security she should in her life-time set her winding-sheete before her eyes yea she should likewise make her own funerall liuing and seeing it Hauing made this answere she sweetly admonisheth her againe by Letters which were deliuered her by Peter Meutis to confirme the Treatie which she refused not directly but gaue him to vnderstand that she could not commodiously doe it vntill the Affaires of Scotland were well established In the meane time Queen ELIZABETH with all maner of courtesie entertaines Monsieur le Duc D' Aumale the Grand Prior and Monsieur le Duc D'elbeuf her Vnkles and other French Noble-men which had conducted her into Scotland And yet notwithstanding Monsieur de Guize behaued himselfe in that sort that the English Ships are taken vpon the Coasts of Brittanie and the Marchants vnworthily handled and labours againe closely at Rome to procure Queene ELIZABETH to bee excommunicated Howbeit the Pope Pius the fourth aduised that it behoued to deale more gently with her Maiesty and as he had already sought by courteous Letters as I haue said vpon the last yeere hauing then also to appease the discords which were for matter of Religion assigned a day to the Councell of Trent long sinnce begunne and broken off by continuall Warres and drawing gently thither all the Princes which had forsaken the Romish religion hee deputed into England the Abbot of Martinegues with Letters full of assurance of loue But because that by an ancient Law it is most expressely forbidden the Popes Nuncio's to goe thither before he had obtained leaue from thence and taken Oath not to worke any thing by subtilty there tending to the preiudice of the King and Kingdome The Abbot being vpon the way stayed in Flanders and demanded leaue to come hither But Englands Councell of State iudg'd that it was not safe to admit him hither in regard that so many people from all parts nourished in the Romish religion laboured carefully both within and without the Realme to trouble the affaires thereof The Abbot not being permitted to come into England the Bishop of Wittenberg the Popes Nuncio with the King of France labours that Queene ELIZABETH should send Ambassadours to the Councell and many Princes of Christendome viz. the Kings of France of Spaine and of Portingall Henry Cardinall of Portingall and aboue all the Duke of Albe who yet bore good will to her Maiestie counselled her that in matters of Religion which is the onely Anker of Christians and stay of Kingdomes she would rather asscent to the Oecumenique Councell of Trent than to the particular opinions of a few men although they be learned She answers them That shee desired with all her heart an Oecumenique Councell but that shee would not send to that of the Popes with whom she had nothing to doe his authority being vtterly beaten downe and reiected in England with the consent of the States of the Kingdome That it is not for him but for the Emperour to assigne a Councell and that he hath no greater authority then any other Bishop At the same time that this Abbot was denyed accesse into England beeing the last Nuncio that the Popes of Rome haue sent hither Sir Edward Carne aforementioned being a most iudicious and wise man very well vnderstood in the right of Emperours by the Emperour Charles the fifth honoured with the dignitie of Knight-hood he dyed at Rome and was the last Ambassadour sent from the Kings of England to the Pope Chamberlaine Ambassadour for England in Spaine perceiuing that this answere did more and more alienate the affection of Spaine who iudged it to bee iniurious to the Pope and fearing no more that England Scotland and Ireland should fall into the hands of the Kings of France since that King Francis was dead began to make no more account of the English tooke leaue of him and returned into England Thomas Chaloner is sent in his place who as he was impatient of iniuries and had beene many times Ambassadour in Germany where he had receiued all manner of courtesies as soone as he was arriued in Spaine instantly besought by Letters to be reuoked complaining that according to the custome of the Countrey they had searched his Trunkes But Queene ELIZABETH admonished him that an Ambassadour must support all that which is of equity prouided that the honour of his Prince were not wronged Queen ELIZABETH being then capable of good counsell and very prudent and prouident and Religion somewhat wel established to strengthen her selfe with remedies against forces prouides for the safety of her selfe and of her Subiects and to enioy Peace more sweetly although she found the Coffers empty at her comming began to establish a Magazin of all sorts of Instruments of War and to that end employed great summes of money in Germany The Spaniard retained those Furnitures which shee had agreed for at a price at Antwerpe causeth many Cannons of Brasse and Iron to be cast discouers in the Country of Cumberland neere Keswicke by a speciall fauour from God on what occasion how farre and at what time shee should vse her liberality and indeed was prouidently bountifull to those that deserued it For notwithstanding that King HENRY her Father howsoeuer charged with three Children and EDVVARD and MARIE who had none had beene bountifull of the Crowne Land shee neuerthelesse hauing none neither gaue very little of it and yet what she gaue was vpon condition that for default of issue it should returne to the Crowne for which both the Realme and their successors ought to remember her and thanke her as a carefull fore-seer Whilest this good correspondencie was betweene the Queene and her people the Common-wealth seeming to take life and strength to the common ioy of all fell out a sad accident A most rare Piramide of the Cathedrall Church of Saint Paul in London which was frō the ground to the top of the square Tower 525. foote from thence 260. and was couered with wood ouer-laid with Lead was strucken at the top with fire from heauē which was so deuouring and burnt downeward with such violence to the great terrour of all the Inhabitants that in the space of fiue houres it reduced it to ashes with the whole couering of the Church which was most ample and spacious but the vaults which were of solid stone remained entire Notwithstanding all this couering was new made by the Queenes liberality and to the effecting of the same gaue great quantity of money and materials beside the collection of Ecclesiasticicall persons and others So all was repaired saue the Piramide This yeere dyed Iohn Bourchier a man of ancient Nobility Earle of Bath second of that name and Baron of Fitzwarin who by Elenor daughter of George Baron of Rosse had a great Progenie and left his Sonne William yet liuing his Successor THE FIFTH YEERE OF HER RAIGNE Anno Domini 1562. THe troubles of France begunne then to
being diuorced from his first Wife tooke in her place the Lady Ienet Beton Aunt by the Mothers side to the Cardinall Beton by whom hee had Issue Iames Hamilton Duke of Chastel-Heraut Marie Sister to the Earle of Arraine bore to Mathew Iohn Earle of Lenox who being slaine by the Hamiltons when hee attempted to set King IAMES the fourth at liberty left this Mathew Earle of Lenox whom King Iames the Fifth loued most dearly in respect of his Father When the King was dead and the Hamiltons in full authority Mathew went secretly into France from whence being sent backe by the French King Henry the second into Scotland to preuent all detriment to the Scottish Common-wealth through the practices of the Regent Hamilton hee valiantly carried himselfe in this employment But being of an honest milde nature and very open-hearted permitting himselfe to bee out-reached by Hamilton and the Cardinall Beton in a small time hee lost the amity of the French and when hee could neither tarry in Scotland nor returne into France he went into England and committed himselfe in trust to King Henry the Eighth who very graciously entertained him as one that was powerfull well beloued in the Westerne parts of Scotland Whervpon he acknowledged him for next Heire to the Crowne of Scotland after Queene MARY who was then exceeding yong though neuerthelesse the Hamiltons condemned him and confiscated all his Lands gaue him to Wife the Lady Margaret Douglasse his Neece by the elder Sisters side with demeanes in England which amounted in an annuall reuennew to the summe of 1700. Marks after hee had made promise to surrender into his hands the Castle of Dunbritton and the I le of Buthe with the Castle of Rothsay which is in England The which hee vndertooke with courage but fayled in the successe The Queene of Scots beeing a wise and prudent Lady all whose drifts aymed at England shee gaue him her safe conduct and restored vnto him his Fathers goods both that hee might oppose the designes of Iames his bastard brother whom shee had honoured with the Earledome of Murray as also to cut off the hopes of others by the meanes of Darley her Sonne which they might any wayes foster and nourish of succession to the Diadem of England For shee feared that being of the Blood Royall borne in England and very well beloued of the English if hee were ioyned with any puissant Family in England relying on the English power and forces hee might happely one day disturbe her right of succession to the Kingdome of England many men reputing him for the second Heire apparant after her and shee affected nothing more feruently then by his meanes to bring the Kingdomes of England and Scotland to fall into some Scottish Race and Name and so by him to propagate them to posteritie in the name of the Stewards his Ancestors Queene ELIZABETH well discerned all this and to preuent it gaue the Queene of Scots to vnderstand by Randolph that this Marriage was so distastfull to all the English as against the consent of her Councell she was enforst to prorogue the conuentions of Parliament to some other fitter time for feare lest the States of the Kingdome therewith prouoked should enact somewhat to the preiudice of her right to the succession And therefore to cut off all occasions of this Issue hereafter and to satisfie the English she aduised her to thinke of some other marriage and so by this meanes shee once againe and with great affection commended vnto her the Earle of Leicester for an Husband who for this speciall reason she had exalted to the Dignity of an Earle For prosecution of this the Earles of Bedford of Randolph and of Lidington were deputed to treat of this marriage at Barwicke in the Moneth of Nouember The English promised vnto her a firme and constant Amity a perpetuall Peace and that vndoubtedly shee should succeed to the Crowne of England if she married with the Earle of Leicester The Scots on the other side contested alleadging That their Queenes Dignitie who had beene sued vnto by Charles Sonne to the Emperour Ferdinand the King of France the Prince of Condé and the Duke of Ferrara could not permit her so farre to embase and vnder-valew her selfe as to match with a new-made Earle a Subiect of England and who propounded nothing but bare hopes without any certaine Dowrie neither stood it with the honour of the Queene of England to commend such a man for an Husband to so great a Princesse her neere Kinswoman but rather shee should giue an infallible testimonie of her great loue and affection towards her to giue her absolute libertie to make choice of such an husband as might entertaine perpetuall peace with England to assigne her a yeerely Pension and with the authority of the Parliament confirme the right which shee had to succeede In all this busines the extreme desire of Queene ELIZABETH was although she made discreete haste to assure by such a marriage the succession of the Kingdome in an English Race The Queene of Scotland seeing that this businesse had beene prolonged full two yeeres and making account to marry Darley doubted whether she was proceeded withall in good earnest or no and that Queene ELIZABETH did not propound this marriage but to make a pre-election of the most worthy for herselfe or to marry the more excusable with Leicester She beeing absolute Queene after she should haue really consented to marry him But the Commissioners of Scotland weighing these reasons to maintaine their power with the Queene had resolued to hinder by all meanes all kinde of marriages Queene ELIZABETH admonisheth them to hinder that with Darley Leicester himselfe full of hope to enioy Queene ELIZABETH by secret Letters priuily warnes the Earle of Bedford not to presse the thing and with this hope it is credibly thought that hee secretly fauoured Darley THE EIGHTH YEERE OF HER RAIGNE Anno Domini 1565. DARLEY in the meane time by the intercession of his Mother with Prayers and diligence to Queene ELIZABETH obtained though with much difficultie leaue to goe into Scotland and to stay there three Moneths vnder pretext to be partaker of his Fathers establishment and came to Edenborrough in the Moneth of February in the great winter when the Thames was so frozen that people passed dry ouer on foot Hee was a Youth of a most worthy Carriage fit to beare rule of an excellent composition of members of a milde spirit and of a most sweet behauiour As soone as the Queene of Scotland had seene him she fell in loue with him and to the end to keepe her loue secret in discoursing with Randolph the English Ambassadour in Scotland she often-times intermixt her discourse with the marriage of Leicester and at the same time seekes a dispensation from Rome for Darley shee being so neere in bloud that according to the Popes Ordinance they stood in neede of one This being come
of Desmond who had faithfully promised to performe all the dueties of a loyall Subiect and others who were broken out into ciuill warres To extinguish these Controuersies Queene ELIZABETH calls Desmond into England and makes him Gouernour and Iustice of that Prouince with an Assessor two Lawyers and a Clerke and nominated Warham S. Leger chiefe President a man that had beene long conuersant in Irish affaires About the middle of October the same yeere dyed Thomas Chaloner lately returned Ambassadour from Spaine a famous man borne in London brought vp at Cambridge who had addicted himselfe as well to Mars as to the Muses and being but young got honour vnder Charles the fifth in the expedition of Alger who hauing suffered ship-wrack and had swomme so long that his strength and armes fayled him saued himselfe by taking hold of a Cable with his teeth whereof he lost some Vnder EDVVARD the Sixth at Mussleborrough where hee behaued himselfe so valiantly that the Duke of Sommerset honoured him with the Dignitie of Knight-hood And vnder Queene ELIZABETH in an extraordinary Ambassie to the Emperour Ferdinand and foure yeeres ordinary Ambassadour in Spaine where he composed fiue Bookes in pure and learned Verse of the restauration of the English Common-wealth which he called Hieme in fumo aestate in horreo Hee was honourably buried at Saint Pauls in London Cecill being chiefe mourner when Thomas his Sonne who liued neere HENRY Prince of Wales was very yong THE NINTH YEERE OF HER RAIGNE Anno Domini 1566. IN the beginning of the yeere Charles the 9. King of France sent into England to the Queene Rambouillet with the Robes of the order of S. Michael to bee giuen to two of the Peeres of England whom shee pleased She made choice of the Duke of Norfolke as being much more noble then any other and to the Earle of Leicester louing him very well Rambouillet hauing beene for and in the Name of his King placed honourably at Windsor amongst the Knights of the Order of Saint George inuested them solemnly in the Royall House at Westminster This shee tooke for a great honour remembring her selfe that no English was euer honoured with this Order saue HENRY the Eighth EDVVARD the Sixth and Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolke But when she exactly obserued all things that belonged to the honour of it she was at length much displeased to see it so vilified that it was prostituted indifferently to euery man And shee busied her selfe not onely in things concerning honour but chiefely what was for the good of her Subiects For the Ayre beeing so intemperate that yeere that experienced men feared a want of Corne and other victuals she did not onely prohibit any Corne to be carried out of the Kingdome but tooke care that great quantity was brought in While these things past Henry Earle of Arundell being great and powerfull among the Lords of the Realme after hauing consumed much wealth vpon a vaine hope to marry the Queene and the Earle of Leicester who then was in great credit with her and his friends which had failed in the trust which hee reposed in them taking away this hope quite from him tooke leaue of her and voluntarily went out of the Kingdome vnder colour to recouer his health but in effect to strengthen himselfe against sorrow But the other English who for their naturall valour thought themselues borne to liue in Armes and not in idlenes seeing the Nobility of all parts did rise at the report of the warre against the Turke and carried their Armes and Courages into Hungarie Amongst whom the most remarkeable were Iohn Smith cousin german to EDVVARD the Sixth by the Sister of I. Seimor the Kings Mother H. Champernon P. Butshid R. Greuill G. George T. Cotton c. In Iune following the Queene of Scotland had a most auspicious and happy Deliuery for the eternall prosperity of Great Brittaine IAMES her Sonne who is now Monarch thereof whereof she gaue present notice to Queene ELIZABETH by Iohn Meluin Queene ELIZABETH howsoeuer angry to see her out-strip her in honour who enuied her as speedily sent H. Killigrewe to congratulate her lying in and the birth of her Sonne and to admonish her not to fauour any longer Shan O-Neale who rebelled in Ireland nor to assist Roquerbay an English Fugitiue and to punish some theeues that rob'd vpon the Borders After hauing vn-wearied her minde by a Progresse to shew herselfe as fauourable to the Muses of Oxford as well as of Cambridge betweene which there was then a sincere emulation goes toward the Vniuersitie of Oxford where she was magnificently entertained and staid there full seuen dayes taking pleasure in the pleasant aspect of the place at the beauty of the Colledges in the spirits and learning of most exquisit Schollers which passed the nights in Comedies and the dayes in learned Disputations for which she gaue them ample thankes by a most sweet discourse in Latine and a most louing farewell As soone as shee was returned to London the States of the Kingdome assembled there the first day of Nouember beeing the day assigned and after hauing established a Statute or two they begun to dispute among themselues of the Succession of the Kingdome seeing that the Queene hauing vowed Virginity had already reigned eight yeeres without thinking seriously of an Husband that on the one side the Papists made account of the Queene of Scots who had lately had a Sonne that on the other side the Protestants being deuided some of them made account of one and some of another and euery particular prouiding for their safety and Religion presaged the stormes of a most fearefull time if shee should dye without assuring a Successor And the keener sort of spirits proceeded so far as to blame her as if she abandoned both her Country and Posteritie and to teare by reprochfull defaming Libels wicked Councellor therein and to curse Huic her Phisicion because he disswaded her to marry for I know not what womanish infirmity The Earles of Pembroke and Leicester were openly and the Duke of Norfolke couertly of opinion that a necessity of marriage should be imposed vpon her or else publikely to appoint a Successor by authority of the Parliament whether she would or no which caused them to bee forbidden to enter into the Priuie Chamber or come neere the Queene who neuerthelesse granted them pardon as soone as they demanded it They neuerthelesse being much troubled and all the rest of the vpper House of Parliament touching the Succession all with one mind by the mouth of Bacon Keeper of the great Scale according to the dutie which they ought vnto God the fidelity to their Prince and the charity to their Countrie so to doe that as by her meanes they then sweetly enioyed all the benefits of Peace Iustice and Clemency they and their posterity might by her meanes likewise enioy the same assuredly and continually But
bee thought not to respect her who had been wife to the King his brother and now the Dowager of France and to neglect the now puissant Family of the Guizes in France or to approoue that pernicious example of deposing of Kings And which was the most capitall point of all that shee finding her selfe abandoned of the French in her aduersity might seeke Patronage from Spaine and that by her meanes the three prepotent Realmes of England Scotland and Ireland might colleague them in amity with Spaine to the no small endamagement of the State of France To these Qu. ELIZABETH with milde alacrity answered THe King of France will be well aduised what or how he shall doe with the Queene of Scotland notwithstanding she was their Queene and now is their Dowager howbeit for the dissoluing of the Duke of Aniou's mariages she hath held secret cōsultation with the Spaniard He will also consider whether that ancient Law of Alliance be violable and whether he be bound therby or no to defend the King in his nonage He will also bethinke him how much France is beholden or obliged to the Family of the Guizes by whose practices the Countrey hath beene afflicted with long and bloody wars the French haue beene forced to lose the loue of Scotland and the poore Queene brought into this calamitable case she is in In very deed the example of deposing Kings I hold a thing most pernicious and well deseruing infernall punishment but for that the Scots are to answere And for mine owne part I call to mind the things which grieue my heart to remember But notwithstanding I know not how the French in old times allowed of Pepin when he supplanted Childeric Hugo Capet Charles of Lorraine depriuing them of their ancient successions descended to them from a long-continued Race of Ancestors to transferre the Scepter to new-erected Families As also Philip surnamed the good Duke of Burgundie exiled Iaquette from his countries of Hainault Holland or the Danes when they expulst from his Kingdome Christianus the second and his Daughters Or the Spaniards who imprisoned the Queene Vraca after they had put her from the Crowne It is no nouelty for Sonnes to succeed their deposed Mothers So Henry the Second was admitted King of England Alphonsus the yonger Sonne of Vraca King of Castill and of late memory Charles the fifth King of Spaine and Sicily their Mothers then suruiuing The world is full of examples of many Queenes that haue exchanged their Diademes for prisons which France doth testifie at large hauing imprisoned not to say further the wiues of three of their Kings one after another Lewes Hutin Philip the long and Charles the faire For my part I detaine the Queene of Scots vnder a reasonable Guard but I doe it for the preseruation of England and mine owne safety after the example of the French who for their better security of affaires put Chilperic into a Monasterie Charles of Lorraine into a safe and straite prison and Lodowicke Sforza Duke of Mylan into a Dungeon with Iron grates Whereunto as she was very conuersant in the Histories of all Nations shee annexed other examples of the same nature drawne out of the Historie of Spaine and finally concluded that true it was such Presidents carried euer with them some semblance of Iniustice but she required that the King of France would vndertake the defence of the Queene of Scotland euen as he was bound by his Allyance intimating that it would bee an action of greater glory to the French than all those vnhappy enterprizes they assumed in the cause of that infamous woman Iane of Naples But when it was discouered that at the same time the Queene of Scots practised secretly to confirme an alliance with the Spaniard by the negotiations of the Lord Seton who arriuing in Essex disguised in the habit of a Mariner and returning from thence into Scotland through England hee had promised succours in the Duke of Aluaes name to the Scottish partakers with the Queene shee was kept with a straighter Guard and the affection borne to her by the French by little and little waxed cold And certainely as the Duke of Alua omitted nothing wherein he might vent his hatred to Queene ELIZABETH so was shee no lesse cautelous to preuent it and frustrate his dissignes For in the first moneths of this yeere hee complained by the Spanish Ambassadour in England that the Flemmish Rebels bought all their warlike munition there and were receiued into all her Ports and Hauens shee presently by a strict Proclamation commanded that all Flemmings any wayes suspected of sedition should depart out of England and that their ships of warlike equipage should be seysed vpon in her harbours All which returned to the dammage of the Duke of Alua. For Humes Earle of March and other Flemmings reduced as it were to a desperate poynt whether they were terrified by this Proclamation or that they were vnder-hand admonished to retyre but they presently surprised the Breele which is seated vpon the mouth of the Meuse caused Flushing forthwith to reuolt and other Townes which expelled the Spaniards as they were in hand to make cittadels to captiuate their libertie in a short time cut off the Duke of Alua by Sea and through the meanes they had to make it good for themselues had a power to molest and detaine the Spaniard with a long and tedious warre wherein Souldiers haue obserued that hee shewed for his part such palpable carelessenesse and negligence as was not beseeming so great a Generall who for the space of foure whole yeeres grossely ouer-slipt the maritime affaires and expeditions of Flanders At the same time there was a famous generall muster before the Queene at Greenwich with a pleasant trayning in Armes by the Citizens of London and after their returne from thence martiall men who began to rust and corrupt in their owne houses began to flow out of England into Flanders and according as they stood affected betooke themselues some to the Duke of Alua and others the farre greater number to the Prince of Orange who opposed his proiects for the defence of Religion and his Countries libertie Amongst whom Sir Thomas Morgan was the first that brought three hundred men into Flushing vpon the report whereof the Duke who intended the recouery of it forbare and retyred Further hee vsed such expedition and diligence as hee caused greater troupes to come for after himselfe there landed nine Companies more of English conducted by Humfrey Gilbert who being consorted with the French first attempted to surprize Scluse and Bruges then hee set vpon Tergow in Suethebenelant But their scaling-Ladders being too short hollow correspondancie betweene the French and the English and Mondragon comming on with fresh succours for the assieged they retyred to Flushing of which both the one and the other sought to make themselues masters each to themselues But the Prince of Orange made good vse of this
