them that her Seruants might be gently vsed that they might enioy the things she had giuen them by her Will that they might be permitted to be with her at her death and lastly might be safely conducted and sent home into their Countries Her two first requests they granted but for the hauing of her Seruants by at her death the Earle of Kent seemed scrupulous fearing there might be some superstition in that To him she said Feare you not Sir the poore wretches desire nothing but to take their last leaues of me And I know my Sister the Queene of England would not you should deny me so small a request For for the honour of my sex my Seruants should be in presence I am the nearest of her Parentage and Consanguinitie grand-childe to Henry the seuenth Dowager of France and anointed Queene of Scotland Which when shee had said and turned her about it was granted her to haue such of her Seruants as shee would nominate Then she named Meluine Bourgon her Physician her Apothecarie her Chyrurgion two of her Maides and some others of which Meluine carryed vp her traine Then the Noblemen the two Earles and the Sherife of the Shire going before she came to the Scaffold the which was built at the vpper end of the Hall vpon the which was a Chaire a Cushion and a Blocke all couered with blacke So soone as she was set and silence commanded Beal read the Warrant or Mandate to which she listened attentiuely as if it had beene some other thing Then Doctor Fletcher Deane of Peterborough made a large discourse of the condition of her life past and present and of the life to come Twice she interrupted him intreating him not to importune her Protesting that she was setled and resolued in the ancient Romane Catholike Religion and ready euen now to shed her blood for the same He vehemently exhorted her to be repentant and with an vndoubted Faith to put her whole trust and confidence in Christ But shee answered him That she had beene borne and brought vp in this Religion and was ready to die in the same Then the Earles saying they would pray for her Shee replied shee would giue them great thankes if they would pray together with her but to communicate in Praier with them which are of a different Religion were a scandall and great sinne Then they bade the Deane to pray with whom whilst the Assembly about him ioyned in Prayer Shee falling on her knees and holding the Crucifix betwixt her hands prayed in Latine with her owne people out of the Office of our blessed Lady After the Deane had ended his Praiers shee prayed in English for the Church for her Sonne and Elizabeth Queene of England beseeching God to turne his heauy wrath from this Iland and protesting as she held vp the Crucifix that she reposed her hope of Saluation in the blood of Christ Iesus shee called vpon the holy Company of Saints in Heauen to make intercession for her vnto him Shee forgaue all her enemies then kissing the Crucifix and making the signe of the Crosse she said As thy armes ôh Lord Iesu-Christ were spred forth vpon the Crosse so receiue me into the same armes of thy Mercy and pardon me my trespasses Then the Executioner asked forgiuenesse whom shee forgaue and her seruants she making haste tooke off her vpper garments crying and lamenting aloud yet neither by her kissing or crossing of them did she euer change her cheerfull countenance but bade them forbeare their womanish weeping saying That shee was at the end of all her calamities Likewise turning her selfe towards her other seruants most pitiously weeping she signed them with the signe of the Crosse and smilingly bade them all Adieu Then hauing a linnen cloth before her face and laid her head vpon the Blocke she recited the Psalme In thee O Lord haue I put my trust let mee not be confounded for euer Then stretching forth her body and many times together ingeminating these words Lord into thy hands I commend my Spirit her Head at the second blow was cut off the Deane crying aloud and saying So perish all the Enemies of Queene Elizabeth to which the Earle of Kent answerd Amen so likewise did the people weeping Afterwards her body being imbalmed and solemnly made ready was with Princely Funerals interred in the Cathedrall Church of Peterborough And in Paris were her Obsequies in most magnificent manner also celebrated by the Guises who neither in her life omitted any offices of loue or kindred toward her nor yet after her death to their great land and glory Here you haue seen what was the lamentable end of the life of Mary Queen of Scotland daughter to Iames the Fift King of Scotland grand-childe to Henry the seuenth King of England by his elder daughter of 46. yeares of age and the 18. yeare of her imprisonment A woman most constant in her Religion of singular zeale and sanctimonie towards God of inuincible animositie and courage in wisedome aboue her Sexe of surpassing beautie and worthy to be recorded in the Catalogue of those Princes who of happy and prosperous became miserable and vnfortunate Being yet an Infant shee was with great sedulitie sought for both by Henry the eighth King of England for his sonne Edward and by Henry the second King of France for Francis the Dolphin Shee was sent into France at fiue yeares of age and at ten marryed to the Dolphine After the death of her husband returning into Scotland and being marryed to Henrie Lord Darley she had by him IAMES the First Monarch of Great Britanne Shee was persecuted by Murrey her base Brother and others her disloyall and ambitious subiects deposed from the Kingdome driuen into England circumuented as some worthy persons haue conceiued by certaine in England carefull for the retaining of their Religion and the preseruation of Queene Elizabeths life exposed into perilous attempts by others desirous of re-establishing the Romish Religion and brought to ruine by the intimations or witnesses of her absent Secretaries who as it is thought were corrupted with coine By her Tombe was fixed and soone after taken away this following Epitaph MARIA SCOTORVM REGINA REGIS FILIA REGIS GALLORVM VIDVA REGINAE ANGLIAE AGNATA ET HAERES PROXIMA VIRTVTIEVS REGIIS ET ANIMO REGIO ORNATA IVRE REGIO FRVSTRA SAEPIVS IMPLORATO BARBARA ET TYRANNICA CRVDELITATE ORNAMENTVM NOSTRI SECVLI ET LVMEN VERE REGIVM EXTINGVITVR EODEMQVE NEFARIO IVDICIO ET MARIA SCOTORVM REGINA MORTE NATVRALI ET OMNES SVPERSTITES REGES PLEBEII FACTI MORTE CIVILI MVLCTANTVR NOVVM ET INAVDITVM TVMVLI GENVS IN QVO CVM VIVIS MORTVI INCLVDVNTVR HIC ERAT CVM SACRIS ENIM DIVAE MARIAE CINERIBVS OMNIVM REGVM ATQVE PRINCIPVM VIOLATAM ATQVE PROSTRATAM MAIESTATEM HIC IACERE SCITO ET QVIA TACITVM REGALE SATIS SVPERQVE REGES SVI OFFICII MONET PLVRA NON ADDO VIATOR IN the lamentable death of this
Christian Princes to let them vnderstand Queen MARY's decease She therefore appointed and sent with all speed to the Emperour Ferdinando Sir Thomas Chaloner with letters of her owne hand-writing by which shee gaue him notice of her Sisters death and that first by Gods speciall grace next by her hereditary right and through the generall loue and consent of all her Subiects she succeeded these her Crownes and dignities And that now she desired nothing more than to maintaine the loue and to encrease the ancient amitie which of long time had beene betweene the Houses of England and Austria To the King of Spaine who at that time was in the Low-Countries she also sent Ambassador the Lord Brook Baron of Cobham with the like Embassage and Commission by which shee of new imployed and delegated the Earle of Arundell Turlbey Bishop of Ely and L. Wotton who before had beene delegated and appointed by Queene MARY for the treatie of peace in the Citie of Cambray and adioyned to them W. Howard Baron of Effingham She also secretly sent Sir Henry Killigrew Ambassadour to the Princes of Germany to inflame them in the zeale of Gods pure Religion To the King of Denmarke D. B. was sent Ambassador and to the Duke of Holsatia also Armigild Waade Philip King of Spaine hearing of the death of Queen MARY fearing one way to lose the title of King of England and the force of that Realme which were vnto him most vsefull and profitable and likewise that the kingdomes of England Ireland and Scotland should be vnited to the Crowne of France by the meanes of the high and mighty Princesse the Queene of Scotland hee therefore treats seriously of a match with Queene ELIZABETH with promise to obtaine a speciall dispensation from the Pope And to that effect imployed the Earle of Ferie who had visited her MAIESTIE by the like meanes as he had done Queene MARY in her sicknesse This Sutor puts Queene ELIZABETH into great anxiety and perplexity considering how inconsiderate and ingratefull her Maiestie might seeme to be in refusing a Christian Prince who had already obliged her in other things much but yet more in this as to seeke her to his wife through his owne free desire and motion The French King likewise was in an extasie considering how important and dangerous it was to France if Spaine her enemy should vnite adioyne to his kingdoms the Realmes of England and Ireland therefore hee vseth his best endeuours at Rome by the intermission of the Bishop of Angoulesme to hinder the grant of such dispensation shewing to that end that Queene ELIZABETH was held for Supportresse of the Protestant Religion and rather than faile went about to declare her illegitimate But all this most secretly and closely for feare