bidding him remember how Becket dyed for the Church and writes to the Bishops of London Ely and Worcester to interdict the whole Kingdom if they found the King c Contumacem Rebellâ—m disobedient and rebellious They acquaint the King with this Mandate who is willing to condescend with the Salvo's d Prâ—ns Hist of Popes intol uâ—uâ—pat boâ—k 3. c. 1. p. 251. that his rights liberties and dignities may not be violated But the Bishops would allow none of these conditions and yet we must think it hard that Becket might not have the liberty of Salvo's which provoked the King so much thus to be trod upon by his own subjects that he swore per dentes Domini that if they or any other of his subjects should presume to interdict his Dominions he would send them with the rest of their fraternity to their friend the Pope and confiscate their goods and so warn'd them from his presence Stephen Langton had in England a Brother call'd Simon who also came in the presence of the Bishops to desire the admittance of his brother to Canterbury to whom the King proffer'd to do so e Pryn p. 252 saving only his right and dignity But no sooner began the King to mention this Salvo but Simon replyed in an insolent manner He would do nought for the King therein unless he would wholly refer himself into his hands without any such saving The Bishops seeing the King would not dance after their pipe without fear or wit interdict the whole Kingdom which continued almost six years by which means there was no use of divine service only Christening of Children and giving the Sacrament to the dying insomuch that the Church-doors were shut up some say wall'd up and the bodies of the dead carried out into the fields and thrown into ditches or high-ways like f Corpora defunctorum decivitatibus villis â—fferebantur mora canum in bivâ—is fossatis sine orationibus sacerâ—oâ—â—n ministerio sepeliebaâ—tur Paris p 226. Dogs without any prayers or Christian offices An excellent sign of the meekness and charity of him that glories to be Christs Vicar to unchristen as I may say a whole Kingdom for one mans fault supposing him an offender though the case being truly stated the contrary will appear or at least not meriting so grand a punishment For if the Pope hath power to nominate to all Bishopricks he must have it either by divine right and so unalterable and therefore the now Roman Catholick Kings who deny such power are guilty and the Popes too for allowing or winking at it or by the Kings concessions which is of no validity no Monarch having authority to transfer his Prerogatives to a forraign power and if they doe so of no force to bind their successors besides story tells us that a little before this the Bishops of England rejected the designs of the Bishop of St. Davids meerly because he was elected at g â—â—rus Hist of Popes usurpat l. â— c. 1. p. 236. Rome whereby we may judge Pope Innocent to have been more faulty and extravagant than King John The Bishops aforesaid perceiving to what inconveniency and danger being Subjects they had run themselves into by opposing their Soveraign in behalf of a Forreign Power stole out of the Kingdom Excommunicating those who obey'd the King The King seeing himself and Nation thus trampled upon seized upon all the Church-mens Lands that obey'd this Interdiction and refused to celebrate Divine-Service yet was so favourable as to allow the Dissenters and Rebels to sell their Corn for their better provisions And the white Monks in obedience to God the King and their Duty continuing to say Divine-Service for the benefit of Christian people were again suspended by the Pope and for their compliance to their duty they were not after allowed the same Priviledge as others who right or wrong obeyed the Pope and his Forreign Authority The King weary of these troubles was willing to comply with 121â— the admission of Langton and the restauration of others whom he had exiled for their disobedience But give a little take an Ell if he condescended so far they doubted not to make him grant more and therefore they would have him refund the Treasures of the vacant Churches by reason of the banishment of the turbulent spirits This he refus'd as an impossibility having imploy'd them for the security of his Dominions in these tulbulent times Being not satisfied in this trifle they scorn to agree with him which made many leave their Flocks here and go beyond Seas to the Kings Enemies Upon which the King wisely and bravely by Proclamation orders all to return to their respective Churches by such a day or to forfeit their incomes and that all should be seiz'd upon who brought any Order or Bull from the Pope into his Dominions for that time knowing such things could then bring no peace to him or his Kingdom The Pope seeing King John stand so resolutely for his Prerogative year 1212 and Freedom of his Subjects from Forreign yoaks goeth to his last refuge pulls out his Nut-cracker and Louse-trap by which he deprives the King of his Dominions absolves his Subjects from their Allegiance curseth all those who take the Kings part And because this of it self hath no more power then a Dogs barking over the Moon he sends to the King of France Pâ—â—is p. â—31 desiring him to seize upon the Kingdom of England for he liberal man had given it to him and his Heirs he might as well have given the Moon and to carry this the more clearly he commanded all the Nobles Knights and other Warriors in several Countries to assist the King of France and cross themselvâ—s a Military Badge appointed for those who went against the Infidels in the Holy-land for this enterprise and they need not doubt of a reward he having order'd that their souls in this warfare shall have the same benefit as those who visit the sacred Sepulchre which we may suppose to be no less than the a In remissionem suoâ—um peccaminum Pari p. 233 238. Paris p. 232. â—ryn p. 266. pardon of all their sins And the better to withdraw Englishmen observed to be apt to give credit to tatling Prophecies from their obedience they had thrust up one b Peter of Prontfract Stow. p. 169. Peter Wakefield of Poiz to Prophesie the death or downfal of the King by such a day to which a great many idle people gave too much credit but being found a false cheating knave according to his deserts he was hang'd The King to preserve himself and people from the French had year 1213 got to the Sea-Coasts a mighty Army and Navy but a composition hindred their action For Pandolphus who had been in England once before the Popes Legate landed at Dover tells King John with what a great force the French were coming against him with whom joyn'd many of the
of Hungary what dissentions Bzov. 1327. Spond 1330 and broyls that Kingdom was troubled withal by the Popes intermedling with their affairs betwixt whom and the Natives there was no small strife whether they or he should nominate the King What great danger their King Charles I. was in by the treason of one Felicianus who entred the Presence-Chamber draweth his Sword wounds the King cuts off four of the Queens fingers and if he had not been slain by Johannes Palochus had designed to have murdred the King Queen and their Children And from him might I go to Charles II who Lewes I. dying and leaving his Eldest Daughter Mary for Queen by the instigation of some Nobles cometh from Naples and thrust her from the Throne Nor did his injoy this honour long for Elizabeth the Widow of Lewes and Mother to Mary takes her opportunity and invites him to a private meeting where he was slain or poysoned in revenge of which Johannes Banus de Horvath hath the Heads of the Assassinates cut off and Elizabeth drowned in the next River and had proceeded against Mary too but that he was terrified by the approach of Sigismond Marquess of Brandeberg her Husband with a great Army to her relief Which Sigismund was then made King of Hungary and was after that Emperour of Germany CHAP. V. 1. The deposing and Murther of Edward the Second King of England 2. The deposing and death of King Richard the Second 3. The grand dispute and troubles amongst the Cordeliers concerning the trifling and childish Questions of the largeness of their Capuchin or Hood and the usage and right of the Bread and meat