privie Councellers and farther by his Letters to the Queene to Burghley Lord Treasurer and to the Earle of Leicester he acknowledged his fault and craued pardon Some few dayes after he was brought to VVestminster hall to iudgement Where the heads of his accusation being read he confessed himselfe guiltie Sir Christohper Hatton to satisfie the multâ—â—de present thought it fit that the crime should punctually be opened out of his own confession Which Parry himselfe acknowledged to be free not extorted and the Iudges intreated that he would reade them But the Clarke of the Crowne read them and the Letters of the Cardinall of Come Parry his Letters to the Queene to the Lord Burghley and the Earle of Leicester all which he granted to be true Yet he denied that he was at any time resolved to kill the Queene He was therefore commanded to speake if he had any thing to say why iudgement should not passe Here he answered with perturbation as one troubled with the conscience of the crime I see I must die because I was not resolved And being desired to speake more plainly if he would say any thing My bloud said he be among you When sentence of death was pronounced against him he ragingly cited the Queene to the tribunall seat of God Being brought to the gallowes he bragged much that he had beene a faithfull keeper of the Queene because he had not killed her Thus like a glorious Roman Catholike never once in one word coÌ„mending himselfe to God he died like a traytor in the court before VVestminster Hall where the Lords and Commons were then assembled in Parliament In this Parliament some lawes were enacted for the Queenes safety against the Iesuites and Priests who attempted daily horrible treasons from the Bull of Pius V. It was therefore enacted that within forty daies they should all depart the Land If any came in againe after that and stayed here they should be guilty of treason that if any received them wittingly and willingly or interteined them nourished or helped them such should be guiltie of fellony that they who are brought vp in the seminaries if they returne not within sixe monethes after warning given and should not submit themselues to the Queene before a Bishop or two Iustices of peace they should be guiltie of treason And they who had submitted if they should within ten yeares come to the Court or nearer then ten miles of the Court that then their submission should be voyd They who sent any money by any means to the Students of the seminaries should be guiltie of Praemunire If any of the Peeres of the Realme that is Dukes Marquesses Earles Vicounts Barons of the Parliament should offend against these lawes he should be tryed by his Peeres They who know any Iesuites and Priests to lye lurking in the Realme and within twelue dayes doe not detect them shall be fined at the Queenes pleasure and put in prison If any be suspected to be one of those Iesuites or Priests and shall not submit himselfe to examination for his contempt he shall be imprisoned vntill he submit He that shall send any Christian or any other to the Seminaries and Colledges of the Popish profession shall be fined an hundreth pounds They that are so sent shall not succeed in inheritance nor inioy any goods what way soever they may chance And so shall it be to them that within a yeare returne not from those seminaries vnlesse they conforme themselues to the Church of England If the keepers of havens permit any to passe the seas without the Queenes licence or the licence of six Councellers except Mariners and Merchants they shall be remoued from their places the Ship-master that carries them shall loose the Shipp and all the goods in her and be imprisoned a whole yeare The severitie of these lawes which were no lesse then necessary for such times and such mischiefes made the Papists in England afeard and among others Philip Howard Earle of Arundell in so much as fearing least he might offend against those lawes he purposed to leaue his countrey He had his bloud restored by the Queenes favour three yeares before And after that being dis-favoured by reason of some secret suggestions of certaine great personages against him he secretly gaue himselfe to the Popish Religion and made choice of an austere life Surely if good instructours might haue beene admitted to him he might haue beene easily and happily confirmed in the truth He was once or twice called before the Councell table and refuted the things obiâ—cted to him Yet was he commanded to keepe his house Six moneths after he was set at libertie and came to the Parliament but the first day whilst the Sermon was preached he withdrew himselfe out of the company The Parliament being ended being as then resolved to depart he wrote to the Queene a long and a mournfull complaint which Letters he commanded should be delivered after his departure he complained of the envie of his potent adversaries wherevnto he was forced to yeeld seeing they triumphed over his innocency He recounted the vnfortunate destinies of his ancestors of his great grandfather condemned his cause not being heard of his grand-father who for matters of small moment was beheaded and of his father whom he affirmed to be circumvented by his adversaries who yet never had an evill minde against his Prince nor Countrey As for himselfe least he should succeed the heire of his fathers infelicitie said he to the end that he might serue God and provide for the health of his soule he had forsaken his Countrey but not his alleagance to his Prince After these Letters were delivered he went into Sussex and having provided a shippe in an obscure corner and now being ready to take ship he was apprehended by the meanâ—s of those whom he trusted and by the master of the ship discovered and was sent into the Tower as a prisoner CHAPTER
