because he is contrary to Christ and Christ contrary to him The Pope cursing and Christ blessing the Pope seeking thereby to destroy the Queene Christ maintaining her made her stronger after this cuâ—se then ever she was before Yet it is true that many troubles did rise thereby but God turned them all vnto her good that men may vnderstand the fruit of true Religion established which bringeth the protection of God with it CHAPTER II. THE first poysoned fruit of this excommunication was rotten before it could ripen There was an intention of a great and terrible Rebellion The Duke of Norfolke was excited to stirre what Forces he could and to ioyne with the Earles of Westmerland and Northumberland at the same time an Armie was to come out of Ireland and another Armie to be sent from Duke Dalva in the Low-Countries If all these had ioyned together as the intention was God knoweth what might haue inâ—ued But there is no counsell can prevaile against God All the plot was broken in peeces without any other trouble saving that which fell vpon the plotters themselues their instruments The King of Spaine who watched all opportunities to doe mischiefe wrote one Letter to the Duke of Norfolke exciting him to raise a power within England and wrote another to the Earle of Ormond to raise a tumult in Ireland But both the Duke and the Earle shewed the Letters to the Queene declaring thereby a purpose to be loyall The Duke suffred himselfe to be wrought vpon too much by pernicious instruments The instruments were the Bishop of Ross who lay in London vnder pretence of being Ambassadour for the Queene of Scots and one Robert Ridoâ—f a Noble-man of Florence who lay in London in the habit and pretence of a Factor These pestifâ—rous instruments laboured to perswade the Duke to marry the Queene of Scots who being next heire to the Crowne of England would bring great hopes with her and by subtill and pernicious counsell drew the Duke so farre that against his promise made to the Queene he began to thinke of that marriage and the hopes that might follow the same and entred inâ—o a secret course of writing and receiving Letters from the Queene of Scots by 〈◊〉 Characters All which together with a Commentary sent to him by the Scots Queene the Duke commanded his Secretary Higfoâ—d to burne But he laid them vnder the Matt in the Dukes Chamber And being apprehended declared where they were At the Dukes arraigâ—ment a Letter was produced written to him from the Scots Queene signifying her griefe for that the Earles of Westmerland and Northumberland were vp in Armes before the Duke had raised his powers For Queene Elizabeth finding wherevnto things tended apprehended the Duke sent for the Earles to come to Court but because they had once excused their absence she sent peremptorily for them all excuse laid aside vpon their alleagance to come vp Supposing that if they were innocent they would come but if guiltie then should their purpose sooner breake out into open sight As it fell out For they supposing by this the plot to be betrayed brake out into open rebellion before the helpe which they looked for from other parts could come to them This rebellion was plotted by the Pope Pius V. and by the King of Spaine and was so cunningly handled and carried with such secresie that it was well knowne to strangers before it was knowne to vs whom most the matter concerned And no marvaile seeing strangers were the devisers and first authors of it I will therefore declare it in the words of a stranger who set it forth in Print at Rome before it was well knowne in England Hieronymus Catenâ— in the life of Pius V. wâ—iteth thus When Pius V. was inflamed with a zeale to restore the Romane Religion in England and to displace Queene Elizabeth out of that Kingdome and yet could not haue his Nuntio Apostolicall nor any other publique person fit to effect this thing he ordered the matter so that Robert Ridolf a Gentleman of Florence who â—tayed in England vnder colour of merchandise should stirre vp the mindes of men vpon the destruction of Elizabeth Which thing he diligently executed not onely among the Catholikes but also among some Protestants who conspired together herein some out of private hatred against them that aspired to the Kingdome others out of a desire of a change Whilst these things were secretly carried a contention rose betweene the Spaniard and Elizabeth vpon the occasion of a sum of money going to the Duke Dalva but intercepted by Elizabeth This occasion the Pope apprehended to perswade the Spaniard that he would helpe the conspiratours in England against Elizabeth that so he might haue his affaires in the Netherlands in greater securitie and the Romane Religion might be restored in Bâ—itaigne The Pope also perswaded the French shewing him that this he ought to the Scots Queene affianced to him and worthily to the Scots who by their incursions had withdrawne the forces of England that they could do lesse helpe to the Protestants of France neither did the noble conspiratours of England deserue lesse favour of him who by their cunning haue hindered the Queene of England to giue any helpe openly to the Protestants of France In this respect the French King promised them ayd for the deliverance of the Scots Queene but failed of performance of any thing In the meane time Ridolphus effected thus much that the conspiratours should draw the Duke of Norfolke into their societie and make him chiefe therein to whom they promised marriage with the Scots Queene whereto she consented The Pope to set these things forward by his Bull published deposed Elizabeth from her Kingdome and absolued her subiects from all oath and alleagance sending the printed Coppies to Ridolphus which might be dispersed ouer England Whereupon the Earles of Northumberland and Westmerland tooke Armes against their Prince who presently money and meanes failing withdrew themselues into Scotland The Duke of Norfolke with others were committed to prison Among them was Ridolphus whom the Pope had appointed to helpe the conspiratours with an hundreth and fiftie thousand Crownes which thing he could not doe being clapt vp in prison But when the Queene could not pierce into the secrets of the conspiracy he was sent out of prison with others and then he distributed those Crownes to the conspirators Who sent him to the Pope to informe him that all things were prepared in a readines and ordered against Elizabeth and to intreat the Spanish King to ioyne his Forces from the Netherlands as soone as may be the Pope commended the enterprise albeit the Duke Dalva did not like it as being full of difficulties when as Ridolphus in his iourney told him the matter The Pope sent Ridolfe to the Spaniard vnder another pretence and to the King of Portugall with insâ—ructions and at the same time writing to the Duke of Norfolk promised him ayde He did much
A. THANKFVLL REMEMBRANCE OF GODS MERCIE by G. C. London Printed for Robert M. Robinson A THANKFVLL REMEMBRANCE OF GODS MERCY In an Historicall Collection of the great and mercifull Deliverances of the Church and State of England since the Gospell began here to flourish from the beginning of Queene ELIZABETH Collected by GEO CARLETON Doctor of Divinitie and Bishop of CHICHESTER PSALM III. 2. The workes of the Lord are great and ought to be sought out of all them that loue Him LONDON Printed by I. D. for Robert Mylbourne and Humphrey Robinson and are to be sold at the great South doore of PAVLS 1624. TO THE HIGH NOBLE AND MOST VERTVOVS CHARLES PRINCE OF GREAT Britain Duke of Cornwall and of YORKE c. the spirit of wisedome with increase of honour SIR AS the great Workes of God ought to be had in remembrance of all men so this dutie is more required of Princes then of other men Because their charge is greater then the charge of other men for they must answer both for the government of themselues and of others vnder them Wherefore having observed the Workes of God in delivering this Church and State from the cruell plots of the Adversaries from the beginning of Queene Elizabeth to this time I found my selfe most obliged to present this to your Highness both because my service next to his Maiestie is most due to your Highness and because the remembrance of the great Workes of God is a Glasse fit for a Prince to looke on For your Highness may be assured that the Adversaries will not change their disposition vnlesse either we were reduced to their blindness or they drawne to imbrace the truth with vs. I haue made this Collection that by examples of things past We may better iudge of things to come My labour herein is nothing For I make not the Story but take it of others And when I light vpon the best Narration as that of the Gun-powder treason I haue set it downe as I find it without alteration Because as that cannot be mended so to set a worse Narration in the place thereof were no lesse then to abuse the Reader I leaue the honor entire to them that haue made the Story I take no part thereof to mee Onely my care hath beene to obserue vpon those great deliverances the Workes of God that God may be glorified and the cause iustified which God hath maintained from Heaven SIR I suppose it is hard to finde a Narration containing more miraculous Protection of Gods Church since that time wherein God shewed his Miracles in protecting the people of Israel Which consideration may serue to fasten your Highness to the loue and service of that great God that doth so strongly maintain his servants That as hitherto you haue had a gracious experience of his grace and goodnesse towards you so your noble heart may grow every day more and more in the loue and obedience of the truth We are all charged by Gods Word to pray for Kings and Princes That charge which God hath layd vpon vs all no man can put off But when your Highness hath effectually made knowne your singular care and loue to the common good to the rejoycing of all faithfull men this must needs draw the hearts of all faithfull men nearer to your Highness And this is a part of your happiness for the feare of God and loue of Subiects is able to make Kings and Princes strong against all their enemies God giue his iudgements to the King and his righteousness to the Kings sonne and therewith all blessings grace and honour here and glory hereafter Your HIGHNES ancient Chaplain and most humble Servant GEO CICESTRIENSIS ΑÎΑΚΕΦΑΛΑΙΩΣΙS OR RECAPITVLATION of the chiefe Passages in this Booke CHAPTER I. THE weake estate of this Kingdome at Queene Elizabeths entrance Her government blessed with might and money beyond expectation all on a suddaine to the terrour of the enemies of the Gospell and comfort of the Professors thereof The ancient government of the Low-Countries what it was The treason of Arthur Pool discovered and defeated The Popes Excommunication and curse against Queene Elizabeth turned by Christ whose Gospell shee maintained into a blessing CHAP. II. The rebellion of the Earles of Westmerland and Northumberland related distinctly by Hieronym Catâ—â—a so strongly plotted so secretly carried by the hand of God disappointed and broken into pieces Leon Dacres his over throw by it This is the fruit of Popery and the first effect of the Popes Bull. CHAP. III. A Commotion in Ireland inflamed by Io Mendoza extinguished by the Earle of Ormond The King of Spaine pretends the enlargement of the Scots Queene but intends the enlargement of his owne Dominion Don Iohn of Austria goeth about to deliver and marry the Scots Queene He sends out a perpetuall edict of peace and presently breaketh out into warre He dieth on a sudden and so his purpose disappointed CHAP. IV. Stucley his attempt and practise with the Pope and Spanyard for the subduing of Ireland and England with Italian souldiers by Gods providence annulled CHAP. V. Nich Sanders setteth on the rebells in Ireland animateth them in their bloudy practises getteth â— consecrated Banner from the Pope for them San-Ioâ—ephus with 700 Italians and Spanyards sent from the Pope and King of Spaine over into Ireland to helpe the rebells yeeldeth the Fort. The Earle Desmond a great maintainer of this rebellion killed by a common souldier in his wandring Sanders the firebrand of the rebellion falleth mad and dieth miserably of famine Observations herevpon The explication of that place 2 Thes. 2. 10. appliable to the Papists in respect both of their doctrines and doings CHAP. VI. The Institution of the Colledges of seminary Priests to be the incendiaries of England different from the foundation of ancient Colleâ—ges The feates of Father Parsons and Edm Campian and others to draw the alleagiance of the English from their Queene This drew vpon them sevetitie of Lawes established in Parliament against Papists and approved by the paralell example of the Lawes made against the Donatists in S. Augustines time CHAP. VII The Priests seditious Bookes against the Queene brings on Somervills furious attempt to kill her They moue with the Ladies of honour to doe it The Queenes mildnesse and wonderfull mercy towardes this vermine Mendoza the Spanish Ambassadour for practising against the Queene is thrust out of England Throgmortons confeâ—ion and condemnation for treason CHAP. VIII New practises of our enemies discovered not without a miracle by Creightons torne papers The mischievous but vnsuccesfull conclusions of Alan Inglefield and Ross against Queene Elizabeth and King Iames. Parries treason opened his confession and execution Lawes in Parliament enacted against Priests and Recusants Philip Howards intention to leaue the Land discovered before it could be effected CHAP. IX The lamentable end of Henry Percy Earle of Northumberland in the Tower A pretended title of the King of Spaine to the Crowne of England
