accepted the Challenge which two after a while trauersing their ground to and fro without one drop of blood-shed betooke themselues to drinke freely together and so of enemies became friends and parted Yet here wee must not omit to obserue that our Englishmen who of all the Northerne Nations haue beene most commended for sobrietie haue learned since these Low-Country warres so well to fill their cups and to wash themselues with Wine that whilest they at this day drinke others healths they little regard their owne And that this vicious practice of drunkennesse hath so ouerflowed the Land that lawes proscripts of restraint are vsually made for the drying vp of the same But whilest they were all this while contending in the Low-Countries for Dorppes Villages the King of Spaine getteth into his hands the rich Kingdome of Portugall For Henry which was King hauing paid Natures tribute the yeare before left the Realm to diuers Competitors amongst whom Philip King of Spaine sonne of his eldest Sister puissant enough in force though not in right by reason of his priority in blood and descent comming of the elder line and being Male thought with his friends himselfe worthiest to bee preferred to the succession of the said Kingdome before the women the yonger sort and such as did lesse participate of the blood The Duke of Sauoy reiected for that he came of the yonger Sister Farnese sonne to the Prince of Parma borne of the eldest Daughter of EDWARD brother King HENRY and KATHERINE of Brabant second daughter to the said EDWARD grounding themselues only vpon the benefit of Representation a simple fiction could not annihilate the true Title of Inheritance nor intercept the King of Spaines lawfull succession and this the Spaniards stood to maintaine And as touching Don Antonio Prior of Crates sonne to Lewis the second brother of King HENRY he was ipso facto reiected for that he was illegitimate The King of Spaine neuerthelesse propounded the matter twice to his Clergy and men of Law to decide the cause charging them in the name of God and vpon their faith and saluation to tell him freely whether hee had rightfull claime or no to that Kingdome They hauing with vnanimous voice assured him that it was proper to him he quickly putting forth first the Duke of Alua put to flight Antonio elected of the people and within 70 dayes brought all Portugall vnder his iurisdiction But touching the Right of Katherin de Medicis the Queen of France who claimed it from Alphonsus and the Earles of Boulogne for 320 yeares agone that the Spaniards laughed at as a Title out of date and fetcht from the old Prophetesse the Mother of Euander a thing iniurious to so many of the Kings of Portugal which had lawfully and lineally succeeded one another and therefore ridiculous to both Spaniards and Portugals Whereat the Queene incensed with anger and considering how mightily the Spaniard now in his ascendant enriched himselfe farre and neare by the accession or surcrease of this new-got Kingdome his Ilands and the East Indies breeding a feare within her to her selfe and the Princes her neighbouring friends aduised them and amongst the rest the Queene of England that it was already high time to stay the Spaniards in his mounting and to stop him vp within his owne bounds before his ambition should extend any further Queene ELIZABETH who was not to learne what shee had to doe in that nature for her selfe and her friends and foreseeing how dangerous the growing greater of the neighbour Princes would be lent eare thereto with no light attention but with great and Royall kindnesse entertained Antonio banished out of Portugall and recommended to her from France thinking that Spaine could not take exception thereat because hee was of her Alliance issued from the Blood Royall of England and of the House of Lancaster as shee well knew nor in any Treaties that euer had past betwixt Spaine and England was any caueat at all inferred forbidding England to receiue or to haue commerce with the Portugals At the same time for the more confirmation of assured amitie the Queene of France and the King her sonne prosecuting the mariage of the Duke d' Anjou addrest an honourable ambassage into England for the consummation thereof came ouer François de Bourbon Prince of Daulphiné Arthur de Cosse Cont de Secondigny Marshal of France Louis