ordinarily fals out comming at last to be neglected and contemned the vse of them grew out of request From the Month of Nouember in the precedent yeere Charles the Ninth King of France had a Daughter borne The King to make sure with Queene ELIZABETH and aswell to render her fauourable by all offices of humanitie and to take away from the Protestants of France all hope of succour from England intreated her to receiue her at the sacred Font of Baptisme and to this end as also to obtaine some certaine Moneyes from her hee sent into England De Gondy vulgarly called the Count of Rez who by an elaborate discourse indeuoured to perswade her that they had made the Massacre of Paris which some could call by no other name than a great and capitall wickednesse hee a safe and wholesome remedy not in hatred of the Protestant Religion but to dissipate the conspiracy of the Admirall Coligni and others and that the King most inuiolably kept the Edicts touching Religion That shee would not giue eare to those fearefull spirits that did nothing but adde to their owne affrightment and causelesly complaine but that Shee would religiously conserue the alliance of the new contract and exhort them to obey the King assuring her that they should finde him most mercifull To which shee promised to be mindefull of the Alliance and that shee would not faile the King in any thing that was fitting and agreeable for a most affectionate Ally but for the Money shee excused her selfe Nor did he demand it but as a designe to giue impeachment to her ayding of the Protestants in case they should require it after shee had made deniall of it to the King of France And surely shee tooke occasion from hence to make refusall of it to them calling to minde how euilly they had requited her for that which shee had lent them in their first Ciuill Warre By this Ambassage the Count of Rez obtained that from that time the Protestants found lesse fauour with her than they had done before A little after the Lord Somerset Earle of Worcester was sent into France with a Baptistrey of Gold for in Qu. ELIZABETHS name to promise the duetie of a Godmother at the christening of the French Kings Daughter with the Lady Mary the Emperours Wife and the Deputies of the Duke of Sauoy This arriuing to the knowledge of the Protestants of France and Flanders who at the same time were as Pirats vpon the Sea they suspecting the said Earle of Worcester to be a Papist mist him narrowly for they robbed two of his Ships and slew diuers of his people at which Queene ELIZABETH being highly offended sent to Sea Sir William Holstoc Controller of the Royall-Nauy who as much by his taking as chasing of them recouered some Ships loden with goods and purged the Sea of such And forasmuch as the most part of them had vowed their seruice to the Count de-Mont-Gommery who then was in England for helpe to succour those of Rochell besieged it hindered his dispatch parting from thence late and with so little an Army that hee did no good at all to Rochell This occasioned the French Protestants refuged in England being much moued to vse in iniurious manner some other Allens being French Papists in hatred of contrary Religion yea they assaulted them armed and among others the seruants of Monsieur Flery secretly sent into England from the Duke of Aniou to treat of a match with Queene ELIZABETH whereof Monsieur le Vidame de Chartres not knowing his comming accused Flery before the Councell of State as to be come of purpose and hyred to kill the said Earle of Mont-Gommery The ordinary Ambassadour of France contrariwise complained to the Queene that against the Alliance the Earle of Mont-Gommery had through the helpe of England vndertaken a voyage to Rochell and the English Merchants furnished the besieged Towne with victuals and prouisions To this her Maiesty answered THat she had alwayes inuiolably kept and would still to future times keepe her promise mentioned in the alliance That this aide and Succour was compounded of Pyrats and Vagabonds who could not tarry in their Countries and that they were parted out of England without her command vnder false Ensigne and that shee desired they should bee punished Moreouer that such English Merchants basely dealt withall in Bourdeaux were gone to Rochell without leaue and that men of their calling and kind vsed to sayle euery where chiefly where their profit and gaine was greater Shee likewise required that in stead of Rochell they should appoynt in France some Hauen-Towne more commodious for Negotiations The French were much pleased with this answer being assured that Qu. ELIZABETH would still keepe promise and that shee was so farre from sending helpe to the Protestants of France who expected none from her The King of France and his Mother loued intirely more and more Queene ELIZABETH seeing her Maiesty bore vnto them a true amitie and sincere affection they made the Duke of Alanzon write many amorous Letters vnto her from the Royall Campe before Rochell endeuouring with much care and no lesse pain to bring that marriage to passe that whole yeere by their Leger Ambassadour Monsieur de Chasteau-Neuf extraordinarily sent to that effect And truely her Maiesty was moued to consider it seriously by a double apprehension shee had both for the want of a Husband and Children The first was that her Maiesty should perhaps be contemned by her owne Subiects The second that forreiners would plot wicked practices against her Scepter her Maiesty was perswaded and said often that a Husband and Progeny are firme Fortresses against it her Courtiers contrarywise ayming at their particular ends maintained THat true Religion and Equitie were assured Forts and defensiue Rockes against all sorts of plots and designes That her Maiestie ought not to apprehend to be despised or contemned by her subiects for they had settled their fortunes ankered their hopes and grounded their solace vpon her Maiestie onely as much obliged vnto her by a long race of Ancestors affecting and taking pleasure more and more in the contemplation and admiration of her splendant and lustrous vertues With such other discourses familiar to Courtiers But as her Maiesty had often in her mouth that the most part contemned the setting Sunne these Flatterers alledged WHat is hee that will contemne the salutiferous Beames of a Sunne brightly shining for to aspect the fatall and confounded light of little Starres which rise all at once So they often termed her Competitors Among these things the Queene-Mother of France prayed her Maiestie to be so farre pleased as to permit that the Duke of Alanzon her Sonne might passe into England to see her which request finally Queene ELIZABETH granted wearied with the multiplicity of Letters sent to her Maiestie to that end prouided hee should not repute her leaue fraudulous or iniurious if hee should
caried her selfe more difficultly neither would she heare those which would assure the Lady Arbella borne in England to be next to King Charles her Vnkle to the Inheritance in England nor Embassador which would make it appeare by Historie that the Kings of Scotland borne in Scotland had in time past by hereditarie right succeeded in the Countie of Huntington and he instantly besought her that she would not denie a Prince her neerest Kinsman that right of inhabitance which she vouchsafed to vnknowne Strangers But she commanded that the Reuenues should be sequestred in the hands of the Lord Burghley Gardian of the Pupils and warneth the King to satisfie Creditors out of the Earle of Lenox his goods in Scotland She tooke it impatiently that it should be suggested that the King would reuoke the infeoffement of the Earledome of Lenox to the preiudice of the Lady Arbella although by the Regall right of Scotland it alwaies hath beene lawfull to reuoke Donations hurtfull to the Kingdome and done in minoritie The Counsell of England doe not hold it conuenient and fit that the Treatie of Edenborough should be confirmed thinking it yet to stand firme They require that the Embassadour would propound something that might somwhat recompence the fauors and friendship that the Queen had manifested to the King who spared not the Blood of the English in his defence and consolidate a friendship Whereupon he propounds according to his instructions That a League may be made not Offensiue but Defensiue and with mutuall succours against the Pope and his confederates with certaine Lawes against those which should attempt any thing against either Kingdome and Rebels vnder pretence of Religion But besides these the English thinke it Iust that seeing the Queene had not omitted nor would omit any thing for the defence of the King and that for this cause she had incurred the Indignation of many That the States of the Kingdome of Scotland should giue caution that so long as the King is vnder age he should not contract nor renew couenants with any neither to marrie nor be sent out of Scotland without the Queenes aduice But these things being of such moment require to be exactly and circumspectly considered and are put backe to Scotland till another time In the meane time Morton who indeed was of a most eager and sharpe disposition trusting in his long experience and multitude of his vassals thinking nothing wel done but what he did himselfe not being able to endure to be lesse than he had been contemning his Colleagues and reiecting the manner of administration prescribed tooke againe the managing of affaires and detained the King in his power in the Castle of Sterlin admitting and denying entrance to whom he pleased The Peeres prouoked therewith tooke the Earle of Athole to be their Generall and in the Kings name summoned all that were aboue fourteene yeeres of age and vnder sixtie to meete together with Armes and Victuals to deliuer the King and true many came and hauing displaid their Colours marched towards Faukirk where Morton presented himselfe with his men But Sir Robert Bowes the English Embassadour interceding hindered them from comming to blowes Morton being vext to see how matters went presently retires to his House The Earle dyed as quickly and left a suspition that he was poysoned Which thing those that were moued against Morton tooke that aboue all to increase their hatred vntill they brought him to his ruine as we shall say hereafter This yeere nothing of note was done in Ireland But the Spaniard and Pope Gregorie the thirteenth prouiding for their owne profit vnder shadow of restoring Religion held secret counsell how at one time to inuade both Ireland and England and dispossesse Queene ELIZABETH who was the surest defence of the Protestants Religion The Pope he was to conquer Ireland for his Sonne Iames Bon-Compagnon whom he had created Marquis of Vignoles The Spaniard secretly to succour the Irish Rebels as Queen ELIZABETH had done the Hollanders while he entertained Parlies of friendship with her to enioy if he could the Kingdome of England by the Popes authoritie and then the States her confederates he could easily reduce to a course which he despaired to doe vnlesse he were Lord of the Sea and this hee saw could not be done vnlesse hee were first Lord of England And it is not to be doubted but that as he holds Naples Sicilie and Nauarre of the Popes liberalitie so most willingly would he hold England as a Beneficiarie ought to doe Those which know the principall strength of England consists in the Nauie Royall and in Merchants Shippes which are built for Warre thought it were good to fraught the Merchants Shippes for some long voyage by Italians and Flemmish Merchants and whilest they are vpon their voyage this Royall Fleet might be ouer-whelmed by a greater At the same time Thomas Stukeley an English Fugitiue of whom I haue spoken in the yeere 1570 ioyned to his Forces the Rebels of Ireland by this notable subtiltie and his great ostentation and shew and the promises which he made of the Kingdome of Ireland to the Popes base Sonne he had so wonne the fauour of this ambitious old man that he honoured him with the Titles of Marquis of Lemster Earle of Wexford and Caterlaughie Viscount Mourough and Baron of Rosse all of them remarkeable Places in Ireland and made him Generall of eight thousand Italians payd by the King of Spaine for the Warres of Ireland With which Forces hauing weighed Anker from the Ciuita Vecchia in the end he arriued in Portugal at the entry of Tage where a greater power by the Diuine Prouidence puft downe these that threatned England and Ireland For Sebastian King of Portugal to whom the whole expedition was committed because in the heate of his youth and ambition he had promised the Pope to goe against the Turkes and Protestants and employ all his power being drawne into Africa by Mahomet Sonne of Abdalla King of Fesse by great promises treates with Stukeley to goe before with these Italians to Mauritania And Stukeley being easily wonne to that knowing that the Spaniard disdaining that the Sonne of a Pope should be designed King of Ireland had consented to it hoisted saile with Sabastian and by an honest Catastrophe there he ended a dissolute life in a memorable combate Wherein dyed three Kings Sebastian Mahomet and Abdalemelech If this fate of Sebastians had not altered the King of Spaines mind from inuading England in hope of the Kingdome of Portugal England had felt a terrible storme of warre if credit may be giuen to English Fugitiues For they report that the great forces which hee had begun to rayse in Italy to showre vpon England were stayed for the taking of Portugal And being that his minde was wholly bent vpon that hee could not be made to thinke of England although the English Fugitiues earnestly sollicited him and for that businesse the Pope
Councell concerning my affaires and Country for that were extreame indiscretion You know how my Aduersaries triumph in Scotland both ouer mee and my imprisoned son I haue attempted nothing in Scotland to your preiudice but to stablish a solide peace in the Realme hauing by so much the more a greater care then your Councellors by how much my interest there is more then theirs I haue desired to gratifie my son with the title of King to confirme him and to burie all discords Is that to take the Diadem from him But the enemies of me and my family will not haue it confirmed It is that that they dread whilst they carie in their heart a witnesse against themselues finding themselues culpable of euills apprehend they should bee dealt with accordingly Let not these and others my aduersaries so blind your eyes that during your life and in your sight they shall beare downe your nearest kindred and ruinate both the Crownes as to that end they are plotting villanies against me against my son and perhaps against you also Can it be any pleasure or honor to you that I and my son that you and we are by their meanes so long seeluded and kept asunder Resume your naturall goodnesse and meeknesse oblige your selfe to your selfe and seeing you are a Princesse be tender hearted to me a Princesse the nearest of your consanguinity that all things being set in quiet betwixt vs I may passe the more peacefully out of this life and that the sighes and sobbes of my afflicted soule ascend not to God on high To whose diuine power I present my daily prayers that these my iust complaints and sorrowfull laments my take place with you From Sheffield 8. Nouemb. 1582. Vostre tres-desolée plus proche parente affectionnée soeur MARIE R THE SIXE AND TWENTIETH YEERE of Her Raigne Anno Dom. M.D.LXXXIII ELIZABETH Queen of England being sundry wayes moued with these Letters after she had giuen permission to the French Ambassador La Mottef together with Dauison her owne Ambassador to goe into Scotland and had chosen out a time wherin he might opportunely meet with the Duke of Lenox vnawares then returning out of Scotland she her selfe kindely receiued Lenox yet gently blaming him for being somwhat slack in the Scottish affaires and forthwith sent Beale Clerke of her Priuie Councell for the dispatch of her Letters being indeed a man very austere and sharpe to the Queene of Scots to manifest the discontent of Queene ELIZABETH at the sight of her complaining Letters and by the same meanes to treat with the Earle of Shrewsbury concerning her enlargement because she oftentimes before with sundry Letters had sollicited for it and intreated that shee might yet at last her security being established to her inioy her libertie and be an associate with her sonne in the administration of Scotland Vpon these things was the Priuy Councell of England assembled where after serious debating and deliberate consultations it was at length agreed that the Queene of Scots should be set at libertie vnder these following conditions THat if she and her sonne would promise not to enterprise any thing to the preiudice of Queene ELIZABETH or the Realme of England That shee would confesse that whatsoeuer Francis the second King of France her husband had vndertaken and performed was altogether against her will and liking and that shee would disproue and disanull it as vniust That shee would confirme the Treaty holden at Edenbourgh That shee would freely and ingenuously confesse and discouer all other complots intendments which were since that time forged and would vtterly condemne the same That if shee would enter into obligation not to plot or doe any thing directly or indirectly to the impeachment of the gouernment or administration of the Kingdome of England either in things Ecclesiasticall or Ciuill but to resist and hinder all those that should undertake in what manner so euer any thing to the contrary and to withstand them as enemies That she would not during the life of Queene ELIZABETH claime any Right or Title to the Kingdome of England and after her death to submit and referre the right of succession to the iudgement of the Estates If she also to cut off all equiuocations and mentall reseruations and to forestall all pretended excuses that shee as a Prisoner accorded and condiscended to these conditions or being in a manner constrained would confirme all these by her aoth and the publique authoritie of the States of Scotland If the King likewise would ratifie the self-same conditions both by oath and writing and for the more assurance would deliuer hostages for the performance As concerning the association which the Queene of Scots demanded to haue with her sonne in the gouernment of the Kingdome it was holden expedient by the Councell that the Queene of England should not intermeddle therewith But if they could agree vpon the association between themselues then should the League be ioyntly treated of with them both but if otherwise then apart with either seuerally Thus these things were debated on yet without any successe For the Scots which were of the English faction altogether reiected them crying out aloud that certaine Scots sworne enemies to England by the Councell of the Queene of Scots were recalled out of France and that Holt an English Iesuite was secretly sent into Scotland there to attend a fit opportunitie to inuade England Then there arose strife betweene Monsieur de La Mottef and Monsieur de Maninguill Ambassadors of France of the one part and Bowes and Dauison Ambassadors for England on the other side which of them by insinuating should induce the King to the greater affectation of their Nation or purchase the greater number to their party vntill at length that with oblique designes they ingenuously became Counsellors either to other The King himselfe became as it were Mediator and knowing how to temper things honest with things profitable without prouing any way deficient either to the Church or the Common-wealth hee wisely endeuoured rather to calme the raging stormes of these factions then intermeddle with them But the Ministers of Scotland being by a certaine zeale prouoked against the French vpon the same day that La Mottef was by the Citizens of Edenborough inuited to a Feast appointed a Fast and the whole day vvith taunts and mocks derided and scoffed the King of France the Duke of Guise and the Ambassadors And as the Ministers did this openly so certain of the Scotch Nobilitie parties with the English ceased not to persecute the French Ambassadors secretly in such sort that first La Mottef retired himselfe and after him Maninguil leauing notwithstanding some certaine seeds of discord amongst those who had seaz'd and kept the Kings Person As soone as they were departed the King presented by Colonell Stuart and I. Coluil all affection and seruice to the Queene of England requesting her counsell for the allaying of troubles and also
for the rebellion had spoiled and deuasted the same But some of those that had Commission for the enquiry and searching out of the possessions of the Rebels and others that were to prize and set the same to hyre began to expell and chase from their possessions with such violence those who were true subiects that the Queen was constrained to represse them by an Edict lest the violent auarice of some particular men might kindle and inflame a new rebellion In which the Vice-Roy tooke much laudable paines although by the English he was accused and blamed for being too indulgent and fauorable to the Irish and too too rough to them But he equally distributing iustice to either part by fauouring as well the Irish as the English brought the Prouince into a most desired tranquilitie and with a milde and gentle command subiected to the obedience of the Lawes the most barbarous inhabitants of the same holding the Scotchmen of Hebrides that from their Ilands did breake into Ireland to a hard taske And inforc'd Donel Gormi that is to say blue with his brother Mac-Conel who had possest thēselues of the little Country of Glinnes and Surley-boy that is to say Red their Vncle that had inuaded the Countrey of Rout neighbouring and adioyning to the Iland Richnee now called Raclis to such a point that after many of their kindred were ouercome and slaine by the valorous exploits of Captaine Meriman they receiued the oath of allegeance to the Queene accepting from her Maiesty certaine Lands in that corner vnder conditions that they should serue the Kings of England onely in their warres and not any other whatsoeuer without their permission that they should furnish forth vpon any expedition a sufficient number of horse and foot and that a certaine number of Beeues and Hawkes should euery yeare be truely paid Thus much for what hath past in Ireland THE SEVEN AND TWENTIETH YEERE of Her Raigne Anno Dom. M.D.LXXXIV DIVERS Scots that had compacted with Gowry who now againe was plotting of new stratagems to get the King of Scots into his power secretly returned from Ireland into Scotland vpon the entrie of the Spring There they protested openly that their intent was onely for the honour of God the truth of Religion and to secure the King the Realme and the League with England against those that with wicked deuices would seduce the King not being as yet of sufficient age The King hauing notice of these things hee forthwith commanded Colonell Stuart to apprehend before all Gowry the chiefe Architect of the conspiracy who presently retired himself to a Port called Dundey as though he would haue departed the Kingdome where he knowing himselfe guilty despising the Kings authoritie obstinately withstood them and defended himselfe in his lodging but after two houres he was apprehended and led to prison In the meane while the Conspirators surprising the town of Sterlin they constrained the Castle to yeeld But vnderstanding that the King was marching towards them in person with an armie and finding themselues but weakely accompanied in respect of the number vvhich Gowry had promised them also in vaine attending succours out of England they forsooke their hold And as euery one being full of feare sought to shift for himselfe the Earles of Marre Glan and Angus holding together vvith others took their flight through many by-wayes into England humbly requesting the Queene to releeue them in their afflictions and bee an intercessor for them to their King seeing that they vvere depriued both of their fortunes and the Kings fauour by endeuouring for the good of her and her Kingdome The King on the contrary accused them to the Queene of many hainous things demanding according to the league of alliance betweene them that they might bee deliuered into his hands But there were some about the Court that perswaded the Queene that they were men most obedient to their King and most desirous of his welfare that hauing him vnder their custody and power yet neuer attempted any thing against his state or person and that law which was vsually expressed in leagues concerning the deliuerie and restoring backe of Rebels was long since abolished and out of vse amongst Princes These men also endeuoured to perswade the King of Scots that he should deale more mildly and gently with men of such and so great ranke and not to driue them as it were headlong through despaire to more bad designes Remonstrating to him that terrour and violence vvere but feeble and vnhappy props of power alledging to that end two tragicall examples drawne out of the Scottish History attributing great praises to his mother Francis her husband that at the first rising of the French ciuill war past ouer the iniuries and offences of the Nobility without regard Walsingham that studiously fauoured the fugitiues by letters commanded that they should bee receiued into the Island called the holy Iland but Hunsdon who shewed himselfe a greater friend to the King of Scots then any other opposed it because the iurisdiction of the place appertained to him as gouernor of the East frontiers hee thought it altogether vnfit that any entrance should be permitted to the Scots in a place of strength neither would he obey the letters of the Secretary without expresse command from the Queene From hence arose a controuersie whether a Secretary could by his authority direct or execute the affaires of his Prince without receiuing speciall command from him and without the counsell of the gouernor of the place What was determined thereupon is not manifest but the Scots were not admitted into the Isle Neuerthelesse it was esteemed expedient that they should be in some sort fauored to oppose the contrary faction which arose in Scotland which was that the Ministers had spred rumored abroad that the King was about to forsake his religion but they could not produce or alledge any argument probable although they had framed many but onely that he was wholy transported with a filiall loue towards his mother and receiued as a most indeered to him those which he knew were affectionate to her In the meane space Gowry was brought to iudgment before the Peeres at Sterlin And was accused to haue plotted a new conspiracy against the King after he had been confin'd prisoner to his house Notwithstanding that the King had lifted him vp to great honours riches and Commands and accounted of him as a kinsman To haue consulted by night which the seruants of Angus for the taking of Perth Sterlin To haue resisted by force of Armes the authority royall at Dundey To haue concealed the conspiracy which was complotted to ruine the King and the Queene his mother And lastly To haue consulted with the sorceresse Maclene To all this he pleaded innocency and an vnspotted faith towards the King He acknowledged the benefits which hee had receiued He complained bitterly of the Earle of Arran as
either Prince or suffer any such person or persons in publike or in priuate to make stay or aboade in their Dominions But either of the said Princes vpon the first notice or request of the Prince from whom they haue reuolted offered shall deliuer or cause to be deliuered vp the said conspirators or Rebels without any delay or procrastination according to the Conuentions in our former Treaties betweene our selues and our predecessors expressed or at least shal compell them to depart out of the bounds of their Dominions And furthermore so long as the said Rebels or conspirators shall remaine in the said Dominions either of the said Princes shall giue reasonable satisfaction for all the wrongs and damages done by the said Rebels The ninth THat to compound for all and singular the iniuries and controuersies which haue hapned since the time that the most excellent King of Scots tooke the gouernment of the Kingdome vpon him and for the space of foure yeares before by reason of the frontier limits or amongst the borderers The Princes shall on either side within six moneths after this league concluded send capable Commissioners desirous of peace well instructed with commands sufficient and proper for the same affaires to some commodious place vpon the frontiers of both Kingdomes which shall determine and end all causes controuersies by a friendly and honorable composition The tenth THat neither of the said Princes shall contract any League or confederation with any other Prince Common-wealth or Communalty whatsoeuer to the preiudice of this present League and vnion without hauing and obtaining an expresse consent from the other by Letters either subscribed with his hand or sealed with his Priuy Seale That both Princes when either of them shall bee duely requested by the Ambassadors or Commissioners of the other shall approue and confirme this holy League of Society both by Oath and vnder the Great Seale And further for the greater assurance and stabilitie of the same shall deliuer or cause to be deliuered Letters Patents at a certaine time which by the mutuall consent of either Prince shall be constituted The eleuenth THat all the precedent Treaties of friendship and Conuentions of Leagues betweene the Predecessors of the said Princes their Kingdomes and Dominions though now seeming out of vse shall remaine in their vertue force and vigour And likewise this present treaty of mutuall alliance and fast friendship shall not derogate in any manner from the precedent Treaties and confederations passed by the said Princes with other their Allies or diminish in any part their waight and authoritie onely excepted the defence of the pure Religion which the said Princes doe defend and exercise at this present in their Kingdomes in which manner we vnderstand that this present League of offence and defence in its owne force shall remaine ratified and inviolable That when the King of Scotland shall come to the age of fiue and twenty yeares he shall so soon as he conueniently may approue and confirme by a publique assembly of his Kingdome this present League Likewise the Queenes Maiestie shall doe and accomplish the same thing and shall cause to be done and accomplished in the Court of Parliament by the Nobility and other states of the Kingdomes of England and Ireland In the same moneth that this League was concluded of a most pernicious conspiracy was discouered against Queene ELIZABETH of which in as few words as may possible be I will expound the originall and progresse according to that which I haue extracted out of the voluntary confessions of the conspirators Some out of the English Seminarie at Rheims admiring as it were with astonishment a certaine omnipotency in the Pope of Rome beleeuing that the Bull of Pius Quintus against Queene ELIZABETH was dictated to him by the Holy Ghost perswaded themselues and others also that desired the glory of being Martyrs that it was a meritorious thing to murder such as were excommunicate yea and a martyrdome to dye in such a cause Giffard Doctor in Diuinity Gilbert Giffard and Hodgeson Priests so farre possessed the minde of Iohn Sauage with these things who was reputed to be a bastard a man ready at all assayes that hee freely and voluntarily vowed to murder Queene ELIZABETH And to make men beleeue that they desired to assure the Queene and her Counsellors they published a booke at the same time wherein they admonished the Papists of England not to enterprize any thing against their Queene but with their teares which are the weapons of Christians to combate against her enemies And also by this meanes they dispersed a false rumor that George Giffard a Gentleman of the Queenes Guard had sworne to murder her and to that end was by the Guise hyred with large summes of money In Easter Holydayes Iohn Ballard Priest of the same Seminary after hee had visited many Papists in England and Scotland and had sounded their minds hee returned into France accompanied with Maude Walsinghams Spy a most crafty dissembler that had seduced his easie nature and treated vvith Barnardino Mendoza then Leidger for the King of Spaine in France and Charles Paget who was wholly deuoted to the Queene of Scots about the meanes to inuade England representing to him the apt opportunitie of the time which then vvas because the men of warre were then absent and busied in the Low-Countries neither was there a fitter time to bee hoped for because the Pope Spaniard Guise and Parma had then determined to inuade England to diuert the warres from the Netherlands But Paget clearely demonstrated that it would be in vaine to goe about to inuade England so long as the Queene was liuing Ballard neuerthelesse was sent backe after hee had sworne to procure speedy succours to them that should inuade and the liberty of the Queene of Scots At Whitsontide this Priest ariued in England apparelled in Silks in the habite of a Souldier and by a borrowed name called himselfe Captaine Foscue Hee consulted at London about these things with Anthony Babington of Dethicke in Darbyshire a yong man of a famous house of a haughty spirit in learning surpassing his age and very zealous to the Roman religion who without leaue had before passed into France vnknowne and there became familiar with Thomas Morgan a seruant to the Queene of Scots and the Bishop of Glasco her Ambassador who continually sounded in the eares of his ambitious yong man the heroicall vertues of the great Queene of Scots in whose seruice hee might obtaine the meanes to rise to great Honours Whereupon the yong man conceiued a certaine hope and Morgan without his knowledge commended him by Letters to the Queene For after that he was returned into England the Queene of Scots graciously saluted him with her Letters after that Morgan made vse of him for conueyance of Letters to and fro vntill such time that she was deliuered into the custody of Poulet then he perceiuing the danger
