a most accursed Covenant just as our Popish-Pouder-Traitors did in their damnable designe and bound themselves by an oath of Confederation and Secrecy Reily a prime Popish-Priest and others like his father the Devill compassing the Earth farre and neer to draw into their conspiracy such as had not before bin therwith acquainted as also to satisfie all scruples if any arose in any of their minds about the lawfullnesse of their actions just as Garnet that old Romish Jesuiticall Fox did with his Pouder-conspirators 1605. And wheras they falsly have masked this their most inhumane Treason and Rebellion under the Kings name pretending his authority and all they did or doe in obedience to his Majesty and tender respect to his Royall Prerogative yet it hath bin by some others of them professed that they intended to have a King of their own yea that they had one already some saying Tyrone was he others Sir Philim O Neal who hath bin audaciously and traiterously honoured with the stile of his Majesty and that they will with the assistance of Spain and France set footing in England having completed their own devillish Irish-work and after that in Scotland where all things being setled to their desires the whole forces of Ireland in way of retribution and acknowledgement of gratitude was intended as hath bin confessed for the King of Spain against the Hollanders Such mighty and invincible Conquerours had they made themselves in their owne conceipts and most bold and bloudy imaginations Unto which their horrible disloyalty and unparalleld treachery and Rebellion they added most execrable expressions of unheard of hatred and inhumane barbarity to the Subjects of the English-Nation Banishment or perpetuall slavery were the greatest favours that would have bin afforded them their generall profession being for a generall extirpation even to the last and least drop of English-blood from among them Yea and that which transcends all former extents of rage and unpattern'd wrath and malignity not so much as an English beast or any of that breed was to be left alive in that whole Kingdom And as the hearts and tongues of these most base and abhominable Traitors and Rebels were boundlesly and extremely cruell in intention and profession So it pleased the Lord for the sins of his people there to permit power unto these barbarous Rebels to act with their hands the most accursed and profane perpetrations that ever Christian eyes beheld or eares have heard of both for impiety against God and his holy Gospell and almost unexpressible inhumanity toward the true Professours therof among them blaspheming our God stripping his Servants starke naked and then bidding them goe to their God to be cloathed againe breaking into Churches burning Pulpits with extream hatred to our Religion and exceedingly tryumphing in all their impieties Dragging some Professours of the Gospell by the haire of their heads through the Streets into the Churches and there stripping and whipping them and with most cruell and taunting termes abusing them telling them if they came to morrow they should heare the like Sermon Yea so excessively impious was their hatred to the Gospell of Christ that they tooke the sacred bookes of the holy Scriptures and cast them into kennels and puddles of dirt and mire treading them under-foot and leaping and skipping on them and ô horrid impiety causing a bagg-pipe to play all the while and bidding a plague upon them saying they were the cause of all quarrels and burning some and saying it was hell-fire that was then flaming and wishing they had all the Bibles in Christendome that they might use them so And as for the most inhumane and more than Scythian cruelties of these Irish Canibals and most barbarous blood-sucking Tygres of whom we may most properly say as Jacob did of his bloody sons Simeon and Levi in their massacre of the Shechemites Gen. 49.7 Cursed be their anger for it was fierce their wrath for it was cruell Yea certainly more cruell than ever any eye did see or ear did heare yea I say past the most exquisite historicall expressions of any ancient or modern Relations witnes their stripping stark-naked men women and children even children sucking their poore mothers brests whereby multitudes of all sorts ages and Sexes in the extremitie of that cold season of frost and snow have most lamentably perished women being dragg'd up and downe naked women in child-bed drawne out thence and cast into prison one delivered of a child while she was hanging one ripped up horresco referens and two children taken out of her and all cast unto and eaten up by Swine One stab'd in the brest her child sucking An infant cruelly murthered whom they found sucking his dead mother slain by them the day before A child of 14 years of age taken from his mother in her sight cast into a Bog-pit and held under water while he was drowned Together with many other yet more horrid hideous and more than savage or beast-like barbarities too terrible for me any farther to relate but may be more fully found in that most lamentable Remonstrance of this Irish-Rebellion and all there proved by testimonies on Oath wherunto I referr the Reader Which makes me call to mind that old observation proverbially spoken of Ireland which is That no poysonous Serpent will live on Irish-ground which how true in the historicall meaning I know not but now I am sure 't is most false in the mysticall meaning of it for here it seems that Satans Serpentine seed a brood of most poysonous native-Serpents Adders and Snakes of villany and cruelty doe live yea and thrive there also but I trust but for a season for certainly the Lord the most righteous Judge of all men and severe revenger of all wrongs will not suffer such horrible impieties and unpattern'd cruelties to goe unpunished but will undoubtedly ruinate such a pestilent generation of Romish Vipers and Babilonish blood-suckers as these are which he hath already most blessedly begun First by his most gracious and timely discovery of their main plot the taking of the City of Dublin which was indeed the Master-peice of their intended Epidemical mischief but prevented I say by the Lords great mercy and good providence in a most strange manner by a native Irish Gentleman one M. Owen Mack-Connell once Servant to that pious and most worthy Gentleman Sir John Clotworthy and this also by a most remarkable way and worke of the Lords speciall providence as is more particularly and punctually related in the preamble of Irelands Tears to which I referre the Reader And secondly by the Lords most glorious and victorious over-powring the out-ragious power and petulancy of those barbarous miscreants now in open Rebellion by the hands of a very small remnant of poore Protestants there among them who by reason of the most unhappy distractions and unnaturall civill-discords raised up among us in England by the Popish Faction also and their Pontifician abettors cannot be by us so
