by the Archbishop of Canterbury and she was euer after to be called the Queene Dowager few or none but are either so farre read in our English Chronicles or may obserue what afterwards became of the Popes vsurped Heptarchie in England and what further followed So here you haue heard the relation of the Story of this great Queene Katherine though infortunate was indeed a mirrour and example of wisedome integritie sincerity and all Royall and Princely vertues Yet it is vnlike but that before her comming ouet into this kingdome she might be detractiuely expostulated of and had not she beene as she is here discribed as the times afterwards were she would assuredly haue had her part of detraction from our Writers as they haue beene some way sparing of her due commendation After her separation and diuorce from the King there is little newes of her but that within some three yeares after at Kimbleton in the County of Huntington Queene Katherine deceased she there religiously liued and dyed and lyeth interred in the Cathedrall Church of Peterborough The next mariage betwixt England and Spaine King Philip the second came ouer into England and married Queene Mary Daughter to Henry the Eight which he had by Queene Katherine of Spaine That Mariage is yet so fresh in memory and amongst the countrie people is indeed a great occasion of producing those feares and doubts they seeme to apprehend these things I must acknowledge are too great a consequence of State for me to meddle withall yet vnder fauour as a Moderator I would willingly the country people should truly know and take it into their considerations that for those persecutions in Queene Maryes time it was thought she was much the more thereunto drawne by her two Bishops that were such bloud-hounds Gardener and Bonner King Phillip was both a mediator and Moderator what he could to stay them the which with the story of the mariage and other passages concerning the same I will here as our owne Writers haue affirmed briefly and truely relate Queene Mary her intent to marry with King Phillip she caused to be published Stephen Gardener then Lord Chancellour made a speech to the Nobilitie in the Chamber of presence setting forth the honour the riches and augmentation of Titles to the Crowne of England yet was it distastefull to many great feares and doubts instantly conceaued would follow as well the Church reformed as for the pollitique and State affaires of the kingdome The first beginners of commotion were Henry Duke of Suffolke and Sir Thomas Wyat making Proclaimations for the abandoning of strangers and to withstand the Queenes mariage with King Philip the reasons they further alleaged and published their proceedings and infortunate ends I leaue the reader to the perusall of their Stories by diuers Written at large The Queene remoued to the Tower The Queens mariage confirmed by Parliament Anno. 2. Ca. 2. Some of the Nobility and Commons much discontented The Queene sent Letters to giue them some content summons a Parliament wherein by Statute the mariage was confirmed to the great contentment comfort and ioy of the then time obseruers But some of the Nobilitie and the Commons for the most part were much grieued and discontented thereat These distastiue stomacks Queene Mary well perceauing therefore to giue them the more content she sent Letters signed with her owne hand into Wales charging the Lord President the Bishop of Oxford and Salisburie to intimate the benefit therof to the whole land as much as might be and especially London whose Lord Maior and Commons were sent for to whom the Lord Chancellour made a Speech told them how by the match all the Realme would be much intiched The Londoners became instantly for the mariage but especially London by their Trade and Traffique with Spaine that was enough not only to alter and reduce but to set them an edge beyond or at least equiuolent with all other respects or considerations whatsoeuer The Earle of Bedford and the Lord Fitzwaters King Phillip sent for were sent into Spaine to conduct King Phillip into England the Lord Admirall with twenty eight ships securing the seas the space of three moneths before All things thus ordered and Phillip in readinesse tooke shipping at Carone in Gallezia and with a Nauie of an hundred and fiftie sailed directed his course for the Queene vpon Friday the twenty day of Iuly he arriued at Southampton King Phillip landed in England and was the first man of the Fleete that set soote on the shore which no sooner done but he drew his Sword and bare it naked in his hand as he went The Earle of Arundle Steward of the Queenes house presented to his Highnesse the George and Garter and the Maior of the Towne of Southaempton the keyes of the Towne thither was sent the Lord Chancellour from the Queene and he againe of his Nobles sent to her who was on the way to Winchester to welcome himselfe Towards which City vpon Munday following he set forth being accompanied with the Marquesse of Winchester the Earles of Arundle Darby Worcester Bedford Rutland Penbroke and Surry the Lords Clynton Cobham Willoughbie Darcy Matreuers Talbot Strange Fitz-warren and North. The Spanish Nobles The Spanish traine were the Dukes of Aluer and Medina Cellina the Admirall of Castilla the Marquesse of Bergnes Piscara Sarra Valli Anguilar the Earles of Egmonde Horne Peria Chinchon Oliuares Saldana Medela Euente Sallida Landriano Castellar the Bishop of Cuenca and others so that more honourable Attendants had sildome beene seene Then there were Articles agreed on which were branched out into tenne propositions whereunto King Philip subscribed they were very honourable for England the perticulars of them I leaue the Reader to Mr. Speede his excellent compendious worke where the whole passages of this affaire and these Articles are at large related Then with the consent of all parties The matriage of King Philip and Queene Mary Anno 1554. the marriage with great state was solemnized at Winchester vpon Wednesday being the 