time was rather spent in taking of booties and friuolous parlies then in any memorable exploit The one looking still for fitter opportunities and the other expecting daily his promised succours from Spaine To spare the shedding of bloud the Queene commanded her Commissioners the Treasurer and chiefe Iustice to conferre with Tyrone who complained of wrongs offered to him by Sir Henry Bagnall Marshall and thereupon exhibited a petition in humble manner containing that himseâ—fe and all his followers might be pardoned and be restored to their former estates that they might freely exercise their Romish Religion that no Garrison souldiers Shirriffe or other officer should intermeddle within the iurisdiction of his Earledome that the company of fifty Horsemen with the Queenes pay might be restored to him in the same state that formerly he had led them that the spoilers of his Countrey and people might be punished and that Sir Henry Bagnall should pay him a thousand pound promised in dowry with his Sister whom Tyrone had married and who was now deceased Others also laid out their grieuances conceiued such were Odonell Brian Mac Hugh ogâ— Mac Mahun and Euer Mac Conly They receiued reasonable answers to their demands But vnto them the commissioners proposed certaine Articles That they should forthwith lay downe their Armes disperse their forces submâ—ssiuely acknowledge their disloialties admit the Queenes Officers in their gouernment re-ediâ—ie the forts they had defaced suffer the Garrison to liue without disturbance make restitution of spoiles tâ—ken confesse vpon their oathes how far they had dealt with forraine Princes and renounce all forraine aid These propositions the Rebels liked not but departed with a resolution to maintaine their owne demands Which moued Generall Norrice aided with the Lord Deputy to march with his Army to Armagh when Tyrone heard of his approach in great perplexity he forsooke the Fort of Blacke-water set on fire the villages about and plucked downe the towne of Dungannon with part of his owne house bewailing his state to be past reâ—ouery The countrey thus wasted and no victuals to be had Norrice set a Garrison in the Church of Armagh strengthned Monahan and proclaimed Tyrone Traitor in his owne territories Tyrone to gaine time presented to him a fained Petition signed with his owne hand cast himselfe downe at the Queenes Pictures feet vngirâ—â—s sword and craued pardon vpon his knees And in the meane time dealt for aides out of Spaine wherein hee preuailed so farre that King Philip sent messengers with capâ—tulations that at a praefixed time hâ—â— would send him a competent Armie to ioyne with the Irish that all conditions of Peace with the English should be reiected and that the Rebels should be furnished with munition from Spaine Hereupon though there was a cessation from Armes he began to hurry and wast the country and burne villages and driue away booties And hauing done this put on the vizard of dissimulation againe sued for pardon which to effect hee sent the Letters of King Philip his promises to the Lord Deputy with the causes of his owne discontents so he shuffled that by his dissimulation or by the negligence of others most part of Connaught and all Vlster were reuolted and in a rebellion In which estate Thomas Lord Burrough was sent Lord Deputy into Ireland he was no sooner arriued but Generall Norrice being crossed at the Court or discontented died as was thought through griefe The Lord Deputy set presently forward to meet with the Rebels whom hee encountred at Moiry and defeating them tooke the Fort of Black-water The enemies seeking to rescue it were defeated by the Earle of Kildare but Tyrone thinking all his hope was gone if he lost that Fort beleaguerd it The Lord Deputy preparing straightway to rescue the place was suddenly taken with sicknesse and died Tyrone lay still before the Fort of Blacke-water for the raising of his siege Sir Henry Bagnall was sent with fourteene Ensignes of the choisest troupes These the Earle met neare to Armagh being most eagerly bent against S â— Henry by his exact care and diligence or by the others negligence he got the victory wherein Sir Henry lost his life the English had not receiued such an ouerthrow since their first setting foot in Ireland 15. Captaines were killed and 1500. Souldiers were routed and put to flight The Garrison of Blacke-water hereupon surrendred and the Rebels were thereby furnished with Munition and Armour and Tyrones glory extolled By this the strength of the rebellion was increased In this desperate