he might out of Ireland the north of England and Scotland also where he knew were many Papists invade England This man to help forward this great designe practised secretly with the Pope and with the King of Spain for the Havens of Biscay But the King of Spain neglected him in this desire accounting England and Scotland a morsell fitter for his own palate During this treaty of perpetuall peace this treacherous Don treateth secretly with the Scotish Queen about the marriage and the better to work his own ends took divers Towns and Castles in the Low-countries by treachery and wrote into Spain that for the invasion of the Netherlands it would be best to seize on first the Towns of Zealand before the more inland places and that England might with the more ease be first invaded The Queen in the mean while prepareth for war but God cut off this her enemy very sodainly before the fruits of his high thoughts were ripe Stueleys designe against Ireland NOt long before this time in Ireland Thomas Stucley a prodigall riotous and needy English-man discontented for that he lost the Stewardship of Wexford breathes out contumelies against the Queen and betaketh himselfe to the Pope with whom he treateth and boasteth that he will subdue Ireland with 3000. men and burne the Queens Navy Pope Pius quintus had a great opinion of him After him Gregory the 13. and the King of Spaine consulted together to invade England and Ireland at once The Pope aymed to get for his Son James Boncompayno the Kingdome of Ireland and the Spaniard chiefly to imitate the course of Qu. Elizabeth who to keep the Spaniard busie abroad secretly sent ayd to the Dutch that he might with-draw her help from the Low-countries But because the strength of England consisteth chiefly in the Navy the King of Spaine setteth the Merchants of Italy and the Netherlands a worke to hire the Merchants ships of England and so to send them away in very long voyages that the ships being from home and Stucley joyning with the Rebels of Ireland the Queens Navy might be over-thrown by a greater The Pope gave him very great Titles in Ireland and sent under his command 800. Italians the Spaniard paying the souldiers Stucley then went to Sebastian King of Portugall to intreat him to be chiefe Conductor but was perswaded by the said King and the King by Abdallas son Mahomet to go first unto the African warr where both King Sebastian and himself lost their lives And thus God overthrew their wicked counsels for that time Fitz-Morris his second attempt against Ireland ANno Domini 1579. James Fitz-Morris formerly having fled into France being pardoned for a former Rebellion in Ireland goeth now to the Spaniard and is by him sent unto the Pope to consult with him about his request which was to reduce that Kingdome by force of Arms unto Popery The Pope at the earnest sult of Nicolas Sanders an English and Alan an Irish Priest gave Fitz-Morris some mony to that intent and sendeth him back to the Spaniard from whence with his Priests 3. ships and a few Souldiers he arrived at Smerwick in Kerry in Ireland and raiseth a Fort there Thomas Courtney an English-man presently surpriseth the ships John and James brethren to the Earle of Desmond joyn themselves to Fitz-Morris who was their Kinsman The Earle of Desmond although he pretended the contrary favored them drew forces together and by this pretence of Desmond caused the Earle of Clanrickard who came to oppose them to withdraw himselfe Fitz-Morris seeing few Irish come to his aid under pretence of going in pilgrimage to the holy crosse of Tipperary went toward Conaught and Vlster to draw forces together whose horses being tired he took some horses from the Plough of William a Burgh his kinsman and being pursued by the sons of William a Burgh Fitz-Morris perceiving that told his cousin Theobalda Burgh that it was no time now to fall out about horses but to joyne with him in the businesse of rebellion for which he was come into Ireland These brethren had bin in a former rebellion but now declared unto Fitz-Morris their sorrow for it yet now fighting with Fitz-Morris to recover the horses both the brethren and some others were slain Sir William Drury was then Lord Deputy who sent for the Earle of Desmond who made a promise by his wife to the Deputy that he and his men would fight against the Rebels He dissembled long but after that Malbey had defeated John his brothers forces and had sent for Desmond to come unto him about Rekel a Town of Desmond he plainly discovered his rebellion That night the Rebels set upon Malbeys Tents but were disappointed Afterward Desmond was sent for to come in person by the Lord Deputy Pelham who succeeded the deceased Sir William Drury but excuseth himselfe by a letter sent by his wife The Earle of Ormond was sent unto him that he should deliver Sanders the Priest the Castles of Carigofoile and Asketton and to submit himself absolutely The prosecuting of him was committed to the Earle of Ormond who ruined Conilo the Rebels only refuge he hanged the Bayliffe of Youghall at his doore for refusing to take an English garrison into the Town besieged the Spaniards in Strangicall but they withdrew themselves and after were all killed and so hard he pressed Desmond and his brethren that madly they intreated the chiefe Justice to take their parts Afterward the Justice sent for the Nobility of Munster to come to him and would not dismisse them till they had given pledges that they would assist against the Rebels They made the Baron of Lixenaw yeeld himself took Carigofoil Castle killed and hanged all the Spaniards in it and the Captain also an Italian San Josephus with 700. Spaniards sent into Ireland THe next Yeare 1580. 700. Spaniards and Italians came to divert the Qu. Forces rather then to conquer Ireland they landed at Smerwick under the command of San Josephus an Italian they fortified it and called it Fort Delor but being followed by the Earle of Ormond they withdrew thence into a valley called Glammingel Some prisoners of them were taken who confest they were 700 and that Armes were brought for 5000 and that more were expected from Spain that to conquer Ireland the Spaniard and Pope had resolved and therefore sent into the hands of Sanders Desmond and his brother John a vast sum of mony That night the Spaniards and Italians returned to their Fort which so soon as Ordinance could be brought and Winter was returned with the Ships of war from England was on every side besieged and after 5 days taken The common Souldiers Italians and Spaniards were put to the sword the Irish hanged only the Captains of the former were preserved Three years after Desmond wandering like a vagabond had his arme almost cut-off by a common Souldier before he was known and after was slain Nicolas Sanders was almost famished in the Woods