to irritate England before that his affaires were throughly well settled The Earle of Ferie contrariwise on the other side labours as hard to bring this marriage to passe and to that end giues the English Papists to vnderstand who were dispersed throughout all parts of the Realme that it was the sole and onely way left for them to preserue their Religion and defend their ancient dignities and honours and that if they should contemne it hee could not but deplore the misery and calamity of England as being out of money vnprouided of men trained vp and vnskild in the military discipline void of fortification and lacking munition and garrisons for Warre and her Councellors of State depriued likewise of good aduice And indeed to speake truely Englands affaires were at that time in a most miserable case and lamentable state for England had warre on the one side with Scotland and on the other side with France and was in a manner vndone by those debts that King HENRY the Eighth and King EDWARD the Sixt had run into and her treasury was exhaust and empty and the Town of Callais had beene but newly lost and the whole Countrey of Oyes with all the munition and furniture of warre The people here were diuided into contrarieties through differency of religion and the Queene left without any powerfull friend to assist her hauing no alliance at all abroad with forrain Princes But when as her Maiestie had more seriously agitated her spirit and carefully considered in her minde the proposition of this match shee findes the holy Scripture expressely inioyning that no woman ought to ioyne with him who had beene her sisters Husband no more than it is lawfull for a man to marry his brothers widdow and therefore that such marriages were directly illegitimate and wholly forbidden by Gods Law although the Pope should neuer so much grant a Dispensation And moreouer that if she should contract it by vertue thereof shee should acknowledge and proue her selfe illegitimate sith shee was issued from the match that King HENRY her father had contracted after his diuorcing and putting away Katherine of Spaine for hauing beene his brothers wife which neuerthelesse had beene approued iust and lawfull according to the Diuine Law by all the Academies of Christendome and likewise the Synod of London as well as that of Katherine vniust and vnlawfull Her Maiestie therefore endeuours to stop preuent and hinder by little and little the course of King Philips suite by an honest answer truely modest and well-beseeming the chaste integrity of her constant virginity and chiefly grounded vpon scruple of her conscience But he notwithstanding all this surceased not his suite but persisted therein vrging her with feruent and frequent Letters By which shee obserued the manners and behauiours of so great a King compounded with grace and graue modesty and truely worthy his Maiestie the said Letters being much by her admired in the often publishing of them yea her Maiestie taking pleasure to imitate them vntill some Nobles of her Court began to defame and speake against the matchlesse pride and practices of the Spaniards Also some of the intimate Lords and fauorites of her Maiesties Priuy-Councell fearing lest the tender and young spirit of a Maide often moued might easily condescend to their desires told to her MAIESTIE secretly that both her Maiestie and friends with the whole Realme of England were vndone if in such Dispensations or in any thing else whatsoeuer she should giue any credit or make the least estimation of the Popes authoritie and power since that two of them had declared and published her Mother illegitimate and vnlawfully ioyned in wedlocke with King HENRY the Eighth Also that by vertue of such Declaration the most high and most mighty Princesse the Queene of Scotland should pretend right to the Crownes of England c. and that the Pope would neuer retract nor goe from that iudgement and that her Maiestie should not expect nor looke for any thing good or iust from the Popes hand who had beene enemies and shewed themselues vniust both towards her Maiestie and her Mother And that the French King laboured hard vsing his vtmost power and
slow Counsels but to dispatch and take armes That the prudence of England had alwaies beene accustomed to goe meete their enemies and not to waite for them and that it had euer beene aswell suffered to preuent dangers as to expell them to defend themselues with the same weapons that they are assayled with That England was neuer assured but when it was powerfull and armed that it was more powerfull when it had nothing to feare but the Scottish coast and that to take away this feare it were meete to assist those which professed the same Religion and chace the French out of Scotland against whom Armes are very auaileable but not Counsels That for hauing contemned them too much heretofore they had lost Calais with shame and hurt and a little before by surprize Ableville and the forts neere Bullen whiles they fained to seeke a peace which was the cause that Bullen afterwards was constrayned to render and that they should looke for no lesse of Barwicke and the frontier Townes if they tooke not armes the sooner without staying to see what the French will doe who looke as if they meant to make peace in Scotland Their designe being hidden their ambition infinite their reuennew exceeding great insomuch that it is growne a Prouerbe long agoe in England that France cannot be three yeeres both without warre and without meanes Queene ELIZABETH also often alledged this saying of the Emperour Valentinian Haue French for a friend but not for a neighbour It was resolued then that it was iust necessary and profitable to driue the French out of Scotland as soone as could be possible In the end a Nauy was sent into Borrough which is now called Enden-borrough Frith coÌ„ducted by W. Winter master of the Nauall Artillery who to the great terrour of the French set vpon their ships which were there in the Road and vpon the Garrison that they kept in the I le of Inch-Keith Likewise presently the Duke of Norfolke was established Lieutenant generall in the Northerne parts towards Scotland the frontiers of the East and of the South were coÌ„mitted to the Lord Baron Gray who not long ago had couragiously but vnluckily defended Guien against the French and Thomas Earle of Sussex who in the reigne of Queene MARY had beene Deputy of Ireland is sent back thither with title of Lieutenant together with speciall command to ouer-looke this Irish Nation being so much the more superstitious by how much lesse it was husbanded and tilled should not be stirred to rebellion by the practices of the French vnder pretext of Religion to furnish Ophalie with some small Forts to giue to the old Soldiers some lands to be to them and their heires males begotten of their bodies to receiue Sulij-Boy Scotsh-Irish to hold the possessions which hee had claimed by hereditary right in the Countrey of Vlster to hold in fee and to doe homage and seruice for the same to increase moderately the reuenues of the Prince and reduce the treasury to the forme of that of England While these things passed thus F. Talbot the fifth Earle of the House of Shrewsburie dyed who was one of the chiefe Councellors of the Kingdome leauing for Heire George his onely Sonne by Marie Daughter to T. Dacre of Gilsland THE THIRD YEERE OF HER RAIGNE Anno Domini 1560. AS soone as the Duke of Norfolke was come to Barwicke the Prior of Saint Andrews the Baron of Rethuen and others came to meete him and in the name of the Duke of Chastelraut and his Confederates treated allyance with him for the Queene of England in these termes Whereas the French haue striuen by right or wrong to subdue Scotland and to vnite it to the Scepter of France the Queene of England will take into her Protection the Duke of Chastelraut the Heire apparent to the Kingdome of Scotland as long as the marriage of the King of France and Mary Queene of Scots shall last and one yeere more He shall set forth Armies by Land and Sea with all sort of warlike Munition to chase and driue the French out of Scotland He shall not make peace with them but with condition that Scotland shal enioy its former libertie The Forts which shall be taken from them by the ayde of the English shall be also presently demolished or put into the hands of the Duke of Norfolke according as hee shall thinke good The English shall not fortifie any place in Scotland but by the counsel of the Duke of Chastelraut and the Peeres of the Kingdome The Scots shall assist the English to their vttermost endeuours they shall hold their Enemies theirs and shall not suffer that the Kingdome of Scotland shall bee ioyned to France otherwise then by marriage as now it is If England be set vpon by the French on this side Tine the Scots shall send at the Queenes charge two thousand Horse and a thousand Foot-men If on the other side they shall ioyne themselues to succour the English with all the strength they are able to make and at their owne charge for thirtie dayes as they haue beene accustomed to doe for the defence of Scotland The Earle of Argaehel Iudge of Scotland shall labour to reduce vnto due obedience the Northerne parts of Ireland vnder certaine Conditions which shall bee agreed vpon betweene the Vice-roy of Ireland and himselfe Finally it is determined what the one and the other shall doe if Iames Maconel or others