25. of Iuly on Saint Iames day where the Emperours Ambassadours presently pronounced that in consideration of this marriage their Maister had giuen vnto his sonne Philip the Kingdomes of Naples and Ierusalem whereupon their titles by Garter King at Armes was solemnly proclaimed with these stiles as followeth Philip and Mary by the grace of God King and Queene of England Fraunce Naples Ierusalem and Ireland defender of the Faith Princes of Spaine and Cicill Archdukes of Austritch Dukes of Millane Burgundy and Brabant Counties of Haspurge Flaunders and Tyroll In Nouember following the marriage the Queene was reported to haue bene conceiued with Childe for ioy whereof Te Deum was commaunded solemnly to be sung and Processions and Prayers made for her safe deliuerance The Queene tooke her Chamber the Court was full of Midwiues and Gentlewomen Attendants Rockers were prouided the Cradle prepared and all made so certaine that some
the storie of those Princes concerning those affaires PRescription and precedents swaying with the positiue lawes of the Kingdome they may then farre better ouer-rule or at least giue Reall satisfaction in point of meere conceit and late conceiued disaffection reading our owne Annalles and Chronicles we shall there finde many mutuall intermarriages to haue beene betweene the two Royall Crownes of England and Spaine began in the very infancie of our Monarchy running in a long discent chayned and linked together one with another making as it were a golden Orbe and circle of sincere Princely loue and amity so that many mighty Kings of Spaine and Portingale haue had Royall mothers of the English Nation and likewise many Royall Princesses of Spaine haue beene the blessed mothers of some puisant and victorious Kings of England King William surnamed the conquerour by whom England receiued his last subuersion and generall alteration his courses of gouernment institutions and lawes by which wee are now gouerned being exactly executed were as linkes intermutually fastned made so strong a Chaine that it hath euer since held together the whole frame of the state in peace and order as all the politique Regiments vpon earth all the inter-leagued societies of men cannot shew a straighter forme of combination This King first began contracted Margaret his youngest daughter to Alphonsus King of Galicia 1076. Henry the second lineally discended from him a famous and worthy King of England married Elenor his second daughter to another Alphonsus the ninth 1171. surnamed the good King of Castile Richard the first surnamed Cuer de Lyon sonne of Henry the second he tooke to wife Berengaria daughter of Sanctius King of Nauarr. The next intermarriage wee finde to haue betweene those two Nations being England had thereby a Queene therein And so for other in like sort I will be more particular it was in the time of King Henry the third Henry the third raigned 56. yeares who of all the Kings of England since the conquest raigned longest and his troubles therein the greatest not any wayes occasioned by the marriage but for that he would rule and gouerne according to his will and lusts and not by his lawes those that desire to be more particularly informed thereof Stowe Hollinsh Speede. the story of his life written by many will giue them further and full satisfaction for so much as shall concerne marriages and other passages betweene England and Spaine I will onely contract my selfe This King when he had raigned 39. yeares with infinite and daily troubles of ciuill warres with his Barons hee was suddainly called to another seruice from home Alphonso King of Spaine The King of Spaine claimed Gascoyne claymed title to Gascoyne by vertue of a Charter from Henry the second confirmed by Richard and Iohn Kings of England Henry the third fearing the Gascoyners would draw in the Spaniards peaceably as it were in the manner of a Progresse repayred into Gascoyne King of England went into Gascoyney and from thence sent Ambassadors to the King of Spayne to desire that the Lady Elenor his sister might bee giuen in marriage to his sonne Prince Edward Ambassadors sent into Spaine to treat of a marriage which was after Edward the first this motion was well approued besides that they brought Letters Patents with them from the King of Spaine in which amongst all other clauses it was contained The King of Spaine released his claime to Gasconey that the King of Spaine did quit his claime and whole right which by vertue of any graunts from Henry Richard and Iohn Kings of England he had or ought to haue herevpon the King of England sendeth both for his Queene and his sonne whom the King of Spaine desired The King of Spaine sends for the Prince of England might be conuayed vnto him onely with a noble intent to see and doe him honour Among other acts of sincerity and loue Alphonso sent to the King of England good aduice that after the example of good Kings and Princes he should be a Lamb to his Subiects and Seruitors and a Lyon vnto Aliens and Rebels Soone after the Queene and her sonne arriuing in Gascoyne when all things were rightly prepared Prince Edward was thence presently sent into Spaine where at the Citie of Burges he married the Lady Elenor sister to the King with great honour The Prince of England marrieth with the King of Spaines sister hauing first receiued Knighthood at his hands which done returnes to Burdeux from whence they altogether came safe through Fraunce into England the King of Fraunce being not long before returned from the Holy land The Prince of England had great entertainment in Fraunce gaue them both safe conduct in their passage and did to him and all his whole company all the honour with triumphes and feasts which the wit of man or the goodly Kingdome of Fraunce could afford afterwards landed safely at Douer what treasure this noble young Princesse brought in portion to her husband our Writers haue not deliuered vnto vs but the king forthwith gaue to his sonne Gascoyne Ireland Bristowe Stamford and Grantham