A DISCOVERY OF THE POPES PRIDE AMBITION and CRUELTY In a Tyrannicall Barbarous and Bloudy manner exercised on Emperours Kings and Kingdomes The Miseries Ruine and Desolations by them brought on the Christian world WITH Their vitious and unchaste lives their wicked practices for obtaining the Popedome by Murthers Poysonings c. By J. V. LONDON Printed for William Raybould at the Sign of the Unicorn in Pauls-Church-yard 1651. The Contents PHilip the second King of Spain his offer of Marriage with Q. Elizabeth rejected The practice of the Guises with the Q. of Scots against the Crowne of England The Rebellion of the Earles of Northumberland and Westmerland the Pope sends Letters to the King of Spaine and K. of Portugall to send an Army to invade England Leo Dacres joyning with the Rebells indevoureth to deliver the Q. of Scots after a sharp conflict with the Lo. of Hunsdon is put to flight Iames FitZ-Morris of the House of Desmond raiseth Rebellion in Ireland Thomas and Edward Stanley with others conspire against the Queene Don Iohn of Austria his perpetuall but treacherous Edict for Peace Stucley his designe against Ireland turned another way by the K. of Portugall Iames Fitz-Morris his second attempt to reduce Ireland to Popery San Iosephus an Italian sent by the Pope and K. of Spaine with 700. Spaniards and Italians into Ireland Campian Sherewin and others comming into England taken and condemned for Treason Somervile his desperate attempt against the Queenes Person Mendoza the Spanish Embassador thrust out of England for practising with Throgmorton and others to invade the Land D. Parry for practising the Queenes death executed Savage and others their attempt to kill the Queene The French Ambassador his plot to kill the Queene The Spanish Armado in Anno 1588. D. LopeZ his attempt to poyson the Queene Squires practise to poyson the Queenes Saddle Tyrone his Rebellion in Ireland Garnet Catesby and others their attempt for Invasion of England The Hellish Gun-powder Treason Sir Griffin Markham and others their conspiracy against King Iames. The present bloudy Rebellion in Ireland The cruell Massacre at Paris The Murther of Henry the 3d. The Murther of Henry the 4th Gentle Reader THou mayest evidently see by this ensuing discourse what are the fruits and effects of Popery how the Popes have kindled the fier amongst all the Princes and States of Europe and like Balaam the false Prophet troubled us with their wiles cursed the Church and State of England and by their Incendiaries the Priests and Iesuites for effecting their owne pernicious and divellish designes have stirred up one Nation against an other and all Christendome against the English tainted many a great House and endangered their Lives and Estates to the ruine of great and Noble Families in this Kingdome Plots Conspiracies and Attempts of Domestick and Forraigne Enemies of the Romish Religion against the Princes and Kingdomes of England Scotland and IRELAND c. THose which make descriptions of large Countries in small Tables offend not against truth though somewhat against quantity so Pliny telleth us Notwithstanding with much convenience ease to the beholder and truth of observation things are presented to our eyes in those little draughts that the very places themselves being viewed with great trouble and losse of time cannot yeeld more benefit to the most diligent oftentimes not so much Wherfore especially because the Argument cannot be now unseasonable for the abridgement of the Commentaries of large Histories is not unlike Maps of Kingdomes I have here collected out of divers Authours which have severally handled parts of this subject into one The chief conspiracies and attempts against the Kingdomes alone and immediately of great Brittany and Ireland or els mediately through the sides of the Princes of these Countries by Traytors at home or abroad of the Romish Religion or forraigne Enemies by treacherous courses of those of the same bloody superstition The beginning I make the first time of Reformation of Religion here in England under Queen Elizabeth and the extent unto this present yeere I begin no higher then Queene Elizabeth because the Reformation of Henry the eight was but in part and the other of King Edward was an interrupted one by the sudden succession of his sister Qu. Mary the rather because for ought we know there was no great matter plotted against this hopefull young Prince that was not rather from ambition if there was any such then from a desire of subverting Religion Not but thaa the Enemies of our Religion and Kingdome had us then in their minds but other wayes there were before bloody and desperate practises were to be taken in hand to be first entred into of lesse difficulty and more hopefull successe And these are the steps the adversaries of our Religion use to tread who thirsting after England labour first to bring us back to Rome by striving to make our selves hate our own Religion and leave that God which brought us out of the Land of Aegypt bewitching us with glorious Idolatry of the golden Calvs of Rome introducing ignorance and blindnes that we may when our eyes are out patiently grind in the Mill of slavery If this course fail the next is by poyson murder and force of Arms to draw us to Sodom and Aegypt The Reformation of England and Ireland fall under one time and because that of Scotland also differeth not many years in age they may all be brought in one account With the Plots are joyntly handled the Deliverances which in some respect or other may very well be called great either in regard of the misery we had fallen into if God had not prevented them of the slavery of soule and body and this agreeth with all Or else for the strangenesse of the discoveries of their mischiefes sometime almost miraculous before they have come to their birth or disappointing them of their purposes when the Authours have put them in practise and these two respects the one or the other which may well denominate Gods goodnesse to us in disappointing them to be great may be found in all likewise So that for these mercies received we ought to ascribe to our Deliverer that which is due unto him the praise of his own work and continuall thankes for his mercies which even to this day is from those Deliverances of the dayes of old extended we should have bin then betrayed but we had now bin slaves both we our selves and ours one Plot had it succeeded had bin the betraying of England at once to them who love themselves too well to have lost it easily and are so wise that they endure no Traitors but for themselves nor can indure any that loves his Country but a Spaniard We may learne also to trust in him even now particularly who is the same yesterday and to day and for ever nor is his hand shortened that he cannot save nor his eare heavy that he cannot heare those that call upon him lifting up pure hands in