de Lusignan M. de S. Gelais Lansac Salignac Mauuisser Bernarde Brisson President of the Parliament of Paris and one of the learnedest men of France and others who as they they were of Honorable ranke were very nobly receiued and banqueted in a Banquetting-House built on purpose neere Westminster richly adorned with rare and sumptuous furniture and Titls and Tournaments proclaimed which were presented in a most princely manner by Philip Earle of Arundell Fred Lord Winsor Philip Sidney and Fulk Greuill Knights against all commers with sundry other courtly sports and Princely recreations not necessarily coincident to our History To conferre with them concerning these Nuptials were appointed the Baron of Burghley Lord high Treasurer of England the Earles of Sussex Lincolne Bedford and Leicester together with Sir Christopher Hatton and Secretary Walsingham Amongst whom these matrimoniall Contracts following were concluded vpon THe Duke d' Anjou and the Queene of England within six weekes after the ratification of these Articles shall personally contract mariage here in England The Duke and his associates seruants and friends being no English subiects shall haue libertie to vse their owne Religion in a certain place in their houses without molestation or impeachment He shall not alter any part of the Religion now receiued in England Hee shall inioy and haue the Title and Dignity of King after the mariage shall bee consummate but notwithstanding shall leaue intirely to the Queene the managing of affaires And whereas his demand was that immediately after the celebration of the mariage he should be crowned King instantly to inioy the title and dignity during the gouernment of the Kingdome in the minority of their children The Queene answered she would propound and further it at the next high Court of Parliament to be holden within fifteen dayes after the ratification Letters Patents and other things shal be passed in both their names as in the time of Philip and MARIE The Queene by Act of Parliament shall ordaine an Annuall pension for the Duke but the valuation thereof shall bee left to her pleasure she will also ordaine the said Pension to continue if he shall surviue her The Duke in Dowry shall bestow on the Queene to the value of forty thousand Crownes per annum out of his Duchy of Berry and shall forthwith infeofe her therein As touching their Issue it shall likewise be enacted by Parliament in England and registred in the Annals of France as followeth That the Heires of them as well Males as Females by maternall right of
Annals and then by my last Will to bequeath them to my honorable friend IAMES AVGVSTVS THVANVS who hath begun a Historie of his owne Times with great truth and modestie lest that as strangers are wont he a man most deare vnto me should like a traueller in a forraine Countrie be ignorant of our affaires But this resolution I was forced I know not by what fate to alter for a great part being sent vnto him some few years past wheÌ„ they were like rough-drawn pictures scarcely begun deformed with blots imperfect places swarming with errors patches thrust in as they fell from a hasty pen ill vsed by Transcribers Out of these he took as it were inter-weaued some things into the eleuenth and twelfth Tomes of his Historie hauing first polished them by adding altering substracting but all with good iudgement according to that order of the worke which he proposed to himselfe for he intended a vniuersall Historie of his owne Time selecting some few things concerning ENGLAND and IRELAND ommitting many things not only fit but peraduenture necessary for vs to know and I had heard that beyond the Seas the Historie of English affaires was much and not without reproach desired I therefore betook me to my intermitted study read all ouer againe corrected added diuers things refined the eloquution yet without affectation for it sufficeth me if I may place this Booke like a picture in water colours vnskilfully done in a commodious light But when all was done I was much perplext irresolute whether I should publish it or not But CENSVRES PREIVDICE HATRED OBTRECTATION which I foresaw to display their colors and bid battell against me haue not so much deterred me as the desire of TRVTH the loue of MY COVNTRY and the memory of that PRINCESSE which deserues to be deare and sacred