King Henry liued after the marriage of his sonne seauenteene yeares during which time this Spanish Lady carried her selfe The Spanish Lady a most vertuous Princesse as a most noble and worthy Princesse and afterwards being Queene a more renowned loyall and vertuous wife no age euer afforded This King Edward the first amongst many his enterprises of a Royall and Kingly resolution went in person to Warre against the Sarazenes where that renowned and vertuous Lady Elenor his wife did endure with him an vnseperable companion of all his fortunes and was at Acon deliuered of a daughter there baptized by the name of Ione shee is denoated by our owne Writers to be a matchlesse precedent of coniugall affection the King her husband being trayterously wounded by a Sarazen with a poysoned knife that when no medicine could extract the poyson this Lady Elenor whilest the King her husband slept With her tongue daily licked his ranckling wounds drawing forth the impoysoned matter that soone after hee was fully cured and shee fortunately preserued The King and Queene not long after taking their iourney together towards Scotland the Queene in her way thither-wards sickned and dyed in the yeare 1284. The king almost struck dead with sorrpw alters his resolution returnes backe towards London with a long and sorrowfull iourney in a slowe and stately manner shee being conuayed out of Lincolnshire towards London in her honour the king her husband who loued her aboue all worldly creatures caused those many famous Crosses to bee erected wheresoeuer her Royall corpes did rest Charing Crosse at Waltham St. Albones and Dunstable The King with his whole Nobility and Clergie in a pompeous and Royall manner meetes the body at Saint Albones and with a Noble and generall concourse of his Subiects brings it to the
Royall Sepulture of his Auncestors at Westminster and there in Saint Peters Church it was with all possible Royalty and magnificence honourably interred The King gaue vnto the Abbot there twelue large and rich Lordships charitably to giue Almes and deuoutly to pray for the blessed Queene vntill the worlds end Our owne Writers affirme of this Queene Speede. Walsing Camdens Britania to our Nation she was a louing mother and saith one the Columne and pillar as it were of the whole Realme shee added the vertues of a wife to her sex to them both her immortall fame is a glory and an honour to her Nation King Edward the third 1360. married his daughter Iohanna to Henry the second King of Castile sonne of Alphonsus the 11. Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster fourth sonne of King Edward the third did take to wife Constancia eldest daughter of Peter King of Castile To whom in right of his said wife Constancia the Kingdome of Castile and Leon did discend and they both stiled themselues King and Queene of Castile and Leon which illustrious title is yet to be seene vpon his noble monument in Saint Pauls Church in London Katherine the sole daughter of the said Duke of Lancaster by his aforesaid wife Constancia was married to Henry 1388. the third sonne of king Iohn of Castile and Leon. Edmund Duke of Yorke youngest sonne of king Edward the third 1391. married Isabella youngest daughter of Peter king of Castile King Henry the fourth married Iohanna the daughter of Charles king of Nauarr. 1403. The next intermarriage wee finde betweene England and Spaine was in the time of king Henry the seauenth his owne marriage his sonnes with Spaine and marriages of his daughters are the greatest acts of State our English Annalles doe afford vs first his owne marriage made a Vnion whereupon after the effusion of much bloud to the consumption of the greatest part of the English Nobility there followed and euer since continued a happy peace and then by the marriage of his daughter settled an vndoubted and permanent succession for the Crowne of England the blessed happinesse at this instant wee enioy All which with the patience of the Reader contrary to my intended resolution which was onely for the story of the Spanish matches I will a little digresse and briefly touch hauing one with another dependancy and coherence This king Henry the seauenth for his wisedome was said to be a second Salomon and lay somewhat heauie on his people and was Auncestor to our now Soueraigne who will peraduenture some way both for the mannaging of the State and marriage of his children make him a patterne and precedent But the difference is the more is our happinesse Henry the seauenth his gathering of treasure together was to heape vp in store as appeared being found at Richmond after his decease vnder his owne key and keeping eighteene hundred thousand pounds sterling A huge masse of money for those times Our king hath expressed his Royall and Princely bounty and exposed his treasure vpō important occasions wherevnto his Maiestie hath beene necessitated gathered vp from his Subiects but as showers of raine that falls backe vpon the earth againe But it hath beene of late and it is very like hence-forth it will be imployed to repay support and supply About the ninth yeare of king Henry the seauenth his raigne there was one Peter Hyalus an Ambassador A Spanish Ambassadour sent into England sent from Ferdinando and Isabella king and Queene of Spaine to treate of a marriage betweene Katherine their daughter and Prince Arthur sonne and heire of Henry the seauenth it was obserued this Hyalus was a man of great wisedome that through the present could see farre into the future which king Henry soone perceiued Hyalus instantly became in great fauour and estimation with him brought it so about and yet not seene therein that Hyalus was imployed for him into Scotland both about a treaty of peace as also a marriage for Margaret his eldest daughter with Iames the fourth then king of Scotland it was not king Henry his course to seeke peace at any Prince his hands But it was conceiued hee did it then as not louing the barren warres which hee thought would not bee worth his