his Prince and sweare that himselfe and his men should fight against the rebells Wherevpon he was dismissed to gather his companies and to returne to the Lord Deputy Iohn Desmond the Earles brother who was by the rebells put in the place of Fiâ—z Morice lying in ambush did intrap Herbert Prise with the bandes which they led and killed them Himselfe being hurt in the face Some supplyes came out of England and Perrot was sent with six warre-ships to defend the coast the Lord Deputy grew so sicke that he was forced to withdraw to Waterford for his healths sake and appointed Nicholas Malbey governour of Connach a famous and approued Souldier to follow the Warres And worthy Sir William Drury soone after died Malbey sent to the Earle of Desmond and often admonished him of his dutie and promise and seeing it not good to linger in such a businesse he brought his forces into Conil a woody Country against the rebells There was Iohn Desmond who in battell array and with the Popes consecrated banner displayed received the forces of Malbey It was sharply fought on both sides But the vertue of the English prevailed Iohn Desmond fled first away and left his men to the slaughter Among them was found Alan the Irish Priest who exhorting them to the battell had promised them the Victory Malbey by a messenger sent for the Earle to come and his forces with him and when he in vaine expected him foure dayes he came to Rekell a towne of Desmond Here the Earle began to shew himselfe plainly for the rebells after that he had a long time vsed dissimulation in his wordes and countenance The same night the rebells set vpon Malbey his tents in the darke but finding them well fortified they went away and did no harme After the death of Sir William Drury William Pelhâ—m was sent Loâ—châ—eâ—e Instice into Ireland with the authoritie of a Deputy vntill a Deputy should be sent the Earle of Ormond was made goueâ—nour of Munster who sent Desmonds sonne which he had with him as a pledge to be kept at Dublin Pelham chiefe Iustice commeth to Munster sends for Desmond but he sending Letters by his wife excuseth himselfe Wherevpon the Earle of Ormond was sent to him to admonish him to deliver into the handes of the Lord chiefe Iustice Sanders the Priest the forrain souldiers and the Castles of Carigofoil and Asketten and to submit himselfe absolutely and turne his forces against his brother and the other rebells Which thing if he would doe he might obtaine pardon of his rebellion otherwise he was to be declared a traytor and enemy to his Country Whilst he held off with delayes and delusions he was declared a traytor in the beginning of December An 1579. That he had dealt with forrain Princes for invading and subverting his Countrey That he had retained Sanders and fitz Morice rebells That he had helped the Spanyards after they were gone out of the fort at Smerwick That he had hanged the Queenes faithfull subiects had advanced the banner of the Pope against the Queene that he had brought strangers into the kingdome After this proclamation the chiefe Iustice appointed the warres against Desmond to be prosecuted by the Eaâ—le of Ormâ—nd The Earle of Ormond with his forces destroyed Conilo the onely refuge which the rebells had he draue away their Cattell and gaue them a prey to be devided among his souldâ—ers He hanged the Balife of Yonghall before hiâ— dore because he had reâ—used to take a band of English into the Towne And then began to besiege the Spanyards in Strangiâ—all but they fearing such a thing had conveyed themselues out of danger Yet the English followed them and killed them all And every way through Munster pressed the rebells most sharply Desmond and his brethren were so hard driven hiding themselues in their lurking holes that they wrote to the chiefe Iustice signifying that they had taken vpon them the patronage of the Catholike faith in Irelanâ— and prayed him to take part with them This shewed their cause was desperate they had no hope vnlesse he that was come purposely against them would helpe them The Chiefe Iustice laughing pleasantly at the motion went to Munster and called the Nobles to him and kept them neither would dismisse them vntill they had given pledges and promised their helpe against the rebels to ioyne with him and the Earle of Ormond They therevpon deviding their bandes sought out the rebells They forced the Baron of Lixnaw to yeeld himselfe they besiegeâ— Carigoâ—oil-Castle which Iulius an Italian with a few Spanyards maintained and breaking the walls by the force of great Ordnance they entred and killed or hanged all that kept the place with Iulius also At this time came Arthur Lord Grey Lord Deputy into Ireland An 1580. Soone after his comming about seaven hundred Italians and Spanyards sent from the Pope and King of Spaine vnder the gouernment of San-Iosephus an Italian came into Ireland vnder the pretence of restoring the Roman Religion but the purpose was to divert the Queenes forces and call her from other cares to Ireland onely They tooke land without any trouble at Smerwick in Kirria for Winter that had a good while stayed in that coast