estate stood Ireland when Robert Earle of Essex was sent thither Lord Lieuetenant and Lord Gouernour Generall he led twenty thousand Soldiers sixteene thousand foot the rest horse-men as soone as hee came he called a councell touching the affaires It was thought fittest that Monster should bee first cleared of those petty Rebels lying nearest whereupon contrary to his owne opinion and his directions receiued from the Queene hee made first to Monster and cleared those parts though with more losse of time and men then was well liked of the state here from thence he went into Leâ—nster against the O Conars and O Neiles whom he vanquished Thence he sent Sir Coniers Clifford against Orork himselfe taking another way to distract the Forces of Tyrone Sir â—â—niers Clifford was defeated and slaine whereupon the Lord Generall made towards Vlster and came to Louth Tyrone shewed himselfe vpon the hills on the other side of the Riuer And falling vnto his wonted vaine of dissimulation desired a parley with the Lord Lieuetenant but hee reiected it answering that if hee would conferre with him hee should finde hâ—m the next morning in the head of his troupes on which day after a light skirmish a horseman of Tyrones troupes cryed with a loud voice that Tyrone was not willing to fight but to parley vpon peace with the Lord Generall which thing was againe denied The next day as the Lord Lieuetenant was in his march forward one Hagan sent from Tyrone met him and declared that the Earle most humbly desired to haue the Queenes mercy and peace and besought that his Lordship would be pleased to afford him audience which if hee would grant then would he with all reuerence attend at the foord of the Riuer not farre from Louth To this motion at last he consented and sent to discouer the place and hauing a troupe of horse vpon the next hill came downe alone to the Riuer Tyrone attending on the other side as soone as he saw his approach rode into the Riuer vp to the Saddle and with semblance of reuerence saluted the Lord Lieuetenant And hauing had some conference together the space of an houre both returned to their companies after this Tyrone making suit for a further conference the Lord Lieuetenant taking with him the Earle of Southampton Sir George Bourchier Sir Warram Saint Leger Sir Henry Danâ—ers Sir Edward Wingfield and Sir William Constable went to the Foord where Tyrone with his
Brother Cormac Mac Gennis Mac Guiâ— Ener Mac Cowly Henry Ouiâ—gton and O Quin attended their comming And vpon conference it was concluded that certaine Commissioners should the next day meet for a treaty of peace and in the meane time there should be a cessation of warres from sixe weekes to sixe weekes vntill the first of May yet so as it might be free on both sides after fourteene dayes warning giuen to resume hostility afresh And if any of Tyrones confederates would not thereto consent to be prosecuted at the Lord Lieuetenants pleasure CHAPTER XIIII THe Queene was presently informed that in Ireland the Spring Summer and Autumne were spent without seruice vpon the Arch-rebell that her men were diminished large summes of money consumed without doing that for which he was sent that by this meanes the Rebels were incouraged and the Kingdome of Ireland laid at hazard to bee lost Whereupon the Queene wrote somewhat sharpely to the Lord Lieuetenant which mooued him so much as leauing his charge to bee managed by others he came into England hoping to pacifie the Queene When he came he was commanded to keepe his Chamber and soone after was committed to the custody of the Lord Keeper No sooner was the Lord Generall departed from Ireland but that Tyrone notwithstanding the cessation from warre drawing his Forces together tooke the field to whom Sir William Warren was sent to charge him with breach of promise he answered that his doings were according to couenants hauing giuen warning before his cause was iust for that the Lord Lieuctenant was committed in England vpon whose honor he reposed his whole estate neither would hee haue any thing to doe with the Councellors of Ireland Hereupon presuming vpon Spaine hee sent Odonel into Connaught receiued tumultuous persons strengthened the weake glorying euery where that hee would restore againe the ancient Religion and liberty of Ireland and expell the English out of Ireland To which end some money and munition was sent from Spaine and Indulgences from Rome And for an especiall fauour the Pope sent him a plume of Phoenix feathers for a Trophy of his victories Tyrone vnder pretence of deuotion in