vrge the Spaniard to helpe the conspiratours and to the end he might the more vehemently stirre him vp he promised if need were himselfe would goe for to helpe them and would ingage all the goods of the Sea Apostolike Chalices Crosses and holy Vestments Declaring that there was no difficultie in it if he would send Chapinus Vitellius with an Army into England from the Low-Countries Which thing the King of Spaine commanded to be done with great alacritie And the Pope provided money in the Netherlands These things were not pleasing to the Duke Dalva both because he enuied Vitellius this glory wherein he rather wished his owne sonne to be imployed and because he feared some hostile invasion out of France and proposed it to be considered whether England being overcome would fall to the Spaniard whether the French would not resist that proiect and whether the Pope were able to bring helpe enough to effect so great a matter Notwithstanding the Spanish King expressely commanded him to set vpon England Ridolf was sent backe with money to the Netherlands But see how God would haue it All the matter was opened to Elizabeth by a stranger without the Kingdome The Duke of Norfolke was apprehended and put to death Which thing the Pope tooke heavily the Spaniard condoled who before the Cardinall of Alexandria the Popes Nephew sayd that never any conspiracy was more advisedly begun nor concealed with more constancy and consent of minds which in all that time was not opened by any of the conspiratours that an Army might easily be sent out of the Low-Countries in the space of 24. houres which might suddenly haue taken the Queene and the Citie of London vnprovided restored Religion and set the Scots Queene in the Throne Especially when as Stukley an English fugitiue had vndertaken at the same time with the helpe of 3000. Spaniards to reduce all Ireland vnto the obedience of the King of Spaine and with one or two shippes to burne all the English Navy Thus farre Catena writeth of these things opening some things that before were not knowne to the English The Booke was Printed at Rome An Dom 1588. by the priviledge of Pope Pius V. This is the Narration of a Papist published at Rome by the authoritie of the Pope It may seeme strange to men that haue any feeling of the feare of God that a Pope should so boldly publish his owne shame to all the world The Pope doth practise treason against States sets his instruments to raise rebellions stirreth vp Princes against Princes one Kingdome against another and when he doth this he will not vnderstand that he is in this doing the instrument and servant of the Devill to disorder the world If any would excuse this as being done against an Heretike that excuse will not serue here for I speake not of excommunicating supposed Heretikes but of raising rebellions against Princes to set the subiects to murther the Prince or to stirre vp one Prince to murther another these things be wicked and vngracious practises but the Papists are growne to such an oâ—duration in these sinnes that they iudge these no sinnes to murther or secretly to poyson or by any horrible mischiefe to compasse their owne endes The things that are by the Lawes of God of Nature of Nations wicked and abominable against the ordinances which God hath set in the world must forsooth change their nature if the Pope command them nay if any of their superiours command such things their doctrine of blind obedience sets them vpon any mischiefe and so they doe not onely teach for doctrines mens traditions but make doctrines for mens destructions If the Popes presume that they haue such a priviledge that the things which are horrible sinnes in other men are no sinnes in them this were in effect as much as for the Pope to proclaime himselfe the Man of sinne that runneth into all sinfull courses with greedinesse with an open profession of the same For what can any man of sin doe more then to command sinne to warrant sin to commit sin to glory in sin If all this be done by the Pope who can iustly deny him this title of the Man of sinne But blessed be the name of God that alwayes delivered his Church here from such wicked practises and hath brought the mischiefe that these wicked men haue deuised vpon their owne head Now let all vnderstanding men iudge where God is where godlinesse is where Religion and the feare oâ— God is Whether with them that by bloudy vniust vnlawfull practises seeke their owne endes or with them that are persecuted by this bloudy Nation and in patience suffer all their mischievous and cruell practises committing the matter to God the revenger of bloud and trufting in God reioyce vnder his holy protection being kept in safety by him that commandeth all the world For what power could be able to keepe his Church from being swallowed vp by such cruell adversaries but onely the hand and holy protection of our God Must not we then glorifiâ— his name that hath done so great things for vs And for our adversaries they haue their power limited and they haue their time limited and set forth vnto them beyond which they cannot passe But the soules of them that rest vnder the Altar whose bloud hath beene shed on euery side by this bloudy generation for the testimony of Christ these cry out with a lowd voyce Vsquequo Domine How long Lord holy and true Doest thou not iudge and revenge our bloud on them that dwell on the earth Yet so blind are these bloud-suckers that they labour still to increase this cry but GOD will giue patience to his Saints and in his time cut off this wicked Nation Be not merciful O Lord to them that sin of malicious wickednesse Thus then this rebellion that was so â—â—rongly plotted so secretly carried was by the hand of God disappointed and broken into peices We haue cause to blesse the name of God therefore Praysed be the Lord that hath not given vs as a prey to their teeth Thus can we comfort our selues in God but can our adversaries comfort themselues in their owne mischeifes The issue was the Pope and the Spanyard were disappointed the World wondered how this State was so soone quieted The Earles Northumberland and Westmerland seduced by a Priest that the Pope had sent one Nicolas Morton came to Durham where they had the Masse set vp From thence they marched to Clifford Moore not far from Wetherbie where hearing that the Scots Queene for whose deliverance they tooke armes was carried from Tâ—tbery to Coventry vnder the custodie of the Earles of Shewsbury and Huntingdon and that the Earle of Sussex on the one side had gathered a strong army against them that Sir George Bowes was behind them having fortefied Bernard Castle that the Lord Scroop and the Earle of Cumberland had fortified Carliell gathered an armie there in readines that
acknowledge that they who are thus punished â—or their mad tricks may not be accompted Martyrs but yet they will say that these things ought not to belong to the Emperour to punish Iust as the Papists say the punishment of their Clergie belongeth not to the Magistrate I demand then sayth Augustin Whether they thinke that the superior powers ought not to haue care of Religion of punishing false religion The Apostle saith The works of the flesh are manifest which are adaltery fornicatioÌ„ vncleannes wantonnes idolatry witch-craft hatred debate emulation wrath contentions seditions heresies envie murthers drunkennesse gluttony and such like What reason can these men render why it should be justice for the Empeperours to punish Idolaters Murtherers and such and not by the same reason to be like justice in them to punish heretiques When as they are accompted in the same fruits of iniquitie Someruill was found strangled in the prison For feare belike that he might haue discovered moe Ardern being condemned was hanged the next day This is the common end that Priests bring such Gentlemen vnto who are willing to heare them and be perswaded by them The next yeare after for seldome did any yeare passe without some treason some English Gentlemen began to practise the deliverance of the Queene of Scots Francis Throgmorton fell first into suspition by certaine Letters intercepted written to the Queene of Scots As soone as he was committed to prison and beganne to confesse something presently Thomas Lord Paget and Charles Arundell a Courtier secretly fled the land and went into France These men meeting with other devoted to the Roman Religion did much complaine recounting their sorrowes among themselues that the Queene was estranged from them without their fault by the cunning of Leicester and Walsingham that them selues were exposed to vnworthy contumelies ignominies that singular tricks were found out and secret snares laid so cunningly that improvident men will they nill they must needs be intangled in such snares that to remaine at home there could be no safety for them It was thought at this time that some cunning was practised to feele mens affections and that counterfeit Letters were written vnder the name of the Scots Queene and of some fugitiues knowne traytors to the State which Letters might be left in the houses of Recusans and that spies were sent abroad to gather rumors and to catch suspitions Diverse were drawne into snares Among others Henry Earle of Northumberland and his sonne Philip Earle of Arundell was commanded to keepe his house his wife was committed to Sr Thomas Shirly to be kept and Henry Howard the Dukes brother was often examined of Letters sent from the Scots Queene from Charles Paget and from one Mope then vnknowne Some blamed the narrow searching of things and the manner of drawing men into danger Others thought that all the means that might be vsed to prevent the Queenes danger and to saue her life was but necessary And indeed the outragious maliciousnes of the Papists against the Queene brake out daily for by Bookes imprinted they exhorted the Queenes maides and Ladies of honor to doe the same against the Queene which Iudith did against Holofernes The Author of that Booke was not found Gregory Martin was suspected a man learned in the Greeke and Latin tongues and chosen by the Duke to be the bringer vp of his children Carter the Stationer that caused the Books to be Printed was punished for it The Queene that was much traduced for crueltie knowing her owne mildnes and desirous to leaue a good remembrance of her name behinde her was much offended with the Iudges of the Papists apprehended if they passed any cruell sentences against them which might be iniurious to her honor Insomuch that they were forced to excuse themselues by publike writings wherein they protested that the Priests were much more mildly vsed then they deserved that no question of Religion was moued to them but onely of such pernicious machinations against their Country against their Prince whereof they were either found guiltie or by the discovery of others suspected That Campian was never so racked but that presently he was able to walke or to subscribe to his confessions But for Briant who stubbornly denied to vtter by speech or by writing who was the man that wrote these secret things which were found about him to this man meat was denied vntill by writing he would aske it For all this the Queene was not satisfied and therefore she commanded the Examiners to abstaine from tormenting men and the Iudges from punishing And short after she commanded seventie Priests to be sent out of England whereof some were condemned to die all of them were intangled within the danger of the lawes The chiefe of these were Gasper Haywod the sonne of Haywod the Epigrammatist who of all the Iesuites first entred England Iames Bosgraue which was also a Iesuit Iohn Hart the most learned among them with whom Doct Reinolds had conference and Edward Rishton a wicked and vngrateful man who wrote a Booke presently after shewing forth the poyson of a cankred heart against the Queene to whom he owed his life The Lord Paget and Arundell who went into France were narrowly observed there by Edward Stafford the Ambassadour Leiger there for Queene Elizabeth but he could not find out what they practised yet he dealt with the French King that they Morgan and some other English fugitiues who were knowne to be practisers against their Prince and their Country might be thrust out of France But it was answered that if they practised any thing in France the King would by law punish them but if they had practised any thing in England that of such things the King could take no notice nor by law punish them that all Kingdomes were free for fugitiues that it behooued Kings to maintaine their owne liberties That Elizabeth not long before had admitted into her Kingdome Montgomery the Prince of Condie and others of the French Nation and that Segneres Ambassadour of the King of Navarre was in England practising of some things that concerned the French state In the meane time Bernardinus Mendoza the King of Spaine his Ambassadour for England stole fecretly into France fretting and fuming that he was thrust out of England by a violation of the right of an Ambassadour When as indeed he was a man of a troublesome spirit and had abused the reuerend right of Ambassadours by the practises of treason against this State wherein he was He was commanded to depart out of the realme whereas many thought fit that he should haue beene with some severity censured for violating the office of an Ambassadour For he had practised with Throgmorton and others to bring in strangers into England to invade the land and to remoue the Queene And being gently reprooued for these things he was so far from offering to excuse these things with a modest answer that he began to accuse 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
privatly proposed some Articles For which afterward by Leicesters motion he was imprisoned albeit those articles proposed by him were in the iudgement of the other commissioners not to be disallowed But Delegates haue their limits circumscribed which they are not to passe At last when the English could not obtain an abstinence from armes could by no meanes see the Charter by which the Duke of Parma had this authority granted to treat of peace they proposed these things that the ancient leagues betweene the Kings of England and the Dukes of Burgundy might be renued and confirmed that all the Dutch might fully inioy their own priviledges that with freedome of coÌ„science they might serue God that the Spanish and forrain souldiers might be put out of Dutchland that neither the Dutch nor their neighbouring Nations might feare them If these things might be granted the Queene would come to equall conditions concerning the Townes which now she held that all might know that she tooke vp armes not for her own gain but for the necessary defence both of the Dutch and of her selfe so that the money which is owing therefore be repayed They answered that for renuing the old leagues there should be no difficulty when they might haue a friendly conference of that thing That concerning the priviledges of the Dutch there was no cause why forrain Princes should take care which priviledges were most favourably granted not onely to Provinces and Townes reconciled but even to such as by force of armes are brought into subiection That forrain souldiers were held vpon vrgent necessity when as Holland England and France were all in armes Touching those Townes taken from the King of Spaine and the repaying of the money they answered that the Spaniard might demand so many myriads of crowns to be from the Queene repayed him as the Belgick warre hath cost him since the time that she hath favoured and protected the Dutch against him At this time D. Dale by the Queenes command going to the Duke of Parma did gently expostulate with him touching a Booke Printed there set out lately by Cardinall Allen wherin he exhorteth the Nobles and people of England Ireland to ioyne themselues to the King of Spaines forces vnder the conduct of the Prince of Parma for the execution of the sentence of Sixtus V Pope against the Queene declared by his bull In which she is declared an heretick illegitimate cruel against Mary the Scots Queene her subiects were commanded to helpe Parma against her for at that time a great number of those bulls bookes were printed at Antwerp to be dispersed through England The Duke denied that he had seene such a bull or booke neither would he doe any thing by the Popes authoritie as for his owne King him he must obey Yet he said that he so observed the Queene for her Princely vertues that after the King of Spaine he offred all service to her That he had perswaded the King of Spaine to yeeld to this treaty of peace which is more profitable for English then Spanish For if they should be overcome they would easily repaire their losse But if you be overcome the kingdome is lost To whom Dale replied that our Queene was sufficiently furnished with forces to defend the Kingdom That a Kingdome will not easily be gotten by the fortune of one battell seeing the King of Spaine in so long a warre is not