with ships waiting for them was now returned to England thinking they would not come in winter They made the place strong and called it fort del or But as soone as they heard that the Earle of Ormond was comming towards them by the perswasion of the Irish they left the fort and betooke themselues into the valley Glamingell which was compassed about with high mountaines and woods The Earle tooke some of them who being questioned of their number and purpose they confessed that 700. were come that so much armour is brought that may serue 5000. that mo are daily expected out oâ— Spaine that the Pope and King of Spaine are resolved to draw the English out of Ireland that for that end they haue sent an huge sâ—m of money which they haue delivered into the handes of Sanders the Popes Nuntio of the Earle of Desmond and Iohn his brother That night the Italians Spanyards were much to seeke not knowing what way to turne themselues not knowing to hide themselues as the Irish doe in dens and bogs and therefore in the darke they went backe to their Fort neare to which the Eâ—rle of Ormond had pitched but being vnprovided of Ordnance and other things needfull for oppugnation he stayed for the comming of the Lord Deputy Who soone after came accompanied with Zouch Ralegh Denie Maâ—worth Achin and other Captaines At that time came Winter out of Englanâ— with warre shippes much blamed for withdrawing himselfe when there was need of his service The Lord Deputy sent a trumpetter to the â—ort to demand what they were What businesse they had in Ireland Who sent them Why they had fortified a place in the Queenes Kingdome And withall to command them presently to depart
Savage a barbarous fellow vpon the instigation oâ— Rhemish Priests voweth to kill Queene Elizabeth Babingtons treasonable practise to take away the Queenes life vpon a motion from Ballard the Priest defeated and he with his Complices deservedly punished CHAP. X. The French Ambassadours plot with Stafford to take away the life of the Queene detected by Stafford himselfe The end of Yorke and Stanlâ—y traytors to their Countâ—â—y CHAP. XI The Spanish preparations for the Invincible Navie The Duke of Parma treateth of a peace Delegates sent over about it The conference of the Delegates broke off without fruit CHAP. XII The Invincible Armie described At the first setting out shaken sore with a tempest The gests of each day related particularly and punctually The trusted in their strength we in the name of our God They are fallen and we stand vpright CHAP. XIII Trouble from Ireland by Tyrone lurking in Spaine His many dissembling submissions to the Queene of England A treatie of peace concluded CHAP. XIV Vpon the comming of the Earle of Essex into England from Ireland Tyrone contrary to his promise stirreth and rebelleth afresh and is incouraged by the Pope and ayded by â—he King of Spaine These forces are vanquished by the Lord Deputie Herevpon Don Iohn de Aqâ—ila a Spanish Captaine who was sent to ayâ—â—e the rebells and kept Kinsale capitulates for peace Tyrone forsaken of his followers submits himselfe to the Lord Deputie and is pardoned Plotting a new rebellion when he was called by Processe to answer a suit of the B. of Derry thinking the treason to be discovered by O cane who inforced the Bishop in his suit sted out of Ireland In â—hese troubles and treasons see the Machinations of Satans seed against the seed of the Woman that is the Church and the miraculous deliverances and victories of the Church according to that The Womans seed shall breake the serpents head spoken of Christ appliable to the Church and particularly to our Church of England which that Bâ—laam of Rome seeks now by all meanes to draw from God because he knowes he cannot prevaile against vs till we for sake God CHAP. XV. A great mischiefe intended to the Kings Maiestie at his first entrance into the Kingdome of England before his Coronation Watson and Clark Priests administring oaths of secresie and applauding the proiect It came to nothing by Gods mercie The Kings Maiesties clemency towards the Conspiratours after iudgement paâ—t vpon them No treason in England attempted but had a Romish Priest in the practise CHAP. XVI A horrible treason was a hatching and breeding in the last yeare of Queene Elizabeth By Garnetts meanes and others the King of Spaine is delt withall for an invasion he entertaines the motion but vpon the entrance of King Iames did not proceed to any forcible enterprise The Gun-powder treason takes ground and life from the doctriâ—e of Parsons and the Iesuites It was first propounded by Catesby to Winter The oath of secresâ—e taken by the Conspiratours Provision of Powder and Wood for the mine Their consultation what to doe after the blow was given The letter sent to the Lord Mounteagle scanned by the Earle of Salisbury and other Prâ—vy Councellers but truely interpreted by the King in whose mouth there was a divine sentence at that time so that he did not erre in iudgement The Examination of Fawks The apprehension and confusion of the Powder-traytors God from heaven both by his Word and protection hath manifestly