amongst English men did excite me against those who shaking off their allegeance towards their Prince and Country did not cease beyond the Seas to wound aswel the Honor of the one as the glory of the other by scandalous libels conceiued by the malice of their own hearts now which they sticke not to confesse are about to publish a Book to remain to posteritie as a monument of their wickednesse As for me I desire nothing more than to be like my self they like themselues Succeeding ages will giue to euery one their deserued Honor. I confesse with sorrow that I haue not done so wel as the height of the argumeÌ„t requires but what I could I haue done willingly To my selfe as in other writings so neither in these haue I giuen satisfaction But I shall hold it more than sufficient if out of an earnest desire to conserue the memorie of things of truth in relating them instructing mens minds with that which is wise and honest I shall be ranked only amongst the lowest writers of great things WHATSOEVER IT IS AT THE ALTAR OF TRVTH I Dedicate and Consecrate it TO GOD MY COVNTRIE AND POSTERITIE ⧠TO THE TRVE MIRROR AND PATTERNE OF PRINCES THE MOST HIGH AND MIGHTY CHARLES PRINCE OF GREAT BRITAINNE c. SIR I COVLD not but shelter this Historie vnder your most renowned Name for to whom can I commit the Story of Her who whilst shee liued was the ioy of England the terror and admiration of the VVorld but to your HIGHNESSE who is the Fame and Honour of this spacious hemisphere Great Britaines both hope solace by your princely valour constant vertues no lesse dreaded and admired abroad than feared beloued at home A true admirer humble Obseruer of your diuine worth A. Darcie To the Highly Borne Princesse Frances Duchesse Dowager of Richmond Lenox This Noble Princesse's Father was Thomas Lord Howard created Viscount Bindon by Queen Elizabeth the first yeare of her raigne second son to Thomas Duke of Norfolke AND To the noble Prince her Cosin Thomas Earle of Arundell Surrey Earle Marshall of England This Duke of Norfolke the Duchesse of Richmond and Lenox's Grandfather had two wiues the first was the noble Princesse Anne Daughter to King Edward the fourth by which he had issue a young Prince who died young The other was the Lady Elizabeth daughter to Edward Stafford Duke of Buckingham by whom he had issue the Lord Henry Hâ—ward whose son succeeded to the Dukedome of Norfolk which Dukes eldest son Philip Howard was by Queen ELizabeth alâ—o created and summoned in Parliament where he sate as Earl of Arundel being the primary Earledome of England in the right of his Mother sole daughter and heire to Henry Fitz-Allen Earle of Arundell He was this Noble Earles Father Thomas Viscont Bindon and a Daughter who was Duchesse of Richmond and Somerset Countesse of Nottingham Aunt to the now Duchesse of Richmond and Lenox This said Duke of Norfolke after a long sicknesse tooke his iourney peaceably to Heauen at his Palace in Kinninghall in Norfolke the first yeare of Queene Mary AND To the Illustrious fauourers of Vertue true mirrors of Honour and exact patternes of Nobilitie William Earle of Hartford c AND To the Noble Lady Frances his Princely Countesse This Earles grandfather Lord Edward Seimor son to Edw. Duke of Somerset was restored to his honours patrimonie by Queene Elizabeth who created him Earle of Hartford and Baron of Beauchamp in the Tower of London the second yeare of her raigne This noble Countesse's grandfather also was created Earle of Essex c. by Qu. Elizabeth the 14. of her raigne he died in Ireland 1575. and was magnificently buried at Carmarden in Wales where he was borne Edward Earle of Dorset Baron of Buckhurst AND To his noble sisters the lady Anne Beauchamp And the Lady Cecilia Compton This illustrious Earle and honourable Ladies grandfather was a most prudent and learned man for his heroick deserts and Princely descent from an ancient and true noble blood was created by Q. Elizabeth Baron of Buckhurst next by her Maiestie enstalled in the royall order of the Garter one of her intimate priuy Counsellors Lord High Treasurer of England c. Chancellor of the Vniuersity of Oxford Hee died in White-hall 1608. Theophilus Lord CLINTON Earle of LINCOLN Anno 1572. Edward Lord Clinton Lord high Treasurer of England was created Earle of Lincolne by Queene Elizabeth for his Noble merits and faithfull seruice to his Soueraigne Lady The same day her Maiesty created Sir Walter Deureux Earle of Essex He died the eighth day of Ianuary Anno 1585. and was with great solemnitie buried at Windsor To this right Honorable Lord Theophilus Earle of Lincolne he was great Grand-father Thomas Earle of Suffolke knight of the most honorable Order of the Garter This worthy Earle second sonne to Thomas Howard the last Duke of Norfolke by his martiall valour was Princely vertue and by Queene Elizabeth created Lord Howard of Walden and tooke place in the high Court of Parliament among the Peeres as Baron of Walden And Q.