sincerity of heart although the sins of our Nation in generall may justly provoke our God to punish us by them that hate us for that cause that instead of extirpating Popery and superstition a thing nor hard to be done in humane reason if the children of Papists were carefully educated under Protestant Tutors we thinke their Religion tolerable and nothing so dangerous to soul or body as some men seem to make it Should we not detest and abhorre the Religion of such a generation as count they doe God good service by killing us witnesse the bloudy Persecution under Qu. Mary and the damnable plot of the Gun-powder-Treason Yet some there are that would seem Protestants and yet deny that their cruelty was such as the Authour of the English Martyrology makes the Marian persecution to be Others of no small esteem in the Church of England instead of acknowledging Foxes History a Monument of Martyrs call it a Book fraught with Traitors and Heretiques And for the Gun-powder conspiracy some affirm it the deeds of a few male-contents farre from the approbation of the Catholiques others as falsely that there was no such Treason intended but that it was an invention of him whom in reverence I forbeare to name But yet this may incourage us that God will still preserve us for their sakes that have now and heretofore stoutly defended Gods true Religion and that in very many places of this Land we have had those that with all their power have opposed the very beginnings of Popery But wonderfull it is and scarcely credible that any should so much have forgotten the Gun-powder-Treason as to say that they would rather trust a Papist then a Puritan as if they believed not there was any such Treason or had forgotten it or that they thought that those whom men call Puritans were traiterously minded and bloudy persons In the most Reverend and Judicious Assembly of this Kingdome a Member of that Assembly declared in particulars how the best men have bin branded with the name of Puritan it was where any man might freely have spoken yet no man contradicted him If it be given sometime to the best without question those ordinarily called by that bie name are none of the worst because from likenesse at least divers men have one Name We will acknowledge hypocrites among them but because one is such no man will conclude they must be all so No man of us almost abhorreth the name of Protestant to be given him and yet of these some will lie others will steale and a third sort will do worse Since this Parliament perhaps I imagine the time and reason aright the Jesuites and Jesuited have invented a strange name for such men and let fall the reproach of Puritan They call them by a figurative name which is ignorantly spoken by most falsly by all and as the roundest figure is of the largest capacity so they have shaped them a name which larger then Precisian Brownist or the like surroundeth every one that thinketh it not a just thing to rail against the Parliament or curse the Fathers of his Country But I desire not to be called but to be totus teres atque rotundus So much by the way to fall upon the busines now The King of Spaine offereth Marriage to the Queen AT the beginning of the raigne of Qu. Elizabeth Philip the second of Spaine sought to win her to him by Marriage not doubting to procure a dispensation for the Incest but was as wisely answered as he wickedly and craftily intended that the Queen could not so soon forget her Sisters death she knowing it to be a part of discretion to keep in hope so potent an Adversary if he should be incensed by a denyall her own Kingdom by reason of the change of Religion and the depriving of many Popish Bishops which the blinded people had in some esteem among many other alterations being of doubtfull affections till she could better provide for her own security The Spaniard in the mean time perceived that his suit was not like to succeed when the thought of uniting England to Spaine by the marriage of Q. Elizabeth if like her sister Mary she proved not barren was taken away he took hold on the next occasion The practice of the Guises with the Queen of Scots against ENGLAND MAry now Queene of Scots Daughter and heire apparant unto James the fift and Wife unto Francis Dauphine of France Daughter of Mary of Loraine who was Sister unto the Duke of Guise She after the death of Qu. Mary of England being incouraged thereunto by the Guises her Uncles usurpeth the Armes of England uniting them to the Armes of Scotland on her plate in the windowes of her house and on her servants coats declaring her selfe thereby Queen of England Her meaning was well understood and this it is very probable in the fourth yeare of Qu. Elizabeth made Arthur Poole and his Brethren descended of George Duke of Clarence Brother to Edward the fourth and Anthony Fortescue their Brother in law with their confederates to conspire secretly to fly unto the Guises in France and thence and with their help to come with an Army into Wales and ther to proclaime the Queen of Scots Queen of England and Arthur Poole Duke of Clarence God was pleased in a very good time to discover this Plot. For had they gone thither and discovered their intents it had if God had not powerfully opposed it not only animated the Guises to have seconded them and furnished them with men and mony but having returned into Wales they would have gathered great forces to augment their numbers and put the Queen to the incomparable trouble and danger of a civill warre Beside all this she had at this time on every side enemies abroad the French King the King of Spaine the Guisian and Popish faction in Scotland The loyall people of Scotland were so unable to helpe her that they stood in need of her helpe The Low-Countries were under Spanish tyranny and a convenient place from whence to annoy this Kingdome The Conspiratours confessed that they did not intend to put in practise this thing during the life of our Queen for indeed they were made beleeve by predictions of Popish Astrologians that Qu. Elizabeth could not live above one yeare The good Queen notwithstanding pardoned their lives after sentence of death upon them from their own confession And how zealously the Guises endeavoured to invade England may appeare by the inclination of Sebastian Martigius sent into Scotland by the counsell of the Guises for about those times their alone counsels were principally followed with Horse and Foot to assist in the civill warre of Scotland who could hardly be restrained from invading England presently and first of all presuming no question on the ayde of Papists in England from intelligence held with them here For otherwise what could a 1000. Horse and not very many Foot do in respect of conquering all England