that blood cryeth for blood and to be seuere vpon her cannot but seeme a thing cruell and bloody That the K. of France would endeuour seriously to dissolue the designes of those which conspired against Queen Elizabeth and that the Guises the Queen of Scotland's kinsmen should swear and subscribe to do the same who would take it very grieuously if she were put to death and perhaps would not suffer it vnreuenged Finally they required she should not be handled with such rigorous and extraordinary iudgement for if shee were the King of France could not but take it as a most grieuous offence howsoeuer the other Princes tooke it To euery one of these Articles answer was made in the Margent That the Queene of England hoped that the most Christian king of France made no lesse reckoning of her than of the Queene of Scotland who had practised her destruction she being an innocent Princesse her neere Kinswoman and in league of Alliance with the King of France That it is expedient for Kings and their Countries that wicked actions be not left vnpunished especially against Princes That the English who acknowledge Queen Elizabeth the sole Supreame Gouernesse of England cannot at once acknowledge two Soueraignes free and absolute Princes nor any other whilst she liued could participate in equalitie with her Neither could she perceiue how the Queene of Scotland and her Sonne which then raigned could be held at once for Soueraigne and absolute Princes Whether that the safetie of Queene Elizabeth be exposible to greater perils shee being put to death seeing it dependeth vpon future contingencie That the Estates of England hauing well weighed this point are otherwise conceited namely That whilst shee liueth there will alwaies be new plots of mischiefe breeding especially because it is now come to that issue that there is no hope left for the one if the other be not extinct and this saying should often present it selfe to her mind Either I shall dispatch her or shee me And the lesser time her life shall last the more celeritie will the Conspirators vse to execute their plots That hitherto she would neuer renounce her claime and challenge to the English Crowne and therefore was for iust cause to be detained in prison and detained must be till she renounce it although she came to England for succour and support And for what cause soeuer she was put in prison she is to be punished for the faults she hath cōmitted since the time of her imprisonment That the Queene of England had pardoned her before when shee was condemned of all the Estates for consenting to the Rebellion in the North the which was raised to haue made the Maryage betwixt her and tbe Duke of Norfolke and to pardon her againe were imprudent and cruell mercy That none are ignorant of that Maxime of the Lawyers An offender found within the Territorie of another is to be punished where he is found to haue committed the fault without respect of Dignitie Honour or Priuiledge And that the same is permitted as well by the Lawes of England as also by the examples of Licinius Robert King of Sicilie Bernard King of Italy Conradine Elizabeth Queene of Hungary Ioan Queene of Naples and of Deiotarus for whom Cicero pleading said It is not a thing vniust though vnusuall for a King to be arraigned His very words are these Primùm dico pro capite fortunisque Regis quod ipsum etsi non iniquum est in tuo duntaxat periculo tamen est ita inusitatum Regem capitis reum esse tante hoc tempus non sit auditum That shee that hath beene found guiltie by a iust Iudgement ought to vndergoe punishment forasmuch as that which is Iust is Honest and that which is Honest is also profitable That the History of Porsenna hath no allusion to the matter in question except it were to be thought that there are a great number yet behinde of them which conspire against Queene Elizabeth and so could perswade her out of feare and some little respect of honour to dismisse the Queene of Scotland without putting her to any paine as Porsenna past off Mutius after Mutius had told him there was yet 300. more of his Fellow-Confederates which had sworne his death Besides that Mutius set vpon Porsenna in open warre and assured himselfe that by sending Mutius away he was out of all danger That blood is to be spared but that is innocent blood That God hath said Blood cryeth for blood it is true and that France both before the Massacre of Paris since cā testifie this That punishment by death iustly inflicted cannot be accounted bloody no more than a wholsome medicine can be deem'd hurtfull Howsoeuer the Guises the Queene of Scotlands Cousens relish it Queene Elizabeth hath more nearer cause to respect her selfe her owne safetie her Nobilitie and the good of her People on whose loue shee wholly dependeth than the discontent of any other whosoeuer And that the matter was now at that point that the old Prouerbe of the two Princes Conradine the King of Sicilie and Charles the Duke of Anjou might be vsed and truly said of these two Queens THE DEATH OF MARY THE LIFE OF ELIZABETH And THE LIFE OF MARY THE DEATH OF ELIZABETH The promises of the French King or the Guises cannot secure the Queene of England nor the Realme of assured safetie much lesse make amends for her death if she be made away That the French King cannot discouer or keepe in the plots of Treason which are practised against him in his owne Country much lesse this against the Queene of England for that Treason is closely carryed and therefore ineuitable And if the wicked act were once committed what good would come on it to claime their promises How can the life of an incomparable Prince after death be repaired and what redresse can be found out for the Common-wealth failing with her in this sad confusion of all things That the hand-writings or oathes of the Guises can be of no great moment for that they hold it a meritorius matter to put to death the Pope of Romes Aduersaries and may easily haue a dispensation of their oath And when Queene Elizabeth shall be slaine and the Queene of Scotland which is of the House of the Guises aduanced to the Royaltie who is he will accuse them for her death or if they should be accused that can bring her to life againe But in that the Ambassadours haue said That the Iudgement was rigorous and extraordinary they haue spoken indiscreetly for they saw neither the proceedings of the businesse nor heard the proofes and haue with too much asperitie reprehended the Estates of the Realme of England being Personages of chiefest note in the Kingdome for noblenesse of Birth Vertue Wisedome and Pietie Yea and that they haue altogether deliuered these speeches from the King of France to terrifie the Queene of England and the Estates of the Land That the
put these words into her eares Mortua non mordet Being dead she will byte no more And notwithstanding as she was naturally slow to anger she had this custome that she neuer would enter vnaduisedly or without premeditation into any action so she began to weigh in her minde whether it were better to put her to death or to let her liue From putting her to death she was disswaded By her owne naturall clemency not to vse cruelty to her who was a Princesse and her next kinswoman from the feare that she had Histories should make her infamous to posterities and from the dangers which might fall vpon her as from the part of the King of Scotland who then was the next in succession to the Crowne of England so also from the Catholick Princes and from desperate people who would attempt any thing From pardoning of her likewise she foresaw no lesse danger to ensuâ— That the Nobility which had giuen the sentence against her would couertly seeke to regaine the fauour of her and her sonne and that could not be done without danger to her selfe That her other subiects would take it ill when they perceiue their labour to be lost and though then they were carefull for her welfare yet hereafter they might grow carelesse and that many would change their religion and become Popish vpon a supposition of greater hopes seeing her preserued as it were by fatall prouidence to inherite the Kingdome of England That the Iesuites and Seminaries whose eyes were all cast vpon her seeing her sickly and not like to liue long would be so much the more busie to procure the death of Q. Elizabeth to set vp their religion Her Courtiers also ceased not to suggest these and the like things vnto her Wherefore should you pardon so monstrous a malefactor being already iustly condemned who after shee had subscribed to the combination made for the preseruation of your health and safety notwithstanding presently after attempted the taking away of your life and thereby to procure the vtter ruine of Religion the Nobilitie and commons Clemency indeed is a Princely vertue but not to be shewed to such as are mercilesse Let the vaine shew of mercy yeeld to life-preseruing seueritie and haue regard that your mercy bring you not to misery It is enough to haue the commendation of clemency in that you haue once giuen pardon to pardon her againe were nothing else but to pronounce her innocent to condemne the States of the Kingdome of iniustice to animate her agents to attempt new mischiefes and to discourage your faithfull subiects from hauing any care for the preseruation of the weale publick Religion the Common-wealth your own welfare the loue of your countrey the oath of association the care of posteritie to come doe all together begge and beseech you that she which desireth the destruction of all these may speedily be brought to destruction her selfe If these be not heard there is no safety left for this State and Historians will leaue it recorded to the ages to come that the fayre sunne-shine dayes of all prosperity which were in England vnder Q. Elizabeth ended in a darke and dreadful euening nay turned into a dismall night of eternall obscurity Our posterity shall find that we wanted wisedom hauing power to foresee our miseries but not to preuent them the which will thereby become the greater the grossenesse whereof will be imputed not so much to the malice of our enemies as the improuident stupidity of these times That the life of a titulary Queene of Scotland was not so much worth as the safety of this whole kingdome nor is there any place left for lingring for delayes are dangerous We should not giue malefactors of that monstrous nature leaue to breathe which from their insolency will take their last support and from the impunity of their crime expect some recompence He which keepeth not himselfe out of danger when he may seemeth rather to tempt God than to trust in him All the danger that can be from strangers will cease with the cause and cannot harme England vnlesse it be by her What will or power soeuer the Pope can haue to hurt will cease with her death The Spaniard can haue no cause to finde fault who for his own security put his onely sonne Charles to death and doth what he can at this present also to make away Don Antonio King of Portugale the more to extend his ambition The king of France entertayneth an inuiolable league of loue with England and is aboue all things so interested herein that by the present dispatch of the Q. of Scotland the hope of the Guises shall be layd flat vnder foot since it is so that out of the desperate hope they haue in the long looked-for ayde from their kinswoman their insolency is growne so great at this time against him That the King of Scotland euen in nature and out of a true respect of his royalty cannot but be moued to displeasure at his mothers death yet he will rather out of better deliberation wayt wisely till time shall ripen his hopes with security than to attempt out of season the things which can affoord him nothing but disturbance and danger And the neerer he shall growe to his great hopes the farther off will forraigne Princes who of customary course are alwayes opposite to the growing greatnesse of others estrange themselues from him They propounded also to her domesticall examples because that that which is warranted by president is the more tolerable As What comportment the Kings of England for their securities haue had with their competitors namely Henry the first with Robert his elder brother Edw. the third or rather his mother with Edward the second Henry the fourth with Richard the second Edward the fourth with Hen. the sixt with his sonne the Prince of Wales and George of Clarence his owne naturall brother Henry the seuenth with the Earle of Warwick the yonger sonne of the Duke of Clarence and HENRY the eightth with De-la-Poole Earle of Suffolk with Margaret of Salisbury and Courtney Marquesse of Exeter all which in comparison of their offences dyed for very sleight matters Neyther did the Courtiers only suggest these and the like to the Queene but diuerse fiery-tongued Preachers also tooke occasion to exercise with all asperity of spirit the heate of their desires in hastning on her death Sundry also of the vulgar sort were of the same temper according as their affections or humours carried them away with hope or feare Amidst these sad-afflicting thoughts of minde which so troubled the Queene of England's perplexed heart as that she delighted to be all alone and to sit solitary by her selfe neyther looking vp nor vttering any speech yet would suddenly many times breake out into these words and sighing say AVT PETERE AVT PERCVTE and withall also a kinde of Emblem PREVENT THE STROKE BY STRIKING shee deliuered Secretarie Dauison letters vnder her
Ormond pursues the Rebels The Earle of Desmond writes to the Lord Chiefe-Justice Booke 2. 1580. James taken being wounded to death Desmond miserably oppressed Arthur Lord Gray Deputie of Ireland He pursues the Rebels They kill the English Italians and Spaniards land in Jreland They raise a Fort. They are besieged They answer to the Deputies demands They disagree Their Generall shewed himselfe a Coward They aske a parley They yeeld vpon discretion Strangers slaine with the Sword the Subiects hanged Excesse in apparell reformed The taking of Malines in Brabant The sacriledge of the English An Earthquake The Papists begin to be afflicted The beginning of English Seminaries Their Doctrine is then thought The euent proceeding thereof New Seminaries are sent into England To what end Jesuites doe steale priuately into England A Proclamation against Seminaries and Iesuites Robert Persons and Edmond Campian English Iesuits came into England Power granted to the Papists Who and what haue beene these Jesuits The English Fugitiues doe moue and excite strangers to war against their Prince and Countrey Queene Elizabeths declaration against them The seuerall Sects of Holland The house of LOVE A Proclamation against these Sects Francis Drake His originall extraction Francis Drakes education Drakes expedition in America A Vow Iohn Oxenham sayleth into America Jsla de Perlas John Oxenham depriued of life falls from a great and famous enterprize Drakes second voyage Doughtey beheaded Passeth the straightes of Magellan Eclipse of the Moone South Stars Little clouds of Magellan Drake finds booty both by land and sea Meets by chance with great wealth Sir Francis Drake takes a Spanish ship called Shite-Fire which hee made shite Siluer He thinkes of his return Drake discoueres a land which hee called the Nouam Albion He arriued at the Molucques Falls into a great danger He passeth beyong the Cape of Bona Esperance Returnes into England Drakes ship is consecrato perpetuall memory Francis Drake is knighted by Queene Elizabeth The King of Spaine by his Ambassadour demandeth Drakes goods which he had pirapirated He is answered The Spaniard hath part of Drakes money deliuered backe Iackman and Pets Nauigation to seeke away to the East-Jndies The death of the Earle of Arundell who was the first that brought the vse of Coches into England The Lord Gray represseth the Rebels in Ireland Innocency is an assured comfort Rebels supprest The Earle of Lenox is enuied of the Scots They accuse him in England Consultation holden against him They rayse false reports against him The Scots will not admit Bowes to accuse him Hume excuseth it Burghley's admonitions to him Morton imprisoned These Noble Knights for their worth and Vertues were honoured with the dignity of Knighthood by Qu. Elizabeth most of them in that Honourable euer-remembred Voyage of C. Howard Earle of NotinghaÌ„ L. high Admirall and that renowned Souldier the late Generous Earle of Essex c. in Spaine bâ—fore Cadiz taken ranâ—acked by the English Iun. 26. Anno 1â—96 * Their Honourable Predecessours were for their deserts aduanced both to Honour Dignity Sir Ch. Hatton was Lord Chancelor of England vnder Qu. Elizabeth he dyed in Hatton house the 20. of Nouember 1590. * Sir Walter Rawleigh Knighted and employed about diuers worthy affaires of waight and consequence by Queene Elizabeth * Wray Lord Keeper of the priuy Seale * And wherefore It is that these Noble persons haue by their worthy liues purchased Honour to their noble selues or else their Prodecessors haue by their Vertues deserued both Honour and Dignity from this vnparalel'd Empresse who as she was a true aduancer of Vertue and destroyer of Vice did liberally bestowe her Royall gifts of Honour vpon those and their Ancestors Booke 3. Randolphes intercession for Morton against Lenox The King of Scots his answer Randolph complaineth to the Nobles of Scotland Endeauoreth to raise Rebellion Getteth him out of Scotland Morton beheaded His friends fled for England Norris victorious in Friezland Is discomfited * Albanois A ridiculous combate Drunkennes brought out of the Low-Countries into England The King of Spaine possesseth Portugall By what right The Queene of France her title to Portugall fetcht farre and reiected Inciteth the Q. of England secretly against the Spaniard Antonio banisht Portugall commeth into England Delegates sent into England from France about the Duke of Anjous mariage Couenants of mariage concluded vpon A reseruation added The King of France vrgeth the mariage The Queen of England deferreth Wherefore Duke d' Anjou returneth againe into England Queene Elizabeth giueth a Ring vnto the D. of Anjou A motion of sundry conceits in Court The Queen greatly disquieted Her Maiesty thinks what inconueniencies might ensue in contemning and despising the Match with the Duke of Anjou Reasons disswading her from marying A book published in print against the mariage The Queens Declaration against this pernicious Libell The Author discouered and he that had dispersed the bookes Right hands cut off The Iesuite Edm. Campian with other Priests are put to death The punishing of Catholikes needfull Suspition of them increased By their tergiuersation False positions spread abroad Booke 3. New Lawes against Papists The Duke d' Anjou sayleth into Flanders Hee is made there Duke of Brabant c. Certaine English reuolt from him Generall Norris carieth himselfe generously and behaueth himself valorously The Duke d'Anjou departed from Flanders with shame A Comet Queene Elizabeth bestoweth the Order of the Garter vpon the King of Denmarke * Or the Coller of Esses The Merchants complaint not regarded The Treaty with the Queene of Scots is deferred Gowry and others begin tumults in Scotland Gowries conspiracie They intercept the King The Duke of Lennox driuen out of Scotland An Embassie from the French King sent to deliuer the King of Scots Mary Q. of Scotland her Letter to Quene Elizabeth The Q. of Scots deploreth her sons intercepting and her owne desolation Lidington and de Grange Booke 3. The Duke of Lenox's returne through England It is consulted about the deliuery of the Q. of Scots The Scots of the English faction are against it The English and French in emulation striue to obtaine the fauor of the King of Scotland The King of Scotland seekes the loue of the Queene of England The Lord Esme Stuart Duke of Lenox reputed a Papist by some malicious ill-willer of his dyed at Paris a true and sincere Protestant The King of Scotland sets himselfe at libertie His Maiesty vseth kindly those who formerly had seaz'd themselues of his Royal person Cals to the Court all such Nobles as stood and were of his side Walsingham is sent into Scotland from Q. Elizabeth The King of Scotland answers him freely Walsingham â—emonstrations to his sacred Maiestie The King answered them The King propounds a Pardon to those who had seaz'd themselues of his person Hee commands such as refus'd it to void the Kingdome His Maiesty re-established the Reputation and Honor of the Duke of Lenox causing
Annals and then by my last Will to bequeath them to my honorable friend IAMES AVGVSTVS THVANVS who hath begun a Historie of his owne Times with great truth and modestie lest that as strangers are wont he a man most deare vnto me should like a traueller in a forraine Countrie be ignorant of our affaires But this resolution I was forced I know not by what fate to alter for a great part being sent vnto him some few years past wheÌ„ they were like rough-drawn pictures scarcely begun deformed with blots imperfect places swarming with errors patches thrust in as they fell from a hasty pen ill vsed by Transcribers Out of these he took as it were inter-weaued some things into the eleuenth and twelfth Tomes of his Historie hauing first polished them by adding altering substracting but all with good iudgement according to that order of the worke which he proposed to himselfe for he intended a vniuersall Historie of his owne Time selecting some few things concerning ENGLAND and IRELAND ommitting many things not only fit but peraduenture necessary for vs to know and I had heard that beyond the Seas the Historie of English affaires was much and not without reproach desired I therefore betook me to my intermitted study read all ouer againe corrected added diuers things refined the eloquution yet without affectation for it sufficeth me if I may place this Booke like a picture in water colours vnskilfully done in a commodious light But when all was done I was much perplext irresolute whether I should publish it or not But CENSVRES PREIVDICE HATRED OBTRECTATION which I foresaw to display their colors and bid battell against me haue not so much deterred me as the desire of TRVTH the loue of MY COVNTRY and the memory of that PRINCESSE which deserues to be deare and sacred amongst English men did excite me against those who shaking off their allegeance towards their Prince and Country did not cease beyond the Seas to wound aswel the Honor of the one as the glory of the other by scandalous libels conceiued by the malice of their own hearts now which they sticke not to confesse are about to publish a Book to remain to posteritie as a monument of their wickednesse As for me I desire nothing more than to be like my self they like themselues Succeeding ages will giue to euery one their deserued Honor. I confesse with sorrow that I haue not done so wel as the height of the argumeÌ„t requires but what I could I haue done willingly To my selfe as in other writings so neither in these haue I giuen satisfaction But I shall hold it more than sufficient if out of an earnest desire to conserue the memorie of things of truth in relating them instructing mens minds with that which is wise and honest I shall be ranked only amongst the lowest writers of great things WHATSOEVER IT IS AT THE ALTAR OF TRVTH I Dedicate and Consecrate it TO GOD MY COVNTRIE AND POSTERITIE ⧠TO THE TRVE MIRROR AND PATTERNE OF PRINCES THE MOST HIGH AND MIGHTY CHARLES PRINCE OF GREAT BRITAINNE c. SIR I COVLD not but shelter this Historie vnder your most renowned Name for to whom can I commit the Story of Her who whilst shee liued was the ioy of England the terror and admiration of the VVorld but to your HIGHNESSE who is the Fame and Honour of this spacious hemisphere Great Britaines both hope solace by your princely valour constant vertues no lesse dreaded and admired abroad than feared beloued at home A true admirer humble Obseruer of your diuine worth A. Darcie To the Highly Borne Princesse Frances Duchesse Dowager of Richmond Lenox This Noble Princesse's Father was Thomas Lord Howard created Viscount Bindon by Queen Elizabeth the first yeare of her raigne second son to Thomas Duke of Norfolke AND To the noble Prince her Cosin Thomas Earle of Arundell Surrey Earle Marshall of England This Duke of Norfolke the Duchesse of Richmond and Lenox's Grandfather had two wiues the first was the noble Princesse Anne Daughter to King Edward the fourth by which he had issue a young Prince who died young The other was the Lady Elizabeth daughter to Edward Stafford Duke of Buckingham by whom he had issue the Lord Henry Hâ—ward whose son succeeded to the Dukedome of Norfolk which Dukes eldest son Philip Howard was by Queen ELizabeth alâ—o created and summoned in Parliament where he sate as Earl of Arundel being the primary Earledome of England in the right of his Mother sole daughter and heire to Henry Fitz-Allen Earle of Arundell He was this Noble Earles Father Thomas Viscont Bindon and a Daughter who was Duchesse of Richmond and Somerset Countesse of Nottingham Aunt to the now Duchesse of Richmond and Lenox This said Duke of Norfolke after a long sicknesse tooke his iourney peaceably to Heauen at his Palace in Kinninghall in Norfolke the first yeare of Queene Mary AND To the Illustrious fauourers of Vertue true mirrors of Honour and exact patternes of Nobilitie William Earle of Hartford c AND To the Noble Lady Frances his Princely Countesse This Earles grandfather Lord Edward Seimor son to Edw. Duke of Somerset was restored to his honours patrimonie by Queene Elizabeth who created him Earle of Hartford and Baron of Beauchamp in the Tower of London the second yeare of her raigne This noble Countesse's grandfather also was created Earle of Essex c. by Qu. Elizabeth the 14. of her raigne he died in Ireland 1575. and was magnificently buried at Carmarden in Wales where he was borne Edward Earle of Dorset Baron of Buckhurst AND To his noble sisters the lady Anne Beauchamp And the Lady Cecilia Compton This illustrious Earle and honourable Ladies grandfather was a most prudent and learned man for his heroick deserts and Princely descent from an ancient and true noble blood was created by Q. Elizabeth Baron of Buckhurst next by her Maiestie enstalled in the royall order of the Garter one of her intimate priuy Counsellors Lord High Treasurer of England c. Chancellor of the Vniuersity of Oxford Hee died in White-hall 1608. Theophilus Lord CLINTON Earle of LINCOLN Anno 1572. Edward Lord Clinton Lord high Treasurer of England was created Earle of Lincolne by Queene Elizabeth for his Noble merits and faithfull seruice to his Soueraigne Lady The same day her Maiesty created Sir Walter Deureux Earle of Essex He died the eighth day of Ianuary Anno 1585. and was with great solemnitie buried at Windsor To this right Honorable Lord Theophilus Earle of Lincolne he was great Grand-father Thomas Earle of Suffolke knight of the most honorable Order of the Garter This worthy Earle second sonne to Thomas Howard the last Duke of Norfolke by his martiall valour was Princely vertue and by Queene Elizabeth created Lord Howard of Walden and tooke place in the high Court of Parliament among the Peeres as Baron of Walden And Q.