yet able to recover his anciant patrimony in the Netherlands Well quoth the Duke be it so These things are in Gods hands After this the Delegates contended among themselues by mutuall replications weauing and vnweauing the same webb The English were earnest in this a toleration of Religion might be granted at least for two yeares to the confederate Provinces They answered that as the King of Spaine had not intreated that for English Catholicks so they hoped that the Queene in her wisedome would not intreat any thing of the King of Spaine which might stand against his honor his oath his conscience When they demanded the money due from the States of Brabant it was answered that the money was lent without the Kings authoritie or privitie But let the accompt be taken how much that money was and how much the King hath spent in these Warres and then it may appeare who should looke for repayment By such answers they driue off the English of purpose vntill the Spanish fleet was come neare the English shore the noise of guns were heard from sea Then had they leaue to depart were by the Delegates honorably brought to the borders neare to Calis The Duke of Parma had in the meane time brought all his forces to the sea shore Thus this conference came to nothing vndertaken by the Queene as the wiser then thought to avert the Spanish fleet continued by the Spaniard that he might oppress the Queen being as he supposed vnprovided and not expecting the danger So both of them tried to sow the Fox-skin to the Lyons CHAPTER XII THE Spanish fleet the best furnished with men munition engines and all warlike preparation that was ever seen vpon the Ocean and by that arrogant Title called invincible did consist of 130 shippes wherein there were 19 thousand two hundreth ninety mariners 8350 chainâ—d rowers 11080. great ordnance 11630. The chiefe commander was Perâ—zius Gusmannus Duke of Medina Sidonia For Antonius Columna Duke of Palian and Marquess of S. Crosse to whom the chiefe governmeÌ„t was allotted died whilst things were preparing And vnder him Iohannes Martinus Recaldus a man of great experience in sea affaires The 30 of May they loosed out of the â—iver Tagus and purposing to hold their course to the â—râ—in in Gâ—llitia they were beaten and scattered by a tempest three gallies by the helpe of Daâ—d Câ—in an English servant and by the perfidiousnesse of the Turks which rowed were carried away into France The Fleet with much adoe after some dayes came to the Groin and other harbours neare adioyning The report was that the Fleet was so shaken with this tempest that the Queene was perswaded that she was not to expect that Fleet this yeare And Sir Francis Walsiâ—gham Secretary wrote to the Lord Admirall that he might send back foure of the greatest shippes as if the Warre had beene ended But he did not easily giue credit to that report but with a gentle answer intreated him to beleiue nothing hastily in so important a matter that he might keep those ships with him though it were vpon his owne charges And finding a favourable winde turned sailes toward Spaine to surprise the enemies shaken shippes in their harbours When he was not farre from the shore of Spaine the winde turned he being charged to defend the English shore fearing that the enemies vnseene might by the same winde be driveÌ„ to England he returned to Plimmouth With the same winde the 12 of Iuly the Duke of Medina with his fleet departed from the Groin And
Savage a barbarous fellow vpon the instigation oâ— Rhemish Priests voweth to kill Queene Elizabeth Babingtons treasonable practise to take away the Queenes life vpon a motion from Ballard the Priest defeated and he with his Complices deservedly punished CHAP. X. The French Ambassadours plot with Stafford to take away the life of the Queene detected by Stafford himselfe The end of Yorke and Stanlâ—y traytors to their Countâ—â—y CHAP. XI The Spanish preparations for the Invincible Navie The Duke of Parma treateth of a peace Delegates sent over about it The conference of the Delegates broke off without fruit CHAP. XII The Invincible Armie described At the first setting out shaken sore with a tempest The gests of each day related particularly and punctually The trusted in their strength we in the name of our God They are fallen and we stand vpright CHAP. XIII Trouble from Ireland by Tyrone lurking in Spaine His many dissembling submissions to the Queene of England A treatie of peace concluded CHAP. XIV Vpon the comming of the Earle of Essex into England from Ireland Tyrone contrary to his promise stirreth and rebelleth afresh and is incouraged by the Pope and ayded by â—he King of Spaine These forces are vanquished by the Lord Deputie Herevpon Don Iohn de Aqâ—ila a Spanish Captaine who was sent to ayâ—â—e the rebells and kept Kinsale capitulates for peace Tyrone forsaken of his followers submits himselfe to the Lord Deputie and is pardoned Plotting a new rebellion when he was called by Processe to answer a suit of the B. of Derry thinking the treason to be discovered by O cane who inforced the Bishop in his suit sted out of Ireland In â—hese troubles and treasons see the Machinations of Satans seed against the seed of the Woman that is the Church and the miraculous deliverances and victories of the Church according to that The Womans seed shall breake the serpents head spoken of Christ appliable to the Church and particularly to our Church of England which that Bâ—laam of Rome seeks now by all meanes to draw from God because he knowes he cannot prevaile against vs till we for sake God CHAP. XV. A great mischiefe intended to the Kings Maiestie at his first entrance into the Kingdome of England before his Coronation Watson and Clark Priests administring oaths of secresie and applauding the proiect It came to nothing by Gods mercie The Kings Maiesties clemency towards the Conspiratours after iudgement paâ—t vpon them No treason in England attempted but had a Romish Priest in the practise CHAP. XVI A horrible treason was a hatching and breeding in the last yeare of Queene Elizabeth By Garnetts meanes and others the King of Spaine is delt withall for an invasion he entertaines the motion but vpon the entrance of King Iames did not proceed to any forcible enterprise The Gun-powder treason takes ground and life from the doctriâ—e of Parsons and the Iesuites It was first propounded by Catesby to Winter The oath of secresâ—e taken by the Conspiratours Provision of Powder and Wood for the mine Their consultation what to doe after the blow was given The letter sent to the Lord Mounteagle scanned by the Earle of Salisbury and other Prâ—vy Councellers but truely interpreted by the King in whose mouth there was a divine sentence at that time so that he did not erre in iudgement The Examination of Fawks The apprehension and confusion of the Powder-traytors God from heaven both by his Word and protection hath manifestly showne our Church to be the true Church and the Popish Church to be the malignant Church and degenerate from the auncient Romane Church both in manners and doctrines Coronis The Conclusion containes diverse Considerations proposed to such as are not well affected to Religion A THANKFVLL REMEMBRANCE OF GODS MERCY CHAPTER I. HAving a purpose to obserue Gods great and merciful deliueraÌ„ces of the Church of England and Gods holy protectioÌ„ of the same against the manifolde most dangerous most desperate practises of the adversaries that haue with strange malice and crueltie sought the destruction thereof and intending to fetch the beginning of this search from the beginning of the Raigne of Queene ELIZABETH of blessed memory I knew no better way how to enter into this Narration then to begin with the consideration of the State of Queene ELIZABETH at her first entrance for therein will appeare a wonderfull Worke of God and my intention is to obserue the great Workes of God that God may be glorified When this famous Queene first entred shee found the State much afflicted and weakned All the great States about her were enemies Friends none King Philip who offred his loue and kindnesse to her and would haue married her offering to obteine the Popes dispensation for him to marry two Sisters as the like dispensation was obteined by Ferdinand his great Grand-father for hâ—s daughter Katharine to marry two Brothers he offering this kindnesse and being refused and reiected grew first into dislike and discontent afterwardes into hatred and at last brake out into open Warres The French King Henry the 2. with whom she sought peace fell off also into open Warres His sonne Francis having married Mary Queene of Scotland was moved by the Guysians to cause the Armes of England to be ioyned to the Armes of Scotland to professe the Queene of Scots the heire of England and because Elizabeth was accounted by them an Heretike therefore they sought to put her by to set the Queene of Scots in her place so should the French King haue England also For the effecting of this they sent their Armies into Scotland purposing fâ—om thence to haue subdued England In so much that Sebastianus Martignius a young Noble man of the family of Luxenburg who was sent into Scotland with a thousand â—oote and some Companies of horse could hardly be disswaded from entring England presently So that Spaine France and Scotland were enemies The State was then much troubled and oppressed with great debt contracted partly by Henry 8. partly by Edward 6. in his minoritie The treasure was exhausted Calis was lost Nothing seemed to be left to her but a weake and poore State destitute of meanes and friends If shee would haue admitted the Popish Religion then might all these difficulties haue beene removed But establishing the Gospell shee vnderstood well that shee drew all these troubles vpon her owne head Yet she gaue the glory to God and in hope of Gods holy protection she established Gods holy truth And verily she did not serue God in vaine For it is a thing to be wondred at that the Land being then without strength without Forces without Souldiers yea without Armour all things necessary should be so suddenly furnished She had provided Armour at Antwerpe but King Philip caused that to be stayed Yet was she not discouraged but layd out much money vpon Armour though she found the Treasury but poore She procured Armour and weapons out of Germany She caused many great
the Souldiers of Berwick with the power of Northumberland were in New-castle they turned backe againe and besieged Bernard Castle Sir George Bowes and his brother Mr. Robert being driven by an hard siege and wanting provision yeelded the Castle and they and the souldiers were dismissed carrying their armes with them as it was covenanted vpon the first newes of the feares which the Earle of Sussex brought against them the Earles fled to Hexham from thence seeking by-wayes to Naworth Castle Whence the two Earles flâ—d into Scotland the Earle of Northumberland hid himselfe in the house of Hector of Harlaw an Armstrang having confidence in him that he would be true to him who notwithstanding for money betrayed him to the Regent of Scotland It was observed that Hector being before a rich man fell poore of a sudden and so hated generally that he never durst goe abroad in so much that the Proverb to take Hectors cloake is continued to this day among them when they would expresse a man that betrayeth his friend who trusted him The Earle was afterward delivered into England and condemned of high treason and beheaded Westmerland found meanes to hide him a while with Fernihurst and Bucklough and escaped into the Low-Countries where being susteined by a poore pension of the King of Spain he liued a poore life all his time This is the fruit of Popery It bringeth Noble houses to destruction It pittied their hearts against whom the rebellion was raised to see such Noble persons brought to such a destruction But the Pope is without pitty and mercy the Priests and Iesuites that bring such noble men into such snares haue no pitty nor mercy therefore it behooveth all noble persons to be wise and to avoyd pestiferous waies that is to shut their eares against Priests and Iesuites These be pernicious instruments that secretly convey themselues into great mens favour to bring them to ruine they tell them of the Religion of their Fathers but true Religion bringeth a blessing and Religion that bringeth alwayes a curse is to be suspected And to say truth the Religion of Rome as now is not the Religion of our Fathers For Religion was changed in the Tâ—ent Councell and therefore they cannot say they haue now that Religion which their Fathers had And that Religion was changed in the Trent Synod is by learned men sufficiently proued and we are readie to maintaine it for where the rule of faith is changed there must needs follow a change of Religion and a change of the Church But in the Trent Councell the rule of faith is changed And therefore men may obserue a great difference between these men that are now called Papists and their forefathers God blessed their Fathers because they serued God in sinceritie according to that measure of knowledge which was reuealed to them for he that serueth God truely according to that measure of knowledge which he hath and holdeth the rule of faith is without doubt accepted of God and God doth blesse such But after that God hath reuealed a greater measure of knowledge by the spreading of the savour of his Gospell they who then forsake the truth offred are followed with great curses And therefore we may plainly obserue the curses of God vpon them that forsake God and his truth Where the Pope curseth we see that God doth blesse and no 〈◊〉 followeth where God doth curâ—e we see destruction followeth This rebellion was scarce extinguished when another little flame rose from this greater combustion Leonard Dacres the second sonne of William Lord Dacres of Gillestand whose eldest brothers sonne was killed with a Valting horse was much grieued to see so great a patrimony to goe from him to the daughters of the Baroâ— whom the Duke of Norfolk their Father in law had ioyned in marriage with his sonnes This so troubled Leonard Dacres that having no other way to revenge himselfe he tooke the course of impatient and discontented men to revenge all vpon himselfe and ioyning himselfe to the rebells striued but in vaine to deliver the Scots Queene When they were in armes then was Leonard Dacres at Court and offred the Queene all his helpe against them and for that service was sent home But as it came to light afterward in his iourney by messengers with the rebels he had communication and incouraging them vndertooke to kill the Lord Scroop and the Bishop of Carliell Which when he could not effect he tooke Grastocke Castle and other houses of the Lord Dacres and fortified Naworth Castle holding it as in his owne right and gathered souldiers about him Against him came the Lord Hâ—nsdon with the trained souldiers of Berwick Leonard not trusting to his fortified places came to meet the Lord Hunsdon and meeting him when he passed the Riuer Gelt after a sharpe battell finding himselfe put to the worse his men killed he fled into Scotland And so went into the Low-Countries and in a poore estate died at Louaine The Queene by Proclamation pardoned the multitude which he had drawne to take his part This man run a strange course When he might haue beene out of danger he run into a quarrell which he might evidently see to be lost before he came to it But he was drunke with the cup of Rome for who would run such courses but drunken men It may teach others to beware of those that bring such poysoned and intoxicating cuppes from Rome CHAPTER III. TO proceed and to declare the pestilent fruit of the Popes excommunication which wrought still to the confusion of them that served it At this time in Ireland Edmond and Peter Botlers brethren to the Earle of Ormond ioyning with Iames fitz Morice of Desmondes family and with others â—ought to doe service to the Pope and Spanyard against Religion and with a purpose to draw Ireland away from the obedience of Queene Elizabeth To this end they made a league among themselues To inflame this rebellion Iohannes Mendoza came secretly out of Spaine and to extinguish the flame the Earle of Ormond went out of England into Ireland who laboured so effectually that he perswaded his brethren to submit themselues They were put in prison but that they might not be brought to iudgement the Earles daily intercession prevailed with the Queene It grieued the Earle exceedingly to see such a blot vpon so noble a family And the Queene was willing to preserue the honor of the house as for the reliques of that rebellion they were in short time dissipared by the wisedome of the Lord Deputy and the industry of Sir Humphrey Gilbert This was but a small motion but it sheweth the restles spirits of the Pope and Spanyard against our Church and State And we render thankes to God for breaking the purposes of our adversaries before they grew great This is his goodnes toward his Church and his iudgement vpon the adversaries The King of Spaine never rested to stirre vp troubles to Queene Elizabeth pretending the