Now was the Queen of Scots in France and although the Regency of Scotland was put into the hands of the Marquesse of Hamilion yet the power of the Qu. Dowager with her French faction did so increase and on the other side the authority of the Marquesse Regent so abate that after the promise from the French King of 12000. crowns by the yeare and Duchy of Castle Herald to which was added the preferment of all the Marquesses chiefe kindred the Marquesse resigned his place into the hands of Mary of Loraigne Qu. Dowager a thing for a woman to be Regent in Scotland but once before known She had made many promises unto the Scots of the freedome of exercising the Protestant Religion but being now setled in the Regency she discovered her mind wholly bent to alter Religion She told her friends in plain tearmes that though the Ministers whom she named should preach more honestly or as she called it more sincerely then they had done yet they should all be banished She expressed at the death of a young-man whom she seemed to bewaile being slain for that his father had not rather excused him being a stout defender of the reformed Religion that she was cruelly minded toward the Professours thereof Easter also was commanded to be celebrated after the Romish custome For these and divers other overtures of her Messengers were sent unto her to desire her to be good to the Protestants and to remember the many promises she had made unto them to that end But all in vaine She told the Earle of Glencarne and Sir John Cambell who were sent unto her that performance of promises was to be expected from Princes no farther then stood with their profit Upon this they told one another that they then renounced all obedience and duty toward her Violence now with art was to be used for effecting her purpose touching Religion Hereupon advice was given by Labrosse a French Commander in Scotland to put to death all the Nobility of Scotland for that the people being bereaved of their heads would after be easily brought to undergo any yoake but that things might appeare with a more pleasing colour there was a shew as if the Queen had laboured and would endeavour to convince her adversaries in Religion by no other way but by arguments Into Scotland were sent 3. Sorbon Doctours with the Bishop of Amiens But with what safety might any man dispute with them when he that did so was in the midst of his armed enemies and there was greatest feare of violence from the disputers themselves For the Bishop of Amiens counselled the Queen Regent that if any there were which should be found to dispute against these Romish Decrees he should be put to death yea even those who but seemed to be of another mind only We are not informed that the Qu. Regent put in practice the fore-going counsels perhaps the time was not altogether seasonable nor doe we take every single action which might conduce to the subverting of Religion to be a conspiracy but we may well esteem by the Queens words the Counsellours and Commanders intents and purposes the placing of such a Regent all this to be a continued conspiracy to strangle in the birth the Church of Scotland having yet scarcely taken breath in the world Not long after the Qu. Regent dyeth and although it will perhaps be said there was no discovery of any conspiracy which was in acting as to put to death all the Nobility or all that would dare dispute against the Bishop or Doctors could be no easie taske to goe about the latter because the death of their last Martyr Walter Mille did seem so grievous unto them and if any more should suffer how would such a thing be taken by French-men people of another Nation It may be objected from the above named arguments that there wanted no endeavour After the death of the Mother the Daughter returning into Scotland was married unto Henry Lord Darnley who being of the same Religion with the Queen and they both a brothers and sisters children did strongly maintain Popery against the Protestant Religion We cannot imagine here that any thing should be contrived against the lives of those Princes by a Popish party to overthrow Religion For to subvert Religion no way could be found better then by maintaining in life and honour such Princes as these two were who professed and maintained Popery as contrarily to subvert Religion Laws Liberties and the like the best means are thorough the sides of such Kings and Queens as are projectors and maintainers of them So the holy Scripture declareth by word and example I will smite the Shepheard and the sheepe shall be scattered For this Queen was so far from furthering the establishment of Religion nay from connivence at those who should goe about any such matter that she professed that she would follow the example of her cousin Qu. Mary of England which was no other thing then maintaining in her dominions the Pope and Popery and punishing the contrary minded as Hereticks It will not be thought I suppose that either the Papists at home in Scotland or those in France or els where would go about to take away the lives of such Princes whose lives secured their Religion For what was attempted against the life and most unhappily succeeded of the King was not any way to subvert Popery because the deed was committed and the plot chiefly layed by Papists It rather was undertaken against the life of this Prince by some to make way for their own family to inherit the Crowne of Scotland by others to get the Kingdome and admit any Religion But those which look farther into matters judge this act to be committed against a Professour of the Romish Religion that he being taken out of the way another might succeed which had greater power and friends to bring to passe what K. Henry the Queens husband had a mind but not power enough to do And that made those which were no enemies to the King in point of Religion not dislike the Treason for the ends sake I cannot be of their minds altogether who judge that of the Queen of Scots being now in restraint in England not long before married to Earle Bothnile and presently to desire a divorce from him and to require that he should be summoned within the space of a very few days to return into the Kingdom to make answer and defence to the Queens suit of divorce to have proceeded from the changing fancy of the Queen not so much from conscience For it was as well known before her departure into England as after that Earle Bothnile had a wife living when he married the Queen in so much that at the publishing of the banes of their Matrimony one stood up in the Church and forbad them It was generally thought that it was that a way might be open for the Duke of Norfolk who then made suit unto her He indeed