showne our Church to be the true Church and the Popish Church to be the malignant Church and degenerate from the auncient Romane Church both in manners and doctrines Coronis The Conclusion containes diverse Considerations proposed to such as are not well affected to Religion A THANKFVLL REMEMBRANCE OF GODS MERCY CHAPTER I. HAving a purpose to obserue Gods great and merciful deliueraÌ„ces of the Church of England and Gods holy protectioÌ„ of the same against the manifolde most dangerous most desperate practises of the adversaries that haue with strange malice and crueltie sought the destruction thereof and intending to fetch the beginning of this search from the beginning of the Raigne of Queene ELIZABETH of blessed memory I knew no better way how to enter into this Narration then to begin with the consideration of the State of Queene ELIZABETH at her first entrance for therein will appeare a wonderfull Worke of God and my intention is to obserue the great Workes of God that God may be glorified When this famous Queene first entred shee found the State much afflicted and weakned All the great States about her were enemies Friends none King Philip who offred his loue and kindnesse to her and would haue married her offering to obteine the Popes dispensation for him to marry two Sisters as the like dispensation was obteined by Ferdinand his great Grand-father for hâ—s daughter Katharine to marry two Brothers he offering this kindnesse and being refused and reiected grew first into dislike and discontent afterwardes into hatred and at last brake out into open Warres The French King Henry the 2. with whom she sought peace fell off also into open Warres His sonne Francis having married Mary Queene of Scotland was moved by the Guysians to cause the Armes of England to be ioyned to the Armes of Scotland to professe the Queene of Scots the heire of England and because Elizabeth was accounted by them an Heretike therefore they sought to put her by to set the Queene of Scots in her place so should the French King haue England also For the effecting of this they sent their Armies into Scotland purposing fâ—om thence to haue subdued England In so much that Sebastianus Martignius a young Noble man of the family of Luxenburg who was sent into Scotland with a thousand â—oote and some Companies of horse could hardly be disswaded from entring England presently So that Spaine France and Scotland were enemies The State was then much troubled and oppressed with great debt contracted partly by Henry 8. partly by Edward 6. in his minoritie The treasure was exhausted Calis was lost Nothing seemed to be left to her but a weake and poore State destitute of meanes and friends If shee would haue admitted the Popish Religion then might all these difficulties haue beene removed But establishing the Gospell shee vnderstood well that shee drew all these troubles vpon her owne head Yet she gaue the glory to God and in hope of Gods holy protection she established Gods holy truth And verily she did not serue God in vaine For it is a thing to be wondred at that the Land being then without strength without Forces without Souldiers yea without Armour all things necessary should be so suddenly furnished She had provided Armour at Antwerpe but King Philip caused that to be stayed Yet was she not discouraged but layd out much money vpon Armour though she found the Treasury but poore She procured Armour and weapons out of Germany She caused many great
deliverance of the Scots Queene but it appeareth that his intention was for himselfe as the Duke Dalva vnderstood it This is evident by that which we haue mentioned out of Catena For Duke Dalva was in some feare that if Queene Elizabeth were overthrowne yet the Kingdome of England might not fall to the Spanyard but to the French So that it was in their intention certainly to be cast vpon the French or Spanyard and here was no reckoning made of the Queene of Scots So that howsoever the pretence was for her deliverance yet there was another thing intended For seeing Queene Elizabeth was excommunicated and deposed if she could once be ouerthrowne then they made no other reckoning but that England would fall to the strongest Now the Spanyard thinking himselfe the stronger sought this prerogatiue for himselfe and therefore he ceased not to raise troubles to the Queene and the rather because he held it a thing impossible for him to recover the Low-Countries vnlesse he had England But because he found it a matter of great difficultie to set vpon England his first enterprise was to set vpon Ireland But when that succeeded not at last with all Forces that might be raised with many yeares preparations he set openly vpon England But these things are to be spoken in order Onely this I premise that we may know from whom all our troubles haue proceeded Many conspiracies brake out one after another vnder pretence of delivering the Queene of Scots To effect this thing Thomas Stanly and Edward his brother the yonger sonnes of the Earle of Darby Thomas Gerard Rolston Hall and other in Darâ—yshire conspired But the sonne of Râ—lston which was Pensioner