charge Hyalus so caried himselfe in those Ambassies that it was his master-peece which euer after gaue him the esteeme of an excellent workman which shall bee hereafter more particularly related The warres betweene the king of England and the king of Scots were then at the height when Hyalus was sent but comming as it were from the king and Queene of Spaine as from friends equally well affected to both parties to mediate a peace betweene the two kings of England and Scotland as also about a treaty or ouerture at least of a marriage which perhaps in their owne persons would not haue beene so easily brought about the point of honour might therevnto giue impeachment Hyalus so handled the point of his imployment that immediately after Bishop Foxe was sent as an Ambassadour into Scotland wherevpon followed an honourable truce and shortly afterwards a marriage concluded betweene the king of Scots and Margaret the eldest daughter of Henry the seauenth king of England so that Doctor Morton afterwards Cardinall and this Peter Hyalus the Spanish Ambassadour were two of the happiest instruments that euer were the one for composing and contriuing the marriage betweene king Henry the seauenth and Elizabeth the eldest daughter of Edward the fourth whereby the two houses of Yorke and Lancaster were vnited and Hyalus a fore-runner of good hap was therefore by some called an Elias being the first motiue and speciall meanes of the intermarriage betweene England and Scotland whereby we enioy our now Soueraigne whom God graunt long to raigne ouer vs. The Spaniards are obserued generally to be acute and ingenious and many of them of great wisdome and deepe iudgements some reason thereof conceiued for that they are freer from the dull discease of drinke then other Nations are The great Historians writes in this manner of them The Spaniards are more able Guichardine Biterus then either the French or Germanes to endure the actions of the body and to suffer the passions of the minde Their first founder was a Souldier therefore are they held naturally the more for warre Jgnatius and no Nation hath euer beene therein more exercised They haue a Spanish Prouerbe To haue peace with England doth vs betide warres with all the world beside These our auncient Writers affirme Droder Siculus lib. 6. Strabo lib. 3. Mila lib. 2. that the Spaniard is most patient in want hardnesse hunger thirst heat colde and all other toyle and trouble both of body and minde and most ready and resolute for loue of Country or honour to encounter all dangers whatsoeuer For the last particular wherein the Spaniard hath that height of commendation giuen him it neither can be any detraction or
diminution to the English they haue deserued as much whereof the Spaniards themselues haue had experience The marriage with Spaine was almost seauen yeares in treaty The Spanish match seauen yeares in treaty which was in part caused by the tender yeares of the marriage couple especially of the Prince But the true reason was that those two Princes being Princes of great policie and profound iudgement stoode a great time looking one vpon anothers fortunes how they would goe knowing well that in the meane time the very treaty it selfe gaue abroad in the world a reputation of a straite coniunction and amity betweene them which serued on both sides to many purposes that their seuerall affaires required and yet they continued still free But in the end when the fortunes of both Princes did grow euery day more and more prosperous and assured and that looking about them they saw no better conditions they shist it vp The second day of October Queene Katherine arriued in England in the 17. yeare of the kings raigne the Lady Katherine daughter to Ferdinand and Izabella king and Queene of Spaine arriued in England at Plymouth and she was married to Prince Arthur in Pauls the 14. day of Nouember following the Prince being about 15. yeares of age and the Lady 18. The manner of her receiuing the manner of her entry into London and the celebration of their marriage were performed with great and true magnificence in regard of cost and order The chiefe man that tooke the care was Bishop Fox who was not onely a great Councellour for warre or peace but also a good Suruayor of works and a good Master of ceremonies and any thing that was fit for the actiue part belonging to the seruice of a Court or State of a great king Amongst the deuices and conceits of the tryumphes at the marriage there was a great deale of Astronomy the Lady being resembled to Hesperus and the Prince to Arcturus and the olde king Alphonsus that was the great Astronomer of kings and Ancestor to the Lady was brought in to be Fortune-teller of the match And whosoeuer had those toyes in compyling they were not altogether pedanticall But we may be sure that king Arthur the Brittaine in whose acts were worth enough to make him famous besides that which is fabulous written of him the Prince his discent from him and the Lady Katherine from the house of Lancaster was not forgotten those two particulars had a great part in the play But it seemes it is not good to fetch fortune from the Starres This young prince Arthur drow vpon him not onely the hopes and affections of his Country but the eyes and expectations of Forraigners all frustrated enioying him so little a time as they did the great alterations and strange euents afterwards ensuing The marriage portion the Princesse brought The marriage portion which was turned ouer to the King by renunciation was two hundred thousand Duckets whereof one hundred thousand were payd ten dayes after the solemnization of the marriage and the other hundred thousand at two payments annuall but part of it in Iewels and Plate and a due course set downe to haue them iustly and indifferently prised The Ioyncture Queene Katherines Ioincture or the aduancement of the Lady was the third part of the principalitie of Wales and of the Dukedome of Cornwall and the Earledome of Chester to be after set forth in