infamous by the incredible crueltie of Prelates who polluted England through all parts with a most sad dreadfull spectacle in burning the Protestants aliue For as some haue obserued there were more consumed of all rankes Bishops Ministers and common people by this vengible and direfull way of death these fiue yeeres than England saw in all the seuen and thirtie yeeres of HENRY the Eighth In the reigne of Iohn Christians against Christians with vs began to tyrannize with flames The same day that MARY dyed within a few houres after Cardinall Pole Arch-bishop of Canterbury tormented with a quartane Feuer expired A man whom pietie learning and integritie had made much more famous than the splendor of his Royall Race though hee was Nephew to George Duke of Clarence Brother to Edward the Fourth King of England A TABLE OF THE CONTENTS of this matchlesse and famous HISTORIE The first Booke Anno M.D.LVIII QVeene ELIZABETH is proclaymed Queene of England Fol. 2. Choyce of her Priuy Councell Fol. 3. Her care to re-establish the Catholike Christian Religion Fol. 4. Philip King of Spaine Queene MARY's Widdower is a Sutor to her Sister Fol. 5. Queene ELIZABETH refused him and wherefore Fol. 7. Consultations about the safe re-establishment of true Religion Fol. 9. Diuine Seruice allowed by the Queene in English Fol. 11. Anno M.D.LIX. CReation and restoration of diuers Noble-men Fol. 12. A Parliament summoned and held at Westminster Fol. 14. Proposition to reforme Religion Fol. 15. Dispute established betweene Protestants and Papists Fol. 17. Sir Edward Crane Ambassadour for England is detayned at Rome Fol. 18. Disputes and strifes for Callais Fol. 19. A Treatie of peace with the French King in Cambresis Castle Fol. 22. The Articles of the said peace Fol. 23. Peace concluded betweene the Queenes of England and Scotland Fol. 24. The Baron of Wentworth and others questioned about Calais Fol. 25. The Parliament exhort the Queene to marry Fol. 26. Her Maiesties answer Fol. 27. Lawes and Ordinances established by the Parliament Fol. 29. The Nobles of the Land re-established and Papists deposed Fol. 30. By what degrees Religion was altered in England Fol. 33. The profit proceeding by Religions alteration Fol. 34. Queene ELIZABETH's Poesie or Motto Fol. 35. Her Maiesties answer to forreine Princes interceding for the Papists ibid. The Emperour seekes Queene ELIZABETH for his sonne Fol. 36. The French King challenged the Kingdome of England for the Queene of Scots Fol. 37. The King of France his sodaine death being kill'd at a tilting ibid. Francis the Second King of France and Mary Queene of Scots his Wife take vpon them the Title of King Queene of England and Ireland Fol. 38. The originall of the hidden hatred which hath beene betweene the Queenes of England and Scotland Fol. 39. The Scots refuse to obey the Queene-Regent but seeke helpe of Queene ELIZABETH Fol. 40. They resolue to driue the French out of Scotland Fol. 42. The English are sent into Scotland both by Land and Sea Fol. 43. The death of Francis Talbot the first Earle of Shrewsbury Fol. 44. Anno M.D.LX. A Treatie of peace in Barwicke Fol. 45. Martigues brings French-men into Scotland and the Marquesse of Debeux is driuen by a tempest Fol. 47. Spaines counsell to peace Fol. 48. Spaniards detaine from the English munition ibid. The French call the English from Scotland and doe protest they are meerely the cause that peace is broken Fol. 49. The Guizes are sworne and profest enemies to Queene ELIZABETH ibid. The French offer to render vp Calais Fol. 50. Queene ELIZABETH answered them and sends Viscount Montague into Spaine ibid. Arthur Gray sonne to the Lord Gray wounded and lyeth besieged Fol. 51. The English repulsed Crofts is accused Fol. 52. The Queene-Regent of Scotlands death Fol. 53. The Treatie of Edenborough ibid. A peace is published Fol. 54. Queene ELIZABETH is sought in marriage by diuers potent Princes ibid. Spaine fauoured England against the French Fol. 58. The King of Spaine deliuered backe the Order of the Garter ibid. Hee is disdained to be refused in things of small importance and the Count of Feria whets his indignation Fol. 59. The Pope is incensed against Queene ELIZABETH Fol. 60. Yet the Pope writes and sends his Nuncio ouer Fol. 61. The King and Queene of France and Scotland refuse to confirme the Treatie of Edenborough with their reasons Fol. 63. Francis the Second King of France dyed ibid. An Edict set forth by Queene ELIZABETH against Anabaptists and sacrilegious persons Fol. 64. The Colledge of Westminster founded ibid. The Coyne brought to full valew ibid. Good Coyne stampt for Ireland which wee call Sterling Fol. 65. The death of the Earle of Huntingdon the second of that Race Fol. 66. Anno M.D.LXI THe Queene Dowager of France Queene of Scotland deferred the confirmation of Edenboroughs Treaty Fol. 68. The Queene of England refused passage to the Queene of Scotland from France ouer Fol. 69. Shee complayned to Throckmorton Ambassadour for England Fol. 71. Throckmortons answer to the said Queeene Fol. 72. Contestation betweene them two Fol. 73. The Queene of Scotland laboured to content Queene ELIZABETH Fol. 74. But in vaine ibid. The Queene of Scotland takes her iourney out of France into Scotland where she well and safely arriued Fol. 75. She sends to Queene ELIZABETH who answered her Fol. 76. Queene ELIZABETH presseth the confirmation of the treatie Fol. 77. The Guizes and other French Noble-men who had conueyed the Queene of Scots into Scotland returning home thorow England are magnificently entertained with all royall courtesies by Queene ELIZABETH Fol. 77. That the right to assemble a Councel belongeth not to the Pope Fol. 78. How farre an Ambassadour ought to beare an offence Fol. 79. Queene ELIZABETH prepares things necessary for the warre ibid. She findes the Calamite stone Fol. 80. And prepares a Fleet. ibid. The English in emulation of their Queene striue who can build the best Ships ibid. Tillage more vsed than euer Fol. 81. An Edict in fauour of the King of Poland ibid. S. Pauls famous Steeple in London is burnt Fol. 82. The Earle of Bathe dyed ibid. Anno M.D.LXII ARthur Pole his Brother and others are examined Fol. 84. The Lady Katherine Gray is imprisoned ibid. The Guizes practize against Queene ELIZABETH Fol. 85. Henry Sidney is sent into France and presently after into Scotland Fol. 86. They deliberate the inter-uiew of the Queene of Scotland Fol. 87. The Cardinall of Lorraine propoundeth a marriage to the Queene of Scotland and Queene ELIZABETH endeuours to diuert her from it Fol. 88. Shee excuses the French Fugitiues Fol. 89. The death of Iohn de Vere Earle of Oxford Fol. 90. Shan O-Neale comes into England to defend his cause ibid. Anno M.D.LXIII LAw established by Parliament Fol. 92. Fifteenes and Subsidies granted Fol. 93. The Prince of Condé is taken in the Battel of DREVX Fol. 94. The King of Spaines answer ibid. Hostages giuen
Lenox Vice-Roy of Scotland is slaine 279. The Earle of Marre is elected Vice-Roy ibid. Lawes against disturbers ibid. Lawes against Papists 280. Iohn Story condemned to dye 282. Differences appeased betweene the English and the Portugals in Guienne ibid. Marquis of Northampton dyes 283. The death of Bishop Iewell ibid. Affaires in Ireland 284. William Fitz-Williams Deputy ibid. Anno M.D.LXXII Thomas Duke of Norfolke is presented before the Nobles and Peeres and arraigned in Westminster Hall 285. The manner of his Arraignement 286. The chiefe points of his accusation 287. The Duke demandeth an Aduocate to pleade his cause ibid. The second Article of his accusation 290. The third Article 292. His reply and that he was contrary to the Romane Religion 293. The Letters of the Bishop of Rosse to the Queen of Scots produced ibid. The Dukes Letter to his seruant 294. The Letters of Ridolph ibid. Of the Pope ibid. The testimony of Strangers ibid. The third Article of his accusation 295. The Peeres consult among themselues ibid. The sentence of death pronounced against the Duke 296. Baray and Marter are put to death 297. Earles created ibid. Barons elected 298. Lawes established for the better security of the Queene and her Kingdome ibid. The Duke of Norfolke beheaded ibid. His speech at his death 299. Sundry censures of him 300. Catenes relation of the precedent matters 301. Pope Pius the fifth incensed against Queene ELIZABETH imployeth Robert Ridolph a Gentleman of Florence into England 301. He perswades the Kings of France and Spaine against her ibid. The Queene of Scots accused 304. Her answere 305. Sedition in Scotland 306. The Queene of Elngand and the King of France endeuour to accord them ibid. They differ in opinion ibid. Causes alledged why the French fauour the Queene of Scotland 307. The Queene of England contesteth with the French ibid. The rebellious Flemmings being commanded out of England take the Breele 310. The Duke of Alua's carelesnesse ibid. The English repaire into the Low-countries to warre ibid. The dissimulation of the King of France 311. The alliance of Blois ibid. The Articles of the same ibid. The confirmation thereof 313. Mont-morancy admitted to the Order of the Garter 314. He intercedes to accord the differences of Scotland ibid. Answer made vnto him ibid. He also treats of a marriage with the Duke of Aniou 315. The Massacre of Paris ibid. Marriage of the Duke of Alanzon propounded to Queene ELIZABETH 316. The Earle of Northumberland beheaded ibid. Death of the Marquis of Winchester and of the Earle of Darbie ibid. Cecill made Treasurer ibid. Death of Sir George Peters 317 Queene ELIZABETH sicke ibid. Her care of the Publique ibid. She cuts off the superfluous number of followers attending Noblemen and curbeth Enquirers after conceald Lands of the Crowne 318. Rebellion in Ireland also the Omores rebellion there 319. A strange Starre 319. Anno M.D.LXXIII THe Spanish Fleete discomfited by the Hollanders 321. Queene ELIZABETH dischargeth her Fathers and Brothers debts 322. The Papists trouble the Common-wealth 323. The Ambassage of Gondy Count of Rez 324. Ambassage of the Earle of Worcester into France 325. The French Protestants handle the French Papists in England shrewdly and the French Leger Ambassadour complaines to Queene ELIZABETH for ayding the Protestants besieged ibid. She is earnestly sollicited to marry with the D. of Alanzon 326 She grants him leaue to come into England 327. Gondy returnes into England and Earle Morton is made Regent of Scotland 329. The English are sent to besiege Edenborrough 332. The Castle besieged yeelded 333. Kircald and others hanged and Lidington dyes 334. Lodowick Zuniga succeedes Duke d'Alua 335. Burche's Heresie for which hee is hanged 336. The Lord of Effingham the Earle of Kent and Caius the Physician dyed ibid. Troubles in Ireland the Earle of Essex is sent thither 338. Anno M.D.LXXIIII ALanzon desires to visit Queene ELIZABETH and hath leaue to come into England 342. He suspected in France hath a Gard set ouer him 343. Charles the Ninth King of France dieth and the right Noble Roger Lord North is sent Ambassadour extraordinary to Henry of Valois King of France and Poland 344. The Earle of Huntington made President of the North. 345. An Edict against pride 346. London Ministers deceyued A Whale cast on shore Thames ebbes flowes twice in one houre The Skie seemeth to burne 347. Anno M.D.LXXV THe League with France renewed 349. The Prince of Orange intended to flye to the protection of the King of France 352. The Ambassie of Campigni and de Requisens dyeth 354. The death of the Duke of Chastelraut 357. The Earle of Essex distressed in Ireland ibid. Sidney's progresse in Ireland for the third time Deputie there 358. The death of Peter Carew 359. Anno M.D.LXXVI QVeene ELIZAB. is offered a match by the French 361. A confusion in the Netherlands Antwerpe sacked by the Spanish mutiners 362. The comming of Iohn d'Austria into Flanders 363. Sir Martin Forbisher sent to discouer the Straits in the North part of America 364. The death of the Emperour Maximilian and of the Elector Palatine heauy to Queene ELIZABETH who sends Sir Philip Sidney Ambassador extraordinary to Rodulphus his Successour 365. The death of Walter Deuoreux Earle of Essex and of Sir Anthony Coke 367. Tumults in Ireland and William Drury made President of Munster 368. The Queene takes pitty of the Irish 369. Anno M.D.LXXVII AVstria inclined to peace at Queene ELIZABETHS perswasion 370. The Prince of Orange diuerts her from it 371. Sir Thomas Copley made Baron in France 372. Iohn of Austria's dissimulation ibid. Why Queen ELIZABETH couenanted with the Scots 373. Spaine is pleased with it 375. England the Ballance of Europe 376. Priest Maine executed Baron of Latimer and Secretarie Smith of Saffron Walden dyes 377. Rebellion againe in Ireland and Rorio Oge is slaine Harington and Cosby wounded 378. Anno M.D.LXXVIII QVeene ELIZABETH's care for the Low-Countries 380. Count Swartzeberg Bellieure and Cobham Deputy for France Germany and England and for the treaty of peace and Egremond Ratcliffe and his associate are put to death and Don Iuan de Austria dyes 381. Aniou's Duke pursues his intended marriage with Qu. ELIZ. and Leicester murmurs at it 383. The Countesse of Lenox death ibid. King IAMES sends an Ambassador to Queene ELIZAB. 385. Morton Regent takes vpon him the administration of the Realme againe 386. The Peeres are against him 387. How to inuade England consulted by Spaine 387. Thomas Stukeley a Traytor takes Armes against his Countrey and is slaine with three Kings 388. William Drury made Lord Deputie of Ireland 389. Anno M.D.LXXIX CAssimiere Palatin's Sonne comes into England 390. Queene ELIZABETH sends money into Holland 391. One is shot with a Pistoll who was in Queene ELIZABETH's Barge with her Maiestie the French Ambassadour the Earle of Lincolne and Sir Christopher Hatton 392. The Duke of Aniou comes into England ibid.
Aimé Stuart Lord Aubigny into Scotland 393. Sir Nicholas Bacon Sir Thomas Bromley Sir Thomas Gresham dye one after another 396. Dauile murdered in his bed 398. The death of the Lord Druty Deputie 401. Anno M.D.LXXX ARthur Lord Gray made Deputie of Ireland 405. The Spaniards and Italians land in Ireland 406. They are all slaine and the subiects hanged 407. The taking of Malines And of an Earth-quake 409. The beginning of the English Seminaries 410. Persons and Campian Iesuites came into England 413. Sir Francis Drake returnes into England 417. Iohn Oxenham sayleth into America 419. Drakes voyage and warlike exploits 424. The Spaniards demand his riches 428. The death of Fitz-Allen Earle of Arundell 430. The Earle of Lenox enuyed by the Scots is accused by them to Queene ELIZABETH 432. Alexander Earle of Homes Baron of Dunglas is sent from King IAMES to excuse it 434. Regent Morton is cast into prison 435. The end of the Contents of the Second Booke THE CONTENTS Of this royall and famous HISTORY THE THIRD BOOKE RANDOLPHS intercession for Morton against Lenox Folio 1. The King of Scotts answer 2 Norris his victories in Freezland 4 Albanois 5 Drunkennesse brought out of the Low-countries ibid. By what right the King of Spaine possesseth Portugall ibid. The Qu. of France her title to Portugall reiected 6 Antonio banisht Portugall 7 Couenants of marriage betweene the Duke of Anjou and Q. Elizabeth concluded on 8 The K. of France vrgeth the marriage and the Q. of Engl. deferreth 10 Qu. Elizabeth giueth the Duke of Anjou a Ring 12 The queene much disquieted 13 Reasons disswading her from marriage and a booke set out against it 14 The Queens declaration against this pernicious libell 15 Champian the Iesuite and other Priests put to death 17 New lawes against Papists 18 The Duke of Anjou sayleth into Flanders 19 A Comet 21 Qu. Elizabeth bestoweth the Order of the Garter vpon the King of Denmarke 21 The treaty concerning the queene of Scotts is deferred 22 Gowry and others tumult in Scotland 23 The Duke of Lenox driuen out of Scotland ibid. An Ambassie from the French K. for the deliuery of the king of Scots 24 The qu. of Scotland's letter to queen Elizâ—beth 25 The Duke of Lenox returnes thorough England 33 Consultations about the deliuery of the queene of Scotland 34 The K. of Scotland seekes the loue of the queene of England 36 The King of Scotland sets himselfe at liberty 37 Walsingham is sent into Scotland from queene Elizabeth ibid. The king of Scots answers him freely 38 Walsinghams remonstrations to his sacred Maiesty ibid. The King answereth them 39 His Maiesty reestablâ—shed the reputation and honour of the Duke of Lenox causing likewâ—se his children to returne into Scotland 39 The Ministers of Scotland are against their Kings authority 40 A peace obtained for the King of Sweden ibid. The Emperour desires alliance with England and is a suiter to her Maiesty to graunt him an English Lady for his wife ibid. The Emperours death 41 A Polonian Nobleman commeth into England to see queene Elizabeth 42 A wonderfull earth-quake in Dorset-shire ibid. The death of Thomas Ratcliffe Earle of Essex 43 Sir Humfrey Gilbert drowned by shipwrack 44 The death of E. Grindall Archbish of Canterbury ibid. Iohn Whitgift preferred to bee Archbishop of Canterbury 45 The English betray Alost and do deliuer it into the hands of the cruell Spaniard 48 A miserable end of traytors ibid. The Earle of Desmond is slaine ibid. Nicholas Sanders an English Seminary Priest famisht himselfe 49 Viscount of Baltinglasse fled out of Ireland 50 Labouring men sent into Ireland 51 The gestures and behauiour of Sir Iohn Perrot Viceroy of Ireland ibid. Troubles in Scotland 52 The Earle of Gowry is taken the conspirators are dâ—spersed queene Elizabeth succoureth some of them the king demandeth them by the league but in vaine 53 Walsingham fauoureth the fugitiue Hunsdon against them 54 The power of a Secretary argued ibid. The arraignement of Gowry ibid. He is beheaded 55 The treason of Fr. Throkmorton 56 The Lo Paget retyreth into France ibid. The queenes clemency towards Papists 57 The Priests are banished 58 Spanish Ambassadour sent out of England 59 Thokmortons confession 61 A new treaty with the qu. of Scots 63 She answereth propositions made vnto her 64 She demandeth to be associated to the kingdome with her sonne 65 The queene of Scotts maketh new propositions 66 The Scotts of the English faction oppose them 67 The insolency of the Scottish Ministers 68 Buchanans writings reproued ibid. The Scottish and English make incursions one vpon another 69 Patrick Grayes Ambassage ib. The queen of Scotts committed to new guardians 72 Councell holden amongst the Papists 73 The death of the Earle of Westmerland ibid. The death of Plowden ib. Alancon dyeth and the Prince of Orenge is slaine 74 The French king inuested with the Order of the Garter 75 Is accused of treason 76 His confession 77 He consulteth with the Iesuites about the murdering of the queene ibid. He discloseth the matter to the queen 78 Alans booke addeth fresh courage to him 79 Neuill offereth him his helpe ibid. Parry is arraigned and executed 80 Lawes demanded in Parliament against Bishops and against Non-residents 81 Lawes against Iesuites and Priests 82 The Earle of Arundell resolueth to flye out of England 83 The Earle of Northumberland is found dead ibid. The causes of his imprisonment manifest 85 Lamentation for the Earle of Northumberland 87 Queene Elizabeth laboureth to contract a league with the Princes of Germany ibid. The like with the king of Scotts 88 Arâ—atâ—on of the death of Russell and the manner thereof ibid. The death of Thomas Carre 90 The fugitiue Scots are sent out of England back into Scotland ibid. They are reconciled vnto the King 92 The rebellion of the Bourkes in Ireland 93 The Sccots of Hebrides called into Ireland 94 The Gouernour laboureth for a peace but in vaine 95 He pursueth the Scotts and defeateth them 96 The States of the Netherlands consult of a Protector 97 They are refâ—sed of the French and the English consult about it 98 The Dutch offer themselues to the queene 100 Antwerpe is yeelded vp the queene deliberateth with her selfe and takes vpon her the protection 101 Vnder what conditions 102 Queene Elizabeth publisheth the causes and sends to the West Indies to diuert the Spaniard 103 Iames town taken from the Spaniard 104 Hispaniola or S. Dominick surprised ibid. Spaniards motto Auarice and Couetousnesse 105 Carthagena assaulted ibid. Saint Anthony and S. Helena fired by the English 106 Booty of the English voyage and expedition 107 A search made for a discouery of a way to the East Indies ibid. An Edict against Woad 108 Death of the Earle of Lâ—ncolne and of the Earle of Bedford 109 Earle of Leister sent into Holland ibid. His instruction 110 Absolute authority giuen to the Earle of Leyster by the States 111 Queen Elizabeth offended thereat
and not willing to violate the Peace newly agreed vpon they refused it Neuerthelesse Martigues being yong and liuely did so burne in desire to attempt England that with much adoe was he hindred by the wholsome councell of the Queene Regent but this heat was quickly quenched when it was knowne that a storme had so beaten the Marquis D'elbeuf vpon the coasts of Holland who sayled towards Scotland with greater Forces that he was constrain'd to returne to Diepe froÌ„ whence he departed with losse of some Ships of many Souldiers At that time Ph. Stauel of Glâ—ion Knight of the Golden Fleece and Master of the Artillerie was sent into England employed from Spaine to expose the complaints that the French made against the Queene touching the Affaires of Scotland and to counsell in the name of the King to Peace and concord yet neuerthelesse hee secretly counselled the Queene to pursue with courage what she he had begun in Scotland though contrariwise the Spaniard had openly forbidden to transport into England those munitions of War which she had couenanted for at Antwerp insomuch as she was constrained to make a new prouision thereof in Germany And the Proposition that Stauel made was not without suspition that some Companies of Spaniards should be sent into Scotland together with the French to suppresse the Scottish Rebels and by the same meanes the French themselues if they should attempt any thing vpon England At the same time M. Seuerin ordinary Embassadour of the King of France instantly sollicited the Queene to call backe her Armies both by Sea and Land from Scotland which she willingly accorded vnto prouided that the French should be recalled but by delayes sought out of the one side and the other the businesse is drawne into length till the comming of I. de Mouluc Bishop of Valence who differed not much from the Protestants Religion who vpon his arriuall from France being carried vnto the place said that he was not furnished with any power for this busines and notwithstanding he was very eloquent strained himselfe to his vttermost that those Armies should be recall'd from Scotland and maintain'd that it was not to defraud the Queene of England that the King and Queene of Scots carried the Armes of England but by that rather to honour the Royall House But not beeing able to perswade the one as being absurd nor the other as dangerous Seuerin desired Stauel and the Bishop of Aquilé Embassadour ordinary of Spaine in England to bee present and witnesses when he should protest against the Queene of England that shee had violated the Treatie of Peace to which they refused him because they had it not in Commission Neuerthelesse he made by a discource prolixe enough his protestation to which the Queene made an Answere which was published and set foorth by which shee testified to all the world That the violating of the Treaties proceeded only from the French and that nothing could happen to her more vexing and odious then this Warre and such like things which might easily be drawne from what had beene spoken heretofore and by a declaration in writing which she had formerly caused to be published Notwithstanding that although she had receiued many wrongs and iniuries in that they had vsurped the Title and Armes of her Kingdome she could not for all that beleeue that it had beene done with the consent of the King or Queene of France or the Princes of the Blood but by the wicked deuices of the Guizes who abusing the King and riches of the French were ready to wound England through the sides of Scotland That shee could not abandon her safety nor her Subiects And surely it is not to be doubted that the Guizes for the loue which they bore to the Queene of Scotland the hatred to Queene ELIZABETH in regard of Religion and the ambition to oblige France by adding new Kingdomes vnto it being assured of an English party of contrarie Religion to the Protestants linckt themselues together obstinately to ruine Queene ELIZABETH But they were diuerted by meanes of discontentments and hidden hatreds which grew vpon the Subiect of the administration of the affaires which were put into their hands after they had taken them from the Princes of the Bloud And the QVEENE went so prudently to worke and vpon the nicke to meete the designes of her Enemies that she hath beene alwayes had in admiration of her friends and in terrour to her Enemies The same day that Gray entered into Scotland with an Armie Seuerin and Mouluc earnestly sollicited Queene ELIZABETH to call it backe giuing her hope that Calais should bee rendred if shee did it But shee answered very plainely That she made no account of Calais a small Fisher-Towne in comparison of the safety of all Great Brittaine And the same day sent into Spaine Anthony Browne Vicount of Montaigue a man very remarkable for his wisedome but very zealous in the Romish Religion thinking that for that consideration he would bee more pleasing to the King of Spaine together with Tho. Chamberlaine Embassadour Ordinary to iustifie vpon how many iust causes she had sent an Armie into Scotland to wit those that I haue heretofore declared and to shew the Queen of Scotland had beene married very young to a sickly King vvho was without hope to leaue Issue that Hamilton Duke of Chastelraut hauing beene by the authority of the Parliament designed of the Kingdome of Scotland the Guizes had prepared Ambuscadoes for his Sonne as he should passe through France their designes were bent to ioyne the Crowne of Scotland to the Crowne of France and to conserue it for the Queene This matter the King of Spaine examined seriously how dangerous it was to the Prouinces of the Low-Countreys and of Spaine that it behoued not blast with Rebellion the assembly of the great ones in Scotland which was made for no other end but to keepe as by duty they are bound the Kingdome for the Queen and her lawfull successors not induring to permit that by the wiles of the Guizes it should be ruined or transferred to the French without wronging them or theirs Vpon the beginning of Aprill the English Armie composed of an hundred Horse and sixe thousand Foote marcheth toward Lieth which is a place situated neere Bodir where all the Seas of Great Brittaine doe beate and the Riuer of Lieth spreading broader dischargeth it selfe and makes a commodious Rode for Ships scarce two miles distant from Edenborrough the Capitall Towne of Scotland The French knowing this commodity had fortified it to retire thither and there receiue the succour which might be sent vnto them the English shewing themselues there Martigues goes as speedily out vpon them with some companies of Foote to hinder their approach to a Hill vpon which he supposed they intended to Campe but after a Skirmish of foure houres where some were slaine they driue them backe into the
Regent he obliged himselfe by Writings vnder hand and seale to attempt nothing that should concerne either war or peace the person and marriage of the King or the Queenes liberty without the consent of the other Complices and hee caused the Lord of Lidington to informe Throgmorton that he should no more intercede for the Queene and that both himselfe and all others made choyce rather to indure any thing else than to permit that shee enioying liberty should still retaine Bothwell about her expose her Sonne to danger the Countrey to molestation and themselues to banishment We well know said hee what you English men can effect by a warre if you harrasse our frontiers and wee yours and are well assured out of the ancient alliance they haue alwaies entertained will neuer forsake vs. Neuerthelesse hee denied Ligneroll the French Ambassadour Leager to see the Queene while Bothwell were taken and contrary to that which he had promised to the King of France he daily intreated this miserable Queene most rigorously for all the good shee had formerly done him Hitherto so much as I could collect out of Throgmortons Letters Presently after Earle Murray put to death Iohn Hepborne Paris French Dowglas and some other of Bothwels seruants who assisted in the murdering of the King But when they came to their excution they protested before God and his Angels whereunto he gaue no eare that they heard Earle Bothwell say how himselfe and Morton were the originall Authors and discharged the Queene of all suspition As also Bothwell himselfe when hee was prisoner in Denmarke had often protested both during his life and at his death with a most sincere and religious attestation that she was innocent thereof and foureteene yeeres after when Morton came to vndergoe his last punishment he confest that Bothwell sollicited him to consent thereunto and he vtterly refusing to attempt the same except he first saw an expresse command in writing from the Queenes owne hand he replyed that this in no manner could be compassed but excluded it must be without communicating of it formerly to her Queene ELIZABETH and the King of France being much incensed with such a precipitant deposition and the Conspirators obstinacy against the sute of their Ambassadours it turning as it were to the reproch of Royall Maiesty they began to fauour the Hamiltons who still held the Queenes party Pasquier also Ambassador Leager for France treated with Queene ELIZABETH to procure her re-establishment by force of Armes who thought it most expedient first to prohibit the Scots all commerce with England and France while she were deliuered that so some diuision might grow betweene the Nobility and the people which Nobility seemed to conspire against her But for a while to passe ouer these affaires of Scotland Question being then made of restoring the Towne of Calais to the English according to the Treaty of Cambray seeing the eight yeeres therein specified were now expired Smith being sent into France with G. Winter Master of the Nauall Artillery after the sounding of a Trumpet before the gate of Calais which lookes towards the Sea with a lowd voyce in the French Tongue he demanded that according to the Articles of that Treaty the Town Territory with some Canons might be surrendred into his hands he also at the same time drew an Act by the hand of a publique Notary in the presence of some Germane and Flemish Merchants who were accidentally there at the same time and taken for witnesses and then he went presently to the King of France at Castell de Fossat where with Norris Ambassadour Leager he made againe the same demand The King sent to his Councellors amongst whom M. de l'Hospitall Lord Chancellor Proloquutor for the rest with a graue and well compiled discourse spake to him in this manner THat if the English had any right to lay claime to Calais they might as well challenge and pretend title to Paris for by the fortune of Warre they had conquered and lost both the one and the other That the right they pretended to Calais was but new whereas that of the French tooke beginning with the Kingdome it selfe And though the English possessed it for the space of three and twenty yeeres more or lesse yet the originall title euer remained to the King of France as well as that of the Duchies of Guyenne and Normandy which the English likewise detayned for a long time by the force of their Armes That the French did not conquer but rather recouered Calais with their Armes euen as they did their former Dukedomes That the prescription of times alledged by the English tooke no place betweene Princes but their right lay alwayes in their force and in the Law of the twelue Tables for one might eternally challenge his owne properties out of the hand of his enemie That the English though sufficiently instructed in Treaties and contractations of affaires were neuer mindefull of Calais in the Treaty which passed not long since at Troyes though they enterprised a warre principally for the recouery thereof so as hereby they manifested that they had giuen ouer all pretence to the same That this Treaty of Troyes was a Renouation by meanes whereof that of Cambray was in some poynts reformed notwithstanding the clause of the Reseruation of rights and claimes because that touched onely inferiour and petty Priuiledges and claimes whereas that of Calais was held for one of the most principall and important That notwithstanding any thing which Francis the Second attempted in Scotland this would not accrue to the preiudice of Charles the Ninth That in some speciall cases the attempts of particular men were subiect to the Lawes but in the proceedings of Kings and Princes it tooke quite otherwise That for whatsoeuer was vndertaken in the Kingdome of Scotland made ouer in dowry to King Francis the English who by surmizes aymed at his and the Queene of Scots proiect they should rather complaine vnto her seeing they entred Haure de grace which is in France vnder a colourable pretext of the Kings preseruation where placing a strong Garrison and diuers warlike munitions they held it by force of Armes and furnished the Prince of Condé with Moneyes for which cause they lost the claime which they had to Calais That GOD permitting the French to recouer the same resolued in his heauenly prouidence that it should be a meanes to end the warres that had beene betweene them in that they were seuered and separated by the Sea which running betwixt both coasts serues for iust borders and limits as that Poet sings And the English who are certaine Nations Seuer'd by Sea from other Regions That the Queene of England should take a better course in embracing Peace with the King of France then by seeking to recouer Calais Finally that no man should dare to moue a word to the King about surrendring it to the English but if any were so presumptuous that he
whole yeare were the English affaires caried in the Netherlands In England Phillip Earle of Arundel who all the yeare had beene kept close prisoner was accused in the Starre-Chamber THat hee contrary to the Lawes had succoured the Priests had interchange of letters with Alan and Parson Jesuits and enemies to the Queene That he had derogated from the Justice of the Kingdome by publike writing and had enterprised to depart the Kingdome without licence But hauing made protestation of his obedience to the Queene and loue to his Country he modestly excused himselfe out of his zeale to the Catholike Religion and his ignorance of the lawes and submitted himselfe to the iudgement of the Assembly who adiudged him to be fined 10000 pounds and so long imprisonment as the Queenes pleasure should prescribe But of these things in the yeare 1589 must more amply be discoursed About this time ariued in England frō Frederick 2. King of Denmarke Hen. Ramely Chancelor for the German affaires with a warlike traine guard of Muskettiers who at large declared with what affection the K. of Denmarke was transported towards Queene ELIZABETH and the generall peace of Christendome to which he promised with his best indeauors to moue the King of Spaine to condiscend THat as hee said the common enemie of mankinde might not any longer with humane blood water those seeds of warre which he had sowne in the Netherlands The Queene gaue him a gracious hearing and hauing often graciously entertained him with diuers discourses she highly commended the pious intention of the King of Denmarke And by the Lord Burghley Treasurer Charles Howard Lord High Admirall Henry Lord Carie Baron of Hunsdon Chamberlaine and Sir Francis Walsingham principall Secretarie she gaue him this answer THat she desired nothing more then to embrace a League of amity in which were coucht no treacheries with her neighbouring Princes But considering the complots of the Spaniard which hee had practised against her shee could not but prouide for her owne safety the defence of the True Religion of Christ and the conseruation of the priuiledges of her allyed neighbours in their entier The selfe-same answer to the same purpose she gaue to Bodellan sent into England by the Duke of Parma to treat of a Peace In the meane space shee furnished the King of Nauarre by the hands of Horatio Pallauicine vvith a large summe of money in whose person onely the Guises oppugned the reformed Religion in France But the Queene was to nothing more attentiue then to confirme a solid amity betweene England and Scotland and to conioyne them in one vnited League of mutuall offence and defence vvhereby she might not onely cut off all hope of ayde from Scotland to foraine Nations but to the Queene of Scots her selfe For Queene ELIZABETH suspected that shee being greatly incensed had imbraced some perilous counsell since that the conditions which vvere presented by her vvere reiected the association agreed vpon and she as is before related deliuered into the custody of Sir Aimé Poulet and Drury And it was apparantly manifest that the Iesuites on one side and the fugitiue Nobilitie of the other had suggested her with diuers designes and abrupt counsels by their Letters written one against the other For the Iesuites perceiuing that there was no other hope left for the establishing of the Roman Religion either by her or by her sonne they framed to themselues new deuices they beganne to coyne for the Spaniard whose greatnesse they alwayes laboured to encrease a new and fained right to the succession of England And as Pasquier reported they sent Saumier if the name be not fained into England vvhich vvas one of their owne society for to draw the Nobility to the Spanish faction and to force her to some dangerous matter denouncing that if she were any way troublesome that neither shee nor her son should raigne at all And by inciting the Guises her alliance to new commotions against the King of Nauarre and Prince of Conde to the intent to hinder them from aiding of her and her sonne But to conclude the League which was begunne by Wotton and interrupted by the slaughter of Francis Russell which also Desneuall the French Ambassador and Corselle a man of an impatient disposition who not long before was ignominiously driuen out of England began now to hinder Thomas Randolph vvas dispatched vvhose dexteritie in the Scottish affaires was accounted wise and fortunate although to the King hee was scarce welcome by reason of the troubles which he formerly moued in Scotland He proposed to the King the same conditions of the League which Wotton had before propounded The King would haue to be added the Articles concerning the yearely pension assigned and the preiudice not to be offered to his Right to the Crowne of England and vvould haue them inserted into the Contract The Ambassador according to his instructions promised him an assurance of these things in a writing separate by it selfe prouided that hee constantly embraced the League The King out of the loue vvhich hee bore to his subiects propounded that the Scots might inioy the self-same immunities in England as the English themselues But the Ambassador shewing him that it could not be done except by the Parliament authoritie and the States of England vvould not easily accord thereto the King deliberately proposing the Articles to himselfe agreed vnto them and commanded them to be imparted to his Nobility to the entent that they likewise should confirme them with their subscriptions Yet the French Ambassador murmuring first said that the Queene had desired this League not out of any loue to the King but for the iust feare vvhich shee had lest shee should bee ruined by her enemies which were ioyned against her then hee iniected many feares intermixt with threats that the amity of France which is most profitable to the Scots vvould be by this meanes dissolued Lastly he coniured the King that hee would not doe any thing without the King of France his counsell But the King who wel knew these to be but vaine speeches could not be retarded or diuerted from his purpose For hee wel knew that the English forces were much encreased by Englands League with the Low-Countries made this serious answer THat he had reposed his confidence in the diuine bounty and not in the friendship of such as were contrary to the glory of God Neither was it lesse lawfull for him to contract a League with the Queene without the French Kings counsell then it was of late for the King of France to ioyne in friendship with her without his aduice And although the Queene that she might not be thought to buy this alliance did send him lesse money then he expected and made lesse expression of the assurance of the succession neuerthelesse for the zeale which hee bore to Religion and his singular affection to the Queene hee commanded the League to bee
these things They resolue to driue the French out of Scotland The English are sent into Scotland both by Land and Sea The death of Francis L. Talbot Earle of Shrewsburie Booke 1. 1560. A Treaty of peace in Barwicke Martigues comes and brings French-men into Scotland D'Elbeuf driuen by a Tempest The Spaniard counsels to Peace The Spaniards detaine from the English their munition The French doe endeuour to call the English backe from Scotland The French protest againg the English that they are meerely cause that the peace is broken An Answer to them The Guizes are sworne and professed enemies to Queene Elizabeth The French offer to render vp Calis Her Maiesties Answer to them She sends the Lord Vicount Montaigue into Spaine Who makes known to the Spaniard the cause of the Wars of Scotland he also excused the Scots Confederates Arthur Gray son heire to the Lord Gray is wounded Lieth is besieged The English repulsed Croft is accused The Queene Regent of Scotland dyes The treaty of Edenborrough A peace is published Queene Elizabeth is sought in marriage by Charles Arch-Duke of Austria by Iames Earle of Arran and by Erric King of Sueden Adolphe Duke of Holsatia Sir W. Pickering The Earle of Arundel Robert Dudley Whom shee fauoured Vicount Montaigu Ambassador to the King of Spaine He fauoured notwithstanding Elizabeth against the French He re-deliuered the order of the Garter He disdained to be refused in things of small importance The Count Ferie whets his indignation He incenses the Pope against the Queene The Pope writes to Elizabeth The Pope Pius the fourth of that name his Letter sent vnto Queene Elizabeth by his Nuncio Vincent Parpalia The King and Queene of France refuse to confirme the Treatie for Edenborrough The reasons Francis the second dyeth The Edict of Qu. Elizabeth against the Anabaptists Her Maiesties Edict against sacreligious persons The Colledge of Westminster founded The Coine brought to full value This was corrupted by King Henry the Eighth His lauish expence The Earle of Huntington dyeth Shan O-Neale stirs vp sedition in Ireland Booke 1. 1561. The Queene of Scotland puts off the confirmation of the Treatie The Queene of England denieth passage to the Queene of Scotland She complained to Throgmorton Ambassadour from England Throgmorton's answer to the Qu. Mary of Scotland Contestation betweene the Queene of Scotland and Throgmorton Queene Elizabeths Ambassador into France The Queene endeuours to content Qu. Elizabeth But in vaine She returnes into Scotland Elizabeth answers him Qu. Elizabeth presseth the confirmation of the Treatie Receiues the Guizes courteously The Guizes vse the English ill That the right to assemble a Councell belongs not to the Pope Carne dyes How far an Ambassadour ought to beare an offence Qu. Elizabeth prepares things necessary for Warre Qu. Elizabeths husbandrie S. Pauls Steeple burnt The death of Earle Bathon Booke 1. 1562. Pole had vnder examination Katherine Gray imprisoned He is fined He is fined The Guizes practice against Elizabeth H. Sidney is sent into France After into Scotland They deliberate the inter-view of the Queene of Scotland Which puts her in doubt Vnlesse it were vpon certaine conditions The Cardinall of Lorraine propoundeth a marriage to the Queen of Scotland Queene Elizabeth endeuoureth to diuert her from it Giues her reasons Shee excuses the French fugitiues The death of the Earle of Oxford Defends his cause Booke 1. 1563. Fifteenths Tenths Subsidies The Prence of Condé taken in the Battell of Dreux The Kings answer Hostages giuen for the restitution of Calais attempt to fly away Peace made in France War proclaimed between the French and the English The Qu. Maiestie offers to surrender Haure de grace for Calais The English Soldiers molested with the Pestilēce Haure de grace beleagred and assailed by the French Articles for the restitution of Haure de grace France reioyceth for recouery of Haure de grace The English Soldiers bring the Plague into London and other parts of England Marriage againe propounded to the Queene of Scots The Queene of England recommends Dudley for her husband The French diuert her They insult ouer their Queene The Baron of Gray dyes And the Bishop of Aquila The Spaniard against the English Lord Paget dyeth The supreme dignities of honour in England Death of the Earle of Rutland Duchesse of Suffolke Booke 1. 1564. Articles of peace accorded on betweene the English and the French The King of France enstalled in the Order of the Garter The English ill entreated in Spaine And in the Low-countries The mutuall complaints of the English and Flemmish English Merchants prohibited in the Low-Countries The English constitute a Faire or Mart at Embden Guzman labors to atone this difference Queenè Elizabeth visits the Vniuersity of Cambridge Robert Dudley raised to honors Dudley accuseth Bacon Diuers opinions about the point of Succession The Queene of Scots cal◠home the Earle of Lenox into Scotland The discent of the Earle of Lenox Causes of the Repeale of the Earle of Lenox The Queene of England endeuours to preuent the Qu. of Scots proiect Another commendation of the Earle of Leicester A Treaty of Marriage betweene the Queene of Scots and the Earle of Leicester Booke 1. 1565. Darley goes into Scotland He is beloued of the Queene of Scotland Asketh Qu. Elizabeths consent Deliberation vpon it Throgmorton is sent to hinder He is answered Lenox and Darley are re-called out of Scotland They excuse themselues The Queene of Scotland marries the Lord Darley The Earle of Murray and others murmure The Queene of England indures it with moderation Some Scots take distaste about the marriage They are put to flight They are maintained in England They counsell the Qu. of England to marry The Emperour recommendeth his Brother It causeth hatred to grow in the Court. The Queene reconcileth them Tamworth not admitted They answere by writing Cecillia Queene of Sueden comes into England Creation of the Earle of Glencar Vice-Royes and Iustices of Ireland Affaires of Ireland Discord betweene the Earles of Desmond and Ormond Chiefe President of Mounster The death of Sir Thomas Chaloner Booke 1. 1566. The Duke of Norfolke and the Earle of Leicester Knights of the Order of France Prouision of Corne. The Earle of Arundel goes out of the Kingdome The English carry their Armes and their courages to the Hungarian Warre The birth of King Iames the sixth of Scotland The Queene of England reioyceth Visits the Vniuersity of Oxford Holds a Parliament The States sollicite her to marry and to declare her Successor The modestie of the great Ones The popular sort eagerly The Queene is angry She sweetens the moued spirits Giues backe part of the Subsidie Chides the States Maketh it plainely to appeare that the Queene of Scotland had the right of Succession The ordination of Bishops is confirmed Promoters supprest The Earle of Bedford sent Ambassrdour to the Queene of Scotland for the baptizing of her Sonne The death of I. Mason and Sir R. Sackuile Booke 1.