to the Queene disclosed the conspiracy And they were imprisoned all except Hall who escaped into the 〈◊〉 of Man From whence by the commendation of the Bishop of Ross he was sent to Dumbrâ—toâ— Where when afterward the Castle was wonne he was taken and brought to London where he suffred death Before the Duke of Norfolk was beheaded there were that conspired to deliver him out of Prison The Bishop of Ross at this time a dangerous instrument against England and as dangerous against the Scots Queene for whom he laboured gaue desperate counsell to the Duke that with a choice company of Gentlemen he should intercept the Queene of a suddain and â—rouble the Parliament To shew that this was â—asâ—e he gaue some reasons But the Duke abhorred to heare of that counsell as pernicious and dangerous Sir Henry Percy at that time offred to the Bishop of Ross his helpe to free the Scots Queene so that Grange and Carr of â—ernihurst would receiue her at the borders and his brother the Earle of Northumberland might be delivered out of Scotland But when he was suspected for the inward faâ—iliaritie which he had with Burghly and deâ—erâ—ed the matter a longer time this counsell came to no effect As did also that of Powell of Samford one of the Gentlemâ—n Pencioâ—ariâ—s and of Owen one that belonged to â—he Earle of AruÌ„dell These two vndertooke the same busines also for the Scots Queenes deliverance but the Bishop of Ross stay'd that because he tooke them for men of a meaner ranke then to be â—it for â—hat busines After the Duke was the second time imprisoned many were for this matter imprisoned also The Earles of Arundell Southampton the Lord Luâ—ly the Lord Cobham Thomas his brother Sir Henry Percy Banister Lowther Godier Powell and others were committed who in hope of pardon told that they knew Barnes and Muthers ioyned with Herle in a bloudy practise to deliver the Duke and kill certaine of the Privy Councellers But Herle being the châ—efe in the villany opened the Proiect. When Bâ—rnes was brought before him found Herle to be the accuser he smiling vpon him said Herle thou hast prevented me if thou hadst stayed but one houre longer I should then haue stood in thy place the accuser and thou in my place to be hanged When Iohn Duke of Austria came into government of the Low-Countries he found the States strong The cruelty that the Duke of Dalva and others had vsed was so farre from bringing them into a servile subiection that it rather armed them with resolution to defend their liberties their lawes their religion and their liues Which may admonish great Princes to vse moderation in government for much hath beene lost by crueltie nothing gotten by it but nothing can serue to moderate restlesse spirits such a spirit brought Don Iohn with him into the Low-Countries who beholding the vnlucky ends of them that stroue to deliver the Queene of Scots he notwithstanding sought to worke her deliverance and to marry her and so to enioy both England and Scotland But to hide his purpose the better he made show of a perpetuall Edict for Peace as he called it and for that purpose sent Gastellus to Elizabeth Who throughly vnderstanding the Dukes meaning yet as if she had beene ignorant sent Daniel Rogers to Don Iohn to congratulate for his perpetuall Edict of Peace Albeit she certainly knew that he had resolved to deliver and marry the Scots Queene and in his conceit had devoured the Kingdomes of England and Scotland by the perswasion of the Earle of Westmerland and of other â—ugitiues and by favour and countenance of the Pope and the Guyses And that Don Iohn had a purpose out of hand to surprise the â—le of Man in the â—rish Seas that he might haue a fitter opportunitie to invade England out of Ireland and the North coast of Scotland where the Scots Queene had many at her deuotion and the opposite parts of England as Cumberland Lankyshire Cheshire Northwales had many that as he was informed favoured Popery The truth is Don Iohn of Austria as it was knowne from Peresius Secretary to the King of Spaine being before this carried away with ambition when he was disappointed of the hope which he had of the Kingdome of Tunis practised secretly with the Pope for the ouerthrow of Queene Elizabeth marrying of the Scots Queene and subduing of England That the Pope might excite the King of Spain to warre against England as out of a desire of the publique good Don Iohn before he came out of Spain to goe to the Netherlands did fâ—rward this motion in Spaine what he could and afterward sending Esconedus out of the Netherlands to Spaine did desire to haue the havens in Bisâ—ay whence a Navie might invade England But King Philip happily reserving England as a morsell for his owne mouth neglected Don Iohn as a man too ambitious Queene Elizabeth vnderstood not these things vntill the Prince of Orange opened them to her Don Iohn in the meane time prosecuteth the matter of the marriage with secresie And to dissemble the matter sent messengers to Queâ—ne Elizabeth to hold her with a tale of perpetuall peace but of a sudden brake out into warre and tooke divers Townes and