of Surrey Iohn Traverse and Iohn Charnok of Lanchishire Iohn Iones whose father was Queene Maries taylour Sauage Barnwell a Gentleman of Ireland Henry Dun Clarke of the first fruit office Into this societie Polly also insinuated himselfe a man well acquainted with the affayres of the Scots Queene a man well skilled in the art of simulation and dissimulation Who was thought daily to reveile all their councells to Sir Francis Walsingham and to thrust them headlong into mischiefe who were forward enough of themselues to evill Albeit Navus the Scots Queenes Secretary warned them to beware of him To these did Babington communicate the matter but not all to each one his owne Letters and the Scots Queenes Letters he shewed to Ballard to Tychburn and Dun. He dealt with Tilney and Tychburn to be the strikers They at first denied to dehle their hands with the bloud of their Prince Ballard and Babington labour to proue it lawfull to kill Princes excommunicated and if right should be violated then for the Catholike Religion it is to be violated Herevpon hardly perswaded they yeeld their consent in a sort Abington Barnwell Charnok and Sauage readily and roundly without scruple sware to kill her Salisbury could by no meanes be perswaded to be a Queene-killer but to deliver the Scots Queene he offred his service willingly Babington designeth Tyâ—hburn aboue the number to helpe the percussors of whose fidelitie and courage he had perswaded himselfe much But he was now absent travailing abroad Babington commandes that they impart the matter to none except first an oath be taken to keepe silence These conspiratours now and then conferred of these matters in Saint Giles fields in Pauls-Church in Tavernes in which they had their daily feasts being now puffed vp with the hopes of great matters Sometimes commending the valour of the Nobles of Scotland who lately had intercepted the King at Sterling and of Gerard the Burgonian who killed the Prince of Orange And so farre they proceeded in their foolish vanitie so strangly infatuated that those that should strike the Queene they had portraied in liuely pictures and in the midst of them Babington with this Verse Hi mihi sunt comites quos ipsa pericula ducunt But when this Verse was disliked as seeming too plaine for it they set in place these wordes Quorsum haec alió properantibus These pictures were taken as it was said and brought to the Queene who knew none of their countenances but onely Barnwells who vsed often to come in her presence following the causes of the Earle of Kildare whom he served and she tooke notice of him by other markes Verily one day as she was walking abroad she saw Barnwell she looked sharply and vndauntedly vpon the man and turning to Sr Christopher Hatton Captaine of the Guard and to some others Am not I quoth she well guarded who haue not so much as one man in my company that hath a sword For Barnwell told this to the other conspiratours and declared how easily she might haue beene killed if the conspiratours had then beene present Sauage in like sort reported the same Now there was nothing that so much troubled Babington as the feare least the promise of externall forces might faile And therefore to make that good he resolved to goe into France and to send Ballard secretly before for whose passage he had procured licence for money vnder a counterfeit name And to remoue all suspition from himselfe by Polly he inâ—inuateth himselfe into Sir Francis Walsingham and dealeth earnestly with him to intreat of the Queene license for his passage into France promising to doe some especially seruice in searching and discovering the secret attempts of the fugitiues for the Scots Queene He commended the purpose of the yong man and promised not onely to obtaine him licence to travell but he promised withall great and goodly rewardes to him if he would doe such a service yet holding him in suspence he delayed the matter and knew his purpose and drift well having fished all out by an especiall skill he had in discovering treasons but especially by the discovery of Gilbert Giffard a Priest he was made acquainted with their intentions which they thought were kept so secret that the Sunne had not knowne any thing thereof This Giffard was borne at Chellington where the Scots Queene was kept and sent by the fugitiues into England vnder the name of Luson to put Sauage in minde of his vow vndertaken and to lurke as a fit meanes to transmit Letters betweene them and the Scots Queene because in so dangerous a businesse they could not draw in to serue their turne herein neither the Countesse of Arundell nor the Lord