deliverance of the Scots Queene but it appeareth that his intention was for himselfe as the Duke Dalva vnderstood it This is evident by that which we haue mentioned out of Catena For Duke Dalva was in some feare that if Queene Elizabeth were overthrowne yet the Kingdome of England might not fall to the Spanyard but to the French So that it was in their intention certainly to be cast vpon the French or Spanyard and here was no reckoning made of the Queene of Scots So that howsoever the pretence was for her deliverance yet there was another thing intended For seeing Queene Elizabeth was excommunicated and deposed if she could once be ouerthrowne then they made no other reckoning but that England would fall to the strongest Now the Spanyard thinking himselfe the stronger sought this prerogatiue for himselfe and therefore he ceased not to raise troubles to the Queene and the rather because he held it a thing impossible for him to recover the Low-Countries vnlesse he had England But because he found it a matter of great difficultie to set vpon England his first enterprise was to set vpon Ireland But when that succeeded not at last with all Forces that might be raised with many yeares preparations he set openly vpon England But these things are to be spoken in order Onely this I premise that we may know from whom all our troubles haue proceeded Many conspiracies brake out one after another vnder pretence of delivering the Queene of Scots To effect this thing Thomas Stanly and Edward his brother the yonger sonnes of the Earle of Darby Thomas Gerard Rolston Hall and other in Darâ—yshire conspired But the sonne of Râ—lston which was Pensioner to the Queene disclosed the conspiracy And they were imprisoned all except Hall who escaped into the 〈◊〉 of Man From whence by the commendation of the Bishop of Ross he was sent to Dumbrâ—toâ— Where when afterward the Castle was wonne he was taken and brought to London where he suffred death Before the Duke of Norfolk was beheaded there were that conspired to deliver him out of Prison The Bishop of Ross at this time a dangerous instrument against England and as dangerous against the Scots Queene for whom he laboured gaue desperate counsell to the Duke that with a choice company of Gentlemen he should intercept the Queene of a suddain and â—rouble the Parliament To shew that this was â—asâ—e he gaue some reasons But the Duke abhorred to heare of that counsell as pernicious and dangerous Sir Henry Percy at that time offred to the Bishop of Ross his helpe to free the Scots Queene so that Grange and Carr of â—ernihurst would receiue her at the borders and his brother the Earle of Northumberland might be delivered out of Scotland But when he was suspected for the inward faâ—iliaritie which he had with Burghly and deâ—erâ—ed the matter a longer time this counsell came to no effect As did also that of Powell of Samford one of the Gentlemâ—n Pencioâ—ariâ—s and of Owen one that belonged to â—he Earle of AruÌ„dell These two vndertooke the same busines also for the Scots Queenes deliverance but the Bishop of Ross stay'd that because he tooke them for men of a meaner ranke then to be â—it for â—hat busines After the Duke was the second time imprisoned many were for this matter imprisoned also The Earles of Arundell Southampton the Lord Luâ—ly the Lord Cobham Thomas his brother Sir Henry Percy Banister Lowther Godier Powell and others were committed who in hope of pardon told that they knew Barnes and Muthers ioyned with Herle in a bloudy practise to deliver the Duke and kill certaine of the Privy Councellers But Herle being the châ—efe in the villany opened the Proiect. When Bâ—rnes was brought before him found Herle to be the accuser he smiling vpon him said Herle thou hast prevented me if thou hadst stayed but one houre longer I should then haue stood in thy place the accuser and thou in my place to be hanged When Iohn Duke of Austria came into government of the Low-Countries he found the States strong The cruelty that the Duke of Dalva and others had vsed was so farre from bringing them into a servile subiection that it rather armed them with resolution to defend their liberties their lawes their religion and their liues Which may admonish great Princes to vse moderation in government for much hath beene lost by crueltie nothing gotten by it but nothing can serue to moderate restlesse spirits such a spirit brought Don Iohn with him into the Low-Countries who beholding the vnlucky ends of them that stroue to deliver the Queene of Scots he notwithstanding sought to worke her deliverance and to marry her and so to enioy both England and Scotland But to hide his purpose the better he made show of a perpetuall Edict for Peace as he called it and for that purpose sent Gastellus to Elizabeth Who throughly vnderstanding the Dukes meaning yet as if she had beene ignorant sent Daniel Rogers to Don Iohn to congratulate for his perpetuall Edict of Peace Albeit she certainly knew that he had resolved to deliver and marry the Scots Queene and in his conceit had devoured the Kingdomes of England and Scotland by the perswasion of the Earle of Westmerland and of other â—ugitiues and by favour and countenance of the Pope and the Guyses And that Don Iohn had a purpose out of hand to surprise the â—le of Man in the â—rish Seas that he might haue a fitter opportunitie to invade England out of Ireland and the North coast of Scotland where the Scots Queene had many at her deuotion and the opposite parts of England as Cumberland Lankyshire Cheshire Northwales had many that as he was informed favoured Popery The truth is Don Iohn of Austria as it was knowne from Peresius Secretary to the King of Spaine being before this carried away with ambition when he was disappointed of the hope which he had of the Kingdome of Tunis practised secretly with the Pope for the ouerthrow of Queene Elizabeth marrying of the Scots Queene and subduing of England That the Pope might excite the King of Spain to warre against England as out of a desire of the publique good Don Iohn before he came out of Spain to goe to the Netherlands did fâ—rward this motion in Spaine what he could and afterward sending Esconedus out of the Netherlands to Spaine did desire to haue the havens in Bisâ—ay whence a Navie might invade England But King Philip happily reserving England as a morsell for his owne mouth neglected Don Iohn as a man too ambitious Queene Elizabeth vnderstood not these things vntill the Prince of Orange opened them to her Don Iohn in the meane time prosecuteth the matter of the marriage with secresie And to dissemble the matter sent messengers to Queâ—ne Elizabeth to hold her with a tale of perpetuall peace but of a sudden brake out into warre and tooke divers Townes and
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
a breach yet others followed lowed as desperate as the first And would not vnderstand that they ventured both soule and body in the cause of the Pope against Christ for such is the cause of treason being commanded by the Pope and forbidden by Christ. The Priests and Iesuites at this time spent all their learning and skill to stirre vp rebellion in England giving out in corners and in publique Printing Bookes to declare that the Pope and King of Spain had conspired that England should be overthrowne left as a prey This was done of purpose to confirme their owne side and to deterre others from their obedience to their Prince Wherevpon the Queene set out a Proclamation signifying that she had never made attempt vpon any Prince onely defended her own not invading the Provinces of other Princes though she had beene provoked with wrongs and invited by opportunitie If any Princes should oppugne her she doubted not but by Gods favour she should defend her owne and had therefore Mustered her Forces by Land and Sea and was readie against any hostile incursion She exhorteth her faithfull subiects to hold their faith alleagance firme to God their Prince Gods Minister For others that had shaken off the loue of their Countrey and obedience to their Prince She commandeth them to carry themselues modestly and not to provoke the severitie of iustice for she would no longer indure sparing of evill men least so she might be cruell against the good Among the Iesuites that came then into England Robert Parsons and Edmond Campian were chiefe they had procured a temper or qualification of the Bull of Pius V. obtained of Greg. 13. in these words Let petition be made to our holy Father that the Bull declaratory of Pius V. against Elizabeth and her adherents be interpreted which the Catholikes desire to be vnderstood so that it binde her and heretiques alwayes but not Catholiques things standing as they doe But onely then when the publike execution of the Bull may be had These foresaid favours the Pope granted to Robert Parsons and Edmond Campian now ready to goe into England the 13. day of Aprill 1580. in the presence of Oliver Manarcus assisting This was procured to giue some content to the Recusants that were offended at the publication of the Bull and found that it did them more harme then good Parsons and Campian came secretly into England and changed their exterior habit and apparel that they might the better passe vnknowne Somtimes they went like ruffians somtimes like ministers somtimes like noble men somtimes like souldiers somtimes like apparitours they walked secretly from Recusants houses to Recusants houses and did in words and writings roundly set forward the businesse for which they came Parsons was the superior a man of a seditious and turbulent spirit armed with audaciousnesse he brake out so farre among the Papists against the Queene as to propose the proâ—ect of deposing of her In so much that some Papists themselues as they themselues hauâ— said did thinke to haue delivered him into the hands of the Magistrate Campian was somewhat more modest yet by a Booke which he had much laboured and brought with him which as himselfe sayth might be taken with him if he were apprehended did provoke the Ministers of the Church of England to disputation the Booke was Intituled A Booke of ten Reasons or Arguments written politely in Latin to confirme the doctrines of the Church of Rome Parsons wrote more virulently against Mr Charke who had written soberly against Campians prouocation but Campians ten reasons were throughly and solidly answered by Dr Whittaker Campian was taken and brought to disputation where it was found that in learning and knowledge he came farre short of that expectation which himselfe had raised of himselfe the whole disputation was afterward set forth in Print In the meane time many threatnings were published against the Church and State of England and much speech was of the Pope and the Spanyards preparations to subdue England By which manner of proceedings it may appeare that the end why these other such were sent into England was not to draw men to God but to betray the Land to strangers for these men cared not what became of England so the Church of England might be displanted and Popery set vp againe For which purpose we may obserue the Colledges for Seminaries set vp at Rhemes and Rome These Colledges did strangely swarue from the end and foundation of the ancient Colledges The ancient Colledges were founded for learning and Religion these for meere faction the ancient Colledges were for the furtherance of godlinesse and piâ—tie these for the practises of â—ngodlinessâ— and vngracious treasons Let no man tell me that the ancient Colledges were founded by Papists so were these Seminaries and therefore for the maintenance of the same Religion for this is nothing but colouring and daubing of their new practises from the sight of the ignorant for all their hope is in the ignorance of men hoping that they shall haue the greatest part because the greatest part are ignorant But now God in his mercy hath so plentifully revealed the truth the ignorance of men is not so great as the Papâ—sts would haue it for men are taught to know that in the Councell of Trent there hath beene hatched a new birth of Popery Where they haue changed the rule of faith which was ever maintained in the Church of Rome before that time Wherevpon there followeth a change of the Church a change of Religion They that founded the ancient colledges knew not this new Church this new Religion which is newly hatched in the Trent Councell Therefore these late Colledges of Seminaries are founded vpon a new Religion This new Râ—ligion of Rome is nothing but the practâ—se of Treasons against States Surely it must be a sâ—rangâ— Religion that must be maintained by vngodly practises There was never any Religion that allowed such practises And herein the Papists exceed the Heathen who being guided onely by the light of nature yet haue disallowed such vngodly and vngracious practises which the Papists vse Let all men consider whence this new Religion of Rome proceedeth that in vngodly practises is founded and maintained that all such practises proceed from the devill no man can doubt that God hath preserved this Church of England from all these practises this is that which causeth vs to trust in God and to giue all the glory of our deliverance to his holy name Edmond Campian Ralfe Sherwin Luke Kirby Alexander Briant were taken in the yeare 1581. and being brought to iudgement were accused of treason against the Queene and State that they were directed by the Pope came into England to stirre vp sedition and to make a strong partie and herevpon they were condemned as offending against the lawes Campian was demanded whether he tooke Queene Elizabeth to be Queene of England by right and law to that he refused to answer