Castles by sleight and trechery and wrote to Spaine that the best course is to take Zealand before the more inner Provinces And being prone to beleeue that which he desired he wrote that England might be had with greater ease then Zealand and he laboured by Escouedus to perswade the Spanish King But the Queene seeing all tend to warre in the Netherlands entred a league with the States for mutuall helpe and sent Thomas Wilkes into Spaine to complaine of the headdy courses of the Duke of Austria And in the meane time prepared for warre But behold when Don Iohn was in the height of his pride and ambition in the flower of his age in the middest of busines and preparations he died on a suddain as some thought of the Plague Some thought that vpon griefe that he was not so respected of the King his brother he ended his foolish ambition with his life afterthat he had embraced in his ambitious desire the Kingdome of Tunis wherevpon Guleta was lost in Africa and after that the Kingdome of England and had confirmed a league with the Guysians without the knowledge of the French and Spanish Kings for defence of both Crownes Thus was the enemy disappointed the Queene the Land the Church preserved And haue we not cause to remember these Workes of God and to giue God the glory of his own worke that is of delivering his Church England was as a Stage wherevpon diverse entred to play their parts one after another The part that they played was alwayes treason some was kept farther off by Gods providence to doe lesse harme some brought the danger nearer home But GOD taking the protection of his Church in England none prevailed And could any other power but the power and protection of God preserue a Land from so many so deadly dangers Let all mouthes be stopped and let this continuall course of deliverance be acknowledged the worke of God CHAPTER IIII. THE next man that came vpon this Stage was Thomas Stucley but the malice that he and the Pope by his employment intended against England was turned cleane another way by GODS providence Thomas Stucley an English-man borne when he had spent his estate in ryot prodigality and base meanes went into Ireland An 1570. And gaping for the Stewardship of Wexford and missing the same began to vtter contumelâ—ous words against the best deserving Prince but he was contemned as one that could doe no hurt From Ireland he went into Italy to Pius V. Pope It is a thing incredible what favour he got with the old Pope that breathed nothing but the destruction of Elizabeth Stucley with magnificent ostentation as he was a man singular in ostentation made the Pope beleeue that with three thousand Italians he would driue the English out of Ireland and bâ—rne the Queenes Navy And indeed these things he most wickedly attempted afterward but to his owne destruction Pius V. having procured all the troubles that possibly he could against Queene Elizabeth seemed to die for spite that he could not hurt her After him suceeded Gregory 13. This Pope had secret consultations with the King of Spaine for the invading of Ireland and England both together Meaning vnder the maske of Religion to serue their owne ambitious endes The Popes end was to make his sonne Iames Boncampagno whom he had lately made Marquesse of Vineola now King of Ireland The Spanyardes end was secretly to helpe the Rebells of Ireland as Elizabeth did the Dutch and in faire words intertaine a shew of friendship on both sides The King of Spaine had a farther reach even to get the Kingdome of England by the Popes authoritie that from thence he might with â—â—ore ease tamâ— the Dutch that were confederate against him This he found hard for him to doe vnlesse he were Lord of the Seas which he saw he could not be vnlesse he had England And there was no doubt but as he owed the Kingdomes of Naples Sicily Navarre to the beneficence of the Pope so with all his heart he would haue held England by the like fauour They knowing that the greatest strength of England stood in the navy of the Queenes shippes and Merchants shippes which were also built and framed for the vse of warre thought that the best way to lessen the Naviâ— was to set on the Merchants of Italy and Netherlands to hire many of the Merchants shippes seeking diverse seuerall pretenses and hauing hired them to send them vnto the farthest Navigations that whilst these are absent the Queenes Navy might be overthrowne with a greater Navy And then at the same instant Thomas Stucley the English fugitiue might ioyne his forces with the rebels of Ireland Stucley a bare-worne deceiver did no lesse cousin this next succeeding Pope then he had done his predecessor with admirable bragges He promised the Kingdome of Ireland to the Popes bastard sonne and got such favour with the old ambitious Pope that he honored him with the titles of Marquesse of Lagen Earle of Wexford and Caterloghe Vicount of Morough and Baron of Ross. These be famous places in Ireland And made him generall of DCCC Italian Souldiers the King of Spaine paying their stipends and so sent him into the Irish warre Stucley came with these to Portingale to the mouth of Tagus purposing to subdue