raise any commotion in the Countrey of Hebride in Scotland or in Ireland For establishing these things Hostages shall bee sent into England before the English Armie enter into Scotland which shall be changed at the discretion of the Scots from sixe moneths to sixe moneths or from foure to foure Moneths so long as the Marriage betweene the King of France and the Queene of Scotland shall last and a yeere ouer and aboue That the Duke of Chastelraut the Earles and Barons Conferrates shall ratifie these Coâ—â—entions vnder their Signes and Seales within twenty dayes and shall declare that in all things which shal not tend to the oppressing of their ancient Liberty they shal yeeld obedience to the Queene of Scotland and to the King of France her Husband forasmuch as the Queene of England vndertakes not these things but by way of friendship and neighbourhood and to free the Scots from Bondage It was already discouered by Messages from stranger Princes and intercepted Letters that the French were resolued to set vpon England Seb. Martigues a young Gentleman of the House of Luxembourg with a thousand old Souldiers and two wings of Horse was come into Scotland and Doisel a Frenchman assuring himselfe too much to be of the Councell of the Queene Regent of Scotland had propounded to the chiefe of the Kingdome at Aymouth neere Barwicke that ioyning their forces they at the very instant would put the King and Queene of Scotland in possession of England but hauing considered the difficultie of the thing
and not willing to violate the Peace newly agreed vpon they refused it Neuerthelesse Martigues being yong and liuely did so burne in desire to attempt England that with much adoe was he hindred by the wholsome councell of the Queene Regent but this heat was quickly quenched when it was knowne that a storme had so beaten the Marquis D'elbeuf vpon the coasts of Holland who sayled towards Scotland with greater Forces that he was constrain'd to returne to Diepe froÌ„ whence he departed with losse of some Ships of many Souldiers At that time Ph. Stauel of Glâ—ion Knight of the Golden Fleece and Master of the Artillerie was sent into England employed from Spaine to expose the complaints that the French made against the Queene touching the Affaires of Scotland and to counsell in the name of the King to Peace and concord yet neuerthelesse hee secretly counselled the Queene to pursue with courage what she he had begun in Scotland though contrariwise the Spaniard had openly forbidden to transport into England those munitions of War which she had couenanted for at Antwerp insomuch as she was constrained to make a new prouision thereof in Germany And the Proposition that Stauel made was not without suspition that some Companies of Spaniards should be sent into Scotland together with the French to suppresse the Scottish Rebels and by the same meanes the French themselues if they should attempt any thing vpon England At the same time M. Seuerin ordinary Embassadour of the King of France instantly sollicited the Queene to call backe her Armies both by Sea and Land from Scotland which she willingly accorded vnto prouided that the French should be recalled but by delayes sought out of the one side and the other the businesse is drawne into length till the comming of I. de Mouluc Bishop of Valence who differed not much from the Protestants Religion who vpon his arriuall from France being carried vnto the place said that he was not furnished with any power for this busines and notwithstanding he was very eloquent strained himselfe to his vttermost that those Armies should be recall'd from Scotland and maintain'd that it was not to defraud the Queene of England that the King and Queene of Scots carried the Armes of England but by that rather to honour the Royall House But not beeing able to perswade the one as being absurd nor the other as dangerous Seuerin desired Stauel and the Bishop of Aquilé Embassadour ordinary of Spaine in England to bee present and witnesses when he should protest against the Queene of England that shee had violated the Treatie of Peace to which they refused him because they had it not in Commission Neuerthelesse he made by a discource prolixe enough his protestation to which the Queene made an Answere which was published and set foorth by which shee testified to all the world That the violating of the Treaties proceeded only from the French and that nothing could happen to her more vexing and odious then this Warre and such like things which might easily be drawne from what had beene spoken heretofore and by a declaration in writing which she had formerly caused to be published Notwithstanding that although she had receiued many wrongs and iniuries in that they had vsurped the Title and Armes of her Kingdome she could not for all that beleeue that it had beene done with the consent of the King or Queene of France or the Princes of the Blood but by the wicked deuices of the Guizes who abusing the King and riches of the French were ready to wound England through the sides of Scotland That shee could not abandon her safety nor her Subiects And surely it is not to be doubted that the Guizes for the loue which they bore to the Queene of Scotland the hatred to Queene ELIZABETH in regard of Religion and the ambition to oblige France by adding new Kingdomes vnto it being assured of an English party of contrarie Religion to the Protestants linckt themselues together obstinately to ruine Queene ELIZABETH But they were diuerted by meanes of discontentments and hidden hatreds which grew vpon the Subiect of the administration of the affaires which were put into their hands after they had taken them from the Princes of the Bloud And the QVEENE went so prudently to worke and vpon the nicke to meete the designes of her Enemies that she hath beene alwayes had in admiration of her friends and in terrour to her Enemies The same day that Gray entered into Scotland with an Armie Seuerin and Mouluc earnestly sollicited Queene ELIZABETH to call it backe giuing her hope that Calais should bee rendred if shee did it But shee answered very plainely That she made no account of Calais a small Fisher-Towne in comparison of the safety of all Great Brittaine And the same day sent into Spaine Anthony Browne Vicount of Montaigue a man very remarkable for his wisedome but very zealous in the Romish Religion thinking that for that consideration he would bee more pleasing to the King of Spaine together with Tho. Chamberlaine Embassadour Ordinary to iustifie vpon how many iust causes she had sent an Armie into Scotland to wit those that I haue heretofore declared and to shew the Queen of Scotland had beene married very young to a sickly King vvho was without hope to leaue Issue that Hamilton Duke of Chastelraut hauing beene by the authority of the Parliament designed of the Kingdome of Scotland the Guizes had prepared Ambuscadoes for his Sonne as he should passe through France their designes were bent to ioyne the Crowne of Scotland to the Crowne of France and to conserue it for the Queene This matter the King of Spaine examined seriously how dangerous it was to the Prouinces of the Low-Countreys and of Spaine that it behoued not blast with Rebellion the assembly of the great ones in Scotland which was made for no other end but to keepe as by duty they are bound the Kingdome for the Queen and her lawfull successors not induring to permit that by the wiles of the Guizes it should be ruined or transferred to the French without wronging them or theirs Vpon the beginning of Aprill the English Armie composed of an hundred Horse and sixe thousand Foote marcheth toward Lieth which is a place situated neere Bodir where all the Seas of Great Brittaine doe beate and the Riuer of Lieth spreading broader dischargeth it selfe and makes a commodious Rode for Ships scarce two miles distant from Edenborrough the Capitall Towne of Scotland The French knowing this commodity had fortified it to retire thither and there receiue the succour which might be sent vnto them the English shewing themselues there Martigues goes as speedily out vpon them with some companies of Foote to hinder their approach to a Hill vpon which he supposed they intended to Campe but after a Skirmish of foure houres where some were slaine they driue them backe into the