meanes she adorned her tongue with pure words and instructed her mind with the best documents and good learning not for pompe or ostentation but to recreate her life and frame her selfe to vertue that among the learned Princes of her time shee was held Miraculous But the death of EDVVARD interrupted the studies of the Liberall Arts For scarce was he expired but Dudley Duke of Northumberland who earnestly coueted the Kingdome for Iane Gray to whom he had affianced his Sonne vsed some persons to perswade her to quit the right which shee had to the Kingdome for a certaine summe of money and great possessions in Land She modestly answered that they ought first doe well to agree with Mary her elder Sister because that during her life she could pretend no right to it Anon after by the publike voice of a Cryer Iane Gray HENRY the Eighth's Neece by his second Sisters Daughter was proclaimed Queene of England the cause thereof being sought out was found to bee that in regard of a Lawe by Act of Parliament which had neuer been duely abrogated MARIE and ELIZABETH had beene declared illegitimate although that by the same Lawe the King their Father had declared that after EDVVARD the Sixth if Issue fayled that they should succeede him in order and that by the Ciuill-Law of England such Sisters could not hereditarily succeede EDVVARD because they were not Cousin Germanes but as our learned in the Law say of the halfe Blood They adde likewise that HENRY the Eighth had by his last will nominated Iane Gray Moreouer it was shewed what danger there were if MARIE and ELIZABETH should marrie stranger Princes which would re-establish the Popes authority which was reiected out of the Kingdome And to that purpose they produce Letters Patents that EDVVARD the Sixth a little before his death had perfected and many of the Peeres Bishops Iudges and others by their signes in writing had fortified neuerthelesse the good-will that the Lords and the Commons bore to the Daughters of HENRIE the Eighth within twentie dayes had driuen away this storme and MARY proclaimed Queene through all parts of England who comming toward the Citie of London with an Armie ELIZABETH not to bee wanting her Sisters cause and hers being yet disquieted went accompanied with fiue hundred Horse to meet her vpon the way In the first Assembly of the Parliament that MARY caused to bee holden what things soeuer had beene decreed against the marriage betweene Qu. Katharine and HENRY the Eighth were abrogated and it was iudged lawfull by the Diuine Law and at all times and at all places auaileable for these reasons Because it had bin contracted by the consent of both their Parents of most Illustrious Princes of most graue Personages as well of England as Spaine and with a graue and constant deliberation of the learnedest men of Christendome and consummated by the procreation of Children The same religious Seruice and administration of the Sacraments which were in vse at the decease of HENRY the Eighth are re-established notwithstanding without any mention of acknowledging the Popes authority which thing put the Queene and Cardinall Pole into great trouble and vnquietnesse who thinke that for matter of the marriage consent of Parents and the iudgement of the wise did but onely depend vpon the Dispensation of Pope Iulius the second and were very angry that the vse of the Sacraments were permitted to those who were not as yet well and duely receiued into the Church without the authoritie of the Pope But the States of the Kingdome and MARY bethought her selfe of it feared to receiue and acknowledge the Popes authority which they had already shaken off neither could they suffer that the Queene should quit the Title of Soueraigne head of the Church of England to which the most part of them Prelates Peeres and Common-people had sworne to HENRY the Eighth his heires and successors and there were many of them that had got their riches from those of the Church But tooke it greatly to heart to forsake him perswading herselfe that all the right that she had to the Kingdome of England was vpholden by no other meanes then by the power of the Pope who gaue sentence of her side after her Father had declared her illegitimate Verily many at that time had the Popes power in such hatred and a strangers yoke that within tenne dayes after that MARY was married to Phillip King of Spaine Tho. Wyat and many others of Kent brake out into rebellion perswading themselues that this marriage was made to no other end but the more rigorously to presse them downe vnder the Romane yoke by the strength of Spaine and dispatch ELIZABETH out of the way who was next heire to the Kingdome of England Charles the fifth Emperour knowing what spirits were in England and that Cardinall Pole was going with power of Legate from the Pope cast a blocke in the way not without the Queenes counsell lest he should trouble businesse not as yet established that he should not come into England till fifteene moneths were expired when the third Parliament was ended and the marriage of MARY and Philip should be celebrated by the Dispensation of Pope Iulius the third because they were allied in the third degree and that the Emperour Charles himselfe had heretofore contracted to marry her being then vnder age for time to come At last being dismissed from the Emperour he came into England by demands and obtestations propounded orders that the lawes against Heretikes might be re-established all Lawes published against the Sea of Rome since the twentieth yeere of Henrie the eighth abolished and the whole body of the Kingdome reconciled to the Church of Rome The which with great difficulty he obtained yet not before the goods taken from the Monasteries Colledges Bishops c. by Henry the eighth and Edward the sixth were confirmed vpon like Couenant to the Queene and the possessors lest the Kingdome should be disquieted Foorthwith hereupon he absolued both the Clergie and people of the crime of Schisme and Pope Iulius the third himselfe with great ioy celebrated a solemne Masse at Rome ordained Prayers published a Iubile and granted a plenarie Indulgence to all who had giuen God thankes for the revnion of the Kingdome of England Then is sent vnto him Anthony Viscount Montaigue Thomas Thurlbe Bishop of Ely and Edward Carne to giue thankes for the pardon which he had granted for the Schismes and in the name of the King the Queene and the Kingdome and that due submission and obedience should be performed to the Pope and See of Rome Iulius then being deceased Paulus 4. gaue them audience and publike conference in the Apostolike Palace and in the Hall of Kings receiued their obedience approued the pardon and absolution granted by Cardinall Pole And for the well deseruing of Mary and Philip he out of the fulnesse of his power erected for euer Ireland to be a Kingdome and adorned
and marked it with dignities and Royall preheminences The which the States of Ireland had liberally offered to Henry the eighth and the Queene a little before vsed and enioyed the same But these things are not for this place The Romane Religion seemed then to be well established in England howbeit the Ecclesiasticall company seeing that Mary was now fortie yeeres old growne dry and sickly scarce hoping for any ofspring began forthwith to be afraid of ELIZABETH For they knew she was brought vp in the Protestant Religion and obserued that all men cast as vpon a rising Sunne both heart and eye vpon her Therefore they seriously consult from the very beginning of Maries Raigne how to preuent that the Religion now called backe should receiue any detriment by her The wiser and more consciencious sort iudged it to be an exceeding foule crime to destroy Royall Linage and Mary herselfe who was a godly Princesse though displeased with her Sister for the discord of their Mothers yet certaine sicke-braind fellowes who neither durst vndertake any thing nor performe any thing by right or wrong to establish the Catholike Religion did thinke it fit And it happened very commodiously for them that Tho. Wyat Peter Carew Iames Crofts and others for the Protestants seditiously endeuoured to doe rash and turbulent things labouring with all haste to mary ELIZABETH to Edward Courtney Earle of Deuon-shire She as being guilty hereof is thrust into prison first of all vncertaine rumors are dispersed that she was a partaker of sedition thereupon many are brought in question for their heads and others brought to the Racke Croft with a religious asseueration openly affirmed that she was no way guilty and out of all offence for sedition Wyat also it was thought who was ready to vnder-goe his last punishment would haue accused her and hee openly professed the same Neuerthelesse she is put into the hands of Keepers who hurry her this way and that way at length her Seruants and Maides are laide in fetters harder dealing then her dignity deserued In the meane time the French King Henry the second by priuate Letters full of loue comforts her and by many and great promises seekes to draw her into France whether for loue or by deceit to beget her a greater danger I will not say to make way to the Queene of Scots his Neece to the Crowne of England after Queene MARY In like manner Christian the Third King of Denmarke who long before made profession of the Protestants Religion endeuours all he can and treates vnder-hand to marry her to Frederick his Sonne Which when the Papists of England perceyued they againe threaten perill and mischiefe and fearing her cry out that all of the Romane Religion Queene and Kingdome are in ieopardy while shee subsists therefore necessarily to condemne her eyther Laesae Maiestatis or as a depraued Heretique and during that storme whilest cruelty was rigorously exercised vpon the meaner sort of Protestants I. Storie Doctor of the Law and others cunningly giue it out in all places in seuerall assemblies that they vnderstood it was practising to extirpate and ridde out Heresie ayming at her without sparing the smallest branches Notwithstanding moderating her selfe imitating the Mariner when a storme violently increaseth heard diuine Seruice according to the rule of the Romish Church came often to Confession and verily beeing oft rudely and churlishly disturbed by Cardinall Pole the terrour of death made her confesse her selfe to bee a Romane Catholique Howbeit MARY hardly beleeued it not forgetting that herselfe being forced by the same apprehension had by Letters written to her Father with her owne hand which I haue seene renounced for euer the authority that the Pope pretended to haue in England and acknowledged her Father to be Soueraigne Head of the Church of England and that the marriage betwixt him and her Mother was incestuous and vnlawfull Neyther could the Cardinall and other Prelates perswade themselues to it who to assure the Romane Church wished her to be taken out of the way But Philip MARY'S Husband and other Spaniards being more iust on ELIZABETHS behalfe would not heare of that Not that the fortune of an afflicted Princesse mooued them so much to mercy as their owne reason circumspectly aduised them Because fore-seeing if ELIZABETH were cut off that by Marie Queene of Scots next Heire to the Kingdome of England now married to the Dolphin of France England Ireland and Scotland might be ioyned to the Scepter of France then which nothing could be more fearefull to the greatnes of Spaine with whom they haue continuall warres When therefore without impietie they could not put ELIZABETH to death many thought it would be most aduisedly done to remooue her farre from England and marry her to Emanuel Philibert Duke of Sauoy Neyther did this please Spaine who before had purposed her for Charles his sonne And Thomas Cornwallis who was of the Queenes Councell likewise disswaded it telling Her that the people of Englād would hardly beare it yea in no wise suffer it that the next Heire of the Kingdome should be carryed away into a forreine Countrey At which time MARY for her inueterate hatred to ELIZABETH and because shee refused to marry with Sauoy grew to that heat of anger that shee ouer-charged her with reproaches and often-times would not stick to say that Marie Queene of Scotland was the certaine and vndoubted Heire of the Kingdome of England next to her selfe These consultations holden against ELIZABETH were taken away by a warre which MARY denounced in the behalfe of her Husband against France which although that was the prime and principall cause shee neuerthelesse alledged others and those most true viz. That France against the Lawes of couenant had nourished and sustained by his Agents and ministers the Rebellions of the Duke of Northumberland and Tho. Wyat the machinations and workings of Dudley and Ashton against her person sent out Pyrats against the English Merchants furnished Stafford with Ships and Armes to possesse the Castle of Scarborough had attempted by wicked practices to surprize Callais permitted English mony to be counterfeited and adulterated in France and inuaded the Low-Countries which the English by couenant are bound to defend In this flaming warre and the Scots stirred vp by the French inuading the Frontiers of England Calais is lost the Castles of Lisbanck Newnambrig Mere Oyes Hammes Sandgate the Castle and Towne of Guines and amongst the frequent Funerals of Prelates which sad presage seemed to fore-shew the displeasure of the diuine power MARY neglected of her Husband and with concocted griefe for the losse of Callais which had beene Englands rightfully two hundred yeeres with a Feuer and the Dropsie the seuenteenth day of Nouember 1558. departed hauing reigned fiue yeeres foure moneths A Princesse of a holy behauior to al her piety to the poore liberalitie to the Nobles and Clergie can neuer enough be praysed But the time was
Towne next after they make Trenches and raise Mounts from which they battered no lesse the Towne then the Ships The French make many Sallies out with more courage than strength and shewe many proofes of Magnanimity Amongst others vpon the fifteenth day of Aprill they tooke the Trenches nayled three of the greatest Cannons tooke and led away prisoner M. Berclé But I. Croft and C. Vaghan driue them backe as fast into the Towne and it was not done without losse of men Arthur Gray sonne to the Lord Baron Gray who had the principall command in the Campe was shot into the shoulder After that they bring the Campe neerer to the Towne because the Battery was so farre off that the Bullets for the most part fell without effect and a short time after part of the Towne and a great quantity of Corne was burned by casuall fire which was much encreased by the English who placed on that side their biggest Cānons and being in the meane time entred into the Ditch tooke the height of the Wall and the sixth of May while the English and the Scots were together of accord hauing placed the Ladders on all sides gaue three powerful alssaults to gaine the Wall but because they were too short and the waters higher then ordinary the Sluces beeing shut they were repulsed with a showre of Bullets that ouerwhelmed them from aboue and there were many slaine yet more wounded This check was imputed to Croft's fault because he had stayed in his Quarter with his Armes foulded as if he had reproued this expedition seeing others doe without putting himselfe in action to assist those who had neede thereof and I cannot tell whether hee did it out of iudgement or for affection which he bore to the French or for hatred to Gray But so it is that Norfolke and Gray accused by Letters which they writ to the Queene to haue had secret consultations with the Queene of the Scots and to haue oppos'd this designe and in hauing sequitiuely bin brought in iustice the gouernment of Barwicke was taken from him and giuen to the Lord Baron Gray But the Queene shewing him fauour conseru'd it for him and for his merit established him afterward Controwler of her Maiesties House This first Mis-hap hauing abated the courage of the English and Scots the Duke of Norfolke rais'd them as quickly vp againe by new Troops which hee brought to strengthen and since that time there were some light combates vntill that the King of France hauing aduice that his men were so blockt vp at Lieth that all the Passages by Sea and Land were shut also considering that they could not send him succour in time requisite for the great distance of places and the seditions which augmented from day to day in his Kingdome gaue power to the Bishop of Valence and De la Roche Faucaud to accord the Affaires with Qu. ELIZABETHS Commissioners esteeming and the Queene of Scotland with them that it were a thing vnworthy their Maiesty to enter into equall dispute with their Subiects And Queen ELIZABETH deputed as speedily into Scotland W. Cecill and N. Wotton Deane of Canterburie and Yorke At the same time the C. of Murray made some propositions But Cecill thought that they ought not to be made by Subiects nor agreed on by Princes During these debatings the decease of Queene Marie of Lorraine mother to the Queen and Regent of the Kingdome of Scotland hapned a pious most prudēt Princesse who was neuerthelesse ignominiously and vnworthily handled by hot-headed Preachers as it may appeare euen by the Ecclesiasticall History of Scotland which Queene ELIZABETH caused to be suppressed vnder the Presse and by the Lords of the Assembly who as being borne Councellors of State had vnder the name of Queene of Scotland and her Husband suspended her from all administration as contrary to the glory of God and the libertie of Scotland The Articles of which the Commissioners after the siege begun agreed vpon are these THe treaty of peace made in the Castle of Cambray betwixt Queene ELIZABETH and Henry the Second the French King shall be renewed and confirmed They shall cease both the one side and the other to make preparation of warre The Fortresse of Aymouth in Scotland shall be demolisht The said King and Queene Mary shall quit the title and armes of England and Ireland The strifes touching the recompence of the iniurie done to Queene ELIZABETH and the assurance of the first Article are remitted to another Assembly which shall be holden at London and if they cannot then be agreed of it shall be referred to the Catholique King The King and the Queene shall reconcile themselues with the Nobles amongst their Subiects of Scotland the Confederates shall be therein comprised and aboue all the Catholique King This Treatie shall be confirmed within sixtie dayes the intertayning of it sworne on both sides This Peace is published as well in the Campe as in the City with a common reioycing of all The English growing weary of the warre seeing their neighbouring Countrey vtterly spoyled The French because they were depriued of all traffique commerce and the Scots for not hauing beene payed their wages And indeed it was holden for the weale good and well-fare of Great Brittaine since Scotland retained his ancient liberty and England kept the dignity and surety which it had gotten And since that time she hath beene really exempt and freed from all subiects of feare from Scotland side The English haue merrily acknowledged that Queene ELIZABETH was the founder of the surety and the Protestants of Scotland Restoresse of the liberty During all that time Queene ELIZABETH for the singular loue which shee bore to the parties was so attentiue to the publique good that shee razed from her heart the loue of powerfull Princes who sought her in marriage to wit CHARLES Arch-duke of Austria second Sonne of Ferdinando the Emperour who made this suit by the Count of Elpheston Of Iames Earle of Arran who was recommended by the Protestants the which propounded to themselues to vnite by his meanes the Kingdomes of England and Scotland which were diuided which was also quickly reiected and neuerthelesse to her Maiesty praise Of Erric King of Sueden who to the same purpose imployed Iohn his Brother Duke of Finland to this end sent into England by Gustaue his Father a little before his death and grounding his hopes vpon this that hee was of the same Religion as Queene ELIZABETH was made himselfe so credulously importunate that hee thought of nothing but England notwithstanding that the King of Denmarke his sworne enemy had resolued to take him in the way thinking that it concerned him greatly if England and Sueden betweene which Denmarke lyes should be ioyned by the meanes of a marriage Queene ELIZABETH acknowledged and praised his singular and Soueraigne loue and made him answer that his comming should be very agreeable
and pleasing to her but she could not yet finde in her heart to marry in changing her present condition which was vnto her much more delightfull pray'd him to proue her good wil in any other thing assuring him that although hee could not enioy his desires neuerthelesse hee should perceiue that his loue had not beene ill placed and admonished him not to deferre the time any longer to make choyce of a Wife which might be worthy of him With this answer I. C. of Finland returnes into his Countrey After hauing imployed all kinde of meanes to make this marriage in courting her Maiestie importunately by bold demands vsing of great liberality towards her Courtiers captiuating the good will of the inferior sort amongst which he often strowed pieces of Siluer telling them that when his Brother should come he would distribute largely pieces of Gold to the common people in generall Neuerthelesse his Brother suspecting that he had made this suit for himselfe receiued and intertained him ill at his returne and obstinating himselfe in his designe ceased not to continue this suit two yeeres after and made the condition of it to be propounded by Nicholas Guildenstain but as hee was imprudent and light at the same time hee demanded the daughter of Philip Landgraue of Hessen hauing beene refused at last married with a Lady of meane condition But as for Charles Duke of Austria he conceiued such hope that his House already allied by marriages with great Princes would be much more augmented by the addition of the alliance with England and that the ancient Religion should be tolerated if not altogether established which he so expected as a thing which he could not faile of and Qu. ELIZABETH tooke not at an instant this hope from him For her Matie shewed openly to euery one protested in the presence of C. Elphinstain and writ to the Emperour that of all the illustrious marriages which were propounded to her there was not any more or greater than that of the Arch-Duke that neuerthelesse neither the storme of dangers had not power heretofore nor the fauourable winde of honour could yet for the present diuert her from that manner of life in which shee had settled her selfe Notwithstanding without being come so farre as to renounce altogether the state of marriage and that shee hoped that God vpon whose goodnesse shee wholly supported her selfe would addresse his ends in that and in euery other thing to the safety both of her and her Subiects Adolphe likewise Duke of Holsatia was stirred vp by Frederic the Second King of Denmarke his Nephew to hinder her from marrying with the King of Sueden and carried with hopes to be able to effect it by the desire which her selfe had by her Letters witnessed vnto him that he was possest with the same affection towards the English as he had beene long agoe towards the Spaniards and by the promise that shee had most louingly made him hee came into England where she intertained him royally honoured him with the Order of the Garter gratified him with an annuall pension and through her extraordinary courtesie profest vnto him her Maiestie obliged for euer a most illustrious Prince who had purchased the renowne to be a most famous warriour in a conquest lately by him wonne against those of DITHMARS There were also in her Kingdome certaine Lords who according to the custome of Louers vainly prated concerning the marriage viz. Sir William Pickering Knight of the Order who had an indifferent good estate but honourably descended hee through his rare study and affability had gotten much honor and no lesse applause by his Ambassage in France and Germanie The Earle of Arundel a man of a most ancient House no lesse great in meanes than illustrious by birth but growing into yeeres and Robert Dudley the yongest Sonne of the Duke of Northumberland whom Queene MARY restored to his right and honours a noble young Lord of most comely lineaments of body who was as farre in fauour with the Queene as his Father and Grand-father were generally hated of the people out of a rare and royall clemency which she professed towards him in conferring heaping honours vpon him whose Father would haue attempted her death Whether this might proceed from some secret instinct of those vertues apparant in him or out of common respect they both being prisoners vnder Queene MARIE or from their first procreation by a secret coniunction of the Planets at the houre of their birth combining their hearts in one no man can easily conceiue Howsoeuer it were it is most certaine that onely Destinie causeth Princes to affect some and reiect others In token of honour and for the testimony of her well-wishing towards him the first yeere of her reigne after she had made him her Champion shee made him Knight of the Garter which amongst the English is the most honourable dignitie of all with the Duke of Norfolke the Marquis of Northampton and the Earle of Rutland at which euery one wondered In the meane time Vicount Montaigu Ambassadour for Spaine moued him of the necessitie of the warres of Scotland and laboured what in him lay to preuent the imputation of the Scots to be Rebels shewed him by the instructions wherein he was commanded but coldly in regard hee was a zealous professour of the Roman Religion that that which was established in England was conformable and grounded vpon the holy Scripture and the Aecunomicke Councels and intreated him to renew the alliance of the Burgundians formerly contracted betweene the Kings of England and their predecessours The Spaniard howsoeuer it was agreeable and vsuall amongst Princes to confirme such a renouation in respect it giueth as it were life to their Alliances and testifieth to the world their mutuall good will and howsoeuer himselfe and Charles his Father in the treaty of marriage with MARY Queene of England in the yeere 1533. were bound to confirme this alliance answered notwithstanding that it was needlesse lamented the alteration of Religion happened in England seemed to distaste the raising of an army and rooting out the Rebels in Scotland and fained to be too late aduertized thereof But for all this hee still opposed the designes of the French who laboured to excommunicate ELIZABETH and brought it so to passe that she could be no way subiect to excommunication without his consent and to aduertise her though it were too late that they ought for her aduantage to insert in the Articles concluded with the King of France that if the French should returne into Scotland it might be lawfull for the English to expulse them and in expresse termes to condition for the certaine assurance of the restitution of Calais The Earle notwithstanding perceiued well and so did the Queene that he was displeased as well by the circumstances I haue related as principally for that hee re-deliuered into the said Vicounts hands the tokens and ensignes of the order
waxe hot in the minority of Charles the Ninth the Princes which enuied one another pretending on both sides the specious name the defence of Religion and those of the reformed Religion beeing grieuously oppressed And herevpon the Papists of England by I knowe not what hope which they had conceiued thereby to oppresse the Protestants many discourses of importance were whispered very secretly in priuate assemblies and all full of suspicion Margaret Countesse of Lenox who had a secret intelligence with the Queen of Scotland and the Earle of Lenox her husband were for a time put and detayned vnder the custodie of the Master of the Rolles Arthur Pole and his Brother Nephews sonnes to George Duke of Clarence King Edwards Brother Anthony Fortescue who had married their Sister and others were brought into examination for hauing conspired to withdraw themselues into France to the Guizes and from thence to returne with an Armie into Wales and declare the Queene of Scotland Queene of England and Arthur Pole Duke of Clarence as they at their Tryall ingenuously confessed neuerthelesse protesting that they intended not to doe it while Queene ELIZABETH liued and that they had been seduced by diuiners to beleeue that shee should dye that yeere for which they were condemned to dye notwithstanding for the respect which was had vnto their bloud they were suffered to liue But as many haue thought they vsed Katherine Gray very seuerely though she was much neerer of kinne to the Queene being Daughter to the Duke of Suffolke For hauing beene married to Henry eldest Sonne to the Earle of Pembrooke by him lawfully repudiated and left long time in great contempt finding her selfe with child neere her lying down was put in the Tower of London although shee protested that she was married to Edward Seimor Earle of Hertford and great by him Hee himselfe being returned from France whither he went for his pleasure by the Queenes permission hauing made the like acknowledgement was also imprisoned in the same Towre the Arch-bishop of Canterbury and others were appointed to examine and decide the Cause without appeale and when hee could not produce witnesse of his marriage within the time prescribed him the Arch-bishop by a definitiue Sentence pronounced That the Carnall company which he had had with her was illegitimate and vnlawfull and that for this offence they ought both to be punished This Sentence was impugned as wicked and vniust by Iohn Hales a man very opinatiue but otherwise very learned who maintained that their sole consent did legitimate their coniunction for which reason he himselfe was committed She was deliuered in prison of her first-borne and afterwards her Keepers being corrupted by the Earle of Hertfords deuice Edward Warner Lieutenant of the Towre was punished as conscious of the fact and displaced Hertford is accused in the Starre-Chamber of three crimes that he had deflowred a Virgine of the Bloud-Royall broken the Prison and had accompanied with her since Whereupon after hauing protested that hee was lawfully married to her he confessed that hauing found the doores of the Prison open hee had visited her in the affliction which was caused by the sentence pronounced against them and had payed her the duty of wedlocke For which cause hee was fined fiue thousand pound for euery offence and kept Prisoner nine yeeres Yet neuerthelesse by perswasion of Lawyers hee insisted against the Arch-bishops sentence by interiecting an appeale and continued to visit her priuily But in this time hee voluntarily and publiquely left it off and she after some yeeres to the end I may in the time of their separation speake ioyntly of them fell into a grieuous sicknesse after hauing in the presence of Hopton Lieutenant of the Towre demanded pardon of the Queene in regard shee had married without her aduice and with Prayers re-commended her Children to her trust and Hertford his libertie She dyed in Christ piously and peaceably Warre renewing then in France betweene the Princes of the Bloud and the Guizes vnder a feigned pretence of Religion as I haue said one sought for to strengthen both parties Queene ELIZABETH began to feare lest neighbour-warres should intangle England therein For she had learned that the Guizes to draw Anthonie of Burbone to their partie had boasted to put him in possession of Nauarre to marry him to the Queene of Scotland and to giue him in dowry the Kingdome of England at the expence of the Spaniard and by the authority of the Pope who would breake the marriage because his Wife was an Heretique and by the same meanes depose Qu. ELIZABETH of her Kingdome as being so Vpon that she sent H. Sidney a man of great renowne that he might informe himself more surely of these things to exhort vnto peace the Conductors of these seuerall parties But the businesse was come to such a passe that the eares of both parties were shut against peace Sidney being returned from France is forthwith sent to the Queene of Scotland that the Colloque which shee desired to be holden in England with Queene ELIZABETH might be prorogued vntill the yeere following or vntill the Warres in France were abated Now it is consulted on whether it were expedient or not that these two Princesses should speake together in that the Queene of Scotland desired it the first it was not without suspition she did it to serue her owne ends and sought out stratagems in their season or to affirme the right which shee pretended to haue in England or to giue hope and increase of courage to the Papists of England and to the Guizes in France Some thought the contrary that this would be a meanes to vnite them with a firme friendship to decay by little and little the alliance with France and to draw the Queene of Scotland to the Protestants Religion Others obserued that such communications might rather sow seedes of emulation than of loue and that the shew of riches and power of the one would euer excite the enuy of the other and that the presence not answering to the opinion and reputation of the body of the grace in speaking and of the gifts of the spirit would leaue both to the one and the other some thing of reprehension The Queene of Scotland did likewise iudge that it were not safe for her to expose her selfe into the power of Queene ELIZABETH with whom shee had contended for the right of the Kingdome and as shee had learned that shee had openly declared her selfe for the Protestants of France shee was likewise in doubt on what side to ranke her selfe considering how shee her selfe had written that of the Father side she had drawne her extraction from England and of her Mother side from France that shee had beene crowned Queene of France and was Dowager of it that shee was the most certaine Heire of England and looked for the succession that if shee were obliged to her Vnkles of France who