mid-winter went to the Monastery of Tipperary to worship the Crosse from thence hee sent out Mac Guir with a number of rifeling robbers to spoile and prey vpon the peaceable subiects with whom Sir Warram Saint Leger met and at the first incounter ranne Mac Guir through the body with a Lance and was likewise runne through with his Lance. Whereupon Tyrone made ready to returne from Monster sooner then was expected or himselfe meant At this time Charles Blunt Lord Mountioy was sent Lord Lieuetenant generall into Ireland At his first comming hearing that Tyrone was to depart out of Monster hee hastened to stop his passage in Feriall and there to giue him battell which the Earle preuented by taking another way hauing intelligence of the Lord Generall his designes The spring drawing on the Deputy put himselfe in his march toward Vlster with purpose to driue the Earle to a stand In the meane time Sir Henry Docwray at Loughfoil and Sir Maâ—thew Morgan at Belishanon planted the Garrisons which they effected with small resistance and repressed the Rebels in diuers ouerthrowes The Lord Generall likewise held Tyrone very hard and with light skirmishes euer put him to the worst sothat he now perceiuing his fortunes to decline withdrew himselfe backwards into his ould corners The Lord Lieuetenant entred in Lease the place of refuge and receit of all the Rebels in Leinster where hee shew Ony Mac Rory-Og chiefe of the family of the O Mores a bloudy bould and desperate yong man and so chased out the rest of his companions as that neuer since they were seene in those parts And though winter began to draw on yet marched hee forward to the entry of the Mairy three miles beyond Dundalk The passage into Vlster is euery way naturally cumbersome and it was helped by the Rebels who had fortified and blocked vp the entrance with fences of stakes stucke in the ground with hurdles ioyned together and stones in the midst with turfes of earth laid betweene hills woods and bogges and manned the place with a number of souldiers But the English brake through their Pallisadoes and beate backe the enemy The Lord Deputy placed a garrison eight miles from Armagh where in memory of Sir Iohn Norrice he named the Fort Mount Norrice In his returne he had many skirmishes At Carlingford the enemies were assembled to stop his way but were all discomfited and put to flight In the midst of winter hee entred the Glinnes that is the vallies of Leinster a secure receptacle of the Rebels There he brought into subiection Donel Spanioh Phelim Mac Pheogh and the O Tooles of whom he tooke hostages Then went he to Fereall and draue Tirell the most approued warriour of all the Rebels from his fastnesse that is his bogs and bushes vnto Vlster and after some other good seruices done here the spring approaching he marched into Vlster fortified Armaugh and remoued Tyrone from the Fort of Blacke-water where hee had fortified himselfe In the meane time the Pope and the King of Spaine laboured to maintaine the rebellion in Ireland and to helpe Tyrone Their agents were a Spaniard elected Archbishop of Dublin by the Pope the Bishop of Clowfort the Bishop of Killaloe and Archer a Iesuite These by prayers and promises of heauenly rewards perswaded the Spaniard to send succours into Ireland which hee did vnder the Generall Don Iohn d' Aquila a man that conceiued great hopes and was confident of much aid from the titular Earle Desmond and Florence Mac Carly a Rebell of great power wherein the man was much deceiued for Sir George Carew Lord President of Munster had preuented all his designes and sent them prisoners into England where they were fast Don Aquila with two thousand Spaniards of old trained souldiers with certaine Irish fugitiues landed at Kinsale in Monster the last of October Anno 1600. and presently published a writing wherein he stiled himselfe Master Generall and captaine of the Catholike King in the warres of God for holding and keeping the faith in Ireland this drew diuers distempered and cuill-affected persons on his side The Lord Deputy gathering his companies hasted to Kinsale and incamped neere vnto the Towne on the land side In the meane time Sir Richard Leuison with two of the Queenes shippes inclosed the hauen to forbid all accesse to the Spaniards Then on both sides the Canon played vpon the towne But newes was brought that two thousand Spaniards more were arriued at Bere hauen Baltimor and Castle hauen Sir Richard Leuison was imployed vpon them in which seruice he sunke fiue of their shippes Vnto these new landed Spaniards whose Leader was Alfonso o-campo O-donel ouer the ice by speedy iourneyes and vnknowne by-wayes repaired vnseene of the English And a few dayes after Tyrone himselfe with O Roik Raimund