Ambassage of Gondy Count of Rez Ambassage of the Earle of Worcester in France The Sea is purged of Pirats by Holstoc The French Protestants handle shrewdly the French Papists in England The French Leger Ambassadour complained to Queene Elizabeth concerning the helpe and assistance sent out of England to the Protestants of Rochell besieged Her Maiesty excused her selfe * Flagges Queene Elizabeth is earnestly sollicited to marry with the Duke of Alanzon Her Maiestie heares of it willingly By a double apprehension Queene Elizabeth graÌ„ts leaue to the Duke of Alanzon to come into England And her Maiesty presently sends him word not to come as yet Gondy returned into England Earle of Morton Vice-Roy of Scotland The King of France endeuours to destroy him Qu Elizabeth to defend him Grange opposeth The English are sent to besiege it Vpon what Conditions The Castle besieged by the English Forces The Castle yeelded Kircald and others hanged Lidington dyes Peace made in Scotland The Bishop of Rosse banished out of England Absence innouates Enterprizes The Duke of Alua is called out of the Low-Countries Lodowicke Zuniga sucseedes him Burches heresie Marshall Law Burch is hanged Effingham dies Gray Earle of Kent dies Caius the Phisition dyes The Colledge of Gonuell Caius Troubles in Ireland The Earle of Essex sent into Ireland The Deputie enuies it Mac-Phelim is taken The vnprofitable attempt and force of Chaterton Booke 2. 1574. The Duke of Alanzon desires to visit Queene Elizabeth Queene Elizabeth agrees to it He is suspected in France He is as it were prisoner being garded Queene Elizabeth comforts him Charles the ninth King of France died The right Honourable Lord Roger Lord North Baron of Catelage is sent Ambassador with a noble train to Henry of Valois the third of that name King of France Poland The King of France and mother Queene recommend the Duke of Alanzon to Queene Elizabeth They fauour the Queene of Scots against the Vice-Roy Morton She giueth credit to those who make reports aginst the Queene of Scotland The Earle of Huntington President of the North. An Edict against the riâ—tousnes of apparell England imbellished with magnificent structures The English worke treason in Holland They are defeated Ministers deceiued A Whale cast on shore An extraordinary floud in the Thames The Skie seemed to be on fire Booke 2. 1575. The league with France renued Warre kindled in France The Queene of England denieth ships to Requesens The entrance of the Ports To banish the Dutch fugitiues She denies the confederate Dutch entrance into the English ports Requisens chaseth the rebellious English from Flanders Dissolues their Seminary The Prince of Orange thinkes to run to the protection of the King of France The Queene of England disswades him The confederat Dutch deliberate what Protector they should chuse They haue recourse to the Queene of England She deliberateth thereupon She reiecteth their proffer The Ambassy of Champigni Requesens dyeth The Queene studieth to bring the affaires of the Netherlands to a composition A conflict vpon the borders of Scotland Heron is slaine The English led as prisoners into Scotland The Queene of England is much incensed The death of the Duke of Castell-Herauld Essex reduced into distresse in Jreland Sidney the third time Deputy maketh his progresse in Ireland The death of Peter Carew Booke 2. 1576. The French propound a marriage to Queene Elizabeth She peace to them She labours to diuert them from the Netherlands The Zelanders molest the English by Sea are repressed A confusion in the Netherlands Antwerpe sacked by the Spanish mutiners The Queene laboureth a peace for the Netherlands The arriuall of John of Austria in Flanders The Queene furnisheth the Estates with money to continue the Prouinces in the King of Spaines obedience The traffique re-established betweene England and Portugall With what probabilitie Witnesse Ienkinson an Englishman Bernard le Tor a Spaniard Furbisher is sent to discouer the Strait in the North part of America The death of Maximilian the Emperour Queene Elizabeth mournes The Elector Palatine dyes A Franc is two shillings English Essex death suspected The death of Sir Anthony Coke Tumults in Ireland William Drury President of Mounster Malefactors pursued and punished Ceass what it is The Irish complaine of exactions The Queene hath compassion Booke 2. 1577. Austria inclines to Peace Elizabeth perswades to it Orange diuerts her Austria seekes to marrie the Queene of Scots And by her to get the Kingdome of England Copley made a Baron of France The dissimulation of Austria He takes vp armes again Elizabeth couenanted with the Scots She declares the reason of it to the Spaniard The Spaniard did not willingly heare these things Don John complaines to Queene Elizabeth of the States England the ballance of Europe A pestilent sicknesse caused by the stinke of a prison Maine a Priest executed The death of the Lord Latimer Secretary Smith dyes Saffron Walden Rebellion in Ireland Rorio Oge Rorio slaine Booke 2. 1578. Queene Elizabeth is carefull of the Low-Countries English gone into the Low-Countries The Embassie for the Low-Countries Peace is irritated Egremond Radcliffe and his associate are put to death Don John dyes Aniou prosecutes the mariage with the Queene Leicester murmures The death of the Countesse of Lenox The business of Scotland Morton the Regent admonished The King sends an Embassador into England The Summe of the Embassage The answere of the Queene Morton takes vpon him the administration againe The Peeres rise vp against him The inuading of England consulted vpon Th. Stukeley takes Armes against his Countrie Ciuita Vecchia He is slaine in the African Warre William Drury Lord Deputie of Ireland Sidney's adieu to Jreland Booke 2. 1579. Casimire comes into England The Queene lends the States mony Semier solicites the marriage for the Duke of Aniou Thinkes on nothing but reuenge One was shot with a Pistolet being in the Boat with the Queene The Duke of Aniou came into England The dangers of the marriage The commodities of it The incommodities if it be neglected Aimé Stuart Lord of Aubigni came into Scotland From wheÌ„ce hee tooke the name of Aubigni He is raised to honours He is suspected of the Protestants Hamiltons deiected Proscribed Succoured by Elizabeth The Societie of the Turkey-Merchants Hamonts impietie N. Bacon dyes Thomas Bromley succeedes Gresham dyes His Colledge of London Rebellion of James Fitz-Morris in Ireland Stirred vp by the Pope and the King of Spaine Fauoured by the Earle of Desmond Dauile murdered in his bed Sanders approues of the slaughter He fights with those of Bourg Fitz-Morris is slaine William of Bourg made Baron He dyes for ioy John Desmond kils the English The Lord Deputy sick N. Malbey Gouernour of Mounster Defeats the Rebels The Earle of Desmond manifests himselfe a Rebell The death of Drury Lord Deputy The Rebels thereby incouraged William Pelham is Lord Chiefe Justice of Ireland Admonisheth the Earle of Desmond of his duety Proclaimes him Traitor The Earle of
likewise his children to returne into Scotland The Ministers are against the King of Scotlands Authoritie Q. Elizabeth obtaineth of the Musconian Emperor a peace for the King of Sweden That Emperor requires an absolute alliance with England being a suter to her Maiesty to grant him an English Lady for his wife Sir Hierome Bowes is sent Ambassador to him from England The Emperor died A certaine kind of Deere called Maclis Theodore the New Emperor of Muscouia disallow'd the company or Monopolie of Englands Merchants Alberto Alasco a Polonian Nobleman came then to England to see Queen Elizabeth A wonderfull and fearfull Earthquake in Dorsetshire The death of Thomas Ratcliffe Earle of Sussex Likewise the decease of Henry Wriothesly Earle of South-hampton Sir Humphrey Gilbert Knight drowned vpon the Sea by shipwracke It is a most difficult matter and a very hard thing to bring the Colonies in farre countries The death of Edmund Grindal Lord Archbishop of Canterbury A wood called Tamarin first brought into England Iohn Whitgift is preferred to the Archbishopricke of Canterbury He endeuored to vnite the English Church Brownist Schismatiques One Someruille strangled himselfe in prison and Ardern is hanged The English betray Alost and doe deliuer it into the hands of the cruell Spaniard A miserable end of Traitors The Earle of Desmond is killed Nicholas Sanders an English Seminarie Priest affamisht himselfe Vicount of Balting glasse fled away out of Ireland Sir Iohn Perot is made Lord Deputy of Ireland Labouring men are sent into Ireland The gesture and behauiours of Iohn Perot Vice-Roy of Ireland Booke 3. Troubles in Scotland The Earle of Gowry is taken The conspirors are dispersed Queene Elizabeth succoureth some of them The King demandeth them by the League but in vaine Walsingham fauoureth the fugitiues Hunsdon against theÌ„ Controuersie or the power of a Secretary argued The arraignment of Gowry He defendeth his own cause He is beheaded The treason of Francis Throckmorton The Lord Paget retyreth into France The complaints of the Catholikes Spies are suborned Many suspected The malice of the Papists against the Queene The clemency of the Queene towards the Papists Priests are banished Fugitiues demanded of the King of France The answer of the King of France The Spanish Ambassador sent out of England Waade is sent into Spaine Is not receiued· Throckmortons confession He denieth all He seeketh an evasion Being condemned he inlargeth his confession About to dâ—e he denyeth all A new treaty with the Queene of Scots Propositions made to her She answereth She demandeth to be associated in the Kingdome with her sonne The treaty dissolued by surmises An association begun in England The Queen of Scots maketh new propositions The Scots of the English faction oppose them The insolencie of the Scotch Ministers Against the Lawes Ecclesiasticall Lawes of Scotland Buchanans writings reproued A fained conference The Scots and English make incursions one vpon another The Ambassie of Patrick Gray Hee is suspected of bad dealing The patience of the Queene of Scots offended She is committed to new guardians She earnestly seeketh for liberty Things plotted against her Counsell holden amongst the Papists The death of the Earle of Westmer land NEVILL a most nobleâ— most ancient and illustrious name The death of Plowden Alancon dyeth The Prince of Orange is slaine The power of Spaine growne terrible Booke 3. The French King inuested with the order of the Garter Is accused of treason He perceiueth not the euasion His confession He consulteth with Iesuits about the murthering of the Queene With the Popes Nuncio With Morgan With Priests With the Pope himselfe He discloseth the matter to the Queene He wauereth in his minde Alans book addeth fresh courage to him Neuil offereth him his helpe He discloseth the matter Parry is arraigned Punished with death Lawes demanded in the Parliament against Bishops Against Non-residents The association established Lawes against Iesuits and Priests Felony Praemunire The Earle of Arundel resolueth with himselfe to fly out of England He writeth to the Queene Is apprehended The Earle of Northumberland is found dead The Coroners Enquest The causes of his imprisonment manifested The Earle of Northumberland is lamented of diuers Queene Elizabeth laboureth to contract a league with the Prince of Germany The like with the King of Scots A relation of the death of Russell The manner of his death The proofes amongst the borderers The death of Thomas Carre of Fernihurst The fugitiue Scots are sent out of England backe into Scotland They haue intelligence of others remaining in the Kings Court. They enter into Scotland Sterlin is taken by them They are reconciled to the King Amnistie Maxwell establisheth the Masse The rebellion of the Bourgs in Ireland Mac-William * or Sheriffe The Scots of Hebrides called into Ireland The Gouernor laboreth for a peace but in vaine He pursueth the rebels And he brings them to submission Next the Scots of Hebride Whom he doth assault and defeats them The title of Mac-William abolished The Estates of the Netherlands consult of a Protector Reasons of the French side For the English They are refused by the French The English consult about the protection The Dutch offer themselues to the Queene Antwerpe is yeelded vp The Queen deliberateth with her selfe She takes vpon her the protection Vnder what conditions The Queen publisheth the causes She sends forth a Nauy to the West Indies to diuert the Spaniard The towne of S. Iames taken by the English froÌ„ the Spaniard A disease called Calentura whereby many perish The surprize of Hispaniola or Saint Dominick by the English The proud and audacious Motto of the Spaniards Auarice and Couetousnesse The English doe assault the City of Cartagena They set fire vpon the townes of S. Anthony and S. Helena They come to Virginia They bring the Colony thence Tobacco The booty of the English voyage and expedition Their pillage A search made for the discouerie of a way to the East India * Or Straits An Edict against Woad The company of the Barbary Merchants The death of the Earle of Lincolne Of the Earle of Bedford The Earle of Leicester sent into Holland His instructions Booke 3. Absolute Authoritie is giuen to Leicester by the Estates The Queen offended thereat She expostulateth with him With the Estates also They excuse themselues Leicester sendeth succours to releeue the City of Graue besieged But it is yeelded vp The Spaniards expelled out of the Betow An aduentrous enterprize Venlo is lost Axele is taken Graueline attempted Duisbourgh beleagerd Which yeelds Sir Philip Sidney is slaine The valour of Edward Stanley of the house of Elford The Estates complaine to Leicester against himselfe He returneth into England The Earle of Arundell is accused of many things He answered them well and is but fyned The King of Denmarke intercedeth for Peace with the Queene of England Queene Elizabeth answereth She furnisheth Henry King of Navarre with money She desireth a league with Scotland By what counsell The fugitiues
for the restitution of Calais Fol. 95. Attempt to flye away ibid. Peace made in France ibid. Warre proclaymed betweene France and England ibid. The Queene offers to giue Haure de grace for Calais Fol. 96. The English Souldiers are afflicted with the plague ibid. Haure de grace beleagred by the French Fol. 97. Articles for Haure de grace's Restitution Fol. 99. The Souldiers comming ouer infect London and other places in England with the plague ibid. Another marriage propounded to the Queene of Scotland Fol. 100. Queene ELIZABETH recommends Robert Dudley vnto her for a Husband ibid. The French diuert the Queene from it Fol. 101. The Baron of Gray dyes and the Bishop of Aquila ibid. The Spaniards against the English Fol. 102. The Lord William Paget dyes ibid. The supreame dignities of honour in England Fol. 103. The death of Henry Manners Earle of Rutland ibid. And also of the Lady Frances Brandon Duchesse of Suffolke ibid. Anno M.D.LXIIII THe Articles of peace concluded betweene France and England Fol. 106. The French King enstalled in the Order of the Garter Fol. 107. The English and Hollanders ill vsed in Spaine ibid. A Mart established by the English in Edenborough Fol. 108. Robert Dudley created Baron of Denbigh and Earle of Leicester who accused Sir Nicholas Bacon Fol. 110. Cambridge honoured with Queene ELIZABETHS presence ibid. Diuers opinions about Englands succession Fol. 111. Lenox sent for by the Queene of Scotland ibid. The true discent and extraction of the Dukes of Lenox ibid. Leicesters treatie of a match with Scotlands Queene Fol. 114. Anno M.D.LXV THe Lord Darley's iourney into Scotland where hee is beloued of the Queene Fol. 116. Queene ELIZABETHS consent required about that marriage Fol. 117. Throckmorton sent to hinder it Fol. 118. Lenox and Darley re-called out of Scotland who excuse themselues and the Queene marries with the Lord Darley Fol. 119. Queene ELIZABETH endures it with moderation but some Scots take distaste about that marriage Fol. 120. The Emperour is a sutor for his Brother to Queene ELIZABETH Fol. 121. As the Queene of Sheba came to see Salomon so the rare vertues of Queene ELIZABETH brought Cecilia Queene of Sueden bigge with Childe from the furthest part of the North to see so compleat a Maiestie ibid. Creation of the Earle of Glencarne ibid. Nicholas Arnold sent Deputie into Ireland Fol. 124. The death of Sir Thomas Chaloner Fol. 125. Anno M.D.LXVI THomas Duke of Norfolke and Robert Earle of Leicecester are honoured with the chiefe order of Knighthood of France Fol. 126. The Earle of Arundell in voluntary exile Fol. 127. The English carry both their armes and courage to the Hungarian warre Fol. 127. The happy birth of King IAMES ibid. Queene ELIZABETH reioyceth much thereby visits Oxenford and holds a Parliament Fol. 128. The States sollicite her to marry and declare her Successor Fol. 129. The Great-Ones modestly and the popular sort eagerly Fol. 130. Queene ELIZABETH is thereby angred Fol. 131. The Queene of Scotlands right to England apparant Fol. 134. Bishops Ordinations confirmed ibid. Bedfords Earle Ambassadour from Queene ELIZABETH to the christning of King IAMES in Scotland Fol. 135. The death of Iohn Masson and Sir Edward Sackuille Fol. 136. Anno M.D.LXVII THe murder of the Lord Darley who was married to the Queene of Scots Fol. 137. Buchanan condemned for falshood by the States of Scotland Fol. 138. Iames Prior of Saint Andrewes the Queenes bastard-Brother discontented for want of greater aduancement returnes into Scotland ibid. Hee seekes to be Regent of Scotland whereof being frustrate hee opposeth against the Queene and makes his ambition openly and euidently knowne Fol. 139. Hee is created Earle of Murray he persecutes the great men of Scotland and disswades the Queene from marriage Fol. 140. He takes armes against her after shee was married and flyes into England Hee seekes to sow discord betweene the Queene and her Husband the Lord Darley Fol. 141. The murder of Dauid Rice in the Queene of Scots sight Fol. 142. Murray is repealed Fol. 142. Earle Morton flyes into England Fol. 143. Dissention betweene the King and the Queene Fol. 144. Earle Bothwell and others murder the Queenes Husband ibid. Earle Bothwell commended to the Queene for her Husband ibid. Testimony of the murder of the Lord Darley Fol. 145. Earle Bothwell is freed of the murder of the King Fol. 147. Hee marries the Queene ibid. They conspire both against him and the Queene ibid. Earle Murray retyres into France Fol. 148. Earle Bothwell is expelled ibid. The Queene is imprisoned ibid. Queene ELIZABETH by Throckmorton complaynes thereof to the Confederates ibid. They consult what is to be done with the Queene-prisoner Fol. 149. Throckmorton defends the Queenes cause ibid. The Scots maintaine the contrary out of Buchanans reasons Fol. 150. They extort from their Queene a resignation of the gouernement Fol. 151. IAMES the Sixth consecrated and inaugurated King Fol. 152. Earle Murray returnes into Scotland ibid. Hee prescribes the Queene what shee should doe Fol. 153. Hee is established Regent or Vice-Roy ibid. Some of the Murderers of the King are put to death ibid. They acquit the Queene of all suspition Fol. 154. The Queene of England and the King of France labour to procure her libertie Fol. 154. Queene ELIZABETH demands the restitution of Calais ibid. The French maintaine how they ought not to doe it Fol. 155. Sir Thomas Smith's answer to the French Fol. 157. Anno M.D.LXVII THe Earle of Sussex is sent to the Emperour Fol. 160. The Earle of Leicester hinders it representing to the Queen all the discommodities that might happen if shee married a stranger ibid. Articles of the marriage propounded Fol. 162. Ambassadours sent from the Emperour of Muscouia Fol. 163. The English open the way to goe to Russia by sea Fol. 164. The Company of Muscouy Merchants instituted ibid. A secret message from the Emperour of Muscouie Fol. 165. The death of Nicholas Wotton and of the Duchesse of Norfolke ibid. Shan O-Neale raiseth troubles and rebelleth Fol. 166. Sir Henry Sidney armes against him and discomfits him Fol. 167. Shan re-assumes courage he vseth cruelty to his men Fol. 168. Hee meanes to yeeld ibid. Hee is slaine Fol. 169. Turlogh-Leinich proclaimed O-Neale by the Queens permission ibid. Hugon Nephew to Shan who was afterwards Baron of Dungannon receiued to grace for an opposite to Turlogh ibid. Troubles in Munster Fol. 170. Anno M.D.LXVIII THe Papists absolue many Fol. 171. The innouators shew themselues and procure vnto themselues thereby the odious style of Puritans Fol. 172. The second ciuill warre in France ibid. The Duke of Aniou commended to Queene ELIZABETH for a Husband Fol. 173. The English Ambassadour vsed disgracefully in Spaine ibid. Hawkins ill intreated by the Spaniardâ— in America ibid. The Queene of Scots escapes out of prison Fol. 174. Shee is vanquished ibid. Her Letter to Queene ELIZABETH Fol. 175. Shee writes againe Fol. 177. Queene ELIZABETH
she expostulateth the matter 112 The States excuse themselues 113 Leister sendeth succour to the city of Graue it is yeelded and the Spaniard expelled 114 An aduentrous enterprise ibid. Venolo is lost 115 Axell is taken ibid. Graueline attempted ibid. Ausborough beleagred ibid. Sir Philip Sidney slaine 116 States of Holland complaine to Leyster 117 He returneth into England 118 Earle of Arundell questioned and answereth for himselfe ibid. King of Denmarke intercedeth for a peace with the queene of England ibid. Queene Elizabeth answereth 119 She furnisheth Henry king of Nauarr with money 120 Shee desireth a league with Scotland ibid. Iesuites and Popish Priests suggest diuerse things to the queene of Scots ibid. King of Scotland propoundeth conditions and is not a whit deterred by the French 121 King Iames answer to them 122 A conspiracy against queene Elizab. 129 How discouered 130 Ballard returneth into France ibid. Ballard sent back into England meeteth with Babingâ—on ibid. Babington receiueth letters from the queene of Scots 131 He writeth back to her and she answereth him 132 His associates in the conspiracy 133 Babington giueth to euery one his taske 134 They consult together 135 Babington vndertakes to bring in forreine ayde and sends Ballard to worke for him 136 Gifford discouereth all the conspiracy ibid. Sendeth the letters hee receiued to Walsingham 137 Ballard is taken ibid. Babington solliciteth for Ballards liberty and falleth into the same net ibid. Getteth himselfe out lyeth in a wood and is found 138 All the rest of the conspirators are discouered 139 Queene of Scots kept with a guard and separated from her seâ—uants ibid. Her coffer with letters sent to the qu. ibid. Giffard sent into France dyeth miserably 140 The traytors come to iudgement ibid. Queene of Scots Secretary examined 143 King of France aduertised ibid. Sundry opinions how to dispose of the Sccottish queene ibid. By what law she should be iudged â—44 Commission granted to that end 〈◊〉 Who met at Fotheringham Castle â—46 Her sudden answer to the letters ibid. She refuseth to be tryed 148 Exception against the new law 149 Sir Christopher Hatton perswadeth her to appeare 150 Her tergiuersation 151 She yeeldeth at last to appeare and answer 152 Manner of the sitting ibid. Lord Chancellors speech 153 Her protestation recorded ibid. Proceeding 154 She denieth the former allegation ib. Copies of letters shewed 155 Extracts out of Babingtons confession ibid. Shee is vrged with the confessions of Sauage and Ballard 156 Walsingham is blamed ibid. Maketh his Apologie 157 Pagets and Babingtons letters produced 158 Secretaries testimonies ibid Their credites questioned ibid. Arguing about transferring the kingdome 159 Giuing of a pension to Morgan excused 160 Queene of Scots offereth the Duke of Guise and her sonne pledges 161 Lord Burghley's answer 162 She interrupteth him but hee proceedeth 163 Letters shewed againe 164 She interrupteth their reading ibid. Her Secretaries not to be credited ib. She is accused againe for transferring the kingdome and accuseth her Secretaries of periury 165 Sir Thomas Egertons demonstration ibid. She craueth a hearing in open Parliament ibid Sentence pronounced against her 166 Declaration that the sentence against the queen of Scotl. was not preiudiciall to her sonne 167 The States approue the sentence ibid. Queene Elizabeth's answer 168 Some other remedy desired by the qu. 172 Answer to her ibid Her reply to them 173 Queene of Scotland is certified of her Iudgement 177 French Ambassadour stayeth the publishing of the sentence 178 Courage of the queene of Scots ibid. A request made to queene Elizabeth 179 Opinions of the queene of Scots cause 180 Queen of Scotlands sonne intercedeth for her 18â— Some Scots against her ibid. King of Scots propoundeth some thingâ— considerable 18â— Bellieures reasons for the queene of Scotland 18â— Answers to his reasons 28â— French Ambassador attempteth queen Elizabeth's life 192 Stafford discouereth it 193 French Ambassador rebuked 194 Whether an Ambassador be bound to discouer any attempt against the Prince to whom he is sent ibid. Businesse weighed 196 Courtiers perswade by reasons 197 The queene perplexed with doubtfull feares 199 She causeth a Warrant to be drawne for the execution ibid. Her Councell send secretly 200 The queene of Scotland prepares her selfe for death ibid. Her speech 201 She is brought to the scaffold 202 Her speeches to Meluine her steward 203 Also to the Earles ibid. In the behalfe of her owne seruants ibid. Her attendance by officers to the scaffold 204 Her prayers ibid. Her last words ibid. Deane of Petherboroughs speech 205 Her variety of fortunes related 206 Her Epitaph 207 Gods prouidence plainly seene in her death 208 Queene Elizabeth is much grieued at her death ibid. Is angry with her Councell ibid. Her letter to the King of Scotland 209 Dauison brought into the Star-chamber 210 He is obiected against ibid. He answereth for himselfe ibid. He is vrged vpon his owne confession 211 He is reproued by the queenes Sergeants 212 Iudges giue their opinion ibid He is chekt 213 Lord Gray defendeth him ibid. Earles agree with him 214 Sentence giuen against Dauison 215 A request made to the Commissioners ibid. Dauison his particular Apology ibid. Indignation of the Scots 217 Suggestions to the king 218 Drake sent into Spaine 221 Stanley and Yorke traytors 223 Leycester blamed 228 Death of Henry Neuill 234 Baron of Abergauenny 236 Of the Duchesse of Somerset 237 Of Radolph Sadleir 238 Of sir Thomas Bromley 240 Of the Earle of Rutland 241 Of sir Christopher Hatton Lo. Chancellour 242 William Fitz-William Deputy of Ireland 250 Great preparations in Spaine to inuade England and by what counsail 252 The reason 253 Consultation how to assault and subdue England 254 Preparation in Flanders 255 The Pope giues assistance 256 Consultation how to defend the kingdome 257 King of Scotlands alacrity against the Spaniard 258 Commissioners sent into Flanders to treat of peace 259 Propositions of the English answered 260 Complaint made vnto the Duke of Parma 262 Conference of peace breakes 263 The Spanish Armado 264 Sets forth and is dispersed ibid. Sets out againe 266 The English Nauy sets out 267 The first fight 268 Ability of the English Elect. 269 Peter Valdes taken 270 The Ship of Oquenda taken 271 Admirall of Englands prouidence 273 The third fight 275 Knights created for their valour by the Lord Admirall 276 Diuers Noblemen and Knights ioyne with the English Fleet. 277 Spanish Fleet at anchor ibid. Duke of Parma sent for by the Spaniard but he is vnprepared 278 Hollanders good seruice ibid. Spaniards flight 279 Hugh Moncada slaine 280 Fourth combate 281 The Spaniards resolue to return home by the North Sea 282 Queene Eliz. visites her Campe. 283 Conditions offered vnto the King of Scotts 284 Money coyned in memory of this famous victory ibid. Misery of the Spaniards in Ireland 285 Causes of the defeat ibid Patience of the Spaniard in this ouerthrow 286 A generall thankesgiuing and publick reioycing in England ibid.
Christian Princes to let them vnderstand Queen MARY's decease She therefore appointed and sent with all speed to the Emperour Ferdinando Sir Thomas Chaloner with letters of her owne hand-writing by which shee gaue him notice of her Sisters death and that first by Gods speciall grace next by her hereditary right and through the generall loue and consent of all her Subiects she succeeded these her Crownes and dignities And that now she desired nothing more than to maintaine the loue and to encrease the ancient amitie which of long time had beene betweene the Houses of England and Austria To the King of Spaine who at that time was in the Low-Countries she also sent Ambassador the Lord Brook Baron of Cobham with the like Embassage and Commission by which shee of new imployed and delegated the Earle of Arundell Turlbey Bishop of Ely and L. Wotton who before had beene delegated and appointed by Queene MARY for the treatie of peace in the Citie of Cambray and adioyned to them W. Howard Baron of Effingham She also secretly sent Sir Henry Killigrew Ambassadour to the Princes of Germany to inflame them in the zeale of Gods pure Religion To the King of Denmarke D. B. was sent Ambassador and to the Duke of Holsatia also Armigild Waade Philip King of Spaine hearing of the death of Queen MARY fearing one way to lose the title of King of England and the force of that Realme which were vnto him most vsefull and profitable and likewise that the kingdomes of England Ireland and Scotland should be vnited to the Crowne of France by the meanes of the high and mighty Princesse the Queene of Scotland hee therefore treats seriously of a match with Queene ELIZABETH with promise to obtaine a speciall dispensation from the Pope And to that effect imployed the Earle of Ferie who had visited her MAIESTIE by the like meanes as he had done Queene MARY in her sicknesse This Sutor puts Queene ELIZABETH into great anxiety and perplexity considering how inconsiderate and ingratefull her Maiestie might seeme to be in refusing a Christian Prince who had already obliged her in other things much but yet more in this as to seeke her to his wife through his owne free desire and motion The French King likewise was in an extasie considering how important and dangerous it was to France if Spaine her enemy should vnite adioyne to his kingdoms the Realmes of England and Ireland therefore hee vseth his best endeuours at Rome by the intermission of the Bishop of Angoulesme to hinder the grant of such dispensation shewing to that end that Queene ELIZABETH was held for Supportresse of the Protestant Religion and rather than faile went about to declare her illegitimate But all this most secretly and closely for feare to irritate England before that his affaires were throughly well settled The Earle of Ferie contrariwise on the other side labours as hard to bring this marriage to passe and to that end giues the English Papists to vnderstand who were dispersed throughout all parts of the Realme that it was the sole and onely way left for them to preserue their Religion and defend their ancient dignities and honours and that if they should contemne it hee could not but deplore the misery and calamity of England as being out of money vnprouided of men trained vp and vnskild in the military discipline void of fortification and lacking munition and garrisons for Warre and her Councellors of State depriued likewise of good aduice And indeed to speake truely Englands affaires were at that time in a most miserable case and lamentable state for England had warre on the one side with Scotland and on the other side with France and was in a manner vndone by those debts that King HENRY the Eighth and King EDWARD the Sixt had run into and her treasury was exhaust and empty and the Town of Callais had beene but newly lost and the whole Countrey of Oyes with all the munition and furniture of warre The people here were diuided into contrarieties through differency of religion and the Queene left without any powerfull friend to assist her hauing no alliance at all abroad with forrain Princes But when as her Maiestie had more seriously agitated her spirit and carefully considered in her minde the proposition of this match shee findes the holy Scripture expressely inioyning that no woman ought to ioyne with him who had beene her sisters Husband no more than it is lawfull for a man to marry his brothers widdow and therefore that such marriages were directly illegitimate and wholly forbidden by Gods Law although the Pope should neuer so much grant a Dispensation And moreouer that if she should contract it by vertue thereof shee should acknowledge and proue her selfe illegitimate sith shee was issued from the match that King HENRY her father had contracted after his diuorcing and putting away Katherine of Spaine for hauing beene his brothers wife which neuerthelesse had beene approued iust and lawfull according to the Diuine Law by all the Academies of Christendome and likewise the Synod of London as well as that of Katherine vniust and vnlawfull Her Maiestie therefore endeuours to stop preuent and hinder by little and little the course of King Philips suite by an honest answer truely modest and well-beseeming the chaste integrity of her constant virginity and chiefly grounded vpon scruple of her conscience But he notwithstanding all this surceased not his suite but persisted therein vrging her with feruent and frequent Letters By which shee obserued the manners and behauiours of so great a King compounded with grace and graue modesty and truely worthy his Maiestie the said Letters being much by her admired in the often publishing of them yea her Maiestie taking pleasure to imitate them vntill some Nobles of her Court began to defame and speake against the matchlesse pride and practices of the Spaniards Also some of the intimate Lords and fauorites of her Maiesties Priuy-Councell fearing lest the tender and young spirit of a Maide often moued might easily condescend to their desires told to her MAIESTIE secretly that both her Maiestie and friends with the whole Realme of England were vndone if in such Dispensations or in any thing else whatsoeuer she should giue any credit or make the least estimation of the Popes authoritie and power since that two of them had declared and published her Mother illegitimate and vnlawfully ioyned in wedlocke with King HENRY the Eighth Also that by vertue of such Declaration the most high and most mighty Princesse the Queene of Scotland should pretend right to the Crownes of England c. and that the Pope would neuer retract nor goe from that iudgement and that her Maiestie should not expect nor looke for any thing good or iust from the Popes hand who had beene enemies and shewed themselues vniust both towards her Maiestie and her Mother And that the French King laboured hard vsing his vtmost power and
best endeuours at the Popes Court in Rome for to cause the high and mighty Princesse Mary Queene of Scotland to be acknowledged and declared Queene of England yet Queene ELIZABETH neuer intended nor meant in her heart to match with the King of Spaine being quite contrary to her vertuous disposition hauing a feruent desire and settled resolution to ground and aduance the true Protestant Religion to which shee was most zealous Therefore deeming that shee could not vndertake or vphold a worthier thing more agreeable to God nor more efficacious for to quench the flames of the pretended loue of so importunate a Sutor then to labour to procure an alteration of Religion with all possible meanes and speede which could be not doubting in so doing to alter likewise the will and intent of King Philip Whereupon and forthwith her Maiesty consulted and tooke aduice with her most intimate and sincere Priuy Councellors how in abolishing the Roman Religion she could conueniently settle in stead of it the true Catholike and Christian Faith and examining what dangers might succeed and happen thereby and how they could be preuented and auoyded who fore-see and iudge what dangers could be procured either out of the Kingdome or within the Realme without either by the Pope who surely would not misse raging with his excommunications to expose the Realme as a prey to whosoeuer could inuade it Or by the French King who taking such opportunity at the occasion by that would slake and delay the Treatise of Peace which was already begun in the City of Cambray or else and rather in the behalfe of the Royall Queene of Scotland would declare open war with England vnder colour of Enemies and Heretiques and would possesse thereunto Scotland to condiscend to it which at that time was at his command and disposing Or by the Irish who were most addicted to Papistry and much apt and giuen to rebellion or by the King of Spaine who was then most mighty and powerfull in the Netherlands Englands neighbouring Countries Vpon this throughly and well considered they first resolue that for the Popes excommunication her Maiestie should not feare accounting it but as a brutish rage and fury and that if a Peace was offered by the French King it was behoofefull and requisit to entertaine it if not to seek it by all meanes because in it it would cōprehend the loue of Scotland yet neuerthelesse not to forsake or disparage any kinde of waies the Protestants of France and Scotland Also that it was requisite to fortifie and strengthen the Towne and Garrison of Berwicke with the rest of the Frontires of Scotland and Ireland and by all meanes possible to increase and maintaine such formal Ioue and the ancient alliance with those of Burgundie Within the Realme first by such Nobles who had bin deiected from the Queenes Priuy Councell next by such Bishops and Church-men who should be degraded and put out of their benefices and places and after by those Iustices of the peace that were for each County as also by the common people who vnder Queen MARIES raigne were most affectionate to the Roman Church Therefore they deemed and thought good first to depriue such of their offices and reprehend them by the seuerity of Laws as Queene MARY had formerly vsed the Protestants and therefore to admit and institute in each place and office of command the Protestants onely and to settle them in euery Colledge of both Vniuersities and by the like meanes to discharge and turne out all Papists-Professors and Rectors there and also such Schoole-masters and Tutors of Winchester Aeton and other free Schooles and for those who being possest onely of a desire of Change though Protestants had begun to inuent a new Ecclesiasticall Policie that it was likewise requisit to reprehend them in time and to suffer and tolerate but one and the selfe-same Religion through the whole Realme for feare that diuersities of Religion should kindle seditions betwixt among the people of England being a warlike Nation both couragious and generous Therefore speciall charge and care was giuen to Sir Thomas Smith a worthy Knight truely iudicious and wise also to the noble Gentlemen M. Parker Master Bill Master Coxe Master Grindall Master Whitehead and Master Pilkinton who all were most learned and temperate for the correcting of the Liturgie which had been before penned and published in English in King EDWARD the Sixt's raigne without making any more priuy thereunto but the Lord Marquis of Northampton the Earle of Bedford I. Gray of Pyrg and Cecil But certaine Ministers impatient of delay by the length of time which ranne and past away in these things desiring rather to runne before good Lawes than to expect them in their feruent zeale began to preach the Gospell of Christs true Doctrine first priuately in houses and then openly in Churches at which the Commons curious of nouelties ranne thither and whole flockes of people resorted to their hearing from all parts and places in great multitudes contesting so earnestly one with another the Protestants against the Papists vpon questions of controuersies in Religion that for to preuent tumults and seditions and also the occasions of further quarrels and strifes the Queenes most excellent Maiestie was as it were compelled of necessity to defend expressely by strict Proclamation to all in generall not to dispute any more nor enter into any such questions yet notwithstanding giuing full leaue and authoritie to reade to her people the holy Gospell and the Epistles and Commandements but not as yet to make any explication thereof and to haue the Lords Prayer the Apostolicall Creede and the Letanie in the vulgar tongue And for the rest shee ordained the Romane stile to be obserued vntill that by the authoritie of a Parliament the whole forme of Gods Diuine Seruice should be settled and of new instituted and in the meane while her Maiestie solemnized Qu. MARIES Funerall which glorious preparation made then a most magnificent shew in Westminster and shortly after shee payed to Charles the Fifth his honours who two yeares afore rare example of all Caesars and more glorious than all his victories in conquering himselfe had renounced his Empire withdrawing himselfe from this mortall life to liue for euer wholly with God THE SECOND YEERE OF HER RAIGNE Anno Domini 1559. AT the beginning of this yeere Queene ELIZABETH re-established and restored of new W. Parr to the dignity of Marquis of Northampton who vnder Queene MARIES raigne had beene degraded of that honour Her Maiesty also reconferred the Barony of Beauchamp and Earledome of Hartford vnto Edward Seymor a noble Gentleman who by the force of a priuat Law the malice and enuy of his aduersaries had beene depriued of the greatest part of his Patrimony and Ancestors honours Her Maiestie likewise honoured with the Title of Viscount Bindon the Lord Thomas Howard second sonne to Thomas Duke of Norfolke
order and authority of the States hee had in the name of the whole Kingdome of England offered obedience vnto the Pope and hee could not but acquite himselfe of this promise And therefore he tryed and endeuoured to preuaile so much by Prayers that they would not retyre or draw backe from the Sea of Rome of which they held the Christian Faith which they had alwaies kept But when these things were brought to the Lower House there were many more than in the vpper House that consented ioyntly to these Lawes Wherevpon the Papist murmuring much said that of a deliberate purpose they had elected the most part of the Deputies amongst the Protestants aswell of the Shires as of the Cities Corporations and that the Duke of Norfolke and the Earle of Arundell the most powerfull and mightyest amongst the Peeres had industriously bribed the suffrages for the profit which they drew or hoped to draw thereby Spirits then disagreeing for matters of Religion by one and the same Edict all persons were forbidden to speake irreuerently of the Sacrament of the Altar and permitted to communicate vnder both species And a Conference appointed against the last of March betwixt the Protestants and the Papists in which the States of the Land should bee present and for the same to keepe and hold elect for the Protestants Richard Coxe Whitehead Edmund Grindall Robert Horne Edward Sandes Edward Guests Iohn Elmar and Iohn Iewell For the Papists Iohn White Bishop of Winchester Rad. Bain of Couentrie and Lichfield and Thomas Watson of Lincolne Doctor Cole Deane of Saint Paul Doctor Landgal Arch-Deacon of Lewis Doctor Harpesfield of Canterbury and Doctor Chatsie of Middlesexe The Questions propounded were these following Of the celebration of the Diuine Seruice in the Vulgar Tongue of the authority of the Church for to establish or abolish Ceremonies according as it is expedient and of the Sacrifice of the Masse But all this Disputation came to nothing for after some conference and writings deliuered from the one to the other side and not agreeing vpon the forme of the disputing the Protestants began to triumph as obtayning the Victory and the Papists to complaine of their hard vsage for not beeing aduertised but a day or two before and that Sir Nicholas Bacon the Lord Keeper being a man little read in Theologie and their great Enemie sate as Iudge although he was but meerely appointed for Moderator But the truth is that hauing thought more seriously vpon this matter they durst not without expresse order frō the Pope call in question such high points which are not argued in the Church of Rome And they cryed of all sides When is it that one shall knowe what hee ought truely to beleeue if it be alwaies permitted to dispute of Faith Disputers of Religion alwaies returne to the Scepters and such like things And the Bishops of Lincolne and Winchester were so offended with it that they were of opinion that the Queen and those that had caused her to forsake the Church of Rome should be excommunicated and punished with imprisonment for it But the wiser sort that it must be left to the Iudgement of the Pope for feare that those which were her Subiects should not seeme in doing this to shake off their obedience due to their Princesse and to display the Ensigne of Sedition And that was not hidden to the Pope who beeing also presently moued with Choller commands Sir Edward Carne of Wales a Ciuill-Lawier who had beene Ambassadour at Rome for HENRY the Eighth and MARY and was then for Queene ELIZABETH to quite this charge and to vse the same termes by the vigor or force of the commandement that was made vnto him by the Oracle of the liuely voice of our most holy Lord the Pope in vertue of the most holy obedience and vpon paine of the greatest Excommunication and losse of all his goods not to goe out of the Citie but to take vpon him the administration of the Hospitall of the English And did it to hinder that hee should not giue notice of the secret traines of the French against Queene ELIZABETH as he had done before with a great care for the loue he bore to his Countrey Neuerthelesse some thought that this old man voluntarily chose this exile for the zeale he bore to the Roman Religion In the meane time I omit for a while the affaires of the Church and Parliament to obserue the order of time the Embassadours of England Spaine which treated of Peace in the Citie of Cambray were in debate with the French about the restitution of Calais but they could not in any manner obtaine it although they should haue propounded to quit thē of three Millions of Gold which France ought by lawfull obligation The Spaniard who otherwise altogether different from Peace held the English side and surely with as much trueth as honour because the Queene had lost this Town by his occasion fore saw that it was expedient for Flanders that it should be in their obedience The French interrupted him saying that shee alone could not recompence the damages which the English had done them their Townes beeing taken by the Spaniards by reason of their ayde and many Borroughs in base Brittaine were sackt and burned many Ships taken and their Commerce or Traffique which is the sinewes of War broken That they had disbursed infinite summes of money to hinder their firings that Calais was the ancient patrimony of France and that if it had beene lost by Warre long agoe it had also then beene recouered by Armes therefore that it ought not to be restored and that the States of France had so resolued That surrendring it were to put weapons into their Enemies hands and withdraw for euer the Kings Subiects from his obedience and therefore that it was an vniust thing for the English to demand it The English on the contrary maintained that they demanded it with reason and Iustice because say they during one yea two ages he had tooke Englands part and that they had not onely conquer'd it by Warre but that it was also falne vnto them by hereditary succession and by cession made by vertue of the pactions and agreements in exchanges of other places which the Kings of England had likewise granted to them of France That these damages ought not to be imputed to them but to the Spaniards who against their will had drawne and associated them in this Warre in which through the losse of well-fortified places the taking of many of their Captaines they had receiued much more damage than the French and had had no profit therby That all that the States of France order or decree is not reasonable because it is only profitable and that Calais could not be lawfully or iustly detayned seeing that by the Conditions already agreed vpon all the places that were taken in the late Warres were restored vnto other Princes To which the French replyed
agreed and concluded such Articles as are heere set downe almost in the same words That none of these Soueraignes shall goe about to inuade each others Countries nor giue assistance to any that should intend any such designe if any of their Subiects should attempt any thing tending to that effect they should be punished and the peace thereby not infringed nor violated The commerce should be free and that the Subiects of each Prince who haue ships of Warre before they goe to Sea shall giue sufficient caution not to robbe each others subiects The fortifications of Aymouth in Scotland shall be raysed that the French King shall enioy peaceably for the space of eight yeeres Calais and the appurtenances thereunto as also sixteene of the greatest peeces of Ordnance and that time being expired hee shall deliuer it vp into the hands of Queene ELIZABETH and that eight sufficient Merchants such as are not subiects to the French King should enter into bond for the payment of fiue hundred thousand crownes to be payed if Calais were not restored notwithstanding the right of Queene ELIZABETH still to remaine firme and whole and that fiue Hostages should bee giuen to her Maiesty vntill such time as these Cautions should be put in if during that time something might be attempted or altered by Queene ELIZABETH or her Maiesties Subiects of her owne authority command and approbation by Armes directly or indirectly against the most Christian French King or the most mightie Queene of Scotland they shall be quitted and discharged of all promise and faith plighted to that purpose the Hostages and the Marchants should be freeed if either by the said Christian King the Queene of Scots or the Dolphin any thing should be attempted against the Queen of England they shall bee bound to yeeld her the Possession of Calais without any further delay At the very same time and place and by the same Deputies there was also a peace concluded betweene the Queen of England and Francis and Mary King and Queene of the Scots whereupon they brought vnto the English Scots certaine Articles concerning the grant of safe conduct for those who had spoiled and rob'd the Frontiers and for the Fugitiues of the Countrey About which there being a meeting at Vpsaltington betweene the Earle of Northumberland Cuthbert Tunstall Bishop of Dunelme Gu. Lord Dacre of Grillesland and Iac. Croft Captaine of the Town and Castle of Barwicke all English-men on the one part the Earle of Morton the Lord of Home and S. Cler. Deane of Glasco all Scottish-men on the other part They proclaimed thorowout all England the Peace concluded between the Queene of England the King of France the Dolphin and the Queene of Scots which seemed very harsh vnto the people and conceiued to be much dishonourable in regard that Calais which they had lost was not restored the Protestants laying the fault vpon the Papists and they vpon the Baron Wentworth a Protestant who hauing beene vnder the gouernement of Queene MARY accused in that behalfe and not brought to publique hearing was againe taxed and brought to iudgement but vpon hearing was freed by the sentence of the Peeres But Rad. Chamberlaine who had beene sometime Gouernour of the Castle of Calais and Iohn Hurleston of the Fort of Risbanc were adiudged to dye as guilty de laesa Maiestate for abandoning their places howsoeuer their censure was remitted The Parliament being ready to breake vp those which were there thought good to aduise the Queene forthwith to marry the great ones being vnwilling to yeeld to that for feare lest some of them might be thought to make this proposition out of some hope which they might haue for themselues Hauing then appoynted Th. Gargraue Deputie of the Lower-house to deliuer this message he addresses himselfe to the Queene with a few choyce men Hauing first by way of preamble intreated admittance and excusing himselfe with the graciousnesse of her Maiesty and the importance of the affaires he had to deliuer by this meanes procured audience and in this manner spake vnto her MADAME There is nothing which wee continually begge at the hands of God with more ardent Prayers than the perpetuity of that happinesse which your iust and vigilant gouernement hath hitherto procured vnto the English Nation But wee cannot conceiue how this should alwayes continue vnlesse that which wee cannot hope for you should continually reigne or by disposing your selfe to marriage might leaue Children which might inherite both your vertues and Kingdome together the Almightie and good God so grant This MADAME is the simple and vnanime desire of all the English which is the conceit of all others Euery one ought to haue a care of that place and estate hee hath and Princes especially that sithence they are but mortall the Common-wealth might bee perpetuis'd in immortalitie Now this eternitie you may giue vnto the English if as nature age and your beauty requires you would espouse your selfe vnto a Husband who might assist and comfort you and as a Companion participate both in your prosperities and aduersities For questionlesse the onely assistance of an Husband is more auayleable in the ordering of affaires than the helpe of a great many ioyned together and nothing can be more repugnant to the common good than to see a Princesse who by marriage may preserue the Common-wealth in peace to leade a single life like a Vestal Nunne Kings must leaue their Children their Kingdomes which were left them by their Ancestors that by them they may be embellisht and be settled and the English haue neuer had greater care than to preserue the Royall House from default of Issue Which is fresh in memory when HENRY the Seuenth your Grand-father prouided marriage for ARTHVR and HENRY his Children being yet of tender yeeres and how your Father procured in marriage for EDWARD his sonne hauing scarce attayned to eight yeeres of age Mary the Queene of Scots and sithence how MARY your Sister notwithstanding shee was deepely strucken in yeeres married Philip the King of Spaine So as if the want of Issue be ordinarily giuen by GOD as a curse vnto priuate Families how great an offence is it then in a Princesse to be a voluntary author of it to her selfe sithence so many miseries ensue thereby that they must needes pester the Common-wealth with a multitude of calamities which is fearefull to imagine But MADAME wee this small number of your Subiects who heere humble our selues at your Maiesties feete and in our persons all England in generall and euery English-man in particular doe most humbly beseech and with continuall sighs coniure your Maiestie to take such order that that may not be This is the whole summe of what he spake vnto her with a great deale of eloquence and more words To whom in few words shee answered thus IN a thing which is not much pleasing vnto mee the infallible testimonie of your good will and all the
that they should forbeare absolutely to beare these Armes by the intercession of M. Memorency the Guizes Emulator who thought it not to be any honour for the King of France to take any other Title or to graue in his Seales any other armes than the Armes of the Kings of France and shewed that this Title alone was of more importance than many others and that the precedent Kings had no other when they sought their right in Naples and Milan And truely from these Titles and these Armes which the King of France at the instigation of the Guizes hath taken from the Queene of Scotland then vnder age all the disasters which afterwards happened vnto her haue flowed from that for from thence came the enmities openly declared by Queene ELIZABETH against the Guizes and those which shee practised against her priuatly which by the subtil malice of men who made vse of the growing enuy and of the occasions which sprung from day to day haue beene so fomented on both sides that nothing could extinguish them but death for Soueraigntie admits no Companion and Enmitie against Maiestie is grieuous A few daies after in stead of giuing foure Hostages for the Towne of Calais as they were bound by the treaty of Cambray they gaue onely three the English Merchants are iniuriously dealt with in France one of the Ambassador Throgmortons seruants was sent to the gallies which F. great Prior of France had taken carried away by force from a publique place Some Pistols were shot at the Ambassadour himselfe and in his owne lodging and to make him the more contemptible hee was serued at the Table with no other Vessell but such as the Armes of England and France were ioyntly grauen on Finally la Brosse was sent into Scotland with a troupe of choyce men Gallies were sent for from Marseilles and from the Mediterranean Sea Those in Scotland which professed the Protestants Religion and qualified themselues with the title of the Assembly perswaded by certaine heady Ministers and especially by Knox a most hot controller of the Royall authority that it behooued the Peeres of the Realme to take away Idolatry from their authority by force to settle the Princes within the limits prescribed by the Lawes had already refused to obey the Queene-Mother and Regent though shee was a modest and a prudent woman changed Religion tumultuously ransacking and burning the sacred places drawne to their partie Hamilton Duke of Chastelraut the most powerfull of all the Kingdome much prouoked by the wrongs done by the French and many Nobles were bayted with hope to haue the Ecclesiasticall Reuenues insomuch as they seemed not to thinke of Religion but to plot in good earnest a reuolt against the Queene Regent and against the French which made warre in Scotland and accused Iames Prior of Saint Andrewes Bastard brother to the Queene their Coriphea who since was Count of Mura to haue coueted the Kingdome from his Sister But by the holy protestations which hee made vnto them hee tooke away all suspition of hauing any other ayme but the glory of God and the Countries liberty and that seeing it opprest by the Queene Regent and the French he could not chuse but lament most bitterly for it They sent William Maitland of Lidington Secretary to Queene ELIZABETH and hee in a pittifull discourse complained to her that since the marriage of the Queene of Scotland with the Daulphin the administration of the Kingdome had beene changed strange Souldiers spoyl'd and ruin'd all the French were placed in the chiefest offices of the Kingdome the Castles and strong places put into their hands the pure money corrupted for their particular profit and that by these deuices and the like they fortifie themselues fraudulently to take away the Kingdome as soone as the Queene should be dead Cecill who was the principall minister that Queene ELIZABETH vsed in this businesse and in all other for his singular wisedome employeth H. Percy who afterwards was Earle of Northumberland to know what end the Lords of that Assembly propounded to themselues what meanes they had to obtaine that which they desired and if one should send them succour vpon what conditions might Amitie bee maintained betweene the two Kingdomes They answered that they propounded not to themselues any other end but the aduancement of the glory of Iesus Christ and the sincere preaching of Gods Word to extirpate superstition and idolatry and to keepe the liberty of their Ancestors which they knew not by what meanes it might be done but they hoped that God would giue successe to their designes according to their desire to the confusion of their aduersaries And as for the intertaining of amitie betweene the two Kingdomes that that was the abridgement of their wishes and thereunto vowed their goods their faith and their constancy They deliberate slowly of these things in England because the Scots were not well furnished with money and armes nor very faithfull among themselues But they considered that the Marquis D' Elbeuf Vnkle to the Queene of Scotland had leuied men in Germanie by the meanes of the Ringraue for the Scottish warre that they had brought downe into the Hauens peeces for battery that the preparations which were made were greater than was necessary for the restraining as was pretended of a small number of vnarmed Scots that the French to draw to their league the King of Denmarke promised him that the Duke of Lorraine should quit the right which hee pretended to haue to his Kingdome and that likewise the censure of the Pope against the Queene was more importunately sollicited than euer and a sentence declaratory for the right of the Queene of Scots to England there was sent vpon the frontiers of Scotland one Sadler a prudent man and the Counsellor of the Duke of Northumberland who guarded the South frontier and Iames Croft Gouernour of Barwicke For the Councell of England could not see what these things tended vnto except to inuade England and to pursue by armes that which they attributed to themselues by their Coates and Titles Now doe they in England seriously consult vpon the businesse and it seemed to them to be a very bad example that one Prince should lend ayde and succour to the subiects of another Prince who rayse vp broyles and tumults but it seemed also that it were an impietie to abandon those who professe the same Religion a slow wisdome to permit the French who were sworne enemies to the name of English challenged the Realme of England and enioyed at that time in all places an assured peace to remaine armed in Scotland so neere England and so opportunely for the inuading of that side where Nobles and Commons of England are most affectionate to the Romish Religion That it were to deliuer cowardly into the Enemies hand the safetie of particulars and the peace of the generall For that cause it behooued not to stand vpon dreaming and
of Saint George For hee seemed hereby vtterly to breake off all amity and friendship with England but shewed it much more by the refusall which was made him afterwards how he practised by his Ambassadour as hee did intercede by Count of Feria who had married the Daughter of W. Dormer which hee had by the Lady Marie Sidney for that the Queene permitted certaine men women and Children to stay in Flanders who for Religion were retired without leaue viz. to the Lady Iane Dormer Daughter of Thomas Newdigate and Widdow to Sir Robert Dormer Knight and to the Lady Clarence Grand-mother to the Count of Feria being very olde who had beene Fauourite to Queene MARIE and Almoner for the particular reliefe of poore women to Richard Shelley Prior of the order of Saint Iohn in England of which wee will speake hereafter and to Thomas Haruie all which were zealous professors of the Romish Religion and well beloued of the Spaniard This refusall was grounded vpon a restraint by the ancient custome Lawes of England prohibiting any person the Nobles and Peeres of the Kingdome excepted vpon paine of confiscation of their goods to depart out of their Countrey without speciall licence from the King and to reside in forraine parts beyond a certaine time prefixed and that either for the recouery of their health vnder a more warme climate or for the aduancement of their studies in the Academies or for their practice in militarie Discipline Whereof there was no president extant of any toleration granted to women to be continually absent from their Countrey and that moreouer the thing in it selfe seemed to be of no great importance Neuerthelesse in respect that those who desired it reaped not so much benefit thereby applying it to their owne particular ends as others were animated by their example to the detriment of the common good it was vnreasonable to condiscend vnto as the Queene signified to the King of Spaine The Earle stomaking this as a particular iniury to reuenge himselfe caused to be apprehended as an Heretique one of the seruants of Chamberlaine being there then Ambassadour ordinary for England and cast him into the Inquisition and rather as it were enuying the Queene and the English than the King himselfe added more fuell to his fire notwithstanding all the meanes his Wife vsed to disswade him It was also knowne that he was imployed to Pope Pius the Fourth in the beginning of his Papacy to presse the Excommunication of the Queene yet neuerthelesse the Pope vpon what good hope I know not sent vnto her Vincent Parpalia Abbot of Saint Sauiours with diuers secret aduertisements with a kinde Letter all which I will here at large insert howsoeuer I may seeme to sinne against the Law of Historie TO OVR MOST DEARE DAVGHTER IN CHRIST ELIZABETH Queene of ENGLAND MOST deare Daughter in Christ Salutation and Apostolicall Benediction God the searcher of all hearts knoweth and you may perceiue by the aduice that wee haue giuen you to behaue your selfe towards this our eldest Son Vincent Parpalia whom you know well how much we tender and desire according to the duty of our Office of Pastorship to prouide for your saluation honour together with the establishment of your Raigne thereby exhorting and admonishing your Greatnesse most deare Daughter that in reiecting those lewd Councellors who loue themselues better thâ—n you and aime but at their priuate ends You implore the feare of God to your Councell and remembring the time of your visitation you obserue our fatherly admonitions wholsome Counsels and we will promise you of our part all th' assistance you can desire not onely for the comfort of your soule but for th'establishment and confirmation of your royall dignities according to the authority place and charge committed to vs from God And if as wee most feruently desire and hope you returne into the bosome of the Church We will receiue you with the like affectionate loue as the Father of whom it is spoken in the Gospell receiued his Sonne when he returned to him and our ioy shall be farre greater then the ioy of a Father for his sonne onely But you in drawing after you the whole people of England shall heape with ioyes not onely to your owne particular saluation but to your whole Nation Vs and the Vniuersitie of our Brethren whom you shall shortly God willing heare to be assembled in an Aecumenique and generall Councell for th'extirpation of Heresies and the whole Church together You shall also cause the Heauens to reioyce and by such a memorable act purchase renowned glory to your name and a far more glorious Crown then that wherewith you are already crowned But of that the said Vincent shall more amply certifie you and fully demonstrate our fatherly affection toward you whom we desire your Highnesse to receiue courteously and graciously hearing him attentiuely and giue such credit to what he shall declare vnto you as you would vnto our selfe Giuen at Rome at Saint Peter's Palace the fifth day of May 1560. and of our Papacy the first I haue not found what Propositions were made by Parpalia for I cannot thinke that he was put in writing neither doth it please me to suppose as ordinarily Historians doe All the world knowes Queene ELIZABETH liued like her selfe and ALWAYES THE SAME and that the busines succeeded not to the Popes expectation The common fame also went for truth that the Pope promised to cut off as a thing vniust the sentence giuen against the marriage of Queene ELIZABETHS Mother to confirme out of his owne authority the English Liturgie and to allow in England the vse of the Sacrament vnder both kinds prouided that her Maiesty should ranke her selfe with the Roman Church and to giue some thousands of Crownes to such as laboured in these things The time of confirming the Treatie of marriage at Edenborrough was then come Queene ELIZABETH hauing by solemne Oath confirm'd and sent vnto the King and Queene of France also to ratifie the same on their part as it was meete Throgmorton Ordinary Ambassadour in France and Sir Peter Meuté Knight dispatched after him for the same purpose laboured to bring them to it But they preuailed not notwithstanding they had in expresse words vpon the Faith and royall word of a King by Commission from the Bishop of Valence deputed for passing this Treaty promised to confirm it The reasons they alledged to exempt themselues were That the Scots had past thorow Barwicke with the English not by Royall Licence but of themselues which they ought not to doe that they past like Rebels and that vnder colour of being Subiects they falsly profest themselues loyall and had no way shewed the obedience promised by it Whiles they were disputing hereupon Francis the second king of France not being yet eighteene yeeres of age left the most high and mighty Princesse Mary Queene of Scotland a Widdow at which