which they eat Sect. 1. The Deposing and Murther of Edward the Second King of England BUt leaving these mischiefs abroad if we look at home we shall not finde England better or more Christian yet as much Roman Catholick as their Neighbours Here now ruleth Edward II sirnamed of Carnarvan in Wales the place of his birth and son to Edward I. A Prince too apt to be abused by his self-ended Courtiers and as the Nation thought too much complying to the Dictates of the Spencers by which means he obtain'd the displeasure of some of the people and which was more several of the Bishops turn'd his Enemies but which was most of all his own Queen Isabel Daughter to Philip le Bel King of France was his greatest Enemy and made it her whole business to procure his deposition and ruine And to make the way more easie for this their wicked design they had spread abroad that Pope John XXII had a Bzov. an 1326. § 10. Spond § 3. absolved all the English of their Allegiance to their King Edward A brave World and Faith that people should be so Antichristian as to think the Pope had really any such power but when the Bishops of Rome had the Impudence to affirm as much well might the simple people be gull'd and cheated by such Popes and such a faith to any Villany or Rebellion The Nation thus abused the King was not able to defend himself whereupon the Queen and the rest march boldly to Oxford where Adam de Orlton Bishop of Hereford preacheth to them a Comfortable but wicked Sermon taking this for his Text My head grieveth me From which words he declared to them that a bad King ought to be removed though by the same rule his head ought to be cut off for aking From thence they marched to London where they were joyfully received and a Parliament being held King Edward II is judged unfit for the rule and so declared deposed and his Eldest Son Edward III the Father being at last forced to consent made King the Archbishop of Canterbury making a Sermon as bad as the former from these words Vox Populi vox Dei When the King had thus been forced to resign being a close Prisoner some Lords and others being sent down to him at Kenilworth Castle to procure his resignation S. William Trussel Knight and Speaker to the Parliament thus bespake the King I William Trussel in name of all men of the Lond of Englond Trevâ—sa 17. cap. 43. and of alle the Parlement Procuratour I resigne to the Edwarde the homage that was made to the somtyme And from this time forthward I dyffye the and a Deprive pryve the of all Royal Power and I shall never be tendaunt to the as for Kynge ofter this time And then Sir Thomas Blunt Steward of the Kings Houshold brake his white Rod resigned his Office and thereby signified that the Kings Houshold had free liberty to depart and serve Edward no more King Edward II being thus deprived of his Dominions Isabel Tho. de la Moore Hist de vita Morâ—e Eaw II. Jo Stow's Chron. Galfrid le Bakâ—r de Swynabroke câ—er de vâ— a morte Regum Edwardorum I. II. fol. 107. Manuscript Cod. XL super A. B. Aâ—t in Bibl. Bodl. Oxon. his Queen who is thought to hate him mortally thinks he is too well used at Kenilworth Castle by Henry Earl of Leicester his Kinsman and therefore with the advice of the Bishop of Hereford he is thence removed and delivered to the custody of Sir Thomas Gurney and Sir John Maltravers his mortal Enemies who convey him to Corf-Castle thence to Bristol and so to Barkly Castle In which private journeys the King indured all manner of ignominy and scorn by these two villanous Knights as they made him ride bare-headed would scarce allow him any sleep or victuals and contradicted and cross'd him in every thing One time Gurney made him a Crown of Hay and put it on his Head and crying with the rest Tprut avant Syr King and Fare forth Syr King i e. go on Another time they would shave as well the hair of his head as his Beard for which purpose they made him light from his jaded Horse set him on a Mole-hill took water out of a Ditch close by saying that should serve for that time which so overwhelmed the King with grief that he told them That would they nould they he would have warm water for his head and so at their inhumanity began to weep and shed tears plentifully And when he was a Prisoner in Barkly Castle they used him much after the same way though Thomas Barkley then Lord of the place greatly pittyed his sad condition wishing it in his power to redress it At last Queen Isabel and her sure friend in mischief Adam de Orlton upon advice thought it best to have him taken out of the world whereupon they chid his keepers for keeping him so delicately and gave hints enough to discover their meaning but the most cunning of all was the direction which the crafty Bishop of Hereford sent down to them in these words Edwardum occidere nolite timere bonum est To kill Edward will not to fear it is good Or thus rendred into verse by Stow To seek to shed King
ours here That I may testifie by this present the affection that I have to the Weal of the one and the other having ever before my conversion been one of the number of your friends and servants for the respect of the last to the which the first of Religion which is the greatest and most important that is in the world being joyned thereto I am also become altogether yours which I most humblie beseech your Highness cause to be signified to his Catholick Majestie and to promise him in my behalf that he hath not in this Countrie a more affectionate servant then I neither yet your Highness as you shall understand more amply of my intention in particular by him by whom your Highness shall receive this present To whom after I have most humbly kist your hand I beseech the Creator to give you the accomplishment of your holy desires Your Highness most humble and most affectionate Servant Francis Earl of Errol From Edinbrough this XXIV of January M D LXXXIX At the same time the foresaid Mr. Robert Bruce the chief Agent writ to Francisco Aguirre a Spaniard then at Antwerp telling him that when he is again sent into Scotland Cause your self to be set on land near Seaton where I pray you to enter secretly and there you shall be kept till I come and finde you c. The following part of this Letter was writ in such cunning and obscure terms that they could not understand it We formerly heard of the imprisonment of some Lords for their Rebellion and now the King thinking for ever to make them his by his grace and favour releaseth them all freely onely Morton enter'd bond of an hundred thousand pound Scotch not to practice any more against him or Religion But in most the King found himself mistaken For William Creichton the Jesuite being forced to leave Scotlâ—nd year 1590 gets into Spain where he becomes Agent for the Old Cause Hath several consultations with King Philip how to advance the business and having brought all things to a fair pass sends Mr. William Gordoun son to the Laird of Abiryeldie with Letters to Mr. a He dyed at Paris 1620 aged 77 years he writ Controversiarum Christianae fidei Epitomen 1591. James Gordoun a Jesuit and brother on the Fathers side to George Earl of Huntley whereby he gave him and the Romanists in Scotland to understand what pains he had taken with the Spanish King and that the said King had confess'd to him that he had been deceived by the English and so would for the future follow the way and advice given him by the said Creichton both for the invading of England and the alteration of Religion in Scotland And the better to carry all on the said Creichton desired as many Blanks and Procurations as could be had of the Scotch Noblemen for the greater credit and assurance of his dealings and agitations At this the Romanists take heart and not to seem wanting on their parts they deal with some of the Nobility from whom they get Blanks subscribed two of which were procured of them by Sir James Chesholme one of the Kings chief Servants one of them year 1592 was thus subscribed in French De vostre Majestie tres humble tres obeisant Serviteur Guiliame Compte de Anguss Another thus subscribed De vostre Majestie tres humble tres obeisant Serviteur Franzoys Compte de Errol Other two Blanks were procured of them in Latine by Robert Abircrumby the Jesuite one of the main