Castles by sleight and trechery and wrote to Spaine that the best course is to take Zealand before the more inner Provinces And being prone to beleeue that which he desired he wrote that England might be had with greater ease then Zealand and he laboured by Escouedus to perswade the Spanish King But the Queene seeing all tend to warre in the Netherlands entred a league with the States for mutuall helpe and sent Thomas Wilkes into Spaine to complaine of the headdy courses of the Duke of Austria And in the meane time prepared for warre But behold when Don Iohn was in the height of his pride and ambition in the flower of his age in the middest of busines and preparations he died on a suddain as some thought of the Plague Some thought that vpon griefe that he was not so respected of the King his brother he ended his foolish ambition with his life afterthat he had embraced in his ambitious desire the Kingdome of Tunis wherevpon Guleta was lost in Africa and after that the Kingdome of England and had confirmed a league with the Guysians without the knowledge of the French and Spanish Kings for defence of both Crownes Thus was the enemy disappointed the Queene the Land the Church preserved And haue we not cause to remember these Workes of God and to giue God the glory of his own worke that is of delivering his Church England was as a Stage wherevpon diverse entred to play their parts one after another The part that they played was alwayes treason some was kept farther off by Gods providence to doe lesse harme some brought the danger nearer home But GOD taking the protection of his Church in England none prevailed And could any other power but the power and protection of God preserue a Land from so many so deadly dangers Let all mouthes be stopped and let this continuall course of deliverance be acknowledged the worke of God CHAPTER IIII. THE next man that came vpon this Stage was Thomas Stucley but the malice that he and the Pope by his employment intended against England was turned cleane another way by GODS providence Thomas Stucley an English-man borne when he had spent his estate in ryot prodigality and base meanes went into Ireland An 1570. And gaping for the Stewardship of Wexford and missing the same began to vtter contumelâ—ous words against the best deserving Prince but he was contemned as one that could doe no hurt From Ireland he went into Italy to Pius V. Pope It is a thing incredible what favour he got with the old Pope that breathed nothing but the destruction of Elizabeth Stucley with magnificent ostentation as he was a man singular in ostentation made the Pope beleeue that with three thousand Italians he would driue the English out of Ireland and bâ—rne the Queenes Navy And indeed these things he most wickedly attempted afterward but to his owne destruction Pius V. having procured all the troubles that possibly he could against Queene Elizabeth seemed to die for spite that he could not hurt her After him suceeded Gregory 13. This Pope had secret consultations with the King of Spaine for the invading of Ireland and England both together Meaning vnder the maske of Religion to serue their owne ambitious endes The Popes end was to make his sonne Iames Boncampagno whom he had lately made Marquesse of Vineola now King of Ireland The Spanyardes end was secretly to helpe the Rebells of Ireland as Elizabeth did the Dutch and in faire words intertaine a shew of friendship on both sides The King of Spaine had a farther reach even to get the Kingdome of England by the Popes authoritie that from thence he might with â—â—ore ease tamâ— the Dutch that were confederate against him This he found hard for him to doe vnlesse he were Lord of the Seas which he saw he could not be vnlesse he had England And there was no doubt but as he owed the Kingdomes of Naples Sicily Navarre to the beneficence of the Pope so with all his heart he would haue held England by the like fauour They knowing that the greatest strength of England stood in the navy of the Queenes shippes and Merchants shippes which were also built and framed for the vse of warre thought that the best way to lessen the Naviâ— was to set on the Merchants of Italy and Netherlands to hire many of the Merchants shippes seeking diverse seuerall pretenses and hauing hired them to send them vnto the farthest Navigations that whilst these are absent the Queenes Navy might be overthrowne with