security she should in her life-time set her winding-sheete before her eyes yea she should likewise make her own funerall liuing and seeing it Hauing made this answere she sweetly admonisheth her againe by Letters which were deliuered her by Peter Meutis to confirme the Treatie which she refused not directly but gaue him to vnderstand that she could not commodiously doe it vntill the Affaires of Scotland were well established In the meane time Queen ELIZABETH with all maner of courtesie entertaines Monsieur le Duc D' Aumale the Grand Prior and Monsieur le Duc D'elbeuf her Vnkles and other French Noble-men which had conducted her into Scotland And yet notwithstanding Monsieur de Guize behaued himselfe in that sort that the English Ships are taken vpon the Coasts of Brittanie and the Marchants vnworthily handled and labours againe closely at Rome to procure Queene ELIZABETH to bee excommunicated Howbeit the Pope Pius the fourth aduised that it behoued to deale more gently with her Maiesty and as he had already sought by courteous Letters as I haue said vpon the last yeere hauing then also to appease the discords which were for matter of Religion assigned a day to the Councell of Trent long sinnce begunne and broken off by continuall Warres and drawing gently thither all the Princes which had forsaken the Romish religion hee deputed into England the Abbot of Martinegues with Letters full of assurance of loue But because that by an ancient Law it is most expressely forbidden the Popes Nuncio's to goe thither before he had obtained leaue from thence and taken Oath not to worke any thing by subtilty there tending to the preiudice of the King and Kingdome The Abbot being vpon the way stayed in Flanders and demanded leaue to come hither But Englands Councell of State iudg'd that it was not safe to admit him hither in regard that so many people from all parts nourished in the Romish religion laboured carefully both within and without the Realme to trouble the affaires thereof The Abbot not being permitted to come into England the Bishop of Wittenberg the Popes Nuncio with the King of France labours that Queene ELIZABETH should send Ambassadours to the Councell and many Princes of Christendome viz. the Kings of France of Spaine and of Portingall Henry Cardinall of Portingall and aboue all the Duke of Albe who yet bore good will to her Maiestie counselled her that in matters of Religion which is the onely Anker of Christians and stay of Kingdomes she would rather asscent to the Oecumenique Councell of Trent than to the particular opinions of a few men although they be learned She answers them That shee desired with all her heart an Oecumenique Councell but that shee would not send to that of the Popes with whom she had nothing to doe his authority being vtterly beaten downe and reiected in England with the consent of the States of the Kingdome That it is not for him but for the Emperour to assigne a Councell and that he hath no greater authority then any other Bishop At the same time that this Abbot was denyed accesse into England beeing the last Nuncio that the Popes of Rome haue sent hither Sir Edward Carne aforementioned being a most iudicious and wise man very well vnderstood in the right of Emperours by the Emperour Charles the fifth honoured with the dignitie of Knight-hood he dyed at Rome and was the last Ambassadour sent from the Kings of England to the Pope Chamberlaine Ambassadour for England in Spaine perceiuing that this answere did more and more alienate the affection of Spaine who iudged it to bee iniurious to the Pope and fearing no more that England Scotland and Ireland should fall into the hands of the Kings of France since that King Francis was dead began to make no more account of the English tooke leaue of him and returned into England Thomas Chaloner is sent in his place who as he was impatient of iniuries and had beene many times Ambassadour in Germany where he had receiued all manner of courtesies as soone as he was arriued in Spaine instantly besought by Letters to be reuoked complaining that according to the custome of the Countrey they had searched his Trunkes But Queene ELIZABETH admonished him that an Ambassadour must support all that which is of equity prouided that the honour of his Prince were not wronged Queen ELIZABETH being then capable of good counsell and very prudent and prouident and Religion somewhat wel established to strengthen her selfe with remedies against forces prouides for the safety of her selfe and of her Subiects and to enioy Peace more sweetly although she found the Coffers empty at her comming began to establish a Magazin of all sorts of Instruments of War and to that end employed great summes of money in Germany The Spaniard retained those Furnitures which shee had agreed for at a price at Antwerpe causeth many Cannons of Brasse and Iron to be cast discouers in the Country of Cumberland neere Keswicke by a speciall fauour from God on what occasion how farre and at what time shee should vse her liberality and indeed was prouidently bountifull to those that deserued it For notwithstanding that King HENRY her Father howsoeuer charged with three Children and EDVVARD and MARIE who had none had beene bountifull of the Crowne Land shee neuerthelesse hauing none neither gaue very little of it and yet what she gaue was vpon condition that for default of issue it should returne to the Crowne for which both the Realme and their successors ought to remember her and thanke her as a carefull fore-seer Whilest this good correspondencie was betweene the Queene and her people the Common-wealth seeming to take life and strength to the common ioy of all fell out a sad accident A most rare Piramide of the Cathedrall Church of Saint Paul in London which was frō the ground to the top of the square Tower 525. foote from thence 260. and was couered with wood ouer-laid with Lead was strucken at the top with fire from heauē which was so deuouring and burnt downeward with such violence to the great terrour of all the Inhabitants that in the space of fiue houres it reduced it to ashes with the whole couering of the Church which was most ample and spacious but the vaults which were of solid stone remained entire Notwithstanding all this couering was new made by the Queenes liberality and to the effecting of the same gaue great quantity of money and materials beside the collection of Ecclesiasticicall persons and others So all was repaired saue the Piramide This yeere dyed Iohn Bourchier a man of ancient Nobility Earle of Bath second of that name and Baron of Fitzwarin who by Elenor daughter of George Baron of Rosse had a great Progenie and left his Sonne William yet liuing his Successor THE FIFTH YEERE OF HER RAIGNE Anno Domini 1562. THe troubles of France begunne then to
brought her vp she would be no lesse to the loue of her Sister Queene ELIZABETH Notwithstanding as shee was subtill of spirit shee was afraid if shee should tye her selfe with a stricter friendship to Queene ELIZABETH to incurre the disgrace of the King of France and to be abandoned of the Guizes her Vnkles and lose the money which shee drew from France for her dowry while shee should preferre this friendship which was vncertaine and as shee said her selfe there is none but transgresseth and of the friendship of the French she was assured And that that was the cause why the interuiew which had beene in deliberation many moneths came to nothing chiefly after she had declared by Letters that shee altogether refused it vnlesse that for to ground a certaine peace and the vnion of the two Kingdomes so much desired she were by authority of the Parliament designed Heire of the Kingdome of England or adopted Queene ELIZABETHS Daughter and that if these things were granted her she promised to be wholly at the deuotion of Queene ELIZABETH though she quitted all consideration and respect to the Guizes her Vnkles Furthermore she assured that she did not presse these things but vpon aduice which she had giuen her of the secret practices of some vnder pretence of religion intended to suborne some other Successour than her selfe howbeit she tolerates the Protestants Religion in Scotland But as the Cardinall of Lorraine treated at the same time with the Emperour Ferdinand to marry her with Charles his Sonne Arch-Duke who then sought to haue Queene ELIZABETH ELIZABETH declareth vnto her by Thomas Randolph that if shee lent any eare to this marriage to the Cardinall capitall enemy to the Engglish she might dissolue the amity betweene England and Scotland and peraduenture therewith to include the losse of the Kingdome of England admonisheth her amiably not to fall off but to chuse her a Husband in England first to please her selfe and afterwards for the contentment of her owne Subiects and of the English and to intertaine the friendship which was betweene them and to prepare her selfe a way to a certaine assurance of the succession of England of which declaration could not be made if it did not first appeare with whom she meant to marry All these cares held Queene ELIZABETH in great suspence neuerthelesse she was altogether attentiue to the warres of France to hinder that the flames of it in Normandie should not be blowne into England and after mature deliberation receiued into her protection the King of France his Subiects which were in Normandie and implored her succour by a Couenant which shee passed with the Princes of Condé Rohan Coligni and others to this effect That shee would send them a hundred thousand crownes and passe ouer sixe thousand Souldiers of which three thousand should be employed for the defence of Deepe and Roüan That they would put into her hands for assurance Ville-Franche which is situated at the mouth of Sene and was built by King Francis the First the French calling it Haure de grace and the English New-Hauen to be kept by a Garrison of three thousand Engglish Souldiers vnder the name of the King of France vntill Calais be rendred The same day that this agreement past to giue a reason of her designe shee published a manifestation to this effect That shee sent not an armie into Normandie to recouer this Prouince an ancient patrimony of England which had been wrongfully vsurped but to conserue it for the King of France being but yet a Childe and to warrant it against the Guizes who had begun cruelly to ouer-runne those who professed the pure Religion and iniustly to robbe her of her right which shee had to Calais and to take possesssion of the Ports of Normandy from thence they threaten next to fall vpon England which they haue by hope deuoured already insomuch as shee could not chuse but meete their attempts vnlesse shee should seeme to be fayling to the young King her Brother and Confederate and his Subiects that are oppressed to enuy the quiet of Christendome and which is more cowardly betray her Religion her securitie and her saluation And as Paul de Foix Ambassadour of France in England summoned her by vertue of the Treaty of Cambray to deliuer into the Kings hands the Vidame of Chartres of Hai and others who had signed the accord as Traitors to their Countrey shee excused her selfe of that by her Letter to the King discharging them of the crime and charged the turbulent spirits of the Guizes for it who had wrapped in the tempest of warre the Kings Father and Brother and the King himselfe In the moneth of September one part of the English Army landed at New-Hauen vnder the conduct of Adrian Poining who was appointed Marshall where they were with ioy receiued by the inhabitants the other part landed at Deepe The Earle of Warwicke Generall of the Army arriued there later hauing been by contrary windes twice driuen backe into England Afterwards they made diuers incursions into the Countrey neere thereabout but to hinder the same the Ringraue came and camped neerer The English and the French had notwithstanding often light skirmishes and those which were men of warre vpon the Sea brought in rich spoyles taking and bringing in euery day French ships from the neighbouring harbors This yeere Iohn Vere the Earle of Oxford died the sixteenth of that illustrious House who by his first Wife Daughter to Ralph Neuill Earle of Westmerland had Katherine who was wife to Edward Baron of Windsor by his second Wife Margaret Goulding Edw. Earle of Oxford who ouer-threw and wasted his Patrimony and Mary who was married to Peregrine Bartie Baron of Willoughbie At the same time Shan O-Neale came out of Ireland to performe that which he had promised the yeere before hauing for his Guard a troupe of Galloglassorum who had their heads naked and curled haire hanging on their shoulders yellow shirts as if they had beene died with Saffron or steeped in Vrine wide sleeues short Cassockes and rough hairy Clokes The English admired them no lesse than they should doe at this day to see those of China or America Hauing beene receiued with all courtesie hee cast himselfe at the Queenes feete and with teares acknowledged his crime asked pardon and obtained it After being graciously questioned Wherefore he had excluded Matthew his Brother from the succession of his great Grand-father answered fiercely as hee was vsed to doe in Ireland that it was his right and being the certaine and lawfull sonne and Heire of Cone borne of a legitimate woman he had taken his succession That Matthew was the issue of a Lock-Smith of Dundalke married with a woman named Alison after this marriage and notwithstanding had beene deceitfully supposed by his Mother Cone to be her sonne to the end falsly to take away the dignity of O-Neale And although he should suffer it some of the House
of O-Neales would not The grant which his father had made to King HENRY the Eighth and the restitution that HENRY the Eighth had made vnto him were nothing considerable seeing that Cone had nothing in the things granted but during her life could not haue made this grant without the consent of the Peeres and of the people who had elected him to the honor of O-Neale That such Letters also could not be of any valew vnlesse witnessed by the othes of twelue men that hee was the certaine Heire of the House which had not been done in this matter That by diuine and humane right he was vndoubted Heire moreouer the eldest Sonne of his Father begot in lawfull marriage designed O-Neale with a generall consent of the Peeres people by vertue of the Law of Temster which was his Countrey by which a man of ripe yeeres ought to be preferred before a Child and an Vnkle before a Nephew whose great Grand-father out-liued the Father To conclude hee had not vsurped any authority ouer the Lords of Vlster though in times past his Ancestors by a particular right had vsed it But of this I haue spoken else-where Which when the Queene found true he was sent home with honour where he behaued himselfe both faithfully and industriously against the Irish Rebels THE SIXTH YEERE OF HER RAIGNE Anno Domini 1563. IN the moneth of Ianuary the States of the Kingdome assembled at Westminster and established Lawes for the reliefe of the poore for the increase of traffique by Sea and for husbandry to represse South-sayers Negromancers Sodomites Coyners and Periury and translated the Holy Bible and Liturgy into the Welsh Tongue And to maintaine the Maiesty of the Queene and Realme tooke order that the like inconueniences might not happen to them which shamefully fell out by the Popes vsurped authority and to curbe the violence of those which vpheld it declared them criminals laesae Maiestatis whosoeuer after three admonitions should maintaine in print in words or in deedes that any Prince Prelate or stranger should haue any authority in Spirituall things in England or any other Countries of the Queenes Dominions or whosoeuer should refuse twice to take the Oath which should be offered to him for acknowledging of the Queenes soueraigne authority in Spiritual things and ouer Ecclesiasticall persons yet with this charge without spilling of blood neither that it should bee required of any Baron of this Kingdome or of those of more eminent dignity the Queene not doubting their fidelity nor any others Saue those which were which had been or hereafter should be of some Ecclesiasticall Order or those who after hauing bin aduertised of the forme of seruice of the English Church will not obserue it or shall publikely in words or actions depraue it which shall celebrate or heare Masse with like things which is seene in the Ordinance established for it Now to witnes the ioy which they had to see the prosperity of the times the Clergie granted the Queene a Subsidie and the Lay people another together with two Tenths and two fifteenths in acknowledgment of her reformation of Religion establishment of Peace deliuering England and Scotland from stranger Enemies to put downe base money repaire the Fleet make preparation for Warre and Nauigation beyond expectation and of the laudable designe which she had for France to assure England and the yong King of France and to recouer Calais Now this Tenth and Fifteenth that I may make it remarkable in the behalfe of strangers is a Taxe which long agoe hath bin imposed vpon euery City Borrough and village not by the pole but by generalities according to the fifteenth part of the reuenew of the places A Subsidie is that which is imposed vpon euery particular for goods and lands which he possesseth But neither of these two Taxes are euer imposed but by the Parliament In the meane time the Prince of Conde who made haste to get into Normandy to the English succour is taken in the famous Battell of Dreux and with him Nicholas Throgmorton who suffered himselfe voluntarily to bee taken by the Protestants to communicate some secret designes vnto them And beeing presently after set at liberty he presented the money which was promised to Coligni who was marched forward with the Troupes of auxiliary English to the Castle of Cane which he then besieged and easily compelled Cane Bayeux Falexe and the Temple of Saint Lo to render While things were thus carried in France Queen ELIZABETH made knowne to the King of Spaine by Chaloner her Ambassadour that to preuent the Guizes in time who insultingly and with deadly intent rais'd vp against her pernitious things and dangerous Treaties that shee had sent an Armie into France and kept still in her hands Haure de grace which was deliuered vp to her till shee receiued full satisfaction for Calais He answered her That if she demanded onely the restitution of Calais it was all shee desired from the beginning but if she vndertooke this warre for Religions sake he could not likewise abandon that of his Grandfathers and Predecessors As for the Guizes who are they said he for a most puissant Queene of England to feare they beeing of no alliance to the King of France as hereto fore they haue beene Whereunto she made no other reply but conformable to that English Prouerbe which sayes Euery one must looke to their own when their neighbours House is on fire And the King of Spaine vnderstood well inough how shee politikely treated with the Protestant Princes of Germany by the sollicitation of then Henry but now Lord Knowles and Christopher Hill for the Prince of Condé's reliefe and to defend the common cause of Religion whereat being more highly offended he likewise secretly sought meanes against her vnder the colour and pretext of Religion Withall those French Hostages who were sent into England for the security of the payment of â—ne hundred thousand Crownes promised in case Calais were not restored perceiuing all things enclining to a warre laboured all they could to flye away but beeing ready to take Barke they were taken and brought backe againe together with that famous Pylot Iohn Ribant who came secretly into England to conuay them ouer In the meane while peace was accorded in France between the King and the Prince of Condé allured thereunto out of hope that hee should haue the generall managing of all affaires and marry the Queene of Scots the Protestants and the Queenes Maiestie of England being no waies therein comprehended all men with one generall voice protested that if the English withdrew not themselues forthwith out of Haure de grace the promise of surrendting Calais intimated by the Treaty of Cambray should be frustrate and take no effect and by publique sound of Trumpet the French were permitted in this case to assaile the English to take and pillage them while they yeelded it vp The Queenes Maiesty of
their owne hands which they sent to the Queene of England BEcause Earle Murray and others to couer their owne Rebellion against the Queene whose authoritie they vsurped openly imputed her as culpable and guiltie of her Husbands death wee publikely protest and testifie this which ensues In the Moneth of December 1556. the Queene being at Cragmill the Earles of Murray and Lidington acknowledged in our presence that Morton Lyndsay and Rauen murdered Dauy Rice to no other end but to preserue the Earle of Murray who the same day was to be proscrib'd Wherefore that they might shun the note of ingratitude their desire was that Morton and others banished by reason of this murder might be repealed But withall they implyed that this could not be done except the Queene by a Diuorce were separated from her Husband and they promised to doe it if wee would yeeld our consents After that Earle Murray promised to me of Huntley that I should re-enter the inheritances of my Ancestors and haue the perpetuall loue and affection of the banished if I did but further and procure this Diuorce Then they went likewise to Earle Bothwell to draw also from him his consent and liking and lastly they went to the Queene whom Lidington in the name of all the rest instantly requested to release Morton Lindsay and Rauen of their banishment in very outragious termes he exaggerated the Kings faults and the offences hee had committed against the Queene and the Realme prouing how the Queene and the State were deepely interessed in procuring speedily this Diuorce because the King and Queene could not liue securely together in Scotland Her Maiestie made answer That she had rather for a time returne into France while her Husband did more truely discend into the errours and vnstaidnesse of his youth not willing any thing should be done to her Sonnes preiudice or her owne dishonour Whereunto Lidington replyed Wee of your Councell will looke to this well-enough But in any wise said Shee I prohibite you to performe any thing that may in the least manner blemish my honour or burthen my conscience Let things stand as they doe till God from aboue vouchsafe some fitter remedie I much feare lest that you iudge requisite for my good may redound to my hurt A few dayes after when the King was murdered after a most execrable manner wee are assured out of the inward touch and testimony of our Consciences that the E. Murray and Lidington were the Authors Proiectors and Plotters of this abominable Parricide whosoeuer the other were that put it in execution This is that which they affirmed in writing The Confederates aymed then at nothing else but how to free Bothwell of this Parricide Wherefore a Session of Parliament was ordained for this onely cause and apprehension of their bodies enioyned of whom the least suspition was conceiued and the Earle of Lenox accusing Bothwell and feruently vrging that he might come to a triall before the States were assembled it was granted and so command imposed vpon the Earle to appeare within twenty dayes But within the compasse of this time hauing receiued no instructions nor aduertisements from the Queenes Maiestie of England and in that hee could not liue without danger of his life in a place replenished with his enemies Earle Bothwell made his appearance and hauing Morton for his Aduocate preuayled in the cause and so was sent away absolu'd by the Sentence of all the Iudges This businesse being thus contriued the other Complices so wrought that diuers of the Nobility consented to the marriage whereof they made a Draft in Writing subscribed and sealed for feare that if it should euer be broken Bothwell might haue accused them to be the Authors of all that villany This marriage thus solemnized with Earle Bothwell who was created Duke of the Orcades caused euery one to surmize that the Queene was guiltie of this murder and the Conspirators strengthened the same opinion by Letters sent into all parts as likewise they held assemblies at Dundagh where they conspired to depose the Queene and destroy Earle Bothwell Although Murray because he would not appeare to be one of this Combination obtained leaue of the Queene to goe into France and for the remouing of all distrust hee re-commended to her Royall care and Bothwell's fidelitie all his proceedings and occasions whatsoeuer in Scotland He was scarcely arriued in France but they who absolued Bothwell of that crime and gaue consent to this marriage tooke vp armes as if they would haue seyzed on his person But in effect vnder-hand they priuily admonished him speedily to with-draw himselfe for feare lest being taken he might haue reuealed the whole Complot and that from his flight they might draw argument and subiect whereof to accuse the Queene for the murder of the King they seyzed on her person and entreated her so ignominiously and disgracefully that although shee had nothing on but a very homely night-Gowne yet they so clapt her vp in prison at Lake-Leuin vnder the custody of Earle Murray's Mother who was Iames the 5. his Concubine who further persecuted her with most shamelesse malice during her restraint boasting how shee was lawfull Wife to Iames the 5. and her Sonne lawfully descended from him So soone as Queene ELIZABETH had certaine notice of all these proceedings detesting in her heart this vnbrideled insolency of Subiects towards a Princesse who was her Sister and Neighbour terming them perfidious rebellious ingratefull and cruell Shee sent into Scotland Nicho. Throgmorton to complaine hereof vnto the Confederates and to consult of some meanes how to restore the Queene to her former liberty and authority for the punishments of the Kings murderers and that the yong Prince might bee sent into England rather than into France for his more secure preseruation and safety For that which passed successiuely while Throgmorton lay in Scotland I will deliuer it faithfully euen as I collected it out of his owne Letters which questionlesse are very sincere and well approued of Many in Scotland were very much incens'd against the Queene insomuch as they absolutely refus'd to behold her as likewise Villeroy and De Croc Ambassadours for France Yet the Conspirators could not agree among themselues how to dispose of her The Lord of Lidington and some others were of opinion to haue her re-established in her authority vpon these conditions That the Murderers of the KING should be punished according to the Lawes and the young Prince his safety procured That Bothwell should be separated from her by a firme Diuorce and Religion established Others perswaded a perpetuall banishment of her eyther into France or England so the Queene of England or King of France would be content to be Cautions and Pledges that shee should transferre all the Regall authority to her Sonne and some other great and eminent persons of the Kingdome Againe some would haue cited her to a peremptory triall haue had her
the exercise of his owne Religion forbidden him Wherein I am not able to say whether the Spaniards shewed greater hatred to Queene ELIZABETH or to Religion considering that at the same time she vsed all manner of humanity to Guzman the Spanish Ambassadour in England permitting him the exercise of his religion Her Maiestie was wonderfully moued with this Insult esteeming it offered to her own person in that they vsed her Ambassadour so as likewise for the iniurie which was done at the same instant to one Iohn Hawkins This man went to traffique at the Port of S. Iohn de Vlua within the Mexican Gulfe hauing fiue Ships laden with merchandize and some Negro slaues of whom the English then made ordinary sale hauing learn'd it of the Spaniards but I know not with what honour they might so doe The day after his arriuall came in also the King of Spaine's Fleet which because he would not violate the Peace he suffered peaceably to enter into the Port though he might haue hindred it obtayning first a firme promise of security for himselfe and his people vpon certaine prouisoes and conditions The Spaniards thus entered scorning to haue conditions imposed vpon them in their owne Proprieties obserued a fit time and falling vpon the English slew many of them seized on three of their Ships and made pillage of the goods a victory notwithstanding that cost themselues much blood This treacherous Action caused the Souldiers and Sea-men of England to murmur vrging them to call out for warre against the Spaniard and dayly exclaiming how they were breakers of Peace and Accord because it was agreed vpon between the Emperour Charles the fifth and HENRY the Eighth that commerce should bee free betweene their Subiects in all and each of their Kingdomes and Dominions as also in the Ilands not excepting so much as America which then appertayned to Charles About the same time the second day of May the prisoner Queene at Lake-Leuin made an escape out of prison and retired to Hamilton Castle by meanes of George Dowglasse to whose Brother shee was committed in guard where vpon the testimonies of R. Meluin and others and with an vnanimous consent of all the Nobles who flockt thither in great numbers Sentence definitiue was vttered That the Grant or Resignation extorted by meere feare from the prisoner Queene was void from the beginning and the Queene her selfe beeing present tooke a solemne Oath that it was extorted and forced from her By meanes whereof in two dayes such multitudes of men repayred to her out of all parts as she raised an Army of sixe thousand braue Souldiers who notwithstanding when they came to ioyne battell with Murray fighting rather hare-braindly then with wit or discretion they were soone discomfited This timorous Lady beeing daunted with that hard successe betooke her selfe to flight and rode the same day threescore miles when comming by night to Maxwel's house Baron of Heris she had rather expose herselfe to the mercy of the Sea and rely vpon Queen ELIZABETHS Protection than vpon the fidelity of her Subiects But yet before her embarking shee sent vnto her Iohn Beton with a Diamond that Queen ELIZABETH had formerly giuen her for a gage of their mutuall loue and amitie to the end to aduertise her that shee meant to come into England and demand succour of her if her owne Subiects any longer pursued her by course of Warre Queene ELIZABETH promised her all the kindnesse and loue of a Royall Sister but she not staying the returne of the Messenger committed her selfe to a small Vessell against the aduice and counsell of her friends and so the seuenteenth of May with the Barons Heris and Flemming and some fewe others came to Werrington in Cumberland neere to the mouth of the Riuer Derwenton and the same day shee wrote to Queene ELIZABETH a Letter in French the principall heads whereof I thinke good to set downe euen as I extracted them out of the originall Copie it selfe which comprehend a Relation of that which passed against her in Scotland more at large then what before I haue deliuered MY most deare Sister you very wel vnderstand how some of my Subiects whom I haue raised to soueraigne degrees of honor haue conspired to suppresse and imprison both mee and my Husband as also that when by force of Armes I had expelled them out of my Kingdome I receiued them againe into grace at your entreatie notwithstanding all this they violently entred into my Chamber and though I was great with Child cruelly slew mine owne seruant in my presence and shut vp my selfe vnder guard and close keeping When I pardoned them of this crime then presently they perpetrate another the which though it were plotted by them and had obliged themselues to the execution thereof by seal'd writings subscribed with their owne hands yet they imputed it to mee and were ready with armed power to seize vpon me But beeing confident in mine owne innocence for the sparing of blood I was content to yeeld my selfe vnto them Foorthwith they committed mee to prison beeing depriued of all my seruants except two wayting-Maides a Cooke and a Phisician enforcing me by menacings and terrors of death to resigne ouer the gouernment of the Kingdome refusing to heare either me or my Attourneys in a Conuention of the Estates summon'd by their owne authority onely stript off all my goods and denyed the meanes to speake with any After this by Gods direction I vsed a course to escape this imprisonment and beeing assisted with the whole Flowre of the Nobilitie who cheerefully made recourse vnto me out of all parts I put mine enemies in minde of their duety and of the fidelity they had sworne vnto me offered them pardon tooke order that each partie might bee heard in the Conuention of the Estates to the end the Common-wealth might no longer bee rackt and tormented with intestine mischiefes and for this effect I sent towards them two Messengers But they imprisoned both of them proclaimed them Traytors that assisted me and ordayned that they should presently forsake me I entreated them vnder publike warrant and safety to negotiate with the Baron of Boyd for the according of these differences but in this motion they also refused me Neuerthelesse I conceiued some hope that they might bee brought vnder obedience by your procurements but when I saw that I must either dye or vndergoe another imprisonment I thought to goe to Dunbritton and was onward in my way They opposed and way-laid me beat and ouerthrew my people my selfe beeing constrained to flie Then I retired to the Baron of Heris and with him repayred into your Kingdome relying on your Princely and Royall affection that you will ayde me in my need and by your example inuite others thereunto Wherefore I request you in all kinde affection that beeing so deepely plunged in many distresses as at this instant I am you will cause mee to be conducted out of
Florentine who had lyen a long time Factor in London vnderhand to stir vp the Papists against Queen ELIZABETH as questionlesse he very industriously performed and with great secresie A slender but maruelous weake suspition was rais'd of some priuie conferences were held at Yorke betweene the Earle of Lidington the Bishop of Rosse and the Duke of Norfolke who being sollicited to employ his aduice and care for the safety of the afflicted Queen by the Earle and the Bishop who promised to marry him to her with a modest answere he made refusall thereof promising neuerthelesse that hee would not forsake her in her aduersities so far as might safely stand with his honour and the dutie and fidelity he ought to his Prince This suspicion was greatly augmented by meanes of Ligan one of the Dukes seruants being a great Papist by reason of the daily goings and commings he made to Bolton Castle which belonged to my Lord Scroope where the Queene of Scots was kept by Francis Knowles vnder colour to visit and salute his wife who was the Dukes Sister And though nothing was yet certainely knowne neuerthelesse the Queene was remooued from Bolton where a number of Papists dwelt neere together on all sides to be conducted to Tudberry situated in the heart of the Kingdome and was committed to the keeping of the Earle of Shrewsburie Queene ELIZABETH was then the more carefull both of her owne and of the safety of Religion and the Common-wealth because the Guizes in France and the Duke of Alua in the Low-Countries had begun to put in execution those Dessignes they proiected formerly at Bayon touching the vtter extirpation of the Protestants Religion For the Propositions of Peace set downe in France about the beginning of this yeere came to nothing For Edicts were publisht whereby the exercise of the Protestant Religion was absolutely prohibited they that made profession thereof depriued of their publike places the Ministers commanded to depart the Realme within a prefixt time they were threatned with warre all ouer runne vpon in euery place and cruelties practised against them though Queene ELIZABETH vsed many and importunate intreaties by her Ambassadour Seris to bring them to a firme and solid Peace perswading the King not to excite mens stomacks by vnseasonable courses and that he should take heed of them who by remouing from about him his faithfull Subiects laboured so to breake and dis-vnite the Forces of France that it might be exposed as a prey to other Nations When he made no account of her Entreaties or Remonstrances and forbare not to draw out of Italy Germany and Spaine both money and men to re-enforce Queene ELIZABETH also not to abandon them who ioyned with her in one and the same cause she sent an hundred thousand Crownes in pieces of gold cald Angels with great warlike preparations to the Protestants who then professed religiously that they tooke not vp Armes to make warre vpon the King but onely to defend themselues and shee with all humanity entertain'd the French that made their refuge into England as also the Flemmings who seeing that the Duke of Alua breathed nothing but blood and slaughter were in great multitudes retired thither as to an Asyle and planted by permission both at Norwich Glocester Sandwich Maidstone and Southhampton to the singular benefit certainely of England For they were the first that brought in the Art and knowledge of making those light Stuffes which are called Bayes and Sayes with other such like of linnen and woolen But because I must often commemorate the warres of Flanders as linkt and combin'd with the interest affaires of England I shall not digresse much from my purpose if I heere relate how they tooke their beginning When the Spaniard would by no prayers nor intreaties mitigate his bloody Edicts against Religion and those who made profession thereof in the Low-Countries but in stead thereof exercised all manner of cruelty against mens consciences by the meanes of the Spanish Inquisition prohibited all the Assemblies of the States Prouinciall of the Low-Countries which is the onely and most vsuall remedy for the appeasing and according of their differences but gouerned the Common-Wealth by Acts digested in Spaine and not by the Councels of the people of the same Countreys it so happened that a few of the very scumme of the Vulgar sort tooke certaine Images in euery place out of the Churches and tumultuously brake them in pieces and though this Tumult was as soone appeased as excited yet following their counsell who desired to impose a yoke on this Nation strongly bent to liberty and taking occasion from the temerity of some few particulars he entoyled all the people with a publike Delict of manifest Rebellion and as if they had then lost all their liberty to inuade the Gouernment he sent Ferdinando Aluarez Duke of Alua a cruell and bloody man who beeing constituted supreme Gouernour contrary to the ancient customes and immunities of the Countrie though hee was in no sort a Prince of Blood rais'd a long and fearefull Warre abridging the Authority of former Iurisdictions erecting new Tribunals condemning the Nobility of the Country by the ministery and prosecution of such as were not their Iudges putting them to death placing Spanish Garrisons in the Borroughs and Townes building Citadels and for each alienation and commotion drawing by force out of their purses the tenth part of their immouables and the twentieth part of their mouable goods At the very selfe-same time it happened that certaine Marchants of Genoa and other parts of Italy sent out of Spaine into Flanders a quantity of coine to haue it put out to vse in a great Ship of Biscay and foure lesse which the Spaniards tearme Zabres which beeing chased by Chasteler a French-man and defended by Winter an English-man had much adoe to saue themselues in the Ports of Plimouth Fawmouth and Southhampton in England So soone as the Queene was aduertised of it she commanded all the Magistrates of those Ports to vse the Spaniards very kindly and to defend their Shipping from the French and G. D'espes Knight of the Order of Calatraua Ambassadour Leager of the King of Spaine in England fearing the French obtayned of the Queene who thought verily that this money had belonged to the Spaniard that new Mandates might bee sent downe for the defence of these ships against the French who lay in wayte for them and afterwards hee vsed the meanes to haue this money brought into England and from thence to Antwerpe by Sea But in the meane while the French had almost taken away one of the Ships which had bin perform'd but that they were repell'd by the English And therefore it was thought expedient to land it for better security which was done out of hand But notwithstanding it was not all brought on shore for D' Espes supposing the Queenes intention to be other then is was gaue the D. of Alua to vnderstand how
of London for intertaining clandestine conferences with the Earle of Southampton a most deuoted man to the Romish Religion In the meane time Sussex accompanied with the Lord Scroope with Companies of Souldiers being gone againe into Scotland burn'd the Villages in the Valley of Annandale ruined the Castle of Annandale which belonged to Heris and the Castle of Caer-Laueroc belonging to Maxwell who had made some pillaging incursioÌ„s into England and brought them to such distresse who continued on the Queene of Scotlands side that the Duke of Chastelraut and the Earles of Huntley and Argathell send them a promise in writing sealed vnder their hands obliging themselues thereby no longer to maintaine warres and to abandon the English Rebels This being done hee forthwith returned and for their valour Knighted Hastings Russell Browne Hilton Stapleton and Musgraue and himselfe afterwards for his approued wisdome and vertue was admitted to be of the Queenes Priuy Councell ELIZABETH hauing her thoughts full of doubts with various suspitions by reason of this Bull and Norfolkes conspiracy sent vnto the Queene of Scotland being then at Chettesworth in the Countie of Darbie Cecil and Walteâ—â— Mildmay who in regard the waters were risen aboue measure it being in the Moneth of October came thither with much difficultie to consult with her about the most conuenient meanes how to compound the variance in Scotland for the restoring of her to her former estate to secure ELIZABETH and prouide for the safetie of her young Sonne Shee could say nothing but deplore her afflicted condition and complayned of the fraudulent deuices of Count Murray iustified the Duke of Norfolke and reposed all her hope on the courtesie of ELIZABETH vnderstanding that shee had the generall gouernement of the affaires of Scotland as well as of England They propounded vnto her that to conclude a certaine peace betweene the two Kingdomes she ought to oblige her selfe to confirme the Treatie of Edenborrough and disclaime the title and right which shee pretended to England so long as ELIZABETH or any issue of her body should liue Not to renew or entertaine any alliance with any Prince whatsoeuer against England Not to admit any forreine troupes into Scotland nor hold any Councell with the English or Irish without notice first giuen to ELIZABETH To send backe the English Fugitiues and Rebels to satisfie the dammages done vpon the Frontiers To make search according to the Law of the Murder aswell of Darley her Husband as of Murray and deliuer her Sonne into England for a pledge Not to contract her selfe in marriage with any English man without acquainting the Queene of England nor with any other contrary to the Ordinances of Scotland That the Scots might not goe for Ireland without leaue of the Queene of England That for the performance of these things the Queene and the Commissioners appointed for the same shall thereto set their hands and Seales Six Hostages whom the Queene of England would nominate should be sent into England That if the Queene of Scotland or any other by her procurement attempted any thing against her she should in that reâ—pect alone be cut off from all right which shee might claime in England That the Castles of Hume and Fast-Castle were held from the English for three yeeres space That shee should deliuer into their hands certaine Forts in the Countrey of Galloway or Cantire to the end that the Borderers on that coast might not inuade Ireland And lastly that the State of Scotland should confirme al these things by Act of Parliament To these things her selfe suddenly with great dexteritie and wisdome made answere neuerthelesse referred it to be answered more fully by the Bishop of Rosse her Ambassadour in England Alexander Gorden Bishop of Galloway and to the Baron Leuinstone deputed by Her lieutenants of Scotland who afterwards allowing some of these Articles and reiecting others made answer as here followeth THat it was reasonable to confirme the Treatie of Edenborrough and renounce the title of England during the life of ELIZABETH but as concerning the ancient alliance of France it was to be considered that if they did not intertaine that still the Queene should lose her dowrie the 100. armed Men and the 124. Souldiers of the Scottish Guard being Archers the Merchants Schollers and many who are to haue inheritance their pensions and immunities which they enioy shall be cast out and depriued of them and of the loue and assistance of a most puissant Nation which things if the English did not amply satisfie the Queene of Scotland could in no manner renounce this alliance But that shee would not entertaine any forraigne souldiers vnlesse such rebellion might happen which could not be suppressed by the strength of the Countrey That she would haue no intelligence or keepe correspondancie with any of the English to the preiudice of England prouided that the Q. of England on the other side intertayned none with the Scots to the preiudice of Scotland That if there were any English Rebels and Fugitiues in Scotland they might demand them of the Scottish Rebels who were for the more part neere as they to examine by deputies the dammages which they had receiued and make inquiry according to the Lawes of Scotland of the death of Darley and Murray That shee could not deliuer the King in pledge in regard hee was in their custodie who vnder his name coloured the Rebellion against the Queene That it was a strange innouation that a free Princesse should receiue Lawes from a stranger-Prince or his Subiects for her marriage That the Scots should not passe into Ireland to any preiudice of the Queene of England prouided that the Irish were by a reciprocall Law obliged not to passe into Scotland Agreed for confirmation of the securitie to giue such pledges as the Queene of England should nominate the Duke of Chastelraut and the Earles of Huntley Argathell and of Athole excepted Furthermore it shall be in their power to exclude the Queene of Scots from all right of Succession in England if shee should goe about to doe any thing contrary to the right and authoritie of the Queene of England so that the Queene of England would be bound in the like penaltie if shee should doe any thing against the power and priuiledge of the Queene of Scotland They demand that restitution be made of Castle-Hume and Fast-Castle to the Baron of Hume being the Lord to whom by right they appertaine and the English to hold them no longer To deliuer vp the Forts in Galloway and Cantire were to no other end but to minister a new occasion of warre When these things could in no wise bee agreed vpon neither any Commissioners came from the Vice-Roy of Scotland in the meane while it was divulged all abroad that the Pope the King of France and the Duke D' Alua was importunately sought vnto for ayde to set the Queene of Scotland at libertie and the English Rebels the Earle of
that it was heard by the Neighbours a great wayes off raised vp it selfe as if it had wakened out of a profound sleepe and forsaking his deepe bed below mounted vp into an higher place carrying with it the Trees which were rooted thereupon the Shepheards Tents and the Flockes of Sheepe feeding thereon Some Trees were almost quite couered with Earth as if they had but newly taken root there It left in the place from whence it departed an ouerture of fortie foot wide and 80. elles long the whole field was twenty Akers or thereabouts It ouerthrew a little Chappell neere vnto it carryed from the East into the West an Yew-tree which was planted in the Church-yard and with its violence draue vp before it high-wayes with Shepheards Caues with Plants and Trees which were thereon It made mountaines leuell and arable grounds mountainous as if then they had took their beginnings And thus from Saturday at night vntill Munday noone next following it rested not till at last as if it were then tyred with the long way and wearied with its weighty burthen A little before there was celebrated in France at Mesires sur Meuse the marriage betweene Charles the Fourth King of France and Elizabeth of Austrich the Daughter of Maximilian the Emperour with great and royall pompe Elizabeth to testifie her ioy with honour according to the entyre affection shee bore vnto the Emperour whom she honoured as her father and to shew her loue vnto the King of France her Neighbour and Confederate and for her owne honour sent into France T. Sackuil Baron of Buckhurst who according to his owne worth and his Princes dignitie was magnificently intertained Hee was accompanied with Guido Caulcancius a Florentine a man of great experience with whom the Queene-Mother of France mannaging the affaires of her and her children openly treated of a match betweene ELIZABETH and Henry the Duke of Aniou her Sonne and gaue him withall certaine Articles to present vnto ELIZABETH and after that the King of France made earnest suit for his Brother by Mauluoisie his Ambassadour ordinary La Motte F. Archant and de Foix who bestowed a whole yeere in solliciting ELIZABETH sometimes all together and otherwhiles seuerally This marriage did something fortifie their hope that the Romane Religion had taken no firme root in the Dukes heart as well in respect of his tender yeeres as being educated vnder Carualet who was much inclining to the Protestants Religion the hopes which they had by little and little to win him to the profession of it and the suppositions of the benefits which this marriage might bring to the reformed Religion hee being a young Prince and of a warlike disposition might by vniting the Forces of Germany and England bring the refractory Papists to obedience establish a perpetual league of peace betweene England and France and interrupt the designes of the Queene of Scotland the King of Spaine the Pope and the Irish Rebels sithence hee might ioyne vnto the Crowne of England the Dukedomes of Aniou Burbonnions and Auuergnia yeelding great Reuenues And it appeared that hee might adde greater things hereunto Lastly if this match were refused neuer would there be a more honourable match offered After diuers debatings the French propounded three Articles the first of which concerned the crowning of the Duke the second the gouernement of the Kingdome ioyntly with Queene ELIZABETH the third the toleration of their Religion To which answer was made THat the Queene could not agree without the consent of the State of the Kingdome that hee should be crowned after the marriage was accomplished but that she would willingly consent if the States thought good that vpon termes of marriage he should be graced with the matrimoniall Crowne so She termed it without doing any preiudice to her Maiestie nor to her Heires and Successors And that she would not fayle to make him discerne a most ample honour when hee was once her Husband As for the common gouernement shee thought it not vnfit to take for a Companion and Coadiutor in a coniunct administration him whom shee had honoured with the title of a King and her Husband And as for the toleration of the Religion which hee profest that shee could not giue her consent thereto for certaine causes which as I haue collected them out of the Letters of Queene ELIZABETH were these That howsoeuer the externall reuerence of Religion might bee tolerated between the Subiects of the same Kingdome vnder diuers manners and formes neuertheles this strange forme most repugnant of all which should bee betweene the Queene the head of her People and her husband seemed not onely dangerous but of all most auerse and disagreeing That She desired the King of France and the Queene his Mother equally to weigh in euen Ballance the perill which she should vnder-goe and on the other side the honour of the Duke of Anioâ— And that in tolerating his religion she violated the Lawes establisht in her Kingdome beget a distaste in her good Subiects lightened the heart of the wicked all which she verily should vndergoe for the honour of the Duke But the French-men vrged that if she liued without exercise of Religion shee seemed to haue none at all and that she would not for her Honour bee accounted an Atheist She on the contrary replyed THat if she did but husbandize those seedes of pure Religion which were in him and receiue increase thereof he should see within a short time that it would redound greatly to his Honour In the end they came so farre that if the Duke would assist with the Queene in the celebration of Diuine Seruice and not refuse to heare and learne the Doctrine of the Protestants She would condiscend that neither hee nor his people should be constrained to vse the Ceremonies and Fashions accustomed in the English Church nor molested if they vsed other Ceremonies not vtterly repugnant to the Word of God prouided that they vsed them in priuate places and that they ministred no occasion to the English of violating their Lawes establisht De Foix vpon these words To the Word of God paused a little Queene ELIZABETH to giue them content commanded that in stead of those words they should put in To the Church of GOD but the one pleasing no more then the other he desired that To the Catholike Church might be put in Queen ELIZABETH would no way assent thereunto and hereupon this matter began to waxe colder by little and little Some are perswaded that this Match was not seriously vndertooke by the King of France and the Queene his Mother but onely to the end that the remembrance of a match contracted with a Protestant Princesse might bee a testimonie vnto the Protestants of their sincere meaning vnto them and to preuent the match which they suspected to be treated of with the King of Nauar whom the King of France would haue married to his Sister The like opinion was of
he thought it would be very dangerous Letters also were brought in which the Queene of Scots had written to the Duke importing that shee was much grieued that the Earle of Northumberland was apprehended before hee had taken vp Armes in the Rebellion For whether shee vnderstood this by report or it was inuented of purpose I cannot say To this the Duke answered THat by these reasons it could not probably bee inferred that hee had laboured the destruction of the Queene neither was any thing that hath hitherto bin produced of any moment against him excepting the testimony of the Bishop of Rosse and that also of him being a forreiner by the authoritie of Bracton a man most expert in our Lawes in no wise is to be admitted That he neuer had Northumberland or Westmerland in such esteeme that hee would commit his life into their hands and that his innocencie was such a sure rampire to him that hee neuer meditated of any escape for himselfe Then Gerard the Queenes Attourney spake It is more than sufficiently apparant that the Duke would haue espoused the Queene of Scots to destroy the Queene of England The Letters which he hath writtē to the Pope the King of Spaine and Duke d'Alua doe iustifie that hee had a determination to inuade England That which hee consulted of with Ridolfe was now likewise openly knowne by the obscure Characters which were found hidden vnder the tiles in the house of the Howards and by the Letters also which he commanded to be burnt but were found at the entry of his Chamber vnder the Matte And all these things may easily bee proued by the interrogatories and answeres of them that haue not beene affrighted with torments nor condemned to haue attempted ought against the State To which the Duke replyed I Haue not quoth hee beene eyther author or fauourer of the counsels and deliberations holden with the Pope or Spaniard but to the contrary I haue alwayes reproued and disallowed them Those that haue offended let them suffer and not discharge them vpon me Besides all this Gerard accused the Duke that hee had consulted with Ridolfe for the landing of tenne thousand men out of Flanders at Harwich a Port in Essex and this was iustified out of the examination of Barker That Letters were written by Ridolfe to the King of Spaine and Duke d'Alua to which although the Duke subscribed not yet by the counsell of Rosse hee sent Barker his Secretary as Ambassadour to auerre them to be the Dukes owne Letters MY memory replyeth the Duke beginneth to falter neither can it containe such an intricate varietie of matters You other pleaders haue your notes and memorialls with you but I must ex tempore answere to all mine accusers But surely it is not probable that I who haue alwayes beene contrary to the Roman Religion should entertaine a treatie with the Pope I had a great deale rather be torne in pieces with wilde Horses than to depart from the Religion which I professe Consider but the situation of Harwich and it will easily annihilate the accusation Who sees not how difficult a thing it is to leade an Armie thorow that part of the Countrey which is round inclosed with hedges and most incommodious by reason of the streight and narrow wayes and passages Had I had a determination to rayse an army against my Princesse without doubt I would not haue beene vnprouided of Armes but I haue not for these tenne yeeres past bought any more than eight Corslets and for Gunpowder not any at all I neuer committed any Letters to the trust of Barker but rather of Banister that was to mee more than many Barkers Then were the intercepted Letters of the Bishop of Rosse which he writ in Prison to the Queene of Scots produced by which what things were before spoken were confirmed The Duke requested to see them for it seemed that he suspected them to be supposed But the Iudge answered You need not call them in question for they are written with the Bishops owne hand Besides these a little Letter was brought forth which the Duke had written in Okar to one of his Seruants wherein hee commanded him to burne the packet which was hidden in a certaine place and to turne the fault vpon the Bishop who by the priuiledge of an Ambassadour might delude the Law To which the Duke replyed in these words Being certified that it was diuulged abroad that many had accused mee I answered by this Letter and seeing all things were so neerely searcht into I commanded that packet should be burnt because I would saue others from danger Bromley the Queenes Sollicitor presented the Letters of Ridolfe wherein was conteined that the Duke d'Alua had approued the designe likewise the Letters of the Pope to the Duke dated the fourth of the Nones of May. Then Wilbraham made a faire discourse concerning what credit should be giuen to the testimonies of the Bishop and of the Dukes seruants whereto the Duke made answere CErtes it falls not vnder the power of my faculties to frame a replication to such an elegant and polished Oration Yet this Oratour such and so great as he is hath omitted to speake how great the violence of feare is which oftentimes doth remoue a firme and wel-composed minde out of its place and state Againe hee alledged Bracton against the credit giuen to forreine witnesses But Catelin answered that in such causes as this the testimonies of Strangers were auaileable and that it was in the power of the Peeres eyther to giue or deny them credit Now was that matter come to be proued that the Duke had succoured the rebellious Fugitiues which was found apparant by the Letters of the Countesse of Northumberland in which shee gaue the Duke great thankes for the money wherewith he furnished her husband and her selfe Finally the last obiection of the relieuing of those Scots which were enemies to the Queene was prooued by the Letters of the Duke to Banister by Banisters confession and by the Mony which was deliuered to Browne of Shropshire Hereupon the Duke demanded of the Iudges Whether the Subiects of another Prince confederate with the Queene may be accounted enemies to the Queene Catelin answered They might and that the Queene of England might make warre with any Duke in France and in the meane time obserue a peace with the King of France But as the night began to approch the Lord high Steward demanded of the Duke if he had any thing more to speake for himselfe The Duke answered In the equitie of the Lawes I repose my trust Then hee commanded the Lieutenant of the Tower to retyre with the Duke awhile after silence was proclaimed turning to the Peeres hee thus spake to them YOu haue heard how Thomas Duke of Norfolke being accused of Laesae Maiestatis and not confessing himselfe guiltie hath committed his cause to GOD and to you It is your part then
enuy among themselues so as neither of them obtained their end and purpose At that very time a pleasing serenity seemed to shine vpon the Protestants in France and Charles the Ninth pretending onely a warre in Flanders which he affirmed to be the preseruation of France and couering himselfe with this maske he feigned as though hee meant to contract alliance and amitie with the Queene of England and the Princes of Germanie to giue some testimony herein of his loue to the Protestants whose absolute ruine notwithstanding he couertly intended And as if he leaned to them of the one side and the Spaniard on the other hee substituted to this end the Duke de Mont-Morancy Birag de Anbisine the Bishop of Limoges and of Foix. The Queene of England who truely apprehended the secret plots and stratagems of the Duke of Alua deputed Sir Thomas Smith and Sir Francis Walsingham And Articles were drawne betweene them whereof you shall see an abridgement in the same expresse words and termes THis alliance shall not tye Princes allyed to leaue other Treaties past betweene them so they be not opposite and contrary thereunto There shall be a Confederation League and Vnion betweene them to defend themselues mutually against all who vnder some pretext or any other occasion whatsoeuer shall inuade or attempt to inuade their persons or Territories whereof they are now possest It shall remaine firme betweene them not onely while they liue but also betweene their Successours so the Heire of the first deceased giue notice to the suruiuant within the space of a yeere by Ambassadours and Letters that hee accepts of the same conditions Otherwise the suruiuant shall be reputed discharged of the obseruance of the same It shall bee validious against all yea and euen against those that are ioyned in affinitie to the one or other Prince and against all other Alliances contracted or to contract If the Queene of England be required to send succours by Letters sealed and subscribed with the King of France his owne hand shee shall be bound to passe ouer into France within two moneths after a thousand foot armed or fiue hundred Horse at her choyce whom the King must pay from the first day of their arriuall in France Shee was to send for the warre of Flanders eight Ships of equall greatnesse wherein twelue hundred Souldiers must be imployed with all things necessary and there must bee no Marriners nor Souldiers but English but yet they must be commanded by the Admirall of France payed and victualled by the King from the first day they enter into Seruice Shee was also to victuall her Ships for two Moneths which the King was also to pay within two moneths And if the Queene be moued to any warre the King hauing receiued Letters subscribed with her owne hand was to send ouer into England or Ireland within two Moneths sixe thousand foot or at her choyce fiue hundred Conductors armed at all poynts who should bring fifteene hundred Horse and about three thousand foot with good Horse and Armes after the French manner whom shee must pray from the time they set foot in her Countries And for the warre by Sea he was to furnish eight Shippes with twelue hundred Souldiers in manner and forme aboue mentioned Order agreed vpon for succours and pay to be digest in writing running in this forme that the one shall bee bound to sell vnto the other Armes and all necessary things to the Prince assayled They shall innouate nothing in Scotland but defend it against Strangers and permit them to enter and nourish the Scottish partialities But the Queene of England was permitted to pursue with Armes those amongst them who maintained or fostered the English Rebels who were at that present in Scotland That this Alliance shall be so taken and vnderstood as the onely proprietie and meaning of the words imported Each of the two Princes shall confirme euery one of these Articles by Patents and faithfully and really to deliuer them into the hands of Ambassadours for the one and other within three moneths For ratification of this Alliance on the behalfe of the King of France the Queene of England sent into France the Earle of Lincolne Admirall with a great traine of Gentlemen among which were these Barons the Lord Dacres the Lord Rich the Lord Talbot the Lord Sands and others And the King of France sent into England Anne Duke de Mont-Morancie and Monsieur de Foix with a magnificent traine that in the presence of them and Messieurs de Saligna and de la Mottef his Ambassadour ordinary the Queene might reciprocally confirme the same with oath which was performed at Westminster the seuenteenth of Iune and the day after the Queenes Maiestie with the consent of the French inuested with the Order of Saint George the Duke de Mont-Morancy in gratefull commemoration of the loue which Anne Constable of France manifested vnto her to whom HENRY the Eighth vouchsafed the same honour out of the loue he bare to the House of Mont-Morancy who carries the title of the first Christian of France and is there held for most Noble While Mont-Morancy remayned in England hee moued certaine propositions in the King of France his name that the Queene of Scots might there finde fauour so farre as it might be performed without danger That there might be a cessation of Armes in Scotland and that a Concord might be established by Act of Parliament And if a Parliament could not commodiously be summoned that some might be elected of the one and other part among the Scots to repayre to London to settle affaires with the Deputies of the King of France and Queene of England But answere was made him That more fauour had been shewed to the Queene of Scots than shee deserued and yet for the King of France more should be shewed her though the Estates of the Kingdome assembled had iudged how the Queene of England could not liue in security except some rigor were vsed to her That the Queene had carefully employed her whole power to establish Concord and procure a cessation of Armes hauing for this end lately sent into Scotland Sir William Drewry Gouernour of Berwicke with de la Croce the French Ambassadour But they could by no meanes induce Grange to peace nor the Garrison of the Castle of Edenborrough out of the hope they conceiued to bee succoured from France and Flanders though Huntley and Hamilton Arbroth for the Duke their Father had obliged themselues in writing to Queene ELIZABETH to enter it and other of the Queenes partakers had plighted their faith and promise thereunto After these motiues hee also propounded many other touching the marriage of the Duke of Aniou but in that they could not agree about some circumstances concerning Religion the matter grew hopelesse and he returned into France when there was preparation of the Nuptials betweene Henrie King of Nauarre with Margarite Sister to the King of