much laâ—our and singular skill he ioyned them together againe and found that they contained new practises of the Pope the Spanyard the Guises resolution to invade England Whereupon and because many other rumors of dangers were increased to the end that the wicked and treasonable practises might be in time prevented and the Queenes life and safetie might be procured vpon whose safety both the estate of the Kingdome and of Religion depended A great number throughout all England of all sorts of men out of common charity whilst they shewed their loue and care of the Queene bound themselues by an association as then it was called by their mutuall promises subscriptions of their hands and seales to prosecute all such by all their force even to death whosoever should attempt any thing against the life of the Queene the Earle of Leicester was supposed to be the author of this association Surely it was vsefull and held many in order The Queene of Scots tooke this as devised to bring her into danger and was so continually set on by seditious spirits that if they may haue accesse are able to draw the greatest Princes to destruction And what hath beene their practise but to bring great personages and great houses to ruine Lamentable experience sheweth openly the fruit of their malice and wicked plots for treason which they call religion The Scots Queene led on by her blind guids dealt somwhat rashly but with importunity to the Pope and Spanyard by Sr Francis Inglefeld that by all meanes they would with speed vndertake their intended busines There were some also that laboured to draw Queene Elizabeths affections altogether from the Scots Queene They told her that Cardinall Alan for the English Catholikes ecclesiasticall Inglefeld for the Laiks and for the Queene of Scots the Bishop of Ross had vndertaken were among themselues agreed and with the consent also of the Pope and Spanyard had fully resolved vpon these points That Queene Elizabeth should be deprived of her Kingdome the King of Scots as a manifest favourer of heresie should vtterly be disinherited of the Kingdome of England that the Scots Queene shall marry some noble-man of England which is a Catholike that this man must be chosen King of England by the Catholikes of England that the choice so made must be confirmed by the Pope that the children of him so chosen begotten of the Scots Queene must be declared successours in the Kingdome All these things were confirmed to be true by testimony of Hart the Priest Who was this noble English man that should marry the Scots Queene was now much inquired after Sir Francis Walâ—ingham sought it out with all diligence yet found it not out There was suspition of Henry Howard brother to the Duke of Norfolke who was noble by birth vnmarried and a favourer of that Religion and in great grace and favour with them These things that were discovered by Throgmorton by Creightons papers and other mens were matters which bred suspitions and feares though they were never so effected as they were intended But we find by these things that France and Spaine and the strength of the Pope were here all combined against Queene Elizabeth and King Iames for no other cause but for their religion because both Queene Elizabeth and King Iames had established the same religion Against which religion all the great powers of the world were combined and were therefore ready with their vtmost indevours to root out these two Princes from England and Scotland If a man shall consider the Councels the Pollicies the strength of these great powers which were set against these two Princes it is a matter to be wondred at how they should stand against so deepe and desperate dangers Here I wish that a Papist of any vnderstanding would take this matter into his consideration And looke but a little further to the end and event of things What man purposed What God wrought What became of these two Princes Queene Elizabeth King Iames against whom the world thus conspired Queene Elizabeth after so many malicious proiects against her by open warres by secret conspiracies yet lived to see all the malicious practises against her defeated and overthrowne the practisers themselues ruinated her people and Kingdome defended Gods truth maintained her service for the truth rewarded and after all dyed quietly in her bed and hath left a blessed memory behinde her King IAMES that was in the same cause with her in the same manner threatned for his Religion to be made incapable of the inheritance of England and then neither could he haue holden Scotland for he must either haue all his right or loose all for there is no middle-way in the inheritance of Kings yet after all these threatned dangers by the great powers of the world after a number of dangerous and devilish practises against him at home he hath not onely quietly possessed that which he had but is in the peaceable possession of England with such loue such gladnesse of heart and common reioycing that the like hath not beene knowne in former times And which was never done by any before though much wished and attempted he hath in his royall person knit England and Scotland together he hath not onely maintained the truth of Religion by his authoritie as all Christian Princes are bound to do but also by his wisedome by his learning confirmed the truth drawne many to the knowledge of it by his learned Labours Wherein he hath not onely farre exceeded all his progenitours in this Kingdome but hath left all the Kings and Emperours in the world farre behind him in this honour so that since the beginning of the time of grace to this day the world never saw a King so furnished and inabled to maintaine the truth and to discover the blindnesse and superstition of false Religion And therefore hath God blessed him with extraordinary blessings the loue of his subiects the peaceable estate of Ireland which before his time was never governed in peace especially the fruit of Religion and the reward of Religion maintained is the greatest blessing that Kings can looke for This hath beene and is the state of these religious Provinces so that men shall say Doubtlâ—sse there is a reward for the righteous verily there is a God that iudgeth the earth And because my purpose in writing this Booke is to declare the great Workes of God in the defence of this Church of England since Religion planted here by Queene Elizabeth and to giue God all the glory both of the planting and maintaining thereof We therefore remember these things with great gladnesse and ioy of heart to Gods glory giving thankes to his holy name for the favours that he hath exhibited to his Church here by the faithfull service of these two royall servants of God in whom is truely verified that which the Prophet Esay foretold speaking of Gods favour to his Church Kings shall be thy nurcing Fathers and Queenes
IX AT that time was Henry Percy Earle of Northumberland in the Tower suspected to be of councell with Throgmorton and the Lord Paget and the Guises to invade England and to free the Scots Queene He was found dead in his bed shot with three Bullets vnder his left pap the chamber doore bolted on the inside The Crowners enquest found a dagge and gun powder in the chamber and examining the man that bought the dagge and him that sold it they found that the Earle had beene the cause of his owne death Three dayes after the Lords met in the Starre-chamber The Lord Chancelour Broumley briefly declared that the Earle had entred into treasonable councels against his Prince and Countrey which now when he perceived that they were come to light troubled in conscience for the thing hath offred force to himselfe And to satisfie the multitude then present he willed the Queenes Atturney generall and the rest of the Queenes Councell plainly to open the causes why he was kept in prison and the manner of his death Wherevpon Popham then Atturney beginning from the rebellion of the North sixteene yeares before he declared that for this rebellion and for a purpose to deliver the Scots Queene that he was called into question acknowledged his fault submitted himselfe to the Queenes mercy was fined fiue thousand markes That the Queene of her clemencie tooke not of that fine so much as a farthing and after his brothers death confirmed him in the honor of the Earledome Notwithstanding all this he had entred into pernicious counsel to deliver the Scots Queene to overthrow the English Queene with the State and Religion that Mendoza the Spaniard had told Throgmorton that Charles Paget vnder the name of Mope had secretly dealt with him in Sussex of these things that the Lord Paget had signified the same to Throgmorton as appeared from Creighton the Scots Iesuites papers And that Charles Paget had shewed the same things to William Shelley when he returned out of France After that Egerton the Queenes Sollicitour inferred the same from circumstances and a care of concealing the matter That when as there was none in England that could accuse the Earle of this crime except the Lord Paget with whom Throgmorton had familiaritie he had provided a shippe for the Lord Paget by Shelley a few dayes after Throgmorton was apprehended So was the Lord Paget sent away into France And when Throgmorton began to confesse some things the Earle departed from London to Petworth and sending for Shelley told him that he was in danger of his life and fortunes he intreated him to keepe counsell and to put away those that knew of the departure of the Lord Paget and of the comming of Charles Paget Which was presently done and himselfe sent far off that servant which he vsed to send to Charles Paget The Sollicitour addeth that when he was in prison he dealt often with Shelley the keepers being corrupted to vnderstand what those things were which he had confessed But when by a poore woman secretly sent betweene them Shelley had signified that he could keepe counsell no longer that there was great differēce between their two conditions that he must come vnder the racke which the Earle in respect of his place and order was freed from and had written to him what he had confessed The Earle therevpon sighed and said as Pantin his Chamberlain hath confessed that Shelley his confession had vndone him After the manner of his death was declared by the testimony of the Enquest and by Pantins testimony Many good men were very sorrowfull that a man of such nobility wisdome and valour was so lost My purpose is in this Narration to obserue the great and manifold deliverances of this Church When I am drawne by the course of the History to open these practises in which noblemen haue beene misled this I confesse I relate with great commiseration for seeing that Noble houses are the honor of the King the ornament of the Kingdome there is no man that loueth the honor of his owne Country that can write or speake of the fall of such men but with griefe and sorrow Of such I will make no other observations but onely the testification of mine owne sorrow But yet here I must obserue one thing for the good and instruction of their posteritie or the like that they may take heed of these pernicious instruments Priests Iesuites and those that are infected yea and poysoned with the infection of them These gracelesse merchants haue vtterly vndone many noble persons which without their restlesse suggestions and councels might and doubtlesse would haue bin great ornaments of their Countries both in peace and warres Was there ever any noble house in these times ruinated without the practise of these wicked miscreants Let all the bloud that hath bin shed in this Land in the Northern rebellion at other times be laid vpon these wicked instruments of bloud And let the world consider the outragious wickednesse of this generation that having in formertimes sucked the bloud of the Saints as greedy instruments of the great Whore that is drunke with the bloud of the Saints now by a iust but strange iudgement of God they are fallen into such practises as shed their owne bloud and the bloud of such as are misled by them God is to be reverenced in all his iudgements and let not men striue against God to maintaine a cause which God will overthrow with all the maintainers thereof And it is not much to be marveiled if these cunning stirrers haue deceiued some of our Nobles for we see that they haue cousened great Kings and Princes For soone after this in the yeare 1586. these pernicious medlers these Iesuites shewed themselues in other colours for when these bloudy instruments that had so long laboured the ruine of England were out of hope to restore the Romish Religion to England either by the Scots Queene which was now more strictly kept or by the King then of Scotland who had plainly professed and established the Gospell in his Kingdome they fell now to a new and a strange practise which might make the world to wonder they began out of their false and lying forgeries to set a foot an imaginary title of the King of Spaine to the right and succession of the English Crowne To this purpose as Pasquirus discovered they sent into England one Shamiers if it be not a counterfeit name a lesuit which might draw the discontented Nobles vnto the Spanish side throw the Scots Queene headlong into dangers and despayre signifying to her that if she should be trouble some to hinder their designes that neither she nor her sonne should raigne here And stirred vp new troubles in France to withdraw her cousens the Guises from hindering their devises by wrapping them in new garboiles against the King of Navarre and the Prince of Condy. In which the King of Spaine had a hand to set France in