brought her vp she would be no lesse to the loue of her Sister Queene ELIZABETH Notwithstanding as shee was subtill of spirit shee was afraid if shee should tye her selfe with a stricter friendship to Queene ELIZABETH to incurre the disgrace of the King of France and to be abandoned of the Guizes her Vnkles and lose the money which shee drew from France for her dowry while shee should preferre this friendship which was vncertaine and as shee said her selfe there is none but transgresseth and of the friendship of the French she was assured And that that was the cause why the interuiew which had beene in deliberation many moneths came to nothing chiefly after she had declared by Letters that shee altogether refused it vnlesse that for to ground a certaine peace and the vnion of the two Kingdomes so much desired she were by authority of the Parliament designed Heire of the Kingdome of England or adopted Queene ELIZABETHS Daughter and that if these things were granted her she promised to be wholly at the deuotion of Queene ELIZABETH though she quitted all consideration and respect to the Guizes her Vnkles Furthermore she assured that she did not presse these things but vpon aduice which she had giuen her of the secret practices of some vnder pretence of religion intended to suborne some other Successour than her selfe howbeit she tolerates the Protestants Religion in Scotland But as the Cardinall of Lorraine treated at the same time with the Emperour Ferdinand to marry her with Charles his Sonne Arch-Duke who then sought to haue Queene ELIZABETH ELIZABETH declareth vnto her by Thomas Randolph that if shee lent any eare to this marriage to the Cardinall capitall enemy to the Engglish she might dissolue the amity betweene England and Scotland and peraduenture therewith to include the losse of the Kingdome of England admonisheth her amiably not to fall off but to chuse her a Husband in England first to please her selfe and afterwards for the contentment of her owne Subiects and of the English and to intertaine the friendship which was betweene them and to prepare her selfe a way to a certaine assurance of the succession of England of which declaration could not be made if it did not first appeare with whom she meant to marry All these cares held Queene ELIZABETH in great suspence neuerthelesse she was altogether attentiue to the warres of France to hinder that the flames of it in Normandie should not be blowne into England and after mature deliberation receiued into her protection the King of France his Subiects which were in Normandie and implored her succour by a Couenant which shee passed with the Princes of Condé Rohan Coligni and others to this effect That shee would send them a hundred thousand crownes and passe ouer sixe thousand Souldiers of which three thousand should be employed for the defence of Deepe and Roüan That they would put into her hands for assurance Ville-Franche which is situated at the mouth of Sene and was built by King Francis the First the French calling it Haure de grace and the English New-Hauen to be kept by a Garrison of three thousand Engglish Souldiers vnder the name of the King of France vntill Calais be rendred The same day that this agreement past to giue a reason of her designe shee published a manifestation to this effect That shee sent not an armie into Normandie to recouer this Prouince an ancient patrimony of England which had been wrongfully vsurped but to conserue it for the King of France being but yet a Childe and to warrant it against the Guizes who had begun cruelly to ouer-runne those who professed the pure Religion and iniustly to robbe her of her right which shee had to Calais and to take possesssion of the Ports of Normandy from thence they threaten next to fall vpon England which they haue by hope deuoured already insomuch as shee could not chuse but meete their attempts vnlesse shee should seeme to be fayling to the young King her Brother and Confederate and his Subiects that are oppressed to enuy the quiet of Christendome and which is more cowardly betray her Religion her securitie and her saluation And as Paul de Foix Ambassadour of France in England summoned her by vertue of the Treaty of Cambray to deliuer into the Kings hands the Vidame of Chartres of Hai and others who had signed the accord as Traitors to their Countrey shee excused her selfe of that by her Letter to the King discharging them of the crime and charged the turbulent spirits of the Guizes for it who had wrapped in the tempest of warre the Kings Father and Brother and the King himselfe In the moneth of September one part of the English Army landed at New-Hauen vnder the conduct of Adrian Poining who was appointed Marshall where they were with ioy receiued by the inhabitants the other part landed at Deepe The Earle of Warwicke Generall of the Army arriued there later hauing been by contrary windes twice driuen backe into England Afterwards they made diuers incursions into the Countrey neere thereabout but to hinder the same the Ringraue came and camped neerer The English and the French had notwithstanding often light skirmishes and those which were men of warre vpon the Sea brought in rich spoyles taking and bringing in euery day French ships from the neighbouring harbors This yeere Iohn Vere the Earle of Oxford died the sixteenth of that illustrious House who by his first Wife Daughter to Ralph Neuill Earle of Westmerland had Katherine who was wife to Edward Baron of Windsor by his second Wife Margaret Goulding Edw. Earle of Oxford who ouer-threw and wasted his Patrimony and Mary who was married to Peregrine Bartie Baron of Willoughbie At the same time Shan O-Neale came out of Ireland to performe that which he had promised the yeere before hauing for his Guard a troupe of Galloglassorum who had their heads naked and curled haire hanging on their shoulders yellow shirts as if they had beene died with Saffron or steeped in Vrine wide sleeues short Cassockes and rough hairy Clokes The English admired them no lesse than they should doe at this day to see those of China or America Hauing beene receiued with all courtesie hee cast himselfe at the Queenes feete and with teares acknowledged his crime asked pardon and obtained it After being graciously questioned Wherefore he had excluded Matthew his Brother from the succession of his great Grand-father answered fiercely as hee was vsed to doe in Ireland that it was his right and being the certaine and lawfull sonne and Heire of Cone borne of a legitimate woman he had taken his succession That Matthew was the issue of a Lock-Smith of Dundalke married with a woman named Alison after this marriage and notwithstanding had beene deceitfully supposed by his Mother Cone to be her sonne to the end falsly to take away the dignity of O-Neale And although he should suffer it some of the House
to euery bodies knowledge shee sends Lidington to Queene ELIZABETH to haue her consent to contract with Darley and not to be any longer detained with a vaine hope of marriage Queene ELIZABETH propounds the matter to her most intimate Councellors who by the secret suggestions of the Earle of Murray easily beleeued that the Queene of Scotland had no other designe but to strengthen her selfe by such a marriage to carry the right which shee pretended for the Kingdome of England and at length to establish it and likewise the Romish Religion that some did adhere vnto her seeing that by reason of her children the succession was ascertained to her House and others for the affection which they bare to the Romish Religion there being found more Eirenarch's in England deuoted to the Romish Religion than to the Protestants That to preuent these accidents it was chiefly requisite first to pray the Queene to marry speedily to the end that the affaires and hopes of England should not depend else-where but of the certainty of Succession which should come of her and of her Linage for they feared that if the Queene of Scotland did marry and should haue issue first many would incline towards her for the certainty and assurednesse of succession Secondly to ruine as much as may be the Romish Religion in England and to aduance and carefully establish the reformed the one by vsing more moderately in things indifferent such Protestants that are carried with a feruent zeale the other in setting Guards againe vpon the deposed papisticall Bishops who were then dispersed through the Countrey by reason of the plague conferring vpon the other Bishops greater authority to execute the Ecclesiasticall Ordinances then they had contrary to the terrifying Praemunire which the Lawyers doe obiect suppressing those Bookes which Harding and the fugitiue Diuines had sent out of the Low-Countries into England driuing out some Scottish Priests who hid themselues in England depriuing the English fugitiues of the Ecclesiasticall Benefices which they enioyed vntill then and compelling the Iudges of the Land who were for the most part Papists to acknowledge the Queenes Soueraigne authority and to sweare vnto it And that to hinder the marriage of Darley it was fit to leuy Souldiers vpon the Frontiers of Scotland to the end to raise a terrour to fortifie the Garrison of Berwicke to set a guard vpon the Countesse of Lenox Darley's Mother and on Charles her Sonne and to re-call out of Scotland into England the Earle of Lenox and Darley his Sonne vpon paine of losse of their goods before they made any alliance with the French or with Spaine and to assist those which were bent against this match and to receiue the Earle of Hertford and Katherine Gray somewhat into fauour which thing onely was thought that the Queene of Scotland very much apprehended in regard that shee likewise pretended a right to the Kingdome and it seemed none other could bring a greater impediment to this marriage than she From hence Throgmorton is sent to the Queene of Scotland to aduise her that it behooued to deliberate long of a thing that can be but once determined on and that a precipitate marriage was followed with repentance to re-commend Leicester to her againe and againe and that it was altogether contrary to Canon Law to contract with the Sonne of her Aunt by the Father-side For Queene ELIZABETH desired aboue all that some of the English Race should by her meanes succeed to both the Kingdomes albeit there fayled not who for matter of Religion and for the two Kingdomes made account to succeed if shee dyed without issue She answers That it was now past reuoking and that Queene ELIZABETH had no cause to be angry seeing that by her Councell she had made choyce of a Husband which was no stranger but an English man borne of the Royall bloud of both the Kingdomes and the most noble of all Great Brittaine Amongst these things Lidington treateth of affaires in England and dissembling with Leicester often spoke vnto him touching marriage with the Queene of Scotland as also to the Duke of Norfolke much more worthy to marry a Queene who then refused it with a modest excuse The Qu. of England to interpose some hindrance to this so hastened marriage calls backe Lenox and his Son Darley as being her Subiects according to the forme of the leaue which she had granted them The Father excuses himselfe modestly by Letters the Sonne prayes her not to hinder his aduancement representing vnto her that hee might be vsefull to England his dearest Countrey and openly declared vnto her that aboue all things hee loued and honoured the Queene of Scotland To answere which loue she had adorned him forthwith with the dignity Equitis Aurati with the titles of Baron of Ardmanock Earle of Rosse and Duke of Rothesie and fiue moneths after his comming into Scotland marries him with the consent of many Peeres and declares him King The Earle of Murray who imbraced nothing so affectionately as ambition and vnder pretence of Religion had drawne to his faction the Duke of Chastelraut a man without leauen Murray murmuring exceedingly and others storming and stirring vp such like questions Whether a Papist might be admitted King or no If the Queene of Scotland might chuse her selfe a Husband If the States might not impose their authoritie The Queene of England bare this peaceably knowing the sweete and tractable nature of Darley and the open heart of his Father and taking pitty to see a kinsman and a Queene very young to haue to doe with turbulent men who hauing beene already more than twenty yeeres loosed from Royall command could not indure Kings and feared them not seeing that the power of this Queene who enuied her was not increased by so meane a condition hauing Darleyes Mother in her power and fore-seeing that troubles in Scotland would spring out of this marriage as it happened quickly after for some great ones of the Kingdome and the chiefe of them Hamilton and Murray disdaining this match the one because it had beene contracted without the consent of the Queene of England the other for the enuy which he bare to the House of Lenox but both the one and the other pretending the conseruation of Religion to disturbe the marriage brought their Ensignes into the field insomuch as she was constrained to raise forces to celebrate it in safety and with the helpe of the King her Husband pursued the Rebels so swiftly that she constrained them to flie into England before the English troupes which were promised them for ayde were arriued and the Queene of England conniuing with Murray who was much addicted to the Engglish assigned him a conuenient place to lye heere in safetie and sent him money vnder-hand by the Earle of Bedford vntill his returne into Scotland which was the morrow after the murder of Dauid Riz as wee shall speake of it
withall they shewed her that it could not bee done except she married or designed a certaine Successor For which cause they desired and aboue all things besought her to be ioyned by the sacred bond of Marriage with whom she would in what place she liked as soone as she pleased to the end to haue Children for helps to the Kingdome withall to ordaine with the States of the Realme a Successor certaine in case that shee or the Children which she might haue should dye without Children which God forbid And for the obtaining of these things so much the more easily being so necessary they represented vnto her many reasons for the same the feare which of fresh memory had seized vpon them with such a sicknesse of which they had beene but newly recouered the opportunity of the time the States of the Kingdome beeing then assembled which might maturely deliberate of so great matters the terrour which she should giue to her enemies by this meanes and the incredible ioy which she should fill the hearts of her Subiects withall They praise the examples of her Ancestors who in like cases prouided for the suretie of their Posterity condemning this saying of Pyrrhus who would leaue his Kingdome to him that had the sharpest sword And moreouer shewing her with what a storme England were threatned if she should dye without designing a certaine Successor there would follow impetuously vpon it seditions and intestine Warres of which the Victory it selfe is most miserable and that Religion should bee driuen out Iustice ouerwhelmed the Lawes trodden vnderfoot there beeing no Prince who is the soule of the Law and the Kingdome a prey to strangers They numbered and exaggerated many other like calamities which would inuolue all sorts of Families if she should dye without Issue And modestly they added counsels Precepts and examples drawne from the holy Scriptures But those of the Lower House debated of these things more tumultuously Bell and Monson Lawiers of great renowne Dutton P. Wentworth and others refuted Royall Maiestie too much and among other things maintained that Kings were bound to designe a Successor that the loue of Subiects was the most strong and inexpugnable Rampart of Princes their onely stay and Support That Princes could not obtaine this loue if they did not prouide for the good of their Subiects not onely while they liued but after their death That that could not be done if a Successor did not plainely appeare That the Queene for lacke of designing one prouoked Gods wrath and alienated the hearts of her Subiects That then to gaine the fauour of God and haue Subiects most affectionate and obliged and to raise her vp Statues in the hearts of men which would neuer perish shee should declare a Successor Others that shee should knowe that they did hold her not for a Mother and a Nurse but for a Stepdame and a murderesse of her Countrie seeing shee loued her selfe better than England which then breathed by her spirit would expire with her rather then subsist aliue That there were neuer but cowardly Princes haters of their Subiects and fearefull weake women who conceiued feare because of their Successors and that such as be enuironed with the loue of their Subiects ought not to apprehend the danger which might bee stirred vp against them by a declared Successor These things she heard with a great deale of displeasure but shee contemned them for a time and for a time kept them hidden For as vse had instructed her she well knew what danger there is to designe a Successor insomuch that Queene MARIE reigning many of the Nobility and of the people had cast their eyes and hearts vpon her as beeing to succeed her that euen as any thing had bin said or done in her most holy Cabinet or secret Councell they reported it to her and that Wyat and others misliking their state and desiring to innouate things had conspired against her to set her vpon the Royall Throne in her place Shee knew that the hopes of Competitors were better restrained and they kept in their duety while she suspended the wayting of euery one and made no declaration of any That by a precipitate desire to reigne euen Children haue tooke Armes against their Fathers and that shee could not looke for lesse from her kindred She had obserued in reading and when she disputed of that remembred incontinently that it was rarely found that the Successors had bin declared in the collaterall line That Lewis Duke of Orleans had neuer been declared Successor in the Kingdome of France to Charles the Eighth nor Francis Duke of Angoulesme to Lewis yet neuerthelesse they succeeded without any noise That such designation had alwaies in England beene the ruine of the designed and that Roger Mortimer Earle of March designed Heire by King Richard had not beene so soone extinct and his sonne Edmond constituted and kept prisoner twentie yeeres together but for this cause That I. Polhem Earle of Lincolne declared Successor by Richard the 3. after the death of his sonne by Henry the Seuenty was alwaies suspected and finally killed in warre as he was weauing of innouations and his brother Edward beheaded vnder HENRIE the Eighth But these things make vs goe from the purpose But as some ceased not with prouoked spirits and sharpe contention daily more and more to cry aloud these things which I come to tell and other things which had a greater sting the Queene hauing commanded that choyce should be made of thirty of the Vpper-House of Parliament and as many of the Lower and that they should appeare before her Shee with a light reproose made them milder and by force of her most worthy Maiesty diuerted them from their designe promising them with many words not onely the care of a Princesse but also the affection of a Mother And the States hauing offered her for Subsidies more than they were accustomed to doe vpon condition that she would designe a Successour Shee vtterly refused it as being too much receiued the ordinary commending their affection remitted the whole fourth payment of the granted Subsidie saying That her Subiects money was as well in their owne coffers as in hers The last day of these Sessions she spoke thus in few words which I will shut vp in fewer SEeing that the words of Princes doe often penetrate deepe into the hearts and eares of men heare these from mee As I haue simply cherished truth so haue I alwayes thought that you would ingeniously haue cherished her but it hath beene in vaine For I haue discouered that dissimulation thrusts her selfe into these assemblies vnder the maske of libertie and of succession There are some of them among you who are of opinion that I ought presently to grant or vtterly to refuse libertie to dispute of the Succession and to establish it If I should haue granted it those would triumph ouer mee hauing their wishes If I refused they had
extraordinarie propertie and disposition That frequent commerce with strangers brought into the Common-wealth strange maners and fashions of life and that Ladies Princesses by these Marriages in stead of augmenting their owne Kingdomes added to those of their Husbands submitted themselues and their Subiects to their commands and laid open to strangers the secrets of their Kingdoms That a strange Husband out of the naturall affection he bare to his owne Countrey would preferre his owne Subiects before the Subiects of England That England had no need of the helpe of any stranger beeing strong enough of it selfe to defend the Kingdome and the riches thereof and to repell any forraigne Force That the annexing of another Kingdome would breed but charge care and trouble and how Kingdomes as well as humane bodies fell many times by their owne waight That some alleadged in scorne of the Nobility That the Queene marrying within the Kingdome should somewhat impaire her Royall dignity whereas her Maiestie who by her vertue opened a way to rise vnto this Soueraigntie was extracted from Nobility and that yet there are some Nobles of the Royall Blood who are like Sprigs of the same Royall Branch or Arme and hereupon the Kings of England haue euer in their Letters honoured Dukes Marquisses Earles and Vicounts with this Title of Cousins In the meane while the Earle of Sussex taking his Iourney by Antwerp Cullen Magunce Wormes Spire Vlme and Ausberg came into Austria with a great and magnificent Traine who beeing honourably entertained he there remained fiue moneths at the Emperours charge hauing daily conference with him about serious and waighty matters and touching the Marriage of Charles and on a day appointed he inuested him with the Order of the Garter at an Euening Prayer refusing through scruple of conscience to bee present at the celebration of Masse In this affaire many difficulties presented themselues about Religion and the Arch-duke's mayntenance the stile of King and the succession to the Kingdome and many points were argued both of the one side and the other For the Title and Stile of King it was accorded he should haue it For the Succession in that hee could not enioy it by the Lawes of the Kingdome in that it was preiudiciall to the Children hee should haue the tutelage and gardianship of them And that nothing more was granted to Philip King of Spaine when he married Queene MARY As for his maintenance if hee would furnish them at his charge whom he should bring with him and retaine in the Court the Queene out of her Royall Dignitie would abundantly discharge the rest yea and that too if he required it But one scruple still remained touching Religion For the Emperour demanded as also Charles himselfe that he might haue a publike Church granted him whither hee might repaire with his Court to the celebration of diuine Seruice according to the Romane forme But this beeing refused the Emperour was satisfied with an indifferent motion which was That hee might haue a peculiar place ordained within the Court for this purpose where he might quietly performe his Deuotions as euer it is permitted the Ambassadours of Romane Princes with a prouiso that the English should not bee thereto admitted and that neither hee nor his Followers did oppugne the Religion receiued in England neither fauour any opposites If any discontentment grew about Diuine Seruice hee should for a time forbeare his ordinary exercise and with the Queene repaire to that celebration performed according to the Church of England When this Treatie had beene sagely discussed of in England that I may not relate any further of the negotiation the Queene made answere That if shee yeelded to this she should offend her owne Conscience and openly violate the publike Lawes of the Kingdome to the extreme perill both of her dignitie and safety But if Charles were pleased to come into England to see her he should reape fruites worthy his trauell and paines And thus the Emperour dismissed the Earle of Sussex with great honour and the Earle of Sussex turning a little out of his way to see Charles tooke his leaue of him at Gratz and the Arch-duke Charles expecting to receiue a more fauourable Answere found himselfe frustrated of his intention For this prosecution was giuen ouer by little and little which made a progression of seuen whole yeeres with diuers intercourses of honourable Embassies it leauing notwithstanding a mutuall loue and amity betweene the Princes so cordiall and inherent that the Emperour alwaies crost the Popes designes against Queene ELIZABETH Not long after the Arch-duke married Mary Daughter to Albert the fifth Duke of Bauaria by whom amongst other Children he had two Daughters whereof the one was Queene of Spaine the other of Poland About this time came into England from the mightie Emperour of Russia and Muscouie Ioh. Basilius E. Twerdico and T. Pogarella with most Martlet Sable and Ermyne Skins whereof at that time and in precedent ages the English made great account both for ornament and health and they promised to the Queene and the English Nation continuance of that affection which the Emperour had manifested and what great studie and care he had taken for the English euer since they frequented those parts whereof you shall hereunder see the beginning In the yeere 1553. certaine Marchants of London the principall of whom were An. Iudd G. Barnes and A. Husay shaping out a course for Cathay by the frozen or Hyperborean Sea vnder the conduct of Sir Henry Willowbie who was frozen to death in the Iourney Ro. Chancelour his Lieutenant happily opened the passage of Russia before this time vnknowne running vp with the Riuer of Duina till he came to sixtie degrees of the Pole Articke where a little Monasteerie is seated consecrated to Saint Nicholas When the Emperour heard of it he sent for him to the Mosco in Caroches made after the manner of the Countrie he entertain'd and dismist him with many graces and fauours promising the English great immunities if they would trade into his Empire and reioycing that hee had met with a meanes to transport by Sea into Russia forraign merchandize which the Russiās could not come by before but with great difficultie by the Narue and the Kingdome of Poland enemies When Robert Chancelor vpon his returne gaue inforamtion thereof and of what high esteeme the Clothes of England were in those parts the low rate of Hempe and Flaxe whereof they made their Cables and cordage and what rich Skins they affoorded these Marchants raised a society or company by Queene MARIES permission in a faire Building appropriated to their vse which at this day we call the Moscouie house and Basilius granting them many immunities they haue since that time sent euery yeere a Fleet of Ships and maintained traffique the which likewise hath been greatly augmented since the yeere 1569. when out of his loue to Queene ELIZABETH he granted them that none but the English of