returne backe againe as he came But so soone as her Maiesty heard how Henrie Duke of Aniou his Brother had beene elected King of Poland Also the French King to be grieuously sicke shee sent word to the Duke of Alanzon to take not as yet his iourney for England alledging him these reasons THe Protestants Massacre lately most cruelly acted on the Bloudy Theater of all France and in hatred of their Religion during the solemnizations and recreations of a marriage That hee hauing already heretofore sought her to Wife the Protestants of England partly suspected fatall the Nuptials and the more sith himselfe transported of a courage enemy to the Protestants had gone in person to besiege Rochell and had written of all parts that hee would come to see her Maiestie presently after the taking of the said City insomuch that hee seemed rather to hate the Protestants Religion than to beare affection or loue to the Queenes Maiestie and that this caused the best part of England to suspect that hee would come into their Countrey to marry the Queene with a Sword dyed in the bloud of those poore Christians who professed their owne Religion Therefore her Maiesty friendly counselled him FIrst to procure and mediate a Peace in France to yeeld some worthy proofe and noted testimony of his affection to the Protestants of France to be the better welcome in England and the more graciously receiued according to his desire Since this Peace was re-established in France the exercise of Religion granted in certaine places to the Protestants The King and the Queene desired nothing more than the absence of the Duke of Alanzon because he was of a harsh and seuere nature inclined to trouble their States affaires they did their best and vsed their vttmost endeuoures to effect the match and by like meanes prayed Qu. ELIZABETH to permit to their other sonne the Duke of Aniou if he should goe by sea to Poland Authority to saile vnder publike assurance vpon Great-Brittaines Sea This their request her Maiestie granted not only most willingly but more shee offered him a Fleet of Ships to conuay him in the meane while the Duke of Alanzon fell sicke of the small poxe and the Queene his mother giuing aduice thereof to Queene ELIZABETH by the Earle of Rez excuseth him by reason of his sicknesse for not comming into England Gondy met Queene ELIZABETH at Canterbury where she entertained him with great magnificence and the same time Matthew Parker Arch-bishop of Canterbury celebrating the Queenes birth-day which was the seuenth of September in the Arch-bishops Hall very spacious and by him newly repaired inuited the Queen thither and Gondy and la Motto and feasted them with like number of Nobility that Charles the fifth and HENRY the Eighth had being feasted in the same Hall in the yeere 1519. In Scotland Iames Dowglasse Earle of Morton beeing elected Vice-Roy of Scotland in Murray's place by the meanes of Queene ELIZABETH and his authority made sure by the Assembly of the States in the name of the King established these Lawes for confirming Religion against Papists and Heretickes and made sure Alexander Areskin Earle of Marre the Kings Gardian by speciall right being as yet in his minority vpon these Conditions THat the Papists and Factious persons should be excluded from hauing accesse to his person an Earle might be admitted to him with two seruants only and a Baron with one all others alone and without weapons In the Interim the French hauing sent Viriack who endeuoured what he could to supplant the Vice-Roy before he should be authorized set to oppose him the Earles of Athole and Huntley promising them a reward Queene ELIZABETH to counter-scarfe these designes let the Scots vnderstand by H. Killigrewe that this cruell Massacre of Paris had bin put in execution by the conspiracy of the Pope and the Kings of France and Spaine to exterminate the Protestants And therefore warned them to take heed lest being corrupted either with Pensions from France or deuided by Factions they open a way to Stranger Forces which were thought should be conducted by Strossie To oppose themselues all vallianty and with equall courage against it for defence of Religion which was the only bond of concord betweene the English and the Scots And to be very carefull to preserue their King or to send him into England to preuent his taking away and carrying into France Neuerthelesse some great Ones partakers with the imprisoned Queene would in no sort acknowledge the Authority either of the King or his Vice-Roy vntill Queene ELIZABETH by interposing her power had by the Agencie of Killigrew brought the Duke of Chastelraut and the Earle of Huntley who were the principals among them to these Conditions which were equall enough THat they should acknowledge the Religion established in Scotland submit themselues to the King and to the Gouernement of the Earle of Morton and his successours and renounce the authority of all others That all those which should enterprize any thing against the Religion the King and the Vice-Roy should be adiudged Traitours by Act of Parliament The sentences giuen against the Hamiltons and the Gordons should be cut off and annihilated except those which concerned the murdering of the Earles of Murrey and Lenox Vice-Royes which should stand according to the pleasure of Queene ELIZABETH Who neuerthelesse sent this businesse backe to the King and was of opinion that this Clause ought to be added to it Vntill that the King being come to age should take the Gouernement of the Realme according to the Law of the Kingdome And that of all and euery crime committed since the fifteenth of Iune 1567 the Murder of the Earle of Lenox excepted pardon should be granted to all that would aske it Notwithstanding it was thought good for the safety of the King lest hee should bee exposed to murder that the Queene of England should promise by a publike Instrument that neither the Hamiltons nor any other should be adiudged for the murdering of the Vice-Royes or fined without her consent And that was ordered in the Assembly of States for the settling of a publike peace in a turbulent season Howbeit Kirckall Lord of Grange who had beene established Captaine of Edenborrough Castle after he had taken oath in the Kings name and the Baron of Hume Lidington the Bishop of Dunkeld and others thinking that iniustice was done to the Queene of Scotland would by no meanes admit of these Conditions but with vndaunted Courage contemned the authority both of the King and Vice-Roy kept and fortified the Castle in the Queenes name by the counsell of Lidington thinking themselues sure in regard of the strength of the place which is of a most difficult accesse and of the Munition which were in it for there all Munition Royall is kept and of the Succours promised by the Duke D'Alua and the King of France who had vnder-hand sent them some money the greater part whereof
Councell concerning my affaires and Country for that were extreame indiscretion You know how my Aduersaries triumph in Scotland both ouer mee and my imprisoned son I haue attempted nothing in Scotland to your preiudice but to stablish a solide peace in the Realme hauing by so much the more a greater care then your Councellors by how much my interest there is more then theirs I haue desired to gratifie my son with the title of King to confirme him and to burie all discords Is that to take the Diadem from him But the enemies of me and my family will not haue it confirmed It is that that they dread whilst they carie in their heart a witnesse against themselues finding themselues culpable of euills apprehend they should bee dealt with accordingly Let not these and others my aduersaries so blind your eyes that during your life and in your sight they shall beare downe your nearest kindred and ruinate both the Crownes as to that end they are plotting villanies against me against my son and perhaps against you also Can it be any pleasure or honor to you that I and my son that you and we are by their meanes so long seeluded and kept asunder Resume your naturall goodnesse and meeknesse oblige your selfe to your selfe and seeing you are a Princesse be tender hearted to me a Princesse the nearest of your consanguinity that all things being set in quiet betwixt vs I may passe the more peacefully out of this life and that the sighes and sobbes of my afflicted soule ascend not to God on high To whose diuine power I present my daily prayers that these my iust complaints and sorrowfull laments my take place with you From Sheffield 8. Nouemb. 1582. Vostre tres-desolée plus proche parente affectionnée soeur MARIE R THE SIXE AND TWENTIETH YEERE of Her Raigne Anno Dom. M.D.LXXXIII ELIZABETH Queen of England being sundry wayes moued with these Letters after she had giuen permission to the French Ambassador La Mottef together with Dauison her owne Ambassador to goe into Scotland and had chosen out a time wherin he might opportunely meet with the Duke of Lenox vnawares then returning out of Scotland she her selfe kindely receiued Lenox yet gently blaming him for being somwhat slack in the Scottish affaires and forthwith sent Beale Clerke of her Priuie Councell for the dispatch of her Letters being indeed a man very austere and sharpe to the Queene of Scots to manifest the discontent of Queene ELIZABETH at the sight of her complaining Letters and by the same meanes to treat with the Earle of Shrewsbury concerning her enlargement because she oftentimes before with sundry Letters had sollicited for it and intreated that shee might yet at last her security being established to her inioy her libertie and be an associate with her sonne in the administration of Scotland Vpon these things was the Priuy Councell of England assembled where after serious debating and deliberate consultations it was at length agreed that the Queene of Scots should be set at libertie vnder these following conditions THat if she and her sonne would promise not to enterprise any thing to the preiudice of Queene ELIZABETH or the Realme of England That shee would confesse that whatsoeuer Francis the second King of France her husband had vndertaken and performed was altogether against her will and liking and that shee would disproue and disanull it as vniust That shee would confirme the Treaty holden at Edenbourgh That shee would freely and ingenuously confesse and discouer all other complots intendments which were since that time forged and would vtterly condemne the same That if shee would enter into obligation not to plot or doe any thing directly or indirectly to the impeachment of the gouernment or administration of the Kingdome of England either in things Ecclesiasticall or Ciuill but to resist and hinder all those that should undertake in what manner so euer any thing to the contrary and to withstand them as enemies That she would not during the life of Queene ELIZABETH claime any Right or Title to the Kingdome of England and after her death to submit and referre the right of succession to the iudgement of the Estates If she also to cut off all equiuocations and mentall reseruations and to forestall all pretended excuses that shee as a Prisoner accorded and condiscended to these conditions or being in a manner constrained would confirme all these by her aoth and the publique authoritie of the States of Scotland If the King likewise would ratifie the self-same conditions both by oath and writing and for the more assurance would deliuer hostages for the performance As concerning the association which the Queene of Scots demanded to haue with her sonne in the gouernment of the Kingdome it was holden expedient by the Councell that the Queene of England should not intermeddle therewith But if they could agree vpon the association between themselues then should the League be ioyntly treated of with them both but if otherwise then apart with either seuerally Thus these things were debated on yet without any successe For the Scots which were of the English faction altogether reiected them crying out aloud that certaine Scots sworne enemies to England by the Councell of the Queene of Scots were recalled out of France and that Holt an English Iesuite was secretly sent into Scotland there to attend a fit opportunitie to inuade England Then there arose strife betweene Monsieur de La Mottef and Monsieur de Maninguill Ambassadors of France of the one part and Bowes and Dauison Ambassadors for England on the other side which of them by insinuating should induce the King to the greater affectation of their Nation or purchase the greater number to their party vntill at length that with oblique designes they ingenuously became Counsellors either to other The King himselfe became as it were Mediator and knowing how to temper things honest with things profitable without prouing any way deficient either to the Church or the Common-wealth hee wisely endeuoured rather to calme the raging stormes of these factions then intermeddle with them But the Ministers of Scotland being by a certaine zeale prouoked against the French vpon the same day that La Mottef was by the Citizens of Edenborough inuited to a Feast appointed a Fast and the whole day vvith taunts and mocks derided and scoffed the King of France the Duke of Guise and the Ambassadors And as the Ministers did this openly so certain of the Scotch Nobilitie parties with the English ceased not to persecute the French Ambassadors secretly in such sort that first La Mottef retired himselfe and after him Maninguil leauing notwithstanding some certaine seeds of discord amongst those who had seaz'd and kept the Kings Person As soone as they were departed the King presented by Colonell Stuart and I. Coluil all affection and seruice to the Queene of England requesting her counsell for the allaying of troubles and also
or enterprize ought in France the King according to equitie would chastise them but whatsoeuer they had done in England the King would neither enquire after nor execute the Law vpon them That all Kingdomes were free and open to fugitiues and that euery King should labour to defend the liberties of his Kingdome That ELIZABETH her selfe had not long before receiued into her Realme Montgomerie the Prince of Conde and others of the French Nation And that at that time Seguri the King of Nauarre his Ambassador remained in England plotting new deuices against the King of France Whilst these things past on Bernardin Mendoza Spaines Ambassador in England secretly past into France murmuring and raging as if he contrarie to the right of Ambassie had beene forc'd out of England being indeed a man of violent and turbulent nature and hauing himselfe abused the holy and sacred rights of Ambassadors did deserue according to the opinion of many after the ancient seueritie to bee pursued with sword and fire Hee was commanded to depart the Realm because he had intermixt himselfe amongst those wicked conspiracies with Throckmorton and others that laboured for the bringing in of Strangers into England and dispossessing of the Queene for which being gently reproued he in stead of excusing and purging himselfe by a modest reply accused the Queene and her Councel about the money which was detained from the Geneuois for the aide and succours which were sent to the States of the Netherlands to the Duke of Anjou and to Antonio King of Portugall and also for the Pyracies of Drake But lest the King of Spaine should thinke the rights of Embassie vvere violated by this and not the offence of Mendoza reuenged W. Waade one of the Queenes Councell for the expedition of Letters was dispatched into Spaine there plainely to demonstrate how mischieuously Mendoza had behaued himselfe in his Ambassage And to signifie likewise lest the Queene should be thought by returning of Mendoza to renounce the ancient friendship between the Kingdomes that she was ready to performe all Offices of humanitie towards him if the King in Mendoza's place would send any other more carefull for the maintaining of friendship prouided that the like might be performed to her Ambassador in Spaine But the King disdaining to receiue or conferre with Waade referred him to his Councell Whereat Waade somewhat incensed boldly declared that it had beene an ancient custome ouer all that the Ambassadors should bee admitted to speake in presence euen of their enemies and in time of Warre And that the Emperor Charles the fifth father of the King gaue admittance to the Herald that denounced warre against him from the King of France refusing to impart to the Councell the tenour of his Ambassie Now Idiac Secretarie to the King of Spaine endeuoured himselfe much to come to the knowledge of those matters but his Art and policies failing him hee was fully instructed out of France of the whole passage by Mendoza Whereupon laying aside the quality of a publike person he familiarly declared to Waade that to his griefe hee saw many men which bent all their studies to breake and seuer with mischieuous deuices the Leagues and amity of Princes and to increase their enmities That the iniury was done to the King of Spaine himselfe and not to Ambassadors first on the person of Dispez and then of Mendoza That there was no reason why he should any more accuse Mendoza to the King that had receiued for his fault if hee committed any sufficient punishment being so ignominiously and disgracefully sent backe That the Catholique King had dealt iustly in rendering like for like and as the Queene had dismissed Mendoza without hearing but appointed him to bee heard by her Councell the King in like manner had appointed him to the Cardinall Granuellan To this Waade made answer that there was a large difference between himselfe that had neuer giuen the least distaste to the Catholike King and Mendoza who had highly grieuously offended the Queene hauing insolently a great space disdained and refused to come neere her and committed many things vnfitting and vnworthy an Ambassador Notwithstanding all this Waade could not bee admitted but returned into England without being heard All those crimes for the most part which were obiected against Mendoza were taken out of the confession of Throckmorton For when Throckmorton saw himselfe at the point of being apprehended hee sent vnto Mendoza a little trunke wherein were contained his secrets neuerthelesse his other trunkes being diligently searched there were found two Catalogues in one of which were contained the names of the Ports which were most appropriate and conuenient for the landing of their troopes in the other the names of such Noblemen in England as did entertaine and imbrace the Roman Religion Which Catalogues when hee saw produced he cryed out aloud that they were things suborned and that he neuer saw them before that time and that they were purposely inserted into his trunke by some that plotted his destruction and being tortured to force him confesse hee still persisted but tortures being applyed the second time he confessed all that he knew and being examined touching the Catalogues to what end they were written he made this Declaration THat a few yeares since taking his iourney to the waters of Spaw with one Ieney and Englefield they consulted among themselues of the meanes by which England might bee inuaded of the strangers and the forme of the gouernment changed and to that end the names of the Ports and Noblemen were set downe in those Catalogues That Morgan had signified to him by Letters out of France that the Catholique Princes had already deliberated vpon the inuasion and by the auspicious succours of the Duke of Guise to set at libertie the Queene of Scots the Guise wanting nothing but money and some helping hands in England That to procure these things C. Paget vnder the assumed name of Mopus was sent into Sussex where the Guise had determined first to land his troops That he had communicated the businesse and shewed the names of the Ports and Noblemen to Mendoza who was now perfectly instructed by the rect of the conspiracie Neither doth he deny that hee had promised his owne helpe and industry And had also aduertised Mendoza with what Noblemen being a publique personage he might conferre with with whom he himselfe being but a priuate man could not without danger hold parley And with him found the meanes by some of the principall Catholiques to take vp souldiers in the Queenes name then when the stranger forces should ariue to bee ioyned with them These things he freely confessed Neuerthelesse being accused publikely in the Court at London hee precisely denied all affirming that hee had spoken out of his owne inuention and not the truth onely to free himselfe from the tortures againe and openly accused the Queene of cruelty and those of the Inquest of falshood framing
signifying to him that hee was at that instant in danger both of life and fortunes hee entreated him to conceale the matter and to cause them to retire that were knowing of the departure of the Lord Paget and the ariuall of Cha Paget all which hee presently dispatched and likewise remoued a farre off the seruant that hee had vsed betweene C. Paget and himselfe The Sollicitor further added That being a Prisoner hee had corrupted his Keepers and by their meanes gaue Shelley to vnderstand all what hee had confessed That Shelley also by a woman which was hyred to be a priuate messenger betweene them let him know that he could no longer abstaine from confessing that their conditions were farre vnequall because hee should bee forced by torments but the Earle by reason of his place and order not therefore sent him the copie of his confession Whereat the Earle groaned and would often say as Pantin the seruant of his Bed-chamber confessed that by the confession of Shelley he was vndone for euer After this the manner of his death was by testimony of the Coroners inquest of the Lieutenant of the Tower and of Pantin openly declared and from thence was gathered that he for feare lest his house should bee vtterly subuerted and himselfe dishonored had dispatched himselfe Certes diuers good men much sorrowed that so great a personage should perish by so miserable a death being induced thereto partly because they naturally fauoured Nobility and partly because he had obtained much praise by his valor What the suspicious fugitiues muttered against a certaine Bailiffe a seruitor of Hatton who a little before was appointed one of the Earles keepers I will ouer-passe as not certainely knowne Neither doe I esteeme it fit to insert any vncertaine things or vaine heare-sayes Queene ELIZABETH hauing seene the open conspiracies of the Guises against the Protestant Religion the King of France and her selfe well perceiued whence and by whom these mischiefes were dispersed through England Shee to oppose their designes and to contract a league amongst the Protestants for the defence of the Religion sent Thomas Bodley to the King of Denmarke the Elector Palatine the Dukes of Saxony Wittenbergh Brunswicke Lunbourgh the Marquis of Brandenburgh and the Landsgraue of Hessen And amongst other things she commanded him to aduertise the King of Denmarke that it behoued him aboue the rest to oppose the practices of the Guise because they haue made no question to claime the Kingdome of Denmarke as their kinsmans right for the duke of Lorraine as being son to the daughter of Christierne the 2 King of Denmarke neither did the Duke of Lorraine himselfe dissemble the same then when not long before he laboured to obtaine the Queene in mariage And to prouide least any danger should breake through Scotland as through a backe doore into England shee sent Edward Wotton to signifie to the King how acceptably she embraced the declaration of his loue to her by Patricke Gray and by Iustice Cleric And to draw him to a mutuall League of offence and defence by proposing to him the dangers that then threatned and menaced the profession of the Gospell And to offer him an annuall pension the better to maintaine his Royall Dignity because the reuenues of his Kingdome were much shortened by the negligence of the Regents And to commend vnto him in the vvay of mariage the daughter of the King of Denmark And earnestly in her name to make intercession for those Noblemen of Scotland that liued banished in England And to promise him that she would send them backe if she found the offence against the King to haue beene practised by them Wotton found the King affectionately bent to this League notwithstanding that the Earle of Arran and others of the French faction laboured to diuert him and the Estates of Scotland gaue their consent vnder their hands and seales for the conseruation of Religion to embrace this League prouided that the Queene would promise not to preiudice or hinder the Kings right in the succession of England so long as hee remained constant in his friendship and alliance But this matter was retarded and hindered by the death of Fra Russell sonne to the Earle of Bedford who was slaine the next day after For I. Forster and T. Carre of Fernihurst gouernors of the middle borders betweene the Kingdomes of England and Scotland hauing assigned an assembly vpon the seuen and twentieth of Iune to treat of the receit and emploiment of the Fynances of the Kingdome after the promise of safety made by both parties with their oaths and Proclamation that none should offend either in word deed or looke for so the borderers spoke The Scots brought with them to the place the number of three thousand men or thereabout being armed and set in order of battell with their ensignes displayed and their drummes beating contrary to the custome in such affaires but the English not surpassing three hundred The Gouernours were no sooner seated to heare the complaints but a tumultuous vproare was raised by the occasion of an Englishman taken in theft the Scots discharging a shower of bullets slue amongst others Russel and put the English to flight and eagerly pursuing them for the space of foure miles within England they caried some back with them as prisoners The author of this murther was not assuredly knowne but the English imputed the fault to the Earle of Arran then Chancelor of Scotland and to Carre of Fernihurst The Queene presently dispatched Ambassadors and Letters demanding that the murderers might be deliuered into her hands Because Henry the seuenth King of England had long time before deliuered into the hands of Iames the fourth King of Scots Will. Heron and seuen other Englishmen for murdering of Ro Carre of Cesford vpon a day of assembly and not long before Morton the Regent sent Carmichel a Scot into England for the murder of George Heron. The King after protestation of his innocency promised to send Fernihurst and the Chancelor himselfe also so soone as by cleare and lawful proofes they were conuicted of set purpose to haue violated the safety or to be guilty of the murder Fenwick an Englishman accused Carre before the King but was refuted by his simple deniall because hee could not produce any Scotchman for a witnesse For it hath beene a custome and so a Law amongst the borderers in their iudgements of causes bred by an inueterate hate that no witnesse can be admitted but a Scot against a Scot and an Englishmen against an Englishman Insomuch that though euery one of the Englâ—sh which were present had plainely beene beholders of this murder yet their testimony would preuaile nothing Arran neuerthelesse was confined within his owne house and Carre was kept prisoner at Dundey where in a short time he dyed Hauing beene a warlike man and one prompt and fit to enterprise matters of importance who for his constant loue and faith
safeguard of the Common-wealth so much as for their owne particular as Boniface the eightth put to death Celestine the fift deposed from the Papacy fearing that he should be called againe because of his singular piety Vrban the sixt who caused fiue Cardinalls to be sewed vp in sackes and cast into the Sea beheaded some and two others he caused to be baked in an Ouen and for the more terror commanded they should be laid on Mules and carried about the countrey Moreouer that Secretaries are not to be held for seruants and that domestick witnesse is to be admitted for proofe of secret things done in the house And it was argued vpon whether the accusers which haue sworn voluntarily and those which are suspected of crimes ought to come face to face in criminall matters to maintain the accusation Lastly That there is no such perfect example but hath some thing in it which is not iust These and such like are the matters which then were debated In the meane time the K. of Scotland for the remarkeable deare loue he bore his mother laboured with all his power by the imploimēt of W. Keith to saue her omitting nothing beseeming a good vertuous sonne but without successe because the Scots were diuided into factions amongst themselues more fauoured Q. Elizabeth than their prisoned Q. insomuch that some of them by priuate letters sollicited Q. Elizabeth to hasten her punishment and that the Ministers of Scotland being commanded by the King to pray to God in the Churches for his mother they obstinately refused so to do for the hate they bore the Religion which she professed And though the King had formerly beene earnest by messages and letters with Q. Elizabeth in his mothers behalfe yet then he became more instant complayning That it was most vniust that the Nobles the Counsellors and subiects of England should giue sentence against a Queene of Scotland borne of the English blood and as vniust also but to thinke that the States of England can by authority of Parliament exclude the true heyres from the right of succession and their lawfull inheritance The which some did often threaten to cause the more terrour He sent also Patrick Gray and Robert Meluin to delare to Q. Elizabeth That the great proximitie which was betwixt them would not let him beleeue that shee would violate that renowned reputation which shee from all parts had purchased by her vertues and especially by her mercifulnesse which shee had reserued vnstained with any spot of cruelty and that she would by no meanes now defile it in his mothers blood who was of the same princely dignity parentage and sexe whom he because his mothers blood had so great an interest in him could not forsake nor leaue to the cruelty of those who had so long breathed after his death as well as hers After he had by other letters shewed at large with what heauinesse of heart and doubtfull perplexities he was afflicted by reason of this weighty businesse which touched and bound him in nature and honour and into what extremities of distresse and danger his reputation was like to fall among his subiects if any violence were offered to his mother these things he propounded to her serious consideration drawne from the inward sense of his sorrow and filiall affection How greatly it concerneth his honour being a King and sonne if his dearest mother who was also an absolute Princesse should dye an infamous death and that by her commandement who was the next in league of loue and consanguinitie Whether by the word of God any thing may iustly be enacted by law against those whom God hath established for the administration of iustice whom be vouch safeth to call gods vpon earth whom he hath anoynted whom he hath forbid to touch because they are his anoynted and whom he will not permit to suffer wrong vnreuenged How monstrous a thing were it that an absolute Prince should be subiect to the censure of subiects How prodigious that an entyre Prince should leade the way to giue such a detestable example to prophane the diadems of others What should inforce her to this bloody cruelty Honour or profit If honour then might she acquire more and greater in pardoning for so to her eternall glory for her clemency should she binde to her for this benefite both Him and all the Kings of Christendome whose affection otherwise she should lose together with her reputation and brand her selfe with the marke of cruelty If profite it is to be considered whether any thing can be accounted profitable but that which is iust and honest And then concluded in desiring her to send such an answer by his Ambassadors as should be welbeseeming so pious a Princesse and not vnworthy for such a King as was her most affectionate kinsman But these Ambassadors intermingling tempestiue menaces with their messages were not pleasing and so taking their leaue some few dayes after returned back carrying with them as little comfort as hope Pomponius Bellieure sent for this cause from the King of France had accesse to the Q. of England accompanied with l'Aubespine de Chasteauneuf the ordinary Ambassador and hauing giuen her to vnderstand how many contrary thoughts had troubled the K. of France on the one side for the singular affection which he bore her on the other for the neere alliance of kindred which was betwixt him and the Q. of Scotland propounded to Q Elizabeth at two seuerall times in writing these and the like things viz. That it neerely concerned the K. of France and other Kings that a free Queen and absolute Princesse should not be committed to death That the safetie of Queene Elizabeth would be in more danger by the death of Mary than by her life and that being set at libertie she could not attempt any thing against the Queene of England because that her want of health did promise no long life That she had arrogated to her selfe the Kingdome of England was not to be imputed as a crime so much to her as to that she had learned in her youth of naughty Counsellors That shee came into England as a suppliant and therfore she could not be iustly detained but was at the last to be released eyther for money or mercy And besides that an absolute Prince ought not in any sort to be brought to arraignement which made Cicero say that it was a thing neuer heard of that a K. should bee called in question of accused of any capitall crime That if she were innocent she ought not to be punished if culpable she should be pardoned because that would redound to the greater honour and profite and would remaine an eternall example of the English clemency Alledging to this purpose the History of Porsenna which drew out of the fire the right hand of M. Sceuola who had conspired his death and let him go That the first precept to raigne well is to spare blood
the charge which was such as the most part of their Shippes were torne and bruised and the Gallion S. Matthew commanded by Diego Pymentel and appointed to assist Francisco de Toleda in the S. Philip was broken with the continuall batteries of Seymor and Winter and being driuen towards Ostend was againe beaten by the Zelanders and taken by them of Flushing as was the other called Saint Matthew and all the rest of the FLEET grieuously afflicted all that day The last day of the Moneth at the breake of day the Winde turned Northwest and the Spaniards striuing to get into the straight againe are driuen towards Zeland The English as the Spaniards beleeue ceased their fight perceiuing some of their Ships in great danger and ready to runne on the sands and shelues on the Coast of Zeland but the winde changing to Southwest the Spaniards tooke the benefit thereof and beeing gotten out from amongst those sands consulted in the Euening what they were to doe and by common consent resolued to returne into Spaine by the North Ocean because they wanted many necessary things and aboue all Bullets that their Ships were broken and that they had little hope of the Duke of Parma's putting to Sea Being then already at sea they tooke their route towards the North followed by the English Fleete vnto whom they would sometimes shew their prowesse and many being of opinion they would returne the Queene with a Kingly courage mounted on horsebacke and holding in her hand the trunchion of an ordinary Captaine made a review of her Army campe which was at Tilbury walkes vp and downe sometimes like a Woman and anon with the countenance and pace of a Souldier and with her presence and words fortifieth the courages both of the Captaines and Souldiers beyond all beliefe The very day of the last fight the Duke of Parma hauing paid his vow to our Lady of Halle came to Dunkerke but too late and was there receiued by the Spaniards with reproach as if to fauour Queene ELIZABETH hee had willingly caused them to lose so faire an occasion to execute their enterprise Therefore in some sort to content them he punished some that had charge of the victuals and mocking notwithstanding at the Spaniards insolency and arrogancy who bragge that in all parts where they beare Armes they euer draw after them an assured victory and that the English dared not to looke them in the face much lesse endure their countenance And surely Bernard Mendoza with great pride and vanity sung forth in France by a printed Pamphlet the triumph before the victory But the English Lord Admirall to keepe the Prince of Parma from comming out of Dunkerke commanded Seimer and the Hollanders to keepe the Coast of Flanders and hee himselfe followed the Spaniards behinde vntill they were past Edenborough Frith in Scotland For some feared they would retyre to the King of Scots at that time much incensed for the death of his Mother that to appease him Ashbey her Maiesties Ambassadour there offered him very good conditions to wit the dignitie of a Duke in England a yeerely pension of fiue thousand pound and a guard for his person at her Maiesties costs and other things Now whether he did this of himselfe or by procurement of others I cannot well say nor take no pleasure to enquire thereafter but so it chanced that the fault was imputed vnto him and these conditions were neuer accomplished The Spaniards then hauing lost all hope of pursuing their enterprize and iudging their safety to consist meerely in their flight follow still their route without staying in any place Thus did this Fleete returne shamefully into their Countrey which was preparing three whole yeeres with so infinite expences after hauing beene fought withall so oftentimes in one Moneth and then put to flight with the losse of many men and not of aboue one hundred English nor no Ship but Cocks Barke onely lost all the shot of those great Spanish Ships being spent in vaine flying ouer the English Ships hauing also gone round about the Iland of Great-Britaine by Scotland the Iles of Orchades and Ireland and beene furiously beaten and greatly diminished by tempests wrackes and all sorts of miseries In memoriall of which defeat there were certaine Medailles coyned wherein some had a Fleete grauen vnder-sayle and hastning away with all speed with this Inscription Ilest venu ilâ— veu il a fuy Hee came Hee saw Hee fledde And others in honour of the Queene with some Ships on fire among a confused Fleete with these words Vne Femme a conduict ceste action A Woman conducted this Action As thus they fled many of their Ships were lost vpon the Coasts of Ireland and Scotland where some seuen hundred Souldiers and Mariners were cast ashore who at the request of the Duke of Parma vnto the King of Scotland in their behalfe and by the Queenes permission were passed into Flanders a yeere after But those poore wretches which were cast away in Ireland were not so mercifully dealt withall for some of them were slaine by the Irish dwelling in the woods the other by the commandement of the Deputy who fearing lest they should ioyne with the Irish Rebels and seeing that Bingham Gouernour of Connaugh had refused vpon his reiterated commandement to kill those which had yeelded themselues hee sent Fowle the second Marshall who drawing them forth which had hidden themselues cut off the heads of about two hundred of them which the Queen detested with all her heart as a deed full of cruelty This so affrighted the rest that sicke and weake as they were and halfe starued they re-embarked themselues in their broken vessels and were for the most part sunke at Sea The Fleete being returned home imputeth this mischiefe vnto the Duke of Parma and vnto their too-much obedient prudence in taking it for so haynous a crime to disobey the commandement imposed vpon them For they were straitly charged to attempt nothing vntill the Duke of Parma were ioyned vnto them with his Forces without reseruing any liberty vnto themselues to iudge of occasions which might happen a thing very fit to haue bin done they boasted to haue bin able without that to haue defeated the English Fleete in their Port and the men of warre were in great dispute whether it were necessary whatsoeuer hapned to obserue religiously what is commanded lest by the neglect of obedience the commandement should be lost Or if it were fitter to correct things commanded by necessity and apply them to present vse according to the growth of affaires that the occasions and moments of doing expeditions might not be lost The Spaniard did constantly beare this losse as comming from aboue rendring thankes vnto God that it was no greater and vsed singular mercy and charity for the comfort of the Souldiers and Mariners Queene ELIZABETH likewise commanded publique prayers and thanks-giuing to be made in
and Scottish Iesuits do suggest diuers things to the Queene of Scots The French labour to hinder the League The King of Scots propoundeth conditions He is not deterred by the French King Iames's answer to them The League of fast friendship A conspiracie against Queene Elizabeth How discouered Ballard returneth into France Ballard sent backe into England Meeteth with Babington He instructs him in the stratagem Babington receiueth Letters from the Queene of Scots He writeth back to her She answereth him His associates in the conspiracie Babington giueth to euery one his taske They confer together Their vanity Babington in care to bring in the forraigne aides sends Ballard to worke for him Insinuateth with Walsingham Deceit by deceit deceiued Giffard discouereth all the conspiracy Sendeth the Letters he receiued to Walsingham Ballard vpon his departure is taken Babington soliciteth for Ballards libertie Falleth into the same net Getteth himselfe out Lyeth in a wood Harrow-Hill They are found And all the rest of the conspirators All discouered The Q. of Scots kept with a guard and separated from her seruants Her Cofers with Letters sent to the Queene Giffard sent into France dyeth miserably The Traytors come to Iudgement Are punished The Queen of Scots her Secretaries examined The King of France is aduertised Sundry opinions how to dispose of the Scottish Queene By what Law shee should be iudged Commissioners appointed to heare the cause A Commission granted to that end Booke 6. * William Poulet Marquesse of Winchester Edward de Vere Earle of Oxford Lo high Chamberlâ—ine of England George Talbot Earle of Shrewâ—bury Earl Marshall Henry Grâ—y Earle of Kent Henry Stâ—â—â—â—y Earle of Derby William Somerset Earle of Worcester Edward Manners E. of Rutland Ambrose Duâ—ley E. of Warwick Master of our Ordnance Henry Herbert Earle of Pembroke Robert Dudley E. of Leicester Master of our horse Henry E. of Lincoln Charles L. Howard high Admiral of England Anthony Viscount Montagu Henry Cary BaroÌ„ of Hunsdon Lo. Chamberlaine of our houshold Henry Neuill Baron of Abergaueny Edward Lord Zouch Edward Parker L. Morley Will. L. Cobham Lord Warden of the cinque Ports Edward L. Stafford Arthur Lord Gray of Wâ—lton Iohn L. Lumley Iohn L. Stuâ—ton William L. Sands Henry L. Wâ—ntworth Lodowick L. Mordant Iohn L. Saint Iohn of Bletso Tâ—â—mas Sackvill Baron of Buckhurst Henry L. Compten Henry Lo. Cheney Sir Francis Knolls knight Treasurer Sir Iacob Crofts knight CoÌ„troller Sir Christ Hatton Vice-Chamberlaine Sir Francis Walsingham our Secretary of State William Dauâ—son Esq our second Secretary Sir Ralph Sadler knight Chancellor of our Dutchy of Lancaster Sir Walter Mildmay knight 〈◊〉 Aymâ— Poulet knight gouernor of our Island of sarsey all our trâ—sty beloued priuy Counsellor and Sir Christopher Wâ—ay knight L. chiefe Iustice of the Common plees Iohn Wâ—â—sey esq our Secretary for the Latin Sir Edmund Anderson knight L. chiefe Iust of our Bench Sir Roger Manwood chiefe Baron of our Exchequer Sir Thomas Gawdy and Sir William Pickering Commissioners come to her She answereth the letters vpon the sudden Booke 3. Addeth the next day to her answer She refuseth her tryall Exception against the new-made Law Sir Christopher Hatton perswadeth her to appeare Her tergiuersation Shee yeeldeth at last to appeare and answer The maner of the sitting The Lord Chancellor speaketh to her Her protestation Recorded Proceeding She denieth the former allegation Copies of letters shewed Extracts out of Babbingtons confession She denieth them They vrge her with the confessions of Sauage and Ballard She blames Walsingham Walsingham maketh his Apologie Charles Pagets letters are produced and Babingtons and the testimonies of her Secretaries She obiecteth against their credites Arguing about transferring the kingdome She excuseth her selfe for hauing giuen Morgan an annuall pension by pensions giuen to the Scottishmen She offereth the Duke of Guise and her sonne pledges for her libertie The Lord Burghley answereth She interrupteth him He proceedeth Letters shewed again She interrupteth their reading Affirmeth her Secretaries were not to be credited She is accused againe for transporting the Kingdome She condemnes her Secretaries as periured Sir Thomas Egertons the Q Sollicitors demonstratioÌ„ She crauest a hearing iâ— open Parliament Sentence pronounced against her Some suspect the credite of the Secretaries Or duety Declaration that the sentence against the Q. of Scotts did nothing preiudice her sonne A Parliament held The banishing of traytors confirmed The States approue confirme the sentence and desire the publication therof The Queen answereth She desireth them to find out some other remedie Their Answer to her Her reply to them The Q. of Scotland is certified of her iudgment The Ambassador of France slayeth the publishing of the Sentence Notwithstanding it is published The Queen of Scotland carrieth herself with a resolute courage She moues a request to Queen Elizabeth Opinions of the Q. of Scotl. cause In her behalfe Against her The Q. of Scotland's sonne intercedeth for her Some Scots against her The K. by letters and messages And propoundeth some things considerable As the K. of France did by his Ambassadors Bellieures reasons for the Qu. of Scotland Answers to his Reasons The Ambassadour of France attempteth Queene Elizabeths life Stafford discouereth the enterprise to the CouÌ„cell The Ambassadour denieth it The Ambassadour mildly rebuked Whether an Ambassador be to discouer the attempts if he know any to be committed against the Prince to whom he is sent But Gray the Scot more She weigheth these businesses The Courtiers perswade her By reasons And by examples She is notwithstanding suspensiue perplexed with doubtfull feares She commandeth a Warrant to be drawne for the execution Her Councell send secretly The Q. of Scotl. prepares herself for death Shee is brought to the scaffold Her speeches to Meluine her Steward To the Earles Her last words The Epitaph The prouidence of God plainly seen in her death Elizabeth is sorry therefore and grieueth thereat Is angry with her Councell They vrge him vpon his owne confession The Queen Sergeants reproue him The Iudges opinion vpon his fact The L. Gray defendeth him Sentence giuen against him He maketh request to the Commissioners Dauison his particular Apologie The indignation of the Nation of Scotland Suggestions vsed to the King Qu. Elizabeth indeuoureth to appease them By what reasons Sir Francis Drake is sent into Spaine to preuent the comming of the Jnuincible Nauy for the inuasion of England His expeditions The great Carraque Saint Philip is taken The profit which the English receiued thereby The East Indies Companie Thomas Cauendish circuits the Earth Stanley and Yorke Traitors New kinde of Duels brought into England With what successe The States of the vnited Prouinces doe blame the Earle of Leicester The States send for Leicester again to raise the siege before Sluce Leicester is molested Leicester goes about to make himselfe Lord ouer their Cities He is called home againe The Title of his Excellency Leicester distributes Medailles coyned en memory of his person to those of his faction The Estates doe put in Leicester place Prince Maurice of Nassau Leicesters faction in the Low-Countries Russell suspected Leicester auoids his aduersaries accusation The death of the Lord Neuill Baron of Abergauenny And the Duchesse of Somerset being very aged And Sir Ralph Sadler Also Sir Thomas Bromley The Earle of Rutland dyes And Sir Christopher Hatton is made Lord High Chancellor William Fitz-Williams Lord Deputie of Ireland for the same time The reason why it is a difficult thing to war against Jreland Booke 3. 1588. A wonderfull and admirable Yeere Great preparations are in hand in Spaine to assault and inuade England By what counsell The reason why They consult about the meanes how to assault and subdue England Preparation in Flanders Traytors hated The Popes assistance Preparation in England By Sea And Land Consultation for defence And concerning the Papists at home The King of Scotlands alacrity against the Spaniards Booke 3· Conference of peace in the meane time Commissioners sent to that end into Flanders Propositions of the English answered Complaint made vnto the Duke of Parma The conference breakes vp The Spanish Armada 28. Maij. Sets forth and is dispersed Sets out againe The English Nauy sets out The first fight The ability of the English Flees * Cantabrica Peter Valdes taken The Ship of Oquenda taken The English Admirals prouidence The third fight Knights created for their valours by the Right Honourable Charles Howard Earle of Notingham Lord High-Admirall Diuers Noble-men and Knights of England ioyne themselues with the English Fleet before Calais The Spanish Fleet lyes at anchor and rests betwixt Calais and Douer The Duke of Parma is sent for againe by the Spaniards He is vnprepared The good seruice of the Hollanders who hindred Parma from ioyning his Forces with the Spanish Nauy The Spaniards amazed fly confusedly Hugh Moncada slaine The fourth combate The Spaniards resolue to returne home by the North-Sea The Queene visits her Campe. Conditions offered vnto the King of Scots Money coyned in memory of this famous victory Tout ainsi coÌ„me l'on dit de Caesar IL EST VENV IL A VEV IL A VINCY on peu dire de mesme de L'espagnol auss que IL EST VENV IL A VEV mais qui pis est IL â—'EN EST ENFVY aulieu que Caesar estoit victorieux Misery of the Spaniards in Jreland Causes of the defeat The Spaniard takes patiently this ouerthrow Queene Elizabeth caused a generall thankes-giuing to God for it and publique reioycing in England Praysed those who were of the English Nauy The publike ioy is increased by the good newes which came out of Scotland The death of Robert Dudley Earle of Leicester His dignities and titles His disposition and manners Leicesters goods are sold Berghen ap Zoom besieged by the Duke of Parma Who raiseth the siege Innouations in England Martin Mar-Prelate and other scandalous Bookes Beginning of a great Rebellion in Jreland Ambassadour in Denmarke The Emperour of Russia most fauourable to the English
ANNALES The True and Royall History of the famous Empresse Elizabeth Queene of ENGLAND FRANCE and IRELAND c. True faiths defendresse of Diuine renowne and happy Memory Wherein all such memorable things as happened during hir blessed raigne with such acts and Treaties as past betwixt hir Matie and SCOTLAND FRANCE SPAINE ITALY GERMANY POLAND SWEDEN DENMARK RUSSIA and the NETHERLANDS are exactly described LONDON printed for Beniamin Fisher and are to be sould at the Talbott in Pater Noster Rowe 1625 The explication of this Bookes FRONTISPICE The Pillers deckt with Arms Palms Laurell bows Supporting the Rare PHOENIX to you shows The Nobles on whose loyall prudent brest The Phoenix-Queene ELIZA'S peace did rest Whose Wisedomes pillars did vphold her Crowne As columnes on which rested her renowne Their stable valour did support this land And all her proud insulting foes withstand For whose exploits it pleasd her Maiesty To dub some Knights of dreadlesse chiualry Whom she not only did to Knighthood rayse But of this kingdome made them props and stayes And those whose merits added to their worth Renowned Glory Honour to their birth In whose true worthy acts she most delighted She with the Order of the Garter knighted Some she restor'd in their Ancestors place Made viscount Bindon one of Noble Raâ—eâ— Some Earles some Barons all she did restore Or did create as they had won before Other shee summon'd by her wisedome's choyce To Parliament as Peeres to have there voyce Whose prudence and whose valors vnder God Prou'd Englands peace to Spaine a heauy rod. The fired townes which on each side are plac't Do memorize how Spaine was once disgract When that braue Essex Englands Generall With Nottingham that famous Admirall Their Citie Cadiz did with force surprise â—o crowne their countrey with their victories And Cumberland whose fame no Age can blot â—ooke Porâ—arico with his Thundring shot That Spanish towne yet his victorious force â—lew the resisting pardn'd with remorse Those that with bended knees did him entreat He would not them nor theirs of life defeat Now vnderneath DRAKES famous ship is showâ— Whose bright renown swift Honors trump hath blow How he therein did circuit earth 's whole frame And in his voyage added to his fame The glory of a prize won through his paine The CACAFOGVE Royall Ship of Spaine At the two corners two great Spanish Fleets Your gazing eyes with admiration greets One is consum'd by vnquench't flames of fire The other is ore'whelm'd through NEPTVNE'S irâ— Which moralizeth our good God doth bend His wrath gainst those that Albions ill intenâ— Which wrath did fall most mercilesse on Spaine And euer will to their disgrace remaine One thousand doth fiue hundred eighty seuen Their ambitions with infamy make euen The Port of Gilbaltars straights sure can tell How that a Spanish Fleet by DRAKE there feâ— The very seas will witnesse that with foure Of royall Ships he burnt two hundred more If you enquire from whence those Royals came From Englands shore Spaines fury for to tame To end the Fleet of Eighty-eight doth show England was ayded in that ouerthrow Giuen to Spaine by God whose potent hand Preseruâ—d ELIZA'S glory and her land Gainst those that owe true Religion spight Both seas and earth for Albions cause will fight Not to the seas let 's bend but to that power Which must preserue vs at the dreadfull houre And as 't is meet so let vs prostrate fall Vnto our Hope our Ayde our Generall IHÌ„S Here reade the dayes when Britanns ground VVith blessings all was compast round PER TAL VARIAR SON QVY ✚ TO THE MOST August most Sacred and most excellent Maiesty of IAMES THE FIRST Emperour of Great Britanne king of France Ireland and Virginia defendor of the Faith The Translator of these ANNALLS wisheth to His Imperiall Maiestie blessednesse perpetuall health with all happinesse prosperitie and felicitie in both worlds THE FRENCH Epistle dedicatory to His sacred Majesty of Great Britanne EXcellent monarch heere is the first-borne of a Labour as vnhoped for as the occasion is extraordinarie which prostrates it selfe with all humilitie at the feete of your Maiestie to doe you an Homage of his Birth and in paying vnto you his first duetie craues leaue to wander the World and visit his friends In these vnhappy times which lately made France my countrey the sad obiect of pitie and the mournfull subiect of good peoples sorrowes on a day sitting vpon the shores of Babylons gulph aspecting with watty eyes the deplorable estate of Christs true Church which in the throng of these miseries was sore wounded with iniuries appearing as if sheâ— had attained the decrepit age of a dying life which breath 's forth her last gaspe And as I expressed by my teares the dolor of her afflictions and by my sighes the desires of her deliuerance my eyes imitating in their glances the wishes of my soule sought for the place where the great god Pan vsed to feed and keepe his flockes at noone day I discouered a far off some sparkes of the Sunne of Iustice which in this happy country of Goshen shines perpetually whilest an eternal night couers Egypt with the gloomie clouds of darkenesse Thither suddenly I directed my Vowes which God prospered so happily by his prouidence that after many dangers tedious and toylsome iournies I at length arriued here where I found A PEACEABLE KING in whom is brightly discerned an harmonious vnity of all christian roial vertues the Empire of that great Empress of vertue Piety from whence all others deriue the admirable Oeconomy of Charity conducted with Prudence educated by Experience and that experience drawn from diuers examples of precedent ages proofs of this present which produceth in him all kindes of actions both iust and necessary by which he freely giueth himselfe to the Church and Common-wealth for pledge and caution of their peace and prosperity AN HAPPY NATION which vnder the fauourable Scepter of such a Prince in whom the sacred fountaine of the most exquisite graces of heauen abounding with all sorts of prosperity hath aboue others the honour to settle the Church of Christ and with her Piety and Iustice her constant followers whom the benigne aspect of heauen causeth to flourish with ioy and perfect peace whilest a cruell Warre spoiles and ransackes both neighbouring countries and remoter parts with vnheard-of torments and excessiue sorrowes God who calls himselfe the Prince of Peace stiles himselfe also the King of Warre to shew that he rules all worldly affaires with his incomprehensible eye of prouidence as well as with his inuincible hands of all-powerfulnesse But to make plaine to all mens vnderstandings how farre God is against Warres Strifes and Contentions and on the contrary how much he loues Peace and Vnitie it is said Blessed be the Peaceable because they shall be thereby knowne to be the elect of Christ and heyres of heauen Your Maiesty great Monarch on whose head God as his Lieutenant
to the poore of London and two hundred to the poore of Norfolke Hee had to Sonne William Bolene who was made one of the eighteene selected Knights of the Bath at the inauguration of Richard the Third To whom Tho. Earle of Ormond who was had in so great estimation with the Kings of England that hee only of all the Peeres of Ireland had place and voice in the Parliament and before the Barons of England gaue him his Daughter and Coheire to wife he had by her besides the Daughters which he married to Shelton Caltrop Chaire and Sackuil beeing very rich and of renowned Race Tho. Bolene who beeing but a Youth Thomas Howard then Earle of Surrey and afterwards Duke of Norfolke a famous Warrier chose him to bee his Sonne in Lawe and gaue him his Daughter Elizabeth to wife HENRY the Eighth employed him in two honourable Embassies after hauing made him Treasurour of his House Knight of the Order of Saint George and Vicount Rochford afterwards Earle of Wilton and Ormond and Lord Priuie Seale He amongst other Children had Anne Bolene who beeing sent in her tender yeeres into France was seruant to Mary of England Wife to Lewis the 12. afterwards to Claudia of Brittaine wife to Francis the First and after her death to Mary of Alanson who from her cradle was a speciall fauourour of the Protestants Religion in France Afterwards she being returned into England and entertained to be one of the Queenes Maids of Honour in the twentieth yeere of her age King HENRIE being eight and thirtie fell vehemently in loue with her for the modest behauiour which accompanyed her beauty and the French iollity which seasoned her modesty but not being able to ouercome her chastity he sought to haue her to wife in hope to haue a Linage by her Now before to take this matter a little more deepely after he had liued seuenteene yeeres with Katherine his wife who was of a pious conuersation and of the Spanish grauitie but subiect to aborsements that of all her Children shee brought foorth none liuing but MARIE he begunne to distaste her by the cunning practice of Cardinall Wolsey who was then raised to the highest degree of power and authority about the King but in some fort ouer swayed by his owne affections For being displeased with Charles the fifth Emperour Nephew to Katherine because he had denyed him the Arch-bishopricke of Toledo and then aspiring to the Papasie his hatred to him and his loue so affectionately carried toward the French King he so wrought that he purposed a wife for Henry out of France The King beeing prone to his pleasures prepared this scruple of conscience That the marriage which he had contracted with Katherine who before had beene wife to his brother Arthur was forbidden by the Diuine Lawe although Pope Iulius the second had giuen a Dispensation for it Afterwards he did inculcate into the Kings eares how greatly he had offended God in marrying Katherine and how grieuous a sin he should wallow in if hee kept her that hee had incurred the Sentence of Excommunication that God had powred his wrath vpon so vnlawfull a Marriage not suffering a Male to liue that was begotten of her and that if there were not a lawfull Heire assigned to the Kingdome no other thing was to be expected but that those mortall and cruell wars which had beene but lately lul'd asleepe should be awakened with new slaughters of his people and therefore that he ought for the taking away of all scruple from his conscience to repudiate her and that by assuring himselfe of a Successor in a lawfull line he should prouide for the safety of his soule which and likewise yeeres had been polluted with incest for so many of his Kingdome These reasons caused the King to entreate Pope Clement the Seuenth to depute some to take knowdedge of this cause and either to confirme the Dispensation by authority of holy Scriptures or absolue him of the Sentence of Excommunication and to declare this marriage to be of no force and that it might be lawfull for him to marry any other woman whom he should thinke fit notwithstanding any Canon to the contrary Hereupon the Pope delegates Cardinall Wolsey and the Cardinall of Campepe to whom he secretly gaue a Bull to this effect that he approued of the Kings vowes and granted his requests so farre as God would giue him leaue if the marriage which he had contracted with Katherine should be found vnlawfull and so declared to be But this Bull was to bee conceal'd or publisht according to the successe of the Emperours Affaires in Italy Then these questions begun to be moued euery where whether it were lawfull for a man to take his brothers wife or it beeing prohibited by the Diuine Law whether the Popes Dispensation could make it lawfull or no And when many Academies of Christendome and the most learned men had giuen their opinions and resolued that such a Marriage was repugnant to the Laws both of the Old and New Testament howsoeuer the Popes Dispensation might legitimate it The King became more passionatly amorous of the Lady Anne of Bolene then euer and the Cardinall repenting himselfe too late of what hee had begun grew discontented and wrought so vnder hand that the Pope by his pontificall authority refused to confirme the opinions of the Academies and by delayes after delayes the busines was drawn into length both at Rome in England The Cardinall feared Bolene who for the loue that shee bore to the Euangelicall Doctrine hated his proud and insolent carriage and the Pope feared the Emperour who at that time was powerfull in Italy who maintained to his vtmost power the cause of Katherine his Aunt neither would the Pope prouoke HENRY because hee had lately employed both his paines and pence to redeeme him from the Emperours men who kept him prisoner HENRIE boyling in choler for this refusall yet dissembling it both by Ambassadours and Letters continually solicited and humbly prayed the Pope and after him the Prelates and Peeres of England by request signed with their owne hands which they caused to be carried and presented at his feete to confirme by his Apostolicall Authority what the two Academies of England of Paris and many others and very learned and most entire men both within and without the Realme had set down for a truth and were ready to mainiaine it both by word and writing representing vnto him that it would be a remarkeable vnhappines if He should not obtaine this fauour from the Apostolicall Sea He beeing the onely man that had employed his Sword his Pen his word and power to defend the authority of the Pope and resisting many that stroue against it should bee the onely man to bee denyed the benefit of it and therefore they coniured him to grant it for feare that intestine warres should rise for the right of Succession Notwithstanding the Clergie fearing lest the
pitties her Fol. 178. The Priuy-Councell consult of it ibid. The Councell resolue shee should be retained in England Fol. 179. The Countesse of Lenox complaines of her ibid. The Baron of Heris intercedeâ— for her Fol. 180. Earle Murray is commanded to yeeld a reason of the Queenes deposing ibid. Deputies for the King of Scots Fol. 181. Others for the Queene of Scots ibid. Lidingtons declaration to the Scots ibid. The protestation of the Queene of Scots Fol. 182. A declaration for the Queene of Scots Fol. 183. The answer of the Kings Deputies Fol. 184. The Queene of Scots reply 185. Murray refuseth to yeeld an account of the Queenes deposing Fol. 188. Authoritie of the Commissioners reuoked Fol. 189. The Duke of Norfolke glad ibid. New Commissioners granted ibid. The Queene of Scots will not submit her cause to their hearing but vpon condition Fol. 190. The proceedings dissolued ibid. Debate about the gouernement of Scotland Fol. 191. Murray offers to marry the Duke of Norfolke to the Queene of Scots yet disperseth rumours against her Fol. 192. The Duke of Norfolke is suspected ibid. The third Ciuill War in France Fol. 193. The French and Flemmings make England their refuge and were the first that made Bayes Sayes other light Stuffes Linnen and Woollen Fol. 194. The beginning of the Warres in the Low-Countries ibid. Ferdinando Aluares Duke of Alua constituted supreame Gouernour Fol. 195. Moneyes sent into the Low-Countries deteyned in England ibid. The English-mens goods deteyned and seized vpon in the Low-Countries Fol. 196. The like done to the Flemmings in England Fol. 197. The death of Roger Askam ibid. Anno M.D.LXIX A Proclamation touching goods detayned by the Duke of Alua. Fol. 198. A Declaration against the said Proclamation ibid. Practices against Cecill Fol. 199. The money formerly detayned in England is demanded by the Duke of Alua. Fol. 200. Free Traffique established at Hamborough for the English ibid. Doctor Story taken ibid. The Duke of Alua enraged against the English ibid. Men of Warre called in Fol. 201. Traffique of Russia hindred ibid. The liberties of the English in Russia ibid. Their Traffique into Russia Fol. 202. And into Persia by the Caspian Sea ibid. A Russian Embassadour comes into England Fol. 202. Alliance with Russia Fol. 203. The Emperour of Muscouia and Russia is irritated and inflamed against the English ibid. Murray appeaseth the friends of the Queene of Scotland Fol. 204. Rumor spred throughout Scotland against Murray ibid. Queene ELIZABETH is diligent and doth endeuour to quench such false rumours Fol. 205. She deales by letters concerning her restoring Fol. 206. A marriage intended betweene the Prince of Scotland and Margaret the Duke of Norfolkes onely Daughter Fol. 207. Murraies Proprsition to the Duke of Norfolke ibid. Throckmortons Counsell Fol. 208. Propositions of the Match made by Leicester to the Duke Fol. 209. The Articles of marriage propounded to the Queen of Scotland ibid. She agrees to them in some manner Fol. 210. A Designe to free the Queen of Scotland Fol. 211. Notice is giuen thereof to Queene ELIZABETH ibid. The Earle of Leicester reueales the whole businesse to the Queen at Tichfield Fol. 212. She rebukes the Duke of Norfolke ibid. The Duke departs the Court without leaue ibid. Cecill finds out the matter Fol. 213. The Duke of Norfolke goes into Norfolke ibid. Feare caused in the Court through the Duke of Norfolke Fol. 214. He returnes to the Court ibid. Murray discouers the businesse ibid. The Duke and others are imprisoned Fol. 215. Their Complices craue pardon Fol. 216. Libels against the marriage ibid. Chapin Vittelli comes into England and why ibid. Rebellion in the North by Northumberland and Westmerland Fol. 217. The Rebels Prteext Fol. 219. Their declaration ibid. They write to the Papists Fol. 220. They rent and tread vnder-foot the Bible ibid. Their Colours and number ibid. They returning take Bernard Castle And flie Fol. 221. Some are put to death Fol. 222. Some are banished ibid. A new Rebellion ibid. The Rebels are defeated Fol. 223. Queen ELIZABETH lends succour to the reformed Churches in France Fol. 224. The end of the Table of the Contents of the First Booke A TABLE OF THE CONTENTS of this matchlesse and famous HISTORIE The second Booke Anno M.D.LXX. THe Earle of Murray demands that the Queene of Scotland might bee put into his hands Fol. 233. He pursueth the English Rebels and is suddenly slaine 234. Diuers opinions are had of him 235. The Scots and English Rebels make incursions vpon England 236. The English take reuenge thereof 237. And succour those of the Kings party in Scotland ibid. They take the Castle of Hamilton 238. The Earle of Lenox is established Vice-Roy of Scotland 239. The King of Spaine giues succours against those who were of the Kings side ibid. The Lord Setone his Embassage to the Duke of Alua. 239. The Answere of the Duke of Alua. 241. The Bishop of Rosse is set at liberty who laboureth the libertie of the Queene of Scots 242. They consult about the freedome of the Queene of Scots 243. The Sentence of Pope Pius the fifth against Queene ELIZABETH 245. Rebellion in Norfolke as soone ended as begun 249. Felton punished for sticking vp the Popes Bull. ibid. The Papists and greatest part contemne the Bull. ibid. Diuers are imprisoned 250. Sussex chosen a Priuy Councellour 251. Treaty with the Queene of Scotland ibid. The Queene of Scotlands answer to the Propositions of the English 253. They cannot agree 254. The Bishop of Rosse requires helpe to free the Queene of Scotland 255. The death of the Earle of Cumberlend ibid. The death of Nicholas Throcmorton 256. Rebellion in Ireland quencht before they saw the day ibid. Stukeley flieth out of Ireland 257. Anno M.D.LXXI THe Royall Exchange named Fol. 258. The Creation of Baron Burghley ibid. The manner of creating Barons 259. Letters from the Pope to the Queene of Scotland ibid. Edict of the Scots against the Authority Royall condemned by Queene ELIZABETH 260. The demands of the English for the freedome of the Queene of Scotland 261. The English refuse the offers of the Scots 261. Alteration amongst the Scots 262. Complaints of the Scots against the English ibid. A Remembrance sent from the Queene of Scotland to the Duke of Norfolke 263. The counsell of the Bishop of Rosse 265. The attempts of others 266. A great Earth-quake ibid. The Embassage of Baron Buckhurst 267. A Proposition of a Match betweene Queene ELIZABETH and the Duke of Aniou ibid. The hopes which they conceiued with the Articles of Marriage 268. The Answer ibid. To what end this marriage was proposed 270. They haste the marriage of the Queen of Scotland 271. The Bishop of Rosse and others committed 272. Money sent into Scotland ibid. The Duke of Norfolke and others committed to the Tower 274. Propositions touching an Embassadour answered 276. The Bishop of Rosse questioned 277. He declines from the English Witnesses ibid.