Lumley nor Henry Howard nor Sr George Shirly The fugitiues to try whether the way was safe by Giffard to transmit Letters first sent blankes many times sealed like Letters and packeted which when by the answers they perceived to be truely delivered now growne more confident wrote often of their affaires intended in secret Characters But Giffard before this whether vexed in his conscience or corrupted before with money or terrified with feare had opened himselfe to Sir Francis Walsingham and declared with what purpose he was sent into England and offered all his service as from the loue to his Countrey and his Prince and promised to communicate to him all the Letters that he received either from the fugitiues or from the Scots Queene Sir Francis imbracing the opportunitie offerd intertained him courteously and sent him into Staffordshire and wrote to Sir Amice Pawlet willingly to suffer some of his servants to be corrupted by Giffard and to winke at it But he being vnwilling as he said to suffer any of his houshold servants by simulation to become a traytor yet though vnwillingly he suffred that the brewer or the man that provided Provender for his horse who dwelt neare him might be corrupted by Giffard Giffard easily corrupted the brewer with some peeces of gold who by a hole in the wall where a stone was set which might be remoued sent Letters secretly and received others which alwayes by messengers provided for the purpose came to the hands of Sr Francis Walsingham Who opened the seales coppied out the Letters and by the singular cunning of Thomas Philipps found the secret Character and by the skill of Arthur Gregory sealed them vp againe so cunningly that no man could suspect that they were opened and then sent them to the parties to whom they were directed Thus were disclosed those former Letters from the Scots Queene to Babington and his answers and others againe from her to him in which there was a Postscript cunningly added in the same Character to write the names of the six Gentlemen and happily some other things Moreover the same day the Letters to Mendoza the Spanish Ambassadour to Charles Paget to the Lord Paget to the Archbishop of Glasco and to Sr Francis Inglefeld were all coppied out and transmitted The
ioyned together The Duke Medina Leua Oquenda Recaldus and others with much adoe getting themselues our of the shallowes susteined the English force aswell as they might vntill most of their ships were pearced and toâ—ne The Galeon S. Mathew governed by Diego â—iâ—entellus comming to ayd Francis Toletan being in the S. Philip was pearced and shaken with the râ—iterated shots of Seimor and Winter and driven to Ostend was at last taken by the Flushiâ—gers The S. Philip came to the like end So did the Galeoâ— of Biscay and diverse other The last day of this moneth the Spanish sleet striving to recover the straights againe were driven toward Zealand The English lest of pursuing of them as the Spaniards thought because they saw them in a manner cast away For they could not avoyd to be cast vpon the shallowes of Zealand But the winde turning they got out of the shallowes and then began to consult what were best for them to do By common consent they resolved to returne into Spaine by the Northern seas for they wanted many necessaries especially shot their ships were torne they had no hope that the Duke of Parma could bring forth his forces And so they tooke the Sea and followed the course towards the North. The English navy followed somtimes the Spanish turned vpon the English insomuch that it was thought by many that they would return back againe Vpon which report the Queene came into the Campe at Tilbury and mustered the Army riding among them with a Leaders Staffe in her hand and did by her presence and speech animate both Captains and souldiers with incredible courage That day wherein the last fight was the Duke of Parma after his vowes offred to the Lady of Halla came somewhat late to Dunkerk and was received with some opprobrious words of the Spanyards as if in favour of Queen Elizabeth he had slipped the fairest opportunitie that could be to doe the service He to make some satisfaction punished the purveiours that had not made provision ready secretly smiling at the insoleÌ„cy of the Spanyards when he heard them glorying that what way soever they came vpon England they would haue an vndoubted victory that the English were not able to indure the sight of them Bernardinus Mendoza did indeed by Bookes in France sing a foolish lying triumphant song before the Victory The English Admirall appointed Seimor and the Hâ—llanders to watch vpon the coasts of Flanders that the Duke of Parma should not come out himselfe followed the Spanyards vpon their backes vntill they were past Edenborough frith The Spaniards seeing all hopes faile finding no other helpe for themselues but by flight fled amaine and never made stay And so this great Navy being three yeares preparing with great cost was within a moneth overthrown and after many were killed being chased away of English there were not one hundreth lost nor one shippe lost saving that of Câ—â—ks was driven about all Britain by Scotland Orcades Ireland tossed and shaken with