Ireland But the purpose of God was otherwise And that which the Pope and Spanyard had with such deliberation proiected was by the councell of God dissipated and brought to nothing For Sebaâ—tian King of Portugall to whom the chiefe conduct of the forces against England was committed for this Prince puffed vp with a heat of youth and ambition had long before offred all his power to the Pope to be imployed against Mahumetanes and Proteâ—tants was then intised and drawne by many great promises of Mahomet sonne of Abdalla King of â—ess vnto the African warre Sebastian being thus drawne from the English Warres another way dealt with Stucley that first of all he would carry his Italian souldiers into Mauritania Stucley finding the Spanish King not against this proiect for the Spanyard disdeined that the Popes Bastard should be King of Ireland went with Sebastian into Mauritania and was killed in that memorable battell wherein three Kings Sebastian Mahomet and Abdall-Melech were all slaine And so Stucley had too honorable an end of a dishonorable life By the death of Sebastian the Spanyard was cleane drawn away from thinking of the English invasion for a time and set all his forces vpon the invasion of Portugall If this occasion had not drawne away the Spanyard a great tempest of Warre should haue fallen vpon England if any credit may be given to the English fugitiues for they declared that those hug Armies which the Spanyard had provided against England out of Italy were now all to be imployed vpon the subduing of Portugaâ—l neither would he be by any meanes peâ—swaded then to thinke of the English invasion albeit the
acknowledge that they who are thus punished â—or their mad tricks may not be accompted Martyrs but yet they will say that these things ought not to belong to the Emperour to punish Iust as the Papists say the punishment of their Clergie belongeth not to the Magistrate I demand then sayth Augustin Whether they thinke that the superior powers ought not to haue care of Religion of punishing false religion The Apostle saith The works of the flesh are manifest which are adaltery fornicatioÌ„ vncleannes wantonnes idolatry witch-craft hatred debate emulation wrath contentions seditions heresies envie murthers drunkennesse gluttony and such like What reason can these men render why it should be justice for the Empeperours to punish Idolaters Murtherers and such and not by the same reason to be like justice in them to punish heretiques When as they are accompted in the same fruits of iniquitie Someruill was found strangled in the prison For feare belike that he might haue discovered moe Ardern being condemned was hanged the next day This is the common end that Priests bring such Gentlemen vnto who are willing to heare them and be perswaded by them The next yeare after for seldome did any yeare passe without some treason some English Gentlemen began to practise the deliverance of the Queene of Scots Francis Throgmorton fell first into suspition by certaine Letters intercepted written to the Queene of Scots As soone as he was committed to prison and beganne to confesse something presently Thomas Lord Paget and Charles Arundell a Courtier secretly fled the land and went into France These men meeting with other devoted to the Roman Religion did much complaine recounting their sorrowes among themselues that the Queene was estranged from them without their fault by the cunning of Leicester and Walsingham that them selues were exposed to vnworthy contumelies ignominies that singular tricks were found out and secret snares laid so cunningly that improvident men will they nill they must needs be intangled in such snares that to remaine at home there could be no safety for them It was thought at this time that some cunning was practised to feele mens affections and that counterfeit Letters were written vnder the name of the Scots Queene and of some fugitiues knowne traytors to the State which Letters might be left in the houses of Recusans and that spies were sent abroad to gather rumors and to catch suspitions Diverse were drawne into snares Among others Henry Earle of Northumberland and his sonne Philip Earle of Arundell was commanded to keepe his house his wife was committed to Sr Thomas Shirly to be kept and Henry Howard the Dukes brother was often examined of Letters sent from the Scots Queene from Charles Paget and from one Mope then vnknowne Some blamed the narrow searching of things and the manner of drawing men into danger Others thought that all the means that might be vsed to prevent the Queenes danger and to saue her life was but necessary And indeed the outragious maliciousnes of the Papists against the Queene brake out daily for by Bookes imprinted they exhorted the Queenes maides and Ladies of honor to doe the same against the Queene which Iudith did against Holofernes The Author of that Booke was not found Gregory Martin was suspected a man learned in the Greeke and Latin tongues and chosen by the Duke to be the bringer vp of his children Carter the Stationer that caused the Books to be Printed was punished for it The Queene that was