a greater Navy And then at the same instant Thomas Stucley the English fugitiue might ioyne his forces with the rebels of Ireland Stucley a bare-worne deceiver did no lesse cousin this next succeeding Pope then he had done his predecessor with admirable bragges He promised the Kingdome of Ireland to the Popes bastard sonne and got such favour with the old ambitious Pope that he honored him with the titles of Marquesse of Lagen Earle of Wexford and Caterloghe Vicount of Morough and Baron of Ross. These be famous places in Ireland And made him generall of DCCC Italian Souldiers the King of Spaine paying their stipends and so sent him into the Irish warre Stucley came with these to Portingale to the mouth of Tagus purposing to subdue Ireland But the purpose of God was otherwise And that which the Pope and Spanyard had with such deliberation proiected was by the councell of God dissipated and brought to nothing For Sebaâ—tian King of Portugall to whom the chiefe conduct of the forces against England was committed for this Prince puffed vp with a heat of youth and ambition had long before offred all his power to the Pope to be imployed against Mahumetanes and Proteâ—tants was then intised and drawne by many great promises of Mahomet sonne of Abdalla King of â—ess vnto the African warre Sebastian being thus drawne from the English Warres another way dealt with Stucley that first of all he would carry his Italian souldiers into Mauritania Stucley finding the Spanish King not against this proiect for the Spanyard disdeined that the Popes Bastard should be King of Ireland went with Sebastian into Mauritania and was killed in that memorable battell wherein three Kings Sebastian Mahomet and Abdall-Melech were all slaine And so Stucley had too honorable an end of a dishonorable life By the death of Sebastian the Spanyard was cleane drawn away from thinking of the English invasion for a time and set all his forces vpon the invasion of Portugall If this occasion had not drawne away the Spanyard a great tempest of Warre should haue fallen vpon England if any credit may be given to the English fugitiues for they declared that those hug Armies which the Spanyard had provided against England out of Italy were now all to be imployed vpon the subduing of Portugaâ—l neither would he be by any meanes peâ—swaded then to thinke of the English invasion albeit the
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
being present with his Highnesse at that time Where without any other speech or iudgement giuen of the Letter but onely relating simply the forme of the deliuery thereof he presented it to his Maiesty the contents of the Letter are as followeth My Lord out of the loue I beare to some of your friends I haue a care of your preseruation Therefore I would aduise you as you tender your life to deuise some excuse to shift off your attendance at this Parliament For God and man haue concurred to punish the wickednesse of this time And thinke not slightly of this aduertisement but retire your selfe into your Country where you may expect the euent in safety for though there be no appearance of any stirre yet I say they shall receiue a terrible blow this Parliament and yet they shall not see who hurt them This counsell is not to be contemned because it may doe you good and can doe you no harme for the danger is past as soone as you shall haue burned this Letter And I hope God will giue you the grace to make good vse of it To whose holy protection I commend you The King no sooner read the letter but after a little pause and then reading it ouer again he deliuered his iudgement of it in such sort as he thought it was not to bee contemned For that the stile of it seemed to be more quicke and pithy then is vsuall to be in a pasquill or libell the superfluities of idle braines But the Earle of Salisbury perceiuing the King to apprehend it deeplier then he looked for knowing his nature told him that he thought by one sentence in it that it was like to be written by some fool or mad man reading to him this sentence in it for the danger is past as soone as you haue burned the Letter which he said was like to be the saying of a foole For if the danger was past so soone as the Letter was burnt then the warning behooued to be of little auaile when the burning of the Letter might make the danger to bee eschewed But the King by the contrary considering the former sentence in the Letter That they should receiue a terrible blow at this Parliament and yet should not see who hurt them ioyning it to the sentence immediately following