seueraltie and in case she came to be Queene of England her aduancement was left indiffinite but that it should be as great as any former Queene of England had Prince Arthur imediately after the Solemnization of the Mariage was sent to keepe his rescyance and Court as Prince of Wales at the Castle of Ludlowe after a few moneths in the beginuing of Aprill he there deceased Prince Arthur deceased So that in respect he dyed so young and by reason of his Fathers manner of education that did cast no great Lustre vpon his children there is little particular mention of him onely thus much remaineth that he was very studious and learned beyond his yeares and beyond the custome of great Princes The February next following Henry Duke of Yorke afterward Henry the Eight was created Prince of Wales and Earle of Chester For the Dukedome of Cornewall deuolued vnto him by Statute which was halfe a yeares distance taken for his creation and his Prince Arthurs death which was construed to be to exprect a full time whereby it might appeare whether the Lady Katherine were with childe by Prince Arthur or not when this doubt was cleered Henry the Prince of Wales was presently Contracted to the Lady Katherine his brother Prince Arthurs Widow the reason of the Kings so doing some Writers affirme was because he was close handed and would not part with a second Dowrie some others affirme and it is like they are neerest the truth out of his affection to Ferdinando King of Spaine with whom he had euer a consent euen in nature and customes and out of a politicke consideration to continue his alyance with Spaine being assured that the Lady was of a most worthy vertuous and Princely disposition and in his profound iudgement knew that wiues were casuall commodities both for the loue he bore to his Sonne and the kingdome for that neither of them should runne another hazzard reteyned the Lady to be Queene of England The next instantly taken in hand The King of Scotlands marriage with the Kings eldest Daughter done by Proxie was the worke begun by Hyalus the Spanish Embassador the Solemnization of the Spowsals of Iames the Fourth King of Scotland with the Lady Margarel the Kings eldest Daughter which was done by Proxie and published at Pauls Crosse the 25. day of Ianuary and Te Deum solemnly sung But certaine it is that the ioy of the Citie thereupon shewed by ringing the Bells and Bonfiers and such other incense of the people was more then could be expected in case of so great and fresh enmitie betweene the Nations especially in London which were far enough from the feeling any the former calamities of the Warre and therefore might be truly attributed to a secret instinct and inspiring which many times runneth not onely in the hearts of Princes but in the pulses and veines of people touching the happinesse there to ensue in time to come The Mariage was in August following consumated at Edenborough King Henry bringing his Daughter as farre as Colliweston on the way and then consigning her to the attendance of the Earle of Northumberland who with a great troope of Lords and Ladies of Honour brought her into Scotland to the King her Husband This Mariage had beene in treatie by the space almost of three yeares from the time that Hyalus made the first ouerture and that the King of Scotland shortly after opened his minde to Bishop Foxe The summe giuen in mariage portion by the King The Mariage portion was ten thousand
to hold amity with the French least otherwise the warres of those puisant Nations might oppresse all Christendome Charles the Emperour as he hath beene discribed by those that haue written his life hee was an excellent wise Prince which is shewed both in that his sage and graue obseruation as also for his like Councell giuen to his sonne Philip. The consideration of both are fitting Nota. and sutable for these our now times as first the infinite miserable calamities that those Countries of Germany haue endured and may be brought vnto by the late Warres there and may giue much aduantage for the Turke against Christendome The other in likelihood it may be a great happinesse for a State to be in league and amity with a neighbour Nation that is opulent and powerfull and to haue it confirmed and fastened by marriage Nota. which commonly is then inuiolable There might be much written vpon this Subiect but I will leaue it to those of better ability to doe it onely as I passed by I haue called King Philip was much enclined to peace and Queene Mary his wife at that time much more both to hold him with her at home and to support the Religion which shee had againe raised by restoring the Clergie to their wonted possessions The Nobility would not part with the lands they had belonging to the Clergie The Queene by Parliament all such like lands she had whereof much was then held in the Noble mens hands from whose hard hold hardly could any thing be wrested But those in her owne shee freely resigned by Parliament with this most Christian resolution Princely saying that shee set more by the saluation of her owne soule then she did by the reuenewes of all the Kingdomes of the world and so committed the restoration and dispose thereof vnto the Pope and Cardinall poole his Legate to the great enritching of the Church and impouerishing of the Crowne King Philip following his Fathers aduice made peace with Fraunce which was to continue for fiue yeares The Pope besieged confined within the walls of Rome John Slcidon which no sooner was made then againe was broken one principall occasion was ministred by Pope Paul the fourth then an Enemy to the Spaniard whom Duke Alua had besieged and confined him within the walls of Rome hee sent to Henry the French king for ayde and withall sent him a tryumphant Hat with a stately Sword and thereupon had succour by the Guise who remoued the siege and set the Pope at liberty But the French decreasing for want of pay and the Spaniard still raising their Trophees of victory the Pope thought it the surest to hold with the