troubles that he in the meane time might the better proceed in his intentions for England These desperate courses drew the Scots Queene into more danger At this time a most desperate and pernicious conspiracy brake out which as by the free confessions of the conspirators appeareth was thus Some English Divines of the Rhemish seminary whilst they seemed to admire as men astonished or rather doting an omnipotency in the Pope did labour to perswade themselues that Pius V. his bull against Queene Elizabeth was indâ—ted by the Holy Ghost and that it was a thing meritorious to kill excommunicated Princes yea and that it was martyrdome to loose their liues in that quarrell Giffard a Doctor of Theologie Gilbert Giffard and Hodgeson Priests did so hammer these devises into the corrupt head of Iohn Sauage who they say was a Bastard that he being heady and bloudy a fit instrument for â—esuites made a vow to kill Queene Elizabeth At the same time they set out a Book for no other purpose but with great cunning to draw the Queene and Councell into securitie and to lay their vngracious plots more deeply and so with more ease to come to that mischievous end they shot at In which Booke they admonish the Papists in England that they practise no hurt to the Queene for that they were onely to vse such weapons as are lawfull for Christians to vse that is â—eares spirituall armour daily prayers watchings fastings against their adversaries this was their â—ox craft And withall they spred a false rumour by their whisperers that George Giffard one of the Queenes Gentlemen Pencionaries had sworne to kill the Queene and for that cause had wiped the Guise of a great summe of money At Easter following Iohn Ballard a Priest of the Remish seminary who had assayed the mindes of many Papists to whom he travelled to conferre with through England and Scotland was now returned into England This man had dealt with Bernardin Mendoza now the ordinary Spanish Ambassadour in France and with Charles Paget for an invasion of England Declaring that now was the fittest opportunitie for that service whilst the military men were absent being then imployed in the Low-Countries A fitter time could never be hoped for as much as the Pope the Spanyard the Guise the Duke of Parma had resolved to invade England to turne the Warres from the Netherlands And albeit Paget had made it evident that as long as the Queene liued the invasion of England would be in vaine yet was Ballard sworne and sent into England to procure all the helpe that might be to the conspiratours and the liberty of the Scots Queene At Pentecost following that silken Priest came into England in a Souldiers habit with a feigned name called Captaine Foscue This man had conference in London with Antony Babington a Gentleman of Darbyshire yong rich wittie and learned aboue the expectation of his yeares and being addicted to the Romish Religion had a little before got into France without leaue Where he had familiar conversation with Thomas Morgan and with the Bishop of Glasco the Scots Queenes Ambassadour These men extolling the heroick vertues of the Scots Queene made to him great ostentation of assured hopes of honor by her meanes to be obtained The ambitious yong man was easily drawne to take hold of that faire glistering estate proposed by them And they were as ready cunningly to set him forward and before he had well thought of the matter they commended him by Letters to the Scots Queene For when he was returned into England she saluted him favourably with her Letters from that time Morgan vsed his helpe in sending Letters to her vntill she was committed to the custodie of Amice Paulet For after that the yong man finding the danger ceased With this Babington Ballard had conference of the things aforesaid But he thought assuredly so long as Queene Elizabeth liued that the invasion of England would come to nothing But when Ballard signified to him that Queene Elizabeth would not long be aliue for Sauage who had vowed to kill her was now come into England Babington thought not good that so great a matter should be committâ—d to Sauage onely least he might be stopped from the enterprise But rather to sixe valiant and resolute Gentlemen in which number Sauage should be one that he might not be condemned for not performing his vow Wherevpon Babington tooke a new course for the invasion touching the ports where the strangers might land and the forces that should be ioyned with them and the delivering the Scots Queene and the Tragick slaughter of Queene Elizabeth as he called it Whilst he was fixed in these cogitations he received Letters by an vnknowne boy written from the Queene of Scots in that familiar character which was vsed betweene them She blamed him but mildly for his long silence and willed him to send her the Packet of Letters sent from Morgan and delivered by the French Ambassadors Secretary Which he did accordingly And by the same messenger sent to her a Letter wherein he excused his silence for that he wanted opportunitie of sending since that she was in the custodie of Amice Paulet a puritan a meere Leicestrian and a most bitter enemy of the Catholike faith He declared what he had resolved with Ballard that sixe Gentlemen were chosen to performe the tragicke slaughter and that himselfe with an hundreth other would deliver her He intreated that to these Heroick Actors so he called them rewards might be proposed or to their posteritie if they should faile in the action The twentie-seventh of Iuly answer was made to these Letters Babington his forward desire of promoting the Catholike Religion was commended He was warned that it might be vndertaken considerately and that nothing be moued before they were sure of externall forces that an association among them might be made as if they feared the Puritanes that some trouble might be stirred in Ireland whilst the stroke might be given here at home that Arundell and his brethren and Northumberland should be drawne to the side VVestmerland Paget and others might be secretly called home The way to deliver her was also prescribed either to overturne a Coach in the gate or to set the Stables on fire or to intercept her whilst she rode to take the ayre betweene Chartley and Stafford Last of all Babington was warranted to vndertake for rewards and to pawne his credit to the six Gentlemen and others Now had he gathered about him certaine Gentlemen inflamed with a fiery zeale of the Romish Religion Of whom the chiefe were Edward Windsore brother to the Lord Windsore a yong Gentleman of a soft disposition Thomas Salisbury of a Knights house in Denbigh-shire Charles Tilney an ancient Gentleman the onely hope of the Familie one of the Queenes Pencionaries whom Ballard had reconciled to the Roman Church both proper yong men Chidioc Tychburn of Hampshire Edward Abington whose father was the Queenes Cofferer Robert Gage
Queene as soone as she vnderstood so rough a tempest hanging over her head both from inward traytors and forraine enemies she commanded to the end that the conspiracy might the sooner be quelled that Ballard should be apprehended Wherevpon he was suddenly taken in the very nick when he was ready to depart into France Being taken in Babingtons house Herevpon Babington was afraid and sore troubled and vexed with a thousand cogitations he came to Tychburn and with him adviseth what is best to doe His advise was that the conspiratours should presently disperse themselues and fly yet Babington thought it best to send Sauage and Charnok presently to kill the Queene But first to put Sauage in brauer and more courtly apparell that so he might haue a more easie passage And of this proiect he had the same day speech with him in Pauls-Church But presently changing his minde and concealing his secret cares and feares he wrote Letters to Sir Francis Walsingham being then in Court wherein with great earnestnes he intreated that now at last he might haue license to depart into France and withall he made suit for Ballards deliverance who might be of great vse to him in his proposed businâ—sse Sir Francis with faire promises keepes him from day to day in hope That Ballard was taken he layeth all the fault vpon Yong that cunning hunter of Papists and vpon some other Catch-poles and warneth Babington to take heed to such kinde of men as friendly admonishing him and easily perswadeth the yong man that vntill the Queene might be at leasure to signe the Bill for his passage he would returne to London and lodge in his house at London to the end that they might conferre more secretly of so great matters And that by his often comming the fugitiues might not haue any suspition when he came into France In the meane time Skidmor Sir Francis Walsingham his servant was commanded to obserue him most strictly and should be with him whither soever he went in shew that so he might be safer from messengers that otherwise might apprehend him Thus farre Sr Francis Walsingham had closely carried this businesse without the knowledge of other of the privy Councell and would haue proceeded farther But the Queene would not least as she said by not preventing the danger when shee might shee might seeme rather to tempt God then to trust in God Wherevpon Sir Francis from Court wrote to his man that he should obserue Babington with an especiall care This Letter was not sealed but so delivered that as the man read it Babington sitting at Table with him did also reade it Wherevpon finding himselfe guiltie and suspecting that all was disclosed the next night when he and Skidmor and one or two of Sir Francis his servants had supped somwhat freely in a Taverne he rose as going to pay the reckoning and leaving his cloak and rapier fled away in the darke to Westminster Where Gage changed apparell with him who presently put off the same againe in Charnoks chamber and put on Charnoks And conveyed themselues both into S. Iohns Wood neare to the Cittie Whither Barnwell and Dun came to them In the meane time they were declared traytors throughout England They hiding themselues in Woods and by-wayes after they had in vaine expected money from the French Ambassadour and horse from Tychburn they cut off Babingtons hayre and defaced his natiue beautie with rubbing his face over with the greene huskes of Walnuts And being forced by hunger they came to Bellamyes house neare to Harrow on the Hill who was a great favourer of the Romish Religion Where they were hid in Barnes and fed and cloathed with rusticall apparell After ten dayes they were found and brought to London Herevpon the Cittie witnessed their publike ioy by ringing of bells by bonefires in the streets by singing of Psalmes in so much that the Citizens had great thankes given them from the QVEENE The other conspiratours were soone caught many of them neare the Cittie Salisbury in Staffordshire his horse being killed vnder him by them who followed him and Trauerse was taken with him after they had swimmed over the river Weuer And Iones in Wales who was not acquainted with the inuasion intended but onely receiued them into his house after he knew them to be proclaimed rebells and hid them And had furnished Salisbury as he fled and his man who was a Priest with a changed Cloake Onely Windsore was not found Many dayes were spent in examining of them who by their confessions betrayed one another concealing nothing All this time the Scots Queene and her servants were kept by such a diligent watch of Sir Amice Pawlet that those things were altogether hid from her though now well knowne over all England But after that these were apprehended Sir Thomas Gorge was sent to acquaint her with these things in few words Which he did purposely when she thought least of the matter as she was taking horse to ride a hunting Neither was she permitted to returne but in shew of honor she was carried about to Noble mens houses In the meane time Iohn Maners Edward Ashton Richard Bagot and William Wade who ignorant of the whole matter had beene sent into these parts receiving authoritie from the Queene did commit Navus and Curle Secretaries and other servants to such as might keepe them asunder that they might not conferre together among themselues nor with the Scets Queene And breaking vp the Chamber-doores they tooke all Chesies and Boxes wherein they found Letters and sent them sealed with their seales to the Court. After that Sir Amice Pawlet being commanded tooke all the money least she might corrupt some for money and gaue his promise to restore all again When the packets of Letters were opened before the Queene the Letters of many forrainers were found and Coppies of many Letters to others and about sixtie Tables of secret Characters And some Letters from certaine Noble men of England with a full declaration of their loue and services Which thing notwithstanding Queene Elizabeth dissembled that matter in silence and accordingly vsed that word Video taceo I see and say nothing But they smelling the matter least they might seeme to favour the Scots Queene after that began to show themselues enemies against her Now Giffard after he had played his part in this play was sent away as a banished man into France leaving before he went an indented paper with the French Ambassadour Leiger in England with this instruction that he should deliver Letters which he might receiue from the Scots Queene or from the fugitiues to none other but onely to him who exhibited a paper an swering to that indented paper Which paper was by him sent secretly to Sir Francis Walsingham Giffard returning into France after a few moneths was imprisoned for his filthy life and suspected of these things died miserably confessing many of the foresaid matters which was also found in his papers The XIII of
September seven of the conspiratours being brought to iudgement confessed themselues guiltie and were condemned of treason Other seven came the next day who denied that they were guiltie and coÌ„mitted themselues to God and their Country yet were they condemned by their former confessions Onely Polly though guiltie of all yet when he affirmed that he disclosed some of those matters to Sir Francis Walsingham was not called to iudgement The twentieth of that month the first seven were hanged and quattered in S. Giles fields where they vsed to meet Ballard the contriver of all the mischief asked pardon of God and of the Queene conditionally if he had sinned against her Babington who without feare beheld Ballards death whilst the rest were vpon their knees in prayer freely confessed his sinnes and after he was taken downe from the Gallowes cryed out in Latin Parce mihi Iesu the rest in their order likewise were hanged and quartered After the punishment of these Navus a French man and Curlus a Scot Secretaries to the Scots Queene were called into question vpon the Letters that were taken in the lodging of the Scots Queene and freely confessed that those Letters were of their owne writing dictated by her in French and so taken by Navus turned into English by Curle and written in secret Characters whereby she was at last brought into question which brought her also to her end The thing which we obserue vpon this Narration is to continue our complaint of these gracelesse instruments the Priests and Iesuites that by their wicked suggestions bring Princes Nobles Gentlemen of good place which might haue done good service to their Prince and Country such I say doe these wicked instruments bring to ruine and seeme to take a pleasure in the destruction of men May we not see how they come in secretly and scraule in corners like Serpents It is true the enmity is of old set betweene the Womans seed and the Serpents seed and the Church which is the Womans seed haue felt the experience hereof at all times But never had any Church in the world a more liuely experience hereof then this Church of England against whom all this hath beene wrought The Church is the house of God and this Church of England is here with vs Gods house It is apparant that this house was built not vpon the sand but vpon a rocke for the windes haue blowne fiercely vpon it the waters haue risen against it the great and huge tempests haue beaten vpon it and yet it standeth And for this we prayse Gods name that it standeth still And for this purpose is this small Worke vndertaken to giue the watch-word to all them that feare God and loue the comming of our Lord to giue most humble and most hearty thankes vnto God for this inestimable favour of God that after all these assaults which haue beene greater in danger moâ—e in number then any Nation in the world at this day can number that after all I say our Church standeth and flourisheth this is our reioycing in God in his goodnesse and mercy But now consider who oppugne vs the serpents seed for can any man with any reason deny these men to be the seed of the serpent I meane the seminary Priests lesuites Are not these the seed of the serpent They plot and practise treasons they raise rebellions their heads and hands are full of bloud and murther And