tempests and much lessened came home without glory Wherevpon some money was coyned with a Navy slying away at full saile and this inscription Venit vidit Fugit Other were coyned with the Ships fired the Navy confounded in honor of the Queene inscribed Dux faeminafacti As they fled it is certain that many of their ships were câ—st away vpoÌ„ the shores of Scotland IrelaÌ„d Moe then 700 souldiers mariners were cast vpoÌ„ the Scottish shore who at the Du of Parma his intercession with the Scots King the Queene of England consenting were afâ—er a yeare sent into Flaâ—ders But they that were cast vp vpoÌ„ the Irish shore by tempests came to more miserable fortunes for some were killed by the wild Irish others by the Deputies coÌ„maÌ„d for he searing that they might ioyne theÌ„selues to the wild Irish Bingham the Gouernour of Connach being once or twice commanded to slay them hauing yeelded but refusing to doe it Fowle the vnder-Marshall was sent and killed them which cruelty the Queene much condemned wherevpon the rest being afraid sicke and hungry with their torne shippes committed themselues to the sea and many were drowned Queene Elizabeth came in publike thankesgiuing to Pauls Church her Nobles accompanying her the Citizens were in their colours the Banners that were taken from the enemies were spred she heard the Sermon and publike thankes were rendred vnto God with great ioy This publike ioy was augmented when Sir Robert Sidney returning out of Scotland brought from the King assurance of his Noble minde and affection to the Queene and to Religion Which as in sincerity he had established so he purposed to maintaine with all his power Sir Robert was sent to him when the Spanish Fleet was comming to congratulate and to giue him thankes for his propense affection towards the maintenance of the common cause and to declare how ready shee would be to helpe him if the Spaniards should land in Scotland and that hee might recall to memory with what strange ambition the Spaniard had gaped for all Britain vrging the Pope to excommunicate him to the end that hee might be thrust from the Kingdome of Scotland and from the succession in England and to giue him notice of the threatning of Mendoza and the Popes Nuntio who had threatned his ruine if they could worke it and therefore warned him to take especiall heed to the Scottish Papists The King pleasantly answered that he looked for no other benefit of the Spaniard then that which Polyphaemus promised to Vlisses to dâ—uoure him last after all his fellowes were deuoured Now these things be such as whensoeuer we thinke vpon them wee cannot choose but lift vp our hearts to God for he hath put a song of ioy and thankesgiuing in our mouthes and taught vs to lift vp our eyes to him from whence commeth our helpe our helpe commeth from the Lord which hath made the heauen and the earth he will not suffer thy foote to slip for he that keepeth thee will not slumber behold he that keepeth Israel will neither slumber nor sleepe the Lord is thy keeper the Lord is thy defence at thy right â—and Then let others boast of their strength 〈…〉 power of God to be for vs against them Now this being a thing confessed on all sides that God was with vs against the Spaniard why will not our aduersaries that are men of vnderstanding enter into the consideration of this cause which God hath so often so mightily maintained The workes of the Lord are great and ought to bee had in remembrance of them that feare him And this dutie is required of vs that haue seene the great workes of God to declare them to other for one generation shall praise thy workes to another generation and declare thy power The workes of God must bee sought out had in remembrance and declared to other The word of God is the rule of our faith a direction to
whatsoeuer haue beene attempted against vs the Pope is firme on their side God hath manifested himselfe many waies to be on our side What cause haue we then how many waies are we prouoked to trust in God to loue him to worship him that so miraculously hath defended vs to cleaue with all singlenes of heart to that cause that hath bin so mightily maintayned by Gods hand and power And what cause haue our aduâ—rsaries to examine themselues and more narrowly to examine the cause which God by so many iudgements hath condemned The people of Israel were mightily protected by the hand of God so long as they truely serued God al their aduersaries could neuer preuaile against them they were defended by power from aboue God did watch ouer them but when they fell from God God did suffer them to fall into the hands of their enemies There will hardly be found any president euen among the people of God that for so many yeeres together they haue bin continually deliuered from so many so cruelly intended so dangerous assaults The deepest deuises of malice reaching euen from hell vnto hellish men vpon earth haue beene practised against vs as this last which came from the deepenesse of Satan wherein without sword or speare without any shew of warlike preparations their hellish deuise was at one blow to root out religion to destroy the state the head with the body the King with the statâ— the Father of our Country