sticklers in these plots Thus Guilielmus Angusie Comes Another thus Franciscus Errollie Comes Other two Blanks were procured by Mr. George Ker brother to the Lord Newbottle thus subscribed Georgius Comes de Huntlie All these several Blanks should have been fill'd up and supplyed by way of Letters to the King of Spain and Credentials or Certificâ—â—â—s in behalf of the said Creichton at the discretion of the â—â—â—d Creichton and a There was one Jâ—mes Tyâ—ie a Scotch Jeâ—â—iâ—e wâ—o dyâ—â— at Râ—me 1597 and wâ—it under the nâ—â—e oâ— Gâ—â—â—g◠〈…〉 de Anâ—â—â—â—itaâ—e Eâ—cles Sâ—â—tiâ— buâ— whether this was the same Tâ—rie I know 〈◊〉 James Tyrie who should have writ over them what he thought most fit to carry on the Caâ—se Besides these there were two other Blanks thus subscribed in the midst of two open sheets of Paper Guillielmus Angussie Comes Georgius Comes de Huntlie Franciscus Errollie Comes b This â—â— Patrâ—â—k â—â—dâ—n 〈…〉 of 〈…〉 was Unâ—â—â—â— the â— â—oâ— Hanâ—â—â— Patricius Gordoun de Auchindoun Miles One of these two last Blanks should have been fill'd up with Procurations and whatsoever the said Creichton and James Tyrie should think fit for the confirmation of that which Mr. George Ker who was to carry them had in direction and credit from the Subscriberâ— The other to contain the Articles to be concluded on â—or the better security both of King Philip and the Scotch Nobility The sum of which credit was an assurance that these Noblemen should raise a power of Horse-men and meet the Spanish Army at their landing and to assist and accompany them into England And for farther encouragement these c Subscribers took the burthen on them and engaged that all the Romanists in Scotland would joyn and assist in the said Cause Besides these Subscriptions the Earls of Anguss Huntlie and Arrol deliver'd their Seals or Coats of Armes in wax for a further confirmation Nor did they doubt of carrying all before them the King of Spain having promis'd to send them by the latter end of Spring 1592 an Army of thirty thousand men to have landed either at Kirkudbricht in Galloway or at the mouth of Clyde according as the wind served And besides this to send good store of money to raise Forces in Scotland and to supply the said Army whereof a In this I follow the Scotch Copies of the Examinâ—tions but Archbishop Spotswood hath 15000. pag. 390. which I suppose to be a mistake in the Printer four or five thousand should remain within Scotland who with the assistance of the Romanists there should alter the Religion and the rest of the Army was to pass into England For the carrying of these Blanks and some Letters into Spain they had once concluded that Sir James Chesholme one of King James his chief Servants should be the Messenger being through-paced for the Cause he having then occasion to pass over to his Uncle William Chesholme by them call'd Bishop of Dumblane but the said Sir James being let by some private business that he could not be ready soon enough they pitch'd upon the foresaid Mr. George Ker Doctor of the Laws brother to the Lord Newbottle But he was b Decemb. 27. 1592. he was taken by Mr. Andrew Knox Minister of Pasley and afterwards Bishop of the Isles Ker was imprisoned but afterwards escaped apprehended as he was taking Ship and his blanks and other Letters seiz'd on some of which Letters take as followeth
at Tornay Bruges and Dunkirk from which place it was boldly taken down by one William Locke a Mercer of London They were also posted up at Bolloigne and Diepe in France and St. Andrews in Scotland And so liberal was his Holyness that by a Breve he freely offers England to James V King of the Scots promising to assist him in the gaining of it and for a further incouragement by his Legat Giovanni-Antonio Compeggio presented him with many Ceremonies and Apostolical Benediction a Cap and a Sword newly before Consecrated on Christmas night But for all this sturdy King Harry who above all things hated a bassle kept his Crown Kingdom and Authority the Paper not putting him to the tenth part of trouble if it were any at all to him as some Northern Rebels did who being fob'd up that year 1537 Christ and his Religion were now a throwing down sell to Arm themselves with what Weapons they could get In Lincolnshire their number was supposed to be about twenty thousand who at last growing jealous one of another dispers'd themselves some being after taken and executed amongst whom was their Ring-reader being a stuâ—die Monk call'd Doctor Makerel though in this expedition he nominated himself Captain Cobler Yet no sooner is this stisled when another and that more terrible began in York shire and the other Northern Counties their strength supposed to be about forty thousand formed into a complâ—at Army not wanting a Train of Artillery They call'd their March The holy and blessed Pilgrimage and the Pilgrimage of Grace On the one side of their Bannerâ— was painted Christ hanging on the Cross On the other a Chalice with the Wafer in it The Souldiers upon their sleeves had represented the five Wounds of Christ and in the midst the name of Jesus And thus are they thought to be brave Roman Blades by a De Schiâ—m lib 1. pag. 155. Nicholas Sanders who would thus take up Arms for their Religion But for all this their designes came to nothing being perswaded upon better advice to creep home again which troubled Sanders so much that he cannot think on this opportunity without accusâ—â—g the King of Perjury and Knavery As for King Henry VIII it fareth with him as with other Princes most speaking of him as their interest lay being honour'd by some with as great Commendations as Fancie or Flattery could reach whilst by others he was look'd upon as the worst of Tyrants and loaded with all the Reproaches and Infamies that Satyr or Malice could invent for as the worst of Kings and Actions will never want Flatterers and admirers so the best will never escape the slanders of the envious The truth is though he was Learned above the custom of Princes yet if ever any man had his faults our Henry had his share to the purpose his Will being both Law and Reason as far as his Dominions reacht and to contradict his humour was little less then to be next door to another world and which might make him worse was that amongst all his Favourites and Courtiers there was scarce any but either Knave or Flatterer if not both since 't is hard to separate them So that in many things where that King did amiss whether he acted them by his own inclinations and judgement or by the suggestions and instigations of his griping and base-soul'd Courtiers and Minions shall be left to every ones opinion nor is it much material where the fault should be laid being both so guilty Yet this is certain that when he followed his own proper Genius viz. Martial exploits none came off with greater glory then himself for his personal Acts and Valour And the whole Kingdom is beholden unto him for the great Fame and Renown she gain'd abroad by her Victories and Warlike Atchievements under his conduct And what cannot Englishmen do under an Active and Martial Prince But in brief I shall not undertake to quit him from that short but comprehensive Character given him of old viz. That he never spared man in his Anger nor woman in his Lust As Henry VIII was no sooner set in the Throne but a In his English Traâ—slation of Dr. Sebastian Brant's Stultiferâ— Navis fol 205 206. Alexander Barklay endeavoured to declare his Renown and Vertues so no sooner was he dead but one William Thomas undertook his Apology This Thomas as himself words it being constrain'd by misfortune to abandon the place of his Nativity meets after the said Kings death several Gentlemen at Bologna in Italy against whom he enters into discourse in the Month of b 1546 7. February in which Month the King was buryed at Windsore in Defence of that Noble Prince whose honour had been wrongfully toucht as he expresseth it which he draweth up into a Treatise by way of a Dialogue which he directed to Pietro Aretino the well known Tuscan Poet as famous for his Satyrical Wit as infamous for his life and death This he did he saith the better to inform the said Aretine of the Kings worth telling him also that the King