what can the serpent his seed doe more They are men acquainted with the deepenes of Satan they lay snares and wicked plots for desâ—ructions of States and least men should descry their mischiefe they set a cleane contrary countenance vpon their actions giving out that their weapons are Preces lachrymae Prayers and teares and that it is vnlawfull for them to vse any other weapons even then when they are about their most bloudy designes and what can the serpents seed doe more Can the seed of the serpent proceed more maliciously more cruelly more deeply in bloud then these haue done Then let them be knowne to be the seed of the serpent As for vs we reioyce to be the seed of the Woman the true Church of God we suffer we are reviled standered called Heretikes We learne of our Master to indure the crosse to despise the shame We run with patience the race which he hath set before vs. And we serue God not in vaine for we see that there is a reward for them that serue Him CHAPTER X. THE a next yeare following which was the yeare 1587. the Scots Queene being before condemned but yet reserved aliue discontented persons like evill spirits did continually haunt her though she her selfe would haue beene quiet yet would not they let her rest vntill their busie and pernicious working brought her to her graue for l. Auâ—â—spinaeus the French Ambassadour Leiger in England a man wholly devoted to the Guysian faction went about to helpe the captived Queene not by faire meanes but by treason First he conferred secretly to kill the Queene with William Stafford a yong Gentleman easie to be drawn to new hopes whose mother was of the Queenes bed-chamber his brother was the English Leiger in France at this time Afterward he dealt more plainly with him touching this proiect by his secretary Trappius Who promised to Stafford if he would vndertake that matter not onely great glory great store of money but especiall grace and favour with the Pope with the Guises and with all the Catholikes Stafford his conscience grudging at so great a wickednesse refused to vndertake it Yet he commended one Moody a cut-throat a man fit for such a businesse that if money were given him would vndoubtedly vndertake and dispatch the businesse To him went Stafford where he found him kept in prison in London and told him that the French Ambassadour would gladly speake with him He answered that he was willing so that he might be freed out of prison In the meane time he intreated that Cordaliâ—n another of the Ambassadours secretaries might be sent to him with whom he had familiar acquaintance The next day Trappius was sent to him with Stafford Who when Stafford was remoued conferred with Moody of the manner of killing the Queene Moody proposed a course to doe it by poison or by a sacke of twentie pound of Gun-powder to be laid vnder the Queenes chamber and to be fired secretly These courses pleased not Trappius but he wished that a man of such courage might be sound as was that Burgonian who killed the Prince of Orange These things were presently revealed to the Queenes Councell by Stafford Wherevpon Trappius now purposing to goe into France was intercepted and examined of these things Afterward the Ambassadour himselfe the twelfth of Ianuary was sent for vnto the house of Secretary Cecill and came in the evening where were together by the Queenes command Cecill Lord Burghley Secretary the Earle of Leicester Sir Christopher Hatton and Dauison another secretary
foot and two thousand horse to guard the Queene The Lord Grey Sr Francis Knolles Sr Iohn Norrice Sr Richard Bingham Sr Roger Williams men famously knowne for Military experience were chosen to confer of the land fight These thought fit that all those places should be fortified with men muâ—ition which were commodious to land in either out of Spaine or out of Flanders as Milford hauen Falmouth Plimmouth Portland the I le of Wight Portsmouth the open side of Kent called the Downs the mouth of Thames Harwich Yarmouth Hull c. That trained souldiers through all the maritim Provinces should meet vpon warning given to defend these places that they should by their best means and power hinder the enemy to take land if he should take land then should they wast the country all about and spoile every thing that might be of any vse to the enemy that so he might find no more vittals then what he brought vpon his shoulders with him And that by continuall Alarums the enemy should finde no rest day or night But they should not try any battell vntill divers Captaines were mett together with their Companies That one Captaine might be named in every Shire which might command At this time divers told the Queene that the Spaniards were not so much to be feared without as the Papists within for the Spaniards durst make no attempt vpon England but vpon confidence of their helpe within And therefore for the securitie of the whole their heads were vpon some pretenses to be cut off Producing for this thing the example of Henry 8. For when the Emperour French King at the Popes instigation were combined and ready to invade England King Henry presently executed the Marquess of Exceter the Lord Montacute Edward Neuil and others whom he suspected to favour the enemies which thing as soone as he had done the intended invasion was stopped and proceeded no further But this advise the Queene vtterly disliked as being cruell she thought it enough to commit some of the Papists to Wisbich Castle in cuâ—tody and casting her eyes and mind on every side she stirred vp her Nobles with Letters often though they were carefull watchfull of themselues She certified Fitz Williams Lord Deputy of Ireland what she would haue done there She sent to the King of Scots to warne him to take good heed of Papists and the Spanish faction But he knowing well what a tempest and desolation was hanging and threatning both alike having already set his heart vpon the maintenance of true religion and resolving to take part with the truth in prosperitie and adversitie which is onely able to saue and deliver her maintainers had a little before refused to heare the Bishop of Dumblan sent thâ—ther from the Pope and had caused a league to be made among the Protestants of Scotland for resistance of the Spanyards and himselfe comming to Anandale with an army besieged Maxwell and tooke him and committed him to prison who was lately returned out of Spaine against his faith and alleagance and came with an intent to favor the Spanish side he declared the Spanyards should be held as enemies and against them caused all with great alacritie to be ready in Armes Among these preparations for warre which were great on both sides the councels of peace were not vtterly cast away Two yeares before the Duke of Parma considering how hard a matter it was to end the Belgick warre so long as it was continually nourished and supported with ayd from the Queene he moued for a treaty of peace by the meanes of Sir Iames Croft one of the privy councell a man desirous of peace Andrew Loe a Dutch man and professed that the Spaniard had delegated authority to him for this purpose But the Queen fearing that there was some cunning in this seeking of peace that the friendship betweene her and the confederate Provinces might be dissolved and that so they might secretly be drawne to the Spanyard she deferred that treaty for some time But now that the Warres on both sides prepared might be turned away she was content to treat of Peace but so as still holding the weapons in her hand For this purpose in February delegates were sent into Flanders the Earle of Derby the Lo Cobham Sr Iames Croft Dr Dale and Dr Rogers These were received with all humanity on the Dukes behalfe they presently sent Dr Dale to him that a place might be appointed for the treating that they might see the authoritie to him delegated from the Spanish King He appointed the place neare to Ostend not in Ostend which then was holden of English against the King his authority delegated he promised then to shew when they were once met together He wished them to make good speed in the businesse least somwhat might fall out in the meane time which might trouble the motions of peace Richardotus spake somewhat more plainly that he knew not what in this interim should be done against England Not long after D. Rogers was sent to the Prince by an express commandement from the Queene to know the truth whether the Spanyard had resolved to invade England which he and Richardotus did seeme to signifie He affirmed that he did not so much as thinke of the invasion of England when he wished that the businesse might proceed with speed And was in a maner offended with Richardotus who denied that such words fell from him The 12 of April the Count Aremberg Champigny Richardotus D. Maeâ—ius Garnier Delegated from the Prince of Parma mett with the English and yeelded to them the honor both in walking and sitting And when they affirmed that the Duke had full authority to treat of Peace the English moued that first a truce might be made Which they denied alledging that that thing must needs be hurtfull to the Spanyard who had for six moneths maintained great Army which might not be dismissed vpon a truce but vpon an absolute peace The English vrged that a truce was promised before they came into Flanders The Spanyard against that held that six moneths since a truce was promised which they granted but was not admitted Neither was it in the Queenes power to vndertake a truce for Holland and Zealand who daily attempted hostility The English mooued instantly that the truce might be generall for all the Queenes territories and for the Kingdome of Scotland but they would haue it but for foure Dutch townes which were in the Queenes hands that is Ostend Flushing Bergen vp zom the Briel and these onely during the treating and twenty dayes after and that in the meane time it might be lawfull for the Queene to invade Spaine or for the Spanyard to invade England either from Spain or Flanders Whilst these delayes were made concerning the truce and place which at last was appointed at Bourburg Crâ—ft vpon an earnest desire to peace went privatly to Bruxells without the knowledge of the other Delegates and
ioyned together The Duke Medina Leua Oquenda Recaldus and others with much adoe getting themselues our of the shallowes susteined the English force aswell as they might vntill most of their ships were pearced and toâ—ne The Galeon S. Mathew governed by Diego â—iâ—entellus comming to ayd Francis Toletan being in the S. Philip was pearced and shaken with the râ—iterated shots of Seimor and Winter and driven to Ostend was at last taken by the Flushiâ—gers The S. Philip came to the like end So did the Galeoâ— of Biscay and diverse other The last day of this moneth the Spanish sleet striving to recover the straights againe were driven toward Zealand The English lest of pursuing of them as the Spaniards thought because they saw them in a manner cast away For they could not avoyd to be cast vpon the shallowes of Zealand But the winde turning they got out of the shallowes and then began to consult what were best for them to do By common consent they resolved to returne into Spaine by the Northern seas for they wanted many necessaries especially shot their ships were torne they had no hope that the Duke of Parma could bring forth his forces And so they tooke the Sea and followed the course towards the North. The English navy followed somtimes the Spanish turned vpon the English insomuch that it was thought by many that they would return back againe Vpon which report the Queene came into the Campe at Tilbury and mustered the Army riding among them with a Leaders Staffe in her hand and did by her presence and speech animate both Captains and souldiers with incredible courage That day wherein the last fight was the Duke of Parma after his vowes offred to the Lady of Halla came somewhat late to Dunkerk and was received with some opprobrious words of the Spanyards as if in favour of Queen Elizabeth he had slipped the fairest opportunitie that could be to doe the service He to make some satisfaction punished the purveiours that had not made provision ready secretly smiling at the insoleÌ„cy of the Spanyards when he heard them glorying that what way soever they came vpon England they would haue an vndoubted victory that the English were not able to indure the sight of them Bernardinus Mendoza did indeed by Bookes in France sing a foolish lying triumphant song before the Victory The English Admirall appointed Seimor and the Hâ—llanders to watch vpon the coasts of Flanders that the Duke of Parma should not come out himselfe followed the Spanyards vpon their backes vntill they were past Edenborough frith The Spaniards seeing all hopes faile finding no other helpe for themselues but by flight fled amaine and never made stay And so this great Navy being three yeares preparing with great cost was within a moneth overthrown and after many were killed being chased away of English there were not one hundreth lost nor one shippe lost saving that of Câ—â—ks was driven about all Britain by Scotland Orcades Ireland tossed and shaken with tempests and much lessened came home without glory Wherevpon some money was coyned with a Navy slying away at full saile and this inscription Venit vidit Fugit Other were coyned with the Ships fired the Navy confounded in honor of the Queene inscribed Dux faeminafacti As they fled it is certain that many of their ships were câ—st away vpoÌ„ the shores of Scotland IrelaÌ„d Moe then 700 souldiers mariners were cast vpoÌ„ the Scottish shore who at the Du of Parma his intercession with the Scots King the Queene of England consenting were afâ—er a yeare sent into Flaâ—ders But they that were cast vp vpoÌ„ the Irish shore by tempests came to more miserable fortunes for some were killed by the wild Irish others by the Deputies coÌ„maÌ„d for he searing that they might ioyne theÌ„selues to the wild Irish Bingham the Gouernour of Connach being once or twice commanded to slay them hauing yeelded but refusing to doe it Fowle the vnder-Marshall was sent and killed them which cruelty the Queene much condemned wherevpon the rest being afraid sicke and hungry with their torne shippes committed themselues to the sea and many were drowned Queene Elizabeth came in publike thankesgiuing to Pauls Church her Nobles accompanying her the Citizens were in their colours the Banners that were taken from the enemies were spred she heard the Sermon and publike thankes were rendred vnto God with great ioy This publike ioy was augmented when Sir Robert Sidney returning out of Scotland brought from the King assurance of his Noble minde and affection to the Queene and to Religion Which as in sincerity he had established so he purposed to maintaine with all his power Sir Robert was sent to him when the Spanish Fleet was comming to congratulate and to giue him thankes for his propense affection towards the maintenance of the common cause and to declare how ready shee would be to helpe him if the Spaniards should land in Scotland and that hee might recall to memory with what strange ambition the Spaniard had gaped for all Britain vrging the Pope to excommunicate him to the end that hee might be thrust from the Kingdome of Scotland and from the succession in England and to giue him notice of the threatning of Mendoza and the Popes Nuntio who had threatned his ruine if they could worke it and therefore warned him to take especiall heed to the Scottish Papists The King pleasantly answered that he looked for no other benefit of the Spaniard then that which Polyphaemus promised to Vlisses to dâ—uoure him last after all his fellowes were deuoured Now these things be such as whensoeuer we thinke vpon them wee cannot choose but lift vp our hearts to God for he hath put a song of ioy and thankesgiuing in our mouthes and taught vs to lift vp our eyes to him from whence commeth our helpe our helpe commeth from the Lord which hath made the heauen and the earth he will not suffer thy foote to slip for he that keepeth thee will not slumber behold he that keepeth Israel will neither slumber nor sleepe the Lord is thy keeper the Lord is thy defence at thy right â—and Then let others boast of their strength 〈…〉 power of God to be for vs against them Now this being a thing confessed on all sides that God was with vs against the Spaniard why will not our aduersaries that are men of vnderstanding enter into the consideration of this cause which God hath so often so mightily maintained The workes of the Lord are great and ought to bee had in remembrance of them that feare him And this dutie is required of vs that haue seene the great workes of God to declare them to other for one generation shall praise thy workes to another generation and declare thy power The workes of God must bee sought out had in remembrance and declared to other The word of God is the rule of our faith a direction to