strongest The Pope tooke the surest side reconciled himselfe to the Spaniard fell off from the amity of the French King and was reconciled to the Spaniard so that by this occasion there grew a strong party against the King of Fraunce For by King Philip and Queene Mary his wife he had both England and Spain against him and the Pope no lesse powerfull there then he was within the walls of Rome The occasion that Queene Mary tooke for the breach of the peace was more vpon pretences Iohn Stowes Annalls surmises and pickt quarrels then any iust cause ministred by the French King Queene Mary sent him a defiance and instantly proclaymed warres against Fraunce And King Philip her husband went in person for the prosecuting thereof The Queene immediatly sent after the King her husband the Earle of Pembroke Generall Viscount Mountacute with diuers Earles and Barons with a great Army who came to King Philip and ioyned with him whilst the Duke of Sauâ—y Brunswike the Earles of Egmonde Horne and Mansfield inuaded the French confines and planted a strong siege against Saint Quintens which shortly after by the English St. Quintens wonne by the English was nobly and victoriously wonne to the great losse and discomfort of the French Monsieur Mountomorancie Constable of Frunce and Generall was taken prisoner Queene Mary contrary to her promise and agreement made vpon her marriage with King Philip entangled her Subiects with the quarrels of the Spaniards The greatioy conceiued for the victory was shortly after dashed with as much sorrow for the losse of Galice The English after they had so gotten Saint Quintens they afforded to themselues either little list or leasure more or otherwise but betooke themselues to their delights disorders and pleasures and onely to keepe and make good what they had newly gotten grew negligent and carelesse of the Towne of Calice that the Forts thereabouts for defence being vnrespectiuely regarded wonne by that victorious Prince Edward the third and that by no lesse then eleuen moneths siege were in the compasse of eight dayes besieged surprized and wonne in the depth of Winter to the worldes wonder and not without great suspition of treachery which happened the the 12. day of lanuary and in the second moneth were surrendred the strong Fort of Guies and Hames whereby all the English sooting was lost in the continent of Fraunce So here you may see that our owne Writers affirme that the breach of the peace with the French King was not any wayes by the occasion of King Philip nor the losse of Calice by his default After his great victory at Saint Quintens he would admit no peace at all with the French but with restoring Calice vntill the English themselues without him made their peace and renownced Calice to the French for euer These Iosses were greeuous to the English Nobility and most of all to Queene Mary her selfe After she had abolished the Gospell restored the Popes Supremacie whatsoeuer she tooke in hand was no wayes prosperous but in all things infortunate her conceptions failing extreame dearthes rayning hurt done by thunders from heauen and Fire in the Royall Nauy Forraigne losses Calice surrendred which could neuer be recouered vpon any composition and King Philip alwayes in troubles and turmoyling warres occasioned his keeping from court so that Queene Mary her life during her raignet was little pleasurable or that she scance â—â—ioyed any delights or at lease little contentment as all which so much augmented hor melancholly which grew to a burning Feauer when she had raigned fiue yeares Queene Mary with griefe died she ended her life at her Mannour of St. Iames and lyeth interred amongst her Auncestors in the Abby of Westminster Now next in course doth follow the relation of the passages betweene England and Spaine after King Philip his returne thither which was immediatly after Queene Maries death and during the time of the raigne of the late Queene Elizabeth where then I come to the Spring head from whence the auersenesse and vnwillingnesse of the Commons doe rise for our Princes Royall match with Spaine the remembrance of the late Hostile warrs with other the passages which plebian like they haue by tradition as the Brittaines had the story of their times
the English onely to thanke God for their deliuerance If the Spaniards will forget and passe it ouer as being farre the greater loosers it is both charity and religion for the English to doe the like And the rather for that and such like hostile actions passing betweene the two Nations in the time of warre and now in peace in all Christian and religious considerations enuie and hatred should haue an end and not be continued States are subiect to the wheele times haue their turnings and great Princes themselues not free from calumny and detraction and many times with much agrauation therein For these particulars I will conclude with that graue and sage obseruation of Cornelius Tacitus that free tongued Romane that wrote they made it a custome to make Kings the instruments of oppression they may many times seeme so and yet they themseues of a most gracious and Royall disposition Queene Elizabeth therein not second to any and yet according to the fate and fashion of great princes by some great and graue Councellours neere about her and by some that could thriue onely by warre she was much swayed and ruled which she thought was no diminution to her commendation though it made not so much for her absolutenes yet it seemed she held it the more for her safety Let vs not be transported with passion and doubts beyond reason good ground or probability the Kings and Monarchies of England in their whole choise of wiues made from all parts of Europe were neuer more fortunate and happy in any then in those Royall Queenes which they had from Spaine The first in this Scene of honour shall be the Royall Queene Elenor wife to Edward the first formerly mentioned what was shee but the wonder and myracle of her Sex The next Queene Katherine wife first to