Lenox Vice-Roy of Scotland is slaine 279. The Earle of Marre is elected Vice-Roy ibid. Lawes against disturbers ibid. Lawes against Papists 280. Iohn Story condemned to dye 282. Differences appeased betweene the English and the Portugals in Guienne ibid. Marquis of Northampton dyes 283. The death of Bishop Iewell ibid. Affaires in Ireland 284. William Fitz-Williams Deputy ibid. Anno M.D.LXXII Thomas Duke of Norfolke is presented before the Nobles and Peeres and arraigned in Westminster Hall 285. The manner of his Arraignement 286. The chiefe points of his accusation 287. The Duke demandeth an Aduocate to pleade his cause ibid. The second Article of his accusation 290. The third Article 292. His reply and that he was contrary to the Romane Religion 293. The Letters of the Bishop of Rosse to the Queen of Scots produced ibid. The Dukes Letter to his seruant 294. The Letters of Ridolph ibid. Of the Pope ibid. The testimony of Strangers ibid. The third Article of his accusation 295. The Peeres consult among themselues ibid. The sentence of death pronounced against the Duke 296. Baray and Marter are put to death 297. Earles created ibid. Barons elected 298. Lawes established for the better security of the Queene and her Kingdome ibid. The Duke of Norfolke beheaded ibid. His speech at his death 299. Sundry censures of him 300. Catenes relation of the precedent matters 301. Pope Pius the fifth incensed against Queene ELIZABETH imployeth Robert Ridolph a Gentleman of Florence into England 301. He perswades the Kings of France and Spaine against her ibid. The Queene of Scots accused 304. Her answere 305. Sedition in Scotland 306. The Queene of Elngand and the King of France endeuour to accord them ibid. They differ in opinion ibid. Causes alledged why the French fauour the Queene of Scotland 307. The Queene of England contesteth with the French ibid. The rebellious Flemmings being commanded out of England take the Breele 310. The Duke of Alua's carelesnesse ibid. The English repaire into the Low-countries to warre ibid. The dissimulation of the King of France 311. The alliance of Blois ibid. The Articles of the same ibid. The confirmation thereof 313. Mont-morancy admitted to the Order of the Garter 314. He intercedes to accord the differences of Scotland ibid. Answer made vnto him ibid. He also treats of a marriage with the Duke of Aniou 315. The Massacre of Paris ibid. Marriage of the Duke of Alanzon propounded to Queene ELIZABETH 316. The Earle of Northumberland beheaded ibid. Death of the Marquis of Winchester and of the Earle of Darbie ibid. Cecill made Treasurer ibid. Death of Sir George Peters 317 Queene ELIZABETH sicke ibid. Her care of the Publique ibid. She cuts off the superfluous number of followers attending Noblemen and curbeth Enquirers after conceald Lands of the Crowne 318. Rebellion in Ireland also the Omores rebellion there 319. A strange Starre 319. Anno M.D.LXXIII THe Spanish Fleete discomfited by the Hollanders 321. Queene ELIZABETH dischargeth her Fathers and Brothers debts 322. The Papists trouble the Common-wealth 323. The Ambassage of Gondy Count of Rez 324. Ambassage of the Earle of Worcester into France 325. The French Protestants handle the French Papists in England shrewdly and the French Leger Ambassadour complaines to Queene ELIZABETH for ayding the Protestants besieged ibid. She is earnestly sollicited to marry with the D. of Alanzon 326 She grants him leaue to come into England 327. Gondy returnes into England and Earle Morton is made Regent of Scotland 329. The English are sent to besiege Edenborrough 332. The Castle besieged yeelded 333. Kircald and others hanged and Lidington dyes 334. Lodowick Zuniga succeedes Duke d'Alua 335. Burche's Heresie for which hee is hanged 336. The Lord of Effingham the Earle of Kent and Caius the Physician dyed ibid. Troubles in Ireland the Earle of Essex is sent thither 338. Anno M.D.LXXIIII ALanzon desires to visit Queene ELIZABETH and hath leaue to come into England 342. He suspected in France hath a Gard set ouer him 343. Charles the Ninth King of France dieth and the right Noble Roger Lord North is sent Ambassadour extraordinary to Henry of Valois King of France and Poland 344. The Earle of Huntington made President of the North. 