Hath remembred thee with an honourable Legacie by his Testament the which his Enemies pretend proceeded of the fear that he had lest thou shouldst after his death defame him But certain I am that the King in his Will and Testament maketh no mention of this Poet so in this Mr. Thomas was misinformed a thing of no great wonder And that the King stood in any fear of Aretines writing against him or that Aretine intended to write of him I cannot say but true it is that though this Florentine was no great Clerk yet in his Mothers Tongue he laid so about him and with that rage and fury that he was stil'd the Scourge of Princes and his Epitaph in St. Lukes Church in Venice will further tell the Temper of the Fellow in Italian I meet with it thus Qui giace l' Aretin Pâ—eta Tosco Chi disse mal d'Ognun fuor chedi Dio Scusandosi dicendo n'il conobbi But I think it is more true and Authentick thus in Latiue Condit Aretini cineres lapis iste sepultos Phil. Labbe Thesaurus Eâ—â—â—aph Fran. Sweetâ— select delit pag. 156. Mortales atro qui sale perfricuit Intactus Deus est illi causamque rogatus Hanc dedit ille inquit non mihi notus erat Here th' Poet Aretine Intomb'd doth lye Who ' gainst all let his spiteful Pasquins fly But God escap'd him and why being ask'd fro' him Thus clear'd himself 'T was cause I did not know him But d Orat. contra Aretinum Joachimus Perionius will assure us that he neither spared the Apostles Christ or God himself As some call'd him the Scourge of Princes so others intitled him the Divine both which a Venetia descritta Sansovino tells us Ariosto thus mentioneth in his Orlando Furioso Ecco il Flagello De Principi il Divin Pietro Aretino But as for the Title of Divine or Penitent I see little reason
King hath not behaved himself according to his duty for he hath accommodated himself in his behaviour more of the affection of our a a Sâ—r Jâ—hn Maitland Chancellor who is of the faction of England and abuseth the credit he hath with the King then according to the instructions given him He hath not presented nor made mention to the King of Colonel Simpills letter whereof I have caused the Copy to be presented to his Majesty by the Earl Bothwell as if it had been sent to him with another of the said Colonels to himself which he received from Thomas Tyrie at his arrival who hath reported to the said Chancellor as that Seigneur Don b b Dâ—n Bernardino de Mendâ—za the Spanish Ambassador in France to carry on the Spanish interest and League against the French King Bernardino spake to him in Paris to the disadvantage of the Chancellor Also he hath reported to the King that my Lord c c He means Mr William Chesholme Uncle to Sir Jameâ— and Mr. John Bishop of Dumblane being returned thither spake to your Highness and to others many things to the great prejudice of his d d The King Highness And it is believed also that he is the cause of the suspition which was conceived of the coming of the said John Chesholme newly to the said Bishop However it be the other reports aforesaid which he hath made have not served to conciliate but to alienate the affection of the King of the Chancellor and many other Hereticks from the said Seigneur Don Bernardino the said Bishop and Catholicks here that have to do with them As for my self although I speak not willingly to the disadvantage of any whatsoever chiefly of them whom I have recommended as I did the said Thomas Tyrie to the said Don Bernardino yet I will prefer the love of the truth to men and would not by concealing thereof bring prejudice to the common good nor to the fidelity that the one oweth to the other and especialy to that we owe all to the King of Spain and your Highness to whom I am presently servant particularly addicted by the obligation of five hundred Crowns of e e The Scotch calls it 500 Crowns of â—eâ—il fee and forty for monthly entertainment which it hath pleas'd your Highness to give me freely in the name of the King of Spain not being required for my part nor other thing for my particular to this present By reason whereof I am the more bound to give your Highness most humble thanks and to endeavour my self to deserve by my most humble and faithfal service as well the said entertainment as the recompence it hath pleas'd your Highness to promise me of your grace and favour The said gift of your liberality came well for my purpose seeing by reason of the danger of my person it behooved me to augment my ordinary train for my greater surety which I was not able longer to have born out without help For from all the Lords of Scotland I have not retain'd but a part onely of the money which I spent travelling for the advancement of this Cause in Spain with his Catholick Majesty and with your Highness in the Low-Countries As for the four hundred Crowns imploy'd for the deliverance of Colonel Simpill out of prison I have put it in Count with the residue which I disbursed of the first sum according as it hath pleas'd your Highness to command me The Earl of Morton to whom I have given consolation by writing in prison hath instantly prayâ—d me also by writing to remember his most affectionate care to your Highness finding himself greatly honour'd by the care it pleas'd you to have of him By the grace of God he is no more in danger of his life by way of Justice it being impossible for his enemies to prove against him any thing which they had supposed in his accusation as also the Kings affection not so far alienate from him as it hath been heretofore And in case he were in danger or that it were requisite for the good of our Cause presently to deliver him we can at any time get him out of prison However in the mean time we wait the Kings pleasure towards his liberty oâ—â—ly to avoid all pursuit that they would make if we deliver him by extraordinary means When in the Kings Name they offer'd him his liberty if he would subscribe the Confession of the Hereticks faith he answered He would not do it for the Kings Crown nor for an hundred thousand lives if he had them to loose and hath offer'd to confound the Ministers by publick disputation I shall sollicite the Lords his friends to procure of the King his liberty very soon for he imports more to the good of our Cause then any of the rest by reason of his Forces which are near England and the principal Town of Scotland and the ordinary Residence of our King as also he is a Lord the most resolute constant and of greatest execution of any of the Catholicks It is no small marvel considering the means the Hereticks have to hurt us and their worldly wits so far passing ours and their evil will and intention against us that me subsist Truely we cannot but attribute the effect thereof to God who when the certain news of the returning of the a a The Spaenish Armado being beat a gâ—eat part of them fled Noâ—h wards round about Scotland and so â—eturn'd home by Ireland Army of Spain by the back of Ireland was dispersed through the Country and the Hereticks of the Faction of England triumphed and the constancie in the outward profession of the Earl of Huntley and others was alter'd caused the Earl of b b Archibald Deuglas Earl of Angâ—s dyed at Smeâ—â— near Dalkeith Jaly 1588 supposed by witchcraft or other evil means Angus to dye who was the chief of the English Faction And the same time grew some dissentions amongst the Hereticks by reason of some Offices which some pretended to usurp above others at Court And by the instant prayers and holyperswasions of two Fathers Jesuites converting to our holy faith two Heretick Earls of the chiefest of Authority amongst them the one whereof is called the Earl of Arrol Constable of Scotland converted by Father Edmund Hay the other called the Earl of Crawford converted by the foresaid Father William Creichton They are both able and wise young Lords and most desirous to advance the Catholick Faith and your enterprises in this Island which they are determin'd to testifie to his Catholick Majesty and your Highness by their own Letters which by the Grace of God I will send by the first opportunity In the mean time they have required me to make you offer of their most humble and most affectionate service promising to follow whatsoever the same Jesuites and I shall think good to be done for the conservation of the Catholicks and to dispose and faciliate the