that it was done in consideration of the marriages which ought to be contracted with the other Princes and hereupon propounded to marry the first Daughter who should issue by the mighty Princesse Mary Queene of Scotland and the Dolphin of France with the first Sonne that might be procreated by Queene ELIZABETH to whom she should bring in dowry the Towne of Calais and that for this cause the Queene of Scotland should quit her right which shee had vnto the Kingdome of England or otherwise to marry the first Daughter which should be borne of Queene ELIZABETH with the eldest Sonne that should descend from the Queene of Scotland and hereupon the English should renounce the right which they pretend vnto the Realme of France and the French should be discharged of all the debts they ought to England and that Calais should in the meane time remaine in their hands But these propositions being vncertaine for another time they sought to win time and increase the delayes but were contemned by the English who made as if they seemed not to haue heard them As they stood vpon these termes the Spaniard hauing aduice that Queene ELIZABETH did not onely breake the marriage which hee had offered her but likewise changed many things in Religion began to giue ouer the desire which he seemed to haue before the restitution of Calais and his Ambassadours almost losing their patience were somewhat of accord with the French for the rest made account to continue the warres no longer for Calais vnlesse the English would contribute more men and money as before and would aduance it for sixe yeere This raised the heart of the Cardinall of Lorraine who assured the Spaniards that the Queen of Scotland his Niece was truely and vndoubtedly Queen of England and therefore that the King of Spaine ought to imploy all his forces if he made any account of iustice to cause Calais to be deliuered into the hands of his Niece the direct Queene of England But the Spaniards which suspected the power of France not hearing that willingly tryed secretly to draw out of England the Lady Katherine Gray the yonger Niece of King HENRY the Eighth for his Sisters sake to oppose her to the Queene of Scotland and the French if Queene ELIZABETH should happen to decease and to hinder thereby that France might not be augmented by the surcrease of England and Ireland And strongly insisted that there should be a Truce betwixt England and France vntill such time they should agree together and that in the meane time Calais should be sequestred in the hands of the King of Spaine as an Arbitrator of honour But that was refused as much by the French as the English Queene ELIZABETH had well presaged that for shee could not hope for any good from the Spaniards side seeing that she had contemned and despised to marry with their King and changed Religion She also had knowledge that the treatie of Cambray was not made for any other purpose but to exterminate roote out the Religion of the Protestants And truely the consideration of her Sex and the scarsitie of treasure made her Maiesty finde that peace was more to be wisht for than warre though most iust Also it was her ordinary saying that there was more glory in settling a peace by wisdome than in taking vp armes to make warre neither did shee thinke that it was beseeming either to her dignity or to the dignity of the name of the English to relye vpon the defence of the Spaniard And she thought therefore that it was better for her to make a peace aside and separably and to go thorow and conclude for Calais with the King of France being sollicited thereunto by continuall Letters from the Duke of Mont-morancy Constable of France and the Duke of Vandosme as also by message of the Duke of Guise who sent the Lord Gray who had beene taken prisoner at Guienne and released to that end And for to conclude this agreement B. Caualcance a Lord of Florence was employed who from his infancy had been brought vp in England with whom the French King hauing conferred in secret did hold that it should be safer to treat thereof by new Commissioners in such priuat Country-houses of the Kingdomes of England or France that were of no great note But Queene ELIZABETH being mooued shewed her selfe to be of a manly courage in declaring that shee was a Princesse absolutely free for to vndergoe her affaires either by her owne selfe or by her Ministers and although that during the reigne of her Sister nothing was concluded but according to the Spaniards aduice and that shee would neuerthelesse without giuing him the least notice or taking his counsell dispatch these affaires betweene the Deputies of both sides not in an obscure and priuate place but openly in the Castle of Cambresis neere Cambrai This offended no lesse the Spaniard than the refusall and contempt of his marriage with her Maiestie with the alteration of Religion had done heretofore Neuerthelesse the French who was crafty and cunning enough to discouer how she was affected to match with Spaine prayed her Maiestie first of all to take away two scruples from them before the yeelding of Calais to wit that they forsaking that Towne before they were assured whom shee should marry it might easily fall into the hands of the Spaniard because that he would haue her Maiestie if possible vpon any condition and that there is nothing so deare but women will part with it to their beloued husbands the other whether as the Spaniards boast that the English haue such neere alliance with them that they ought to ioyne in armes with them against all Nations whatsoeuer to these it was answered that her Maiestie bore such motherly affection toward the Kingdome of England that she would neuer part with Calais for to fauour a husband and that although her Matie shold grant it yet England would neuer suffer it Moreouer that betwixt her Maiesty and Spaine there was not any such alliance but a meere forced amitie and that her Maiesty was most free for any contract with any Prince which might be commodious and beneficiall to England Vpon this it was thought good and expedient that the Commissioners of each part should equally vse their vtmost endeuours in the Castle of Cambray to agree all differences and to conclude a peace Therefore Queene ELIZABETH sent for England as Commissioners Thurlbie Bishop of Elie the Lord Howard Baron of Effingham Lord high Chamberlaine to her Maiesty and Doctor Wotton Deane of the two Metropolitan Sees of Canterburie and Yorke For the French King Charles Cardinall of Lorraine Archbishop and Duke of Rheims the chiefest Peere of France Anne Duke of Mont-morancy Peere Constable and great master of France Lord Iames Aulbon Lord of Saint Andrewes Marquis of Fronsac and Lord Marshall of France Iohn of Moruillier Bishop of Orliens and Claude Aubespine Secretary of the Priuy-Councell of France These ioyntly
with wisedome and kept by care was firme and lasting Now how by her Masculine care and counsell she surmounted her Sexe and what shee did most wisely in preuenting diuerting and powerfully resisting the attempts of her Enemies those that now liue and shall hereafter will bee able to iudge of what I shall drawe out and set forth of things if I may call them so in the Kingdomes owne memory At that time the Emperour and the Christian Princes interceding by continuall Letters that she would vse the Bishops which were retyred out of her Realme gently and suffer the Papists to haue Churches in Townes by the Protestants She answered that although the Bishops had in the sight of all the world against the Lawes and Peace of the Kingdome and obstinately reiected the same Doctrine which the most of them had vnder the Raigne of HENRY the Eighth and EDVVARD the Sixth propounded to others voluntarily and by publike writings that she would vse them meekely for those great Princes sakes notwithstanding shee could not doe it without offending her Subiects But to let them haue Churches by the others shee could not with the safety of the Common-wealth and without wounding of her Honour Conscience neither had shee reason to doe it seeing that England imbraced no new Religion nor any other then that which Iesus Christ hath commanded that the Primitiue and Catholike Church hath exercised and the ancient Fathers haue alwayes with one voice and one mind approued And to allow them to haue diuers Churches and diuers manners of seruice besides that it is directly oppugnant to the Lawes established by the authority of the Parliament it were to breede one Religion out of another and drawe the spirits of honest people into varieties to nourish the designes of the factious to trouble Religion and Common-wealth and to confound humane things with Diuine which would be ill in effect and worse in example pernicious to her Subiects and not assured at all to those to whō it should be allowed and aboue all at their request she was resolued to cure the particular insolency of some by winking at something neuerthelesse without fauouring in any sort the obstinacie of their spirits The Spaniard hauing lost all hope to marry her and beeing ready to marry the Daughter of France notwithstanding thinkes seriously of England nothing desirous that it should be ioyned to the Scepter of France and to retaine the dignity of so great a Kingdome in his House obtained of the Emperour Ferdinand his Vncle that he would seeke her to wife for his second Sonne which he as soone did by very louing Letters and followed it very carefully by Iasper Preimour a resolute Baron of the Countrey of Stibing The Spaniard himselfe to bring her to that promised her speciall affection and she of her side made him offer by Thomas Chaloner of her Ships and commodity of her Hauens for his Voyage for Spaine which he was about with all remarkable duties of Friendship The French on the other side casting an eye vpon England left the French Garrison in Scotland in fauour of the King Dolphin his sonne and Mary Queene of Scotland which hee had promised to take from thence vpon the agreement before mentioned and sent thither vnder-hand supplies sollicites the Pope of Rome more vehemently than euer to declare Queene ELIZABETH an Heretique and illegitimate and Queene Mary of Scotland legitimate of England and although the Spaniard and the Emperour hindered by their contrary and most strong practices though secretly by the Agents which they had at Rome neuerthelesse the Guizes carried their credulous ambition with such a flattering hope to ioyne Englands Scepter to France by the meanes of the Queene of Scots their neece that hee came so farre as to challenge it for his Sonne and for his Daughter in Law and commanded them in all their Royall Letters to take this Title Francis and Mary by the grace of God King and Queene of Scotland England and Ireland and to let the Armes of England be seene in all places causing them to be painted and grauen together with the French Armes in their moueables and vtensils in the walls of their houses in their Heralds coates of Armes notwithstanding any complaint that the English Ambassadour could make that it was a notorious wrong to Queene ELIZABETH with whom hee had newly contracted a friendship being manifest that hee had not done it during the reigne of Queene MARIE though she denounced warre against him Hee also leuied horse and foote in France and Germanie to goe to the Territories of Scotland neerest adioyning to England insomuch that Queene ELIZABETH had good cause to apprehend it seeing that he breathed nothing but after the bloud slaughter of the Protestants But these enterprizes were broken by his vnlooked-for death hapning at the Tilting which was for the recreation and solemnizing of the marrriages of his Daughter with the King of Spaine and of his Sister with the Duke of Sauoy And much to the purpose it fell out for Queene ELIZABETHS businesse whom hee resolued to set vpon with all his forces as well for being an heretique as also illegitimate on the one side by Scotland and on the other side by France Neuerthelesse to giue him royall honours after his death shee caused his funerall solemnities to be performed as to a King a friend with the greatest pompe in Saint Pauls Church in London and forthwith sent Ch. Howard Effinghams sonne now great Admirall of England and Ireland to condole with him for the death of his Father and to congratulate his succession to Francis his Sonne and Successour exhorting him to entertaine inuiolably the friendship which had lately beene begun But Francis and the Queene of Scotland his wife by the counsell of the Guizes who then had some power in France behaued himselfe publiquely as King of England and Ireland kept alwaies the English Armes which hee had vsurped and made shew of them more than euer and N. Throgmorton ordinary Ambassadour a wise but a hote man complained to them of this They first answere him that the Queene of Scotland had right to carry those Armes with a barre to shew the proximity of bloud which shee had with the royall Race of England After when he had maintained that by the Law which they call the Law of Armes it is not permitted to any to take the Armes and Markes of any House vnlesse hee be descended of some of the Heires of it obseruing to tell him that shee carried them not but to cause the Queene of England to leaue those of France But hauing vpon that put them in minde how D. Wotton had afore-time treated at Cambray how twelue Kings of England had carried the Armes of France and by a right so seldome called in question that by any of the treaties which were made betweene the English and the French nothing had beene resolued to the contrary hee gained in the end
to that but to heare that which you haue to answer touching the confirmation of the Treaty of Edenborrough But if it please you to heare the cause of this offence hauing quitted the qualitie of an Ambassadour I will tell it you in few words As soone as the Queene my Mistris was sacred and inaugurated you vsurped the name and armes of England although you had not done it before in the reigne of Queene MARY You shall iudge in your owne wisdome if a greater offence can be done to a Prince Surely priuate persons themselues doe not willingly digest these offences much lesse Princes But said She my Husbands Father and my Husband would haue it so commanded it As soone as they were deceased and that I was of my selfe I presently quitted both the Armes and the Title And notwithstanding I know not if this be to defraud the Queene that I who likewise am one and Grand-child to the eldest Sister of HENRY the Eighth carry these Armes seeing that others haue borne them which are further off of kinne than I am Indeed Courtney Marquis of Exceter and the Dutches of Suffolke Neece to HENRY the Eighth by his yonger Sister by a speciall fauour carryed the Armes of England in adding to them the Limbes for a marke of difference The Queene of Scotland not being able by these words to giue Qu. ELIZABETH content who stedfastly beleeued that shee sought but delayes to husband some new hope seeing that at the holding of the States of Scotland who had assembled twice since the death of Queene MARIE shee had not made any proposition which concerned the confirmation of this Treaty as shee was already vpon the way to come for Scotland shee caused Throgmorton a second time to come to her to Ableville and asked him curteously How shee might either by word or deed giue satisfaction to Queene ELIZABETH In ratifying sayes he the Treaty of Edenborrough as I haue often told you Whereupon she said vnto him HEarken then to iudge if this which shee thinkes to be delayes and vaine excuses are not most iust reasons The first Article of this Treaty which concernes the ratification of that which passed in the Castle of Cambray betweene England and France toucheth mee nothing at all The second which concernes that of the Treatie passed in the same place betweene England and Scotland hath beene ratified by my Husband and mee and I cannot ratifie it more amply if it be not concluded in my name alone seeing my Husband is there expresly named The third fourth and fifth Articles are already effected for the preparatiues of Warre haue ceased the French Garrisons are called backe out of Scotland the Fort which was neere Aymouth is razed Since the death of my Husband I haue refrained to carry the Armes and the Title of England and it is not in my power to raze them out of the Vtensils Edifices and the Letters Royall which are dispersed through France no more than I can send backe the Bishop of Valence and of Raadan since they are not my Subiects to contest vpon the sixth Article As to the last I hope that my seditious Subiects will not complaine of my inclemencie But as I see shee which thinkes to hinder my returne will goe about to hinder that they shall not try my clemencie What remaines now in this Treatie which is preiudiciall to your Queene Neuerthelesse to heape her vp with satisfactions I will write to her of it more amply with mine owne hand though shee vouchsafes not to write to mee but by a Secretarie As for you Ambassadour I pray you to doe the duetie of an Ambassadour rather to sweeten businesses than make them sowrer But these Letters did not giue Queen ELIZABETH any contentment who had euer in her heart the iniury which shee had done her in taking the title and armes of England and at that time feared much that shee tooke them yet if by the confirmation of this Treatie and the Religion of the othe shee was not bound to forbeare them In the meane time the Queene of Scotland finding the time fit goes to Calais and gets into Scotland hauing the fauour of Heauen which was cloudy and darke got the winde of the English Ships that some thought had beene sent to Sea in honour to conuoy her others to take Pirates and others to take her they grounding it vpon this that Iames her bastard-brother a little before returning from France and passing through England had counselled Queene ELIZABETH to doe it if shee would prouide for Religion and her owne safetie The which Lidington being ioyfull that Doysell was retayned in England perswaded as his Letters make mention Lest being returned shee should stirre vp Tragedies take away the commerce of letters and messages with the English ruine the faction which was at their deuotion and exercise crueltie vpon the Protestants of Scotland not vnder colour of disloyaltie but of heresie euen as MARIE Queene of England had lately done Howbeit her Maiestie being returned into Scotland shewed all gentlenesse to her Subiects shee changed nothing in Religion although tumultuously brought in and begun to temper the Common-wealth by excellent Lawes and good Ordinances Her Maiestie sent Lidington to Queene ELIZABETH with Letters from her selfe and from the Peeres of Scotland by which shee referred to her all the care to make and intertaine the peace betweene England and Scotland prayed her to seeke some good dispatch thereof and gaue for her aduice that shee did not thinke of a better and more certaine remedie than that Queene ELIZABETH dying without issue should declare her Heire to succeed her in the Kingdome of England c. by authority of Parliament This seemed strange to Queene ELIZABETH who expected to receiue the Confirmation of the Treaty of Edenborrough promised both by word and writing Notwithstanding she answers him THat for concerning the matter of Succession shee hoped that the Queene of Scotland would not violently take the Scepter from her nor from her Children if shee should haue any Promiseth not to derogate in any manner from the right which she had to the Kingdome of England howsoeuer by the precipitate and ouer-hasted ambition of others shee had attributed to her selfe the Title and the Armes of the same for which it were iust and requisit shee should make some satisfaction And said shee feared that the Designation of a Successour would disioyne their friendship rather than re-vnite it by reason that those which rule haue alwayes those in suspition which ought to succeed them That the inconstant people vexing themselues at the present state of things turne away the eyes from the Sunne-setting and looke toward the Sunne-rising and that those which are once designed Successors cannot containe themselues within the limits of equitie nor can keepe vnder the ill desires of their owne and of others insomuch that if she did confirme and assure the succession she should depriue her selfe of all
England also for her part permitted the English to repute of the French-men as enemies those onely excepted that did inhabite in London while they detayned Calais and the English put to sea with such a powerfull Nauie as was incredible clozing it vp from all French nauigation as also from the Spaniards making so many and such insolent surprizals of them both as her Maiestie was vrg'd to excuse the same to the King of Spaine and to divulge prohibitions by publike Proclamation to the English The Earle of Warwicke Gouernour of Haure de grace obseruing how the fidelity and loyaltie of the French Inhabitants began to wauer and that vpon so weake a rumor of Peace they held secret Councels amongst themselues and that the Ryngraue was in the adiacent parts with his forces to surprize the Towne and expell the English he in like manner draue out all the French indifferently both Papists and Protestants out of the Towne and seazed on their shipping which they tooke in grieuous ill part complaining that the English were not so carefull to protect the afflicted French-men as to make themselues absolute Masters of the place and how they felt their oppression more heauy then that of the Enemie himselfe And certainely to speake but truth nothing euer so alienated the hearts of the Normanes those of Guyenne the Poytouines and all other Prouinces liuing vnder the subiection of the Kings of England as because the English euer reputed and entreated them like meere strangers The French-men had now studiously prepared all things to assaile the Towne The King and the Prince of Condé at the same time laboured hard and very earnestly in England by Brickmore and D. for the surrender of the Towne and her Maiestie consented thereunto vpon these conditions First That the King of Spaine should ioyne in Caution for the restitution of Calais within the time prefixed Then the Treatie of Cambray was to be confirmed by the Kings Oath the Queene Mothers and that of the Princes of the Bloud ratified by all the Parliaments of France and Gentlemen of greatest note and quality giuen for Pledges In the meane while the Plague raigned very hot in Haure de grace amongst the Soldiers of the Garrison and two-hundred sent for their reliefe and succour were lost by ship-wracke with Sir Thomas Finch their Conductor and two Brothers of the Lord Wentworth Wherefore there being no great likely hood of maintayning and holding the Towne Sir Thomas Smith ordinary Leager in France receiued expresse Commandement to propound the restoring of it for Calais and so in like maner that the King of Spaine should arbitrate this affaire who had married the King of France his Sister But the French would in no wise giue any eare vnto it alleadging that the King of France acknowledged none for his Superiour neither would hee commit his affaires to the arbitrement of any Prince They detayned Master Nicholas Throgmorton sent to moue these Conditions suspecting he was returned into France for the disturbance of proceedings as hee could play his part well grounding their Action vpon this that he had no publique Commission though he had about him Letters of Credit besides others he had from the French Ambassadour Leager in England and they would in no wise heare him verily beleeuing that Haure de grace would presently be recouered by maine force by reason the Pestilence caused there such a fearefull mortality Monsieur Memorancie was already come thither with all the most remarkeable Nobility in his company Not long after arriued the Prince of Condé with the whole Flowre of the Protestant Cheualrie and the English wondring at this sudden alteration answer was made them that Peace was now generally established and the forces of both parties ioyn'd in one and now no motiues were made of fighting for Religion but for defence of their Countrie A Trumpet was sent from Monsieur Memorancy to the Earle of Warwicke to summon him to surrender and another returned from the said Earle to the Constable Memorancie with a Gentleman one Master Paulet to certifie him how the English were resolued to suffer all extremities rather than to yeeld vp the Place without the Queenes expresse Commandement Wherfore the Frenchmen hauing rais'd Mounts to make their Batterie ruin'd and battered the Towne for the space of many daies broke vp all the Conduit-heads and diuerted the water out of its proper Chanell which was seated aboue the Sea they applied all their endeuours to take the Towne by force the English on the other side with most loyall and couragious fidelity opposed theirs daylie losing more men by the Plague than by the Armes of their Enemies When Queen ELIZABETH heard of the lamentable and vnhappy estate of her people no longer to expose such valiant spirits to slaughter and pestilentiall Infection after an approofe of her Captaines and Soldiers valours in a publike Proclamation she sent to the Earle of Warwicke commanding him to compound with the French vpon reasonable and equall Conditions There were also incontinently delegated from the Earle of Warwicke to Monsieur Memorancy Master Paulet Master Pelham with whom in a short time they came to an Accord vpon these Capitulations ensuing That the Towne with all the war-like munition should be surrendred to the King of France and his Subiects That presently Monsieur Memorancie should take possession of the greatest Towre within the Towne That the prisoners both of the one and other side should instantly be redeliuered And that the English might de part with all freedome and liberty carrying whatsoeuer belonged to their Queene or themselues within the compasse of sixe dayes if the Winds would permit For performance whereof they deliuered for Hostages Mr. Oliuer Mannors Brother to the Earle of Rutland Mr. Leighton Mr. Pelham and Mr. Horsie The last remaining was Mr. Edm. Randolph Marshall of the Campe who with a pitty and commiseration neuer ouer-highly to be extolled ceased not to carry vpon his owne shoulders poore miserable and weake Soldiers into the Ships And thus Haure de grace being more violently assailed by the Plague then any enemie was left to the French hauing beene formerly in the Englishmens hands about eleuen Moneths during which time besides priuate Soldiers there dyed of the Pestilence these famous Captaines Somerset Zouch Alb. Darcy Drurey Entwessel Ormesby Vaughan Crookes Cocson Proud Saul and Kemish and with the Sword two Brothers of the Tremayns Sanders Bromfield Master of the Ordnance Robinson Baylife of the Towne Strangewaies very expert in Sea-seruice Good-all maruelous vnderstanding in casting of Mines For the so happy recouery of this little Towne the King of France gaue publike thanksgiuing vnto God the Papists all ouer France made Bonefires of ioy exulting and boasting in that the English-men were driuen out by the ayde and helpe of the Protestants who first called them in and that by this meanes some seeds of discord were sowne betweene them and the Protestants
of France and the Chancellour of the Hospitall in an ample Discourse expressing to them the present felicity they thereby enioyed and the generall contentment they ought to receiue and testifie the same withall for the amplification of this subiect and out of a false surmize he reported to them that the day before the Townes surrender there was seene within the view thereof an English Fleet which came for ayde and succour and he openly auerred that by reason of this warre the English were wholly frustrate of their right and demand touching the restoring of Calais The infected Soldiers were transported into England who so spred the face of this sicknesse through a contagious and infectiue poyson as all the Kingdome was therewith grieuously afflicted onely in the Citie of London consisting of an hundred twenty and one Parishes within the compasse of one yeere an hundred and thirty thousand men rather more then lesse dyed Monsieur de Guize Vncle to the Queene of Scots dying while this Ciuill Warre lasted the Queenes Maiesty of Scotland not beeing paid her Dowrie Marquis Hamilton depriued of the Duchy of Chastelraut and the Scottish Guard being excluded from the King of France the Queen of Scots tooke it very much to heart But the Cardinall of Lorraine her other Vncle fearing that this would bee a subiect which might cause her to reiect the French and become friend to the English sends her word againe by Croc to marry with Charles of Austria and to offer for her Dowrie the County of Tyrol Shee aduertiseth Queene ELIZABETH thereof who counselled her by Randoll who I haue spoken on before to make choice of a Husband as heretofore I haue said and withall more plainely then yet shee had done recommended Robert Dudley whose wife beeing heire to Robsert had lately broke her necke and promised her in case that she would marry him to declare her Her Sister or Daughter and Englands Heretrix by Act of Parliament Foix the French Ambassadour made the Queene Mother and her Vncle 's acquainted with this who presently disdained the Party so much as altogether vnworthy of that Race and Royall Maiestie that they promised not onely to pay her Dowrie but also that the Scots should haue their ancient immunities yea and more if shee would stand firme in amity with France and reiect the marriage which was offered her telling her that Queen ELIZABETH did not propound this marriage to her seriously but with dissimulation as hauing destin'd Dudley for her owne Husband and that shee should not ground her hope vpon the authority of the Parliament because that in England one Parliament abolisheth what another hath established Furthermore that the designes of the Councell of England were no other but to hinder her from marrying at all She neuerthelesse referres it to the Colloque being molested with troubles in her Kingdome to see that the Arch-bishop of Saint Andrewes had beene imprisoned by the command of the Earle of Murray for not desisting to celebrate the Masse who would scarce grant him pardon though he asked it with flowing teares and that the feruent Ministers supporting themselues by Murrayes authoritie did violence to the Priest who had celebrated Masse in her Court being allowed by the Law and were not punished And it was not possible for her to suppresse those which troubled the affaires though all her care was wholy for the Common-wealth granting a perpetuall forgetfulnesse of all that was past increasing the stipend of Iudges establishing wholesome Lawes inflicting capitall punishment vpon Adulterers and often her selfe hearing causes pleaded in the Seat of Iustice so that by an equall Law shee gouerned both the great and the small In this vnlucky yeere dyed William Gray Baron of Wilton Gouernour of Berwicke who had in warre purchased great glory much diminished his patrimony for the ransome that he payed when he was taken prisoner in France The Protestants lamented much for him and Francis Earle of Bedford was substituted in his place Aluarus of Quadra Bishop of Aquila Ambassadour of Spaine in England likewise dyes who was no lesse lamented by the Papists whom he had fed with hope that the Romish Religion should haue beene re-established The Poles of whom I haue spoken were his intimates whereby he made himselfe suspected to haue nothing else in his minde but to trouble and disorder the affaires of England and to breake the amitie which was betweene the Queene and the King of Spaine whereupon the Queene intreated the King to reuoke him But hee excused it by his piety and writ backe that it would be a great incommoditie to Princes if at the first discontentment that is taken at their Ambassadours they should be constrayned to reuoke them And to say truth hee was displeased that without giuing him notice they had shut him vp in his House subiect to be questioned and publiquely reprehended for no other cause but that one Italian hauing shot another with a Pistoll he admitted him into his House and conueyed him priuately away whereupon he was more prouoked against the English than euer tofore taking occasion thereby to say that the English Pyrates molested the entries of Spaine and prepared to goe for the West-Indies and made it appeare manifestly sending Richard Shelley an English Fugitiue for Religion who was greatly bent against his Prince vpon an Embassie of honour to Maximilian the designed King of the Romanes to congratulate with him and seyzed vpon some English Merchants Ships in the Ports of Beotia because the English pursuing the French had intercepted some Spanish Ships William Lord Paget who for his vertue was exalted to three eminent dignities died Hee was so learned that HENRY the Eighth made him his Secretary sent him in an Embassie to the Emperour Charles the Fifth and to Francis the First King of France and he nominated him to be one of the Gouernours of the Kingdome during the minority of his Sonne Then Edward made him Chancellor of the Duchie of Lancaster Controller of the Kings House honoured him with the dignity of a Baron gratified him with the Order of the Garter which was reprochfully taken from him by Dudley Earle of Northumberland but restored againe with honour by Queene MARIE because by his prudence and sound aduice he had done good seruice to the Common-wealth and hee conferred vpon him the keeping of the Priuy Seale which is one of the foure highest dignities of ciuill honour For HENRY the Eighth by Act of Parliament constituted the first in the Chancellor the second in the Treasurer the third in the Lord President of the Priuy Councell and the fourth in the Keeper of the Priuy Seale aboue all Dukes and inferiour onely to the Children Brethren Vnkles or Nephewes to the King Queene ELIZABETH perceiuing that his old yeeres exempted him from being conuersant in matters of State as formerly he had beene remitted him of whatsoeuer belonged to publique administrations and
loued him affectionately though hee stood zealously affected to the Romane Religion Hee left behinde him Henry and Thomas his Children who succeeded him one after another in his dignity of a Baron Charles who purchased renowne to his name and some Daughters who were married into honourable Families Henry Mannors or Manners Earle of Rutland died who was Sonne to Thomas the first Earle of that Family Nephew to Iames Baron of Rosse who came of the Daughter of Thomas S. Leger and Anne his wife who by reason she was Sister to EDVVARD the Fourth gaue wonderfull lustre and splendor to that name Cousin-germaine to Robert who hauing married the Daughter and Heire to the Baron of Rosse an honourable and ancient Family augmented his owne with mightie reuenewes and the title of Baron of Rosse and he had by the Lady Neuill Daughter to Ralph Earle of Westmerland two Sonnes Edward and Iohn who were each of them in their due times Earles of Rutland and a Daughter who was married to William Courtney of Powderham Frances Duches of Suffolke Daughter to Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolke and Mary second Sister to HENRY the Eighth and Queene Dowager of France died who was afflicted with many miseries during her life She saw her eldest Daughter Ianes head cut off after shee had beene proclaymed Queene and presently after her Husbands her second Daughter married to the Earle of Pembroke to be diuorc'd and imprison'd and her third Daughter meanly married to Key who in his time was Master of the Reuels at Court And then her selfe forgetting from what degree she descended to her great dishonour yet notwithstanding for her best security married with Andrew Stoakes a meere priuate Gentleman THE SEVENTH YEERE OF HER RAIGNE Anno Domini 1564. FRance then reioyced for the peace shee enioyed which in some manner was maintayned with the Queene of England as being established to shut vp all entry to the English who began to flye out in calling to mind the cruell slaughters made by them in former ages when the Duke of Burgundie called them in for reuenge of his peculiar rancours and hatreds But this peace hauing rather slaked the feruent heat of warre than fastned any true concord or amity betweene the English and the French and the Queenes Maiesty perceiuing how the Protestants neglected and contemned her ingratefully returning those pleasures and fauours shee had done them resolued to trouble her selfe no more in others behalfe to the preiudice and hinderance of her owne proceedings Wherefore she bent all her care and thoughts to her owne occasions deliberated to make peace commended the ouerture thereof to Sir Thomas Smith a wise and learned man and the French lending a ready eare to the same gaue him Throgmorton for his Assistant who was then in France a prisoner at large to the end they might both together negotiate and procure the same The French King for his part assigned a Commission to Moruillier Bishop of Orleance and to Iohn Bourdin one of his Secretaries You may hereunder see the Articles whereupon they came to an accord in the moneth of Aprill within the Towne of Troyes in Champaigne THat one should not violently assaile the other neither yeeld succours to any other that made assault either vpon the one or other particulars onely should be lyable to their peculiar insults and offences No Traytors nor Rebels of eyther side were to be receiued All former iniuries were to be buried in obliuion Excepted all rights actions suites and pretensions which eyther they haue or pretend to haue respectiuely one against another shall remaine forcible and entire and so likewise all exceptions and prohibitions to the contrary These Articles concluded vpon the day following they annexed these Couenants separately and apart That a certaine summe of money should be payd to the Queene of England at daies constituted and appointed The Hostages in England were to be deliuered after the satisfaction of fiue hundred crownes And so this Treaty being ratified and confirmed Throgmorton might freely returne into his Country The King of France made Bone-fires of ioy according to the custome and after the Queene of England had ratified the same by oath in the presence of Gunor and Foix himselfe likewise within a very small time confirmed it in the presence of the Lord of Hunsdon who hauing at the same instant admitted his Maiesty to the Order of S. George he solemnely invested him with the Garter the Robe of honour a Collar of Esses whereat hung the picture of Saint George and other ornaments belonging to that Order In those dayes there arriued in England clad in the habit and grauity of a Priest to appeare more venerable Diego or Drilaco Guzman de la Forresta a Canon of Toledo sent in stead of the Bishop of Aquilar deceased some moneths before during which internall Roderic Gomez de la Forresta out of an hatred to Religion had bin the procurer of some rude entreaties of the English in Spaine who notwithstanding was much qualified by the Duke of Alua no man being able truely to say whether hee did it out of any loue he bare to the English or hatred to Gomez The like ill entreaty they also found in the Prouinces of the Low-Countries that liued vnder the Spanish gouernement at the instigation of the Cardinal of Granuella who to sow dissention betweene them and the Flemmings who held friendly and neighbourly commerce together in hatred to the said Religion he so brought it to passe that the yeere before the Flemmings complayned by Assonuil that the customes of England were enhaunst though this was performed during the reigne of Philip and MARY and that by Act of Parliament many of their handy-workes were there interdicted The English on the other side they exhibited also Bills of complaint how for small and trifling occasions their goods were confiscated in Flanders by vertue of new Edicts which also prohibited the bringing in of certaine merchandizes or to goe into Italie and Germanie by way of Flanders with horse Salt-Peter and Powder That they iniuriously exacted of them greater Imposts than euer were so much as mentioned in former times and all this against that Treaty of Commerce heretofore concluded on which was called the Grand Intercourse In the meane while the Princesse of Parma Regent of the Low Countries caused publique prohibitions to be diuulged first that no forbidden merchandize should be transported into England and then presently after for the importing of any English clothes into Flanders colouring it with the pretext of the plague which not long before had spred it selfe all England ouer But the naked truth is all these things were managed by the cautelous counsels and stratagems of Cardinall Granuelle to cause the Clothiers and other workemen depending on them to rise when they saw no clothes to be transported and yet the traffique of Clothes was established in Flanders to the preiudice of
being diuorced from his first Wife tooke in her place the Lady Ienet Beton Aunt by the Mothers side to the Cardinall Beton by whom hee had Issue Iames Hamilton Duke of Chastel-Heraut Marie Sister to the Earle of Arraine bore to Mathew Iohn Earle of Lenox who being slaine by the Hamiltons when hee attempted to set King IAMES the fourth at liberty left this Mathew Earle of Lenox whom King Iames the Fifth loued most dearly in respect of his Father When the King was dead and the Hamiltons in full authority Mathew went secretly into France from whence being sent backe by the French King Henry the second into Scotland to preuent all detriment to the Scottish Common-wealth through the practices of the Regent Hamilton hee valiantly carried himselfe in this employment But being of an honest milde nature and very open-hearted permitting himselfe to bee out-reached by Hamilton and the Cardinall Beton in a small time hee lost the amity of the French and when hee could neither tarry in Scotland nor returne into France he went into England and committed himselfe in trust to King Henry the Eighth who very graciously entertained him as one that was powerfull well beloued in the Westerne parts of Scotland Whervpon he acknowledged him for next Heire to the Crowne of Scotland after Queene MARY who was then exceeding yong though neuerthelesse the Hamiltons condemned him and confiscated all his Lands gaue him to Wife the Lady Margaret Douglasse his Neece by the elder Sisters side with demeanes in England which amounted in an annuall reuennew to the summe of 1700. Marks after hee had made promise to surrender into his hands the Castle of Dunbritton and the I le of Buthe with the Castle of Rothsay which is in England The which hee vndertooke with courage but fayled in the successe The Queene of Scots beeing a wise and prudent Lady all whose drifts aymed at England shee gaue him her safe conduct and restored vnto him his Fathers goods both that hee might oppose the designes of Iames his bastard brother whom shee had honoured with the Earledome of Murray as also to cut off the hopes of others by the meanes of Darley her Sonne which they might any wayes foster and nourish of succession to the Diadem of England For shee feared that being of the Blood Royall borne in England and very well beloued of the English if hee were ioyned with any puissant Family in England relying on the English power and forces hee might happely one day disturbe her right of succession to the Kingdome of England many men reputing him for the second Heire apparant after her and shee affected nothing more feruently then by his meanes to bring the Kingdomes of England and Scotland to fall into some Scottish Race and Name and so by him to propagate them to posteritie in the name of the Stewards his Ancestors Queene ELIZABETH well discerned all this and to preuent it gaue the Queene of Scots to vnderstand by Randolph that this Marriage was so distastfull to all the English as against the consent of her Councell she was enforst to prorogue the conuentions of Parliament to some other fitter time for feare lest the States of the Kingdome therewith prouoked should enact somewhat to the preiudice of her right to the succession And therefore to cut off all occasions of this Issue hereafter and to satisfie the English she aduised her to thinke of some other marriage and so by this meanes shee once againe and with great affection commended vnto her the Earle of Leicester for an Husband who for this speciall reason she had exalted to the Dignity of an Earle For prosecution of this the Earles of Bedford of Randolph and of Lidington were deputed to treat of this marriage at Barwicke in the Moneth of Nouember The English promised vnto her a firme and constant Amity a perpetuall Peace and that vndoubtedly shee should succeed to the Crowne of England if she married with the Earle of Leicester The Scots on the other side contested alleadging That their Queenes Dignitie who had beene sued vnto by Charles Sonne to the Emperour Ferdinand the King of France the Prince of Condé and the Duke of Ferrara could not permit her so farre to embase and vnder-valew her selfe as to match with a new-made Earle a Subiect of England and who propounded nothing but bare hopes without any certaine Dowrie neither stood it with the honour of the Queene of England to commend such a man for an Husband to so great a Princesse her neere Kinswoman but rather shee should giue an infallible testimonie of her great loue and affection towards her to giue her absolute libertie to make choice of such an husband as might entertaine perpetuall peace with England to assigne her a yeerely Pension and with the authority of the Parliament confirme the right which shee had to succeede In all this busines the extreme desire of Queene ELIZABETH was although she made discreete haste to assure by such a marriage the succession of the Kingdome in an English Race The Queene of Scotland seeing that this businesse had beene prolonged full two yeeres and making account to marry Darley doubted whether she was proceeded withall in good earnest or no and that Queene ELIZABETH did not propound this marriage but to make a pre-election of the most worthy for herselfe or to marry the more excusable with Leicester She beeing absolute Queene after she should haue really consented to marry him But the Commissioners of Scotland weighing these reasons to maintaine their power with the Queene had resolued to hinder by all meanes all kinde of marriages Queene ELIZABETH admonisheth them to hinder that with Darley Leicester himselfe full of hope to enioy Queene ELIZABETH by secret Letters priuily warnes the Earle of Bedford not to presse the thing and with this hope it is credibly thought that hee secretly fauoured Darley THE EIGHTH YEERE OF HER RAIGNE Anno Domini 1565. DARLEY in the meane time by the intercession of his Mother with Prayers and diligence to Queene ELIZABETH obtained though with much difficultie leaue to goe into Scotland and to stay there three Moneths vnder pretext to be partaker of his Fathers establishment and came to Edenborrough in the Moneth of February in the great winter when the Thames was so frozen that people passed dry ouer on foot Hee was a Youth of a most worthy Carriage fit to beare rule of an excellent composition of members of a milde spirit and of a most sweet behauiour As soone as the Queene of Scotland had seene him she fell in loue with him and to the end to keepe her loue secret in discoursing with Randolph the English Ambassadour in Scotland she often-times intermixt her discourse with the marriage of Leicester and at the same time seekes a dispensation from Rome for Darley shee being so neere in bloud that according to the Popes Ordinance they stood in neede of one This being come
in its owne place Now the reasons why shee receiued the Scottish Rebels into England were these Because the the Queene of Scotland had receiued into her protection Yaxley Standon and Walsh English Fugitiues and the Irish Oneale and that she had held Councels with the Pope against the English and had not done iustice vpon Theeues and Pirates This marriage being accomplished those which laboured most for Religion and Englands safetie thought that Queene ELIZABETH could not doe better for that purpose than to take away all hope of the Succession to England from the Queene of Scotland And it fell very commodiously for at the same time Maximilian the Second Emperour sent word by Adam Smicorit his Ambassadour of very honourable conditions for her to marry with his Brother Charles But there arose instantly a most vehement hatred in the Court betweene Sussex and Leicester I know not whereupon vnlesse about this marriage which Sussex sought very eagerly to bring to passe and Leicester vnder-hand hindered hoping to haue her for himselfe verily great and vnsatiable hopes doe those conceiue who haue obtained things beyond their hope Indeede Sussex iniuriously despised him as an vpstart and to detract him would say that hee could cite onely two of his pedigree that is to wit his Father and Grand-father both being enemies to their Countrey and attempters against the State that put the Court in diuision Insomuch as when the Earles went abroade they drew great troupes after them armed with Swords and piked Targets which were then in vse as if it were come to the extremitie But within few dayes the Queene reconciled them and rather smothered than tooke away their malice but endeuoured what shee could to extinguish it quite For shee condemned dissention among Peeres and that old prouerbe vsed by many Diuide Impera and some who were of opinion that the force of command is by the obeyers consent And she delighted her selfe at the emulation and grudging of inferiour women yet not without making speciall good vse thereof Among these things shee is not vnmindfull of the affaires of Scotland A moneth after the solemnization of the marriage there she sent one Tamworth a Gentleman of her Priuy-Chamber to the Qu. of Scotland to exhort her not to breake the peace to expostulate about the marriage which shee had so rashly contracted without her consent and withall to send backe Lenox and Darley his Sonne according to the trans-action and to receiue Murray into grace She perceiuing whereunto this tended admitted not Tamworth but by Articles in writing Promiseth by the word of a Princesse that neither shee nor her Husband would enterprise any thing to the preiudice of the Queene of England or to her Children lawfully begotten of her bodie or to the tranquillity of the Kingdome by admitting of Fugitiues or making alliance with strangers or by any other means but to the contrary they would most freely contract such an alliance with the Queene and Kingdome of England as should be commodious and honourable for both the Kingdomes and innouate nothing in Religion contrary to the Lawes and liberties of England if they should happen to enioy the same Notwithstanding vpon condition that Queene ELIZABETH on her part should fully performe the same to her and her Husband and by authoritie of the Parliament should confirme the Crowne of England vpon her and her issue lawfully begotten and for fault of such issue vpon Margaret Countesse of Lenox her Husbands Mother and of her Children lawfully begotten Moreouer as soone as shee had resolued to marry shee had assured the Queene that it should be with Darley and had no answere from the Queene vpon it That shee had satisfied her demands seeing shee had married an English man and no stranger whom shee knew to be more nobly descended and more worthy of her than any in Great-Brittaine But it seemed strange that shee might not retaine Darley by her to whom she was bound in the sacred bond of marriage or Lenox who was naturally Earle of Scotland As for Murray whom shee had proued to be her sworne enemy shee graciously intreated her to giue her freedome ouer her Subiects seeing she meddled not with the affaires of England Tamworth returned with this answere not hauing been intertained according to his worth And indeed being an impudent man hee had wronged the reputation of the Queene of Scotland and disdained to giue her Husband title of King At the same time Queene ELIZABETH had this augmentation of honour that at the report of her vertue which was equally spred in all places Cecillia Henry the Second King of Suedens Sister and Wife to Christopher Marquis of Baden being then great with Childe came from the furthest part of the North and a great iourney through Germanie to visit her She intertained her and her Husband very magnificently gaue him a yeerely pension christened his Sonne and named him Edward the Fortunate And Donald Mac Cartymore one of the greatest Peeres of Ireland humbly submitted himselfe and his large Territories to the Queene to hold them from her hereafter in fee for him and his heires males lawfully begotten and for default of such issue to the Crowne of England This Princesse who was borne to draw the affections of men according to her humanity most graciously receiued him installed him solemnely and like himselfe Earle of Glencar and Tegue his Sonne Baron of Valance gaue them gifts payed the charge of their voyage and all this to get a party against the Earle of Desmond who was suspected to renouate new things The same yeere Nicholas Arnold of the Country of Glocester Knight was sent to gouerne Ireland with the title of Iusticiary and had for his Garrison onely one thousand fiue hundred ninety sixe Souldiers But within a while after being called backe hee gaue vp his place to Henry Sidney who in the reigne of Queene MARY was Iudge and Treasurer of Ireland and presently after President of Wales Now to note this by the way the chiefe Gouernours of Ireland which now in Latine are termed Proreges since the first entrance of the English vntill the time of Edward the Third were called Iustices of Ireland and their Lieutenants Deputies Since according to the pleasure of the Prince they are called one while Iustices and another while Lieutenants which is a most honourable title but for the most part of like authority And without doubt these chiefe Iustices of Ireland as the Iustices of England which were called at that time simply Iustices were ordained to keepe the peace and to doe Iustice to all and to euery particular as in times past the Romanes had their Pro-Pretors and Pro-Consuls which were sent into Prouinces with Soueraigne authority Sidney being Gouernour of this Prouince found the Countrey of Mounster which lyes toward the South in great confusion in regard of great and sharpe troubles which were betweene Girauld Earle
had spread vpon the Queene or to cleanse it with his bloud vnlesse as he said himselfe his slanders might be accounted vaine by reason of his doting age Giue me leaue that the other side may be heard by diuers that writ thereof and at that time publisht it in print but such writings were soone call'd in both in fauor of the Earle of Murray and in hatred of the Queene and likewise by Ambassadours Letters worthy to bee beleeued In the yeere 1558. at the marriage of Francis the Dolphin of France and Mary Queene of Scotland Iames the Queenes Bastard-Brother commonly called the Prior of Saint Andrewes Metropolitan of the Order of Saint Andrewes despising that title was ambitious after a more splendid one but when the Queene by the aduice of the Guizes refused it him hee returned into Scotland discontented wherein vnder a faire pretext of reforming Religion and to establish the liberty of Scotland hee begun to trouble the State and effected it and so brought it to passe without the knowledge of the Queene in a Conuenticle of Confederates Religion was changed and by the calling in of ayde from England the French were driuen out of Scotland Francis King of France being dead he presently went to his Sister into France and hauing put away all suspition tending to her preiudice or dis-reputation for the affaires of Scotland swore vnto her calling GOD to witnesse to performe all dueties that a Sister could expect from a Brother and vpon the hope which he had that shee being brought vp from her tender age in the delicacies of France would not returne into Scotland workes with the Guizes to appoint some Noble-man of Scotland to be Regent there and almost poynted at himselfe to be the fittest man of all But hee being sent backe into Scotland without any authority but Letters of Commission by which the Queene gaue power to the States to assemble and consult for the good of the Kingdome and seeing himselfe deiected from his hope returned much vexed and passing thorow England made it there knowne that if they wished well to Religion in Scotland to the peace of England and the security of Queene ELIZABETH they ought by all meanes to hinder the Queene of Scotland to passe into Scotland Shee neuerthelesse being safely arriued in Scotland the English Ships being disappointed by obscure weather and being there embraced her Brother with all signes of fauour and good-will and in a kinde of manner committed vnto him the generall administration of affaires Notwithstanding all this the branches of his ambition are not cut off which grew daily and appeared both in words and deedes For hee could not containe himselfe but often among his friends deplored that the warlike Scottish Nation was no lesse subiect to the command of a Woman than the English was and by the instruction of Knox whom he esteemed as a Patriarke often debates that Kingdomes were due to merit and not to linage and that Women should be excluded from succeeding and that their gouernement were monstrous He treated likewise with the Queen by his friends that she should substitute foure of the Royall House of the Stewards who if she dyed without issue should succeed to the Crowne one after another without regarding who were legitimate or no thinking he should be one seeing he was the Kings Sonne though vnlawfully begotten But the Queene wisely considering that such a substitution was contrary to the Lawes of the Kingdome to defraud the right Heires a most pernicious example dangerous for her Subiects and would be an hinderance to her selfe for her second marriage she mildely answered That she would more aduisedly deliberate with the States of the Kingdome about a matter of such weight consequence and to testifie her fauour and bounty towards her Brother shee honoured him with the title of Earle of Mar afterwards with the Earledome of Murray for the dignity of Mar was then in controuersie being ignorant all this while that he aymed at the Kingdome and affirmed himselfe to be the lawfull Sonne of Iames the Fifth To make the easier way hereunto by meanes of the extraordinary fauour the Queene shewed to him he supprest the most noble Family of the Gordons powerfull in vassalage and command whom he both feared in respect of themselues as also by reason of the reformed Religion which adhered vnto him he expelled Hamilton Duke of Chastelraut out of the Court who was reputed next Heire to the Crowne imprisoned the Earle of Arraine his Sonne banished Count Bothwell into England dismissed all opposites of their honourable offices and places and retained the Queene vnder his power and suruey as a Gardian might doe his Ward aboue all other things being carefull that Shee might not negotiate nor intend any marriage And when he saw that of the one side the Emperour sollicited her for his Brother and the Spaniard on the other part for his Sonne he absolutely disswaded her both from the one and the other alledging vnto her how the ancient immunities of Scotland would not permit nor indure a strange Prince and whensoeuer the Scepter fell into the hands of Women they neuer made choyce of an Husband but within their owne Countrey of Scotland But in conclusion he perceiuing that all the Scots generally affected her marrying and discerning that by the perswasion and inducement of the Countesse of Lenox she desired to marry with the Lord Darley hee himselfe likewise then commended him vnto her for an Husband hoping in respect of his youth and for that he was of a tractable nature and disposition he would be euer at his direction and dispose Neuerthelesse when hee saw how dearely the Queene loued him himselfe to fall by little and little out of her fauour and grace hee repented of the counsell and aduice he had giuen and admonished Queene ELIZABETH to crosse this marriage by all the meanes possible that she could Presently after the Nuptials were accomplished and the Lord Darley proclaimed KING the King then presently reuoked such gifts as during his minority the Queene had conferred both vpon him and others whereupon being nigh associated with them he tooke vp armes against the King and the Queene pretending that this new King was dis-affected to the Protestant Religion and how she contracted this marriage without the consent of the Queene of England But hauing scarcely made any triall of the fortunes of warre he fled as I said into England where despayring of all succour he laboured by Letters to Morton a man of great subtilty and another like himselfe to effect that seeing the marriage could not be broken off yet that the affection and loue of the married couple might be abated by some secret practices and a fit occasion offered it selfe for after some domesticall and priuate grudgings to quaile the courage of this young King which boyled a little too hot and to preserue entyre her owne Royall prerogatiues in
deserued extreme punishment yea greater torments then those of hell fire Whereunto Smith made answere That it nothing concerned him and to search out what right and title the French had in former times to Calais one must rip vp wonderfull ancient and absolute Antiquities but well he perceiued at last that what the French laid hold of either by right or wrong they take it for their own as if their claimes and titles lay in nothing but Armes and little car'd whether they possest a good or bad conscience That they resolued to hold Calais by that Law of Nations which permits captiues to release themselues from their enemies and recouer former libertie though the other held it by vertue of a solemne Conuention and Accord And that they cal'd not to consideration how after the first there was another so as they determined in no wise to performe their promise giuen touching the restitution of Calais And yet neuerthelesse this was of more waight and consequence then the most important reasons that could bee alleadged That they euer tooke to themselues and denyed the English the glory and honour which then they willingly ascribed to them for beeing capable and apprehensiue in Contractations That this renouation of Contract was but a meere Antistrophe which might iustly bee returned vpon the French because the reason why the Queene redemanded Calais was for nothing else but in that the French attempting and innouating by their Armes in Scotland had lost the right they pretended thereunto because the Queene of England vpon this surprized Haure de grace As if in so doing the one Prince minded not to yeeld one iot to the other We said he accorded a Peace at Troyes which if it induced any nouation or change this innouation or change cut off the right which the French had to Calais and confirmed the English Title which the English could not as yet iustly claime because the eight yeeres were not then fully expired Whereupon rising and turning toward the Councell of France I appeale saith hee to your faith and conscience seeing your selues were then present when wee insisted in making a Reseruation by expresse termes for our right to Calais you labouring as much to haue it omitted because the full time was not expired Is it not true that the Accord was made betweene vs with this prouiso and secret reseruation exprest in this Clause All other respectiue intentions and demands to remaine solid and entire and so likewise the exceptions and prohibitions both of the one and the other side reserued As for Haure de grace the English entred it without one blowe strucke at the intreaty of the Inhabitants and the Normane Nobility and after a solemne protestation that it should bee kept and held to the King of France his behoofe so as heerein they vndertooke nothing against him by course of Armes nor innouated not any thing to the infringement of the former Treaty As for the moneys lent to the Prince of Condé and his Confederates this was done with no other drift or intention then to satisfie the Almaine Souldiers who mutined for their pay and to detaine them from forraging those Countries that liued vnder the King's obedience which the King himselfe acknowledged to haue beene done to a good end and for his owne speciall seruice And thus you see what Sir Thomas Smith vttered with diuers such matters and allegations Whereupon Monsieur Memorancy beeing Constable of France holding vp his Sword on high the Scabbard whereof was set with Flowers-de-Luce for a marke and embleme of his high Office and vsing many words of the great warlike preparations which the English brought before Haure de grace as if they had not only beene able to defend a small Towne but further to haue taken in all Normandy No man said Smith need to wonder because the Englishmen being a maritime Nation vnderstanding that they haue no command ouer the Winds who are Lords of the Sea they prouide plentifully and in due season for time to come Then the Frenchmen complaining that conformable to the Accord the Protestants that fled out of France were refused to bee deliuered to the French Ambassadour who had demanded them this busines was put off till another time and so by little and little came to be buried in silence the Ciuill Wars instantly renewing in France And certainely the French-men were resolued among themselues neuer to deliuer vp Calais againe For they no sooner tooke it but they razed all the old Fortifications began to make new let houses and grounds for fiftie yeeres and granted a perpetuitie in others While these matters thus passed in France the Count of Stolberg came into England from the Emperour Maximilian to treate of a Marriage with the Arch-duke for which end likewise the Queenes Maiestie not long before had sent to the Emperour the Earle of Sussex with the Order of the Garter who for the loue he bare to his Countrey and hatred to the Earle of Leicester employed all his best endeuours to bring to passe that the Queene might marry with a strange Prince and Leicester by this meanes to bee frustrated of his hopes this alwaies readily comming out of his mouth That whether in respect of honour power or meanes a strange Prince was to be preferred before the most noble Subiect of the Kingdome of England Which made one of a contrarie opinion vpon a certaine time vtter ingeniously these words in his presence That in marriages wherein respect is had to three things to honour power and riches the Diuell and the World were the Paranymphes and Solliciters Notwithstanding Leicester conceiuing good hopes found meanes to suborne the Lord North whom the Earle of Sussex had chosen to accompany him in his voyage that he should giue an eare to what he spake cast a vigilant eye ouer what hee did and vnder-hand to plucke backe the Marriage of the Arch-duke as fast as hee aduanced and set it forward letting him vnderstand that the Queene was farre from it whatsoeuer shew shee made of a willing mind and what face soeuer Sussex set on it As also himselfe laboured incessantly in Court to diuert the Queene from any such resolution he hauing the command of her eare and to this end he representing vnto her all the discommodities which might accrew by her marrying out of the Realme The Marriage of late memory that her Sister MARY contracted with the King of Spaine whereby shee cast her selfe into perpetuall sorrow and England into danger of comming vnder the Spanish seruitude That it was vnpossible to discouer the manners cogitations and inward inclinations of strangers though these things ought to be lookt into in the person of an Husband who by an inseparable band is one and the same flesh How it was an extreme misery and griefe to be dayly conuersant with a man of strange maners and language That Children begotten in such marriages tooke from their birth I know not what kind of