Regent he obliged himselfe by Writings vnder hand and seale to attempt nothing that should concerne either war or peace the person and marriage of the King or the Queenes liberty without the consent of the other Complices and hee caused the Lord of Lidington to informe Throgmorton that he should no more intercede for the Queene and that both himselfe and all others made choyce rather to indure any thing else than to permit that shee enioying liberty should still retaine Bothwell about her expose her Sonne to danger the Countrey to molestation and themselues to banishment We well know said hee what you English men can effect by a warre if you harrasse our frontiers and wee yours and are well assured out of the ancient alliance they haue alwaies entertained will neuer forsake vs. Neuerthelesse hee denied Ligneroll the French Ambassadour Leager to see the Queene while Bothwell were taken and contrary to that which he had promised to the King of France he daily intreated this miserable Queene most rigorously for all the good shee had formerly done him Hitherto so much as I could collect out of Throgmortons Letters Presently after Earle Murray put to death Iohn Hepborne Paris French Dowglas and some other of Bothwels seruants who assisted in the murdering of the King But when they came to their excution they protested before God and his Angels whereunto he gaue no eare that they heard Earle Bothwell say how himselfe and Morton were the originall Authors and discharged the Queene of all suspition As also Bothwell himselfe when hee was prisoner in Denmarke had often protested both during his life and at his death with a most sincere and religious attestation that she was innocent thereof and foureteene yeeres after when Morton came to vndergoe his last punishment he confest that Bothwell sollicited him to consent thereunto and he vtterly refusing to attempt the same except he first saw an expresse command in writing from the Queenes owne hand he replyed that this in no manner could be compassed but excluded it must be without communicating of it formerly to her Queene ELIZABETH and the King of France being much incensed with such a precipitant deposition and the Conspirators obstinacy against the sute of their Ambassadours it turning as it were to the reproch of Royall Maiesty they began to fauour the Hamiltons who still held the Queenes party Pasquier also Ambassador Leager for France treated with Queene ELIZABETH to procure her re-establishment by force of Armes who thought it most expedient first to prohibit the Scots all commerce with England and France while she were deliuered that so some diuision might grow betweene the Nobility and the people which Nobility seemed to conspire against her But for a while to passe ouer these affaires of Scotland Question being then made of restoring the Towne of Calais to the English according to the Treaty of Cambray seeing the eight yeeres therein specified were now expired Smith being sent into France with G. Winter Master of the Nauall Artillery after the sounding of a Trumpet before the gate of Calais which lookes towards the Sea with a lowd voyce in the French Tongue he demanded that according to the Articles of that Treaty the Town Territory with some Canons might be surrendred into his hands he also at the same time drew an Act by the hand of a publique Notary in the presence of some Germane and Flemish Merchants who were accidentally there at the same time and taken for witnesses and then he went presently to the King of France at Castell de Fossat where with Norris Ambassadour Leager he made againe the same demand The King sent to his Councellors amongst whom M. de l'Hospitall Lord Chancellor Proloquutor for the rest with a graue and well compiled discourse spake to him in this manner THat if the English had any right to lay claime to Calais they might as well challenge and pretend title to Paris for by the fortune of Warre they had conquered and lost both the one and the other That the right they pretended to Calais was but new whereas that of the French tooke beginning with the Kingdome it selfe And though the English possessed it for the space of three and twenty yeeres more or lesse yet the originall title euer remained to the King of France as well as that of the Duchies of Guyenne and Normandy which the English likewise detayned for a long time by the force of their Armes That the French did not conquer but rather recouered Calais with their Armes euen as they did their former Dukedomes That the prescription of times alledged by the English tooke no place betweene Princes but their right lay alwayes in their force and in the Law of the twelue Tables for one might eternally challenge his owne properties out of the hand of his enemie That the English though sufficiently instructed in Treaties and contractations of affaires were neuer mindefull of Calais in the Treaty which passed not long since at Troyes though they enterprised a warre principally for the recouery thereof so as hereby they manifested that they had giuen ouer all pretence to the same That this Treaty of Troyes was a Renouation by meanes whereof that of Cambray was in some poynts reformed notwithstanding the clause of the Reseruation of rights and claimes because that touched onely inferiour and petty Priuiledges and claimes whereas that of Calais was held for one of the most principall and important That notwithstanding any thing which Francis the Second attempted in Scotland this would not accrue to the preiudice of Charles the Ninth That in some speciall cases the attempts of particular men were subiect to the Lawes but in the proceedings of Kings and Princes it tooke quite otherwise That for whatsoeuer was vndertaken in the Kingdome of Scotland made ouer in dowry to King Francis the English who by surmizes aymed at his and the Queene of Scots proiect they should rather complaine vnto her seeing they entred Haure de grace which is in France vnder a colourable pretext of the Kings preseruation where placing a strong Garrison and diuers warlike munitions they held it by force of Armes and furnished the Prince of Condé with Moneyes for which cause they lost the claime which they had to Calais That GOD permitting the French to recouer the same resolued in his heauenly prouidence that it should be a meanes to end the warres that had beene betweene them in that they were seuered and separated by the Sea which running betwixt both coasts serues for iust borders and limits as that Poet sings And the English who are certaine Nations Seuer'd by Sea from other Regions That the Queene of England should take a better course in embracing Peace with the King of France then by seeking to recouer Calais Finally that no man should dare to moue a word to the King about surrendring it to the English but if any were so presumptuous that he
they hauing no good intelligence did niggardly depart with their mony discorded with the Dutch in certaine points of Religion and that the Emperour a neere Kinsman of the Spaniards would giue impeachment to it They also saw the French so engaged in their owne ciuill warres that they could finde no end that there was simulated inueterate hate betweene the inhabitants of the Low-Countries and the French that the Brabanders Flemmish and the neighbouring people of France would oppose it with all their force that the Commandement of the French was rude and burthensome as well as that of the Spanish and that the hauens of France are not much commodious for the nauigation of the Dutch But for the English that were almost vnder one paralell with the Dutch who also seemed to be of the same nature and Religion with them that their language was not much different their Countrey neere adioyning furnished with Ports commodious for Nauigation and fruitfull in Merchandize That the Queen both by Sea and Land was very powerfull a milde and gracious Princesse temperate in her commands one that would conserue their Liberties and in no wise burthen them with exactions They forthwith sent into England Phil. Marnix Lord of Saint Aldegonde I. Douza of Nortwic Paul Busy and D. Melsen which with an honourable legacy and learned oration offered to the Queene Holland and Zeland eyther to possesse or protect as being a Princesse issued from the Princes of Holland of the bloud of Philip Wife to Edward the Third Daughter to William Bauier the third of that name Earle of Hainaud and of Holland by whose second Sister the Spaniard came to the inheritance of the Prouinces The Queene gaue a willing and an attentiue hearing to these things But first of all shee weighed and considered in her minde the cause which they had vndertaken against their Lord and King the enmities of the Spaniard the enuy of the French the great expences and doubtfull euents of the warre and also what offence might be taken by this insolent example Then shee doubted whether by her discent from Bauier she might make claime to Holland and Zeland and whether shee might lawfully contract a league of protection with the Subiects of another Prince and whether they themselues could doe this without the consent of the Emperour who was Soueraigne Lord of the Fee Then further she scarce gaue credit to what some whispered in her eares that the Prouinces fell not to the Spaniard by hereditary right but by the election of the Subiects Finally hauing maturely deliberated vpon these things after she had respectiuely rendred thankes to the Prince of Orange and the rest for their great good will she answered that she had alwayes had a speciall regard of the honour and faith worthy a Prince nor could shee yet conceiue how she could in honour and conscience receiue the Prouinces into her protection much lesse into her possession but she would imploy her best labours to mediate for a happy peace betweene them At the same time arriued at the Court Iohn Perenot of Champigni from Lodwick Zuniga of Requesens who in his name modestly aduised the Queene to entertaine the league betweene England and Burgundie and not to entermeddle in the affaires of the Netherlands To whom the Queene promised to obserue the league notwithstanding the Spaniard had refused to confirme it Yet would shee alwayes prouide for her owne honour and safety if shee perceiued the ancient forme of command amongst the Burgundians to be changed and forreine Souldiers in great numbers daily to be admitted into the adiacent Prouince Before Champigni was returned Requesens yeelded to death and a strange confusion