execution of your enterprises here which they may do more easily then they that are known to be Catholicks whose actions are ever suspitious to the Hereticks for their Religion whereof these two Earls have not yet made outward profession but in that as in the rest they submit themselves to our will and to what we think most expedient The said Fathers of that company do profit very much in Scotland and so soon as any Lord or other person of Quality is converted by them they forthwith dispose and incline their affections to the service of the King of Spain and your Highness as a thing inseparably conjoyn'd with the advancement of the true Religion in this Country If I had commandment from your Highness I would give them some little Alms in your name to help them and eight others whereof four are also Jesuites and the other four are Seminary Priests of Pont a Mousson in Lorrain which are all the Ecclesiasticks that produceth so great spiritual fruit in Scotland and acquires to you here such augmentations of your friends and servants After the parting of Colonel Sempill from hence the Lords sent Letters with the foresaid Father Creichton and other Gentlemâ—n after the Army of Spain to cause it land in this Country but it had taken the way to Spain few days before their arrival at the a a The 〈…〉 where â—â—â—iâ—hten thought to meet the Fleet Islands where it had refreshed it self so that it was not possible for them to attend on it They of this Countrie who are of the Faction of England were in a marvellous fear during the uncertainty of the landing of the said Armie and confess'd plainlte that if it had landed here they had been utterly overcome The Earl Bothwell who is Admiral of Scotland and as gallant a Lord as any is in the Countrie although he make profession of the new Religion yet is he extremelie desirous to assist you against England having waged and entertain'd all this Summer under pretence to order the Isles some Troops of men of War which together with his ordinarie Forces should have joyned with yours if they had come hither He suffers himself to be peaceablie guided by me notwithstanding the diversitie of our Religion and hath often times said that if the Catholicks would give him suretie to possess after the restitution of the Catholick Religion two b b Viz. the Abbeys of Coldingham aâ—d of â—else Abbies which he hath that he would even presentlie be altogether one of yours He intends to send Colonel Halkerstoun to accompanie certain Captains and Gentlemen to Spain and almost four hundred Souldiers all safe from the shipwrack in our Isles And because they are in great necessitie he is purposed to furnish them with Ships Fictuals and other things necessarie to testifie thereby to the King of Spain the affection he hath to do him most humble and affectionate service And if we think it good hath offer'd himself to go to your Highness in the Low-Countries and by your advice afterward do the like to his Catholick Majestie of Spain But hereupon we will advise what is most expedient If we may always be assured of him he will be as profitable for the good of our Cause as any Lord in Scotland for he hath great dependance about this Town which is the principal of Scotland as also upon the Frontiers of England He hath offered to maintain and defend me against all that would attempt any thing against me We have chosen for every Catholick Lord a Gentleman of the wisest and faithfullest Catholicks and best beloved of their friends to serve them in Council and to meet at all occasions to resolve upon the most expedient courses that may concern the good of our Cause according to the will and intention of their Lords who have obliged themselves to approve and execute their resolutions and in no wise to contradict the same and by that means we hope to proceed with greater securitie and effect then we have done heretofore They shall never know any thing of our Intelligences there nor our final intentions but according to the exigence of the affairs which shall be in hand and that superficiously and without discovering our selves too much Your Highness shall understand by the particular Letters of the Lords what remaineth to be said to you by these presents by reason whereof I will make an end most humblie kissing your Highness hands and praying God to give you all the good hope and felicity you desire Your Highness most humble and most affectionate Servant Robert Bruce From Edinbrough this XXIV of January M D LXXX X. At the same time with this some of the Nobility in name of all the rest as this Letter also testifieth writ to Philip II King of Spain which take as followeth SIR WE cannot sufficiently express by speech the great grief we have conceived being frustrate of the hope we have so long had to see the last year the desired effects which we hoped of your Majesties preparations And our displeasures have been so much the greater that your Naval Armies should have passed by so near us without calling upon us who expected the same with sufficient Forces for the peaceable receipt and assistance thereof against all enemies in such sort that it should have had no resistance in this Countrie and with our support should have given England work enough At least if it had come in to refresh it it had preserved a number of Vessels and Men which we know have perished near our Isles and upon the Coasts of Ireland and had discovered an incredible numâ—er of friends in full readiness to have run the same fortune with it in such sort as we dare well affirm it should not have found half so many in England for all that is spoken by the English Catholicks a a Refugit thair saith the Scotch Copy fled into Spain who by emulation or rather by an unchristian envie too much lessen our power of aiding you thereby to magnifie their own onely and make themselves to be able to do all so to advance themselves in credit with your Majestie and such as are about you but the experience of this their passage hath sufficiently testified that they have not shewn themselves in such numâ—â—r to assist your forces as we have done And therefore your Majestie as most wise as you are should if it please you make such account of the one as not to neglect the other and so serve your self with both to the designe you aim at without hazarding your Forces for the particular of the one or the other We refer even to the judgement of some of your own subjects who have been here the Commodities and Landing in these parts where the expence bestowed upon the Equipage of one Galiasse shall bring more fruit to your service then you may have of ten upon the Sea And we may assure your Majestie that having once six thousand here of
your own with money you may levie here Forces of this Countrie as freely as in Spain who will serve you no less faithfully then your own natural subjects And although we cannot without censure of presumption give your Majestie advice in your affairs in Spain yet in that which may concern your service here we may speak more freelie as being upon the place and knowing by ordinarie experience many things unknown to any of yours that are not here The over late arrival of your Armie in our Waters took from it the Commoditie to retire it self in such safetie as it might have done coming sooner by reason of the great Winds that are ordinarie here in Harvest as also lack of Pilots experienced upon the Coasts of England Scotland and Ireland appeareth to have bred great harm to the said Armie which we could have remedied concerning Scotland to have sent Pilots from hence if it had liked your Majestie to have served your self with them Likewise saving better advice it seems to us altogether unprofitable to fetch the Armie by Sea if it may be avoided for many causes And amongst others because such as shall have fought by Sea shall be unable being wearie to fight again by land against new Forces So the best should be to shift by one way or other for spâ—ring of your men and Vessels and so the English Forces staying upon the Sea unfought with shall be disappointed and shall not come in time to assist them that shall be assailed by land Afterwards sending hither a