already alleadged did thereupon coniecture that the danger mentioned should bee some sudden danger by blowing vp of powder for no other insurrection rebellion or whatsoeuer other priuate or desperate attempt could be committed or attempted in time of Parliament and the authors thereof vâ—seene except it were onely by a blowing vp of powder which might be performed by one base knaue in a darke corner Whereupon he was moued to interpret and construe the latter sentence in the Letter alleadged by the Earle of Salisbury against all ordinary sense and construction in Grammer as if by these words for the danger is past as soone as you haue burned the Letter should be closely vnderstood the sudden and quicknesse of the danger which should be as quickly performed and at an end as that paper should be of bleasing vp in the fire turning that word as soone to that sense of as quickly And therefore wished that before his going to Parliament the vnder-roomes of the Parliament house might be well and narrowly searched It must be confessed that God put this vnderstanding in the Kings heart For albeit now vpon the euent made knowne a man may easily see that no other construction can bee made of the Letter then that which the King made yet before the euent was knowne the wisest did not apprehend that vnderstanding And therefore we must acknowledge that God would haue it knowne and brought to knowledge by the King himselfe that all the body of the Kingdome might rest most vnder God beholding to the King their head for the generall deliuerance The Earle of Salisbury wondring at his Maiesties commentary which hee knew to be farre contrary to his ordinary and naturall disposition who did rather euer sinne vpon the other side in not apprehending nor trusting due aduertisments of practises and perils when hee was duely informed of them whereby hee had many times drawne himselfe into many desperate dangers and interpreting rightly this extraordinary caution at this time to proceed from the vigilant care he had of the whole state more then of his owne person which could not but haue all perished together if this designement had succeeded he thought good to dissemble still vnto the King that there had beene any iust cause of such apprehension And ending the purpose with some merry ieast vpon this subiect as his custome is tooke his leaue for that time But though hee seemed so to neglect it to his Maiestie yet his customable and watchfull care of the King and the State still boyling within him and hauing with the blessed Virgin Mary laid vp in his heart the Kings so strange iudgement and construction of it he could not bee at rest till hee acquainted the foresaid Lords what had passed betweene the King and him in priuate Whereupon they were all so earnest to renew againe the memory of the same purpose to his Maiestie as it was agreed that he should the next day being Saturday repaire to his Highnesse Which hee did in the same priuy Gallery and renewed the memory thereof the Lord Chamberlaine then being present with the King At which time it was determined that the said Lord Chamberlaine should according to his custome and office view all the Parliament houses both aboue and below and consider what likelihood or appearance of any such danger might possibly be gathered by the sight of them But yet as well for staying of idle rumors as for being the more able to discerne any mystery the nearer that things were in readinesse his iourney thither was ordained to be deferred till the afternoone before the sitting downe of the Parliament which was vpon the Munday following At what time he according to his conclusion went to the Parliament house accompanied with the Lord Monteagle being in zeale to the Kings seruice earnest and curious to see the euent of that accident whereof he had the fortune to be the first discouerer Where hauing viewed all the lower roomes he found in the vault vnder the vpper house great store of prouision of Billets Faggots Coales And inquiring of Whinyard keeper of the Wardrop to what vse hee had put those lower roomes and cellars he told him that Thomas Percy had hired both the House and part of the Cellar or Vault vnder the same And that the wood and coale therein was the said Gentlemans owne prouision Whereupon the Lord Chamberlaine casting his eye aside perceiued a fellow standing in a corner there calling himselfe the said Percy his man and keeper of that house for him which was Guido Fawkes the instrument which should haue acted that monstrous tragedy The Lord Chamberlaine looking vpon all things with