extraordinarie propertie and disposition That frequent commerce with strangers brought into the Common-wealth strange maners and fashions of life and that Ladies Princesses by these Marriages in stead of augmenting their owne Kingdomes added to those of their Husbands submitted themselues and their Subiects to their commands and laid open to strangers the secrets of their Kingdoms That a strange Husband out of the naturall affection he bare to his owne Countrey would preferre his owne Subiects before the Subiects of England That England had no need of the helpe of any stranger beeing strong enough of it selfe to defend the Kingdome and the riches thereof and to repell any forraigne Force That the annexing of another Kingdome would breed but charge care and trouble and how Kingdomes as well as humane bodies fell many times by their owne waight That some alleadged in scorne of the Nobility That the Queene marrying within the Kingdome should somewhat impaire her Royall dignity whereas her Maiestie who by her vertue opened a way to rise vnto this Soueraigntie was extracted from Nobility and that yet there are some Nobles of the Royall Blood who are like Sprigs of the same Royall Branch or Arme and hereupon the Kings of England haue euer in their Letters honoured Dukes Marquisses Earles and Vicounts with this Title of Cousins In the meane while the Earle of Sussex taking his Iourney by Antwerp Cullen Magunce Wormes Spire Vlme and Ausberg came into Austria with a great and magnificent Traine who beeing honourably entertained he there remained fiue moneths at the Emperours charge hauing daily conference with him about serious and waighty matters and touching the Marriage of Charles and on a day appointed he inuested him with the Order of the Garter at an Euening Prayer refusing through scruple of conscience to bee present at the celebration of Masse In this affaire many difficulties presented themselues about Religion and the Arch-duke's mayntenance the stile of King and the succession to the Kingdome and many points were argued both of the one side and the other For the Title and Stile of King it was accorded he should haue it For the Succession in that hee could not enioy it by the Lawes of the Kingdome in that it was preiudiciall to the Children hee should haue the tutelage and gardianship of them And that nothing more was granted to Philip King of Spaine when he married Queene MARY As for his maintenance if hee would furnish them at his charge whom he should bring with him and retaine in the Court the Queene out of her Royall Dignitie would abundantly discharge the rest yea and that too if he required it But one scruple still remained touching Religion For the Emperour demanded as also Charles himselfe that he might haue a publike Church granted him whither hee might repaire with his Court to the celebration of diuine Seruice according to the Romane forme But this beeing refused the Emperour was satisfied with an indifferent motion which was That hee might haue a peculiar place ordained within the Court for this purpose where he might quietly performe his Deuotions as euer it is permitted the Ambassadours of Romane Princes with a prouiso that the English should not bee thereto admitted and that neither hee nor his Followers did oppugne the Religion receiued in England neither fauour any opposites If any discontentment grew about Diuine Seruice hee should for a time forbeare his ordinary exercise and with the Queene repaire to that celebration performed according to the Church of England When this Treatie had beene sagely discussed of in England that I may not relate any further of the negotiation the Queene made answere That if shee yeelded to this she should offend her owne Conscience and openly violate the publike Lawes of the Kingdome to the extreme perill both of her dignitie and safety But if Charles were pleased to come into England to see her he should reape fruites worthy his trauell and paines And thus the Emperour dismissed the Earle of Sussex with great honour and the Earle of Sussex turning a little out of his way to see Charles tooke his leaue of him at Gratz and the Arch-duke Charles expecting to receiue a more fauourable Answere found himselfe frustrated of his intention For this prosecution was giuen ouer by little and little which made a progression of seuen whole yeeres with diuers intercourses of honourable Embassies it leauing notwithstanding a mutuall loue and amity betweene the Princes so cordiall and inherent that the Emperour alwaies crost the Popes designes against Queene ELIZABETH Not long after the Arch-duke married Mary Daughter to Albert the fifth Duke of Bauaria by whom amongst other Children he had two Daughters whereof the one was Queene of Spaine the other of Poland About this time came into England from the mightie Emperour of Russia and Muscouie Ioh. Basilius E. Twerdico and T. Pogarella with most Martlet Sable and Ermyne Skins whereof at that time and in precedent ages the English made great account both for ornament and health and they promised to the Queene and the English Nation continuance of that affection which the Emperour had manifested and what great studie and care he had taken for the English euer since they frequented those parts whereof you shall hereunder see the beginning In the yeere 1553. certaine Marchants of London the principall of whom were An. Iudd G. Barnes and A. Husay shaping out a course for Cathay by the frozen or Hyperborean Sea vnder the conduct of Sir Henry Willowbie who was frozen to death in the Iourney Ro. Chancelour his Lieutenant happily opened the passage of Russia before this time vnknowne running vp with the Riuer of Duina till he came to sixtie degrees of the Pole Articke where a little Monasteerie is seated consecrated to Saint Nicholas When the Emperour heard of it he sent for him to the Mosco in Caroches made after the manner of the Countrie he entertain'd and dismist him with many graces and fauours promising the English great immunities if they would trade into his Empire and reioycing that hee had met with a meanes to transport by Sea into Russia forraign merchandize which the Russiās could not come by before but with great difficultie by the Narue and the Kingdome of Poland enemies When Robert Chancelor vpon his returne gaue inforamtion thereof and of what high esteeme the Clothes of England were in those parts the low rate of Hempe and Flaxe whereof they made their Cables and cordage and what rich Skins they affoorded these Marchants raised a society or company by Queene MARIES permission in a faire Building appropriated to their vse which at this day we call the Moscouie house and Basilius granting them many immunities they haue since that time sent euery yeere a Fleet of Ships and maintained traffique the which likewise hath been greatly augmented since the yeere 1569. when out of his loue to Queene ELIZABETH he granted them that none but the English of
this Company might traffique into the North part of Russia and they onely should sell their merchandizes throughout the whole extent of his Empire which is large and spacious as in fit place shall be declared An. Ienkinson returned with these Ambassadours into England who had obseruantly runne ouer all this Countrey he described the same in a Geographicall Map and was the first man of the English that cross'd the Caspian Sea and landed in the Countrey of the Bactrians The Emperour committed vnto him secret matters which hee would by no meanes communicate to any of his owne people which was seriously to treat with Queene ELIZABETH in his name that she would enter into mutuall league with him offensiue and defensiue against all the world and that she would send into Russia Ship-wrights Mariners warlike Munitions and to oblige her selfe by solemne oath courteously to receiue him with his Wife and Children if he were driuen out of his Empire eyther by rebellious Subiects or open enemies And thus this Tyrant whom no man could trust seemed to be distrustfull euen of himselfe and though he were somewhat moued with the short and ambiguous answer that her Maiesty returned yet did he not giue ouer solliciting of her in these things both by Letters and Ambassies as hereafter shall be expressed requesting her continually to send him backe that same Anthony Ienkinson who as he thought had not beene so faithfull as in matters of so great waight was requisite The first Moneth of this yeere dyed Nicholas Wotton a Doctor of the Ciuill Law and Deane of the Churches of Canterbury and Yorke a very honourable person for his parentage but much more for his prudence whereof he had giuen ample testimony both within and without the Realme For hee was one of the Priuy-Councell to the Kings HENRY the Eighth and EDVVARD the Sixth as also to Queene MARY and Queene ELIZABETH Nine times he went Ambassadour to the Emperour the Kings of France and Spaine and other Princes Three times he was a Commissioner to make peace betweene the English French and Scots and one of the sixteene whom HENRY the Eighth chose for Executors of his last Will and Testament There dyed also El. Leyborne third Wife to Thomas Duke of Norfolke and formerly Widdow to the Lord Dacres hauing brought him forth no Children But she had one by her first Husband George the Baron who dyed young with a fall off of a Vauting-Horse of wood when he learned to vaut and three Daughters who were all affianced by promises of performance to the Dukes three Sonnes I told you how Shan O-Neale lawfull Sonne to Cone-Oneale surnamed Bacon that is to say Lame the mightiest man in the North part of Ireland which is called Vlster was come into England and craued pardon for his offence in the yeere 1563. When hee was returned into his Countrey hee valiantly defended that part of Ireland against the Scots which landed there out of Cantria and Hebride and he slew 10. Mac O-Neale his father in Law and Anny his Brother who conducted them This victory causing him to be insolent he began to exercise tyranny vpon other petty Lords of Vlster not of so powerfull a command as himselfe hee burnt Armach the Metropolitane City of Ireland for hatred to the Arch-bishop draue Mac-Guire out of the inheritance of his Predecessors pilled and sacked Mac-Genisse and others and the English receiuing them into their protection hee spred rebellious colours against Queene ELIZABETH But he presently wrapt them vp againe at the instigation of Cusac a Knight of the Order yeelded vp his Sonne in Hostage and submitted himselfe And Queene ELIZABETH to containe him within bounds hauing rent and torne all those Letters by which HENRY the Eighth declared Matthew falsly reputed for his Sonne to be Heire to Cone she resolued to conferre vpon him the honourable titles of Earle of Tyrone and Baron of Dungannon as being the vndoubted Sonne and Heire But this man altogether impatient of repose and peace perceiuing that he was able to bring into the field a thousand Horse and foure thousand foot of his Vassals and Tenants and he had already fiue hundred of his Guard with barbarous pride hee reiected such titles of honour in comparison of the name of O-Neale but caused himselfe by his owne people to be styled King of Vlster He trayned vp the Peasants to War offered the Kingdome of Ireland to the Queene of Scots and conceiued such a mortall hatred against the English that hauing built a Castle vpon the Lac Eaugh he named it Feognegall which is to say the Hatred of the English and strangled some of his people because they ate the bread of the English though hee would neuer speake otherwise than honourably of the Queene Sir Henry Sidney was commanded to arme against him and Randolph a braue Conductor sent by Sea vpon the Northerne Frontiers of Vlster to Derry which is a small Episcopall See neere to Loygh-foy with a troupe of horse and seuen hundred foot to assaile him vpon the backe when the Vice-Roy would come vp and set vpon him in his Van. Shan vnderstanding this hotly beleaguerd Dundalk but was repelled by the Garrison with great losse of men as he was likewise from Wittscastell where hee met with no lesse losse Then being about with fire and sword to waste the Earledome of Louth with the ouerthrow of a number of men he was rowted by a small troupe of the English when making towards Derry he forraged all the Countrey round about and prouoked the English Garrison to fight who ranging themselues in battell fell on all sides vpon this disordered multitude disarrayed ouerthrew and put them to open flight But the victory proued but sorrowfull by reason of a lamentable accident that light vpon Randolph who was slaine fighting valiantly among the thickest of his enemies as braue a Gentleman questionlesse as our present times haue seene and none euer purchased greater respect ioyned with loue among Souldiers than this man had done S. Lo being constituted in his place he much endammaged the Rebels in that quarter till on a day when the Fort by an vnhappy accident was set on fire with all the Munition and Powder which blew vp many Souldiers For then embarking all his foot in shipping and with a wing of Horse commanded by one Haruey he past through the middest of his enemies who continually galled him and by a way of foure dayes iourney went to the Lord Deputy who to honour Randolphs vertue solemnized his Obsequies and was himselfe in mourning And raising forces presently to goe into Vlster Shan retyred with his men into the Woods and Forrests re-amassing againe together at seuerall times here and there the rest of his men about Clogner and Castell Salmon belonging to Turlogh-Leinich who then had left it But when the Lord Deputy had constituted Garrisons settled Odonel againe in his State and was returned to appease the
hand to your presence and if you be pleased to commiserate my case I will at large informe you of all God grant you a long and happy life and me the patience to attend that comfort I hope for from Him by your gracious meanes and dayly Prayer for with all my heart Queene ELIZABETH returning her great comfort in Letters and by the mouth of Francis Knowles and others promised her assistance according to the equitie of her cause but neuerthelesse she refused her accesse because shee was commonly taxed with many grosse crimes and commanded she should be conuayed to Carlile where shee might remaine in greatest security if her Aduersaries attempted any thing against her by Lowder Lieutenant Gouernour of the place and the Gentlemen of the Countrey Hauing receiued this answere and refusall she once againe made her request by Letters and by the mouth of Maxwell Baron of Heris to this effect THat she would admit her in her own presence to report the iniuries and indignities had been offered her and to answer those crimes laid to her charge Intimating to her Maiesty how it was iust that Qu. ELIZABETH who was so neere vnto her in blood should giue care to her in her banishment and to re-establish her in her Kingdome against those who hauing beene expelled for their offences committed against her by Queene ELIZABETHS intercession they were againe restored and to her owne finall ruine if the storme were not out of hand preuented Wherefore shee requested her that either shee might bee admitted to speake personally to her and to grant her some ayde or else to permit and be pleased that she might presently depart out of England to seeke for succour some where else and that she might not be detained any longer time in the Castle of Carlile in that shee came voluntarily into England vpon the confidence shee had in the loue and affection which had so many times beene honourably promised her by Messengers Letters and Remembrances These Letters and Heris words seemed for who can diue into the secret thoughts of Princes and wise men lay them vp in their hearts to moue Queene ELIZABETH to compassion of a Princesse her neere Kinswoman and so deepely distressed who hauing been surprized by her own Subiects with force and Armes committed to prison brought to extreme danger of her life condemned and depriued of her Kingdome without beeing heard although no Iudgement can passe vpon a priuate man without former hearing shee was retyred into England vnto her with infallible hopes of finding ayd and succour And the free offer which this vnfortunate Queene made to pleade her owne cause in her presence the charge she tooke vpon her to conuince her Aduersaries of the same malefacts whereof they accused her though most innocent were to her hopefull and encouraging motiues thereunto What pitty and commiseration soeuer Queen ELIZABETH had of her the Councell of England deliberated grauely and aduisedly what in this case was to bee done They fear'd that if shee remained any longer in England hauing a perswasiue and mouing tongue she might drawe many to her partie who fauoured the Title which she pretended to the Crowne of England who might peraduenture inflame her ambition and attempt all meanes to maintaine her claime That forraigne Ambassadours would be present at her Consultations and the Scots would not in this case forsake her seeing so rich a booty to offer it selfe Besides they considered that the fidelity of her Guard might be doubtfull and if shee chanc'd to dye in England though it were of some infirmity or sicknesse many slanders might be rais'd and so the QVEENE should be dayly encumbred with new cares If she were sent into France the Guizes her Cousins would againe set on foot the Title whereby she laid claime to the Crowne of England That what opinion soeuer was conceiued of her she might preuaile greatly in England with some for pretext of Religion with others for the probability of her right as before I told you and with the most part of men out of their precipitate affection of Nouelties That the Amity betweene England and Scotland so behoofefull and beneficiall would be broken and the ancient Allyance between Scotland and France renewed which would then bee more dangerous then heretofore because the Burgundians who had no infallible friends but the Scots should bee linckt to the English by a firme Alliance If shee were sent backe into Scotland those that tooke with the English partie should thereupon be banisht and that of France rais'd to the publike administration of gouernment of Affaires the young Prince exposed to danger Religion chang'd the French and other strangers still retained in Scotland Ireland would bee more grieuously molested by the Scots of Hebrides and her selfe exposed to the perill of life within her owne Kingdome Wherefore the greater part ioyned in opinion that shee was to be retained in England as beeing taken by the Law of Armes and not to bee releast till shee had giuen ouer her present claime to the Crowne of England which shee tooke vpon her and answered for the death of the Lord Darley her husband who was a naturall Subiect of England For the Countesse of Lenox mother to the Lord Darley blubbered all ouer with teares had not long before prefer'd a Petition about her and her husband to the Queene of England with supplication that she might be brought to Iudgement for the murder of her Sonne But the Queene graciously comforting her admonisht her that she would not accuse so great a Princesse who was her very neere Kinswoman of a crime which could not be prooued by any euident testimonies intimating vnto her how the times were bad and wicked and hatred blind imputing offences oftentimes to the Innocent On the contrary the Baron of Heris was a suiter to Qu. ELIZABETH that she would suddenly beleeue nothing to the preiudice of truth and that Earle Murray might not hurrie vp Assemblies of Parliament in Scotland to the iniurie and wrong of the Queene who was expelled and the absolute ruine of her good Subiects But though the Queene of England much pressed this point Earle Murray the Vice-Roy summoned them still in the Kings name banished some that remained yet behind of her partialitie and vented the malice hee bare to them vpon their demeanes and houses The Queene of England beeing herewith mightily incens'd certified him in expresse termes by Mildemay that she could not endure for a most pernicious President to Kings that the Royall Authoritie of sacred Maiestie should bee esteemed vile and abiect amongst the Subiects and trampled vnder-foot at the will and pleasure of men turbulent and factious That howsoeuer they forgot the duety and fidelitie which Subiects owe to their Prince yet for her part shee could not bee vnmindfull of that pitty and Commiseration which obliged her to a Sister and a neighbour Qu. Wherefore she wisht him either to come in person or
to a guard while they could finde out and execute Bothwell But shee weary of reigning with so infinite many disturbances had willingly resigned and transferred ouer the Kingdome to her Sonne constituting the Earle of Murray for Vice-Roy That hereupon her Sonne was solemnely consecrated and crowned King all confirmed and ratified in Parliament by the States of the Kingdome That by reason of Iustice which was equally ministred the Scottish Common-wealth had recouered some vigour and strength while some particulars who could not endure the publique repose had contrary to their oath cautelously released the Queene out of safe custodie and taken vp Armes violating herein the fidelitie they owe to their King and though thankes be to GOD they obtayned victory ouer them yet notwithstanding with an hostile and disloyall heart they presumptuously enterprized against their Countrey and Prince and therefore the Royall Authoritie must needes conformably haue beene supprest by such tumultuous and mutinous Subiects After a reiteration of the former protest the Queene of Scots Deputies replyed in these words THat what Earle Murray and his Complices alledged for hauing taken vp Armes against the Queene in that Bothwell whom they accused of killing the KING was in great grace and authoritie about her could not iustly brand them with the marke of disloyall Subiects seeing there was no euident proofe of his murdering the King but contrariwise by sentence of the Peeres hee was cleared thereof and this absolution confirmed by Act of Parliament with their very approbation and consent who at this time accuse him and that then perswaded the Queene to take him for her Husband as beeing more sufficient than all others to sway and gouerne the Kingdome they obliged vnto him their fidelitie in Writing and not so much as in words disallowed of this marriage while they had drawne to their partie the Captaine or Gouernour of the Castle and the Maior of Edenborrough For then in the night which was a very vnfit season in hostile manner they assayled the Castle of Bothwick where the Queene was and shee retyring her selfe by the fauour of the night they presently raysing an Armie vnder pretext of her defence went themselues into the field way-layde her as shee went to Edenborrough and aduertized her by Grange whom they sent to her that shee should shake off Bothwell while hee had appeared in iudgement and cleared himselfe all which shee willingly did to auoid effusion of bloud But Grange vnder-hand admonished Bothwell to with-draw himselfe promising him with oath that no bodie should pursue him so as hee made away with their owne consent and beeing minded they might easily haue taken him afterwards But when they had once gotten the Queene into their hands for the mannaging of their ambitious designes they made no great reckoning of him and it is no great wonder when they beeing the Queenes Subiects and hauing vowed fidelity to her shee bitterly rebuked them hauing so basely and vnworthily entreated her Royall Maiesty Shee freely referred the matter to the whole Estates of the Kingdome and made a declaration thereof vnto them by Lidington her Secretary But they would not so much as giue any eare vnto it but conueyed her away secretly by night and emprisoned her at Lake-Leuin In saying that wearied with her Reigne shee resigned and gaue ouer the Kingdome is a most palpable inuention because shee is neither too-much broken with yeeres nor of such a feeble and weake constitution but equally vigorous both in bodie and minde to mannage weightie and great affaires but most certaine it is that the Earles of Athol Tubardine and Lidington who were also of her Councell aduized her to seale the drafts of Resignation to auoyd death where-with shee was daily threatned and this was not done with any preiudice eyther to her selfe or her Heires because shee was then a prisoner and imprisonment is a iust feare for according to the opinion of Ciuilians a promise made by a prisoner is of no worth Hereunto also she was perswaded by Throgmorton who presented vnto her a draft written with his owne hand whom shee entreated to informe the Queene of England that shee did it constrained and contrary to her will That when Lindsay presented to her the Patents for her to subscribe vnto hee terrified her with feare and horrour of death and so by this meanes enforced her to seale with weeping eyes not hauing so much as read the Contents That the Lord of the Castle of Lake-Leuin vnderstanding and seeing apparantly that shee had subscribed and sealed against her will hee would not set to his hand as also this Resignation was most vniust because shee had nothing hereby assigned her for her owne behoofe and entertainement neither grant of libertie nor assurance of life That whosoeuer will but equally ballance things hee cannot but iudge this to be a weake infringement of Royall Authoritie because when the Queene was at libertie in the presence of many Nobles of the Kingdome shee declared how shee had done it out of meere constraint And what they boast to haue effected by Act of Parliament can no wayes preiudice her Royall prerogatiue because in this tumultuarie Parliament there were present but foure Earles one Bishop two Abbots and sixe Barons though aboue an hundred betweene Earles Bishops and Barons haue a voyce in the Parliament of Scotland and yet of so small a number some protested that what was done should not redound to the preiudice of the Queene or her Successours because shee was a prisoner That the Ambassadours of France and England could neuer be certified from her though they had many times instantly vrged it whether she voluntarily resigned ouer the Kingdome or no. And so farre the Common-wealth hath beene from beeing iustly gouerned vnder the vsurping Vice-Roy that on the contrary all manner of impieties neuer bare a greater sway for hee hath beene seene to demolish sacred buildings to ruine illustrious Families and to afflict and grinde the faces of the miserable poore And therefore they humbly entreated the Queens Maiestie of England to be assisting with her best fauour counsell and ayde to the Queene her neere Kinsewoman so lamentably opprest Thus farre I copied out of the proper Writings of the Commissioners These matters thus heard the Commissioners enioyning Murray to produce and proue with more solid reasons the occasion of so strange a rigour vs'd to an absolute Queene because all formerly alledged had no pregnant testimonies but only ambiguous and improbable Letters and Lidington hauing priuily made known that he himself had often counterfaited the Qu. hand Murray would no further prosecute before strangers the accusation he had framed against his Sister except the Queene of England promised of her part to take vpon her the Protection of the Infant King and wholly abandon the Queene of Scots But the Deputies by vertue of their Delegation hauing no authoritie to promise any such matter two on both parts were sent vp to London to
whom Queene ELIZABETH made knowne that shee could not yet discharge the Subiects of Scotland of the offence they had committed against their Princesse but notwithstanding that shee would request her in their behalfe and also heare them if they could alledge any thing for their iust excuse Earle Murray who presently followed them absolutely refused to insist by Accusation against his Sister but vpon the conditions hee had mentioned at Yorke The Commissioners were presently called home and their authority disanulled whereof the Duke who alwayes fauoured the Queene of Scots was very glad and thought he had nothing more then to effect but only to brand her with an eternall infamy to exclude her with her young Sonne from all right of succession to the Crowne of England and that hee had auoided two dangers for in giuing sentence against her he feared to ruine her and violate his owne conscience and denouncing Iudgement on her side to vndergoe the vnplacable wrath of his owne Queene and of all those who for Religions sake and any other consideration were opposite to the Queene of Scots But when Earle Murray saw that the friends shee retained in Scotland disturbed all affaires and that his presence was requisite he framed his Accusation in the presence of the Queene Sir Nicholas Bacon Lord Keeper of the great Seale the Earle of Leicester Clynton Lord Admirall Cecill and Sadler who by new letters were constituted new Commissioners and to proue the Queen of Scots culpable of her Husbands murder hee produced some probable and coniecturall Articles the Depositions of some Witnesses the Acts digested in the Assemblies of the States but aboue all certaine Loue-Letters and verses written as hee affirmed with the Queenes own hand as also he brought foorth Buchanan's Booke entituled The Discouery to be openly read but the greater number of the Commissioners gaue not much credit thereunto it proceeding from a partiall man and one that had made sale of his fidelity As for the Verses and Letters because they had no names subscriptions nor dates and so many Impostors there be who can counterfait others hands so naturally as the one can hardly be discerned from the other Queene ELIZABETH would in no wise affoord them beliefe or credit though shee were much instigated out of feminine emulation wherewith that Sex is many times violently transported remaining satisfied that these Accusations had imposed vpon the Queene of Scots some reprochfull Aspersions Her Deputies hearing that shee was dayly accused by Murray presented themselues to make answere but shee had now reuoked their authority which was but Delegatorie as shee had beene secretly informed by certaine English Ciuilians and this shee might doe by Law seeing that of the Duke and others had beene so formerly reuoked Afterwards shee peremptorily refused the new Commissioners two of whom shee suspected except the Ambassadours of France and Spaine were ioyned in commission with them that shee might be admitted to defend her own innocency openly in the presence of the Queen of England and them except Murray were restrained called to a Triall auerring how she could conuince him and proue that he was the author of the Lord Darleys murder The Duke of Norfolke the Earles of Arundel Sussex Leicester and Lincolne esteeming this to be but iust and equall Qu. ELIZABETH grew into wonderfull choller and told them openly that the Queen of Scots could neuer want an Aduocate till the Duke of Norfolke came short of his life and shee was contented to impart those crimes whereof Murray imputed her to euery one of her priuy Councell and to the Earles of Northumberland Westmerland Shrewsbury Worcester Huntington and Warwicke whom shee conuocated to this end vnder an oath of silence exhibited not to damnifie either of the parties And because Murray was called backe into Scotland and 't was commonly bruted abroad that Boyd attempted to release the Queen of Scots of her imprisonment this Proceeding was deferr'd to some other time Queene ELIZABETH so farre as seem'd probable sharply reprehending the insolency of the Scottish-men in deposing their Queene At that time Hamilton Duke of Chastelraut came out of France sent vnder-hand by the Guizes to oppose Murray in the gouernment and administrations of the Kingdome during the yong King's minority and maintayned before Queene ELIZABETH that beeing neerest of blood to the King he should be preferred before Murray who was but a Bastard Contrariwise Murray and the Kings Ambassadors alleadged that the gouernment of the Kingdome was not to bee assigned alwaies to those neerest of blood but to such who by a generall consent of the States were elected and chosen as most sufficient and capable of that Charge That it were a most vniust course to put the King who was young into his hands who by proximity of blood aspiring to the Kingdome might easily be tempted to violate right out of a desire to rule and reigne And how this was greatly to be feared especially of the Hamiltons who had practised many enmities against the Earles of Lenox the Kings Grandfathers wickedly slaine his great Grandfather by the Fathers side expell'd Mathew his Grandfather out of Scotland after he had reduced him to low pouerty and also of himselfe who made this motion who with bitter and implacable hatred wonderfully molested Henry the Kings Father and the more easily to enioy the Kingdome he married his Maiesties Mother with the King of France The which when Queen ELIZABETH vnderstood shee made knowne to Hamilton how his demand was most vniust and forbade him to depart out of England till Earle Murray were returned into Scotland Murray a little before his departure was so subtill as that secretly by his man Meluin he offered the Duke of Norfolk to marry with the Queene of Scots and her he promised to re-establish in her Kingdome as presently we will declare Notwithstanding to conceale it from Queene ELIZABETH he caus'd a rumor to be spred that shee had made ouer her claime of the Kingdome of England to the Duke of Aniou and how this alienation was confirmed at Rome he shewed certaine Letters shee had written to those of her partie wherein shee blamed Queene ELIZABETH for fayling of her promise and vaunted that shee expected succours otherwise then from her Whether these reports were true or fained I am not able to say But certainely Queene ELIZABETH was much moued herewith who could not imagine from whom she should attend these new reliefes because ciuill warre was so hotly kindled in France as the Bishop of Rhemes sent by the King entreated her that she would not haue any hand in those affaires and the Duke of Alua who was come the yeere before into the Low-Countries to supplant the Protestant Religion staid still there by reason of the troubles But as afterward it proou'd apparant and as H. Catene writ to Cardinall Alexandrine Pope Pius 5. not daring to send an open Nuncio had suborn'd R. Ridolpho a
condemned to the Gallies The Spaniard also by Letters written to the Count De Mont-Agond Gouernour of Boetia forbade the transportation of Oyle Allum Sucker Aromatiques and all other such like things into England supposing that if the English wanted these things they would readily rebell and so vpon this he likewise treated with the Duke of Norfolke and the Earle of Ormond by secret messengers to the end the latter might hold the Queene play in Ireland and the former in England But they freely discouered his motions out of the fidelity and loyalty they bare to the Queene When the inhabitants of the coasts of England heard of these things it is incredible to see with what ioy they made our to Sea and how resolutely they put in execution their Letters of Mart against the Spaniards so that to depresse them Proclamations were faine to be published prohibiting the buying of any Merchandize of such as came by it by way of reprizall As the English men were denyed traffique in the Low Countries so were they no lesse debarred the same in Russia as well through the false dealing of Factors and bad intelligence that past betweene them as out of the enuy of the Germanes and Russians the Russians complaining of fraudulent commodities and that the price of Merchandizes was enhaunsed and the Germanes of their monopoly and societie To remedy these euils Thomas Randolph was sent thither the yeere before who though with no liking to the Emperour of Russia because whereas hee should haue treated of the amity hee desired to entertaine with Queene ELIZABETH whereof wee spake in the yeere 1567. hee onely employed himselfe carefully in the matter of traffique neuerthelesse obtayned so much by his sollicitations that the Emperour for the singular good will he bare to the Queene and the English nation granted to the Company of English residing in Russia immunities from customes with Commission to sell their commodities ouer all the Countrey where they would within the extent of his Empire which is ample and large and to transport them into Persia and Media by the Caspian Sea though Merchants of other Nations were permitted to goe no further than a mile beyond the Citie of Mosco hee allotted them houses to winde and twist their Ship-tacklings with Wood for their yron-workes and he receiued the English for OPPRISMâ—Y that is to say the elect seed and choyce of his people Wherefore they began to trauell more confidently ouer all those Countries and to transport their commodities to Vologda vpon the Dwine in Vessels made of one entire peice drawne by force of arme against the current of the water by an handiworke gouerned with Oares and long Piles from thence to Yeraslaue which is ten daies iourney by Land afterwards into Germanie for 30. dayes and nights trauell downe the riuer of Volga which is about a mile in breadth and runnes along a clay soyle set with Oakes and Bouleaux and when they had built Boats they oftentimes crossed the Astracane and the Caspian Sea that in many places may be waded ouer and so by the Defarts of Hercania and Bactriana they came to the Teueres and Casbine Cities of Persia out of an assured confidence they should at last open a way and passage to Cathay But the warres that suddenly grew betweene the Turkes and Persians and frequent robberies of the Barbarians cut off this commendable designe of the London Merchants and as for the Emperour he sent backe Randolph with gifts and presents and with him An. Gregoritzki an Ambassadour in very honourable equipage certainely for the custome of that Countrey who was receiued of the Londoners with great festiuities and of the Queenes Maiestie with much honour This Ambassadour exhibited a formall Writing in the Russian Tongue and required that the alliance and amitie might be confirmed in his presence in the same termes a secret Letter which hee propounded translated into the Russian Tongue with all the Letters subscribed with the Queenes Hand and sealed with her Seale and that shee should likewise send an Ambassadour into Russia reciprocally to receiue from the hand of the Emperour priuy Letters written in the same words which in his presence should be sealed with his Seale and confirmed with a kissing of the Crosse The Queene agreed to this Alliance reseruing onely this Clause So farre as that formerly contracted with other Princes might permit That they might so ayde one another against their common enemies that nothing be performed vniust or vnlawfull and by the word of a Christian Princesse in the presence of the Ambassadour and the most honoured of her Priuy-Councell shee promised inuiolably whereof likewise hee had Letters sealed with her owne Priuy-Seale that if accidentally eyther by his owne Subiects or strangers he brought to such a poynt as to forsake his Countrey she would receiue and entertaine both himselfe and his children with al the honour befitting so great a Prince shee would assigne him a peculiar place for his residence permit him freely to exercise his Religion and to depart at his pleasure For these things hee earnestly required in his secret Letters But this was so far from satisfying this harsh-natur'd and sauage man who held for all right and Law meerely his will pleasure that he by numerating and setting out at large by Letters the sundry benefits and good deedes which hee had done to the English Nation and reproaching them with such fauours and friendships growes angry and is irritated against Queene ELIZABETH for not sending an Ambassadour with his to take the Oath blames her Maiestie that shee made no greater account of her selfe saying shee was ouer-much giuen to Merchants affaires as much vnworthy to be so much respected of a Prince and suspecting the Marchants to be opposite to his designe as being ouer-base vpbraided them in contemptible despitefull and iniurious manner as sordid people who respect their owne profit and priuate gaine more then the Honour and credit of their Soueraignes threatning them in a most barbarous manner to suppresse and abolish all former Priuiledges by him granted to them Which neuerthelesse hee effected not beeing moderated and appeased by the courteous and kind Letters that Qu. ELIZABETH wrote vnto him which were sent by Ienkinson he shewed himselfe all his life time most diligent and carefull to please her Maiestie cherishing and honouring her as a Sister often vrging her to confirme more straitely and firmely that Alliance and lou'd singularly the English far aboue all other Nations Murray had then procured a safe returne into Scotland propounding vnto the Queene herselfe and the Duke of Norfolke and the rest of her friends in England her re-establishment in the Kingdome of Scotland who to that end had hindred and kept in awe the Scots who sought to kill him by straitely charging and prohibiting not to hinder his comming Being first arriued in Edenborough he summon'd all such Nobles as fauoured the Queene
diuers strange iudgements vpon the same and among other surmizes his mothers dreame was then recalled to memory of a Lyon and a Dragon combating in her wombe after she had beene priuately knowne by Iames the Fifth Diuers were the opinions and censures of most men but especially of those of sounder iudgement and apprehension according to their diuers affections of some he was much commended because he was very studious for the expelling of the Romish Recusants out of Scotland for so carefully preseruing the King being yet an Infant and likewise for his great and liberall bounty to men of learning and aboue all to Bucchanan on the contrary part hee was of other-some greatly condemned because he vnder the colour and couerture of Religion enricht himselfe and his friends with the spoiles of the Church and with a most iniurious ingratitude insulted and tyrannized ouer the imbecillity of his Sisters weake Sexe hauing before obliged him to her by many benefits And of these some would presage through their suspicious coniectures grounded vpon the mischieuous inclination which is incident to most bastards That that man would not spare the Sonne that had bereaued the Mother of her Kingdome The Queen of Scots exprest much sorrow for him because such a violent and vnexpected death had snatcht him away before as she said he had by serious repentance expiated the multiplicity of the sinnes hee had committed against God his Countrey and his Prince But forasmuch as hee greatly fauoured such English as were affected to the Duke of Norfolke hee was thought and accused to bee a faigned and dissembling Politician The next succeeding night to this murder T. Carrey of Fernihurst and Walter a Scottish-man of Buchlui two of the hardiest and valiantest of those Frontiers and so much affected to the Queene of Scots that for their deuout following of her faction and party they suffered banishment with the confiscation of their goods breathing forth defiance and vengeance against the Queene of England because the Vice-Roy in her fauour had so cruelly afflicted the Frontier inhabitants they violated the peace and by force entred into England with a rout of Scottish and some English Rebells consuming and deuasting with sword and fire the neighbouring Countries as though they would haue made them desolate like Desarts whereupon T. Randolph was incontinently dispatcht into Scotland there in a publike Assembly of the Lords of the Realme to giue notice of this iniurious outrage And if by reason of the manifold troubles wherewith Scotland was at that present incumbred they could not represse the disturbers of the Peace the Queene would reuenge and right herselfe by force of Armes of that insolent affront which she had receiued without any way indamaging others saue those that had deseruedly incurred her vengeance To this was only answered That as yet there was no Vice-Roy chosen or designed amongst them Neuerthelesse that the iniuries done to the Frontier inhabitants might bee redressed a command was giuen to the Lord of Sussex to leauie a competent Armie and march against the Lords of Buchlui and of Fernihurst to pursue and chase with deserued rigour onely those that with the rebellious English had ouer-run pillaged those of the Frontiers Now the Earles of Huntley and Argathel that had all this while laboured in the behalfe of the Queene of Scots hearing of his approach sent vnto him one Trebon to demand a Truce and that they might obtaine so long respit vntill they should acquaint Queene ELIZABETH with their affaires But they perceiuing that they could by no meanes wrest him from his dessignes they began first to vse threatnings thinking to deterre him but that not preuailing they were enforst to vse submissiue intreaties that he would become an arbitratour for the abolishing of certaine ordinances which had beene created in Scotland some two yeeres before Neuerthelesse Sussex about the midst of Aprill entred into Scotland with the Baron of Hunsdon Drury Marshall of Barwicke and the English Armie where they burned through the whole Countrey of Tiuisdale the houses and villages of Buchlui and Carrey ouerthrew and destroyed their countrey and vtterly ruinated Fernihurst and Craling two of the principal Forts of T. Carrey At the same instant the Lord Scroope likewise entred vpon the East parts of Scotland laying desolate on euery side through the Earledome of Anaudale the possessions of Ionston others that had in like maner fauoured the English Rebells such was his expedition at his first cōming that there were 300. houses consumed by fire 50. Forts at least laid leuell with the earth A few dayes after the Lord of Sussex entred further into Scotland with the Baron of Hunsdon where they besieged the Castle of Hume which was the chiefe refuge of the English Rebels which yeelded vp as soone as the great Artillery were planted against it But there were found in it but two of the Rebells which they caused presently to be hanged and placing a Garrison in it Drury was forth-with commanded to batter downe Fast-Castle which was also a prime Fortresse of the Baron of Hume which likewise without resistance was yeelded vp The English Rebells then retired into the heart of Scotland associated with diuers other Rebels there with fire and sword they threatned the Frontier inhabitants of England and those in like manner of Scotland that were of the Queenes partie the Lord of Sussex againe sent forth Drury who returned within seuen dayes with 1200. foote and 400. horse Drury receiued from Collingham certaine hostages for the Earles of Angus of Morton of Mar of Glencarne and for the Barons of Reuuen and of Lindsay who with diuers others had recalled the English Then Sussex himselfe accompanied with G. Carrey P. Manours R. Constable which hee had honoured with the order of Knighthood with Druray A. Bowes G. Knolles T. Brichwell R. Gam Elrington Carnill with other Captaines and Commanders in the Armie marching toward Edenborrough ioyned his forces with those Earles and the Duke of Lenox then newly returned from England who before was suspected to be of the partie with the Duke of Norfolke and the Queene of Scots Thus marching through Limnuch towards Glasco where the Lord of Hamilton Duke of Chastelraut had retired himselfe and from thence towards the Castle Hamilton which after they had mightily battered with the Cannon and almost beaten it downe was yeelded vp in a small space Then were the houses of the Hamiltons with their stately and magnificent buildings defaced and consumed with remorcelesse fire ransacking their demaines of Cluisdale and at their chiefe Mannour house situated neere Limnuch Thus the Hamiltons with the rest that tooke part with the deposed Queene beeing extirpated and put to flight the Lords of Scotland and those of the Kings part beeing ready to assemble about the election of a new Vice-Roy they sent to demand counsell of Queene ELIZABETH who sent them this answer That because she would not preiudicate against
and Thomas his brother Percy Lowder Powell and Godier who all declared what they knew in hope of pardon Assoone as the Councell had produced their Confessions in the Dukes presence the Queene of Scotland and the Bishop of Rosse's Letters with the said Remembrance hee was very much deiected considering this remembrance and those Letters which through a weake credulity he supposed to bee burned he sighed and brake out into these words I Haue beene betrayed and vndone by mine owne people in fayling to distrust which is the onely sinnewe of Wisedome But he humbly besought the Councell to mediate the Queenes fauour in his behalfe promising to conceale nothing of what he knew and seriously protested that he neuer approued of any thing which was to the preiudice of the Qu. or Kingdome But on the contrary from the very bottome of his heart condemned the designe of seizing vpon the Queenes person or the Towre of London and the setting at liberty of the Queene of Scotland and that hee neuer harboured a thought so much of bringing forraigne Troupes into Great Brittaine but only to suppresse certaine of the Scots rebelling against the Queen Being this day examined vpon 50. Articles or thereabouts hee answered without dissimulation After that they penned the substance of the whole businesse in the Star-Chamber before a great Assembly of Noble-men in presence of the Lord Maior and Shiriffes of the Citie of London from thence in the Palace of London in view of all the inhabitants by G. Fleetwood Recorder of the Citie And forasmuch as by all these confessions especially by the Dukes the Bishop of Rosse was conuicted as Author of these Plots they seriously consulted what was best to bee done For as they doe ordinarily that haue such charges he conceiued that it was lawfull for him to vse any meanes for the aduancement of the affaires of his Princesse and that by the oath and inuiolable right of an Ambassadour he was not bound to acknowledge the authority of any other and relying hereupon exposed himselfe to the liberty of diuers turbulent Actions kindling of seditions and taking counsell in the night with the Earle of Southampton and afterwards inclining to the English Fugitiues in Flanders the Duke of Alua the Spaniard and the Pope about the inuasion of England They proposed hereupon vnto Lewes Dale Drury Aubrey and Iones men of sound iudgement in the Ciuill-Lawes In the first place WHether an Ambassadour mouing sedition against the Prince vnto whom he is sent may enioy the priuiledge of an Ambassadour or not and whether he be not subiect to punishment as an Enemy To which they answered that by the Common Lawe of Nations and Ciuill-Law of the Romanes such an Ambassadour was falne from all priuiledge and was subiect to punishment as an enemy WHether a Minister or Agent of a deposed Prince another being crowned in his place ought to haue the priuiledge of an Ambassadour They answered that if such a Prince be lawfully deposed his Minister cannot challenge the priuiledge of an Ambassadour forasmuch as none but absolute Princes which haue soueraigne power can constitute Ambassadours In the third place WHether a Prince being come into another Kingdome and kept in hold may haue his Agent and if this Agent ought to be accounted an Ambassadour or not They answere That a Prince may prohibit an Ambassadour to enter into his Kingdome and command him out of his Kingdome if he doth not containe himselfe within the limits prescribed to Ambassadours but in the meane time he ought to enioy the priuiledge of an Ambassadour for the authority of his Ambassie Vpon the answers of these Ciuill-Lawiers the Bishop of Rosse being called backe from the Isle of Ely and sharply reprooued the Councell denounced him not to be acknowledged an Ambassadour but to be punished as a pernicious Malefactor To which he answered THat he beeing Ambassadour to an absolute Queene vniustly deposed had according to his duty laboured for the libertie of his Princesse and for the good of both the Kingdomes that hee was come into England with ample authoritie vnder publique testimony which hee exhibited and that the sacred Rites of Ambassadours ought not by any meanes to be violated Whereupon Burghley grauely shewes him that neither the Rites of the Ambassies nor publique Letters of Credit are of validitie for Ambassadours which offend against the publique faith but are subiect to penall actions and that otherwise it should be permitted to wicked Ambassadours to attempt against the life of Princes vnpunished He on the contrary opinatiuely maintained that the authority of Ambassadours had neuer beene violated by way of Rite but onely by way of fact to vse his owne words and boldly admonisheth them not to deale with him more sharpely then the English Ambassadours had beene dealt with Throgmorton in France Randolph and Tamworth in Scotland who had apparantly excited and nourished rebellions and were acquitted vpon command to depart within a certaine time They began to presse him vpon the witnesse of some English-men he gently intreated them not to doe it because saith hee that a receiued custome doth establish it selfe for a Law An Englishman ought not to beare witnesse against a Scottishman nor a Scottishman against an Englishman After some arguings hereupon whether such custome tooke place elsewhere then vpon the Frontiers of both the Kingdomes and whether English Ambassadours had stirred Rebellion or no Rosse is carried to the Tower of London where being straitly kept within a few dayes hee briefly made answere to all the interrogatories with this caution that his answeres might not be preiudicious to any And first he excused the Queene of Scots who being prisoner and in the prime of her age seeking to escape by any meanes ELIZABETH hauing excluded all from seeing her and barred her from all hope of libertie and openly supported all her aduersaries afterwards excuseth the Duke that hee had not treated marriage with her but by the aduice of many that were of Queen ELIZABETHS Councell nor could he relinquish her although he had vnder his owne hand-writing promised to doe it forasmuch as before that promise a former promise of marriage had passed betweene them And finally excuseth himselfe that being Ambassadour and Minister could not without blame leaue the duety of his charge and be wanting to his Princesse in her afflictions and that he had propounded the seyzing of the person of Queene ELIZABETH to no other end but to try whether the Duke had a minde prepared to doe a mischieuous act and verily hee craftily extenuated the offences of the rest and would neuer discouer the names of the Nobles which offered themselues to the Dukes seruice for the seyzing of the Queenes person onely confessed that by the commandement of the Queene of Scots he consulted with the Earles of Arundel Lumley and Throgmorton and by Lumley and the Vicount of Mountague because that he was to deliuer into the hands of the English the
bee thought not to respect her who had been wife to the King his brother and now the Dowager of France and to neglect the now puissant Family of the Guizes in France or to approoue that pernicious example of deposing of Kings And which was the most capitall point of all that shee finding her selfe abandoned of the French in her aduersity might seeke Patronage from Spaine and that by her meanes the three prepotent Realmes of England Scotland and Ireland might colleague them in amity with Spaine to the no small endamagement of the State of France To these Qu. ELIZABETH with milde alacrity answered THe King of France will be well aduised what or how he shall doe with the Queene of Scotland notwithstanding she was their Queene and now is their Dowager howbeit for the dissoluing of the Duke of Aniou's mariages she hath held secret cōsultation with the Spaniard He will also consider whether that ancient Law of Alliance be violable and whether he be bound therby or no to defend the King in his nonage He will also bethinke him how much France is beholden or obliged to the Family of the Guizes by whose practices the Countrey hath beene afflicted with long and bloody wars the French haue beene forced to lose the loue of Scotland and the poore Queene brought into this calamitable case she is in In very deed the example of deposing Kings I hold a thing most pernicious and well deseruing infernall punishment but for that the Scots are to answere And for mine owne part I call to mind the things which grieue my heart to remember But notwithstanding I know not how the French in old times allowed of Pepin when he supplanted Childeric Hugo Capet Charles of Lorraine depriuing them of their ancient successions descended to them from a long-continued Race of Ancestors to transferre the Scepter to new-erected Families As also Philip surnamed the good Duke of Burgundie exiled Iaquette from his countries of Hainault Holland or the Danes when they expulst from his Kingdome Christianus the second and his Daughters Or the Spaniards who imprisoned the Queene Vraca after they had put her from the Crowne It is no nouelty for Sonnes to succeed their deposed Mothers So Henry the Second was admitted King of England Alphonsus the yonger Sonne of Vraca King of Castill and of late memory Charles the fifth King of Spaine and Sicily their Mothers then suruiuing The world is full of examples of many Queenes that haue exchanged their Diademes for prisons which France doth testifie at large hauing imprisoned not to say further the wiues of three of their Kings one after another Lewes Hutin Philip the long and Charles the faire For my part I detaine the Queene of Scots vnder a reasonable Guard but I doe it for the preseruation of England and mine owne safety after the example of the French who for their better security of affaires put Chilperic into a Monasterie Charles of Lorraine into a safe and straite prison and Lodowicke Sforza Duke of Mylan into a Dungeon with Iron grates Whereunto as she was very conuersant in the Histories of all Nations shee annexed other examples of the same nature drawne out of the Historie of Spaine and finally concluded that true it was such Presidents carried euer with them some semblance of Iniustice but she required that the King of France would vndertake the defence of the Queene of Scotland euen as he was bound by his Allyance intimating that it would bee an action of greater glory to the French than all those vnhappy enterprizes they assumed in the cause of that infamous woman Iane of Naples But when it was discouered that at the same time the Queene of Scots practised secretly to confirme an alliance with the Spaniard by the negotiations of the Lord Seton who arriuing in Essex disguised in the habit of a Mariner and returning from thence into Scotland through England hee had promised succours in the Duke of Aluaes name to the Scottish partakers with the Queene shee was kept with a straighter Guard and the affection borne to her by the French by little and little waxed cold And certainely as the Duke of Alua omitted nothing wherein he might vent his hatred to Queene ELIZABETH so was shee no lesse cautelous to preuent it and frustrate his dissignes For in the first moneths of this yeere hee complained by the Spanish Ambassadour in England that the Flemmish Rebels bought all their warlike munition there and were receiued into all her Ports and Hauens shee presently by a strict Proclamation commanded that all Flemmings any wayes suspected of sedition should depart out of England and that their ships of warlike equipage should be seysed vpon in her harbours All which returned to the dammage of the Duke of Alua. For Humes Earle of March and other Flemmings reduced as it were to a desperate poynt whether they were terrified by this Proclamation or that they were vnder-hand admonished to retyre but they presently surprised the Breele which is seated vpon the mouth of the Meuse caused Flushing forthwith to reuolt and other Townes which expelled the Spaniards as they were in hand to make cittadels to captiuate their libertie in a short time cut off the Duke of Alua by Sea and through the meanes they had to make it good for themselues had a power to molest and detaine the Spaniard with a long and tedious warre wherein Souldiers haue obserued that hee shewed for his part such palpable carelessenesse and negligence as was not beseeming so great a Generall who for the space of foure whole yeeres grossely ouer-slipt the maritime affaires and expeditions of Flanders At the same time there was a famous generall muster before the Queene at Greenwich with a pleasant trayning in Armes by the Citizens of London and after their returne from thence martiall men who began to rust and corrupt in their owne houses began to flow out of England into Flanders and according as they stood affected betooke themselues some to the Duke of Alua and others the farre greater number to the Prince of Orange who opposed his proiects for the defence of Religion and his Countries libertie Amongst whom Sir Thomas Morgan was the first that brought three hundred men into Flushing vpon the report whereof the Duke who intended the recouery of it forbare and retyred Further hee vsed such expedition and diligence as hee caused greater troupes to come for after himselfe there landed nine Companies more of English conducted by Humfrey Gilbert who being consorted with the French first attempted to surprize Scluse and Bruges then hee set vpon Tergow in Suethebenelant But their scaling-Ladders being too short hollow correspondancie betweene the French and the English and Mondragon comming on with fresh succours for the assieged they retyred to Flushing of which both the one and the other sought to make themselues masters each to themselues But the Prince of Orange made good vse of this
ordinarily fals out comming at last to be neglected and contemned the vse of them grew out of request From the Month of Nouember in the precedent yeere Charles the Ninth King of France had a Daughter borne The King to make sure with Queene ELIZABETH and aswell to render her fauourable by all offices of humanitie and to take away from the Protestants of France all hope of succour from England intreated her to receiue her at the sacred Font of Baptisme and to this end as also to obtaine some certaine Moneyes from her hee sent into England De Gondy vulgarly called the Count of Rez who by an elaborate discourse indeuoured to perswade her that they had made the Massacre of Paris which some could call by no other name than a great and capitall wickednesse hee a safe and wholesome remedy not in hatred of the Protestant Religion but to dissipate the conspiracy of the Admirall Coligni and others and that the King most inuiolably kept the Edicts touching Religion That shee would not giue eare to those fearefull spirits that did nothing but adde to their owne affrightment and causelesly complaine but that Shee would religiously conserue the alliance of the new contract and exhort them to obey the King assuring her that they should finde him most mercifull To which shee promised to be mindefull of the Alliance and that shee would not faile the King in any thing that was fitting and agreeable for a most affectionate Ally but for the Money shee excused her selfe Nor did he demand it but as a designe to giue impeachment to her ayding of the Protestants in case they should require it after shee had made deniall of it to the King of France And surely shee tooke occasion from hence to make refusall of it to them calling to minde how euilly they had requited her for that which shee had lent them in their first Ciuill Warre By this Ambassage the Count of Rez obtained that from that time the Protestants found lesse fauour with her than they had done before A little after the Lord Somerset Earle of Worcester was sent into France with a Baptistrey of Gold for in Qu. ELIZABETHS name to promise the duetie of a Godmother at the christening of the French Kings Daughter with the Lady Mary the Emperours Wife and the Deputies of the Duke of Sauoy This arriuing to the knowledge of the Protestants of France and Flanders who at the same time were as Pirats vpon the Sea they suspecting the said Earle of Worcester to be a Papist mist him narrowly for they robbed two of his Ships and slew diuers of his people at which Queene ELIZABETH being highly offended sent to Sea Sir William Holstoc Controller of the Royall-Nauy who as much by his taking as chasing of them recouered some Ships loden with goods and purged the Sea of such And forasmuch as the most part of them had vowed their seruice to the Count de-Mont-Gommery who then was in England for helpe to succour those of Rochell besieged it hindered his dispatch parting from thence late and with so little an Army that hee did no good at all to Rochell This occasioned the French Protestants refuged in England being much moued to vse in iniurious manner some other Allens being French Papists in hatred of contrary Religion yea they assaulted them armed and among others the seruants of Monsieur Flery secretly sent into England from the Duke of Aniou to treat of a match with Queene ELIZABETH whereof Monsieur le Vidame de Chartres not knowing his comming accused Flery before the Councell of State as to be come of purpose and hyred to kill the said Earle of Mont-Gommery The ordinary Ambassadour of France contrariwise complained to the Queene that against the Alliance the Earle of Mont-Gommery had through the helpe of England vndertaken a voyage to Rochell and the English Merchants furnished the besieged Towne with victuals and prouisions To this her Maiesty answered THat she had alwayes inuiolably kept and would still to future times keepe her promise mentioned in the alliance That this aide and Succour was compounded of Pyrats and Vagabonds who could not tarry in their Countries and that they were parted out of England without her command vnder false Ensigne and that shee desired they should bee punished Moreouer that such English Merchants basely dealt withall in Bourdeaux were gone to Rochell without leaue and that men of their calling and kind vsed to sayle euery where chiefly where their profit and gaine was greater Shee likewise required that in stead of Rochell they should appoynt in France some Hauen-Towne more commodious for Negotiations The French were much pleased with this answer being assured that Qu. ELIZABETH would still keepe promise and that shee was so farre from sending helpe to the Protestants of France who expected none from her The King of France and his Mother loued intirely more and more Queene ELIZABETH seeing her Maiesty bore vnto them a true amitie and sincere affection they made the Duke of Alanzon write many amorous Letters vnto her from the Royall Campe before Rochell endeuouring with much care and no lesse pain to bring that marriage to passe that whole yeere by their Leger Ambassadour Monsieur de Chasteau-Neuf extraordinarily sent to that effect And truely her Maiesty was moued to consider it seriously by a double apprehension shee had both for the want of a Husband and Children The first was that her Maiesty should perhaps be contemned by her owne Subiects The second that forreiners would plot wicked practices against her Scepter her Maiesty was perswaded and said often that a Husband and Progeny are firme Fortresses against it her Courtiers contrarywise ayming at their particular ends maintained THat true Religion and Equitie were assured Forts and defensiue Rockes against all sorts of plots and designes That her Maiestie ought not to apprehend to be despised or contemned by her subiects for they had settled their fortunes ankered their hopes and grounded their solace vpon her Maiestie onely as much obliged vnto her by a long race of Ancestors affecting and taking pleasure more and more in the contemplation and admiration of her splendant and lustrous vertues With such other discourses familiar to Courtiers But as her Maiesty had often in her mouth that the most part contemned the setting Sunne these Flatterers alledged WHat is hee that will contemne the salutiferous Beames of a Sunne brightly shining for to aspect the fatall and confounded light of little Starres which rise all at once So they often termed her Competitors Among these things the Queene-Mother of France prayed her Maiestie to be so farre pleased as to permit that the Duke of Alanzon her Sonne might passe into England to see her which request finally Queene ELIZABETH granted wearied with the multiplicity of Letters sent to her Maiestie to that end prouided hee should not repute her leaue fraudulous or iniurious if hee should