part of your forces before the other which should go the right way to England and that secretlie by the back of Ireland Your Majestie should compel the enemie to divide their Forces and it may be should cause them send the greatest part hither where we might make them believe the greatest part of your Forces were arrived at least should make them a a The Scotch Copy runs thus At leist sâ—ld caus thame diâ—g rnâ—is as â—â—â—ikle of England and dâ—aâ— a great 〈◊〉 of thâ—ir Forces quhilk wald resist c. weaken a good part of England and draw away a great part of their Forces which would resist your landing and invasion on that Coaest And we may well promise that having here 6000 of your men and money to aid others here we should within six weeks after their arrival be a good way within England to approach and assist the Forces which your Maiestie should cause to enter there The Knight William Sempil Colonel can shew your Majestie the whole to whom we leave it Also we have caus'd to be writ both before and since his departure our several suchlike advises by Mr. Robert Bruce causing them to be address'd to my Lord Duke of Parma to whom your Majestie referr'd us at the beginning of these affairs And seeing your Majestie is dulie advertised and informed we will conclude kissing most humblie your Majesties hands heartily praying God to grant you full accomplishment of all your holie enterprises Your Majesties most humble and most affectioned Servants Earl of Morton G. Earl of Huntley Claud Lord Hammiltoun In the name of the other Catholick Lords in Scotland From Edinborough this XXIV of January M D LXXXIX The King one might think had no reason to mistrust Huntley having not long before marryed him to a gallant Lady a Being Sister to the Duke of Lennox a kin to his Majesty and also got him to subscribe to the Confession of Faith then used by the Reformed in Scotland and confer'd many favours upon him But all this to no purpose he is yet a friend to Spain and sorry for his subscription as may appear by his Letter to the Duke of Parma thus My LORD I Have received from John Chesholme the Letters it pleased your Highness to write the XIII of October full of most Christian affection to the well-fare of our Cause for the which I give your Highness most humble thanks The support of ten thousand Crowns sent to that end is received by Mr. Robert Bruce which shall not be imploy'd but for help of the most urgent necessitie of the said Cause as it hath pleas'd your Highness to direct After the b b Or rather Escape in which he assisted departure of Colonel Sempil I found my self so beset on all hands and pressed in such sort by our King that it behooved me to yeild to the extremitie of time and subscribe with his Majestie not with my heart the Confession of their Faith or otherwise I had been forced immediatelie to have departed the Countrie or to have taken the fields by resisting his Forces and such as he might have drawn out of England to his aid which I could not have done especiallie then when by the returning of your Army into Spain all hope of help was taken from us But if on the one part I have erred by the apprehension of dangers that threatned my ruine I shall on the other part endeavour my self to amend my fault whereof I repent me with all my heart by some effect tending to the weal and advancement of the Cause of God who hath put me in such credit with his Majestie that since my coming to the Court he hath broke up his former Guards and caused me to establish others about his person of my men by means of whom and their Captains who are also mine I may ever be master of his person and your support being arrived spoil the Hereticks of his Authoritie to fortifie and assure our enterprises Whereupon I beseech your Highness to send me your advise and assure your self of my unchangeable affections in my former resolutions although the outward actions be forced to conform themselves sometimes to necessity of occasions as Mr. Robert Bruce will more amplie write unto your Highness to whom I farther remit my self Praying God having first kiss'd your Highness hand to give you accomplishment of your holie enterprises Your Highness most humble and affectionate Servant G. Earl of Huntley From Edinbrough this XXIV of January a a Bâ—th the Scotch and English Copy hath 1592. but by a mistake M D LXXXIX The Earl of Arrol being turn'd Romanist by the perswasions of Edmund Hay the Jesuit is also by the same reasons very zealous for the Spanish interest as appears by his Letter to the Duke of Parma thus My LORD SInce God of late by the clear light of his holie Catholick Faith hath châ—sed from my understanding the darkness of ignorance and errour wherein I have been heretofore nourished I have been as soon perswaded in acknowledging of so great an effect of his divine grace towards me that I am chieflie obliged to procure since I know the enterprises of his Catholick Majestie and your Highness tend principallie to that end as also the advancement of some b b â—â— it against their own King for the King of Spain or what else civil cause which hath verie great affinitie and conjunction with
him Yet if she will renounce her Title and refer her self wholly to him he would do what would stand with the honour of the Apostolick See As for the Queen she never troubled her thoughts to satisfie his Holiness in his demands and for Sir Edward Karn he dyed some c years afterwards at Rome being the last Ambassador d 1561. that went from the English Crown to the Pope This angry Pope dying another succeeded of a milder temper who though he was earnestly prest to thunder out his Bulls against the Queen yet now knowing that Princes were too wise to deliver up their Kingdoms at the noise of such Paper-claps he goeth another way to work He sends Vincentio Parpalia Abbot of St. Saviors with a civil pen'd Letter for the Queen His year 1560 Instructions are said to be That if she would joyn her self to the Romish Church and acknowledge the Primacie of that Chair that he would disanul the sentence against her Mothers Marriage as unjust confirm the English Common-prayer-book by his Authority and grant the use of the Sacraments under both kindes to the English Add farther that several thousand Crowns were promis'd to those who would procure her complyance But this Parpalia went no farther then Bruxels being not suffer'd to enter England Yet the said Pope would not desist here but resolveth to try again and send another Nuncio viz. Abbot Martinego but he also year 1561 is deny'd the Council suspecting he might make some troubles by his presence in England the very noise of his coming having already fob'd up some indiscreet Romanists to vent themselves more boldly then formerly to spread abroad false News of the Queens conversion some by Astrology and other ways to consult the length of her Reign and Life and the Popes Nuncio then in Ireland did not onely joyn himself with the Rebels against her but also by his pretended Authority deprived her of all Right and Title to that Kingdom That which they call the General Council of Trent now sitting Sanders de Schâ—â—m l. 3. pag. 360. the Queen is desired to send some thither but this she thought would be to little purpose seeing the designe of that Convention as the Emperour and the French King b Hist Council of Trent pag. 279 318. call'd it was more of Interest then real honesty Besides it had now continued about XV years and so improbable to alter any thing upon her desire Nor was the Council it self free as appears by the several c Id. pag. 167 168 507 508 530 551 566 569 635 644 659 661 683. complaints put in there against such forcible abuses some things as the d Id. pag 589. Institution of Bishops not being permitted to be discussed the Pope fearing to be the looser Nor was the e Id. pag. 660. Secretary just in taking and setting down the suffrages whereby he turn'd the Votes as he pleas'd Nor would they allow any thing to be concluded on but as they received f Id. pag. 497 703. Instructions from the Pope which occasioned the Proverb That the Holy Ghost was sent from Rome to Trent in a Cloak bag Besides Ambrose Goligna a Dominican publickly g Id. pag. 374. preach'd against the Protestants affirming that Faith and safe-conduct is not to be kept with them And when some of the Reformed Divines went thither the h Id. pag. 374 375. Legat brake off the Debates not lâ—tting the Council proceed and suspended the Council for two years pretending fear of Wars against which action the Spanish Bishops i Id. pag. 366. 