the Mother of our Country the oliue branches the hopefull succession of our King the Reuerend Clergy the Honourable Nobility the faithfull Councellors the graue Iudges the greatest part of our Knights and Gentry the choisest Burgesses the Officers of the Crowne Councell Signet Sâ—ales and of other seates of iudgement the learned Lawyers with an infinite number of common people the Hall of iustice the houses of Parliament the Church vsed for the Coronation of our Kings the monuments of our former Princes all Records of Parliament and of euery particular mans right with a great number of charters and other things of this nature all these things had the diuell by his agents deuised at one secret blow to destroy If the Lord had not beene on our side may Israel now say if the Lord had not beene on our side when men rose vp against vs they had then swallowed vs vp quicke when their wrath was kindled against vs praised be the Lord which hath not giuen vs vp a prey to their teeth our soule is escaped as a Bird out of the snare of the Fowlers the snare is broken and we are deliuered our helpe is in the name of the Lord which hath made heauen and earth We labour against the Papists to proue our Church a true Church of God They on the other side labour to proue themselues the onely Catholike Church and our assemblies to be as they call them assemblies of Heretikes God hath determined this controuersie most euidenâ—ly by his word and most powerfully from heauen by his continuall protection of vs and destruction of all the wicked practises which they haue attempted against vs. Was there euer any cause in the world so strongly maâ—ntained on the one side as our cause hath beene was there euer any execrable practises in the world so powâ—rfuâ—ly condemned from heauen as their practises haue beene God open their eyes that they may see and vnderstand that they fight against God The Church of Rome so long as it stood the Church of God did neuer practise either by open warres or by secret conspiracies to destroy Kings and subuert Kingdomes but by the preaching of Gods word by examples of piety and sanctimony laboured to draw the ignorant vnto the knowledge and obedience of the truth that course is now vtterly forsaken of them for how can they teach the truth to others that are themselues in ignorance and in the shadow of death or how can they giue examples of an holy life whose whole practise and conuersation is in bloud in malice in wicked and wretched actions And will they neuer vnderstand that they who practise such things can not inherit the Kingdome of God cannot be the Church of God cannot pray to God or expect any blessing from him vpon their execrable practises there is a manifest change of their Church and they will not see it They aske vs when was this change vnder what King vnder what Emperour vnder what Pope But if they were wise they would first inquire whether there be a change or no and then inquire further of the time and manner of it We say that which no man can deny that there is a notorious change this is euident for the Church of old neuer allowed the cruelty the impiety the execrable wickednesse which is daily practised by the great Masters of the Church of Rome and allowed and approued by the Pope Then there is a change it is euident to all But this is a change of manners of the Church not of the doctrines If therefore they demand of vs how a change of the doctrines may be proued We are able to point out from time to time that the doctrines which they haue inuented were neuer heard of in the Church before such times as wee are able to point at Master Iewell the reuerend Bishop of Salisbury for piety and learning the mirrour of his time hath made full and faire proofe that of those Articles wherein he challenged all the Learneâ— of the Church of Rome not one of them was euer taught in the Church before the 〈◊〉 of Christ 600. his proofes stand vnanswered to this day Though Master 〈◊〉 haâ—â— done his best to examine them who wanted neither learning nor eloquence buâ— onely trutâ— wanting on his side the challenge is still made good We are also able to point to another time before the year of Christ 1000. many of the grâ—atest grossest errors in popery was neuer taught or heard â—n the Church as the doctrines of transubstantiatioâ— of the reall presence as it is vnderstood in the Church of Rome of the Popes power to depose Kings and absolue their subiects fâ—oâ— their allegeance or to warâ—ant their subiects to rebell â—gainst them of he doctrines of Grace and iustification as now they are taught in the Church of Rome of the doctrine of merits whether ex congruo or condigro of the seauen sacraments and many other of this nature of which we are assured that not one of them can be proued euer to haue beene taught or heard of in the Church before the yeare of Christ one thousand Wee are further able to point to another time before which the rule of faith was neuer changed in the Church this was their last attempt in the points of Doctrine a desperate attempt against the truth For from the Apostles time till the Councell of Trent the rule of faith was euer held in the Church one and the same that is the doctrine contained in