Prince Arthur afterwards to Henry the eight shee was the cleare mirrour and example of wisedome integrity sanctity and all Royall and Princely vertues in all which she was farre more precious and excellent being so tryed as she was with the touchstone of fortune Constancia Izabella Beringaria and Ioanna Spanish Princes all these were proper and peculiar to our English Monarchy our owne Chronicles telleth vs no otherwise of them but that they were as so many glorious and conspicuous lights of matrimoniall faith loue piety and chastity And lastly King Philip the second that married Queene Mary our own Writers leaues him to posterity highly commended So that for those Princes that we haue formerly had from Spaine England hath had ioy and comfort of them we haue loued them and they vs. Wherefore should we now so much doubt and feare for the future the like successe vnlesse we will conclude our dispositions are growne worse and that the then times deserued a great part of their commendations So that here you may see that no Nations in former times did euer more faithfully and entirely loue each another or were in more straighter leagues and bonds of friendship vnited together then the English and Spaniards vntill by the late warre they were â—â—â—oynted Seuere iudgement threatens high places Sa. ca. 6.4.8 The greatest happinesse of great Kings and Princes is to make happy their Subiects and that happinesse on eath is esteemed greatest which commeth neerest to that in heanen consisting onely in the eternity of blessed peace then consequently those Princes must be deemed most blessed who doe chiefly direct their Royall cares and endeuours to bring glory to God on high peace and good will to those on earth Our now gracious King hath so gouerned vs this 21. yeares that we haue enioyed that happinesse as God hath beene truly honoured he obayed and we haue liued in quiet vnder our own Figge trees and Vines eating the fruites of our owne labour4s free from those calamities and miseries of warre some of our neighbour Nations are subiect vnto and by Gods grace he will so continue vs whereby he will be worthily held in the esteeme and deemed one of the most blessed Princes according to the position before mentioned How willing desirous and obseruant the Spaniards haue beene to bee in peace and amity with vs let the Reader but duly consider that which hath beene formerly related and for farther satisfaction to an ocular experience we late had thereof The Xing of Spaine his desire to be in league and amity with England No sooner then our now gracious Soueraigne came to the Crowne but the King of Spaine Philip the third instantly sent ouer his Ambassadours sought peace at his hands and had it which euer since hath beene religiously nobly muioable kept and so continued his sonne now King of Spaine Philip the fourth An ouerture of marriage long time in treaty for our now Royall Prince Charles with the Lady Maria daughter of the said Philip the third by him much desired and now as much as her brother Philip the fourth as it is generally conceiued that those two Royall Scepters should be now conioyned in the sacred knot and bond of marriage thereby to strengthen their auncient Alliances and make a perpetuall league and indissoluble confederation of blessed peace and friendship betwixt them Seeing many excellent learned men meerely out of zeale and some others wise and polliticke in the affaires of State that are true louers of their countrie haue written and spoken freely proposing doubts feares and dangers that may come and ensue to England with the mariage with Spaine and also others of both those sorts of like ranke and quality only in religion contrarily affected haue written and will speake as much for the approbation and commendation thereof proposing the infinite vnspeakable good the match may be to the Kingdome of England Without farther intermedling I will leaue those things to their learnings and iudiciall experiences that which I relate may be as materials for them to worke on and is intended but as home made stuffe for the Country people who in State affaires sees no farther then the Rhine and many of them wade not so deepe as into the point of Religion yet in their affections haue beene very auerse and expressed vnwillingnesse for our Princes Royall match I would herewithall cloathe or at least someway couer their bare opinions that there is no such great cause of feares doubts and dangers as they seeme to apprehend though the Spaniards were lately our enemies yet aunciently they were our friends and seeme to desire to be so againe to liue in league and amity with vs I would gladly so moderate and reclaime the disaffections of the common people that they might forget and remit all former occasions conceaued of distaste and not in their affections and discourses so disobe diently mutinie and dispute against our Soueraignes high commands and Royall intentions It is incident for men so to doe of some one of the dispositions following A kingdome composed of men of diuers humours and dispositions whereof some doe burne in hatred some busied in