had ouercast the Netherlands the Souldiers deuasting all places with Sword and Fire And the Estates of Brabant Flanders c. assuming their former authority in the administration of the Common-wealth which the Spaniard by necessity was constrained to confirme to them vntill the comming of Iohn of Austria whom hee had instituted Gouernour ouer the Prouinces Queene ELIZABETH carefully laboured that the Spaniard might receiue no discommoditie conserue as much as she possible could the Netherlāds intyre to him and sent Dauison diligently to exhort them to a peace But by reason of outragiousnesse of the Spanish Souldiers nothing was effected England for this whole yeere remained in a peaceable quiet excepting in the moneth of Iuly there happened vpon the Southerne borders of England towards Scotland a conflict betweene the borderers of eyther part whereof the occasion was this Iohn Foster Knight Gouernour of the Meridionall Frontiers and at the same time of Barwicke also entred into parley vpon the Mount Redsquire with I. Carmichell Warden of Liddisdale in Scotland notwithstanding it was a custome that none but Gouernours should meete with Gouernours and Wardens with Wardens as equals in dignitie they were of either side accompanied besides certaine Noble-men with a multitude of Fugitiues and Malefactours all armed of which the most part quarrelled with one another about inueterate and mortall hatreds betweene them These sort of fellowes according to their custome hauing put their horses out here and there to feed round incircled the Gouernour Warden whom when they heard breake out into eager termes about the sending backe of Fugitiues they whose Lawes were onely their weapons knowing themselues guilty were afraid lest they should be deliuered into the hands of iustice vpon a squabble which fell out about the taking away of a spurre they tumultuously ranne to armes and euery one to reuenge their priuate spleene assayled his particular enemy or made prey of his Horse Whether a Scot or an English-man was the beginner it is vncertaine At the first encounter the English repulsed the Scots and tooke Carmichell But as they being too confident in their owne forces ranged about for booty and trifling pillage a troupe of Scottish succours sallying out of Iedbourgh Carmichell escaped and the English were put to flight George Heron Knight Warden of Tyndale and Ridisdale with others was slaine and the Gouernour Forster himselfe Fran. Russell sonne to the Earle of Bedford and sonne-in-law to Forster Cuthbert Collinwood Iames Ogle Henry Fenwich and many others were taken and carried to Dalquith in Scotland where the Regent was resident who courteously receiued them but fearing lest if hee should so soone permit them to depart their bloud yet boyling for the murther should inflame their courages to vengeance and so rayse a warre betweene the two Kingdomes hee for a time deteined them and would not release them before they had promised by writing to appeare at a certaine day in Scotland When Queene ELIZABETH had certaine notice of these matters shee was then if euer anger had preuayled with her full of vexation and mightily incensed that the Scots which were as her selfe spake indebted to her for their rest and libertie should violating the peace assault and murder the
would lay siege to it he writ againe to the Earle representing vnto him the Queenes mercy the ancient dignitie of the House of Desmond the glory of his Ancestors the infamy that he should leaue to his posterity exhorts him not to be tainted with the name of Rebell but returne to his duetie He to the contrary armes his minde with obstinacy and his Castle on all sides with Spanish and Irish At what time Drury the Deputy dyed at Waterford a man of approued worth who from his youth had beene trayned vp in the exercise of Warre in France Scotland and Ireland Together with the death of the Deputie dyed Malbey's authoritie in Mounster who when he had put his men in Garrison went to Connach the Prouince of his gouernement The Rebels take heart by the death of the Deputie and deliberate how they might vtterly draw themselues from vnder the English command and are of opinion to blocke vp the Garrisons on all sides and starue them by famine Iames Desmond then besiegeth Adare where W. Stanley and G. Carew were in Garrison But the besieged apprehending famine as the extremitie of all euils so wearied the besiegers with often eruptions that they raised the siege and gaue them libertie to forrage the Countrey neere about them which they did lustily and valiantly Iames himselfe was wounded there In the interim the Councell of England chose for chiefe Iustice of Ireland William Pelham with the authoritie of Lord Deputie vntill they had chose one and the Earle of Ormond President of Mounster who sent the Earle of Desmonds sonne to Dublin there to be kept for hostage Pelham goes towards Mounster sends for Desmond but hee excuseth himselfe by Letters sent by his Wife For that cause Ormond is sent who warnes him to send Sanders the Diuine the Souldiers that were strangers and to deliuer vp into his hands the Castles of Carigo-foyle and Asketen to submit himselfe absolutely and turne his forces against his Brethren and the other Rebels assuring him grace if hee did it if not to be declared a Traitor and an enemy of the Countrey but by subterfuges and flyings off hee dallies and playes with these things In the beginning of Nouember hee was proclaymed Traytor and guiltie Laesae Maiestatis because hee had dealt with forraine Princes for the subduing and ouerthrowing of the Countrie and intertained Sanders and Fitz-Morris Rebels cherished the Spaniards which were driuen from the Fort caused faithfull Subiects to be hanged displayed against the Queene the Ensigne of the Pope and brought strangers into the Kingdome This declaration being published the Lord chiefe Iustice gaue Commission to Ormond to goe on with the warres Desmond turning his designes into another part of the Countrey of Mounster and sacketh Yoghall surprizeth without resistance a Sea-Towne and strong enough Ormond wastes all farre and wide about Conile the onely refuge of the Rebels brings away their Flockes and giues them in prey to the Souldiers hanged the Maior of Yoghall before his owne doore for refusing to receiue the English Garrison fortified the Towne and after prepares himselfe to besiege the Spaniards in Strangicall But they before-hand with-drew themselues from that danger Neuerthelesse the English pursued them and left not one of them aliue and molested the Rebels in all parts of Mounster Desmond and his Brethren although they lay hid writ long Letters to the Lord chiefe Iustice that they had vndertaken the protection of the Catholique faith in Ireland by the Popes authoritie and the aduice of the King of Spaine therefore they courteously warne him that in so pious and meritorious a cause he would ioyne with them for the saluation of his owne soule THE THREE AND TVVENTIETH YEERE OF Her Reigne Anno Dom. 1580. THe Lord chiefe Iustice pleasantly iesting at these things returnes to Mounster cals thither the Nobilitie detaines them with him not suffering any to depart without giuing Hostages and promise to imploy all their power and ayde with him and Ormond against the Rebels Who speedily diuiding their forces make diligent search for the Rebels constraine the Baron of Lixnaw to yeeld besiege the Castle of Carigofoyle kept by Iules an Italian with some few Spaniards and with their great Ordnance hauing made a breach in the Wall which was built but of dry stone entered killed part of the Garrison hanged the rest and Iules himselfe Then the Castles of Ballilogh and Asketen perceiuing the English to approach sets them on fire and leaues them Peter Carew and George his brother are made Gouernours of Asketen with a new Garrison of the English they waste the Lands of Mac-Aule from thence the chiefe Iustice by a watery Mountaine enters Shlewlougher in Kerrie brings away great quantities of cattell and defeats many Rebele Iames the Earle of Desmonds brother hauing pillaged Muske-roy appertaining to Cormag-Mac-Teg whom the chiefe Iustice by Law set at libertie as well deseruing for his seruice against the Rebels met with Donel brother to Cormag who hauing slaine many and recouered the spoyle tooke him being wounded to death and deliuered him to Wararm S. Leger Marshall of Mounster and to Walter Raleigh a new Commander They proceed against him in iustice and hauing conuinced him executed him for a Traitor and set his head for a spectacle vpon the Gate of Corcage The Earle of Desmond himselfe being ouer-whelmed with misery and no where safe remoues euery houre sends his Wife to the Lord chiefe Iustice to aske pardon and imployes his friends to Winter who with a Nauall Army watcht the Spaniard in the mouth of the Hauen that he might be transported into England to begge the Queens pardon The Lord chiefe Iustice hearing that Arthur Lord Gray who was appointed Deputy of Ireland was landed leaues the command of the Army to George Bourchier second sonne to the Earle of Bath and by easie iourneies returnes to Dublin to deliuer vp the gouernement of the Kingdome to his Successor As soone as the Lord Gray was arriued being informed that some Rebels conducted by Fitz-Eustat and Phoog-Mac-Hugh the most renowned of the famous House of the Obrins who after their spoyles and robberies made their retreat to Glandilough fiue and twenty mile Northward from Dublin to win reputation and to breed terrour at his beginning hee commanded the Captaines who were come from all parts to salute him to gather troupes and to goe with him to set vpon the Rebels who were retyred to Glandilough a Vale full of Grasse the most part of it fertile and fit to feede Cattell situated at the foote of a steepe Rocke full of Springs and so enuironed with Trees and thicke bushes that the Inhabitants of the Countrey knew not the wayes in it When they were come to the place Cosby the Leader of the light-armed Irish which they call Kearnes who knew the situation well aduertized the others of the danger in entering into that Valley