345. An Edict against pride 346. London Ministers deceyued A Whale cast on shore Thames ebbes flowes twice in one houre The Skie seemeth to burne 347. Anno M.D.LXXV THe League with France renewed 349. The Prince of Orange intended to flye to the protection of the King of France 352. The Ambassie of Campigni and de Requisens dyeth 354. The death of the Duke of Chastelraut 357. The Earle of Essex distressed in Ireland ibid. Sidney's progresse in Ireland for the third time Deputie there 358. The death of Peter Carew 359. Anno M.D.LXXVI QVeene ELIZAB. is offered a match by the French 361. A confusion in the Netherlands Antwerpe sacked by the Spanish mutiners 362. The comming of Iohn d'Austria into Flanders 363. Sir Martin Forbisher sent to discouer the Straits in the North part of America 364. The death of the Emperour Maximilian and of the Elector Palatine heauy to Queene ELIZABETH who sends Sir Philip Sidney Ambassador extraordinary to Rodulphus his Successour 365. The death of Walter Deuoreux Earle of Essex and of Sir Anthony Coke 367. Tumults in Ireland and William Drury made President of Munster 368. The Queene takes pitty of the Irish 369. Anno M.D.LXXVII AVstria inclined to peace at Queene ELIZABETHS perswasion 370. The Prince of Orange diuerts her from it 371. Sir Thomas Copley made Baron in France 372. Iohn of Austria's dissimulation ibid. Why Queen ELIZABETH couenanted with the Scots 373. Spaine is pleased with it 375. England the Ballance of Europe 376. Priest Maine executed Baron of Latimer and Secretarie Smith of Saffron Walden dyes 377. Rebellion againe in Ireland and Rorio Oge is slaine Harington and Cosby wounded 378. Anno M.D.LXXVIII QVeene ELIZABETH's care for the Low-Countries 380. Count Swartzeberg Bellieure and Cobham Deputy for France Germany and England and for the treaty of peace and Egremond Ratcliffe and his associate are put to death and Don Iuan de Austria dyes 381. Aniou's Duke pursues his intended marriage with Qu. ELIZ. and Leicester murmurs at it 383. The Countesse of Lenox death ibid. King IAMES sends an Ambassador to Queene ELIZAB. 385. Morton Regent takes vpon him the administration of the Realme againe 386. The Peeres are against him 387. How to inuade England consulted by Spaine 387. Thomas Stukeley a Traytor takes Armes against his Countrey and is slaine with three Kings 388. William Drury made Lord Deputie of Ireland 389. Anno M.D.LXXIX CAssimiere Palatin's Sonne comes into England 390. Queene ELIZABETH sends money into Holland 391. One is shot with a Pistoll who was in Queene ELIZABETH's Barge with her Maiestie the French Ambassadour the Earle of Lincolne and Sir Christopher Hatton 392. The Duke of Aniou comes into England ibid.
being diuorced from his first Wife tooke in her place the Lady Ienet Beton Aunt by the Mothers side to the Cardinall Beton by whom hee had Issue Iames Hamilton Duke of Chastel-Heraut Marie Sister to the Earle of Arraine bore to Mathew Iohn Earle of Lenox who being slaine by the Hamiltons when hee attempted to set King IAMES the fourth at liberty left this Mathew Earle of Lenox whom King Iames the Fifth loued most dearly in respect of his Father When the King was dead and the Hamiltons in full authority Mathew went secretly into France from whence being sent backe by the French King Henry the second into Scotland to preuent all detriment to the Scottish Common-wealth through the practices of the Regent Hamilton hee valiantly carried himselfe in this employment But being of an honest milde nature and very open-hearted permitting himselfe to bee out-reached by Hamilton and the Cardinall Beton in a small time hee lost the amity of the French and when hee could neither tarry in Scotland nor returne into France he went into England and committed himselfe in trust to King Henry the Eighth who very