in regard of his indisposition of body and diuers others dayly taking some occasion or other to excuse themselues by little and little secretly withdrew themselues from that wild Countrie Essex writ of it to the Queene and to his friends and complained very much that the most worthy of his company languished because the enterprize had bin begunne too late and victuals came not in time that they were corrupted and that troupes inconsiderately leuied were many of them lost That Mac-phelin was reuolted fraudulently and others by the perfidiousnes of Percy an English Captaine who heretofore had commanded the Irish in that Countrey That he was not able to furnish the expence of War That the Deputie had not sent him his Commission and that for want of it he could not vse any authority against the Frontier Inhabitants Therefore beseecheth her to take the busines in her own name and speciall command though he vnderwent halfe of the charges Then he besought Sussex Leicester and Burghley to intercede with the Queene that she would grant him at her charge a hundred Horse 150. Foot and the Iland of May. And as the Queene was ready to call him from Vlster Leicester and others seeing new troubles growing in Mounster perswaded that he should stay there And the Deputie commanded him whiles he was going against Desmond to goe towards the Frontiers of Vlster which although it troubled him being fortifying Claudobie obeyeth notwithstanding and entring into Mounster with Kildare perswaded Desmond to embrace peace who shortly after submitted himselfe Now Essex hauing receiued Letters of Authority tooke a long iourney and O-Donell ioyned with him But Cone O-Donell Turloghes Sonne in Law would not serue vnder him therefore hee tooke from him the Castle of Liffer and gaue it to Hugh O-Donel Turlogh in the meane space protracted the businesse by parleyes vntill it was time for Essex necessarily to depart Hee after hauing wearied his body with labour and broken his spirit with care all the Summer Winter being now at hand began to reuolue more deepely in his mind by what meanes Vlster so long neglected and growne wilde and fierce might be reduced to ciuilitie and hauing maturely deliberated vpon it thought that if three Townes were built at the Queens charge and by the monies that his associates would contribute ten Forts in those places which hee had found to bee conuenient aboue seuen thousand pounds of current English money might be gathered euery yeere neither should there neede within the space of two yeeres any Royall Garrison Whilest these and the like things and for supply of victuals tooke all their care and studie they had beene almost surprized by the Irish For Brian Mac-phelin who lately had by treacherie ouerthrowne and slaine Moore a Captaine of the English hauing conspired his ruine with Turlogh and the Scottish Hilanders whereof as soone as he had notice he most wisely iudged that it were not best to stay and expect them but to set forward to assault them which did he so couragiously that he slew two hundred Irish tooke Brian and Rory Oge his brother by the mothers side and Brians wife With those businesses in Ireland this yeere was spent to the good of none but with much losse to Essex and also to the notorious detriment of Chaterton an English Gentleman who vpon certaine conditions betweene the Queene and him tooke to leade some Colonies of English into Fues a neighbouring Territory to O-Hanlane THE SEVENTEENTH YEERE OF Her Reigne Anno Dom. 1574. IN the first month of this yeere the Duke of Alanzon laboured more then euer as well by letters full of loue as by Mauuisser the French Ambassador to obtaine leaue to come into England vnder safe-conduct to see and salute Queene ELIZABETH to whom being absent hee testified all loue and respect Queene ELIZABETH ouercome with his continuall prayers and sollicitations granted him his request although she gaue him contrary aduice and vnder assurance of safety gaue him leaue to come when he pleased so it were by the twentieth of May with promise to vse him with all offices of humanity which he could expect from a Princesse which bore him great affection And certainly after shee had discouered that he was much irritated and greatly stirred vp against the Guizes her Maiesties sworne enemies she bare him more loue and good will then before But before he had receiued this answer Valentine Dale Doctor of the Law Ambassador in France in Walsinghams place then Secretary gaue aduice that hee and the King of Nauarre were suspected of innouation For the mother Queene a woman of great Spirit beganne to suspect that he couertly plotted with the King of Nauarre and the Duke of Mont-Morancy to depriue her the King being dead of the managing of State-affaires The Guizes increased this opinion giuing her to vnderstand that he had not long agoe imployed Coligni Colonell of the Protestants his intimate friend vpon which being examined he voluntarily acknowledged amongst other things that he had for a certaine time sought the marriage of the Queene of England and iudging the friendship of Admirall Coligni profitable in this designe had talked with him about it and of the prosecution of the warres in the Netherlands neuerthelesse ouer him and the King of Nauarre was a Guard appointed to preuent them But Thomas Wilkes Secretary to to the Ambassadour Dale went priuatly to see them and hauing in the Queenes name comforted them he promised thaâ— her Maiesty would let slip no occasion to relieue and comfort them Whereof this subtill and crafty old Queene hauing soone notice handled Wilkes in such manner that he was constrained to leaue France and returne into England where she so farre vrged her complants by letters vnto Queene ELIZABETH that he was sent backe againe to France to aske her pardon Henry of Bourbon King of Nauarre buried not this friendly office for he afterwards being King of France and meeting with him 25. yeeres after in Normandy he honoured him with the dignity of Knighthood After this Queene ELIZABETH sent T. Randoll into France to the Queene mother to restore againe into her fauour if it were possible the Duke of Alanzon and the King of Nauarre but before his arriuall into France King Charles died and his funerall Rites paid with great honour and magnificency in S. Pauls Church in London As soone as Henry of Valois the third of that name King of France his successor returned out of Poland the right noble and vertuous Lord Roger Lord North Baron of Kirtling was sent Ambassador extraordinary into France to congratulate his happy returne and succession to the Crowne of France and to condole with him the distracted and wretched estate of that Realme so miserably rent and ruinated with ciuill war to counsell him to make peace and entertaine the Edicts to take to fauor the D. of Alanzon to lessen the hate he bore to the D. of Mont-Morancy Delosse
through all parts of the Horizon met together in the verticall point of Heauen Neuerthelesse let it not be imputed to me as a crime to haue made mention of these things in a few words and by a short digression since the grauest Historians haue recorded them in many words THE EIGHTEENTH YEERE OF Her Reigne Anno Dom. 1575. HENRY the third King of France being returned from Poland and already inaugurated in the City of Rhemes confirmed by his oath and signe of his owne hand before all things the Alliance passed in the City of Blois in the yeere 1572. betweene Charles his brother and Queene ELIZABETH and hauing giuen it to the Ambassador ordinary of England Queene ELIZABETH also for her part ratified it at Saint Iames neere Westminster Notwithstanding a while after he inquired by letters if the words mutuall defence against all mentioned in that alliance comprehended the cause of Religion And after that Queene ELIZABETH had discreetly replyed Yes and that she was alwaies ready prest and desirous to effect that mutuall defence euen in the cause of Religion if it was required by vertue of the alliance he tooke armes against the Protestants the Duke of Alanzon being drawne to the contrary part the marriage slept in a long and profound silence Notwithstanding Queene ELIZABETH in fauour of the Duke of Alanzon furnished the Duke Casimier with a great summe of mony to carry into France the Alman Rutters against the disturbers of the publike peace As her minde was busied about the affaires of France those of Flanders happened for De Requesens successor to the Duke of Alua was fully bent and endeuored nothing more then to recouer if it were possible the Sea which the Duke of Alua by a remarkable error in so great a thiefe had despised and by this meanes had caused that long warre of the Low Countries which indured so many yeeres but he being not well furnished with necessary things to set forth a nauall Armie because the tempest had broken and lost the Ships which for this purpose had a little before beene conducted from Spaine to Flanders by the aid of the English hee sent Boischot into England to leuy ships and furniture of warre with the Queenes leaue who being vnwilling to aduenture her ships and Sea-men in anothers cause denied it and gaue publike charge to all persons not to arme any Ships without her licence and did forbid the English Sea-men to enrole themselues vnder other Princes Vpon this refusall Boischot prayed her not to take it in ill part if the fugitiue English in Flanders should serue in a nauall Warre against the Hollanders vnder the command of the Spaniard and permit them to touch freely in the ports of England to victuall themselues But she would not approue that the rebellious English so she termed those whom he stiled Fugitiues should fight in the seruice of the Spaniard not to perswade her that Requesens would gratifie them prayed them not to doe it and namely T. Copely whom the Spaniards had loaded with the titles of the great master of the Muze Lord of Gaten and Rouchtey and intended to set to Sea to rob both English and Dutch For the ports she esteemed it exceeding folly to open them to Rebels and sworne enemies Yet Boischot to obtaine more vniust things required in the name of the Spaniard that the rebellious Dutch might bee banished from England But she refused that also knowing that those whom he called Rebels were poore miserable people of no note and had neuer enterprized any thing against him but being chased from their Country and spoiled of their goods during the warre had retired themselues into England thinking she should commit a great inhumanity and violate the lawes of Hospitality if shee should deliuer them into the hands of a Cut-throat She also remembred how far the affaires of Spaine were interessed in Flanders Then when at the prayer of the Duke of Alua she commanded 1572. the Dutch to leaue England and that hauing commanded the Count of March and other Dutch to be gone they had taken Brill and suscitated that warre neuerthelesse not to seeme altogether to depart from the ancient Alliance of the Burguinions although the Spaniard had refused to confirme it with him shee forbad by publike writing the Dutch Ships prepared for warre to goe forth and those Dutch that had taken vp armes against the Spaniard to enter into England and expresly the Prince of Orange and his house the Count of Culenberge of Berg of March and fifty others the most notable of that faction And she performed with more alacrity in regard Requesens at the intercession of Wilson the English Ambassador had caused the Earle of Westmerland and other English to retire themselues out of the Country of Flanders which was vnder the Spaniard and had dissipated the English Seminary which was at Doway in whose stead the Guizes at the sollicitation of Pope Cregory the 13. established another in the City of Rhemes The Prince of Orange finding his forces no way equall to those of the Spaniard and expecting no succour from England consulted with his friends in whom he might put his trust Now when Queene ELIZABETH vnderstood he had fixed his eye and heart vpon the King of France she first sent Daniel Rogers to disswade him but nothing being effected in regard he had before created with the Admirall Coligni and the King of France she sent H. Cobham to the King of Spaine to let him vnderstand how great the danger were if Holland and Zealand should reuolt from him and giue themselues to the King of France and by the most important reasons she could represent she perswaded him to make change of warre for peace to which he seemed to accord She then gaue aduice to Requesens by R. Corbet and ceased not by all meanes to turne the Prince of Orange from his designe by the imployment of I. Hasting but she could not obtaine her purpose being countermined by Villiers a French Church-man who came poore into England with a scuruy Cloake all torne I speake this because I knew him but was inriched by a collection which was giuen him to reade Diuinity Lessons fearing lest the Prince of Orange should cast his eye vpon the English maintained amongst other things nay by a publike writing that Queene ELIZABETH had no man of warre to whom she would trust an Army but the Earle of Sussex and that he bare no good affection to the Protestants and according as he had learned of Coligni he gaue forth that if the English did set foot in the Low-Countries they would renew their ancient hate against the French Neuerthelesse the intestine warres of France hauing taken away all hope of succour from the Prince of Orange and the Dutch they afresh consult to whom they may runne and rely vpon for aid They knew that the Princes of Almany were against the Spaniards also
nominate would be bound by writing to repay it within a yeere and made alliance with them of mutuall succour both by Land and Sea vnder these conditions THe Queene shall send for succour to the States a thousand Horse and fiue thousand foote to whom they shall pay three moneths after their imbarking their intertainement and expence in the City of London and the warres ended shall defray their expence for their returning into England The Generall of these forces who shall be an English-man shall be receiued into the Councell of the States and nothing shall be ordered concerning warre or peace without consulting thereupon either with the Queene or him nor make league with any whosoeuer without her approbation and if shee please to be comprehended in the same If any Prince doe any hostile act against the Queene or Kingdome of England vnder any pretext whatsoeuer the States shall resist as much as in them lye and shall send ayde to the Queene in the same number and vpon the like conditions If any discord arise among the States it shall bee referred to her arbitrement If the Queene be to prepare a Nauie against enemies the States shall furnish xl Ships of a competent burthen with Mariners and euery thing else necessary which shall obey and follow the Admirall of England and shall be defrayed at the Queenes cost The States shall in no wise admit into the Low-countries such English as the Queene hath declared Rebels If they conclude a peace with Spaine they must take heede that the Articles whether ioyntly or seuerally bee confirmed by the Queenes pleasure Immediately as this Treatie begun the Queene lest shee should be calumniated as a nourisher of Rebellion in the Low-Countries sent Thomas Wilkes to the Spaniard to declare vnto him as followeth FOrasmuch as there neuer want malicious spirits which studie craft and subtiltie to breake friendship betweene those Princes and by vniust suggestion to cast aspersions vpon their honours by supposall as if shee had kindled this fire in the Low-Countries First shee prayes the King and the Gouernours of the Low-Countries that they would call to minde how often and how earnestly like a friend shee long-agoe forewarned of the euils hanging ouer the Low-Countries And then when they thought of reuolting what studious paines she tooke in often Missitations to the Prince of Orange and the States that they should continue in dutie and obedience to the King yea euen when those most opulent Prouinces were offered her in possession what sinceritie shewed shee not to take them into protection Finally when all things were deplorable how much money did shee lately furnish to hinder the States being pressed by vrgent necessitie not to subiect themselues vnder another Prince and trouble the treatie of the late propounded peace But when shee had notice that the Prince of Orange was vnwilling to embrace the peace already begun shee did not onely admonish him to embrace it but also shee most sacredly protested interposed threatnings and in some sort commanded him If these things be vnworthy of a Christian Prince studious of peace and most desirous to deserue well of her good Confederate the King of Spaine let the King himselfe and all the Princes of the Christian World iudge And that wars might sleepe on both sides and that hee might haue the Hollanders obedient aduiseth him to receiue them as an afflicted people into his ancient fauour restore their priuiledges obserue the last couenants of peace and elect out of his owne Family some other Gouernour Which could by no meanes be effected vnlesse Don Iohn were remoued whom the States distrusted with more than a hostile and implacable hatred and whom shee certainely knew by his secret practices with the Queene of Scots to be her vtter enemy Insomuch that shee could expect nothing from the Low-Countries but certaine dangers while He gouerned there But now when shee doth perceiue what great number of forces Don Iohn inrolled and how many Troupes of French there were in a readinesse shee profest that to keepe the Low-Countries to the King of Spaine and to repell danger from England shee had promised ayde to the States Who reciprocally had promised to persist in their obedience to the King and to innouate nothing in Religion From which if shee shall perceiue the King auerse but to haue determined breaking the barres of their rights and priuiledges to draw them into seruitude like miserable Prouinces captiuated by conquest shee cannot both for the defence of her Neighbours and her owne securitie be failing or negligent But also if the States doe breake their faith with the King or enterprise any thing contrary to what they haue promised she would speedily turne her Ensignes against them The Spaniard was not pleased to heare these things neuerthelesse knowing that it lay much in Queene ELIZABETHS power to establish or ruine his affaires in the Low-Countries and knowing for certaine that Don Iohn laide Ambuscadoes for her dissembled it and prayed her to prosecute the designe which shee had for establishing peace and not rashly to belieue the false reports that runne or that be practised vnworthily against a Prince that is his friend Whiles Wilkes exposeth these things in Spaine Don Iohn who feared Queene ELIZABETH and withall wished her ruine sends Gastell to her who blamed the States exceedingly accuseth them of many foule crimes and layde open at large the causes that moued Don Iohn to take armes againe Queene ELIZABETH like an Heroicke Princesse stood Arbitratresse between the Spaniard the French and the States insomuch as shee had power to apply this saying of her Father He shal carry it away for whom I am and that which he writ is found true that France and Spaine are the scoales of the Ballance and England the beame At the very same time the Iudges holding the Assises at Oxford and R. Ienke Stationer an impudent talker was accused and brought to triall for speaking iniurious words against the Queene the most part of the assistants were so infected with his poysonous and pestilent breath and by reason of the stinke whether of the prisoners or the prison that they almost all dyed within forty dayes besides women and children and this contagion extended no further Amongst others R. Bel chiefe Baron of the Exchequer a graue man and learned in the Law R. Doyley Sir G. Babington Vicount Doyley of Oxfordshire Harcourt Waineman and Fetiplace persons of great estimation in that Countrey and Barham a famous Lawyer being almost of one Iury and about three hundreth more died there Hitherto the Papists in England enioyed a cheerefull tranquillitie who by a kinde of merciful conniuency exercised their Religion in priuate houses in some sort vnpunished although it was prohibited by the Law vpon paine of a pecuniary mulct to be inflicted neither did the Queen thinke it fit to force the conscience But after that thundring Bull of Excommunication against the Queene which came
comfortable securitie by the Queenes children so often times wished for But if these marriages be neglected it was to be feared that the French would be prouoked the Scots alienated the Duke of Aniou marry the Daughter of Spaine with whom hee should haue in Dowry the Low-Country Prouinces draw the King of Scotland to be of their party procure him a Wife to bring him riches abolish the reformed Religion and the English when they should see no hope of Children by the Queene would adore the Rising-Sunne Whereat shee could not chuse but be much tormented in minde and pine away to death As in these dayes very many English feared a change of Religion by the Duke of Aniou so were the Scots afraid it would be with them by another French-man Aimé or Esme Stuart Lord of Aubigny who at the same time was come into Scotland to see the King his Cousin for he was Sonne to Iohn Stuart Brother to Matthew Stuart Earle of Lenox who was the Kings Grand-father and tooke his denomination Aubigni from a House situate in Berri that is so called which Charles the Seuenth King of France gaue in time past to Iohn Stuart of the Family of Lenox who was Constable of the Scottish Army in France defeated the English at Baugency afterwards slaine by them at the battel of Harrans and euer since that house hath descended vpon the younger Sonnes The King embracing him with a singular good affection gaue him rich demains and admitted him into his most intimate consultations established him Lord high Chamberlaine of Scotland and Gouernour of Dunbriton first created him Earle and afterwards Duke of Lenox after hauing directly reuoked the Letters of honour by which in his non-age he had created Robert Bishop of Cathanesse Earle of the same place his Grand-fathers third Brother and had giuen him in recompence the County of March This flourishing fauour with the King procured many to enuy him who murmured because hee was deuoted to the Guizes and the Romane Religion and that hee was sent to subuert the true Religion This suspicion increased in regard hee ioyned himselfe to Mortons aduersaries and did intercede for the reuoking of Thomas Carr of Fernihurst who was most if any were addicted to the Queene of Scots Morton whose power was apparently falling stroue in vaine although it might seeme that he had excellently well deserued in defeating the Hamiltons and taking the Castle of Hamilton and Daffrane There were at that time who stirred vp much hatred in the King against the Hamiltons obiecting and vrging their names as a thing of great terrour so as out of a necessitie they were for their owne safetie compelled to defend the Castle again the King but they were constrained to yeeld it vp and by authoritie of Parliament proscribed for the murdering as well of Murrey as Lenox Regents as a thing by them performed Many of those fled together into England for whom Queene ELIZABETH diligently interposeth by Erington as well for honour as in reason of Iustice that shee had obliged her faith in the yeere 1573. for the settling of peace that they should not be called in question for those matters without her consent Shee also at the same time was vndertaking in another part of the World Amurathes Cham or the Sultaine of the Turkes granted to William Harburne an English-man and to Mustapha Beg Bassa to the TVRKE that the English Merchants euen as the French Venecians Pollanders the King of the Germanes and other neighbouring Natitions should trade freely thorow all his Empire whereupon they by the Queenes authority made a Company which they call TVRKEY MERCHANTS and since that time they haue vsed a most gainefull Trade of Merchandize at Constantinople Angoria Chio Petrazzo Alexandria Egypt Cyprus and other places in Asia for Drugges Spices Cottons Raw-Silke Carpets Indian-Dyes Corinthian-Grapes Sope c. As for that execrable impiety of Hamont brought forth at that time in Norwich against GOD and his Christ and as I hope is extinct with his ashes or rather confounded in obliuion then remembred Neither am I of opinion of those which thinke that the publique hath interest that all sorts of vices poysons and impieties to be made manifest seeing that hee differs little from teaching which shewes such things This yeere was the last of Nicholas Bacon Keeper of the Great Seale of England who by decree of Parliament enioyed vnder this name the honour and dignitie of Chancellor of England a very fat man of a quicke subtill spirit singular wisdome height of eloquence stedfast memory and the other pillar of the sacred Councell whose place Thomas Bromley enioyed with the title of Chancellor of England Bacon is followed by Thomas Gresham Citizen of London a Merchant-Royall and of the order of Knight-hood Sonne to Sir Richard Gresham Knight who built for the ornament of his Countrey and vse of the Merchants of London that beautifull and goodly Walking-place which Queene ELIZABETH named The Royall-Exchange And the spacious Houses which hee had in the Citie hee dedicated to the profession of Learning and constituted in the same Lectures of sacred Diuinitie of the Ciuill Law Physick Astronomie Geometrie and Rhetoricke with honest pensions In Mounster a Prouince in Ireland new rebellion was kindled by Iames Fitz-Morris who hauing before cast himselfe vpon his knees at the feete of Perot President of Mounster and with teares sighes and humble supplications asked pardon made a holy vow of fidelitie and obedience to the Queene Hee I say who found no rest but in troubles with-drew himselfe into France promised the King if hee would lend ayde to ioyne the whole Kingdome of Ireland to the Scepter of France and restore the Romish Religion But wearied with delayes and in the end derided from France he goes to Spaine and promiseth the like to the Catholike King who sent him to the Pope of whom by the sollicitation of Sanders an English Priest and Allan an Irish Priest both Doctors of Diuinitie with much adoe hauing got a little money and Sanders the authority of Legat a consecrated Ensigne and Letters commendatorie to the King of Spaine returnes to Spaine and from thence with those Diuines three Ships and a few Souldiers they came and arriued about the Calends of Iuly at the Village of Saint Marie which the Irish call Smerwick in Kerrie a-pen-Insule in Ireland and after that the Priests had consecrated the place raised a Fort and brought the Ships neere vnto it those Ships Thomas Courtney an English Gentleman made haste with a Ship of warre which lay in a Road neere vnto them by and by to assault and taking them carries them away and barres the Spaniards from all benefit of the Sea Iohn and Iames brethren to the Earl of Desmond with great speed drew together a few Irish ioyne with their Confederate Fitz-Morris and the Earle himselfe who fauoured
darke and thicke cloudes extremity of cold and open Cliffes couered thicke with snow hee landed at the 38. Degree and hauing found a commodious Rode remained there a certaine time The inhabitants of that Countrie were naked merry lusty iumping leaping and dancing perpetually sacrificing and showing by signe and words that they would elect Francis Drake for their King neither could it be coniectured that euer the Spaniard had bin there or so farre in that Countrie Drake named that very countrey being fat and good full of Deeres and Conies The new Albion Causing a great Poste to be there erected vpon which there was ingrauen an Inscription which shewed the yeere of our Lord the name of Queene ELIZABETH and their landing there and vnderneath a piece of siluer of Queene ELIZABETHS Coine was nailed to the said Poste Afterwards hauing weighed Anchor in the moneth of Nouember he arriued in the Ilands of the Mollucques where the King of the I le of Ternata receiued him graciously and from thence sayling vpon that sea full of Rockes and Ilands his ship was the ninth day of Ianuary driuen to the top of a Rocke couered with water where it remained in great danger seuen and twenty houres and was accounted no better then lost by all the men of the ship who fell deuoutly vpon their knees praying hartily vnto the Lord expecting hourely to perish with all the aboundance of riches heaped vp together with so much paine But after they had hoysted their Sprit-Sayle and cast into the Sea 8. Peeces of Ordnance and diuers marchandizes a fauourable wind rose as sent of God which bore the ship aside and withdrew it from aboue the Rocke After this he landed at Iaua major greatly afflicted with the Poxe which the Inhabitants doe cure sitting in the heate of the sunne to drie vp the poysonous and malignant humor Where hauing tryed the humanity of the little King of the Countrey he tooke his way towards the Cape of Bona esperance which was celebrated as very remarkable by the Mariners which had formerly seene it He landed vpon that coast to take in water but found no fountaine there if he had not in time prouided of water when it rained they had all beene in great distresse for sweet water At last he tooke in some at Riogrand from whence hee finished his iourney into England with a fauourable wind which brought his Ship the ninth of Nouember 1580. safe into the Hauen of Plimouth where he tooke shipping after his being abroad about the space of three yeeres during which time he worthily sayled round about the Earth to the admiration and laudable applause of all people and without purchasing blame for any other things than for his putting to death Doughty for leauing at the mercy of the Spaniards that Portugal Ship by him taken at the mouth of Africa neere vnto Aquatulqua and for hauing most inhumanely exposed in an Iland that Negro or Black-more-Maide who had beene gotten with Child in his Ship Queene ELIZABETH receiued him graciously with all clemency caused his riches to be sequestred and in readinesse whensoeuer the Spaniard should re-claime them Her Maiesty commanded likewise that for a perpetuall memory to haue so happily circuited round about the whole Earth his Ship should be drawne from the water and put aside neere Deptford vpon Thames where to this houre the body thereof is seene and after the Queenes feasting therein shee consecrated it with great ceremonie pompe and magnificence eternally to be remembred and her Maiesty forthwith honoured Drake with the dignity of Knighthood As these things were performed a slight Bridge made of Boords by which people went vp into the Ship was broken downe by the Multitude and about a hundred persons fell with it they neuerthelesse receiued no harme at all insomuch that the Ship seemed to haue beene built in a happy coniunction of the Planets That very day against the great Mast of the said Ship many verses composed to the praise honour of Sir Francis Drake were fastned and fixed among which these in Latin were written by a Scholler of the Colledge of Winchester PLVS VLTRA Herculeis inscribas Drace columnis Et magno dicas Hercule maior ero Escri DRAC ces deux mots sur les piliers du Temple Qui sut sacré iadis à Hercule guerâ—ier PLVS OVLTRE quelque grand qu'ait esté son lauâ—ier Di que le tien doibt estre plus grand plus ample DRAKE on the Herculean columnes these words write Thou farther wentst then any mortall wight Though Hercules for trauell did excell From him and others thou didst beare the bell DRACE pererrati quem nouit terminus orbis Quemque simul mundi vidit vterque Polus Si taceant homines faciunt te sydera notum Sol nescit comitis non memor esse sui DRAC qui as parcouru tous les quartiers du monde Et les Poles as vâ—u Quand les gens manqueront A chanter tes vertus les Astres le feront Le Soleil n'oublira celuy qui le seconde Braue DRAKE that round about the world didst saile And viewedst all the Poles when men shall faile Thee to commend the starres will do 't the Sunne Will not forget how with him thou didst run Digna ratis quae stet radiantibus inclyta stellis Supremo coeli vertice digna ratis CE NAVIRE qui rend à tous homines notoire La gloire d'vn grand Chef merite que les Dieux Mettent autour de luy des Astres radieux Et au plus hault du Ciel estre éclatant de gloire THAT SHIP whose good successe did make thy name To be resounded by the trump of Fame Merits to be beset with Stars diuine Instead of waues and the Skie to shine Nothing anger'd worse Sir Francis Drake than to see the Nobles and the chiefest of the Court refuse that Gold and Siluer which he presented them withall as if hee had not lawfully come by it The Commons neuerthelesse applauded him with all praise and admiration esteeming he had purchased no lesse glory in aduancing the limits of the English their honour and reputation than of their Empire Bernard Mendoze then Ambassadour for Spaine in England murmuring at it and as not well pleased demands vehemently of the Queene the things taken But he was answered THat the Spaniards had procured vnto themselues that euil through their iniustice towards the English in hindering against the right of Nations their Negotiations That Sir Francis Drake was alwaies ready to answere the Law if by iust inditements and certaine testimonies they could conuict him to haue committed any thing against equity That to no end but to giue satisfaction to their King the riches he brought in were sequestred though her Maiesty had spent against the Rebels which Spaine had moned and instigated in Ireland and England against her more money than Drake was
Inheritance should succeed to the Crowne of England And if there bee two males the elder shal succeed to the Crown of France and the yonger shal haue the hereditary Right of his Mother And if one sole male he shal come to both the Crownes and shall resyde in England euery two yeares eight moneths And if the Duke shall not attaine the Kingdome of France the children shall succeed in Appanage If he suruiue the Queene he shall haue the tuition of his children till the sonnes shall accomplish the age of eighteene yeares and the daughters fifteene But if hee die before the tuition shall be left to the Authoritie of the Parliament Hee shall not promote any stranger to any Office in England nor shall hee change any ancient Rite or Custome He shall at no time carry the Queene or her Children out of the Realme without consent of the Nobilitie If shee dye issuelesse hee shall no longer challenge any right in England nor carie or conuay any of her Iewels out of the Land he shall suffer euery one and all places of the Kingdomes to bee guarded kept by the natiue English shall not take or cause to be taken away any munition of Warre Hee shall not engage England into any foraine warres Hee shall to his power procure the Land peace with other Nations The Queene shall onely enioy the Supremacie nor shall assume any Title which may happen to fall vpon the Duke as it were holding by the custome of England The Duke by this match intendeth not to preiudice the Right of his succession to the Kingdome of France The present Contract shall bee read published and kept vnder Record in all the Courts of France and England within six moneths after the Espousals with the Authoritie of the most Christian King for the ratification of these Articles There shall bee made a Treatise Confederation and League betwixt England and France These things shal be confirmed de bona side with an Oath on the part of the King of France as well for him as for his Heires who shall deliuer Letters of the confirmation thereof with all possible expedition hee may carying assurance that the Articles in the present Treaty contained shall be kept inuiolably also A reseruation apart was added vnder the hands and seales of all the Commissioners implying thus much That ELIZABETH was not bound to the consummation of the mariage till the Duke she should haue commutually satisfied and reciprocally setled each other in certaine things betwixt themselues and concerning these points they were within six weekes by writing to certifie the King of France Before the six weekes were expired Secretarie Somer was sent into France about this businesse But the King refuseth to giue him audience vrging the instant celebration of the mariage already concluded as if there had been nothing else remaining to bee done Somer shewing vnder signe and seale that there was first a defensiue league offensiue to bee performed maintaineth the contrary To moderate the matter there was sent ouer Sir Fran Walsingham with Sir Henry Cobham Leiger Ambassador in France and Somer who deliuered this or the like speech ALthough the vulgar sort doth censure hardly of the procrastinating of this contracted mariage Queene ELIZABETH intendeth nothing more then to content her people who are instant to haue her marry that they may be secured of a succession in her children Her Maiestie being sought to by the Duke of Anjou by good right hath his loue preferred before all other Princes by reason of his vertues and resplendent race and shee protesting to beare vnto him most soueraigne loue holding off from the consummation of mariage onely vntill she could haue knowledge from her people how they stand affected thereunto holding it a point of wisdome in the meane time rather to foresee then to repent too late seeming in these respects to demurre the more by reason of the ciuill warres in France the vnfortunate Duke of Anjous vndeseruedly falling out of the Kings fauour and in England an auersion of heart in most of the best of her Subiects since the first motion of the mariage yet all this breeds nor brings no diminution of true loyall loue in her Maiesty towards the said Duke Also it was at this time out of season for the French King to vrge a present consummation knowing the Duke was newly entred into warre against the King of Spaine the which he might not suddenly abandon or relinquish without great dishonour to himselfe discommoditie to the Kingdome of France and England as also the ruine of Flanders the Spaniard there growing dayly greater and greater Moreouer in stead of continuing peace at home for which the people prayeth they must of necessitie bee brought to bloody warres the Queenes husband being so deepely engaged thereinto For these reasons from henceforth that Treaty of sudden mariage is to surcease vntill the Duke of Anjou were dis-intangled out of these warres and that interchangeable conditions of Offensiue and Defensiue Alliance bee passed betwixt the two Kingdomes of France and England And assuredly the Queene desired it aboue all things But the French would promise no other thing but to passe to couenants of mutuall defensiue and as for the offensiue would heare it no further spoken of vntill the Nuptials were celebrated Within a short space after the Duke whom the States had elected Gouernor of Flanders comes into England after he had happily raised the siege of Cambray at the charge and cost of Queene ELIZABETH who had supplyed him with great summes of money by the hands of Henry Seimor Palauicine an Italian and Bex a Frenchman The hope he relyed vpon was this that if he should not presently dispatch the mariage yet should hee so effect that by the fauour of the Queene whom the Dutch honoured as an earthly Goddesse he should bee the better welcome to the Low-Countri-men at his returne He ariued safe in England and was magnificently entertained and receiued with all royall courtesies could be expected euident testimonies of honour and loue which her Maiestie shewed apparantly insomuch that on a time on the day of the solemnization of her Coronation he being entred into amorous Discourse with her Maiestie the great loue which shee bore him drew a Ring from her finger which shee gaue him vpon certain condâ—tions meant and agreed vpon betwixt them The assistants tooke that for an argument and assurance that a mariage was by reciprocall promise contracted betweene them Amongst others Aldegondy Gouernor of the City of Antwerpe dispatched messengers suddenly ouer into the Low-Countries where for great ioy at the hearing thereof both in Antwerpe and all ouer Flanders were made bonefires and their great Artillerie shot off But this bred sundry opinions among the Courtiers For as some reioyced exceedingly others were astonisht at it some quite strucke downe with sadnesse The Earle of Leicester who had laid a secret plot
Marquesse of Huntley the other with the Earle of Marre And that he might shew himselfe a King by exercising in due time his authoritie whereas those of the conspiracie had declared in a publike assembly instituted by their authoritie that the arrest detaining of his person was iustly lawfully performed and therupon enrolled the said Declaration amongst the publike Registers the King on the contrary in a generall assembly of the Nobilitie and States declared that it was traiterously done Notwithstanding the Ministers as the supreme Iudges of the Realme pronounced in a Synode conuocated by their authoritie that it was most iust and did hold it fit that those which would not approue thereof should vndergoe the censure of Excommunication In those dayes the warres betwixt the Emperor of Muscouia and the King of Swethland vnder the Artique Circle must not be left to obliuion Iohn King of Swethland perceiuing his powers farre too weake to resist so great an Emperor sent in Noble Embassie towards Queen ELIZABETH H. of Wissembourg his neere kinsman and A. Rich his Secretarie by Letters to request her Maieesty to intercede by Ambassage to the Emperour for the conclusion of a peace betweene them Which she presently vndertooke and without delay performed so well that with reasonable conditions she induc'd the Muscouit to a composition of peace who forthwith treated with her concerning the alliance of which I haue often made mention and that hee might bee allow'd refuge and a retreat into England if any disastrous aduersity should fall vpon him likewise he desired a Wife should be giuen him out of England But Sir Hierome Bowes Knight being sent Embassadour found it a difficult matter to content the Emperour For the Muscouite most importunately laboured for an absolute league in such tearmes as hee himselfe should set downe neither would hee giue any hearing to any remonstrances which hee propos'd that it was not the duty of a Christian neither would the Law of Nations permit that hostile enmities should bee denounced and practised or open warres begunne before the party from whom the wrong proceeded were admonished to repaire the iniury and desist from it The Queene appointed the Sister of the Earle of Huntington to be giuen as a Wife to him But when shee was certified that the Lawes of his Countrey would permit him at his own pleasure to repudiate and put away his wiues Shee excused the matter by the sicklinesse of the maid and by the loue of her father that was not able to beare the absence of his Daughter in a Country so farre distant And also that it was not in her power to dispose of in mariage the daughters of any of her subiects without their parents consents Neuerthelesse the Ambassador so farre preuailed that the establishing of the Merchants priuiledge was granted But death taking away the Emperour the yeare following the affaires of the English beganne by little and little to returne towards Russia and the Ambassador returning not without much danger of his life was with much commendation kindly receiued of the Queene Hee was the first that brought into England where the like was neuer seene if an Historian may with good leaue make mention of so small a thing a beast called Maclis which is a creature likest to an Alçe very swift and without ioynts And moreouer certain Deere of wonderfull swiftnesse which being yoakt and driuen will with much speed draw men vp and downe in Chariots like horses But to returne againe to the affaires of Muscouia Theodore Iohannide sonne to Iohn Basil succeeded in this great Empire a Prince by nature of a slow capacity yet he knew well how to follow the aduice of his best Counsellors Hee gaue free passage to all Merchants of all Countries into Russia and being oftentimes sollicited by the Queene of England to confirm the priuiledges granted by his father to the Muscouian Company of English Merchants importing thus that it might not be lawfull but to the English of the said society to land vpon the North coasts of Russia and there to exercise their traffique without paying of any tribute or custome because they were the first by sea that found a way to those parts Hee againe requested that all the English in generall might be suffered to traffique in Russia esteeming it iniustice to giue leaue to some and forbid others saying that Princes should beare an equall hand amongst their subiects not conuert into a Monopoly or the particular profit of some few men that commerce by which the right of Nations ought to be common to all And as for the custom hee promised to take by the halfe lesse of them of that societie then of others Other priuiledges hee added in fauour of the Queene and not for the desert as hee said of that society of which some he hath obserued that haue euilly dealt with his subiects Other answer could the Queene by no meanes procure or obtaine albeit shee afterwards sent about the same affaires Egide Fletcher Doctor of the Law who set forth a booke called The policy or tyrannie of the Russian wherein were contained many things worthy observation but it was presently supprest lest it should breed offence to a princely friend The same Summer came from Poland neighbouring vpon Russia into England to visit the Queene one Albret Alasco Count Palatine of Sirad a man most learn'd of comly stature and lineaments wearing his Beard long richly cloathed and of gracefull behauiour the Queene with much bounty and loue receiued him the Nobles with great honour and magnificence entertained him and the Vniuersitie of Oxford with learned recreations and diuers pastimes delighted him but after a while finding himselfe ouercharged vvith debt he priuily stole away In this yeare also was seene in Dorset-shire a thing no lesse prodigious then that which was seene in the yeare 1571 in Herefordshire A field of three Acres situated in Blackmore both with trees and hedges was remoued out of its owne place into another leauing in its stead a huge vaste gappe but the high-way leading to Cerne shut vp whether this was by some subterranean earthquake such wherewith as Seneca reporteth the heads of the gods in the bed of Iupiter were turned into the contrary parts or out of too much moistnesse caused by the springs abundantly flowing in those parts the field being situate in the side of a Hill let others make enquirie This was the last yeare to Thomas Ratcliffe being of that Family the third Earle of Sussex a man of haughty courage exquisit counsell of a singular faith towards his Countrie and of an illustrious Progeny He had to his Mother the Daughter of the Duke of Norfolke for his Grandmother the daughter to the Duke of Buckingham Constable of England Himselfe also had past through many great honorable imploiments As being sent Ambassador by Queene MARIE into Germany to the Emperor Charles the fifth to
contract a mariage betweene her and Philip. Then againe into Spaine to the said Philip there to cause him to ratifie the conuented Articles Also for Queene ELIZABETH he went Ambassador to the Emperour Maximilian there likewise to contract a match betweene her and Charles Duke of Austria Hee was Lord Deputy of Ireland Gouernor of the Northerne Prouinces of England also the Queenes Chamberlaine chiefe Iustice in Eire of all her Maiesties Forests Parkes and Chases beyond the Riuer Trent famous for the victories hee had obtained against the Hebrides and Scots that made spoile of the frontiers Dyed at London after he had been afflicted with a long disease leauing no issue behinde him albeit hee had had two wiues the Lady Elizabeth Wriothesly and the Lady Francis Sidney and his brother Henry succeeded him in the Earledome Henry Wriothesly likewise Earle of Southampton paid like tribute vnto death a man much deuoted to the Roman Religion and to the Queene of Scots which hee bought with the anger of his Queene and restraint or libertie He was sonne to Tho Wriothesly who for his tryed vertues by Henry the 8 from the dignitie of Baron of Wriothesly of Tichfield and Knight of the Order of the Garter was aduanced to that soueraigne greatnesse of being Chancelor of England and appointed him one of the supervisors of his last Will. And by Edward the 6 he was graced with the style of Earle of Southampton Hee left by his Wife Daughter of Anthony Browne Viscount Mountague Henry his sonne that succeeded him and a Daughter maried to Thomas Lord Arundel Baron of Wardour About the same time Sir Humphrey Gilbert Knight a man acute and deliberate esteemed industrious both in Peace and Warre was by the raging Ocean depriued of life returning from the North parts of America which we call New-found-Land whither he a little before hauing sold his patrimonie made a voyage in hope to build there a Colonie And there by the sound of a Trumpet proclaimed the Countrey to be vnder the English regency For Sebastian Cabot in the yeare 1497 vnder the Reigne of Henry the 7 made the first discouery therof And then diuided the Land seuerally to his companions But he was taught too late by the deuouring seas and default of meanes which forc'd him to breake off his designes teaching others also by his example that it is a matter of greater difficulty by the expences of a priuate man to plant a Colony in farre distant Countries then he and others blind in their owne errors haue to their vtter ouerthrow perswaded themselues Vpon the same instant Edmund Grindal Archbishop of Canterbury Metropolitan and Primate of England being blind and aged aboue sixty yeares breathed his last Who at his returne from exile which hee endured vnder the Reigne of Queene MARY was first inuested Bishop of London then Archbishop of Yorke and finally of Canterbury liuing much honoured with the fauour of Queene ELIZABETH vntill by the foule deceits and treacheries of his enemies hee was suspected to be a fauourer of the Conuenticles of those turbulent Ministers and such as were called Prophets But the reason was indeed because hee condemned as vnlawfull the mariage of Iulius an Italian Physician with another mans wife which much distasted the Earle of Leicester Such small meanes as he had gathered he bestowed in the founding of a Schoole at Saint Bee in Cumberland where hee was borne and to the aduancement of Learning on both the Vniuersities The English besides is bound to him for the bringing in of Tamariske or Tamarin into England for hauing found by experience that it was a soueraigne remedie against the great and indurate passion of the Spleene hee was the first that caused it to be planted there Iohn Whitgift was his successor being aduanced from the Sea of Worcester to the Archbishopricke of Canterbury a man of singular goodnesse and learning He obtained much commendation for his Iustice in the precedencie of Wales and likewise for his great doctrine in the defence of the Ecclesiasticall policy which by his worth wisedome and patience he dayly increased The Queene who held for a maxime that she ought not to be more remisse in Ecclesiasticall affaires then in politick aboue all cōmanded him to re-establish the discipline of the Church of England that as then lay dismembred by the conniuency of Prelates the obstinacie of innouators and by the power of some great ones whilst some Ministers couertly impugned the authoritie of the Queene in things Ecclesiasticall separating the administration of the Sacrament from the preaching of the Word vsing to their owne fantasie new rites of seruices in their priuate houses vtterly condemning the Lethargie and the appointed manner of adminishing the Sacrament as being in many things contrarie to the holy Scripture and therefore many refused to goe to Church but openly became Schismaticks the Papists all this while applauding them and drawing many to their party as though there had been no vnity in the Church of England To abolish which things and to reduce them to an vnitie Hee propounded these Articles to the Ministers by them to bee subscribed FIrst That the Queene had Soueraigne power ouer all those that were borne within her Dominions of what conditions so euer they were and that no other Stranger Prince or Prelate ought to haue any power either Ciuill or Ecclesiasticall within her Maiesties Realmes Secondly that the Booke of Common Prayers and that of the ordination of Bishops and Priests contained not any thing contrarie to the Word of God but might be lawfully vsed and that they should vse that and no other forme of Prayer or administring of the Sacraments Thirdly That they should approue and allow of the Articles of the Synode holden at London the yeare 1562 published by royall Authoritie and should hold them as conformable to the Word of God But it is incredible what Controuersies and Disputations arose vpon this what hatred and reproach hee endured of the factious Ministers what troubles and iniuries hee suffered of certaine Noblemen who by placing men vnfit in the Church increased their estate or else had hopes vpon the goods of the Church But by his constancie and patience he ouercame all difficulties vsing for his Motto this which he chose not rashly Vincit qui patitur Neither was the Church onely tossed and turmoiled by those people within the Realme but by others who had left the Kingdome as by R. Browne a Cambridge Diuine of whom the new Sectaries were called Brownists and by R. Harison Master of an inferiour Schoole For these men presuming to iudge of Religion according to their owne imaginations by certaine books which they set forth at that time in the Countrey of Zealand and dispersed through many places in England vtterly condemned the Church of England as no Church Which bookes notwithstanding were prohibited by Royall Authoritie and strongly confuted by many learned men and two
they should haue recourse either to the King of France or Queene of England for refuge succors For they were both at that time discōtented with the Spaniard but suspicious also one of the other The French could not endure that the English their ancient enemies should encrease their power by the addition of the Netherlands and the English in like sort the French De la Prune the French Ambassador for the Low-Countries that he might diuert the Estates from the English made this demonstration THat the Sea flowing betwixt England the Netherlands the English were too farre distant and could not at all occasions be ready to assist them their command also was intollerable and for that cause were in times past driuen out of France and were like then to hazard the same in Ireland That the succession of the Realme was vncertaine and whether MARIE Queene of Scots or IAMES her sonne did succeed both hee and shee would bee ready to giue vp the Netherlands to the Spaniard for the assurance of their owne affaires But that the French were opportunely adioyning and neighbouring their command most mild and their succession certaine in the person of the King of Nauarre who was of the same profession with them Such as fauoured the English maintained the contrary THat they were not so farre disseuered but they could commodiously send them ayde without the hindrance of any That it appeared by the Histories what the French Command had been of yore in the Netherlands what it now was by the surprise of Dixmond Donkircke and Dendermond and the furious and perfidious invasion of Bruges Alost New-port and Antwerpe and what their faith was hauing beene so often obliged by Edicts and nowithstanding violated by the cruell Massacres which haue beene committed in the townes That the succession of England was assured in the person of King Iames who was zealous in the true religion Besides the English were of the selfe-same religion and faitfull obseruers of the ancient League with Burgundie That their trafficke had brought infinite wealth to the Netherlands and their ports most commodious for them The Estates neuerthelesse by Ambassadors implored the ayde of the French King by whom they were receiued with a fearefull silence and a long time deluded with procrastinations by reason aswell of their enuy to the English as of hate to the Spaniard so the Ambassadours returned home at the last and conceiuing hope from the former bounty of Queen ELIZABETH they determined to fly to her for protection Hereupon vvas holden a consultation in England vvhether they vvere to be receiued into their protection or no Some vvere of aduice that they shold presently be receiued and ayde forthvvith sent them 〈…〉 brought them in subiection should become a vexation to the English on that side Other some aduised that they were to bee esteemed as Rebels and vnworthy of succours as being reuolted from the fidelitie which they ought to their Prince THe Spaniard had not violated any of the Articles of his Ioyfull entrance which they sought for as a colour and pretext for their rebellion and deposition of their lawfull Prince But admit that hee had violated them yet was hee not for that to bee punished with the losse of his principalitie And although some suppose that obedience should bee so long denyed him vntill hee had recompenced his fault yet others esteeme that the diuine Lawes to which humane lawes must yeeld Princes should as powers ordinated by God be simply and for conscience obeyed For God hath giuen them the Soueraigntie of command and to subiects the glory of obedience And that subiects should wish for good Princes but endure all whatsoeuer they be That these Prouinces were falne to the Spaniard not by the election of the people but by the hereditary right of their Ancestors and the donation of the Emperors That the Dutchmen had receiued priuiledges from their Princes but had lost the same by a crime of Laesae Maiestatis in taking vp Armes against them That these were not the estates of the Netherlands that had demanded protection but certaine Plebean persons that had attributed to them the Title of Estates It was therefore thought by the iudgement of these most expedient that the Queene should not intermeddle with the affaires of the Netherlands but rather strongly to fortifie her own Kingdomes indeuouring dayly by her naturall bounty to oblige the hearts of 〈…〉 encrease her treasurie to haue her Nauy alwayes well prepared and furnished with necessaries to fortifie with garisons the frontier townes towards Scotland to conserue the ancient militarie discipline of England which was corrupted by the Dutch warres That in thus doing England would be impregnable secured on all sides and a terrour to the enemy That this would be the most commodioas meanes to auoid the warres which might fall vpon such as are begirt with potent neighbours That none would offer to prouoke them seeing them so well furnished of money and forces garded with the good-will and loue of their subiects and alwayes ready and prepared to reuenge themselues And that it would be preposterous wisedome to consume money and Souldiers which are the life and soule of warre in anothers cause and for Princes or people of no ability being subiects to anothers rule and by reason of their pouerty must alwayes bee supplyed with fresh succours or by ingratitude totally prouiding for their owne affaires will neglect those that had assisted them as the English had while-ere in France experimented to their losse in the Bourgongnian cause and not long since in the defence of the Protestants But such as were of this opinion as men degenerate slothfull and addicted to the Spanish party moued the men of warre to much indignation So soone as the Ambassadors of the Estates presented themselues to the Queene with earnest affection they beseeched her to assume the rule of the vnited Prouinces of the Netherlands and to receiue them into her protection and perpetuall homage being vndeseruedly oppressed She graciously gaue them hearing but refused to take vpon her their rule and protection Neuerthelesse to raise the siege from before Antwerpe which was then reduced into great necessitie and oppressed by the Prince of Parma she promised them if they would deliuer for a Gage into her hands the towne of Sluce with all the artillery forthwith to send them foure thousand souldiers But whilst these things were propounded Antwerpe was yeelded vp because the passage of the Riuer Scald by admirable deuices was quite cut off After that the Queen had setled a while her thoughts and cares vpon these matters and perceiued the great cruelty of the Spaniards which they exercised vpon the Dutch her neighbours and the hate which they bore to England and the Religion which was there maintained for the Spaniards were verily perswaded that they could neuer reduce the Netherlands to order if they first subdued not England To hinder warre
from comming home to her Scotland as yet wauering and that the forces of the Spaniards might not be too farre extended in the adiacent Countries vvhich would be most commodiously seated for the transporting of warres into England for exercising of traffique as well by sea as the Riuer of Rhine And to hinder that there might not be any prouision of Nauigation caried to her enemies which besides were well prouided of strong Shipping and men of valiant spirits that if they should bee ioyned vvith the English Nauy it would be an easie thing for them to be soone Commanders of the Sea so rich and powerfull that they had long time since without any foraine aide supprest the insolencies of their proudest enemies and that they might not commit themselues to the trust and faith of the French She resolued that she was bound in Christian charitie to succour the afflicted Dutchmen being professors of the same Religion and in wisedome to prouide for the conseruation of a people which God had committed vnto her by cutting through the ruinous complots of their enemies not for any desire of glory but for the necessitie of goodnesse Whereupon shee openly tooke vpon her the defence of the Netherlands The Christian Princes admiring such a Masculine valour in a woman to haue such a magnanimous spirit as to denounce warre as it were to so potent a Monarch Insomuch that the King of Sweden speaking of her said that she had taken the Diadem from off her owne head to expose it to the doubtfull and dangerous euent of warre These were the conditions that were agreed vpon betweene Queene ELIZABETH and the Estates of Holland THe Queene would send as succours to the Vnited Prouinces 5000 foot and a thousand horse vnder a generall Commander of famous remarke and during the warre would pay the souldiers which should after the Peace were made be paid backe by the Estates that is to say in the first yeare of the Peace such summes as had beene disbursed in the first yeare of the warres and the rest in the foure yeares following In the meane time they should deliuer into her hands for assurance the towne of Flushing the Castle of Rameken in Zeland and the I le of Breil with the towne and both the Skances The Gouernors that should bee appointed should not haue any command ouer the Inhabitants but onely of their Garison which should pay the Tributes and Imposts as well as the inhabitants Those places should after the money were repayed bee deliuered backe not to the Spaniard but the Estates The Gouernors and two other English which the Queen would name should be admitted into the Councell of the Estates and the Estates should not entertaine any League without the Queenes aduice nor she the Estates not acquainted therewith Ships for their common defence in equall number and at a common expence should be set forth vnder the command of the Admirall of England The Ports of either should he freely open to either With other conditions which were printed and exposed to all mens view For the memoriall of this alliance the Zealanders triumphing with ioy caused new money to be coyned bearing vpon one side the Armes of Zealand which is a Lyon floating vpon the waues with this inscription Luctor emergo Ie comba et me sauue J fight and I saue my selfe On the other side the Armes of the townes of Zealand with this Authore Deo fauente Regina God Author the Queene fauourable The Queene by a booke set forth gaue all to vnderstand that in times past Leagues and Societies were contracted betweene the Kings of England and the Princes of the Netherlands for the mutuall faith and defence one of another She remonstrateth the barbarous cruelty of the Spaniard against the miserable Netherlanders and the mischieuous complots which they had wrought against her selfe that had with much labour sought a Peace and had done this to keepe the Dutch from reuolting Neither did shee propose any other thing to her selfe in aiding of them then that the Dutch might inioy peaceably their former liberty her subiects safety and either Nation a secure commerce and traffique And to prouide that warre should not assaile her at home and set the Spaniard to worke abroad She set forth a Nauy to the West Indies vnder the command of Sir Francis Drake and Christopher Carlile of one and twenty sayle in which besides Saylors were 2300 voluntary souldiers which surprized in the I le of Saint Iames neere to Cap-Verd the towne of Saint Iames which gaue name to the Iland where they celebrated with the thunder of the Cannon the Coronation day of Queene ELIZABETH which was vpon the fourteenth of Nouember and pillaging the town they found great store of Meale Wine and Oyle but no money at all The fourteenth day after they set sayle and many which kept their quarters guard in the open aire and slept vpon the ground were taken with grieuous sicknesse called Calentura whereof they dyed a disease very familiar in â—hat Iland and dangerous to strangers which sleepe in the open fields The first of Ianuary they ariued at Hispaniola where the souldiers being landed in a secure place by the direction of a Spaniard whom they had taken and kept to that purpose they marched in order against the towne and hâ—uing repulst a hundred and fifty Spanish horsemen which opposed their passage and putting to flight certaine Musketiers which were placed in Ambush they entered pell-mell into the towne with them by the two westerne gates and all the inhabitants being strucke with feare and terrour fled out at the North gate of the said City The English brought their troops into the Market-place neere to the great Temple and because they were not in number sufficient to man the towne they fortified it with rampars of earth after that they seized vpon other conuenient places So hauing the whole towne in their possession and command they remained a moneth there And seeing the inhabitants offered but a small summe of money to redeeme their towne they began first to set fire vpon the suburbs and after vpon the fairest house in the towne vntill the inhabitants had redeemed their towne with 25000 Crowns of gold which with much paine they gathered They found there no great store of pillage excepting some pieces of Artillery with Corne and Sugar for they vsed there nought but Copper money and glasse vessels with some made of earth which were brought out of the East India Amongst other things in the towne Court were found the Armes of the King of Spaine with the world vnder placed from whence a horse with his foure-feet rampant was figured leaping out with this inscription Non sufficit orbis The world doth not suffice Whereat some scoffing tooke it for an argument of the infinite auarice and ambition of the Spaniard as neuer satisfied From thence sayling vp into the Continent of America