and worthy a Subiect But howsoeuer I was willing the best I was able to pay this my humble Duty to Her blessed Memory and to your Honorable selues by my poore endeuours to make knowne the desire I haue to intitle my selfe A true denoted to your resplendent vertues ABRAHAM DARCIE THE HISTORIE OF THAT EVER Most blessed and Glorious Empresse Queene ELIZABETH of happy renowne and matchlesse Fame OR ANNALLS Of all such things of note as hapned during her happy Reigne as well in England France Ireland as Scotland Spaine Italy Germany and the Netherlands The third Booke and the foure and twentieth yeere of her Raigne Anno MDLXXXI HEreupon in the beginning of Ianuarie next was Thomas Randolph Captaine of the Light-horse sent into Scotland with cōmand that he should attempt nothing that might any way bee preiudiciall to the present religion or the peace of the two Nations he was also to sollicite in the behalfe of the Lord Morton that Lenox might be sent out of Scotland and such of the Nobility as fauoured the English faction might bee encouraged Randolph the better to effectuate his message for the good of Morton maketh recitall of his many great merits and good services done to his Maiesty the inueterate malice of his aduersaries the high respect and honor they ought to haue of Queene ELIZABETH who expected nothing lesse then to haue her suit now reiected in so honest a cause The King answered that by the duty of his royall charge hee was to execute iudgment and iustice vpon a person so conuicted in matter of Maiesty that he ingeniously acknowledged the Queenes manifold fauours nor would hee act any thing might any way bee iustly offensiue to her Maiestie Then after Randolph being admitted into the Assembly of the States of the Kingdome reckoneth vp the well knowne benefits which both the King and Country had earst receiued from the Queene namely HOW by the blood of the English their Country had beene deliuered from the French and of their King his Kingdome and Religion she had euer been a chiefe supporter but for any way seducing the King although some but most falsly did intimate so much or seeking to hold one foot of ground in Scotland shee neuer entertained such a thought yet were they not ignorant that she wanted not opportunity the King being in his cradle the Queene-mother in Prison and the Nobles in combustion But on the contrary all her royall care was for the conseruation of their King her neere and deare kinsman and allyed to her in a triple bond of neigborhood religion and consanguinity nor had shee euer found him or any of his Regents or Vice-Roies defectiue towards her in their loues before this Aubigny of France came into Scotland but since his ariuall hee wholly vsurped the Regall authority hee had withdrawne all affection from the English to bestow it vpon the French who before his ariuall neuer somuch as acknowledged their King had remoued from his person his most trusty friends brought in strangers had conferred with foraigners by letters which he shew'd for inuading England that he had brought the Scotish Presbytery into contempt with the King as a people altogether turbulent seditious had peruerted the administration of iustice vpon the borders Nor could her Maiesty endure a Prince so vertuous so neerely allyed vnto her to bee thus abused and caried away by such sinister practices Notwithstanding this for the present there was nothing done either for Morton or against Lenox whom the Scots for the most part supposed no way guilty of such aspersions or calumnies as had beene obiected Randolph seeing that thought hee would try another conclusion consorts himselfe with the friends of Morton and Lenox aduersaries bewaileth the miserable estate of Scotland representeth to them the imminent perills which hang ouer the heads of the King the Country and them all complaineth that the Queens message by way of intercessiō hath beene slieghtly respected suggesteth with them secretly to attempt to gaine that by force of Armes which they cannot get by faire meanes promising to further and furnish them out of England with men money and munition This Oratory of his proued so perswasible with them that thereupon the Earles of Argathel Mont-Rosse Angus Mortons Nephew by the brotherside Glencarne Reuthen Lindsey others became all of his side But soone after they fell at discord amongst themselues and seeing the King wholly caried away with the fauour of Lenox nor no whit danted for the English forces which were now vpon the borders and had already encountred theirs generally respecting the kings personall presence with them though a child were not affraid to bend all the powers they could make vpon Lenox and thought it was enough to haue pity on Morton notwithstanding the Earles of Angus and Marre practised couertly and cunningly with Randolph in the behalfe of Morton and against Lenox whereof Whittingham hauing aduertised the King Angus was commanded to retire himselfe beyond the riuer Spea Marre to yeeld vp the Castle of Sterlin into the Kings hands Randolph hauing an apprehension of feare got him priuately into Barwicke and seeing matters proue desperate aduiseth Angus Marre to prouide for themselues either in submitting themselues to the King or to seeke the protection of the Queene of England The English forces were no sooner withdrawne from the borders but Morton conuicted of murthering the King had his head cut off for he had confessed as the report went that Bothwel Archebauld Douglas had imparted their intent of making away the King but in so tumultuous a time as that was hee durst not reueale it Nor could hee deny but that since the Kings death hee had beene very inwardly conuersant and more familiar then before with Douglas the Kings murtherer and had promised by his letters if Bothwel should at any time be accused to defend him the best he might Instantly Douglas and others the friends of Morton fled into England In the Low-Countries against the Graue Van Reneberg who had there valiantly serued the King of Spaine and now laid siege to Stenwicke in Friezland the States sent the English vnder the conduct of their General Norris who with no lesse courage then good successe after he had twice releeued the besieged with victuals caused the Enemy to raise his siege But after that comming to fight with Verdugues the Spaniard hauing the victory in his hands his enemies put to flight suddenly fortune changing he is beaten off the field dangerously wounded and many of his men slaine amongst which not to nominate the rest were these men o◠note Captain Cotton Fitz-Williams and Bishop I know not well whether I should here recite a Combate which was betweene Thomas Chieftaine of the Wallons and Generall Norris but Norris by the Law militarie being not permitted to admit of because he was Generall of the Armie his Lieutenant Roger Fitz-Williams
vpon the riuer Mase and had round intrenched himselfe Leicester to releeue the towne sent the Earle Hoenloe a Germane and Iohn Norris an English Captain who hauing begun to raise a scance neere to the towne that they might from thence send prouision succors to the besieged were soone assailed and repulst by the Spaniard but certaine fresh companies of English ioyning with the other and falling vpon the Spaniard repulsed them vvith a great slaughter only Norris receiued a small hurt But the Duke of Parma comming with fresh supplies beganne furiously to play vpon the town with his great artillery whereupon Homart Gouernor of the town being a yong man vnexperienced in martiall affaires without abiding any assault after hee had conditioned for his owne and the Inhabitants liues he yeelded vp the towne Whilest Leicester in the meane space expulsing the Spaniards out of the Betow an Isle situated betweene the Rhine and the Waale and fortified the scance neere Telon Hemart for hauing vnaduisedly yeelded Graue was for an example to others beheaded The Duke of Parma passing into Guilderland lodged his army before Venlo where Skenke of Freezland and Roger Williams a Welchman being men of a resolute courage put in practice a haughty enterprise breaking through the army of the Duke by night with intent to enter into the towne and hauing slaughtered many they had pierced as farre as the Dukes tent But they were repulsed and though they failed of their expectation yet were they praysed amongst the best souldiers for their aduentrous hardinesse Soone after the towne of Venlo was yeelded vp In the interim the Lord Willoughby Gouernor of Bergen op Zome intercepted store of Corne which was caried toward the enemy On another side Phillip Sidney and Maurice sonne to the Prince of Orange surprised Axele a towne in