much traduced for crueltie knowing her owne mildnes and desirous to leaue a good remembrance of her name behinde her was much offended with the Iudges of the Papists apprehended if they passed any cruell sentences against them which might be iniurious to her honor Insomuch that they were forced to excuse themselues by publike writings wherein they protested that the Priests were much more mildly vsed then they deserved that no question of Religion was moued to them but onely of such pernicious machinations against their Country against their Prince whereof they were either found guiltie or by the discovery of others suspected That Campian was never so racked but that presently he was able to walke or to subscribe to his confessions But for Briant who stubbornly denied to vtter by speech or by writing who was the man that wrote these secret things which were found about him to this man meat was denied vntill by writing he would aske it For all this the Queene was not satisfied and therefore she commanded the Examiners to abstaine from tormenting men and the Iudges from punishing And short after she commanded seventie Priests to be sent out of England whereof some were condemned to die all of them were intangled within the danger of the lawes The chiefe of these were Gasper Haywod the sonne of Haywod the Epigrammatist who of all the Iesuites first entred England Iames Bosgraue which was also a Iesuit Iohn Hart the most learned among them with whom Doct Reinolds had conference and Edward Rishton a wicked and vngrateful man who wrote a Booke presently after shewing forth the poyson of a cankred heart against the Queene to whom he owed his life The Lord Paget and Arundell who went into France were narrowly observed there by Edward Stafford the Ambassadour Leiger there for Queene Elizabeth but he could not find out what they practised yet he dealt with the French King that they Morgan and some other English fugitiues who were knowne to be practisers against their Prince and their Country might be thrust out of France But it was answered that if they practised any thing in France the King would by law punish them but if they had practised any thing in England that of such things the King could take no notice nor by law punish them that all Kingdomes were free for fugitiues that it behooued Kings to maintaine their owne liberties That Elizabeth not long before had admitted into her Kingdome Montgomery the Prince of Condie and others of the French Nation and that Segneres Ambassadour of the King of Navarre was in England practising of some things that concerned the French state In the meane time Bernardinus Mendoza the King of Spaine his Ambassadour for England stole fecretly into France fretting and fuming that he was thrust out of England by a violation of the right of an Ambassadour When as indeed he was a man of a troublesome spirit and had abused the reuerend right of Ambassadours by the practises of treason against this State wherein he was He was commanded to depart out of the realme whereas many thought fit that he should haue beene with some severity censured for violating the office of an Ambassadour For he had practised with Throgmorton and others to bring in strangers into England to invade the land and to remoue the Queene And being gently reprooued for these things he was so far from offering to excuse these things with a modest answer that he began to accuse the
Astrologers called the Marveilous yeare some said it was the Climactericall yeere of the world And they that trust not in the liuing God but in superstitions tooke the opportunitie of this fatall yeare as they supposed now vtterly to overthrow the Church of England and State Which before they could not doe The Pope and Spanyard layd vp all their hopes vpon this yeares destiny The rumors of warre daily increased at last it was certainly coÌ„firmed by the newes on all sides that in Spaine there was an invincible navy preparing against England that the most famous Captaines in military knowledge and the best souldiers were sent for into Spaine from Italy Scicily yea from America For the Pope and some religious Spanyards and English fugitiues now recalled the Spanyard to the cogitation of surprising of England which purpose was interrupted by the Portugall warres They exhorted him earnestly to doe God this service that had done so much for him now that he inioyed Portugall with the west Indies many rich Ilands to adde England to all were an especiall service of God fit for his Catholike Maiestie By this meanes he might adde these flourishing Kingdomes to his Empire so keepe the Low-countries in peace secure the navigatioÌ„ to both Indies That the preparations of Spaine were so great that no power was able to resist it They made him belieue that it was an easier matter to overcome England then to overcome the Dutch-land because the navigation from Spain to England was much shorter then to the Netherlands And by surprising of England the other would easily follow Herevpon the consultation began to be had of the best way and meanes to oppresse England Alvarus Baâ—â—anus the Marquess