that blood cryeth for blood and to be seuere vpon her cannot but seeme a thing cruell and bloody That the K. of France would endeuour seriously to dissolue the designes of those which conspired against Queen Elizabeth and that the Guises the Queen of Scotland's kinsmen should swear and subscribe to do the same who would take it very grieuously if she were put to death and perhaps would not suffer it vnreuenged Finally they required she should not be handled with such rigorous and extraordinary iudgement for if shee were the King of France could not but take it as a most grieuous offence howsoeuer the other Princes tooke it To euery one of these Articles answer was made in the Margent That the Queene of England hoped that the most Christian king of France made no lesse reckoning of her than of the Queene of Scotland who had practised her destruction she being an innocent Princesse her neere Kinswoman and in league of Alliance with the King of France That it is expedient for Kings and their Countries that wicked actions be not left vnpunished especially against Princes That the English who acknowledge Queen Elizabeth the sole Supreame Gouernesse of England cannot at once acknowledge two Soueraignes free and absolute Princes nor any other whilst she liued could participate in equalitie with her Neither could she perceiue how the Queene of Scotland and her Sonne which then raigned could be held at once for Soueraigne and absolute Princes Whether that the safetie of Queene Elizabeth be exposible to greater perils shee being put to death seeing it dependeth vpon future contingencie That the Estates of England hauing well weighed this point are otherwise conceited namely That whilst shee liueth there will alwaies be new plots of mischiefe breeding especially because it is now come to that issue that there is no hope left for the one if the other be not extinct and this saying should often present it selfe to her mind Either I shall dispatch her or shee me And the lesser time her life shall last the more celeritie will the Conspirators vse to execute their plots That hitherto she would neuer renounce her claime and challenge to the English Crowne and therefore was for iust cause to be detained in prison and detained must be till she renounce it although she came to England for succour and support And for what cause soeuer she was put in prison she is to be punished for the faults she hath cōmitted since the time of her imprisonment That the Queene of England had pardoned her before when shee was condemned of all the Estates for consenting to the Rebellion in the North the which was raised to haue made the Maryage betwixt her and tbe Duke of Norfolke and to pardon her againe were imprudent and cruell mercy That none are ignorant of that Maxime of the Lawyers An offender found within the Territorie of another is to be punished where he is found to haue committed the fault without respect of Dignitie Honour or Priuiledge And that the same is permitted as well by the Lawes of England as also by the examples of Licinius Robert King of Sicilie Bernard King of Italy Conradine Elizabeth Queene of Hungary Ioan Queene of Naples and of Deiotarus for whom Cicero pleading said It is not a thing vniust though vnusuall for a King to be arraigned His very words are these Primùm dico pro capite fortunisque Regis quod ipsum etsi non iniquum est in tuo duntaxat periculo tamen est ita inusitatum Regem capitis reum esse tante hoc tempus non sit auditum That shee that hath beene found guiltie by a iust Iudgement ought to vndergoe punishment forasmuch as that which is Iust is Honest and that which is Honest is also profitable That the History of Porsenna hath no allusion to the matter in question except it were to be thought that there are a great number yet behinde of them which conspire against Queene Elizabeth and so could perswade her out of feare and some little respect of honour to dismisse the Queene of Scotland without putting her to any paine as Porsenna past off Mutius after Mutius had told him there was yet 300. more of his Fellow-Confederates which had sworne his death Besides that Mutius set vpon Porsenna in open warre and assured himselfe that by sending Mutius away he was out of all danger That blood is to be spared but that is innocent blood That God hath said Blood cryeth for blood it is true and that France both before the Massacre of Paris since cā testifie this That punishment by death iustly inflicted cannot be accounted bloody no more than a wholsome medicine can be deem'd hurtfull Howsoeuer the Guises the Queene of Scotlands Cousens relish it Queene Elizabeth hath more nearer cause to respect her selfe her owne safetie her Nobilitie and the good of her People on whose loue shee wholly dependeth than the discontent of any other whosoeuer And that the matter was now at that point that the old Prouerbe of the two Princes Conradine the King of Sicilie and Charles the Duke of Anjou might be vsed and truly said of these two Queens THE DEATH OF MARY THE LIFE OF ELIZABETH And THE LIFE OF MARY THE DEATH OF ELIZABETH The promises of the French King or the Guises cannot secure the Queene of England nor the Realme of assured safetie much lesse make amends for her death if she be made away That the French King cannot discouer or keepe in the plots of Treason which are practised against him in his owne Country much lesse this against the Queene of England for that Treason is closely carryed and therefore ineuitable And if the wicked act were once committed what good would come on it to claime their promises How can the life of an incomparable Prince after death be repaired and what redresse can be found out for the Common-wealth failing with her in this sad confusion of all things That the hand-writings or oathes of the Guises can be of no great moment for that they hold it a meritorius matter to put to death the Pope of Romes Aduersaries and may easily haue a dispensation of their oath And when Queene Elizabeth shall be slaine and the Queene of Scotland which is of the House of the Guises aduanced to the Royaltie who is he will accuse them for her death or if they should be accused that can bring her to life againe But in that the Ambassadours haue said That the Iudgement was rigorous and extraordinary they haue spoken indiscreetly for they saw neither the proceedings of the businesse nor heard the proofes and haue with too much asperitie reprehended the Estates of the Realme of England being Personages of chiefest note in the Kingdome for noblenesse of Birth Vertue Wisedome and Pietie Yea and that they haue altogether deliuered these speeches from the King of France to terrifie the Queene of England and the Estates of the Land That the
English are not wont to feare the Frenchmens menaces nor can these diuert them from prouiding how to settle their State in securitie Forasmuch as the Ambassadours in the meane time haue not made any demonstration or mention how to preuent the imminent ieopardies and dangers hanging ouer Englands head THE NINE AND TWENTIETH YEARE OF HER RAIGNE ANNO DOM. M.D.LXXXVII AS men thus according to the varietie of their apprehensions discoursed busily and at large of these matters as they were led either by enuy or affection D' Aubespine the Ambassadour for France in England who was of the Faction of the Guises thinking that if he could not by Arguments or Reasons deliuer the Queene of Scotland yet would he by some mischieuous craft Treateth priuatly and first with one William Stafford a young Gentleman and apt to conceiue strange hopes whose Mother was one of the Ladies of Honour and his Brother Leger in France about the killing of Queen Elizabeth At first he dealt with him vnder-hand but afterwards more plainely by his Secretary Trappe who promised him if he performed it that he should haue thereby nor only great glory and a large summe of money but also exceeding fauour from his Holinesse the Pope of Rome the Guises and all Catholikes Stafford as loathing such a monstrous mischiefe would not be the Actour thereof but notwithstanding notifyed to him one Modey a fit fellow to be imploed in matter of murther one who would dispatch it though neuer so bloody for money This Modey was a prisoner in London to whom Stafford made it knowne that the French Ambassadour desired to speake with him He answered that he desired the same if he were out of Prison intreating him in the meane time to speake with Cordalion the Ambassadours vnder-Secretary who was his familiar friend The morrow after was sent to him Trappe and Stafford which Trappe Stafford going apart grew into talke with Modey how and by what meanes they might kill Qâ—eene Elizabeth Modey aduised to haue it done by poyson or by bringing priuately into the Queenes Chamber a barrell of Gun-powder to be secretly set on fire But this liked not Trappe who desired a resolute fellow which feared nothing such a one as the Bourgoignon which had slaine the Prince of Orange Stafford had quickly reuealed this to the Councell And Trappe now preparing himselfe for France is apprehended and being examined confesseth all the matter Hereupon the twelfth of Ianuary following the Ambassadour was sent for to the House of Cicile whither he came about euening where there was present at that time by the commandment of the Queen Cicile the Baron of Burghley Lord High Treasurer of England the Earle of Leicester Sir Christopher Hatton Vice-Chamberlaine to the Queens Maiestie Dauison one of her Maiesties Secretaries who declared that they had inuited him thither to acquaint him with the cause why they had stayed his Secretary Trappe being bound for France and so discoursed to him the whole matter as Stafford Modey and Trappe themselues had confessed and had caused them to be brought in to testifie the same before his face The Ambassadour with great impatience bending his browes and standing vp said That he being the Kings Ambassadour would not abuse his Master the King of France or preiudice other Ambassadours in that kinde to be a hearer of Accusations be what they will But they hauing answered him that these things were not produced as accusations against him but to let him perceiue that they were neither false nor faigned and to the ende hee might take occasion to conuince Stafford of Calumnie the more freely hee became quiet But so soone as Stafford came in and had begun to speake he interrupting of him in rayling manner swore That Stafford had first mentioned the matter and that he had threatned to send him bound hand and foote to the Queene of England if he would not giue ouer that businesse and that at that time he forbore him for the loue and affection he had to his Mother his Brother and his Sister Stafford falling on his knees protested many times vp on his Saluation That the Ambassadour had first broken the matter to him The Ambassadour then more moued than before Stafford was commanded forth and Modey not permitted to come in Hereupon the Lord Burghley out of his owne words and Trappe his Confession reproued him but somewhat gently for this intended mischiefe The Ambassadour answered If he had beene guiltie or acquainted with the matter yet as being an Ambassadour he was not bound to reueale it to any but his owne King Burghley answering said Admit it be not the part of an Ambassadour which yet is a matter questionable to discouer such matters but only to their owne King when the life of a Prince is in hazzard yet it is the part of a Christian to preuent such enormities as touch the life of a Prince nay of any priuate Christian This he stoutly denied and withall recited an example of a French Ambassadour not long agone in Spaine who knowing of a treacherous practise against the King of Spaine although it concerned his life yet discouered it not to him but to his owne King for which he receiued great commendation both of his King and of his Councell But the Lord Burghley very grauely admonished him hereafter to haue a care how he offended her Maiestie and not to forget his duty and her Maiesties mercifulnesse which was loath to offend the good Ambassadours by punishing the bad neither was he all this while exempt from the fault though freed from the punishment From this attempt such as were the sworne enemies of the Queene of Scotland and sought to doe her hurt tooke occasion hereby to hasten her death knowing that in extreame danger of safetie Feare leaueth no place for Mercy and tooke order the more to terrifie the Queene of England to spread rumorous speeches daily and false and fearefull exclamations all ouer the Land to wit That the Spanish Fleet was already landed at Milford-Hauen That the Scots were come vpon their borders That the Guise was in Essex with a mighty Armie That the Queene of Scots had broken prison raysed a great troope of Souldiers and began to make a Rebellion in the North That there were new plots in hand for murthering the Queene and to burne the Citie of London yea That the Queene of England was dead and such like which in those that are crafty and fearefull by a natural desire are nourished and encreased and Princes credulous by curiositie will soon lend their eares thereunto By such divulged horrors and fearefull arguments they brought her Maiestie into such trouble and perplexitie of minde that she signed the Letters of Warrant to her deadly Sentence and was perswaded most of all to it by Patricke Gray Scottishman whom the King of Scotland had sent to disswade the Queene of England from putting his mother to death who many times
nor acquainted with Court-tricks was purposely brought vpon the Stage as diuers haue thought to be an actor in this Tragedie and being put out of his part as being at a non plus in the last Act was for a long time after shut vp in prison to the great griefe of many Hitherto hath beene related what was publikely done against him Now obserue in briefe how he excuseth himselfe as I haue collected out of his owne accusation and the Apologeticall discourse which he made thereof to Sir Fr. Walsingham The queene said he after the Ambassadors of France and Scotland were departed wished me to shew her the Warrant for the execution of the sentence pronounced against the queene of Scotland Hauing shewed it she willingly set her hand thereto and bid me likewise affixe the great Seale of England and iestingly said You will shew this now to Walsingham who is sicke already but will dye when he sees it She added by and by That she had put it off so long because shee would not seeme to be carried away by violence yet knowing well the necessitie thereof Then blaming Sir Ayme Poulet and Sir Drue Dâ—ury for not hauing eased her of that care and trouble commanded Walsingham to know the cause of their cessation and delay The day after I had sealed the Warrant she forbade me by Killegray to doe it then telling her that it was done already shee checkt me for my diligence saying That by some wise-mens aduice another course might haue beene taken I answered that iust courses are alwayes good and sure But fearing she would cast some blame on me as she had formerly done vpon the Lo. Burghley about the Duke of Norfolks death I disclosed the whole matter to Sir Christ Hatton protesting that I would neuer hereafter be so forward in so weighty a busines Hatton presently discouered it to Burghley and he to the rest of the Councell who all concluding vpon the dispatch of the execution vowed as reason was to be faulty alike and to effect it sent Beale instantly away with the Warrant and Letters The third day after I perceiuing the Queene to be troubled in minde to haue the precedent night as her MAIESTY sayd dreamed of the Queene of Scotland's death I asked her if shee had changed her purpose She answered me That some other meanes might haue beene vsed and then inquiring of me Whether I had receiued any answer from Sir Ayme Poulet I shewed her his letters wherein he refused to vndertake the execution as vniust to which in great choler she replyed He and his confederats are all faithlesse periured in promising great matters and not performing but she should find some that for her sake would doe it As for my selfe I told her how ignominious it was and into what perills shee should bring Poulet and Drury If she approued the deed being done her renowne would be blasted with iniustice and disgrace besides other dangers and in disallowing it she should ruinate men of worthy merite and their posterity for euer would be vndon To conclude the very day that the queene of Scotland dyed her Maiesty checkt me iestingly for that it was not yet dispatched Now setting aside to speake of the anger and sorrow which the Queene of England conceiued for the death of the Queene of Scotland and her anger against William Dauison the truth is that the King of Scotland her onely Sonne drew thereof extreme anguish bitter and passionate torments shewing himselfe a more pious Son then any that can be heard or read of he lamented night and day his deare Mothers lamentable end in weeping and shedding many sad and brinish teares in his bitter agony not thinking that Queene ELIZABETH in regard of the mutuall loue which was betwixt them the late and strait contracted league of amity and the intercession of so many mighty Princes would haue suffered his Mother to haue beene exposed into the cruell hands of an Executioner she beeing a Princesse of coequall Maiestie of her neerest alliance and consanguinity from the Blood Royall nor could he receiue in Scotland Sir Robert Carie Sonne to Henry Baron of Hunsdon who was sent with Letters from ELIZABETH to excuse her Maiestie and to cast the fault vpon Dauison and the Councell He heard him but hardly from the mouth of another and hardly receiued the Letters he brought He reuok't the authority of his Ambassadour in England and thought of reuenge For there was no want of folke which were busie to egge him on by perswasions that the Christian Princes would not leaue vnreuenged so great and grieuous an iniury offered to Royall Maiesty and to the Royall Name The Estates of Scotland which were then gathered together in multitudinous numbers protested to his Maiestie that they were ready and prest to reuenge this death to defend the rightfull Title which hee had vnto England and in that to hazzard both life and goods and that they could not digest this iniury offered not so much to his Maiestie as to the whole Nation of Scotland Some perswaded him to demand Nauall assistance of the K. of Denmarke with whom he had then begun a Treaty touching marriage with his Daughter Others addicted to the Roman Religion exclaiming against the Queene of England that She which had slaine the Mother would willingly slay the Sonne too put it into his head to ioyne rather with the Kings of France and Spaine and with the Pope of Rome and that he might easily by this meanes possesse himselfe of England Aboue all he should not trust the Protestants of England That they were now at the full height of their power and sought secretly his ruine Others admonished him not to shew himself openly inclin'd to any party but to hold both Papist and Protestant in suspence Because that if he should openly ranke himselfe with the Protestants all the Papists of Europe in their practices would make him their marke to shoot at and would prouide them in England some other Support then he to rely vpon which could not be without danger to him Others aduised him to continue constant in amity with England not to expose or put foorth a certaine hope into the vncertaine hazzard of warre and to perseuer in the Religion now receiued wherein if he should seeme to wauer he could neither purchase friends nor put off enemies These were the things propounded to him by one and other as euery mans particular pleasure or desire carried him The King himselfe of perspicuity and politique apprehension aboue his age beeing some times alone by himselfe and sometimes with some few others not with precipitate rashnes which is alwayes blind but with deliberate consideration at many times and for a long space together cast these things in his mind But Queene ELIZABETH after shee had laid all the fault vpon Dauison and the rash credulity of her Councell seeketh by little and little to weare away his griefe lest consolations vntimely applyed
and likewise for the Kingdome of Scotland Yet they neuerthelesse would not agree thereunto but meerely for those foure Cities which the Queen then had in possession as Ostend Flushing Bergen vp Zoom and the Breele and that during the said Treaty and twentie dayes after prouided that in the meane while it was lawfull to the Queene of England to assault Spaine and to the King of Spaine to inuade England as well out of Spaine as of Flanders During that time thus runned in speech about this Truce and the place appoynted for the conference which at last was appoynted at Bourbourgh Sir W. Crofts who for the great desire hee had of peace was gone to Bruxels without the knowledge of the rest of the Commissioners propounded in particular some Articles for which hee afterwards was imprisoned vpon the Earle of Leicesters accusation though that to the iudgement of others hee ought not to haue beene reproued or disauowed yet it is not lawfull to Commissioners to exceede the limits of their Commissions prescribed vnto them Finally the English seeing they could not obtaine a full and intyre cessation of Armes nor to see at all the Commission containing power for the Duke of Parma to treat of peace they propounded THat the ancient alliances betweene the Kings of England and the Dukes of Burgundie might be renewed and confirmed That the Flemmings might peaceably enioy their priuiledges and serue God with libertie of conscience That the Spaniards and other strangers might be sent out of Flanders to ridde the Flemmings and the neighbouring-Prouinces of all feare And that if they would grant these things the Queene to shew that shee had not taken vp Armes for her owne particular interest but for the necessary defence both of the Flemmings and her selfe would willingly hearken vnto any reasonable conditions touching the Townes which shee then possessed in the Low-Countries paying the mony which shee had laide out about them Whereunto the Dukes Deputies answered THat when it would please them friendly to conferre with them about the renewing of their ancient alliances there should be no disagreement in that regard That stranger Princes had nothing to doe with the Flemmings priuiledges of grace graunted as well vnto the reconciled Townes and Prouinces as vnto the rest which by force of Armes haue beene brought vnto obedience That their stranger-Souldiers were of necessitie retained there because they were vp in armes both in Holland England and France As for Townes taken from the King and expences of money the King of Spaine might well demand recompence of the Queene of many thousands of Crownes spent in the warres of the Low-Countries since her assisting and taking into her protection the rebellious Flemmings About this time Dr. Dale by the Queens cōmandement was sent vnto the Duke to make a friendly complaint vnto him of a Booke lately set forth by one Allin an English Cardinall by which hee admonished the Nobles and people of England and Ireland to ioyne with the forces of Spaine vnder the Dukes conduct for the execution of Pope Sixtus the Fifth his Sentence published by a Bull against the Queene by which he declared her an Heretique illegitimate and cruell against the Queene of Scots c. and commanded her Subiects to assist the Duke against her Many of those Bulls were printed at Antwerpe to be dispersed in England The Duke made him answere that hee had not seene any such Booke or Bull and that hee would not vndertake any thing in the Popes name yet that hee was to obey his King Moreouer that he honoured and admired so much the Queene for her Royall vertues that next vnto the King he made more account of her Maiestie than of any other Prince That hee had counselled the King to treate of that peace which would be more profitable to the English than to the Spaniards for quoth hee if the Spaniards be ouercome they can easily recouer their losse again but if you be once vanquished your Kingdome is vtterly lost Whereupon Doctor Dale replyed That the Queene was powerfull enough to defend her Kingdome and that himselfe might well iudge according to his graue wisdome that shee could not easily be ouerthrowne by the losse of one battell seeing the King of Spaine himselfe by so long a warre could not as yet recouer the inheritance of his Ancestors in the Low-Countries Well said hee these things are in the hands of the Almightie God Afterwards the Commissioners had many conferences and alterations and as it were weaued the same webbe againe When the English desired a toleration of Religion to be granted but for two yeres to the Vnited Prouinces it was answered That as the Spaniard interceded not in the like kinde for the English Catholikes so they hoped that the Queene in her owne wisedome would forbeare to request any thing of the Spaniard preiudiciall to his honour his oath and his conscience When they required re-payment of the money which the States of Brabant owed the Queene they answered That that money was lent without the Kings priuity or authoritie But all accounts beeing cast vp it might appeare both how much that money was and how much the King had spent in this warre to whom more ought to be paid By such kinde of answeres they deluded the English vntill the Spanish ARMADA approched the coast of England and the thunder of their Ordnance was heard from the Sea Then receiuing a conuoy from the Prince who during this treatie had brought almost all his forces to the shore by his Commissioners were honourably conducted to the borders neere Calais So vanished this treatie into nothing vndertaken by the Queene as the wisest sort of men iudged to auert the Spanish Fleete continued by the Spaniard to surprize England vnawares vnprouided so that both of them seemed to sew the Foxes tale to the Lyone skin That Spanish ARMADA the greatest and best furnished with men munition and all warlike preparations that euer the Ocean did see and arrogantly named Inuincible consisted of one hundred and thirtie ships in which were nineteene thousand two hundred and ninety souldiers eight thousand three hundred and fiftie Mariners two thousand eightie Gally-slaues chayned two thousand six hundred and thirty peeces of great Ordnance The Generall was Alphonsus Perez Guzman Duke of Medina Sidonia For Antonius Columna Duke of Palian of S. Cruz or of the holy Crosse designed Generall dyed during the preparation and vnder him was Iohn Martinus Recaldus a most skilfull Nauigator The third before the Calends of Iune they loosed from out of the Riuer of Tagus and bending their course towards the Groin in Galicia by a strong tempest they were dispersed three Gallies with three Oares on a seat beeing by the industry of Dauid Guin an English slaue and the perfidiousnesse of the Turkish Gally-slaues carried to the coast of Frāce after some time with great difficulty met at the Groin and the Hauens thereabouts So
1567. The murder of the Lord Darley who was married to the Qu. of Scots Buchanan condemned for falshood by the States of Scotland A digression from Scottish affaires Iames Prior of Saint Andrews Hee seekes to be Regent of Scotland Being frustrated of it vnder-hand opposes himselfe against the Queene Makes his ambition to be openly and euidently knowne He is created Earle of Murray He persecutes the great men of Scotland Hee disswades the Queen from marrying He takes armes against her after shee was married He flies into England He seekes to sow discord betweene the Husband and the Wife The murder of Dauid Rice in the Queene of Scots sight Murray is repealed Earle Morton flies into England Dissention set betweene the King and the Queene Lord Darley the Queenes Husband murdered Earle Bothwell commended to the Queene to marry him Testimony of the murder of the Lord Darley Bothwell is freed of the murder of the King He marries the Queene They conspire both against him and the Queene Earle Murray retyres into France Earle Bothwell is expelled The Queene emprisoned Queene Elizabeth complaines They consult what is to be done with the Queene prisoner Throgmorton defends the Queenes cause The Scots maintaine the contrary out of Buchanans reasons They extort from their Queene a Resignation of the Gouernement Iames the 6. consecrated and inaugurated King Murray returnes into Scotland Hee prescribes the Queene what shee should doe Hee is established Regent or Vice-Roy Some of the murderers of the King are put to death They acquit the Queene of all suspition The Queene of England and the King of France labour to procure her libertie Queene Elizabeth demands the restitution of Calais The French maintaine how they ought not to doe it Sir Thomas Smith's answere The Earle of Sussex is sent to the Emperour Leicester hinders it Representing to her all the discommodities that might happē if she married a stranger Articles of the marriage propounded Ambassadours sent from the Emperour of Muscouie The English opened the way to goe to Russia by Sea The Company of Muscouie Marchants A secret message from the Emperour of Muscouy The death of N. Wotton And the Duchesse of Norfolke Shan O-neale raiseth troubles He rebels Sir Henry Sidney armes against him He is discomfited Shan re-assumes courage He vseth cruelty to his men He meanes to yeeld He is slaine Hugon who was afterwards Baron of Dungannon Troubles in Munster Booke 1. 1568. The Papists absolue many The Jnnouators shew themselues Puritans Second ciuill warre in France The Duke of Aniou commended to Queene Elizabeth for an Husband The English Ambassador disgracefully vsed in Spaine Hawkins ill intreated by the Spaniards in America The Queene of Scots escapes out of prison She is vanquished She writes to Qu. Elizab. She writes againe Queene Elizabeth pitties her The priuy Counsell consult of it The Councell resolues she should be retained in England The Countesse of Lenox complaines of her The Baron of Heris interceds for her Earle Murray is commanded to yeeld a reason of the Queenes deposition Deputies for the King of Scots For the Qu. of Scots Lidingtons declaration to the Scots The protestation of the Queene of Scots Deputies A declaration for the Queene The anwer of the Kings Deputies The Queens Reply Murray refuseth to yeeld an account of the Queenes deposition Authoritie of the Commissioners reuokt The Duke of Norfolke glad New Commissioners granted The Queene of Scots wil not submit her cause to their hearing But vpon certaine conditions The Proceedings dissolued Debate about the Gouernment of Scotland Murray offers to marry the Duke of Norfolke to the Qu. of Scots He disperseth rumors against her The Duke of Norfolke suspected The third Ciuill-war in France Who did good to England The beginning of the Wars in the Low countries The Duke of Alua. Moneys sent into the low-Countries detained in England The English mens goods detained and seized vpon in the Low-Countries The like done to the Flemmings in England The death of Roger Askham Booke 1. 1569. A Proclamation touching goods detained Another declaration against the former Proclamation Practices against Cecil The money detayned in England is demanded Free traffique established at Hamborrough for the English Doctor Story taken The Duke of Alua enraged against the English Men of war called in Traffique of Russia hindred Liberties of the English in Russia Their traffique into Russia And into Persia by the Caspian Sea A Russian Ambassador in England Alliance of Russia The Emperour of Muscouia and of Russia is irritated and inflamed against the English Murray appeased the friends of the Queene of Scotland Rumors spred through-out Scotland against Murray Queene Elizabeth is diligent and endeuours to quench such false rumors She deales by Letters concerning her restoring The first mention of of this marriage Murray's proposition to the Duke of Norfolke Throgmortons counsell Propositions of the match made by Leicester to the Duke The Articles of marriage propounded to the Queene of Scotland She agreed them in some manner A dessigne to free the Qu. of Scotland Notice is giuen thereof to Queene Elizabeth The Earle of Leicester reueales the whole busines to the Queen at Tichfield She rebukes the Duke of Norfolke The Duke parts from the Court without leaue Cecill findes out the matter The Duke of Norfolke goes into Norfolke Feare caused in the Court through Norfolke He returnes to the Court. Murray discouers the businesse The Duke is imprisoned And others Their Complices craue pardon Libels against this marriage Chapin Vitelli comes into England and why Rebellion in the North. Pretext of the Rebels They runne violently into a Rebellion Their declaration They write to the Papists They rent and tread vnder-foot the Bible Their Colours Their number They returne They take Bernard Castle They fly Some are put to death The rest are banisht A new Rebellion The Rebells are defeated Qu. Elizabeth lends succours to the reformed Churches in France * This Noble Family was honoured with the dignity of Lord Howard of Walden by Queene Eliz. * Their most ancient House was honoured with the title of Baron of Bleso by Qu. Eliz. As also this noble Countesses Husbands Predecessor was also graced with the Earledome of Bath by her MAIESTIE * This Noble Lord is most highly borne from a most Honourable bloud being by his Father-side descended from the illustrious Lord William Berkeley Earle of Nottingham Vicount Berkeley of Berkeley-Castell and also Lord Marquis of Berkeley Earle Marshall of England * An illustrious Branch of the Noble House of the Caries created Baron of Honsdon by Qu Elizabeth * Descended fro◠Charles Blunt Earle of Deuonshire Lord Deputy and Lieutenant of Ireland a braue valiant Nobleman who expulsed the Spaniards there and compelled the Irish Rebells to submission he was created Baron of Mount-ioy by Queene Elizabeth * Knighted by Queeene Elizabeth at Killingworth There is great differency and diuersity tending to the manner of describing Stories First there is
Ormond pursues the Rebels The Earle of Desmond writes to the Lord Chiefe-Justice Booke 2. 1580. James taken being wounded to death Desmond miserably oppressed Arthur Lord Gray Deputie of Ireland He pursues the Rebels They kill the English Italians and Spaniards land in Jreland They raise a Fort. They are besieged They answer to the Deputies demands They disagree Their Generall shewed himselfe a Coward They aske a parley They yeeld vpon discretion Strangers slaine with the Sword the Subiects hanged Excesse in apparell reformed The taking of Malines in Brabant The sacriledge of the English An Earthquake The Papists begin to be afflicted The beginning of English Seminaries Their Doctrine is then thought The euent proceeding thereof New Seminaries are sent into England To what end Jesuites doe steale priuately into England A Proclamation against Seminaries and Iesuites Robert Persons and Edmond Campian English Iesuits came into England Power granted to the Papists Who and what haue beene these Jesuits The English Fugitiues doe moue and excite strangers to war against their Prince and Countrey Queene Elizabeths declaration against them The seuerall Sects of Holland The house of LOVE A Proclamation against these Sects Francis Drake His originall extraction Francis Drakes education Drakes expedition in America A Vow Iohn Oxenham sayleth into America Jsla de Perlas John Oxenham depriued of life falls from a great and famous enterprize Drakes second voyage Doughtey beheaded Passeth the straightes of Magellan Eclipse of the Moone South Stars Little clouds of Magellan Drake finds booty both by land and sea Meets by chance with great wealth Sir Francis Drake takes a Spanish ship called Shite-Fire which hee made shite Siluer He thinkes of his return Drake discoueres a land which hee called the Nouam Albion He arriued at the Molucques Falls into a great danger He passeth beyong the Cape of Bona Esperance Returnes into England Drakes ship is consecrato perpetuall memory Francis Drake is knighted by Queene Elizabeth The King of Spaine by his Ambassadour demandeth Drakes goods which he had pirapirated He is answered The Spaniard hath part of Drakes money deliuered backe Iackman and Pets Nauigation to seeke away to the East-Jndies The death of the Earle of Arundell who was the first that brought the vse of Coches into England The Lord Gray represseth the Rebels in Ireland Innocency is an assured comfort Rebels supprest The Earle of Lenox is enuied of the Scots They accuse him in England Consultation holden against him They rayse false reports against him The Scots will not admit Bowes to accuse him Hume excuseth it Burghley's admonitions to him Morton imprisoned These Noble Knights for their worth and Vertues were honoured with the dignity of Knighthood by Qu. Elizabeth most of them in that Honourable euer-remembred Voyage of C. Howard Earle of NotinghaÌ„ L. high Admirall and that renowned Souldier the late Generous Earle of Essex c. in Spaine bâ—fore Cadiz taken ranâ—acked by the English Iun. 26. Anno 1â—96 * Their Honourable Predecessours were for their deserts aduanced both to Honour Dignity Sir Ch. Hatton was Lord Chancelor of England vnder Qu. Elizabeth he dyed in Hatton house the 20. of Nouember 1590. * Sir Walter Rawleigh Knighted and employed about diuers worthy affaires of waight and consequence by Queene Elizabeth * Wray Lord Keeper of the priuy Seale * And wherefore It is that these Noble persons haue by their worthy liues purchased Honour to their noble selues or else their Prodecessors haue by their Vertues deserued both Honour and Dignity from this vnparalel'd Empresse who as she was a true aduancer of Vertue and destroyer of Vice did liberally bestowe her Royall gifts of Honour vpon those and their Ancestors Booke 3. Randolphes intercession for Morton against Lenox The King of Scots his answer Randolph complaineth to the Nobles of Scotland Endeauoreth to raise Rebellion Getteth him out of Scotland Morton beheaded His friends fled for England Norris victorious in Friezland Is discomfited * Albanois A ridiculous combate Drunkennes brought out of the Low-Countries into England The King of Spaine possesseth Portugall By what right The Queene of France her title to Portugall fetcht farre and reiected Inciteth the Q. of England secretly against the Spaniard Antonio banisht Portugall commeth into England Delegates sent into England from France about the Duke of Anjous mariage Couenants of mariage concluded vpon A reseruation added The King of France vrgeth the mariage The Queen of England deferreth Wherefore Duke d' Anjou returneth againe into England Queene Elizabeth giueth a Ring vnto the D. of Anjou A motion of sundry conceits in Court The Queen greatly disquieted Her Maiesty thinks what inconueniencies might ensue in contemning and despising the Match with the Duke of Anjou Reasons disswading her from marying A book published in print against the mariage The Queens Declaration against this pernicious Libell The Author discouered and he that had dispersed the bookes Right hands cut off The Iesuite Edm. Campian with other Priests are put to death The punishing of Catholikes needfull Suspition of them increased By their tergiuersation False positions spread abroad Booke 3. New Lawes against Papists The Duke d' Anjou sayleth into Flanders Hee is made there Duke of Brabant c. Certaine English reuolt from him Generall Norris carieth himselfe generously and behaueth himself valorously The Duke d'Anjou departed from Flanders with shame A Comet Queene Elizabeth bestoweth the Order of the Garter vpon the King of Denmarke * Or the Coller of Esses The Merchants complaint not regarded The Treaty with the Queene of Scots is deferred Gowry and others begin tumults in Scotland Gowries conspiracie They intercept the King The Duke of Lennox driuen out of Scotland An Embassie from the French King sent to deliuer the King of Scots Mary Q. of Scotland her Letter to Quene Elizabeth The Q. of Scots deploreth her sons intercepting and her owne desolation Lidington and de Grange Booke 3. The Duke of Lenox's returne through England It is consulted about the deliuery of the Q. of Scots The Scots of the English faction are against it The English and French in emulation striue to obtaine the fauor of the King of Scotland The King of Scotland seekes the loue of the Queene of England The Lord Esme Stuart Duke of Lenox reputed a Papist by some malicious ill-willer of his dyed at Paris a true and sincere Protestant The King of Scotland sets himselfe at libertie His Maiesty vseth kindly those who formerly had seaz'd themselues of his Royal person Cals to the Court all such Nobles as stood and were of his side Walsingham is sent into Scotland from Q. Elizabeth The King of Scotland answers him freely Walsingham â—emonstrations to his sacred Maiestie The King answered them The King propounds a Pardon to those who had seaz'd themselues of his person Hee commands such as refus'd it to void the Kingdome His Maiesty re-established the Reputation and Honor of the Duke of Lenox causing
slow Counsels but to dispatch and take armes That the prudence of England had alwaies beene accustomed to goe meete their enemies and not to waite for them and that it had euer beene aswell suffered to preuent dangers as to expell them to defend themselues with the same weapons that they are assayled with That England was neuer assured but when it was powerfull and armed that it was more powerfull when it had nothing to feare but the Scottish coast and that to take away this feare it were meete to assist those which professed the same Religion and chace the French out of Scotland against whom Armes are very auaileable but not Counsels That for hauing contemned them too much heretofore they had lost Calais with shame and hurt and a little before by surprize Ableville and the forts neere Bullen whiles they fained to seeke a peace which was the cause that Bullen afterwards was constrayned to render and that they should looke for no lesse of Barwicke and the frontier Townes if they tooke not armes the sooner without staying to see what the French will doe who looke as if they meant to make peace in Scotland Their designe being hidden their ambition infinite their reuennew exceeding great insomuch that it is growne a Prouerbe long agoe in England that France cannot be three yeeres both without warre and without meanes Queene ELIZABETH also often alledged this saying of the Emperour Valentinian Haue French for a friend but not for a neighbour It was resolued then that it was iust necessary and profitable to driue the French out of Scotland as soone as could be possible In the end a Nauy was sent into Borrough which is now called Enden-borrough Frith coÌ„ducted by W. Winter master of the Nauall Artillery who to the great terrour of the French set vpon their ships which were there in the Road and vpon the Garrison that they kept in the I le of Inch-Keith Likewise presently the Duke of Norfolke was established Lieutenant generall in the Northerne parts towards Scotland the frontiers of the East and of the South were coÌ„mitted to the Lord Baron Gray who not long ago had couragiously but vnluckily defended Guien against the French and Thomas Earle of Sussex who in the reigne of Queene MARY had beene Deputy of Ireland is sent back thither with title of Lieutenant together with speciall command to ouer-looke this Irish Nation being so much the more superstitious by how much lesse it was husbanded and tilled should not be stirred to rebellion by the practices of the French vnder pretext of Religion to furnish Ophalie with some small Forts to giue to the old Soldiers some lands to be to them and their heires males begotten of their bodies to receiue Sulij-Boy Scotsh-Irish to hold the possessions which hee had claimed by hereditary right in the Countrey of Vlster to hold in fee and to doe homage and seruice for the same to increase moderately the reuenues of the Prince and reduce the treasury to the forme of that of England While these things passed thus F. Talbot the fifth Earle of the House of Shrewsburie dyed who was one of the chiefe Councellors of the Kingdome leauing for Heire George his onely Sonne by Marie Daughter to T. Dacre of Gilsland THE THIRD YEERE OF HER RAIGNE Anno Domini 1560. AS soone as the Duke of Norfolke was come to Barwicke the Prior of Saint Andrews the Baron of Rethuen and others came to meete him and in the name of the Duke of Chastelraut and his Confederates treated allyance with him for the Queene of England in these termes Whereas the French haue striuen by right or wrong to subdue Scotland and to vnite it to the Scepter of France the Queene of England will take into her Protection the Duke of Chastelraut the Heire apparent to the Kingdome of Scotland as long as the marriage of the King of France and Mary Queene of Scots shall last and one yeere more He shall set forth Armies by Land and Sea with all sort of warlike Munition to chase and driue the French out of Scotland He shall not make peace with them but with condition that Scotland shal enioy its former libertie The Forts which shall be taken from them by the ayde of the English shall be also presently demolished or put into the hands of the Duke of Norfolke according as hee shall thinke good The English shall not fortifie any place in Scotland but by the counsel of the Duke of Chastelraut and the Peeres of the Kingdome The Scots shall assist the English to their vttermost endeuours they shall hold their Enemies theirs and shall not suffer that the Kingdome of Scotland shall bee ioyned to France otherwise then by marriage as now it is If England be set vpon by the French on this side Tine the Scots shall send at the Queenes charge two thousand Horse and a thousand Foot-men If on the other side they shall ioyne themselues to succour the English with all the strength they are able to make and at their owne charge for thirtie dayes as they haue beene accustomed to doe for the defence of Scotland The Earle of Argaehel Iudge of Scotland shall labour to reduce vnto due obedience the Northerne parts of Ireland vnder certaine Conditions which shall bee agreed vpon betweene the Vice-roy of Ireland and himselfe Finally it is determined what the one and the other shall doe if Iames Maconel or others raise any commotion in the Countrey of Hebride in Scotland or in Ireland For establishing these things Hostages shall bee sent into England before the English Armie enter into Scotland which shall be changed at the discretion of the Scots from sixe moneths to sixe moneths or from foure to foure Moneths so long as the Marriage betweene the King of France and the Queene of Scotland shall last and a yeere ouer and aboue That the Duke of Chastelraut the Earles and Barons Conferrates shall ratifie these Coâ—â—entions vnder their Signes and Seales within twenty dayes and shall declare that in all things which shal not tend to the oppressing of their ancient Liberty they shal yeeld obedience to the Queene of Scotland and to the King of France her Husband forasmuch as the Queene of England vndertakes not these things but by way of friendship and neighbourhood and to free the Scots from Bondage It was already discouered by Messages from stranger Princes and intercepted Letters that the French were resolued to set vpon England Seb. Martigues a young Gentleman of the House of Luxembourg with a thousand old Souldiers and two wings of Horse was come into Scotland and Doisel a Frenchman assuring himselfe too much to be of the Councell of the Queene Regent of Scotland had propounded to the chiefe of the Kingdome at Aymouth neere Barwicke that ioyning their forces they at the very instant would put the King and Queene of Scotland in possession of England but hauing considered the difficultie of the thing
condemned committed to perpetuall prison and her Sonne crowned KING Finally there wanted not others who for her summary chastisement and punishment would haue had her depriued both of her Royall Authority and life And this was vsually preach'd and diuulged by Knox and some other Ministers in the open Pulpit Throgmorton produced against this many reasons and Arguments taken out of the holy Scriptures touching due obedience and submission to superiour power who retaine the Sword of Authority in their hands arguing very strongly and constantly How the Queene was vnder no other Tribunall but that of the heauenly IVDGE neither could shee iuridically be constrayned to appeare and answer in the Court of any earthly Iudge That in Scotland the same authoritie which the Queene had not delegated nor made ouer to any other was nothing and by her reuocable But the Scottish-men replying alledged the peculiar rites and priuiledges of Scotland and that in extraordinary occurrents they might extraordinarily determine euen as they had collected out of Buchanans reasons who by the Earle of Murrayes perswasion then writ that Dialogue of the Right of Reigning or gouerning among the Scots who was condemned wherein he maintained against the Testimony of the Scottish Histories that the people were priuiledged to create or depose their Kings Notwithstanding Throgmorton ceased not importunately to sollicite them for the Queenes re-establishment and that himselfe might visit her though he no sooner opened his mouth in this poynt but they all replyed how this by no meanes could be granted him because herein they had denyed the French and that by this meanes they would not distaste the King of France to please and satisfie the Queene of England who as often experience heretofore had taught them laboured for nothing but her owne peculiar interests when shee was a meanes to driue the French away out of Scotland and lately shewed her selfe but niggardly and sparing of her fauours towards the Scottish Exiles Whereupon he thought it fit to take heed lest this importunity might vrge them to embrace the amity of the French and shake off that of the English when according to the French Prouerbe Qui quicte la partie la perd He that leaues his partie loseth it aduised and counselled the English to be carefull and iealous how they forsooke and lost the Scots After this by a Writing vnseal'd filled with variety of discourse which they committed to Throgmortons hands they vowed and protested that the Queene was remoued and restrained to a close place for no other end but to disioyne her from Earle Bothwell whom shee most entyrely loued till this heat of affection and her wrath conceyued against them might somewhat slacken and therefore they requested him to be satisfied in this Answer while some other Nobles of the Kingdome were assembled and yet neuerthelesse they restrayned the Queenes liberty euery day more and more though with teares shee intreated them to vse her more fauourably if not as Queene yet as shee was a Kings Daughter and Mother to their Prince and so hee many times requested that hee might goe and visit her but all in vaine Briefly not to rip vp in particular all the iniuries and disgraces offered her at last they made triall whether by milde and faire meanes they could induce her freely to giue ouer the gouernement either by reason of her weakenesse and indisposition or in respect of the trouble and annoyance it brought her to to reigne and gouerne which indeed they deuised for an excuse or else as others counselled her with more drift and subtilty to the end that being more weakly and gracelessely garded shee might the more safely and easily make her escape But when all this tooke no place they threatned to bring her to a publique triall to accuse her that shee had led an incontinent life murdered the King her former Husband and practised tyranny in violating the Lawes and ancient priuiledges of their Country especially those which De R. and De Oisel had enacted in the King of France his name and her owne Finally through feare of death and without euer hearing her answers they forced her to seale three Patents the first of which contained that shee assigned the gouernement ouer to her Sonne who was scarcely thirteene moneths old the second comprehending how shee constituted Earle Murray to be Vice-Roy during her Sonnes minority and the third implyed that in case Murray refused this charge shee ordayned for Rectors and Protectors of her Sonne the Duke of Chastelraut and the Earles of Lenox Arguile Athol Morton Glencarne and Mar But then shee presently certified the Queene of England by Throgmorton how shee had surrendred the gouernement of the Kingdome by compulsion and against her will subscribed to the Patent thereof by Throgmortons perswasion who informed her that any Grant extorted from her during imprisonment which causeth a iust and true feare was inualidious and of no effect But I will relate these things more at large in the yeere ensuing according as they may be faithfully extracted out of the Accusations and Answers of parties which were propounded at Yorke before the Commissioners to whom the absolute determination of this businesse was referred Fiue dayes after this Resignation or Grant IAMES Sonne to the Queene was consecrated and crowned King Iohn Knox then preaching publiquely after the Hamiltons had protested how it was without any manner of preiudice to the Duke of Chastelraut in the right of Succession against the Family of Lenox But Queene ELIZABETH forbade Throgmorton to be present hereat to the end that by the presentiall assistance of her Ambassadour shee might not seeme to approue this vniust deposition of the Queene Twenty dayes after Murray returned out of France into Scotland where hauing remained onely three dayes he went to the Queene with certaine of the Conspirators in his company he obiected vnto her many crimes and like a religious Confessor layd open vnto her many demonstrations to moue her to conuert vnto God with true repentance and to implore his mercy Shee shewed her selfe penitent for the sinnes of her life past confest part of them obiected to her extenuated some and excused others out of humane fragility and weakenesse but absolutely denyed the greater part entreated him to assume the mannaging of affaires vnder her Sonne and coniured him to be tender of her reputation and life Whereunto he made answer how this lay not in his power but shee must sue for it from the Estates of the Kingdome perswading her notwithstanding to obserue these things if she regarded either her life or honour That she should not disturbe either the peace of the King or Kingdome not to attempt the breaking of her imprisonment no wayes to excite the King of France or Queene of England to any domesticall or externall Warre no more to affect Bothwell and neuer to seeke any reuenge against them that were his enemies So soone as he was proclaimed Vice-Roy or
Rosse was likewise examined and Ridolph that Florentine Councellor of whom both hee and others made familiar and common vse committed in keeping to Sir Francis Walsingham the Earle of Pembroke commanded to betake himselfe to his House and reserued to a priuate examination But by reason of his Nobility and old age it was agreed that by reason himselfe could not write his Confession should not be taken in writing After this some great men were prohibited the Court as Complices who exhibited their petitions and demanded pardon when they had acknowledged that they were consenting with the Duke to this marriage which Murray had formerly propounded yet after such a manner as the Queene of Scots the Duke and all the others were aduertized how the matter was first imparted to the Queenes Maiestie of England before any treatie of it The Earles of Northumberland and Westmerland being Confederates in this dessigne made in like manner their submissions to the Earle of Sussex then Gouernour in the North parts whom they intreated to sollicite the Queene for them Many Libels were in like manner dispersed against this marriage the Queene of Scots and the right and title whereby she layde claime to the Crowne of England as next heire apparant with such shamelesse insolency as the Queene resolued to send out prohibitions by a seuere Proclamation to the contrary and playing at hood-winke with the Bishop of Rosse she appointed him to answere them as hee did by another Booke intituled Morgan Philips wherein hee maintained the honour of the Queene of Scots her right of succession and that the Kingdome might be swayed and gouerned by women as this poynt was also called in question But since he ingeniously confest in his Commentaries that his reasons he set downe about her right of succession he drew out of Sir Anthony Brownes bookes chiefe Iustice of the common Pleas and of Carrell both very vnderstanding Gentlemen in the common Lawes of England In those daies there came from the Duke of Alua Chapin Vitelli Marquis of Ceton with Letters from the Spaniard who seemed to haue cleane loft his writing vnder pretext to accord some differences about commerce but really to obserue the issue of this rebellion which was presently to be raised and to command the Souldiers priuily to march downe into Flanders according to the Duke of Alua's promise who likewise sent for his fore-runner Le Mot Gouernour of Dunkerke apparelled like a Mariner that he might the better discouer and found the Ports as himselfe since hath auerred But when it appeared how this Marquis was onely substituted by the Duke of Alua who was the principall partie himselfe wherein the other was but a meere Lieutenant a doubt was made whether they should treatie with him as an Ambassadour Notwithstanding all this the Queenes Maiestie made knowne that she would acknowledge him for the Ambassadour of Spaine But when he made shew of no further Commission than to re-demand some moneys detained the Queene affecting peace aduised him to procure a larger Commission for the ordering of affaires while hee stayd and attended the same the rumor of that Rebellion to be excited in the North Countrey was daily augmented To relate the matter more originally there ran a great fame and brute of this Rebellion about the beginning of Autumne which at the first being contemned it presently strengthned and encreased by reason of the frequent meetings of the Earles of Northumberland Westmerland and some others so that the Earle of Sussex then Gouernour and Deputie of the North cited them before him and interrogated them precisely about these reports and rumors They could not deny but they had heard of it marry so they were in no wise guiltie or culpable with many and deepe protestations offering to lose their liues in the Queenes seruice against any Rebels whatsoeuer and thus he sent them backe to their owne houses with authoritie to enquire and search out the authors of this report which neuerthelesse daily so augmented as her Maiestie conceiuing that nothing was rashly to bee credited of so great men so commanded them by the Lord of Sussex to repaire presently to London for the remouing of all suspition Notwithstanding my Lord of Sussex I know not for what drift or policy enioyned them to come and meet him as if he meant to consult with them about some occasions of that Prouince At the first they drew backe but presently after expresly refused to repaire thither This ministred occasion to the Queenes Maiestie to command them by peremptory Letters which shee writ and caused to be conueyed with all expedition that laying apart all delayes and excuses they should incontinently appeare in her Royall presence and this onely to terrifie and absolutely diuert them from entring into this Rebellion or at least that they might precipitantly vndertake the same before they rallied their forces or that the matter grew to any maturitie For they relyed vpon some secret succours which the Scots Leaguers and the Duke of Alua were to land at the Port of Herripoole within the Bishopricke of Dunelme as afterwards it was manifested So soone as the Earle of Northumberland had read these Letters being of a tractable nature guiltie in his owne conscience deepely affected to the Romane Religion and excited to choller by reason that out of the prerogatiue Royall in Mynes a rich Copper Myne found in his owne grounds was taken from him wherein hee thought himselfe to be wronged but neuerthelesse fed with notable hopes of the Queenes clemency hee was in a wonderfull perplexitie whether he should flye or openly rebell His Friends and seruants being now prepared for a reuolt and seeing him floating in these ambiguities came vpon him a certaine night on a suddaine and headlongly and continually beating into his eares how Oswell Vlstrop and Vaughan his enemies were arriued with a troupe of armed men ready to take him prisoner they vrged entreated and coniured him that he would not forsake himselfe his friends and the Religion of his fore-fathers assuring him how the Catholiques were then in armes all England ouer to re-establish the Romane Religion and to stirre vp the multitude they tumultuarily sounded a Larum bell in all the Countrie Townes and Villages though 't was not yet time to attempt any such matter Affrighted hee presently start out of his Bed in the Chamber retyred to a Gallerie which looked into a Parke neere to Topcliffe and the night following he went to Blanspeth to the Earle of Westmerlands House where many were assembled who knew not what the matter was For to amasse and draw together an ignorant multitude they commanded some to take vp armes for the Queenes defence others were made beleeue that all the great men of England conspired with them to re-erect the Romane Religion othersome they told how they were enforced to take vp armes for preuention that the ancient Nobility of England might not be trampled vnder foot by late
start-ups and their Countrey yeelded as a prey to strangers This carried them violently into a manifest Rebellion and they were the first who disturbed the publique peace of this Kingdome which had continued vnshaken for the terme of eleuen yeeres vnder the happy Reigne of Queene ELIZABETH they being boldly and powerfully incited hereunto by Nicholas Morton a Priest sent from the Pope to denounce Queene ELIZABETH for an Heretike and therefore depriued of all power and gouernement Suddenly likewise they diuulge by a publique Manifestation That they tooke vp armes to no other end but to set vp againe the Religion of their Ancestors to remoue from about the Queenes bad Councellors to restore the Duke and some other great Men who were dismissed of their places and dignities to former libertie and grace But as for the Queenes Maiestie they would attempt nothing against her but vowed that both then and at all times they would perseuer and continue her most obedient Subiects They writ also to the Papists dispersed throughout the whole Kingdome to ioyne their forces together But in stead of cohering to them the most part sent to the Queene both their Letters and the Bearers All the particular men of the Kingdome and the Duke of Norfolke himselfe both their seruice and meanes and to be employed against them So that vpon this occasion shee made a iust triall of her Subiects singular and vnspotted fidelitie and of Gods rare clemency and protection for which shee gaue him great and vnfaigned thankes The Rebels went presently to Durham the next Episcopall See where they rent and trampled vnder foot the sacred Bibles and Bookes of the Liturgie written in the English Tongue as they light vpon them in the Churches Afterwards they celebrated Masse wheresoere they went they leuied and brought into the field many men vnder flying colours wherein were painted in some the fiue wounds of our Lord in others the Challice of the Eucharist Robert Norton a venerable and graue Gentleman who was old and bald carried the Crosse with the Colonell ensigne they came by small dayes marches to Chiffordmore which is not farre from Wetherbie where making a generall muster of their Army vpon the two and twentieth day of their Rebellion they could make no more but sixe hundred Horse and foure thousand foot and when they heard that the Queene of Scots for whose releasement out of imprisoment they had principally taken vp armes was conducted from Tudberie to Couentrey a strong Citie and committed to the guard and custodie of the Earles of Shrewsburie and Huntington that the Earle of Sussex of the one side of them had raised a mightie Armie to set vpon them that Sir George Bowes lay at their backes with chosen and maine troupes and had fortified Bernard-Castell and how the Earle of Cumberland and the Lord Scrope had manned and secured Carlile and dayly leuied more forces they retired from those quarters and returning speedily in a manner the same way they came they came before Rabie which is the principall house and seate of the Earles of Westmerland from whence departing they straitly beleaguerd Bernard Castle which in a short time yeelded to them for want of prouision victuall all and Sir George Bowes with Robert Bowes his brother and all the Souldiers of the Garison issued out with their Armes They were formerly proclaimed Traitors by sound of Trumpet The same very day my Lord of Sussex accompanied with the Earle of Rutland the Lords of Hunsdon Euers and Willowbie of Parham marched against them with seuen thousand men When they saw they were come to Ackland being terrified and daunted they fell to flight and fell backe toward Hexham which place also leauing speedily they crossed along by vnbeaten paths that so they might creepe couertly vnder the hedges and came to the Castle of Naworth where vnderstanding that the Earle of Warwicke and the Lord Clynton Vice-Admirall followed close at their heeles with twelue thousand men drawne out of the South parts of England the two Earles fled into the neerest parts of Scotland with a few men vnknowne to the rest where the Earle of Northumberland obscured himselfe for a while about Harclaw in the little countrey Hamlets amongst the Grymes most notable Theeues who deliuered him afterwards into the Earle of Murray's hands The Earle of Westmerland found some meanes to hide himselfe about Carry Furnhurst and Bucklie and at last scapt into Flanders with some other English in his company where he liu'd a long but a poore life vpon a small Pension which the King of Spaine allowed him The rest saued themselues some by flight some by lurking in holes and dennes For example and terrour sixe inferiour Magistrates were hanged at Durham and others among which one Plumtree a Priest was a man of greatest note There were formerly executed at Yorke Digbie Falthrope Bishop and Pouenham And certaine moneths after Christopher and Thomas Nortons brethren were put to death at London and some others in other places After this the most apparāt notable Rebels were condemned of high Treason and banisht as namely the Earles of North. Westm the Countesse of North. the Daughter to the Earle of Wigorne Edward Dacres of Morton Iohn Neuill of Leuerserg Io. Swineborne Tho. Marquenfield Egre. Ratcliffe brother to the Earle of Sussex Char. Neuill Ro. Norton of Nortonconniers Christ Marmaduke and Thomas of the Family of the Nortons Ro. and Na. Tempests George Stafford and about some fortie others of Noble and worthie Houses whose conuiction and banishment was confirmed by the whole house of Parliament and pardon granted to some who had no Estates nor euer went out of the Kingdome And thus the flame of this Rebellion was in a short time quencht Chiapine Vitelli who was priuie to it as I told you before openly admiring the same in the presence of her Maiestie and many great men of the Kingdome but no doubt inwardly greeuing this Rebellion was so easily and suddenly supprest and that so his owne comming into England tooke so little effect From the combustions of this Rebellion thus couered and extinguisht as out of the ashes of that former fire a little flame began to kindle at Naworth in Cumberland neere to the Valley of Seuerus which was raised by Lau. Dacres second sonne to Geor. Lord Dacres of Gilesland This man after the death of the young Lord Dacres his Nephew because he was the sonne of his elder Brother being angry that so large a Patrimonie should by Law discend vnto his Neeces whom the Duke of Norfolke their Father in law had betrothed to his three sonnes hee commenced suite against them but perceiuing that it would come to no prosperous issue on his side hee secretly combin'd with the Rebels and attempted to carry away the Queene of Scots but all in vaine But the Rebels being defeated sooner then he expected and proclaimed Traitors openly whilest himselfe