the Queene of Scots her cause not as yet being iudged of she would not intermeddle with that election Vpon which answere they chose Lenox first of all Inter-Roy and presently after Vice-Roy the Queene of England not any way gaine-saying it because she knew well that he was naturally addicted to loue the King his Nephew and was also assured that he was well affected to the English by reason of the many benefits receiued from them and would alwaies be at her deuotion in respect that his wife remained in her power In the meane time that the Queene thus fauoured the Kings party in Scotland the Spaniard failed not in any point towards the imprisoned Queene but at the motion of the Lord of Hamilton Rector of the Church at Dunbar sent vnder the hands of the Gouernour of Flanders certaine prouision for warre as a certaine quantitie of powder with seuen Peeces of great Cannon and some small summes of money to the Earle of Huntley Gouernour for the Queene in the North parts of Scotland Wherevpon the Earle of Huntley the Duke of Chastelraut and the Earle of Argathell by a common aduice and consent with the approbation of the Queene of Scots whose Lieutenants they were did send this Ambasie to the Duke of Alua by the Baron of Setone who thus in the Dukes presence proposed his message in these termes THat he was sent from a Realme which by the treacheries of rebellious Subiects was depriued of its publike peace and a most gracious Princesse and that the tenour of his Ambassie was to demand and entreat assistance and succours to recouer her from a miserable Captiuity being detayned in a strange Land and the Realme from the oppression of strangers That the Scottish Rebells might not be suffered to traffique in the Spanish Confines and that there might bee deliuered to the Queene the tenne thousand Crownes that were assigned vnto her shewing also that shee did wholly cast her selfe into the hands of the King of Spaine well knowing that he did alwaies harbour in his heart a sincere loue to true honour iustice and piety obiects most worthy and sitting for a Catholike Prince and employed for Intercessor the Duke D' Alua who she knew would endeuour himselfe to accomplish his desires That he propounded not to the King of Spaine any profit or commodity that might redound to him beeing a thing vnworthy of so great a Maiesty but onely offers to him from an vnfaigned heart the perpetuall amity and humble seruice of his most Illustrious Queene and her most warlike Countrey-men the Scots That the Glory of Charles the Fifth his Father would for euer liue eternized for re-establishing the Duke of Ferrara and the Mahumetan King in their first dignity But if hee should re-establish the Queene being a constant Professor of the true Catholique religion and an absolute Princesse of the consanguinity and alliance of the greatest Princes of Christendome and an vndoubted Heire to two flourishing Kingdomes it would bee to him an euer-liuing glory and an incomparable argument of most Christian piety That in so doeing hee should not onely binde France Denmarke Lorraine the Guizes S. Peter and all Christendome to his loue but also make his fame equally celebrated with his Fathers nay euen surpasse him farre in relieuing and re-establishing by his example Princesses that are iniustly and treacherously deposed from their lawfull Thrones That being himselfe the greatest Monarch in Christendome and hauing vnder his command and obeisance farre distant Countreys which might giue occasion with great ease of such and so insolent arrogance yet getting by this meanes interest in all Princes they may with more ease be supprest That this pernicious example of deposing Kings was neuer left vnreuenged That he should be a most excellent and fruitfull modell of rare Iustice and that if he should re-establish her that flieth and sueth to him for succour hee should tye in most fast bands of Amity and Alliance to himselfe a Queene Dowager of France absolute of Scotland and most certaine Heire to England with her the Scottish Nation which since Charles the Great haue manifested themselues to all the world most firme constant and faithfull in their Alliance with France And furthermore that now occasion was offered him to reuenge the many iniuries which hee had receiued from the Queene of England that aideth and fauoureth the Rebels of the Netherlands that hath vniustly seized vpon his Coine and the goods of his Subiects and also euill-intreated and abused his Ambassadours That to sit still any longer and see the Scottish Nation fall vnder the subiection of the English would be a lazie slumber and absurd sottishnes That through the increase of power and domesticke strength which that Woman hath acquired shee will at last proue terrible to her neighbours and as she is of a Masculine courage and of a sexe couetous of command shee may easily finde a meanes to entangle the King of Spaine in a long and troublesome warre But if shee were preuented in this she might easily be kept vnder her proper feare That there are but a very few in Scotland that will oppose the imprisoned Queene That all the Catholikes and the greatest part of the Nobles are fauourers of her cause That she hath all the Ports Hauens in her power and that the Pope would not spare the very goods of the Church to maintaine a warre so iust and holy And that it meerely depended vpon the Catholike King who was to muster his forces and shew his power in so iust pious and salutiferous a cause and that all the Catholikes of Great Brittaine expected from him onely in this occasion either their comfort or vtter ruine To this the Duke of Alua answered that he was ready and addrest himselfe to the King of Spaine for the aduancement of this affaire but could not deny traffique with the Scottish Rebels because that might infringe the liberty of Flanders promised to supply them for the most part with money In the meane time Setone the deeper to oblige the King of Spaine and the Duke of Alua passing ouer to the Flemmings Confederats in disguised manner procured by soothing flatteries feastings and other-like meanes of corruption the Scottish Companies vnder them to reuolt and as he was ready to be questioned about it and in great danger of his life saued himselfe with much adoe vnder the Duke of Alua who promised to furnish him with ten thousand Souldiers for sixe moneths but in vaine in regard they were so full of troubles in Flanders that they could not transport any Souldiers for Scotland Whiles these things were a doing the Bishop of Rosse who had meritoriously laboured the affaires of the Queene of Scotland in England and had beene committed to the custodie of the Bishop of London about a secret practice of Rebellion being now set at liberty brought it so to passe that the King of France by his Ambassadour De Monluc laboured most
enuy among themselues so as neither of them obtained their end and purpose At that very time a pleasing serenity seemed to shine vpon the Protestants in France and Charles the Ninth pretending onely a warre in Flanders which he affirmed to be the preseruation of France and couering himselfe with this maske he feigned as though hee meant to contract alliance and amitie with the Queene of England and the Princes of Germanie to giue some testimony herein of his loue to the Protestants whose absolute ruine notwithstanding he couertly intended And as if he leaned to them of the one side and the Spaniard on the other hee substituted to this end the Duke de Mont-Morancy Birag de Anbisine the Bishop of Limoges and of Foix. The Queene of England who truely apprehended the secret plots and stratagems of the Duke of Alua deputed Sir Thomas Smith and Sir Francis Walsingham And Articles were drawne betweene them whereof you shall see an abridgement in the same expresse words and termes THis alliance shall not tye Princes allyed to leaue other Treaties past betweene them so they be not opposite and contrary thereunto There shall be a Confederation League and Vnion betweene them to defend themselues mutually against all who vnder some pretext or any other occasion whatsoeuer shall inuade or attempt to inuade their persons or Territories whereof they are now possest It shall remaine firme betweene them not onely while they liue but also betweene their Successours so the Heire of the first deceased giue notice to the suruiuant within the space of a yeere by Ambassadours and Letters that hee accepts of the same conditions Otherwise the suruiuant shall be reputed discharged of the obseruance of the same It shall bee validious against all yea and euen against those that are ioyned in affinitie to the one or other Prince and against all other Alliances contracted or to contract If the Queene of England be required to send succours by Letters sealed and subscribed with the King of France his owne hand shee shall be bound to passe ouer into France within two moneths after a thousand foot armed or fiue hundred Horse at her choyce whom the King must pay from the first day of their arriuall in France Shee was to send for the warre of Flanders eight Ships of equall greatnesse wherein twelue hundred Souldiers must be imployed with all things necessary and there must bee no Marriners nor Souldiers but English but yet they must be commanded by the Admirall of France payed and victualled by the King from the first day they enter into Seruice Shee was also to victuall her Ships for two Moneths which the King was also to pay within two moneths And if the Queene be moued to any warre the King hauing receiued Letters subscribed with her owne hand was to send ouer into England or Ireland within two Moneths sixe thousand foot or at her choyce fiue hundred Conductors armed at all poynts who should bring fifteene hundred Horse and about three thousand foot with good Horse and Armes after the French manner whom shee must pray from the time they set foot in her Countries And for the warre by Sea he was to furnish eight Shippes with twelue hundred Souldiers in manner and forme aboue mentioned Order agreed vpon for succours and pay to be digest in writing running in this forme that the one shall bee bound to sell vnto the other Armes and all necessary things to the Prince assayled They shall innouate nothing in Scotland but defend it against Strangers and permit them to enter and nourish the Scottish partialities But the Queene of England was permitted to pursue with Armes those amongst them who maintained or fostered the English Rebels who were at that present in Scotland That this Alliance shall be so taken and vnderstood as the onely proprietie and meaning of the words imported Each of the two Princes shall confirme euery one of these Articles by Patents and faithfully and really to deliuer them into the hands of Ambassadours for the one and other within three moneths For ratification of this Alliance on the behalfe of the King of France the Queene of England sent into France the Earle of Lincolne Admirall with a great traine of Gentlemen among which were these Barons the Lord Dacres the Lord Rich the Lord Talbot the Lord Sands and others And the King of France sent into England Anne Duke de Mont-Morancie and Monsieur de Foix with a magnificent traine that in the presence of them and Messieurs de Saligna and de la Mottef his Ambassadour ordinary the Queene might reciprocally confirme the same with oath which was performed at Westminster the seuenteenth of Iune and the day after the Queenes Maiestie with the consent of the French inuested with the Order of Saint George the Duke de Mont-Morancy in gratefull commemoration of the loue which Anne Constable of France manifested vnto her to whom HENRY the Eighth vouchsafed the same honour out of the loue he bare to the House of Mont-Morancy who carries the title of the first Christian of France and is there held for most Noble While Mont-Morancy remayned in England hee moued certaine propositions in the King of France his name that the Queene of Scots might there finde fauour so farre as it might be performed without danger That there might be a cessation of Armes in Scotland and that a Concord might be established by Act of Parliament And if a Parliament could not commodiously be summoned that some might be elected of the one and other part among the Scots to repayre to London to settle affaires with the Deputies of the King of France and Queene of England But answere was made him That more fauour had been shewed to the Queene of Scots than shee deserued and yet for the King of France more should be shewed her though the Estates of the Kingdome assembled had iudged how the Queene of England could not liue in security except some rigor were vsed to her That the Queene had carefully employed her whole power to establish Concord and procure a cessation of Armes hauing for this end lately sent into Scotland Sir William Drewry Gouernour of Berwicke with de la Croce the French Ambassadour But they could by no meanes induce Grange to peace nor the Garrison of the Castle of Edenborrough out of the hope they conceiued to bee succoured from France and Flanders though Huntley and Hamilton Arbroth for the Duke their Father had obliged themselues in writing to Queene ELIZABETH to enter it and other of the Queenes partakers had plighted their faith and promise thereunto After these motiues hee also propounded many other touching the marriage of the Duke of Aniou but in that they could not agree about some circumstances concerning Religion the matter grew hopelesse and he returned into France when there was preparation of the Nuptials betweene Henrie King of Nauarre with Margarite Sister to the King of
Silua that his power grew too strong and his name aboue his Prince and that by his violent and sharpe command he would cause the Flemmings to reuolt yea to grow to desperation although some thought who were bloody-minded that none was so fit by Warre to bring Holland into subiection Which kinde of men thought their King too mercifull if he intended by meekenesse to bring the Prince of Orange and his confederates who had resolued mindes to retaine their freedome beeing confirmed thereto by their riches and strength of situation Lodowicke Zuniga of Requesen was appointed to take his charge The great Commander of Castile a milder natured man who by all offices of loue desired to oblige Queene ELIZABETH would by no meanes thrust himselfe into the affaires either of England or Scotland I know not whether I should or no call to minde the opinion of Burchet who thought it lawfull to kill those that were aduersaries to the Euangelicall truth who was so transported therewith that hee wounded with a poiniard Hawkins that famous Sea-man thinking him to be Hatton who was at that time one of the Queenes greatest Fauourites of her most intimate counsell and an enemy to Innouators The Queene was so extraordinarily prouoked herewith that shee commanded him to be proceeded against according to the Marshall Lawe vntill shee was aduised by some of her prudent Councellours that this Law had no place but in Warres and turbulent times but at home it ought to bee done by ordinary forme of Iustice Being called to Iustice he maintained that what he did was consonant to Scripture and therefore lawfull Afterwards seeing himselfe neere condemnation for heresie promised to renounce this opinion yet neuerthelesse when hee had a little more debated the case he would not In the end beeing committed to the Towre of London hee killed one of his Keepers with a piece of wood which hee tooke out of a Chimney and threw at his head and beeing condemned of murder had his right hand cut off and being at the Gallowes obstinately maintained his opinion and so was hanged In the beginning of this yeere dyed George Howard Baron of Effingham Lord Priuie Seale sonne to Tho. Howard Duke of Norfolke the famous Warriour by Agnes Tilnie his second wife a man of remarkeable fidelity and of an inuincible courage who first was Gouernour of Calais afterwards made a Baron by Queene MARY Admirall of England and Lord Chamberlaine and likewise by Queene ELIZABETH vntill broken with age he surrendred his Office to Sussex a few daies before he dyed and as I haue said before was made Lord Priuie Seale the fourth degree of Honour in England he had to succeed him in the honour of his Baronie Charles his son who was afterwards Chamberlaine to the Queene and high Admirall of England At the same time dyed likewise R. Gray Earle of Kent whom the Queene from a priuate man had called to this honour when that Title had beene vacant 50. yeeres after the death of R. Gray Earle of Kent who had consumed his Patrimony elder brother to this mans great Grandfather and Henrie his Sonne succeeded him It is not fit in silence to ouer passe I. Caius a famous Phisician who dyed at the same time he was borne at Norwich brought vp at Cambridge and Padua who gaue himselfe wholly to the studie of Phisicke translated and commented vpon the most part of Gallens and Celsus workes and gaue all his meanes to Schollers Adding a new Colledge to the old of Gonuell Hall and 25. fellow Commoners to be perpetually brought vp and of both made but one Colledge called by the names of Gonuell and Caius in which he is intombed with this Epitaph Fui Caius In Ireland the houses of O-Conom and O-More impatient of peace hauing gathered some bands of Theeues and Rebels made outragious incursions rob'd and burned Atlone vpon the Riuer Siney and willing to ioyne their forces with the Rebels of Mounster they were hindred by I. Perot President of Mounster who so ransackt Iames Fitz-Moris and Fitz-Edmonds Seneschall of Imoquell that rebelled by continuall ouer-running them and after hee had killed many of their men and taken the Castle of Maine and the French Garrison he compelled them to craue pardon most submissiuely for their faults within the Temple of Kilmalock called The holy Cell of Malachie At the same time the Earle of Desmond and Iohn his Brother authors of this Rebellion being brought backe out of England into Ireland by Fitton were imprisoned by the said Fitton at Dublin but after a while were let goe In Vlster Brian Mach-phelin who had vsurped the most part of Clandeboy burned the Towne of Knoc-fergus and some others began to trouble the Countrie George Deuereux lately created Earle of Essex by Queene ELIZABETH desired to be imployed against them by the counsell of those who had a designe to haue him farre from the Court vnder colour of increasing his honour to precipitate him into dangers which were not hidden from him But as he was vigilant and from his youth addicted to the Warres continuing constant in his designe agreed with the Queene that if hee draue out the Rebels hee and his partners should haue the halfe of Clandeboy vpon certaine conditions and to maintaine it he would entertaine at his owne charge two hundred Horse and foure hundred Foote To this end he borrowed of the Queene a thousand pounds for which and for Munition hee engaged Lands that he had in Essex G. Fitz-William Deputie of Ireland fearing that the splendor of so great an Earle should dimme his in Ireland counselled the Queene not to send him giuing her to vnderstand that all the Countrie of Vlster would reuolt at his comming Notwithstanding he is sent and to maintaine the honour and authority of the Deputy was to take Letters from him to be Gouernour of Vlster which he obtained though slowly after many importunate sollicitations After hauing bin beaten with a terrible Tempest he was driuen to Knock fergus about the end of August with the Lord Darcy and Lord Rich Henry Knollis and his foure brothers M. and I. Carey Iohn Noris with a company of Souldiers leuied in haste Brian Mac-phelin vnderstanding of his comming draue all his cattle which were all his wealth into the heart of the Countrey for without counting Sheepe and Hogs he had thirtie thousand head of Cattell and seeing him ashore saluted him and congratulated his arriuall and most courteously offered him all dutie and seruice and likewise Mac-Gillespike Mac-Gill Hugh Baron of Dungannon and all of account neere thereabout In consideration whereof he promised him pardon for his rebellion and studied which way he might oblige him But he reuolted and drew his men presently to Turlough Leinich and afterwards made light Skirmishes continually against the English The Lord Riche's particular affaires called him into England and returned within a moneth Henry Knollis in like manner
through all parts of the Horizon met together in the verticall point of Heauen Neuerthelesse let it not be imputed to me as a crime to haue made mention of these things in a few words and by a short digression since the grauest Historians haue recorded them in many words THE EIGHTEENTH YEERE OF Her Reigne Anno Dom. 1575. HENRY the third King of France being returned from Poland and already inaugurated in the City of Rhemes confirmed by his oath and signe of his owne hand before all things the Alliance passed in the City of Blois in the yeere 1572. betweene Charles his brother and Queene ELIZABETH and hauing giuen it to the Ambassador ordinary of England Queene ELIZABETH also for her part ratified it at Saint Iames neere Westminster Notwithstanding a while after he inquired by letters if the words mutuall defence against all mentioned in that alliance comprehended the cause of Religion And after that Queene ELIZABETH had discreetly replyed Yes and that she was alwaies ready prest and desirous to effect that mutuall defence euen in the cause of Religion if it was required by vertue of the alliance he tooke armes against the Protestants the Duke of Alanzon being drawne to the contrary part the marriage slept in a long and profound silence Notwithstanding Queene ELIZABETH in fauour of the Duke of Alanzon furnished the Duke Casimier with a great summe of mony to carry into France the Alman Rutters against the disturbers of the publike peace As her minde was busied about the affaires of France those of Flanders happened for De Requesens successor to the Duke of Alua was fully bent and endeuored nothing more then to recouer if it were possible the Sea which the Duke of Alua by a remarkable error in so great a thiefe had despised and by this meanes had caused that long warre of the Low Countries which indured so many yeeres but he being not well furnished with necessary things to set forth a nauall Armie because the tempest had broken and lost the Ships which for this purpose had a little before beene conducted from Spaine to Flanders by the aid of the English hee sent Boischot into England to leuy ships and furniture of warre with the Queenes leaue who being vnwilling to aduenture her ships and Sea-men in anothers cause denied it and gaue publike charge to all persons not to arme any Ships without her licence and did forbid the English Sea-men to enrole themselues vnder other Princes Vpon this refusall Boischot prayed her not to take it in ill part if the fugitiue English in Flanders should serue in a nauall Warre against the Hollanders vnder the command of the Spaniard and permit them to touch freely in the ports of England to victuall themselues But she would not approue that the rebellious English so she termed those whom he stiled Fugitiues should fight in the seruice of the Spaniard not to perswade her that Requesens would gratifie them prayed them not to doe it and namely T. Copely whom the Spaniards had loaded with the titles of the great master of the Muze Lord of Gaten and Rouchtey and intended to set to Sea to rob both English and Dutch For the ports she esteemed it exceeding folly to open them to Rebels and sworne enemies Yet Boischot to obtaine more vniust things required in the name of the Spaniard that the rebellious Dutch might bee banished from England But she refused that also knowing that those whom he called Rebels were poore miserable people of no note and had neuer enterprized any thing against him but being chased from their Country and spoiled of their goods during the warre had retired themselues into England thinking she should commit a great inhumanity and violate the lawes of Hospitality if shee should deliuer them into the hands of a Cut-throat She also remembred how far the affaires of Spaine were interessed in Flanders Then when at the prayer of the Duke of Alua she commanded 1572. the Dutch to leaue England and that hauing commanded the Count of March and other Dutch to be gone they had taken Brill and suscitated that warre neuerthelesse not to seeme altogether to depart from the ancient Alliance of the Burguinions although the Spaniard had refused to confirme it with him shee forbad by publike writing the Dutch Ships prepared for warre to goe forth and those Dutch that had taken vp armes against the Spaniard to enter into England and expresly the Prince of Orange and his house the Count of Culenberge of Berg of March and fifty others the most notable of that faction And she performed with more alacrity in regard Requesens at the intercession of Wilson the English Ambassador had caused the Earle of Westmerland and other English to retire themselues out of the Country of Flanders which was vnder the Spaniard and had dissipated the English Seminary which was at Doway in whose stead the Guizes at the sollicitation of Pope Cregory the 13. established another in the City of Rhemes The Prince of Orange finding his forces no way equall to those of the Spaniard and expecting no succour from England consulted with his friends in whom he might put his trust Now when Queene ELIZABETH vnderstood he had fixed his eye and heart vpon the King of France she first sent Daniel Rogers to disswade him but nothing being effected in regard he had before created with the Admirall Coligni and the King of France she sent H. Cobham to the King of Spaine to let him vnderstand how great the danger were if Holland and Zealand should reuolt from him and giue themselues to the King of France and by the most important reasons she could represent she perswaded him to make change of warre for peace to which he seemed to accord She then gaue aduice to Requesens by R. Corbet and ceased not by all meanes to turne the Prince of Orange from his designe by the imployment of I. Hasting but she could not obtaine her purpose being countermined by Villiers a French Church-man who came poore into England with a scuruy Cloake all torne I speake this because I knew him but was inriched by a collection which was giuen him to reade Diuinity Lessons fearing lest the Prince of Orange should cast his eye vpon the English maintained amongst other things nay by a publike writing that Queene ELIZABETH had no man of warre to whom she would trust an Army but the Earle of Sussex and that he bare no good affection to the Protestants and according as he had learned of Coligni he gaue forth that if the English did set foot in the Low-Countries they would renew their ancient hate against the French Neuerthelesse the intestine warres of France hauing taken away all hope of succour from the Prince of Orange and the Dutch they afresh consult to whom they may runne and rely vpon for aid They knew that the Princes of Almany were against the Spaniards also
contract a mariage betweene her and Philip. Then againe into Spaine to the said Philip there to cause him to ratifie the conuented Articles Also for Queene ELIZABETH he went Ambassador to the Emperour Maximilian there likewise to contract a match betweene her and Charles Duke of Austria Hee was Lord Deputy of Ireland Gouernor of the Northerne Prouinces of England also the Queenes Chamberlaine chiefe Iustice in Eire of all her Maiesties Forests Parkes and Chases beyond the Riuer Trent famous for the victories hee had obtained against the Hebrides and Scots that made spoile of the frontiers Dyed at London after he had been afflicted with a long disease leauing no issue behinde him albeit hee had had two wiues the Lady Elizabeth Wriothesly and the Lady Francis Sidney and his brother Henry succeeded him in the Earledome Henry Wriothesly likewise Earle of Southampton paid like tribute vnto death a man much deuoted to the Roman Religion and to the Queene of Scots which hee bought with the anger of his Queene and restraint or libertie He was sonne to Tho Wriothesly who for his tryed vertues by Henry the 8 from the dignitie of Baron of Wriothesly of Tichfield and Knight of the Order of the Garter was aduanced to that soueraigne greatnesse of being Chancelor of England and appointed him one of the supervisors of his last Will. And by Edward the 6 he was graced with the style of Earle of Southampton Hee left by his Wife Daughter of Anthony Browne Viscount Mountague Henry his sonne that succeeded him and a Daughter maried to Thomas Lord Arundel Baron of Wardour About the same time Sir Humphrey Gilbert Knight a man acute and deliberate esteemed industrious both in Peace and Warre was by the raging Ocean depriued of life returning from the North parts of America which we call New-found-Land whither he a little before hauing sold his patrimonie made a voyage in hope to build there a Colonie And there by the sound of a Trumpet proclaimed the Countrey to be vnder the English regency For Sebastian Cabot in the yeare 1497 vnder the Reigne of Henry the 7 made the first discouery therof And then diuided the Land seuerally to his companions But he was taught too late by the deuouring seas and default of meanes which forc'd him to breake off his designes teaching others also by his example that it is a matter of greater difficulty by the expences of a priuate man to plant a Colony in farre distant Countries then he and others blind in their owne errors haue to their vtter ouerthrow perswaded themselues Vpon the same instant Edmund Grindal Archbishop of Canterbury Metropolitan and Primate of England being blind and aged aboue sixty yeares breathed his last Who at his returne from exile which hee endured vnder the Reigne of Queene MARY was first inuested Bishop of London then Archbishop of Yorke and finally of Canterbury liuing much honoured with the fauour of Queene ELIZABETH vntill by the foule deceits and treacheries of his enemies hee was suspected to be a fauourer of the Conuenticles of those turbulent Ministers and such as were called Prophets But the reason was indeed because hee condemned as vnlawfull the mariage of Iulius an Italian Physician with another mans wife which much distasted the Earle of Leicester Such small meanes as he had gathered he bestowed in the founding of a Schoole at Saint Bee in Cumberland where hee was borne and to the aduancement of Learning on both the Vniuersities The English besides is bound to him for the bringing in of Tamariske or Tamarin into England for hauing found by experience that it was a soueraigne remedie against the great and indurate passion of the Spleene hee was the first that caused it to be planted there Iohn Whitgift was his successor being aduanced from the Sea of Worcester to the Archbishopricke of Canterbury a man of singular goodnesse and learning He obtained much commendation for his Iustice in the precedencie of Wales and likewise for his great doctrine in the defence of the Ecclesiasticall policy which by his worth wisedome and patience he dayly increased The Queene who held for a maxime that she ought not to be more remisse in Ecclesiasticall affaires then in politick aboue all cōmanded him to re-establish the discipline of the Church of England that as then lay dismembred by the conniuency of Prelates the obstinacie of innouators and by the power of some great ones whilst some Ministers couertly impugned the authoritie of the Queene in things Ecclesiasticall separating the administration of the Sacrament from the preaching of the Word vsing to their owne fantasie new rites of seruices in their priuate houses vtterly condemning the Lethargie and the appointed manner of adminishing the Sacrament as being in many things contrarie to the holy Scripture and therefore many refused to goe to Church but openly became Schismaticks the Papists all this while applauding them and drawing many to their party as though there had been no vnity in the Church of England To abolish which things and to reduce them to an vnitie Hee propounded these Articles to the Ministers by them to bee subscribed FIrst That the Queene had Soueraigne power ouer all those that were borne within her Dominions of what conditions so euer they were and that no other Stranger Prince or Prelate ought to haue any power either Ciuill or Ecclesiasticall within her Maiesties Realmes Secondly that the Booke of Common Prayers and that of the ordination of Bishops and Priests contained not any thing contrarie to the Word of God but might be lawfully vsed and that they should vse that and no other forme of Prayer or administring of the Sacraments Thirdly That they should approue and allow of the Articles of the Synode holden at London the yeare 1562 published by royall Authoritie and should hold them as conformable to the Word of God But it is incredible what Controuersies and Disputations arose vpon this what hatred and reproach hee endured of the factious Ministers what troubles and iniuries hee suffered of certaine Noblemen who by placing men vnfit in the Church increased their estate or else had hopes vpon the goods of the Church But by his constancie and patience he ouercame all difficulties vsing for his Motto this which he chose not rashly Vincit qui patitur Neither was the Church onely tossed and turmoiled by those people within the Realme but by others who had left the Kingdome as by R. Browne a Cambridge Diuine of whom the new Sectaries were called Brownists and by R. Harison Master of an inferiour Schoole For these men presuming to iudge of Religion according to their owne imaginations by certaine books which they set forth at that time in the Countrey of Zealand and dispersed through many places in England vtterly condemned the Church of England as no Church Which bookes notwithstanding were prohibited by Royall Authoritie and strongly confuted by many learned men and two