of S. Crosse who was chiefe commander in the Navy advised first to make sure some part of Holland or Zealand by the land-forces of the Duke of Parma and by sending before some Spanish shippes so to take some place on a suddain where the Spanish navy might haue a receptacle and from whence the invasion might with coÌ„venience begin For in the English Sea which is troublesome the windes oft changing the tydes vnknown the Navy could not be in safety With him agreed Parma who much vrged this expedition Yet others disliked this counsell as a matter of great difficultie and danger of long time of much labor of great expence of vncertaine successe And that neither secretly nor openly it could be performed and easily hindered by the English These thought that with the same labour and expenses England might be wonne and the victory would be sure if a well prepared army from Spaine might with a strong navy be landed on Thames side and of a suddain surprise London the chiefe Citty by an vnexspected assault This seemed a thing most easie to be effected And therefore all agreed vpon it Yet some among them thought good that a denuntiation of the warre should be made by an Herald which they held a politik devise both to remoue suspition out of the minds of neighbour Princes and to force the Queene as they supposed to call to her helpe â—orrain mercenary souldiers concelving that according to the vsuall insolency of mercenaries they would tumult and spoyle the country and so might the Queene be brought into hatred of her owne people that so all things in England would be brought into a confusion which might be helped by the English Catholikes But neither could this advise be heard For they being confident of their owne strength thought it was sufficient to commend the invincible Navy to the prayers of the Pope and of their other Catholikes and to the intercession of Saints and to set out a Booke in Print to the terror of the English in which Booke all the preparation was particularly related Which was so great through Spain Italy and Scicily that the Spanyards themselues were in admiration of their owne forces and therefore named it the Invincible Fleet. The Duke of Parma also in Flanders by the commandement of the Spanyard built ships and a great company of small broad vessels each one able to transport thirty horse with bridges fitted for them severally And hired Mariners from the east part of Germany And provided long peeces of wood sharpned at the end and covered with iron with â—ookes on the side And twentie thousand vessels with an huge number of fagots and placed an Army ready in Flanders of 103 companies of foot and 4000 horsemen Among these were 700 English fugitiues which were had of all other in most contempt Neither was Stanly respected or heard who was set over the English nor Westmerland nor any other who offered their helpe but for their impiety towards their owne Countrey were shut out from all consultations and as men vnominous reiected not without detestation And Pope Sixtus V. that in such a purpose would not be wanting sent Cardinall Alan into Flanders and renâ—ed the bulls declaratory of Pius V. and â—rep XIII He excommunicateth the Queene deposeth her absolveth her subiâ—cts from all alleagance and as if it had beene against the Turks and Infâ—dels he set forth in Print a â—ruceat wherein he bestowed plenary indulgences out of the treasure of the Church vpon all that would ioyn their help against England By which means the Marquess a Burgaw of the house of Austria the Duke of Pastrana Amady Duke of Sauoy Vespasian Gonzaga Iohn Medices and divers other noble men were drawne into these Warres Queene Elizabeth that she might not be surprised at vnawares prepareth as great a Navy as she could and with singular care providence maketh ready all things necessary for warre And she her selfe which was ever most iâ—dicious in discerning of mens wits and aptnes and most happy in making choise when she made it out of her own iudgement and not at the commandement of others designed the best and most serviceable to each severall imployment Over the whole Navy she appointed the Lo Admirall Charles Howard In whom she reposed much trust and sent him to the west parts of England where Captaine Drake whom she made Viceadmirall ioyned with him She commanded Henry Seimor the second sonne to the Duke of Somerset to watch vpon the Belgick shore with 40 English and Dutch shippes that the Duke of Parma might not come out with his forces Albeit some were of opinion that the enemy was to be expected and set vpon by land forces according as it was vpon deliberation resolved in the time of Henry the 8. when the French brought a great Navy vpon the English shore By Land there was placed on the South shores twenty thousand And two Armies besides were mustered of the choisest men for warre The one of these which consisted of a thousand horse twenty-two thousand foot was the Earle of Leicester set over And camped at Tilbury on the side of Thames For the enemy was resolved first to set vpon London The other Army was governed by the Lo Hunsdon consisting of 34 thousand