was such a man as being of great wealth mighty in friends and singular abilities of mind could better bring about what was desired then a man of no great riches at any time but was now in extreme poverty and disgrace in the Dominions of the King of Denmark and notoriously infamous for his crimes in Scotland The Rebellion of the Earles of Northumberland and Westmerland AT this time the King of Spaine wrote unto the Duke of Norfolk to joyn with the Earles of Northumberland and Westmerland to raise a Rebellion in England and to the Earle of Ormond to do the like in Ireland These Letters were shewen unto Qu. Elizabeth by the Duke and the Earle that from hence at least might appeare their loyalty Neverthelesse whether by the advice of the Bishop of Rosse who lay as Ambassadour at London for the Queen of Scots and one Rodolf a Florentine going in the appearance of a Merchant factor or purposing of himselfe whatsoever he might pretend he privately sought to marry the Q. of Scots she being next heir to the Crown of England contrary to his promise made unto his Soveraign Q. Elizabeth The Q. of Scots and the Duke participate of one anothers mind by Letters written in hidden characters Neither was this a matter only supposed but the Dukes Secretary one Hieford who was commanded by the Duke to burne such Letters as came from the Qu. of Scots but did it not and hid them under a mat in his chamber and being under examination he caused them to be reduced This was when the two Earles of Northumberland and Westmerland had secretly complotted to raise Armes and not long after the Dukes apprehension they fell into open Rebellion One of the Letters which was shewen at the Dukes arraignment was to this purpose That the Qu. was sorry that the said Earles of Northumberland and Westmerland were in Armes before the Dukes forces were ready This was undertaken after that Pope Pius quintus had in Bulls from Rome printed and sent to Ridolf absolved Q. Elizabeths Subjects from their allegiance The Pope perswaded the Spaniard to assist the conspiratours that his affairs in the Netherlands might prosper the better and the French did the like that the Qu. of England might be lesse able to send aid to the Protestants in France Northumberland and Westmerland having thus taken Armes supplies and monies failing withdrew themselves into Scotland Norfolk was thrown into prison Ridolf being in custody for whom the Pope had appointed 150000 crowns to the partners in the Treason He being with the Pope is sent by him to the Spaniard to presse him to give assistance to the King of Portugall also for the same purpose He wrote also to the Duke of Norfolk promising to send him aid The Popes letter to the Spaniard was that he should send an Army out of the Low-countries to invade England And this very thing the Spaniard endeavoured There was now a difference betwixt Q Elizabeth and the Spaniard about mony sent by him to the Duke of Alva but was intercepted by the Queen and that was one pretence that the Spaniard had for his dealing against our Queen and Kingdome But the Duke of Norfolk was put to death Nor is this the Relation of an English Protestant but of a Papist a good part whereof had not bin knowne but for him one Hieronimus Calena The Book was printed at Rome by the priviledge of â—ius quintus 1588. The Earles of Northumberland and Westmerland seduced by one Morton a Priest and at Duresme set up the Masse thence they marched to Clifford moore where hearing that the Queen of Scots was removed to Coventry that the Earle of Sussex was sent with strong forces against them and that Sir George Bowes was behind them and had fortified Bernards Castle that Scroupe and Cumberland had fortified Carliel and had also an Army in readines that the souldiers of Barwick and the power of Northumberland were in New-castle besieged Bernards Castle and took it on conditions Then for feare of the Earle of Sussex they fled to Hexam thence by bie-wayes to Naworth Castle from that place into Scotland and from thence was Northumberland sent and here beheaded Westmerland escaped into the Netherlands where with a poor pension under the Spaniard he lived poorly all his days Dacres his endeavour to deliver the Scots Queen IN the Yeare 1569. Leonard Dacres second son of William Lord Dacres of Gillesland being grieved to see a very great patrimony go from him to the daughters of the Baron whom the Duke of Norfolke their Father in law had joyned in marriage with his sons grew revengefull and joyning with the Rebels endeavored to deliver the Queen of Scots yet a little before being at the Court promised to assist the Queen his Soveraign against the Rebels but treacherously he undertook to kill the L. Scroup and Bishop of Carleil to whose custody the Scottish Queen was committed but he failing in the performance took Grastock Castle holding it as his own and gathered Souldiers The L. Hunsdon met him with the trained Souldiers of Barwick and after a sharpe conflict overcommeth him and Dacres fled into Scotland from thence into the Netherlands where at Lovaine he lived and dyed poorly Fitz-Morris raiseth Rebellion in Ireland IN this Yeare Edmund and Peter Butler brethren to the Earle of Ormond joyning with James Fitz-Morris of the house of Desmond entred into a conspiracy against Qu. Elizabeth and to further it came Joannes Mendoza secretly out of Spaine The Earle of Ormond going into Ireland caused them to submit they were imprisoned and for their brother the Earles sake not brought to tryall The Lord Deputy and Sir Humphrey Gilbert through Gods assistance appeased that rebellion It is cleare enough that this rebellion in Ireland arose from the Spaniard as the first mover for to this end he sent Mendoza into Ireland and had not long before written to the Earle brother to the two Rebels to raise a rebellion in Ireland Stanleys Conspiracy IN the Yeare 1570. under a colour of delivering the Queen of Scots Thomas Stanley and Edward younger sons of the Earle of Darby Thomas Jerard Rolston Hall with others in Darby-shiere conspired but the son of Rolston which was pensioner to the Queen disclosed the conspiracy All but Hall were impisoned Hall escaped into the Isle of Man thence by the commendation of the Bish of Rosse he was sent into Dunbretan whence the Castle being won he was brought to London and suffered death Dissimulation of Don John of Austria IN the Yeare 1576. Don John of Austria comming into the Low-Countries as Governour sent Gastellus to Qu. Elizabeth pretending a perpetuall Edict for peace The Queen as if ignorant of any bad intent sent Rogers to congratulate Don Johns Edict yet she knew that Don John had conceived a certain hope of marrying the Qu. of Scots and of enjoying Scotland and England intending to invade the Isle of Man that from thence