extract the particularities of the things you had intreated of with Babington As he was thus speaking she interrupted him saying That the circumstances indeed were probable but not the thing That her sincerity depended not vpon her Secretaries fidelity or memory though she knew them to be ingenuous Or if for feare of punishment or hope of profite and escape they had confessed any thing it was not to be admitted for diuerse good reasons which she had alleaged before That the mindes of men are carried away with many passions for her Secretaries would neuer haue confessed such things if eyther profite or some other hope had not induced them thereto That the letters might be directed to others than them they were written to and that oftentimes many things had beene inserted that were not dictated And if her papers had not beene taken from her or if she had a Secretary she could more soundly haue confuted their obiections But said the Lo Treasurer they will obiect nothing but since the xix of Iune and your papers would stand you in no stead seeing the Secretaries and Babington himselfe vninforced by torture haue confessed that you sent these letters to Babington But if you shall deny this let the Commissioners iudge whether there be more credite to be giuen to your denyall or their affirmation But to returne to the point marke what I denounce as a Counsellor You haue mentioned many things for the procuring of your liberty which haue had no successe and that hath proceeded from your selfe or the Scotts not from the queene For your Lords of Scotland haue refused to deliuer the King of Scotts in hostage and when last there was a treaty about your liberty Parry was sent from Morgan your clyent to slay the queene Ah said shee you are mine aduersary I replyed he I am aduersary to all Q. Elizabeth's enemies But enough of this Let vs returne to our proofes When she refused to heare Yet we will heare said he And I too answered she in another place and will defend myselfe Now they read againe her letters to Charles Paget wherin she certified him That there was no way left for the K. of Spaine to bring the Low-countries into his subiection but by placing a Prince in England to serue his turne And her letters to the Lo Paget to hasten the ayde he should send for the inuading of England And those which Cardinall Allen had sent her wherein he saluted her by the name of Most excellent Lady and certified her that the matter was recommended to the Prince of Parma Whilest they were reading them she said That Babington and her Secretaries had accused her to excuse themselues That she neuer heard of six murtherers the rest were nothing to the purpose She held Allen a venerable Prelate and knew no other head of the Church but the Pope of Rome neyther could shee tell how he or other stranger kings did style her nor could she hinder them in their letters from calling her queene of England Affirming that her Secretaries were not to be trusted for that they had proceeded against her contrary to the duety and fidelity which they had sworne to her That the periured are not to be credited though they sweare neuer so much neyther did shee thinke their oathes were to be taken in any Câ—uâ—t of conscience because formerly they had sworne fidelity and silence neyther were they any English subiects That Nauue had often written otherwise than she dictated and Curle alwayes that which he told him That she could beare with their faults â—n all things but such as touched her honour They might also confesse these things for to saue themselues thinking that in so doing she could not hurt them and that being a queene they would deale more gently with her And that she had neuer heard of Ballard but of one Hallard that had offered his seruice to her which notwithstanding she refused because she had heard that he had likewise proffered it to Walsingham After this when they read certaine notes out of letters which Curle confessed hee had written to Mendoza in her secret characters and pressed her with them as hauing had a purpose to make ouer the title of the kingdome to the Spaniard and that Allen and Parsons were resident now in Rome for that cause shee protesting that they had forsworne themselues answered I being a prisoner without hope of liberty languishing in griefe and in dispayre tâ— performe that which many expected from me who am nâ—w in my declining age and without my health some were of opinion to settle the succession of the English Crowne vpon the Spaniard or some other English Catholick A booke was sent me to declare the Spaniards right but because I refused to receiue it sâ—me were grieued at me As for the rest being at this instant out of all hope of aide from England I haue resolued not to reiect that of the Stranger Vpon that Sir Thomas Egerton the Queenes Sollicitor opened to the Commissioners what would become of them their honours goods and children if the kingdome were so transported But the L. Treasurer answered That could not be because by the Law the Crowne was hereditarie Then askâ—d he the Queene of Scotts if she had any more to say She desired to be heard in open Parliament or in presence of Queene Elizabeth and her Councell not doubting but one Queene would haue consideration of another Then rising vp with a bold countenance she conferred apart with the L. Treasurer Hatton and Walsingham about some businesse That being done they reiourned their meeting together again vntill the xxv of October in the Starre Chamber at Westminster And this is that which I haue gathered from the memories of Ed. Barker chief Clerke of the Councell Tho. Wheeler publique Notary and Clerke of the Court of Canterbury and other credible persons whose assistance I haue had in this At the time appointed all the CoÌ„missioners being assembled together except the Earles of Shrewsbury Warwick who then were sick Nauue and Curle hauing voluntarily without hope of future preferment or present reward affirmed ratified by oath that all euery the letters copies of letters to fore produced were most true sentence was pronounced against the Q of Scotland signed and sealed by the Commissioners and recorded in these words WIth one vnanimous accord and consent of theirs they pronounce and giue their sentence and iudgement which was read aloud vpon the last day and in the assigned place saying That since the end of the aforesaid Sessions of Parliament specified in the said Commission to wit since the said first day of Iune in the yeare xxvij afore mentioned and before the date of the said Commission many things haue bin attempted and conceiued against the Realme of England by Anth. Babington and others with the knowledge and priuity of the said Mary pretending that the Crowne of England
they suggested that the English Nauy was neither in number greatnesse nor strength comparable to the Spanish the Portugall Fleet being then added That England was altogether vnfortified neyther was it furnished with Commanders Souldiers Horse or prouision for warres but destitute both of friends and money besides there were many through the Kingdome which were addicted to Papistrie and would soone ioyne themselues in his ayde Last of all so great were the forces of the King of Spaine both by Sea and Land and the vertue of the Spaniards such that none would dare to oppose him and therefore they promised assuredly a certaine victory To this enterprise also that God had presented a fit opportunity for the Turke hauing then cōcluded a truce with him and the French beeing intangled with intestine warres were neither to be doubted or feared That it was more facile to subdue England than the Low-Countries because the passage out of Spaine into England is more short and commodious and through a vast and open Sea but into the Netherlands of greater length and difficultie through a narrow Sea and very neere adiacent to England That the Netherlands were in a manner continually a strong Bulwarke being on all parts fortified with Townes and Castles but England not with any and therefore it would be an easie matter euen at the first in an instant for him to penetrate to the very heart of the Land with an Army Finally according to that military Axiome That the Enemy should not be left behinde therefore it was most necessary for the Spaniard to subdue England being a mortall enemy by whose assistance the Low-Countries had so long sustained a great warre and with whom they could not at all stand So that if England were but once conquered the Netherlands must of necessity yeeld to subiection These matters thus resolued they began seriously to deliberate vpon some meanes for the inuasion of England Aluarus Bassanus Marquesse of Santa Croix Generall of the Nauy was of a minde That before all some Port or other in Holland or Zealand should by those Land-troupes which the Prince of Parma had and some few Spanish Ships sent before be vnawares to them surprized where the Spanish Fleete might make their retreate and from thence most opportunely begin the inuasion because that in the Brittish Sea being tempestuous the windes are subiect to often changing the ebbing and flowing thereof principally to be obserued the Fleete could not safely ride Of this aduice likewise was the Prince of Parma who earnestly vrged this expedition Others notwithstanding disallowed thereof as being a thing difficult full of danger requiring much time great labour large expence yet vncertaine of successe neyther could it be done secretly or vnawares and by the English would easily be hindred and frustrated And these were of opinion That one might at lesse charges and with more facilitie assault and subdue England if at the mouth of the Thames a puissant Army of Spaniards and Flemmings were placed and conuayed in a powerfull Nauy to take at the first vnawares the City of London the Capitall and Chiefe of the Kingdome This seeming easie was resolued vpon and speedily determined to be put in execution yet some neuerthelesse were of a mind that war should first be proclaymed by a Herauld and that in so doing it would be a sleight to take away all suspition from all Neighbouring-Princes and moue the Queene to call to her helpe forreine souldiers who as mercenary being insolent and vile would behaue themselues rudely and tumultuously ransacking and pillaging the Countries in such sort that it would take away the loue of her Subiects and put England in confusion But these mindes were not seconded by those who were obstinate as relying vpon the assurance of their forces and strength contenting themselues to put their cause their Nauy Armada's into the Popes hand and into the intercessions of the Catholiques to the Saints and to afright and terrifie England they set out a Libell printed containing the particulars of so great an equipage which truely was such that in Spaine Italy and Cicilia the Spaniards were amazed astonished at it and therefore audaciously termed it The inuincible NAVY The Duke of Parma caused also Ships to bee built in Flanders by the commandement of the Spaniard and likewise a number of Flat-bottom'd Boats each of them bigge enough to transport thirtie Horses with Bridges fitting to them hyred Mariners out of the East-Land Countries of Germany prouided Pikes sharpened at the one end and shod with Iron with hookes on one side twenty thousand Vessels and an infinite number of Wicker Baskets and placed in the Sea-Townes of Flanders one hundred and three Companies of foot and foure thousand horse amongst which were seuen hundred English Fugitiues a most contemned and despised Company Neyther were Stanley their Generall nor Westmerland nor any other who had assisted eyther with purse or person regarded but for their impietie against their Countrey prohibited all accesse and deseruedly and as ill presages not without detestation reiected And Pope Sixtus the Fifth lest hee should seeme to be wanting renewes vnto Cardinall Alane an English man sent into the Low-Countries The Declaratory Bulls of Pius the Fifth and Gregorie the Thirteenth excommunicates the Queene deposes her from her gouernement absolues her Subiects from their allegiance publisheth in print the Crusado as against Turks and Infidels whereby out of the Treasury of the Church hee bestowes vpon all assistants plenarie indulgence whereupon the Marquesse of Burgaw of the House of Austria the Duke of Pastraua Amadaeus of Sauoy Vespasian Gonzaga Iohn de Medices and diuers other noble Gentlemen serued in this warre as Volunteers On the other side Queene ELIZABETH lest shee should be vnawares opprest with singular diligence prepares as many ships and warlike necessaries as was possible And shee her-selfe who was of a piercing iudgement in distinguishing of dispositions and when shee was at her owne election without commendation of others alwaies happy designed by name the principall Officers to the seuerall Offices in the Nauie and made Charles Howard of Effingham Lord high Admirall of England Generall of whose good successe shee was very well perswaded as a man whom she knew to be skilfull in Nauigation prouident valiant industrious and of great authority amongst Sea-men by reason both of his moderation and Nobility Shee sends him seasonably enough to the West parts of England where Drake whom shee made Vice-Admirall ioyned himselfe with him Shee commands Henrie Seimer the second sonne of the Duke of Sommerset to lye in waite vpon the Belgique shores with fortie Ships English and Dutch to hinder Parma's comming out of the Riuers with his forces Although there wanted not some who earnestly aduised to expect the Enemy and receiue him in a Land-battel as it was deliberated in HENRY the Eighth's Reigne when the French threatned England with a mightie Nauy For the Land-seruice
of the Army one hundred seruants more belonging to them or to the offices of iustice So that in the whole Army there were twenty eight thousand sixe hundred eighty seuen persons besides two thousand eight hundred and eight Gally-slaues that tugg'd the Oare in the Galleasses and Gallies All these had good and sufficient prouision victualls and things necessary for so great and inuincible an enterprize which I for breuity will omit to shew at large praying to God that theirs or others ambitious enterprises vpon England may be still by the Almighty and euer-sauing hand of God confounded and ouer-whelmed like Pharao Amen ABRAHAM DARCIE Forces to defend England against Spaines pretended inuasion By SEA Vnder the command of the Right Honourable Charles Howard Earle of Nottingham L. High Admirall of England ROYALL Ships SEuenteene Royall Ships attended by twelue other warlike Ships and sixe Pinnaces LONDON Ships Sent out by the City of London sixteene tall Ships for warre and foure Pinnaces BRISTOW Ships From Bristow three Ships and one Pinnace BARSTABLE Ships From Barstable three good Ships and one Pinnace EXETER Ships From Exeter two Ships and one Pinnace PLIMMOVTH Ships From Plimmouth seuen braue Ships well appoynted with a Fly-boat Also one Pinnace of the Lord Admirals Another of the Lord Sheffields And one of Sir William Winters MERCHANTS Ships The Merchants Aduenturers of England also sent ten lusty Ships at their owne proper charges In the BRITTISH Seas There were also sixteene Royall ships sent into the narrow Sea vnder the command of the Right Honourable Lord Henry Seymor with many other small Ships Barkes and Pinnaces sent out of the North and West parts of England by diuers Noblemen and other honourable persons Gentlemen and Merchants By LAND The Land-forces which were encamped at Tilbury in Essex vnder the command and gouernement of Robert Dudley Earle of Leicester were these following BEDFORD Shire OVt of Bedfordshire there were seuenteene Lances forty light horses and fiue hundred foote sent well appoynted BVCKINGHAM From Buckingham shire eighteene Lances fourescore and three Light-horses and fiue hundred foot HARTFORD Out of Hartford shire twenty fiue Lances threescore light horses and one thousand foot KENT Out of Kent fifty Lances one hundred light horses and fiue thousand foot SVFFOLKE From Suffolke fifty Lances two hundred light horses three thousand foot ESSEX Out of Essex fifty Lances one hundred light horses and fiue thousand footmen MIDDLESEX Middlesex thirty fiue Lances fourescore and eight light horses SVRREY Raized out of Surrey eight Lances fourescore eighteene light horses and a thousand foot NORFOLKE Raized in Norfolke three thousand foote LONDON Out of London one thousand foot BARKESHIRE From Barkeshire came one thousand foot OXFORD From Oxford shire one thousand foot More by LAND There was likewise raysed out of these Shires following another ARMY cosisting of foure hundred fourescore one Lances one thousand foure hundred thirty and one light horses and thirty foure thousand and fifty foot for the safegard of her Maiesties Royall Person and were vnder the command of the Lord. Chamberlaine GLOCESTER Shire OVt of Glocester shire there were twenty Lances one hundred light horse and two thousand fiue hundred foot SOMERSET Out of Somerset shire fifty Lances one hundred light horse and foure thousand foote SVSSEX Out of Sussex were twenty Lances one hundred light horse two thousand fiue hundred foot WILTSHIRE Out of Wiltshire were twenty fiue Lances one hundred light horse and two thousand three hundred foot BARKESHIRE Out of Barkeshire ten Lances fourescore and fiue light horse and fiue hundred foot OXFORD Oxford twenty three Lances one hundred and three light horse and one hundred and fifty foot CAMBRIDGE Cambridge thirteene Lances forty light horse and seuen hundred foot NORTHAMPTON Northampton twenty Lances fourescore light horse and sixe hundred foot LEICESTER Leicester nine Lances threescore and tenne light horse and fiue hundred foot WARWICKE From Warwicke seuenteene Lances threescore sixteene light horse and fiue hundred foot HVNTINGTON From Huntington sixe Lances twenty sixe light horse and foure hundred foot DORSET Dorset one hundred and twenty Lances and one thousand foot SVFFOLKE Out of Suffolke were threescore and tenne Lances two hundred and thirty light horse and three thousand foot NORFOLKE Norfolke fourescore Lances three hundred twenty one light horse HARTFORD Hartfordshire fiue hundred foot SVRREY Out of Surrey fiue hundred foot WORCESTER Worcester-shire foure hundred foot SOVTHAMPTON Southampton two thousand foot DEVON Deuon two thousand foot LONDON London nine thousand foot MIDDLESEX Middlesex one thousand foot This true Description of Englands and Spaines Forces thus particularly set downe was faithfully gathered for the better satisfaction of the Reader out of sundry true English Manuscripts and French Bookes by ABRAHAM DARCIE But the industry of the Queene preuented both his diligence and the credulous hope of the Spaniards For by her command the day after the Spaniards had cast anchor in the dead of the night the Admirall sent eight of his worst Shippes dawbed on the out-sides with Greeke Pitch and Rosin filled full of sulphure and other materials suddenly combustible vnder the conduct of Young Prowse with a full gale of winde directly vpon the Spanish Armada which as the Spaniards saw approch neerer and neerer to them the flame shining ouer all the Sea thinking those burning ships besides the danger of the fire to be filled with some deadly Engines with a howling and fearefull out-cry weyed anchor cut their Cables hoysed their sayles cried out vpon their rowers and strooke with a horrible and a pannique feare with impetuous haste betooke themselues to a confused flight Amongst which the Admirals Galleasse had her Rudder broken and went almost adrift and the day following making fearefully towards Calais ranne vpon the sands and after a doubtfull fight with Amias Preston Thomas Gerard Haruey was taken Hugh Moncada the Captaine beeing slaine and the souldiers and rowers eyther drowned or slaine they found and carried away a great quantity of Gold The Ship and Ordnance were seyzed by the Gouernour of Calais The Spaniards affirme that the Generall seeing these fiery shippes comming commanded all the Fleete to weigh anchor that the danger might passe them and to take againe euery one his place And surely he himselfe tooke his owne againe after warning giuen by a shot which was notwithstanding heard but of a very few because the Ships being on all sides scattered were some of them in that affright carried into the North Sea some others on the shores and coasts of Flanders In the meane time Drake and Fenner assayle with great noyse of Cannon-shot that part of the Spanish Fleete which were rallying themselues before Grauelin and were by and by ioyned by Fenton Southwell Beaston Crosse Raymon and anon by the Lord Admirall himselfe Thomas Howard and Sheffield The Duke Laeua Oquende Ricauld and others being come from the shore sustained as well as they could
Ambassage of Gondy Count of Rez Ambassage of the Earle of Worcester in France The Sea is purged of Pirats by Holstoc The French Protestants handle shrewdly the French Papists in England The French Leger Ambassadour complained to Queene Elizabeth concerning the helpe and assistance sent out of England to the Protestants of Rochell besieged Her Maiesty excused her selfe * Flagges Queene Elizabeth is earnestly sollicited to marry with the Duke of Alanzon Her Maiestie heares of it willingly By a double apprehension Queene Elizabeth graÌ„ts leaue to the Duke of Alanzon to come into England And her Maiesty presently sends him word not to come as yet Gondy returned into England Earle of Morton Vice-Roy of Scotland The King of France endeuours to destroy him Qu Elizabeth to defend him Grange opposeth The English are sent to besiege it Vpon what Conditions The Castle besieged by the English Forces The Castle yeelded Kircald and others hanged Lidington dyes Peace made in Scotland The Bishop of Rosse banished out of England Absence innouates Enterprizes The Duke of Alua is called out of the Low-Countries Lodowicke Zuniga sucseedes him Burches heresie Marshall Law Burch is hanged Effingham dies Gray Earle of Kent dies Caius the Phisition dyes The Colledge of Gonuell Caius Troubles in Ireland The Earle of Essex sent into Ireland The Deputie enuies it Mac-Phelim is taken The vnprofitable attempt and force of Chaterton Booke 2. 1574. The Duke of Alanzon desires to visit Queene Elizabeth Queene Elizabeth agrees to it He is suspected in France He is as it were prisoner being garded Queene Elizabeth comforts him Charles the ninth King of France died The right Honourable Lord Roger Lord North Baron of Catelage is sent Ambassador with a noble train to Henry of Valois the third of that name King of France Poland The King of France and mother Queene recommend the Duke of Alanzon to Queene Elizabeth They fauour the Queene of Scots against the Vice-Roy Morton She giueth credit to those who make reports aginst the Queene of Scotland The Earle of Huntington President of the North. An Edict against the riâ—tousnes of apparell England imbellished with magnificent structures The English worke treason in Holland They are defeated Ministers deceiued A Whale cast on shore An extraordinary floud in the Thames The Skie seemed to be on fire Booke 2. 1575. The league with France renued Warre kindled in France The Queene of England denieth ships to Requesens The entrance of the Ports To banish the Dutch fugitiues She denies the confederate Dutch entrance into the English ports Requisens chaseth the rebellious English from Flanders Dissolues their Seminary The Prince of Orange thinkes to run to the protection of the King of France The Queene of England disswades him The confederat Dutch deliberate what Protector they should chuse They haue recourse to the Queene of England She deliberateth thereupon She reiecteth their proffer The Ambassy of Champigni Requesens dyeth The Queene studieth to bring the affaires of the Netherlands to a composition A conflict vpon the borders of Scotland Heron is slaine The English led as prisoners into Scotland The Queene of England is much incensed The death of the Duke of Castell-Herauld Essex reduced into distresse in Jreland Sidney the third time Deputy maketh his progresse in Ireland The death of Peter Carew Booke 2. 1576. The French propound a marriage to Queene Elizabeth She peace to them She labours to diuert them from the Netherlands The Zelanders molest the English by Sea are repressed A confusion in the Netherlands Antwerpe sacked by the Spanish mutiners The Queene laboureth a peace for the Netherlands The arriuall of John of Austria in Flanders The Queene furnisheth the Estates with money to continue the Prouinces in the King of Spaines obedience The traffique re-established betweene England and Portugall With what probabilitie Witnesse Ienkinson an Englishman Bernard le Tor a Spaniard Furbisher is sent to discouer the Strait in the North part of America The death of Maximilian the Emperour Queene Elizabeth mournes The Elector Palatine dyes A Franc is two shillings English Essex death suspected The death of Sir Anthony Coke Tumults in Ireland William Drury President of Mounster Malefactors pursued and punished Ceass what it is The Irish complaine of exactions The Queene hath compassion Booke 2. 1577. Austria inclines to Peace Elizabeth perswades to it Orange diuerts her Austria seekes to marrie the Queene of Scots And by her to get the Kingdome of England Copley made a Baron of France The dissimulation of Austria He takes vp armes again Elizabeth couenanted with the Scots She declares the reason of it to the Spaniard The Spaniard did not willingly heare these things Don John complaines to Queene Elizabeth of the States England the ballance of Europe A pestilent sicknesse caused by the stinke of a prison Maine a Priest executed The death of the Lord Latimer Secretary Smith dyes Saffron Walden Rebellion in Ireland Rorio Oge Rorio slaine Booke 2. 1578. Queene Elizabeth is carefull of the Low-Countries English gone into the Low-Countries The Embassie for the Low-Countries Peace is irritated Egremond Radcliffe and his associate are put to death Don John dyes Aniou prosecutes the mariage with the Queene Leicester murmures The death of the Countesse of Lenox The business of Scotland Morton the Regent admonished The King sends an Embassador into England The Summe of the Embassage The answere of the Queene Morton takes vpon him the administration againe The Peeres rise vp against him The inuading of England consulted vpon Th. Stukeley takes Armes against his Countrie Ciuita Vecchia He is slaine in the African Warre William Drury Lord Deputie of Ireland Sidney's adieu to Jreland Booke 2. 1579. Casimire comes into England The Queene lends the States mony Semier solicites the marriage for the Duke of Aniou Thinkes on nothing but reuenge One was shot with a Pistolet being in the Boat with the Queene The Duke of Aniou came into England The dangers of the marriage The commodities of it The incommodities if it be neglected Aimé Stuart Lord of Aubigni came into Scotland From wheÌ„ce hee tooke the name of Aubigni He is raised to honours He is suspected of the Protestants Hamiltons deiected Proscribed Succoured by Elizabeth The Societie of the Turkey-Merchants Hamonts impietie N. Bacon dyes Thomas Bromley succeedes Gresham dyes His Colledge of London Rebellion of James Fitz-Morris in Ireland Stirred vp by the Pope and the King of Spaine Fauoured by the Earle of Desmond Dauile murdered in his bed Sanders approues of the slaughter He fights with those of Bourg Fitz-Morris is slaine William of Bourg made Baron He dyes for ioy John Desmond kils the English The Lord Deputy sick N. Malbey Gouernour of Mounster Defeats the Rebels The Earle of Desmond manifests himselfe a Rebell The death of Drury Lord Deputy The Rebels thereby incouraged William Pelham is Lord Chiefe Justice of Ireland Admonisheth the Earle of Desmond of his duety Proclaimes him Traitor The Earle of
and Scottish Iesuits do suggest diuers things to the Queene of Scots The French labour to hinder the League The King of Scots propoundeth conditions He is not deterred by the French King Iames's answer to them The League of fast friendship A conspiracie against Queene Elizabeth How discouered Ballard returneth into France Ballard sent backe into England Meeteth with Babington He instructs him in the stratagem Babington receiueth Letters from the Queene of Scots He writeth back to her She answereth him His associates in the conspiracie Babington giueth to euery one his taske They confer together Their vanity Babington in care to bring in the forraigne aides sends Ballard to worke for him Insinuateth with Walsingham Deceit by deceit deceiued Giffard discouereth all the conspiracy Sendeth the Letters he receiued to Walsingham Ballard vpon his departure is taken Babington soliciteth for Ballards libertie Falleth into the same net Getteth himselfe out Lyeth in a wood Harrow-Hill They are found And all the rest of the conspirators All discouered The Q. of Scots kept with a guard and separated from her seruants Her Cofers with Letters sent to the Queene Giffard sent into France dyeth miserably The Traytors come to Iudgement Are punished The Queen of Scots her Secretaries examined The King of France is aduertised Sundry opinions how to dispose of the Scottish Queene By what Law shee should be iudged Commissioners appointed to heare the cause A Commission granted to that end Booke 6. * William Poulet Marquesse of Winchester Edward de Vere Earle of Oxford Lo high Chamberlâ—ine of England George Talbot Earle of Shrewâ—bury Earl Marshall Henry Grâ—y Earle of Kent Henry Stâ—â—â—â—y Earle of Derby William Somerset Earle of Worcester Edward Manners E. of Rutland Ambrose Duâ—ley E. of Warwick Master of our Ordnance Henry Herbert Earle of Pembroke Robert Dudley E. of Leicester Master of our horse Henry E. of Lincoln Charles L. Howard high Admiral of England Anthony Viscount Montagu Henry Cary BaroÌ„ of Hunsdon Lo. Chamberlaine of our houshold Henry Neuill Baron of Abergaueny Edward Lord Zouch Edward Parker L. Morley Will. L. Cobham Lord Warden of the cinque Ports Edward L. Stafford Arthur Lord Gray of Wâ—lton Iohn L. Lumley Iohn L. Stuâ—ton William L. Sands Henry L. Wâ—ntworth Lodowick L. Mordant Iohn L. Saint Iohn of Bletso Tâ—â—mas Sackvill Baron of Buckhurst Henry L. Compten Henry Lo. Cheney Sir Francis Knolls knight Treasurer Sir Iacob Crofts knight CoÌ„troller Sir Christ Hatton Vice-Chamberlaine Sir Francis Walsingham our Secretary of State William Dauâ—son Esq our second Secretary Sir Ralph Sadler knight Chancellor of our Dutchy of Lancaster Sir Walter Mildmay knight 〈◊〉 Aymâ— Poulet knight gouernor of our Island of sarsey all our trâ—sty beloued priuy Counsellor and Sir Christopher Wâ—ay knight L. chiefe Iustice of the Common plees Iohn Wâ—â—sey esq our Secretary for the Latin Sir Edmund Anderson knight L. chiefe Iust of our Bench Sir Roger Manwood chiefe Baron of our Exchequer Sir Thomas Gawdy and Sir William Pickering Commissioners come to her She answereth the letters vpon the sudden Booke 3. Addeth the next day to her answer She refuseth her tryall Exception against the new-made Law Sir Christopher Hatton perswadeth her to appeare Her tergiuersation Shee yeeldeth at last to appeare and answer The maner of the sitting The Lord Chancellor speaketh to her Her protestation Recorded Proceeding She denieth the former allegation Copies of letters shewed Extracts out of Babbingtons confession She denieth them They vrge her with the confessions of Sauage and Ballard She blames Walsingham Walsingham maketh his Apologie Charles Pagets letters are produced and Babingtons and the testimonies of her Secretaries She obiecteth against their credites Arguing about transferring the kingdome She excuseth her selfe for hauing giuen Morgan an annuall pension by pensions giuen to the Scottishmen She offereth the Duke of Guise and her sonne pledges for her libertie The Lord Burghley answereth She interrupteth him He proceedeth Letters shewed again She interrupteth their reading Affirmeth her Secretaries were not to be credited She is accused againe for transporting the Kingdome She condemnes her Secretaries as periured Sir Thomas Egertons the Q Sollicitors demonstratioÌ„ She crauest a hearing iâ— open Parliament Sentence pronounced against her Some suspect the credite of the Secretaries Or duety Declaration that the sentence against the Q. of Scotts did nothing preiudice her sonne A Parliament held The banishing of traytors confirmed The States approue confirme the sentence and desire the publication therof The Queen answereth She desireth them to find out some other remedie Their Answer to her Her reply to them The Q. of Scotland is certified of her iudgment The Ambassador of France slayeth the publishing of the Sentence Notwithstanding it is published The Queen of Scotland carrieth herself with a resolute courage She moues a request to Queen Elizabeth Opinions of the Q. of Scotl. cause In her behalfe Against her The Q. of Scotland's sonne intercedeth for her Some Scots against her The K. by letters and messages And propoundeth some things considerable As the K. of France did by his Ambassadors Bellieures reasons for the Qu. of Scotland Answers to his Reasons The Ambassadour of France attempteth Queene Elizabeths life Stafford discouereth the enterprise to the CouÌ„cell The Ambassadour denieth it The Ambassadour mildly rebuked Whether an Ambassador be to discouer the attempts if he know any to be committed against the Prince to whom he is sent But Gray the Scot more She weigheth these businesses The Courtiers perswade her By reasons And by examples She is notwithstanding suspensiue perplexed with doubtfull feares She commandeth a Warrant to be drawne for the execution Her Councell send secretly The Q. of Scotl. prepares herself for death Shee is brought to the scaffold Her speeches to Meluine her Steward To the Earles Her last words The Epitaph The prouidence of God plainly seen in her death Elizabeth is sorry therefore and grieueth thereat Is angry with her Councell They vrge him vpon his owne confession The Queen Sergeants reproue him The Iudges opinion vpon his fact The L. Gray defendeth him Sentence giuen against him He maketh request to the Commissioners Dauison his particular Apologie The indignation of the Nation of Scotland Suggestions vsed to the King Qu. Elizabeth indeuoureth to appease them By what reasons Sir Francis Drake is sent into Spaine to preuent the comming of the Jnuincible Nauy for the inuasion of England His expeditions The great Carraque Saint Philip is taken The profit which the English receiued thereby The East Indies Companie Thomas Cauendish circuits the Earth Stanley and Yorke Traitors New kinde of Duels brought into England With what successe The States of the vnited Prouinces doe blame the Earle of Leicester The States send for Leicester again to raise the siege before Sluce Leicester is molested Leicester goes about to make himselfe Lord ouer their Cities He is called home againe The Title of his Excellency Leicester distributes Medailles coyned en memory of his person to those of his faction The Estates doe put in Leicester place Prince Maurice of Nassau Leicesters faction in the Low-Countries Russell suspected Leicester auoids his aduersaries accusation The death of the Lord Neuill Baron of Abergauenny And the Duchesse of Somerset being very aged And Sir Ralph Sadler Also Sir Thomas Bromley The Earle of Rutland dyes And Sir Christopher Hatton is made Lord High Chancellor William Fitz-Williams Lord Deputie of Ireland for the same time The reason why it is a difficult thing to war against Jreland Booke 3. 1588. A wonderfull and admirable Yeere Great preparations are in hand in Spaine to assault and inuade England By what counsell The reason why They consult about the meanes how to assault and subdue England Preparation in Flanders Traytors hated The Popes assistance Preparation in England By Sea And Land Consultation for defence And concerning the Papists at home The King of Scotlands alacrity against the Spaniards Booke 3· Conference of peace in the meane time Commissioners sent to that end into Flanders Propositions of the English answered Complaint made vnto the Duke of Parma The conference breakes vp The Spanish Armada 28. Maij. Sets forth and is dispersed Sets out againe The English Nauy sets out The first fight The ability of the English Flees * Cantabrica Peter Valdes taken The Ship of Oquenda taken The English Admirals prouidence The third fight Knights created for their valours by the Right Honourable Charles Howard Earle of Notingham Lord High-Admirall Diuers Noble-men and Knights of England ioyne themselues with the English Fleet before Calais The Spanish Fleet lyes at anchor and rests betwixt Calais and Douer The Duke of Parma is sent for againe by the Spaniards He is vnprepared The good seruice of the Hollanders who hindred Parma from ioyning his Forces with the Spanish Nauy The Spaniards amazed fly confusedly Hugh Moncada slaine The fourth combate The Spaniards resolue to returne home by the North-Sea The Queene visits her Campe. Conditions offered vnto the King of Scots Money coyned in memory of this famous victory Tout ainsi coÌ„me l'on dit de Caesar IL EST VENV IL A VEV IL A VINCY on peu dire de mesme de L'espagnol auss que IL EST VENV IL A VEV mais qui pis est IL â—'EN EST ENFVY aulieu que Caesar estoit victorieux Misery of the Spaniards in Jreland Causes of the defeat The Spaniard takes patiently this ouerthrow Queene Elizabeth caused a generall thankes-giuing to God for it and publique reioycing in England Praysed those who were of the English Nauy The publike ioy is increased by the good newes which came out of Scotland The death of Robert Dudley Earle of Leicester His dignities and titles His disposition and manners Leicesters goods are sold Berghen ap Zoom besieged by the Duke of Parma Who raiseth the siege Innouations in England Martin Mar-Prelate and other scandalous Bookes Beginning of a great Rebellion in Jreland Ambassadour in Denmarke The Emperour of Russia most fauourable to the English