graciously entertained him as one that was powerfull well beloued in the Westerne parts of Scotland Whervpon he acknowledged him for next Heire to the Crowne of Scotland after Queene MARY who was then exceeding yong though neuerthelesse the Hamiltons condemned him and confiscated all his Lands gaue him to Wife the Lady Margaret Douglasse his Neece by the elder Sisters side with demeanes in England which amounted in an annuall reuennew to the summe of 1700. Marks after hee had made promise to surrender into his hands the Castle of Dunbritton and the I le of Buthe with the Castle of Rothsay which is in England The which hee vndertooke with courage but fayled in the successe The Queene of Scots beeing a wise and prudent Lady all whose drifts aymed at England shee gaue him her safe conduct and restored vnto him his Fathers goods both that hee might oppose the designes of Iames his bastard brother whom shee had honoured with the Earledome of Murray as also to cut off the hopes of others by the meanes of Darley her Sonne which they might any wayes foster and nourish of succession to the Diadem of England For shee feared that being of the Blood Royall borne in England and very well beloued of the English if hee were ioyned with any puissant Family in England relying on the English power and forces hee might happely one day disturbe her right of succession to the Kingdome of England many men reputing him for the second Heire apparant after her and shee affected nothing more feruently then by his meanes to bring the Kingdomes of England and Scotland to fall into some Scottish Race and Name and so by him to propagate them to posteritie in the name of the Stewards his Ancestors Queene ELIZABETH well discerned all this and to preuent it gaue the Queene of Scots to vnderstand by Randolph that this Marriage was so distastfull to all the English as against the consent of her Councell she was enforst to prorogue the conuentions of Parliament to some other fitter time for feare lest the States of the Kingdome therewith prouoked should enact somewhat to the preiudice of her right to the succession And therefore to cut off all occasions of this Issue hereafter and to satisfie the English she aduised her to thinke of some other marriage and so by this meanes shee once againe and with great affection commended vnto her the Earle of Leicester for an Husband who for this speciall reason she had exalted to the Dignity of an Earle For prosecution of this the Earles of Bedford of Randolph and of Lidington were deputed to treat of this marriage at Barwicke in the Moneth of Nouember The English promised vnto her a firme and constant Amity a perpetuall Peace and that vndoubtedly shee should succeed to the Crowne of England if she married with the Earle of Leicester The Scots on the other side contested alleadging That their Queenes Dignitie who had beene sued vnto by Charles Sonne to the Emperour Ferdinand the King of France the Prince of Condé and the Duke of Ferrara could not permit her so farre to embase and vnder-valew her selfe as to match with a new-made Earle a Subiect of England and who propounded nothing but bare hopes without any certaine Dowrie neither stood it with the honour of the Queene of England to commend such a man for an Husband to so great a Princesse her neere Kinswoman but rather shee should giue an infallible testimonie of her great loue and affection towards her to giue her absolute libertie to make choice of such an husband as might entertaine perpetuall peace with England to assigne her a yeerely Pension and with the authority of the Parliament confirme the right which shee had to succeede In all this busines the extreme desire of Queene ELIZABETH was although she made discreete haste to assure by such a marriage the succession of the Kingdome in an English Race The Queene of Scotland seeing that this businesse had beene prolonged full two yeeres and making account to marry Darley doubted whether she was proceeded withall in good earnest or no and that Queene ELIZABETH did not propound this marriage but to make a pre-election of the most worthy for herselfe or to marry the more excusable with Leicester She beeing absolute Queene after she should haue really consented to marry him But the Commissioners of Scotland weighing these reasons to maintaine their power with the