367. protested And when the Legats party fears to be out-voted then do they send to the Pope to make more Bishops and convey them to k Id. pag 254 255 256 257. Trent which Legats undertook not onely to direct but command the whole Council which spoil'd its Freedom To these may be added the tricks used to carry on their designes and prevent a baffle either by new making of Bishops the better to out-vote or suspending of all from acting or voting or by removing them to other places so to divide the Council as when they were adjourn'd to l Id. pag 267 268 269 277 278 279 281 282 283 284 285 286 300 301 302 c. Bologna whither those that depended on the Pope went the rest refusing staid still at Trent not submitting to this removal or division And little might here be expected but partiality seeing the Italians were almost three to one of the number there all the Subscribers amounting to no more then 255 of which 187 were Italians so that bating the interested Italians there remains but a poor Catalogue of Bishops in respect of the great number that are in the Christian World yet must this be look'd upon as one of the most famous General Councils in the whole World yet the Romanists cannot agree about its Jurisdiction or Authority for though the a Id. pag. 661 719 French hold the Council to be above the Pope yet his Holiness looks upon himself as no wise b Pag. 818. bound to observe the Canons of Trent In short should the English Clergy have appear'd in this Council they must either have been there as Free-men frankly to Dispute and Debate as others did But thus they could not having been before condemn'd as Hereticks by Julius III. And at Trent here they were so Zealous as to Excommunicate the Archbishop and Elector of c Id. pag. 165 189 259 260. Colen for Heresie before they had determin'd what was Heresie If they could not appear as Free-men then they must under the capacity of Offenders as it were to receive sentence of condemnation but to this they thought they had no reason to submit themselvs and we need not doubt how things would have gone with them For we finde those of Trent so busie and zealous that they were going to throw their d Sanders de Schism lib. 3. pag. 3â—1 Censures against the Qâ—een but that the Emperour Ferdinand I. used his Interest to dâ—sswade them from it thinking by this to ingratiate himself wiâ—h her hoping to marry his Son to her But no more of this seeing that the Learned Bishop Jewel wrote an Apologie for our English Bishâ—ps not going to that Council which may be seen at the latter end of Father Paul's History But leaving these Disputes and passing by the designe of Arthur Pool Antony Fortiscue and some others who contrived to joyn themselves with the Duke of Guise so from France to land year 1562 an Army in Wales to Proclaim the Queen of Scots and make her Queen of England we shall proceed and finde the Pope himself to be the greatest Stickler in the troubles against Elizibeth Pope Pius the Fifth being strongly bent not onely to get Queen Elizabeth deposed but to have her e De medio tâ—â—â—eâ—e câ—gitaba â— Anâ—â—â— Gabutiâ—s vita Pâ—â— vâ— 3. o. Murder'd and in this humour he was pleas'd
bosome telling him that he had some desire to relieve the oppressed Romanists in England which he would resolutely undertake if the Pope and other learned Divines would warrant the lawfulness of the Action Old a By him it was resolved that he might lay violent han is upon her Majesty and commended in that resolution and encouraged thereunto These are the words of W. C. that is Clarke the Priest in his Reply to a Libel of Fa. Parsons fol. 60. b. Palmio assures him of the lawfulness of the Enterprise commends his Zeal and incourageth him in it This done he commends him to Campeggio the Popes Nuntio at Venice by whose means he wrote to the Pope Gregory XIII declaring to his Holiness his designe and desiring of him a Pass-port or Safe-conduct to go to Rome to confer with him about it The Safe-conduct is sent him but not ample enough and so desires one more full which is promis'd In the mean time he falls acquainted with Christofero de Salazar Secretary to the Spanish King in Venice to whom he had also open'd somewhat of his intent For the better carrying on of the journey and good will he gets the said Secretary to commend him to the Duke di Nova Terra Governour of Milan and to Conde Olivaris then Spanish Ambassador at Rome which is promis'd Parry having staid at Venice some time returns to Lyons whither was sent to him a sufficient Safe-conduct from Rome assuring him that he might go and come in the b In verbo Pontificis per omnes jurisdictiones Ecclesiasticas absque impedimento word of a Pope through all the Church-Dominions without any let or hindrance But this came too late he being obliged to go to Paris where he meets with c Onâ— that solâ—â—â—ted the Queen of Seâ—s â—ffairs of him see moâ—e in a Book caâ—l'd The Estate of the English Faguâ—ves pag. 51 52 53 printed 1596 Thomas Morgan who told him that it was now expected that he should do some notable service to God and the Catholick Church In short Parry there undertook to kill the Queen if it were warranted to him by some Learned Divines and if his Holiness would grant him a full pardon Aniball à Codretto a noted Jesuit then in Paris and Provincial of Guienne lovingly receives him commends and confesseth him Morgan recommends him to Râ—gazzoni the Popes Nuncio then at Paris who received him kindely sent his Letters to the Pope promised to remember him in his Prayers and wished him good success And the better to incourage him Morgan assured him d Thomas Kaâ— Ã faithful fâ—â—â—nd to the Qâ—â—en of Scoâ—s and so at this time forced to â—ecuâ—e himselâ— in France He was Father â—o Rob. Car Earl of Sommâ—rset 1583. that the Laird b Ferneburst then in Paris should presently go into Scotland and be ready upon the first news of the Queens fall to enter England with 20 or 30000 men in behalf of the Queen of Scots then in England Parry thus incouraged leaves France lands at Rye so goeth to London where he contrives the better to get access to the Queen and credit with her to discover how he had been perswaded to kill her which he doth at White-Hall as cunningly as he can the Queen gave him hearing and began to put some confidence in him In the mean time the Mastership of St. Catherines falls void which thinking he had gain'd the Queens favour he endeavours by Petition to get for himself Whilst he was following this suit Letters came to him from Rome from Cardinal Como wherein he found his enterprise commended and allowed the Paper it self take as followeth Mon Signoâ—e LA Santita di N. S. ha veduto le lettere di V. S. del primo con la fede inclusa non può se non laudare la buona dispositione resolutione che scrive di tenere verso il servitiò beneficio publico nel che la Santita sua essorta di perseverare con ferne riuscire li effetti che V. S. promette Et acchioche tanto maggiormente V. S. sia ajutata da quel buon Spirito che l'ha mosso le concede sua Beneditione plenaria Indulgenza Remissione di tutti li peccati secondo che V. S. ha Chiesto Assicurandosi che oltre il merito che n' ha vera in cielo vuole anco sua Santita constituirsi debitore a rico noscere li meriti di V. S. in ogni miglior modo che potra ciotanto piu quanto che V. S. usa maggior modestia in non pretender niente Metta dunque ad effetto li suoi Santi honorati pensieri attenda a star sano Che per fine io me le offero di cuore le desidero ogni buono felice successo Al piacerdi U. S. N. Cardinale di Como Di Roma il 30di Gennaio MD LXXXIV Sir HIs Holiness hath seen your Letter of the first with the Certificate inclosed And cannot but commend the good disposition and resolution which you write to hold towards the service and common good wherein his Holiness doth exhort you to persevere and to bring to effect that which you have promised And that you may be the more assisted by that good spirit which hath moved you thereunto His Holiness granteth unto you his Blessing Plenary Indulgence and Remission of all your sins according as you have desired Assuring you that besides the Merit which you shall receive for so doing in Heaven His Holiness will farther make himself debtor to acknowledge your deservings in the best manner that he can And the more because you use the greater modesty in not pretending any thing or reward Put therefore to effect your Holy and Honourable purposes and regard your health And to conclude I offer my self unto you heartily and desire you all good and happy success At your service N. Card. di Como Rome January 30. 