Flanders Sidney swelling with courage by reason of this successe being allured with hopes from some of the garison of Graueline hee by night attempted to take the towne but La Motte the Gouernor by whom this plot was laid issued out vpon him vnexpected whereby he perceiued that he was deluded and retired with the losse of some few men safe and in perfect health William Pelham Generall of the English horse scoured vp and downe Brabant Parma parting from Venlo marched to Bergen where Colonell Morgan with 1200 English vnder his command lay in Garison which he beleagerd Leicester made hast to raise him but finding himselfe vnequall in the number of his men slenderly prouided of munition not any place for retreat at hand the leaguer of his enemy strongly fortified to draw the enemy from Bergen he in likewise beleagâ—rd Duisbrough and after that by the force of his cannon he had made a breach preparing to giue an assault the towne vpon composition yeelded so hee entred and tooke possession of the towne before the Duke of Parma had altogether left Bergen to come to releeue it Parma suspecting that they would also march against Zutphen a neighbouring City he caused prouision to be caried into the towne but at the second returne of the cariage the English by the fauour of the time which was then misty encountred the Spaniards which conuoyed the same Then began betwixt them a tumultuous conflict The English standing two volleys of shot vntoucht remained firme putting to flight the troope of horse sent forth vnder the conduct of G. Cressiac a Wallon who dismounted from his horse by the Lord Willoughby vvas taken Hannibal Gonzago with many others being slaine Yet few of the English perished but oh He that countervail'd many men whose valor parallel'd if not exceeded the best Sidney his horse being slaine whilst he ascended another was shot through the thigh of which wound fiue and twenty dayes after he dyed hauing scarce out-liued his father foure moneths and was much lamented of all good men Leicester his vncle returning into England performed his obsequies and funerall duties in the Church of St. Paul at London with great magnificence and solemnities due to a noble Souldier Iames the King of Scots honored him with an Epitaph both the Academies coÌ„secrated their teares to him and the new Colledge of Oxford erected a stately monument to his lasting memory And to speake truth the vertue of this man his natural magnificent bounty his adorned literature and his sweet and milde behauiour well deserued all this yea and more Leicester though sad sorrowful eagerly assaulted the forts before Zutphen and to expugne them with better successe he seized vpon the Iland with the places of defence therin then assaulting the lesser fortresse hee subdued it by the valour of Edward Stanley who laying hold of a Spaniards Pike wherewith he strucke him kept such fast hold that hee was by the Pike drawne into the Fort vvhereat the Spaniards were in such sort amazed that they fearefully fled Leicester for this valorous exploit Knighted Stanley rewarding him with 40 pounds English presently paid him down and a 100 Marks yearely pension during his life The night following the Spaniards abandoned the greater fort leauing behind them all their munition and retyred into Zutphen Leicester thought it not expedient to beleaguer the towne at that time being then almost in the depth of vvinter and the vveather very sharpe besides hauing garisons round about it he thought it sufficiently besieged For Sir Edward Stanley remained at Deuentrey being sixe English miles from thence on the North side with 1200 footmen as well English as Irish Rowland Yorke kept the fortresses of Zutphen neere to Deuentry with 800 foote and 100 horse There were garisons likewise placed towards the East parts at Lillo Sherenbourg and Douay Leicester hauing placed the rest of his troopes in garison and seeing that the Duke of Parma was farre thence retired hee returned to the Hage where the Estates receiued him with many complaints THat the moneyes were not well distributed that hee inclined his eares to evill Counsellors that the numbers of the auxiliary English were not compleat that foreigne souldiers were inrol'd without their consent that militarie discipline was neglected that waggons and pioners were compeld that the priuiledges of the prouinces were conteÌ„ned that new formes of contribution were deuised They requested him to apply a speedy and healthfull remedy to these things He that had his whole intendments busied about his returne into England with a courteous answer gaue them faire promising But vpon the day wherein he was to depart he committed the administration of the Prouinces to the Counsell of the Estates and vpon the same day by letters of restraint secretly dispatcht he reserued to himselfe the whole authority ouer the Gouernours of the Prouinces Townes and Castles and exempted likewise the accustomed iurisdictions from the Counsell of the Estates and Gouernours of the Prouinces and so vpon the third day of December he passed ouer into England Thus for this
much lesse thaÌ„ the Spaniards with great dexterity inuaded the enemy and hauing discharged their Ordnance retyred presently into the open Sea and leuelled all their Shot with a certaine and successefull ayme against the great and sluggish Ships of the Spaniards And yet the English high Admirall thought not fit to grapple and so try the fortune of a fight hand to hand as many inconsiderately perswaded For the enemy had a strong and wel appointed Army abroad which hee wanted their Ships were farre more in number greater of burden and stronger and higher of building and they fighting from aboue threatned nothing lesse than certaine destructioÌ„ to them that fought against them vpon the lower Ships And hee did likewise fore-see that the losse of his men would be much more preiudiciall to him than the victory could be profitable For beeing vanquished hee should haue brought the Queene into almost ineuitable danger and being Victor hee should onely haue a little blaze of glory for the dissipation and discomfiture of his Enemy and slaughter of his Souldiers The foure and twentieth day of the Moneth there was a mutuall intermission of all hostile acts The Admirall sent diuers small Barkes to the next shores of England for supply of ammunition and diuided his whole Fleet into foure squadrons the first of which himselfe coÌ„manded the second Drake the third Hawkins and the fourth Forbisher and appoynted certain Pinkes or Pinnaces out of euery squadron to make impressions vpon the enemy at the dead of night in seuerall quarters but a calme following that counsel wanted successe The fiue and twentieth which was Saint Iames his day a Gallion of Portugall called the S. Anne which could not keepe company with the rest of the Fleete was set vpon by diuers small English Barkes In ayde of whom Laeua and Diego Telles Enriques with three Galleasses made out whom the Lord Admirall the Lord Thomas Howard in the Golden Lyon which by reason of the great calme were faine to be towed by fisher-Boats so battered with the canon that not without great difficulty and with great losse of men they brought off after which time the Galleasses neuer offered to fight The Spaniards report that that day the English at a neerer distance than euer with their great Ordnance extremely rent the Spanish Admirall being at that time in the Rere and hauing slaine many of their men shot downe their maine Mast but that Mexia and Recaldus came opportunely and repelled the English That then the Spanish Admirall accompanied with Recaldus and others inuaded the English Admirall which escaped by the sudden changing of the Winde that thereupon the Spaniards left the pursuit and holding on their course sent another messenger to the Duke of Parma with all speed to ioine his Fleet with the Kings ARMADA and to send supply of Bullets Of this the English were ignorant who write that they shot off the Lanthorne from one of the Spanish Ships the beake-head from another and terribly battered a third that the None-such and Mary Rose hauing had onely a short conflict with the Spaniards left them and with other Shippes went to the rescue of the Triumph then in danger So that the relations of them that were present at the same actions are different for the manner while euery one remembers that which hee obserued of his owne side The day following the Lord High-Admiral of England for their valour and fortitude Knighted Thomas Howard the Lord Sheffield Roger Townesend Iohn Hawkins and Martin Furbisher And it was concluded thenceforth not to assault the Enemy till they came to the Streights of Calais where Henry Seymor and William Winter expected their comming So the Spanish Fleet went on with a full Southwest winde the English fleet following them But so far was the title of Inuincible or their terrible aspect vnable to affright our English shores that the Youth of England leauing their Parents Wiues Children Kindred and Friends out of their dearer loue to their Countrey with Ships hyred at their owne charges ioyned themselues in great numbers with the Fleete with generous alacrity and incredible courage and amongst others the Earles of Oxford Northumberland Cumberland Sir Thomas and Sir Robert Cecill Sir Henrie Brooke Sir Charles Blunt Sir Walter Raleigh Sir William Hatton Sir Robert Carey Sir Ambrose Willoughby