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
Burk Mac Mahun Randall Mac Surly Tirrell the Barron of Lixnawe with the choise of the Nobles making sixe thousand foot and fiue hundreth horse All confident of victory being fresh strong and more in number then the English who were out-wearied with a winter siege with scarcity of victuals their horse weake with fore trauell In this hope Tyrone vpon an hill not a mile from the English campe made a brauado two dayes together intending to haue put these new supplies of Spaniards with eight hundreth Irish by night into Kinsale as did appeare by letters intercepted from Don Aquila To preuent this the Lord Deputy appointed eight Ensignes to keepe watch and himselfe with the President of Monster and the Marshall at the foot of the hill chose out a conuenient plot to giue the Earle battell who the next morning seeing the English so forward by his bag-pipers sounded the retreat whom the Lord Generall followed and forced them to a stand in the brinke of a bogge where their horsemen were disordered and routed by the Earle of Clan-Ricard The maine battell was charged by the Lord Deputy himselfe who discharged the parts of a prouideâ—t Captaine and of a valiant souldier The rebels not able to withstand him brake their arrayes and fled confusedly in disorder In the pursuit many were slaine Tyrone O-donel and the rest flung away their weapons and shifted for themselues by flight Alfonso Ocampo and sixe Ensigne bearers were taken prisoners nine of their Ensignes were born away by the English and twelue hundreth Spaniards slaine This victory obtained dismaied both the Spaniards in Kinsale and the rebels Tyrone was forced into his starting holes in Vlster O-donel fled into Spaine The rest of the Rebels were driuen to hide themselues The Lord Generall returning to the siege of Kinsale began to raise Rampires and to mount his Cannons nearer the towne in which worke sixe dayes were spent without any impeach from the Spaniards Don Aquila seeking now to get cleare and be gone sent his Lieuetenant with the Drum-maior to the Lord Deputy wherein hee craued that some Gentleman of credit might bee sent into the towne with whom he might parly for peace The Lord Deputy sent Sir William Godolphin to whom Don Aquila signified that hee had found the Lord Deputy though his eager enemy yet an honourable person the Irish of no valour rude and vnciuill yea and that which hee sore feared persidious and false That hee was sent from the King of Spaine his Master to aide two Earles and now he much doubted whether there were any such in rerum natura considering that one tempestuous puffe of warre had blowne the one of them into Spaine and the other into the North so as they were no more to bee seene willing therefore he was to treate about a pace that might bee good for the English and not hurtfull to the Spaniards Albeit he wanted nothing requisite to the holding out of the siege and expected euery day out of Spaine fresh supplies to finde the English worke and trouble enough The matter thus proposed the English being weake and wearied with a winter-siege the Lord Deputy consented to an agreement vpon these Articles 1. That Iohn d'Aquila should quit the places which he held in the Kingdome of Ireland as well in the towne of Kinsale as in the Forts and Castle of Baltimar Berâ—hauen and Castle-hauen and should deliuer them vnto the Lord Deputy or to whom hee should appoint 2. That Don d' Aquila and his Spaniards should depart with armes money munition and banners displayed The souldiers notwithstanding to beare no Armes against the Queene of England till such time as they were vnâ—hipped in some part of Spaine 3. That Ships and Victuals should be granted to them in their departure for their money at such reasonable prises as the country could afford 4. That if contrary windes inforced them into any other part of Ireland or England they might bee intreated as friends with safety of harbour and prouisions necessary for their money 5. That a cessation should be from warre a security from iniuries 6. That the Shippes in which they should be imbarked might freely passe by other English Shippes without molestation and the Shippes arriuing in Spaine might safely returne backe againe without any impeachment of the Spaniards For security whereof the said Don d' Aquila should deliuer for hostages such three of their Captaines as the Lord Deputy would choose Tyrone seeing his hopes gone his men slaine his restlesse conscience gaue him no repose hee shifted from place to place in much feare and perplexity In the meane time the Lord Deputy refreshed his weary and winter-beaten souldiers repaired the decayes renewed the Garrisons in Monster This done hee departed for Dublin From thence toward the spring by an easie march well appointed hee returned into Vlster meaning to belay the enemy on euery side by planting his Forts so to take him in his toile thus comming to Blackwater hee transported his Army ouer the Riuer vpon floats and beneath the ould Fort he erected a new which thing so terrified the Rebell that he set on fire his owne house at Dunganon and got himselfe fartheâ— from danger The Lord Deputy followed him close spoiled the Corne-fields and burnt the villages and booties were brought in on euery side The Forts in Lough crew Lough Reogh and Magher lecond were yeelded vp and Garâ—isons placed in Lough Neaugh or Sidny and in Mâ—naghan whence with their continuall sallies they kept the enemies in such feare that they hid themselues in woods complaining and exclaiming against Tyrone that had brought them all to ruine for his priuate discontents and began to repent them so farre as they made hast who should first come in to the Lord Deputy The Earle seeing how the world went thought good to preuent the worst by his submission which in humble letters he sent to the Queene who gaue the Lord Deputy authority to pardon his life though hardly drawne to remit his offences his friends daily solicited the Lord Deputy for his peace which at last was granted to put his life and reuenues without any condition to the will of the Queene Whereupon all Mellifont accompanied with two persons and no more he had accesse to the Chamber of Presence where the Lord Deputy sate in a Chaire of Estate Tyrone in base and poore array with a deiected countenance at the first entrance fell downe vpon his knees and so rested till hee was commanded to arise and comming neerer stepping two paces he fell downe prostrate and with great submissâ—on acknowledged his sinnes against God and his fault against her Maiesty The next day the Lord Deputy departing from Dublin tooke Tyrone thither meaning to transport him for England But the death of Queene Elizabeth staied that designe and King Iames succeeding and being receiued with admirable loue of all sorts at his first entrance â—ardoned Tyrone And Ireland hath beene since held in greater peace
by the great and admirable applause and affections of all good men from the highest to the lowest of England And declaring his constant resolution for the maintenance of Religion deferred his Coronation till Saint Iames day In the meane time some vnquiet spirits entred into a conspiracy their vaine hopes for aduancing of their Religion failing their designe as is said was to surprize the King and Prince Henry Of forces they presumed meaning to retaine them prisoners in the Tower and with treasures therin to maintaine their intent or to carry them to Douer Castle and there by violence either to obtaine their owne pardons a tolleration of Religion and a remouall of some Counsellors of state or else to put some other proiect in execution To conceale this treason Watson the Priest deuised oathes for secrecie and himselfe with Clark another Priest taught that the act was lawfull being done before the Coronation for that the King was no King before hee was annointed and the Crowne solemnly set vpon his head The other persons inuolued in this practise were Henry Brooke Lord Cobham Thomas Lord Gray of Wilton Sir Walter Ralegh Sir Griffin Markham Sir Edward Parham George Brooke Bartholomew Brookesby and Anthony Coply All which were apprehended and committed The sicknesse being then rife in London the Tearme was kept at Winchester the place designed for their arraignement whether they were conueied vnder strong guard The first brought to triall was George Brooke brother to the Lord Cobham Sir Griffin Markham Sir Edward Parham Brooksly Coply Watson and Clark The inditement was that they had conspired first to destroy the King then to raise rebellion to alter Religion to subuert the State to procure forraine inuasion These their intents they had made known to the Lord Gray whom they intended to make Earle Marshall of England Watson Lord Chancelour Georke Brookes Lord Treasurer Markham Secretary that with the King the Lords also should be surprized in their Chambers at Greenwich and the Lord Maior and Aldermen of London should be sent for and so shut vp in the Tower George Brooke answered that he had commission from the King to doe that he did onely to trie faithfull subiects but being required to shew his Commission hee could produce none Sir Griffin Markham excepting onely the imputation of bloud confessed his offence penitently alledging it was through a discontented minde and desired the Lords to bee a meane to the King for mercy Watson and Clark the former of which confessed that he had drawne all those Gentlemen into those plots like true Roman Priests auerred that they held the King for no King vntill hee was crowned and therefore it could not be treason alledging that Saul was no King till hee was chosen in Mispeh though hee had beene annointed in Ramoth by the Prophet Samuel Neither Ieroboam who in the dayes of Salomon had beene confirmed by the Prophet to raigne ouer Israel vntill the people made him King vpon the foolish answere of Rehoboam making no difference betweene the mediate and ordinary succession of lawfull Kings in Common-wealths established and those which God himselfe extraordinarily aduanced to be scourges to an vngratefull land It was tould them that in England the King neuer dieth that there is no interregnum that the Coronation is but a ceremony to shew the King to the people Two dayes after was Sir Walter Ralegh brought to the barre hee was indited for combining with the Lord Cobham his accuser as it was said in the foresaid designes he pleaded not guilty and so stood for his purgation Hee pleaded for himselfe a long time and with some admiration of men who thought that a man of such vnderstanding would hardly bee drawne into a plot so foule and so foolish yet hee was found guilty and had sentence of death The like iudgement a few dayes after passed vpon the Lord Cobham and Gray arraigned on two seuerall dayes The former was indited for combining with Sir Walter Ralegh and George Brooke to procure forces from the King of Spaine and the Arch-Duke for inuasion the other for ioyning with the foresaid Priests Knights and Gentlemen in their conspiracies Sir Edward Parham was only acquitted by the Iury. Of the rest onely three died Watson Clark and George Brooke Watson had before in Print laid open at large the treasonable practises of the Iesuites and at his death left this suspition on them that they in reuenge had cunningly drawne him into this action which brought him to his end After this the Lords Cobham and Gray and Sir Griffin Markham were by a Warrant to be executed the Friday next But the King inclined to mercy sent at the day appointed a Pardon for them the manner whereof was such as gaue vnexpected ioy to them that looked for nothing but death The Pardon was brought to the place where they were to be executed by Master Gibb a Gentleman so secretly that none present vnderstood any thing thereof Sir Griffin Markham was first brought to the Scaffold erected in the Castle Greene and made himselfe ready for the stroke of the Axe When secretly Master Gibb deliuered to the High Shiriffe the Kings warrant to the contrary who vnderstanding his Maiesties intent tooke backe the prisoner as if he were first to confront the two Lords vpon some seruice of the King and brought him vnto the Castle Hall Then was the Lord Gray brought forth who hauing poured out his prayers vnto God at length kneeling downe for the stroke of death the Sheriffe bad stay telling the Lord that some further seruice was expected of him and thereupon led him likewise into the Castle Hall The Lord Cobham was last brought forth who being in preparation and prayers the Lord Gray and Sir Grâ—ffin were brought backe againe All the three prisoners appearing together on the Scaffold the Sheriffe notified his Maiesties warrant for the stay of the execution At which example of Clemency vnexpected both of the prisoners and spectators there arose great shoutes of the people crying God saue the King The condemned wished that they might sacrifice their liues to redeeme their faults and to repurchase so mercifull a Prince his loue This attempt seemed to be a matter of lesse danger because there appeared neither strength to act the businesse intended nor heads to carry it But our thankfulnesse must appeare to God for our least deliuerances It is certaine by their confessions that a great mischiefe was intended howsoâ—uer they might seeme vnable to effect it And this we may obserue that no treason was euer attempted without a Romish Priest The treasons attempted in England haue that proper and peculiar marke to haue a Priest in the practise CHAPTER XVI NOw I enter vpon a Narration which may fully open our aduersaries to the world wherein appeareth the profundity of malice and cruelty and vngodlinesse and whereby all men may vnderstand by what spirit these men are led The Histories of former times containe no example