Lenox Vice-Roy of Scotland is slaine 279. The Earle of Marre is elected Vice-Roy ibid. Lawes against disturbers ibid. Lawes against Papists 280. Iohn Story condemned to dye 282. Differences appeased betweene the English and the Portugals in Guienne ibid. Marquis of Northampton dyes 283. The death of Bishop Iewell ibid. Affaires in Ireland 284. William Fitz-Williams Deputy ibid. Anno M.D.LXXII Thomas Duke of Norfolke is presented before the Nobles and Peeres and arraigned in Westminster Hall 285. The manner of his Arraignement 286. The chiefe points of his accusation 287. The Duke demandeth an Aduocate to pleade his cause ibid. The second Article of his accusation 290. The third Article 292. His reply and that he was contrary to the Romane Religion 293. The Letters of the Bishop of Rosse to the Queen of Scots produced ibid. The Dukes Letter to his seruant 294. The Letters of Ridolph ibid. Of the Pope ibid. The testimony of Strangers ibid. The third Article of his accusation 295. The Peeres consult among themselues ibid. The sentence of death pronounced against the Duke 296. Baray and Marter are put to death 297. Earles created ibid. Barons elected 298. Lawes established for the better security of the Queene and her Kingdome ibid. The Duke of Norfolke beheaded ibid. His speech at his death 299. Sundry censures of him 300. Catenes relation of the precedent matters 301. Pope Pius the fifth incensed against Queene ELIZABETH imployeth Robert Ridolph a Gentleman of Florence into England 301. He perswades the Kings of France and Spaine against her ibid. The Queene of Scots accused 304. Her answere 305. Sedition in Scotland 306. The Queene of Elngand and the King of France endeuour to accord them ibid. They differ in opinion ibid. Causes alledged why the French fauour the Queene of Scotland 307. The Queene of England contesteth with the French ibid. The rebellious Flemmings being commanded out of England take the Breele 310. The Duke of Alua's carelesnesse ibid. The English repaire into the Low-countries to warre ibid. The dissimulation of the King of France 311. The alliance of Blois ibid. The Articles of the same ibid. The confirmation thereof 313. Mont-morancy admitted to the Order of the Garter 314. He intercedes to accord the differences of Scotland ibid. Answer made vnto him ibid. He also treats of a marriage with the Duke of Aniou 315. The Massacre of Paris ibid. Marriage of the Duke of Alanzon propounded to Queene ELIZABETH 316. The Earle of Northumberland beheaded ibid. Death of the Marquis of Winchester and of the Earle of Darbie ibid. Cecill made Treasurer ibid. Death of Sir George Peters 317 Queene ELIZABETH sicke ibid. Her care of the Publique ibid. She cuts off the superfluous number of followers attending Noblemen and curbeth Enquirers after conceald Lands of the Crowne 318. Rebellion in Ireland also the Omores rebellion there 319. A strange Starre 319. Anno M.D.LXXIII THe Spanish Fleete discomfited by the Hollanders 321. Queene ELIZABETH dischargeth her Fathers and Brothers debts 322. The Papists trouble the Common-wealth 323. The Ambassage of Gondy Count of Rez 324. Ambassage of the Earle of Worcester into France 325. The French Protestants handle the French Papists in England shrewdly and the French Leger Ambassadour complaines to Queene ELIZABETH for ayding the Protestants besieged ibid. She is earnestly sollicited to marry with the D. of Alanzon 326 She grants him leaue to come into England 327. Gondy returnes into England and Earle Morton is made Regent of Scotland 329. The English are sent to besiege Edenborrough 332. The Castle besieged yeelded 333. Kircald and others hanged and Lidington dyes 334. Lodowick Zuniga succeedes Duke d'Alua 335. Burche's Heresie for which hee is hanged 336. The Lord of Effingham the Earle of Kent and Caius the Physician dyed ibid. Troubles in Ireland the Earle of Essex is sent thither 338. Anno M.D.LXXIIII ALanzon desires to visit Queene ELIZABETH and hath leaue to come into England 342. He suspected in France hath a Gard set ouer him 343. Charles the Ninth King of France dieth and the right Noble Roger Lord North is sent Ambassadour extraordinary to Henry of Valois King of France and Poland 344. The Earle of Huntington made President of the North. 345. An Edict against pride 346. London Ministers deceyued A Whale cast on shore Thames ebbes flowes twice in one houre The Skie seemeth to burne 347. Anno M.D.LXXV THe League with France renewed 349. The Prince of Orange intended to flye to the protection of the King of France 352. The Ambassie of Campigni and de Requisens dyeth 354. The death of the Duke of Chastelraut 357. The Earle of Essex distressed in Ireland ibid. Sidney's progresse in Ireland for the third time Deputie there 358. The death of Peter Carew 359. Anno M.D.LXXVI QVeene ELIZAB. is offered a match by the French 361. A confusion in the Netherlands Antwerpe sacked by the Spanish mutiners 362. The comming of Iohn d'Austria into Flanders 363. Sir Martin Forbisher sent to discouer the Straits in the North part of America 364. The death of the Emperour Maximilian and of the Elector Palatine heauy to Queene ELIZABETH who sends Sir Philip Sidney Ambassador extraordinary to Rodulphus his Successour 365. The death of Walter Deuoreux Earle of Essex and of Sir Anthony Coke 367. Tumults in Ireland and William Drury made President of Munster 368. The Queene takes pitty of the Irish 369. Anno M.D.LXXVII AVstria inclined to peace at Queene ELIZABETHS perswasion 370. The Prince of Orange diuerts her from it 371. Sir Thomas Copley made Baron in France 372. Iohn of Austria's dissimulation ibid. Why Queen ELIZABETH couenanted with the Scots 373. Spaine is pleased with it 375. England the Ballance of Europe 376. Priest Maine executed Baron of Latimer and Secretarie Smith of Saffron Walden dyes 377. Rebellion againe in Ireland and Rorio Oge is slaine Harington and Cosby wounded 378. Anno M.D.LXXVIII QVeene ELIZABETH's care for the Low-Countries 380. Count Swartzeberg Bellieure and Cobham Deputy for France Germany and England and for the treaty of peace and Egremond Ratcliffe and his associate are put to death and Don Iuan de Austria dyes 381. Aniou's Duke pursues his intended marriage with Qu. ELIZ. and Leicester murmurs at it 383. The Countesse of Lenox death ibid. King IAMES sends an Ambassador to Queene ELIZAB. 385. Morton Regent takes vpon him the administration of the Realme againe 386. The Peeres are against him 387. How to inuade England consulted by Spaine 387. Thomas Stukeley a Traytor takes Armes against his Countrey and is slaine with three Kings 388. William Drury made Lord Deputie of Ireland 389. Anno M.D.LXXIX CAssimiere Palatin's Sonne comes into England 390. Queene ELIZABETH sends money into Holland 391. One is shot with a Pistoll who was in Queene ELIZABETH's Barge with her Maiestie the French Ambassadour the Earle of Lincolne and Sir Christopher Hatton 392. The Duke of Aniou comes into England ibid.
Aimé Stuart Lord Aubigny into Scotland 393. Sir Nicholas Bacon Sir Thomas Bromley Sir Thomas Gresham dye one after another 396. Dauile murdered in his bed 398. The death of the Lord Druty Deputie 401. Anno M.D.LXXX ARthur Lord Gray made Deputie of Ireland 405. The Spaniards and Italians land in Ireland 406. They are all slaine and the subiects hanged 407. The taking of Malines And of an Earth-quake 409. The beginning of the English Seminaries 410. Persons and Campian Iesuites came into England 413. Sir Francis Drake returnes into England 417. Iohn Oxenham sayleth into America 419. Drakes voyage and warlike exploits 424. The Spaniards demand his riches 428. The death of Fitz-Allen Earle of Arundell 430. The Earle of Lenox enuyed by the Scots is accused by them to Queene ELIZABETH 432. Alexander Earle of Homes Baron of Dunglas is sent from King IAMES to excuse it 434. Regent Morton is cast into prison 435. The end of the Contents of the Second Booke THE CONTENTS Of this royall and famous HISTORY THE THIRD BOOKE RANDOLPHS intercession for Morton against Lenox Folio 1. The King of Scotts answer 2 Norris his victories in Freezland 4 Albanois 5 Drunkennesse brought out of the Low-countries ibid. By what right the King of Spaine possesseth Portugall ibid. The Qu. of France her title to Portugall reiected 6 Antonio banisht Portugall 7 Couenants of marriage betweene the Duke of Anjou and Q. Elizabeth concluded on 8 The K. of France vrgeth the marriage and the Q. of Engl. deferreth 10 Qu. Elizabeth giueth the Duke of Anjou a Ring 12 The queene much disquieted 13 Reasons disswading her from marriage and a booke set out against it 14 The Queens declaration against this pernicious libell 15 Champian the Iesuite and other Priests put to death 17 New lawes against Papists 18 The Duke of Anjou sayleth into Flanders 19 A Comet 21 Qu. Elizabeth bestoweth the Order of the Garter vpon the King of Denmarke 21 The treaty concerning the queene of Scotts is deferred 22 Gowry and others tumult in Scotland 23 The Duke of Lenox driuen out of Scotland ibid. An Ambassie from the French K. for the deliuery of the king of Scots 24 The qu. of Scotland's letter to queen Elizâ—beth 25 The Duke of Lenox returnes thorough England 33 Consultations about the deliuery of the queene of Scotland 34 The K. of Scotland seekes the loue of the queene of England 36 The King of Scotland sets himselfe at liberty 37 Walsingham is sent into Scotland from queene Elizabeth ibid. The king of Scots answers him freely 38 Walsinghams remonstrations to his sacred Maiesty ibid. The King answereth them 39 His Maiesty reestablâ—shed the reputation and honour of the Duke of Lenox causing likewâ—se his children to returne into Scotland 39 The Ministers of Scotland are against their Kings authority 40 A peace obtained for the King of Sweden ibid. The Emperour desires alliance with England and is a suiter to her Maiesty to graunt him an English Lady for his wife ibid. The Emperours death 41 A Polonian Nobleman commeth into England to see queene Elizabeth 42 A wonderfull earth-quake in Dorset-shire ibid. The death of Thomas Ratcliffe Earle of Essex 43 Sir Humfrey Gilbert drowned by shipwrack 44 The death of E. Grindall Archbish of Canterbury ibid. Iohn Whitgift preferred to bee Archbishop of Canterbury 45 The English betray Alost and do deliuer it into the hands of the cruell Spaniard 48 A miserable end of traytors ibid. The Earle of Desmond is slaine ibid. Nicholas Sanders an English Seminary Priest famisht himselfe 49 Viscount of Baltinglasse fled out of Ireland 50 Labouring men sent into Ireland 51 The gestures and behauiour of Sir Iohn Perrot Viceroy of Ireland ibid. Troubles in Scotland 52 The Earle of Gowry is taken the conspirators are dâ—spersed queene Elizabeth succoureth some of them the king demandeth them by the league but in vaine 53 Walsingham fauoureth the fugitiue Hunsdon against them 54 The power of a Secretary argued ibid. The arraignement of Gowry ibid. He is beheaded 55 The treason of Fr. Throkmorton 56 The Lo Paget retyreth into France ibid. The queenes clemency towards Papists 57 The Priests are banished 58 Spanish Ambassadour sent out of England 59 Thokmortons confession 61 A new treaty with the qu. of Scots 63 She answereth propositions made vnto her 64 She demandeth to be associated to the kingdome with her sonne 65 The queene of Scotts maketh new propositions 66 The Scotts of the English faction oppose them 67 The insolency of the Scottish Ministers 68 Buchanans writings reproued ibid. The Scottish and English make incursions one vpon another 69 Patrick Grayes Ambassage ib. The queen of Scotts committed to new guardians 72 Councell holden amongst the Papists 73 The death of the Earle of Westmerland ibid. The death of Plowden ib. Alancon dyeth and the Prince of Orenge is slaine 74 The French king inuested with the Order of the Garter 75 Is accused of treason 76 His confession 77 He consulteth with the Iesuites about the murdering of the queene ibid. He discloseth the matter to the queen 78 Alans booke addeth fresh courage to him 79 Neuill offereth him his helpe ibid. Parry is arraigned and executed 80 Lawes demanded in Parliament against Bishops and against Non-residents 81 Lawes against Iesuites and Priests 82 The Earle of Arundell resolueth to flye out of England 83 The Earle of Northumberland is found dead ibid. The causes of his imprisonment manifest 85 Lamentation for the Earle of Northumberland 87 Queene Elizabeth laboureth to contract a league with the Princes of Germany ibid. The like with the king of Scotts 88 Arâ—atâ—on of the death of Russell and the manner thereof ibid. The death of Thomas Carre 90 The fugitiue Scots are sent out of England back into Scotland ibid. They are reconciled vnto the King 92 The rebellion of the Bourkes in Ireland 93 The Sccots of Hebrides called into Ireland 94 The Gouernour laboureth for a peace but in vaine 95 He pursueth the Scotts and defeateth them 96 The States of the Netherlands consult of a Protector 97 They are refâ—sed of the French and the English consult about it 98 The Dutch offer themselues to the queene 100 Antwerpe is yeelded vp the queene deliberateth with her selfe and takes vpon her the protection 101 Vnder what conditions 102 Queene Elizabeth publisheth the causes and sends to the West Indies to diuert the Spaniard 103 Iames town taken from the Spaniard 104 Hispaniola or S. Dominick surprised ibid. Spaniards motto Auarice and Couetousnesse 105 Carthagena assaulted ibid. Saint Anthony and S. Helena fired by the English 106 Booty of the English voyage and expedition 107 A search made for a discouery of a way to the East Indies ibid. An Edict against Woad 108 Death of the Earle of Lâ—ncolne and of the Earle of Bedford 109 Earle of Leister sent into Holland ibid. His instruction 110 Absolute authority giuen to the Earle of Leyster by the States 111 Queen Elizabeth offended thereat
Thighes so fought Norris the Leader of the English eagerly fighting had three Horses killed vnder him and brought away the glorie of a valorous Warriour and so did Stuart a Scottishman Burham Lieutenant to Cauendish and William Marckham That these Prouinces of the Low-Countreys afflicted and faint with these intestine Warres might be comforted there came into Flanders from the Emperour Count Swart-Zenberg from France Pomponio Belieure from Queene ELIZABETH the Lord Cobham and Sir Francis Walsingham to sollicite a Peace but the businesse was so poysoned that they returne without doing any thing Don Iohn refusing to admit of reforming Religion and the Prince of Orange to returne into Holland About that time Egremond Radcliffe Sonne to Henrie Earle of Sussex by his second Wife a man of a turbulent Spirit and one of the chiefe in the Rebellion of the North went to serue vnder Don Iohn and is accused by some of the English Fugitiues to be sent to kill him is apprehended in the Campe at Namurcke with Gray an Englishman as a partner in the plot and are both executed The Spaniards giue it out that Radcliffe which were the last words he spake before his death of his owne accord confessed that he was set at libertie out of the Tower of London and excited with great promises by Sir Francis Walsingham to performe this Some English that were present denied that he confessed any such thing although the Fugitiues wrought by all the meanes they could to draw the like confession from them but difference in Religion doth too much darken the light of the mind both of honestie and truth on both sides and who knowes not that the Fugitiues for verie hatred inuent many things to depraue and slander Within a little time after Don Iohn in the flowre of his age whether of the Plague or as others will haue it with griefe being neglected of his Brother left his fond Ambition and life together after he had gaped first after the kingdome of Tunis which caused the losse of Guleta in Affrica And secondly after England And vnknowne to France or Spaine contracted alliance with the Guizes for the defence of both the Crownes In the meane while the Duke of Aniou howsouer bent to the Warres of the Low-Countries prosecutes the mariage which he had begun being Duke of Alanzon that he might shew that he was able to giue his minde to the warres and to his Loue together First of all Bucheruile for this purpose is sent to Queene ELIZABETH He finds her at the House of one Cordall in Suffolke taking her Countrey pleasures By and by after comes Rambouillet from the French King and a moneth after Semier from the Duke of Aniou a refined Courtier who was exquisite in the delights of Loue and skilfull in the wayes of Courtship accompanied with many French Gentlemen whom Queene ELIZABETH receiued forthwith verie louingly at Richmond Then began Leicester to grow discontented seeing himselfe falne from the hope which he had so long conceiued to marrie her and that a little before she had beene angry with Astley a Lady of the Queenes Bed-Chamber for commending him to her and perswading her to marrie him WHat saith she thinkest thou me so vnlike my selfe and vnmindfull of the Maiestie of a Queene that I will prefer a meane Seruant whom I haue raised my selfe before the greatest Princes of the Christian world Neere the same time Margaret Douglas Countesse of Lenox Daughter of the eldest Sister of King HENRY the eighth Widdow of Mathew Earle of Lenox and Grandmother to IAMES King of Great Britaine after she had out-liued all her Children which were eight in number dyed in the Clymacteriall yeere of her age and was buried at Westminster being brought thither with a sumptuous Funerall at Queene ELIZABETH's charge A woman of singular pietie patience and chastitie who had beene three times cast into prison as I haue heard not for any suspition of crime against the Queene but for matters of Loue. First when Thomas Howard Sonne of Thomas Howard first Duke of Norfolke of that Name was falne in loue with her and dyed in the Towre of London Secondly for the loue of Henry Darley her Sonne and the Queene of Scots Lastly for the loue betweene Charles her younger Sonne and Elizab. Cauendish the Lady Arbella's Mother to whom the Queene of Scots was accused to haue been maried as I haue said before That we may lightly touch the affaires of Scotland At the begining of this yeere Thomas Randolph was sent from Queene ELIZABETH into Scotland that he by diligent search might feele in what estate the affaires stood there to congratulate with the King for his forward proceeding in good Letters who from his Child-hood hauing an exquisite and happie memorie had profited much beyond his age and to wish him to loue the English in regard of the many benefits she had done to him and motherly affection that she bare him and that he should deale with the Earle of Argathel that the Hebridians might not assist the Rebels of Ireland and to perswade the Regent Earle Morton to abandon in time the enmitie betweene him and the Earles of Argathel Athole and others lest he incurre the hatred of his Peeres and alienate altogether the Queenes minde from him He now was vnder-hand accused to haue stained the honour he had for wisedome and valour with filthy couetousnesse and would shortly make himselfe so hated of the common people that the State with a general consent will translate the administration of the affaires to the King though for his age hauing scarce attained to twelue yeeres he be not capable of it and that twelue of the principall of the Nobilitie be nominated three of them for three moneths together by course to assist the King in Councell amongst whom Morton to be one that he may seeme rather to be brought from one place to another then to be put out The King hauing taken the gouernment of his Kingdome doth most thankfully by Dunfermlin acknowledge Queene ELIZABETH's fauours towards him as proceeding not so much from the neerenesse of Blood as from the common profession of the true Religion Prayes her that the Treatie of Edenborough contracted betweene the two Kingdomes begun in the yeere 1559 may be ratified the more happily to restraine the robbers vpon the Borders and preuent the enterprizes of the Aduersaries of true Religion that Iustice might be equally ministred to the Inhabitants of both the Kingdomes the goods taken by Pirats fully restored and his Ancestors patrimonie in England viz. the possessions granted to Mathew his Grandfather and Margaret his Grandmother he being the next Heire may be deliuered into his hands likewise Moneys being cleane exhausted out of Scotland he wanted to entertaine his Family and a Guard about him as the dignitie of a King required The first Demands the Queene readily promiseth but to that concerning the Patrimonie she
for the contracting of a mariage But then those that were keepers or detainers of the Kings person seeing that the French Ambassadors were departed out of Scotland began to take courage which after was increased by the death of the Duke of Lenox who finding small comfort from the French King that then was intangled with diuers intestine troubles and striuing likewise to please Queene ELIZABETH departed this life at Paris and by the testimonies which he gaue on his death-bed being at the point of death in the presence of all the assistants hee declared himselfe to be truely of the Protestants Religion confuting and conuicting the malice of those that had falsely accused him to be a Papist This the death of Lenox much secured those that detained the King who reioyced for the still retaining of him in their power whereupon they began to exult But see they little suspecting any such matter the King although he had scarce yet attained to the age of eighteene yeares disdaining to submit himselfe any longer to the rule and gouernment of three Earles being an absolute King of himselfe as he before-times had giuen way to the time so now finding a time opportune to his purpose he set himself at liberty and with a few selected men retired himselfe to the Castle of Saint Andrewes taking occasion by a rumour that was spread that the Nobilitie disagreeing amongst themselues had brought with them seuerall troopes of Souldiers into that part of the Country there to hold an assembly which hee appointed fearing lest he amongst these tumultuous iarres should be exposed to some vnexpected danger And to that effect he dispatcht Letters to Queene ELIZABETH wherein hee promised to entertaine a constant league of amitie with her and to embrace her counsell in the establishment of his affaires excusing himselfe that these things fell out so suddenly and vnawares to him that it was not possible for him to giue her notice thereof sooner Afterwards vsing gentler speeches and milde perswasions shewing an affable countenance to those that were his guardians he admonished them for the better shunning of turmoyles to retire from the Court promising to them his gracious fauour and pardon if so be they would intreat it Of these Gowry onely asked pardon and submitted himselfe vsing this small distinction That he had offended not in matter but in forme After this he call'd backe the Earle of Arran to the Court accepting him for one of his fauourites much labouring to establish the hearts of his Nobilitie in a mutuall peace and amitie and to purge both the kingdome and the Court from intestine iarres and discord Whilst he was thus busied continually in these matters there ariued at his Court Sir Francis Walsingham sent from the Queene of England out of her earnest loue great care that she alwaies had of him lest by ill counsels being of a flexible age he should bee diuerted from the amity of England which would bee to the preiudice of both the Kingdomes Walsingham at his ariuall found the King accompanied with the chiefe and flower of his Nobility and the affaires of Scotland better setled then hee expected Being receiued admitted after much discourse he rehearst those admonitiōs takē out of Isocrates which the Queen before in her letters had instructed him with That he which commands ought so to cherish truth as to giue more credit to its simple affirmation then to the oaths of others That he should take heed of euill counsellours remaining still constant alway like himselfe The King made this free and hearty reply That what he writ more then his thoughts meaning was against his will much refusing yet inforced by the compulsion of others that he being a free Prince ought not to bee reduced to such streights that others should force counsellors vpon him whom hee altogether misliked That he had done nothing but for his owne honour and safeguard That the pledge of his loue which he before had vowed to his indeared Sister the Queene of England hee now freely and deseruedly offered and that now hee could produce more fairer fruits of amitie being obeyed of all his Nobilitie then before when he himselfe was made obedient to one and to another and rul'd as it were rather by intreating then by power or commandement After this Walsingham requested the King not to impute to Queene ELIZABETH any thing that had happened in Scotland shewing him how good profitable their friendship had hitherto been and how expedient both for himselfe as also for either Kingdome if so bee shee suffered no neglect but were firmely assured and if the differences and contentions which happened amongst the Nobility of Scotland were but for a certaine Amnestia abolished by the authority of the Parliament that those that were remoued from the Court should bee taken into grace that Religion should be conserued entire in it selfe and a firme league established betwixt the two Kingdomes Neither was Walsingham any way defectiue in the distribution of his money amongst the Kings Officers and Attendants that by their meanes hee might effect these things The King thus modestly replyed That he willingly embraced the friendship of England and would not be wanting in any obseruance towards the Queene but most constantly defend the Religion receiued With this answer he graciously discharged Walsingham notwithstanding he suspected him to be transported both against himselfe and his mother and with an intentiue prouidence beyond the expectation of his yeares hee managed his affaires and proposed to the great praise of his clemencie letters of grace to all those that had seized his person if they within a time prefixt would come and intreat pardon But so farre they were from asking it that they priuatly tooke counsell together and complotted how they might haue him againe vnder their power which was the cause that he presently commanded them within a certaine time to leaue the Kingdome whereupon some retired them to one part and some to another that is to say Marre Glan Boide Zester-wemi and Loch-leuin into Flanders Dunfermelin into France and Angus was confined to Angus within certaine prescribed limits Onely Gowry hatching in his braines new stratagems remained in the Realme beyond the prefixed day but to his owne confusion as hereafter shall be recited Thus those that before had driuen the Duke of Lenox out of Scotland were within the reuolution of the same yeare themselues expulst the Land And the King to whom Lenox in his life time was much indeared and beloued after his death cherishing the memory of his goodnesse he reestablished and vnclouded his reputation by suppressing certaine defamatory bookes which some malignant persons had dispersed to eclipse his worth and vertues he likewise recalled his children out of France confirmes his sonne Lodowicke in his fathers honors and his daughters after they were growne to ripe yeares he preferred them in mariage one with the Lord