Sir Thomas Gerard Sir Arthur Gorge and other worthie Nobles of great note and account The seuen and twentieth day of the moneth towards euening the Armada cast anchor neere Calais being aduized by the Pylots that if they went further it would bee in danger to be carryed into the North Ocean by the tyde and ouer against them within cannon shot lay the Admirall and the English Fleet at anchor to whom Seymor and Winter ioyned themselues Now was the number of the English Ships come to bee one hundred and forty all able for the fight swift of sayle apt to cast about to take any aduantage and yet there were not aboue fifteene of them which bore the weight and burthen of the Warre and repelled it The Spaniards presently as often before by frequent messengers vrged the Duke of Parma to send forty Fly-boates without which he could not fitly fight with the English by reason of the magnitude and sluggishnesse of the Spanish Ships and the great dexterity and agility of the English and earnestly required him to put forth to sea with his Fleete whom the Armada as was agreed should protect as it were with wings till their arriuall in England But he being vnprepared could not readily come his flat-bottom'd Boats being withall very broad were full of leakes victuall was wanting and the mariners detayned a long time against their wills were stolne away Besides the Hollanders and Zelanders ships of Warre which houered about the Ports of Newport and Dunkerke whence they were to set out were so well prouided of great Ordnance and Harquebuzziers that he durst not come from the shores vnlesse wittingly and willingly hee should cast himselfe and his souldiers into visible and manifest danger yet did hee not omit any thing worthy of a diligent industrious and valiant Prince being strongly inflamed with a desire to subdue England The Spanish Forces to assault England The number of the Gallions of Portugall THe Gallion S. Martin as Captaine Generall and principall of the Fleet was of the burthen of one thousand tunne there were in her three hundred choyce Souldâ—ers one hundred and seuentie Mariners and she caried fiftie pieces of Ordnance S. Iohns Gallion called the Admirall generall of the burthen of one thousand and fiftie tunne had in her two hundred thirty one souldiers one hundred seuentie nine mariners and fiftie Canons S. Markes Gallion of the burthen of seuen hundred ninety two tunne with two hundred ninety two Souldiers and one hundred and seuenteene mariners The Gallion S. Philip of eight hundred tunne foure hundred and fifteene souldiers and fortie
that they should forbeare absolutely to beare these Armes by the intercession of M. Memorency the Guizes Emulator who thought it not to be any honour for the King of France to take any other Title or to graue in his Seales any other armes than the Armes of the Kings of France and shewed that this Title alone was of more importance than many others and that the precedent Kings had no other when they sought their right in Naples and Milan And truely from these Titles and these Armes which the King of France at the instigation of the Guizes hath taken from the Queene of Scotland then vnder age all the disasters which afterwards happened vnto her haue flowed from that for from thence came the enmities openly declared by Queene ELIZABETH against the Guizes and those which shee practised against her priuatly which by the subtil malice of men who made vse of the growing enuy and of the occasions which sprung from day to day haue beene so fomented on both sides that nothing could extinguish them but death for Soueraigntie admits no Companion and Enmitie against Maiestie is grieuous A few daies after in stead of giuing foure Hostages for the Towne of Calais as they were bound by the treaty of Cambray they gaue onely three the English Merchants are iniuriously dealt with in France one of the Ambassador Throgmortons seruants was sent to the gallies which F. great Prior of France had taken carried away by force from a publique place Some Pistols were shot at the Ambassadour himselfe and in his owne lodging and to make him the more contemptible hee was serued at the Table with no other Vessell but such as the Armes of England and France were ioyntly grauen on Finally la Brosse was sent into Scotland with a troupe of choyce men Gallies were sent for from Marseilles and from the Mediterranean Sea Those in Scotland which professed the Protestants Religion and qualified themselues with the title of the Assembly perswaded by certaine heady Ministers and especially by Knox a most hot controller of the Royall authority that it behooued the Peeres of the Realme to take away Idolatry from their authority by force to settle the Princes within the limits prescribed by the Lawes had already refused to obey the Queene-Mother and Regent though shee was a modest and a prudent woman changed Religion tumultuously ransacking and burning the sacred places drawne to their partie Hamilton Duke of Chastelraut the most powerfull of all the Kingdome much prouoked by the wrongs done by the French and many Nobles were bayted with hope to haue the Ecclesiasticall Reuenues insomuch as they seemed not to thinke of Religion but to plot in good earnest a reuolt against the Queene Regent and against the French which made warre in Scotland and accused Iames Prior of Saint Andrewes Bastard brother to the Queene their Coriphea who since was Count of Mura to haue coueted the Kingdome from his Sister But by the holy protestations which hee made vnto them hee tooke away all suspition of hauing any other ayme but the glory of God and the Countries liberty and that seeing it opprest by the Queene Regent and the French he could not chuse but lament most bitterly for it They sent William Maitland of Lidington Secretary to Queene ELIZABETH and hee in a pittifull discourse complained to her that since the marriage of the Queene of Scotland with the Daulphin the administration of the Kingdome had beene changed strange Souldiers spoyl'd and ruin'd all the French were placed in the chiefest offices of the Kingdome the Castles and strong places put into their hands the pure money corrupted for their particular profit and that by these deuices and the like they fortifie themselues fraudulently to take away the Kingdome as soone as the Queene should be dead Cecill who was the principall minister that Queene ELIZABETH vsed in this businesse and in all other for his singular wisedome employeth H. Percy who afterwards was Earle of Northumberland to know what end the Lords of that Assembly propounded to themselues what meanes they had to obtaine that which they desired and if one should send them succour vpon what conditions might Amitie bee maintained betweene the two Kingdomes They answered that they propounded not to themselues any other end but the aduancement of the glory of Iesus Christ and the sincere preaching of Gods Word to extirpate superstition and idolatry and to keepe the liberty of their Ancestors which they knew not by what meanes it might be done but they hoped that God would giue successe to their designes according to their desire to the confusion of their aduersaries And as for the intertaining of amitie betweene the two Kingdomes that that was the abridgement of their wishes and thereunto vowed their goods their faith and their constancy They deliberate slowly of these things in England because the Scots were not well furnished with money and armes nor very faithfull among themselues But they considered that the Marquis D' Elbeuf Vnkle to the Queene of Scotland had leuied men in Germanie by the meanes of the Ringraue for the Scottish warre that they had brought downe into the Hauens peeces for battery that the preparations which were made were greater than was necessary for the restraining as was pretended of a small number of vnarmed Scots that the French to draw to their league the King of Denmarke promised him that the Duke of Lorraine should quit the right which hee pretended to haue to his Kingdome and that likewise the censure of the Pope against the Queene was more importunately sollicited than euer and a sentence declaratory for the right of the Queene of Scots to England there was sent vpon the frontiers of Scotland one Sadler a prudent man and the Counsellor of the Duke of Northumberland who guarded the South frontier and Iames Croft Gouernour of Barwicke For the Councell of England could not see what these things tended vnto except to inuade England and to pursue by armes that which they attributed to themselues by their Coates and Titles Now doe they in England seriously consult vpon the businesse and it seemed to them to be a very bad example that one Prince should lend ayde and succour to the subiects of another Prince who rayse vp broyles and tumults but it seemed also that it were an impietie to abandon those who professe the same Religion a slow wisdome to permit the French who were sworne enemies to the name of English challenged the Realme of England and enioyed at that time in all places an assured peace to remaine armed in Scotland so neere England and so opportunely for the inuading of that side where Nobles and Commons of England are most affectionate to the Romish Religion That it were to deliuer cowardly into the Enemies hand the safetie of particulars and the peace of the generall For that cause it behooued not to stand vpon dreaming and