advancing of their Catholike cause Now the Scots-Queen led on by her blind guides dealt most importunely with the Pope and Spaniard by Sir Francis Englefield that by all meanes they would with speed undertake their intended businesse namely the invasion of our Realme For the advancing wherof the Pope and Spaniard had resolved on these points 1. That Qu. Elizabeth should be deprived of her Kingdom 2. That the King of Scots a manifest favourer of heresie should utterly be dis-inherited of the Kingdom of England 3. That the Scots-Queen should marry some noble man of England that was a Catholike 4. That this man must be chosen King of England by the Catholikes of England 5. That this choice so made must be confirmed by the Pope 6. That the children of him so chosen begotten of the Scots-Queen must be declared Successours in the Kingdom All these things were confirmed to be true by the testimony of one Hart a Priest Who was that noble English-man that should marry the Scots-Queen was much enquired after by Sir Francis Walsingham with all diligence but not certainly found out yet there was strong suspition of Henry Howard brother to the Duke of Norfolke who was noble by birth unmarried and a fast favourer of that Religion and in great grace and favour with them All these things were discovered by this Creighton the Jesuites torn Papers as afore-said And all this their plotting and contriving of France Spaine and the Pope against Queene Elizabeth and King James for no other cause but for their Religion which they had now fairely begun to establish among their people Parry executed for Treason IN the yeare 1585. William Parry a Welch-man and Doctor of Law spake against that Law which in the Parliament then held was exhibited and called it a bloudy Law Presently after he was accused of practising the Queens death He confessed voluntarily in the Tower that having obtained the Queens pardon for breaking into the chamber and wounding one Hare for which he was condemned he being a sworne fervant to the Queen From England he went into France and was reconciled Afterward at Venice in consultation with Benedict Palmeus he told him that he had found out a way to help the afflicted Catholikes in England if the Pope or some learned Divines would approve it as lawfull The Jesuite Palmius approved it Next in France one Morgan drew him to consent to murder the Queen if it should prove lawfull This act the Popes Nuntio Ragazonius commended Parry afterward having accesse to the Queen shewed her all and not long after Cardinall Come his letter approving the enterprise Now he taketh a new resolution to perform it encouraged specially by D. Alins Book teaching that Princes excommunicate are to be spoiled of their Kingdoms and lives These with many other things Parry confessed before the Lord Hunsdon Sr. Christopher Hatton and Sr. Francis Walsingham In Westminster Hall the heads of his accusation being read he confessed himself guilty He died in the Palace-yard before Westminster Hall not once calling on the name of God At this time also Henry Earle of Northumb for entring into traiterous counsels with Paget and the Guises to invade England was cast into the Tower where he was found dead being shot with 3. bullets under his left pap the chamber door bolted in the inside A pistoll was found in his chamber and himself the author of his own death Thus from time to time the most noble Families of England have bin seduced and ruined by the false and bewitching counsels of Jesuits and Seminaries Savages attempt to kill the Queen NOw againe there was a most abominable treason conspired and voluntarily confessed by the conspirators One Gifford a Doctor in Divinity Gilbert Gifford and Hodgeson Priests perswaded one John Savage a bloody fellow to undertake to kill Queen Elizabeth To hide their mischievous intents more cunningly from the Queens Counsell who were very carefull to fore-see all danger they wrote a Book in which they advise the Papists in England not to goe about to hurt the Queen For they were to use no other weapons against their Prince then the Christian weapons of Teares Fasting Prayers and the like and most cunningly also these Foxes spread a rumour that George Gifford one of the Queens Pensioners had sworne to kill the Queen and for that cause had gotten from the Guises a very great summe of Mony The Easter following John Ballard an English Priest of the Colledge of Rhemes was come into England who had bin trying the minds of Papists in England and Scotland He had dealt with Mendoza the Spanish Ambassador in France Charles Paget and others for the invasion of England And although it seemed to be a very hard work yet he had sworne to use his utmost endeavour in it and also for the liberty of the Queen of Scots At Whitsuntide in a Souldiers habit and under the name of Captain Fortescue he had a conference in London with Anthony Babington a young Gentleman of Darby-shiere Romishly affected who not long before in France had conference with Thomas Morgan and the Bishop of Glasco the Scotch Queens Ambassadour He was drawn by them shewing him most assured hopes of honour from her to addict himselfe to them and by their meanes had favourable letters from her Ballard and Babington conferred together concerning the invasion of England but it was not deemed a thing could be done Queen Elizabeth being alive Then Ballard informed Babington that Savage had undertooke to kill her Babingtons advice was that it should not be committed to Savage alone least perhaps he might be hindered but to six resolute men of which number Savage should be one Vpon this Babington took into his consideration the Ports in which the invaders should land the confederates that should joyne in the act of murdering Q. Elizabeth and delivering the Scots-Queen In the mean time a letter was brought from the imprisoned Queen to Babington in a secret character blaming Babingtons long silence but he excused it because she was under the custody of Sr. Amice Paulet a severe keeper declared unto her that which Ballard and he had resolved before and that himself with one hundred more would deliver her The purpose by her letters unto Babington was commended and it was advised that it should be undertaken considerately and nothing should be moved before they were sure of externall forces that they should make an association as if they feared the Puritans that some tumults might be raised in Ireland while the thing should be done here That Arundell and his brethren and Northumb should be drawn to the side Westmerland Paget and others called home The way to deliver the Scots-Queen was appointed to overthrow a Coach in the gate or set the Stables on fire or intercept her as she rode to take the aire betwixt Chartly and Stafford Babington undertook for rewards to all that should give their help He had gotten unto him Edward Windsor