1584. What was the meaning of this Letter Parry himself shall tell you of which in his Confession thus In March last while I was at Greenwich as I remember suing for S. Katherines came Letters to me from Cardinal Como dated at Rome the last of January before whereby I found The Enterprise commended and allowed and my self absolved in his Holiness name of all my sins and willed to go forward in the name of God It confirm'd my Resolution to KILL her and made it clear in my Conscience that it was LAWFVL AND MERITORIOVS Here we have him a And Bishop Gâ—odman in his answer to Sir Ant. Weldons Court of King James saith that Car. Como incouraged Parry to kill the Queen pag. 85 86. a Manuscript confirm'd in his wickedness and it was no small addition to this the denyal he had of St. Catherines Mastership In this passion he address'd himself to Mr. Edmund Nevil who claimed the Inheritance of the Nevils Earls of Westmerland and the Title of Lord Latimer as next Heir-male
wet with digging under the Parliament-House and other such like stories which might be endless However there are some Romanists would gladly have the world believe all this to be but a meer cheat only to be a Trick of Salisbury the then Secretary and for proof I have had the patience and pleasure to hear a story very gravely told How one lurking under the Council-Table and upon what jealousie came he there conceal'd by the long Carpet heard much of the Contrivance A Tale so ridiculous that to endeavour its confutation would argue one more impertinent than the Tale-teller But though this story might be false yet will they have Cecyl to be the Plotter and to draw these Romanists into it as if supposing this were true they were not guilty and Traytors Can you deny but that they themselves thought the Plot lawful and just That accordingly they really intended it And would have done it if not prevented If Cecyl occasioned it he must use some Means and Instruments and who and what they were is a wonder that they were not discovered and known before now Those who were Executed accused no body and as the Poet saith well He that hangs or beats out 's Brains Hudibras part 2. Cant. 1. The Devil 's in him if he feigns If this were a Cheat and known so to be would not Father Parsons and others have vapoured with it all the World over Would they have been silent in the matter Or would they have concealed any thing that would have vindicated themselves and exposed and shamed the Church of England Were they such Friends to us and such Enemies to their own Credit Cause and Reputation But on the contrary Why doth * Judgment of a Cath. concerning the Oath of Alleg. Parag. 1. § 10. Parsons as if ashamed at it seem troubled at the very naming of it as it were desiring to hear no more of it Why doth Will. Warmington an honest Priest confess That * A Moderate Defence p. 7. none therein were culpable but only Jesuits and Catholicks If the Plot was laid and known before Why doth Spondanus say That the King's Preservation was * An. 1605 §. 8. Divinitus evasit miraculous And why doth a great Jesuit now confess That the discovery of the Plot was very a Patefactis mirabeliter eorum Consiliis Bried An. 1605. wonderful But lastly Why do several of them justifie the Powder-Plot b Co quaeus is so favourable to the Plotters that he alloweth them a good place in Heaven and yet we must not question but that King James is tormented in Hell Hath there not been publikely printed Apologies for the Fact and those who suffered in it declared c Examen Praefat. p. 43. Martyrs Did d Is Casaubon Epist 619. not * Id. Epist 624. Front Ducao John Grant one of the Traytors declare at his Execution That he thought the Fact was so far from being sinful that he rather judged it to be meritorious and enough to blot out or satisfie for all his former offences But enough of this only by the by we are told That the Heads of Catesby and Piercy were set over the House of Lords but were afterward Osborn's Mem. of K. James p. 31. as 't is said removed and others set in their places And a Learned and Honest Pen tells us thus * Peter du Moulin Vindication of the sincerity of the Protestant Relig. pag. 64. I cannot leave unobserved That in the height of the late Tyranny two Heads of the Gunpowder-Traytors that were set up upon the House of Lords were taken down not by the high Winds but by the same Zeal which plotted that Treason and with the leave of Traytors of another Feather We may hear in time that those holy Reliques are shrined up in Gold and are working Miracles To this may be added That the * Their Protestants Plea and Petition for Priests and Papists p. 58. Romanists confess themselves that Catesby Tresham T. Winter the two Wrights and Grant were in Essex his Rebellion That Piercy gave the Pistol to his Master the old Earl of Northumberland in the Tower as also that when they drew up a Petition to the Parliament for Favour or a Toleration Who should be the * Id. pag. 70. Presenters of it but Sir Francis Hastings and Sir Richard Knightly two noted Puritans Whereby it seems that these two Enemies can joyn together against the Church of England But now it is not amiss to say something concerning Father Garnet who made the greatest noise in this Plot. SECT II. The Life of Father Garnet with the story of his Straw HENRY GARNET was born in Nottinghamshire 1555 of Gentile Parents was sent to Winchester School where he was under the Tuition of the Learned Thomas Bilson then School-Master there and afterwards Bishop of Winchester In his Youth he was as bad as his Neighbours yet not behind in Learning was one of the chief Praepositors of the School in which place he began to be a young Conspirator having framed a cruel Plot to fall upon the School-Master and cut off his right hand To which might be added his filthy Sodomy with which he basely abused five or Vid. Rob. Abbot Bishop of Salisbury Antilog in Epist ad Lectorem six of the handsomest Scholars And perceiving that these his Crimes would hinder his promotion to New-Colledg in Oxford from which School that Noble Foundation is supplied he went to London and obtained to be Corrector of the Common-Law Press under Mr. Tottle the Printer Here he staid not long going to Rome where he turn'd Jesuit 1575. In this having employed himself some years he return'd to England 1586 where he was very active against his Queen and Countrey as in the Spanish Invasion and other such like Conspiracies and the better to secure himself alter'd his Name as opportunity served sometimes lurking under these several Names Wallâ—y Darcy Roberts Farmer Philips Very zealous he was in hindring the coming of King James to the Ehglish Crown and his Example was a great encouragement to the Romanists he being the Provincial or Head of the Jesuits in England The better to prevent King James his Succession he had two Bulls or Breves lying by him from the Pope to publish as occasion served And for a farther assistance he sent Thomas Winter into Spain 1601 with whom went also Greenwell alias Tesmond the Jesuit These according to their Instructions resort to Father Creswell the Legier Jesuit there who conducted them to Don Pedro Francese Secretary of State and also to the Duke of Lerma the chief Favourite where they desire that a Spanish Army might presently be sent into England and they should not want aid from the Romanists in that Island The Request is consented to the King promising to employ in it 100000 Crowns wishing them in the mean time to give him notice of the Queen's death whenit should happen Whilst these