kingdome as is generally feared Which collections I will here in my conclusion relate onely inuiting vnto them my countrie neighbours and friends and doe therein according to the fashion of Feasters wish their cheere better for their satisfaction Though the eyes of humane prouidence cannot see beyond that Horizon as directly to discerne future contingents yet can they onely iudge what seemes fit to be done by probabilitie grounded vpon mature consideration and profound iudgement therefore let vs not feare nor doubt but that by Gods infinite goodnesse and mercy the Kings great prouidence iudgement and integrity for religion there will be a gracious royall prouision and preseruation made Amongst the countrie people there is much feare and doubt conceiued the Pope in his power and prerogatiue being so predominant bth in Spaine and with other forraine Princes by them as Stales we may be drawne into that net The King that doth so much insist vpon his prerogatiue here in his owne kingdome that will not admit any dyminution therein that he should now giue way to haue it subiected to such a dangerous sorraine power there is no manner of likelyhood There haue beene many of our Kings of England Roman Catholik Princes that haue beene at difference with the Pope that were Roman Catholiques and other Forraine Princes yea and Spaine it selfe which I will here make bold to tell them wearied and tyred out with the insupportable pressures of the Pope haue beene at great difference with him at mortall enmity and open warre as namely Henry the fift the Emperour haning by the Popes instigation banded against his father Henry the fourth who associated him in the Empire and held him prisoner in that distresse that he died touched after with remorse of this act Note and reproach of the State for abandoning the rightes of the Empire leuies sixtie thousand foote and thirty thousand horse for Italy constrained the Pope and his Colledge to acknowledge the rights of the Empire in that forme as Leo the fourth had done to Otho the second and before that Adrian to Charlamaine according to the decree of the Councell of Rome and made him take his oath of fidelity betweene his hands as to the true and lawfull Emperour The Pope so soone as Henry was departed home assembles a Councell nullifies his acknowledgement as done by force and shortly after died The Emperour to make himselfe the stronger against his successors Note enters into aliance with the King of England takes to wise Maude the daughter to Henry the first being but fiue yeares of age Calixti the next succeeding Pope at a Councell held at Remes by ecclesiasticall sentence caused Henry the Emperour to be declared an enemy to the Church and degraded him of his Imperiall dignity The King of England seeing this Councell was held in France composed chiefly of the Gallicane Church desirous to ouer-master Louis the King of France incenses his sonne in Law the Emperour to set vpon him as the Popes chiefe piller on one side and he would assaile him on the other The Emperour easily wrought to such a businesse prepares all his best forces the King of England doth the like The King of France seeing this storme comming so impetuously vpon him wrought so with the princes of Germante as they taking into their consideration the future mischiefe of a warre rashly and vnaduisedly taken with the importance of a kinde neighbourhood aduised the Emperour not to enter thereinto till he had signified to the King of France the causes of his discontent Whereupon Embassadours were dispatched to the King of France who answers that he grieued much to see the two greatest pillers of the Church thus shaken with those dissentions which might hazzard the ruine of the whole Frame that he was a friend to them both and would labour and endeauour all he could to mediate an attonement rather then adde fewell to a fire too fierce already which he desired to extinguish for the good and quiet of Christendome This Ambassage and answer so tooke that the Emperour was diuerted from his former resolution and was glad to haue Louis a mediator of the accord betweene the Pope and him which shortly after was concluded at Wormes for the Popes aduantage to whom the Emperour yeelds vp the right of the inuestitures of Bishops and other benefices The King of England expecting great matters to haue risen by this businesse was highly displeased being so disappointed of the Emperours assistance proceedes notwithstanding in his intentions against Louis Betweene them there were many great conflicts with the expence of much bloud and charges which is the onely fruit warre affordeth but in the end both wearied and tyred out a peace was concluded Then of late yeares as it hath beene here formerly related in the raigne of King Philip the second there was enmity and open warres betweene Pope Paul and the Spaniard The Pope besieged and confined within the walls of Rome by Duke Alua relieued by the French King yet fell from him and reconciled himselfe to the Spaniard as to the stronger side That the Pope cannot erre in matter of faith his power to depose Kings and dispose of Kingdomes are two mayne positions the Papists holde both which I humbly leaue to our Diuines to deale with them therein But for those two particulars here now mentioned and many other former passages of the Pope the vulgar may iudge In the time of Queene Elizabeth did familiarly and freely giue Bishopricks in Ireland but those that had them so giuen could neuer gaine possession Then farther there can be no such feares doubts for the alteration of Religion as is apprehended if we take into consideration these particulars following First we hauing a well ordered and well gouerned Kingdome where Religion is established Rites and Ceremonies ordained and by a long vse and custome receiued and confirmed the many apparent probabilities of the Kings integrity the many rare and worthy learned men that are in the Kingdome considered The King though Prince-like for his recreations and that his affections haue beene caried with some delights and pleasures yet hath he been so studious that he is learned beyond expectation and custome of great Princes and for his integrity it is of fifty seauen yeares growth hath made thereof many religious worthy expressions both by his learned works and words and indeede hath shot such arrowes which will hang in the sides of the Romish Religion in after ages as he is Defender of the Faith by title he will so continue in truth The first that had the Title was Henry the eight giuen him by Pope Leo the tenth for writing against Luther After his conuersion and suppression of Popery yet retayned he that stile and afterwards during the raignes of Edward the sixth the late famous Queene Elizabeth and our now Soueraigne it hath beene continued and doubtlesse by him will be maintained Amongst many his worthy expressions of himselfe therein