as you tender your life to devise some excuse to shift off your attendance at this Parliament For God and Man have concurred to punish the wickednesse of this time And think not slightly of this advertisement but retire your selfe into your Country where you may expect the event in safety for though there be no appearance of any storme yet I say they shall receive a terrible blow this Parliament and yet they shall not see who hurt them This counsell is not to be contemned because it may doe you good and can doe you no harme for the danger is past so soone as you shall have burned this Letter And I hope God will give you the grace to make good use of it to whose holy protection I commend you Friday following the King read it who considering the sentence therein expressed that they should receive a terrible blow this Parliament and yet should not know who hurt them and joyning it to the sentence for the danger is past so soon as you shall have burn'd this Letter did suspect the danger mentioned to be some sodaine danger of blowing up with Powder Afterward it was determined the Lord Chamberlaine should view both above and beneath the Parliament Houses Which the L. Chamberlaine having done found in a Vault under the upper House great store of Billets faggots and Coales and casting his eye aside a fellow standing â—y which called himselfe Percy 's man that had hired the Cellar The K. supposing that Gunpowder might be hid under that Wood and Coales caused a further search to be made Whereupon Sir Thomas Knevet went about the Parliament House with a small number to search more narrowly the mid-night next after where he found Fawkes standing without doores booted and spurd and apprehended him then in search under the Wood and Coales 36. Barrells of Gunpowder and about the Traitor three Matches and other Instruments fit for that wicked purpose were found which wicked intent of blowing up the House he instantly confessed affirming that if he had bin in the House he would not have failed to blow up both himselfe and them In this mine wrought Catesby Robert Winter Esquires Thomas Percy Thomas Winter John Wright Christ Wright Guido Fawkes Gentlemen and Bates Catesbyes man Sir Everard Digby Ambrose Rookewood Francis Tresham Esquires John Grant Gent and Robert Keys were made acquainted with the plot but wrought not in the mine After Fawkes apprehension the Traytors poast away and pretending Religion they would fight for gathered in open Rebellion all they could which number never exceeded 80. They wandered thorough Warwick-sheire to Worcester-sheire and thence to the borders of Stafford-sheire and having gotten themselves into a House they obstinately refused to yeeld to the Sheriffe but through Gods providence a lesse quantity of Powder then 2. pounds taking fire did so mangle some disable others that having begged pardon on their knees for their crime of God they desperately exposed themselves to the peoples fury 3. of the chiefe joyned back to back and two of them were killed with one shot Catesby Percy Winter was taken alive So all of them were killed beaten or taken The conspiracy of Sir Griffin Markham and others ANno Dom 1603. George Brooke Sir Griffin Markham Watson and Clerk Priests entred into a conspiracy against K. James it was said to surprise Prince Henry to keep the King and Prince in the Tower or to carry them to Dover Castle and there to obteine their own pardons a toleration for Religion and Removall of some Councellors Divers beside these were accused and condemned but Brooke confessed he did it but by a Commission from the King to try the faithfullnesse of the Kings Subjects but he could produce no such Commission Sir Griffin Markham confessed that he intended forraine Invasion and Alteration of Religion but not to destroy the King as was in the inditement Watson and Clerk confessed they drew the Gentlemen into the plot houlding the King for no King till he was Crowned Of them all only Watson Clerk and Brook suffered death The Massacre and Treason in Ireland extracted out of the Irish Remonstrancâ— and Irelands Teares VPon the 23 day of October 1641. a most prodigious and nefarious viper gnawing the bowels of its native-parent Ireland burst out of the womb therof visibly appeared most epidemically destructive to that whole State and Kingdome It had lien long as some of the Rebels reported undiscovered but was all that while hatching by many hot and high-built hopes both by forraine and domestick encouragements The accursed Midwives of this bastard-birth were Popish-Priests Fryers and Jesuites together with other fire-brands and incendiaries of that State and Kingdom Their hideous and hellish hopes were mightily supported and corroborated by strong assistance from Spaine France and Flanders together with deeply engaged assurance of full correspondency in England and an equivalent party in Scotland besides their great encouragements by Popish Buls from Rome authorizing the speedy and immediate Surrender of all such places of strength as they had beleagured promising free pardon of all sins whatsoever before hand committed by any of them tending to the advancement of this great work thundring or rather roaring out excommunications against any that should refuse so to joyn with them therin terming themselves the Catholike Army and the ground of their work as all their abominable and bloody plots are the Catholike-cause Their desperate and most divellish resolution was therin not to leave a drop of English blood in Ireland and so consequently not the least sparke or glimpse of the Gospell and pure Protestant Religion giving out in words and designing in their hearts that the Tower of London the Castle of Edenborough and the Castle of Dublin were to be surprized by their Faction in all these places all upon one day In all which time this therefore might the more easily have bin done especially in Ireland there was not the least feare or suspition of treachery yet there were a little before the day of this bloudy-birth secretly gathered together about 400 Irish Papists elected out of most parts of Ireland desperate and damnably bloudy minded persons designed for this horrid and hellish attempt who had all privately convayed and sheltered themselves in severall places of the City and Suburbs of Dublin waiting and expecting the time and watch-word when to give the on-set In this plot all the Popish Nobility and men of quality in Ireland were interessed and it was professed by that most impious and barbarous Arch-Rebell Sr. Philim O Neal that what he and they did was by the consent of the Parliament in Ireland Yea some of them have bin so impiously audacious as to professe and perswade others of their accursed confederates to believe that they had regall authority for it and were so bold as to term themselvs â—he Queens Army And for the more strongly prosecution of this their most exorbitant villany the Conspirators and Traitors entred into