Queene had resolued to hinder by all meanes all kinde of marriages Queene ELIZABETH admonisheth them to hinder that with Darley Leicester himselfe full of hope to enioy Queene ELIZABETH by secret Letters priuily warnes the Earle of Bedford not to presse the thing and with this hope it is credibly thought that hee secretly fauoured Darley THE EIGHTH YEERE OF HER RAIGNE Anno Domini 1565. DARLEY in the meane time by the intercession of his Mother with Prayers and diligence to Queene ELIZABETH obtained though with much difficultie leaue to goe into Scotland and to stay there three Moneths vnder pretext to be partaker of his Fathers establishment and came to Edenborrough in the Moneth of February in the great winter when the Thames was so frozen that people passed dry ouer on foot Hee was a Youth of a most worthy Carriage fit to beare rule of an excellent composition of members of a milde spirit and of a most sweet behauiour As soone as the Queene of Scotland had seene him she fell in loue with him and to the end to keepe her loue secret in discoursing with Randolph the English Ambassadour in Scotland she often-times intermixt her discourse with the marriage of Leicester and at the same time seekes a dispensation from Rome for Darley shee being so neere in bloud that according to the Popes Ordinance they stood in neede of one This being come
had spread vpon the Queene or to cleanse it with his bloud vnlesse as he said himselfe his slanders might be accounted vaine by reason of his doting age Giue me leaue that the other side may be heard by diuers that writ thereof and at that time publisht it in print but such writings were soone call'd in both in fauor of the Earle of Murray and in hatred of the Queene and likewise by Ambassadours Letters worthy to bee beleeued In the yeere 1558. at the marriage of Francis the Dolphin of France and Mary Queene of Scotland Iames the Queenes Bastard-Brother commonly called the Prior of Saint Andrewes Metropolitan of the Order of Saint Andrewes despising that title was ambitious after a more splendid one but when the Queene by the aduice of the Guizes refused it him hee returned into Scotland discontented wherein vnder a faire pretext of reforming Religion and to establish the liberty of Scotland hee begun to trouble the State and effected it and so brought it to passe without the knowledge of the Queene in a Conuenticle of Confederates Religion was changed and by the calling in of ayde from England the French were driuen out of Scotland Francis King of France being dead he presently went to his Sister into France and hauing put away all suspition tending to her preiudice or dis-reputation for the affaires of Scotland swore vnto her calling GOD to witnesse to performe all dueties that a Sister could expect from a Brother and vpon the hope which he had that shee being brought vp from her tender age in the delicacies of France would not returne into Scotland workes with the Guizes to appoint some Noble-man of Scotland to be Regent there and almost poynted at himselfe to be the fittest man of all But hee being sent backe into Scotland without any authority but Letters of Commission by which the Queene gaue power to the States to assemble and consult for the good of the Kingdome and seeing himselfe deiected from his hope returned much vexed and passing thorow England made it there knowne that if they wished well to Religion in Scotland to the peace of England and the security of Queene ELIZABETH they ought by all meanes to hinder the Queene of Scotland to passe into Scotland Shee neuerthelesse being safely arriued in Scotland the English Ships being disappointed by obscure weather and being there embraced her Brother with all signes of fauour and good-will and in a kinde of manner committed vnto him the generall administration of affaires Notwithstanding all this the branches of his ambition are not cut off which grew daily and appeared both in words and deedes For hee could not containe himselfe but often among his friends deplored that the warlike Scottish Nation was no lesse subiect to the command of a Woman than the English was and by the instruction of Knox whom he esteemed as a Patriarke often debates that Kingdomes were due to merit and not to linage and that Women should be excluded from succeeding and that their gouernement were monstrous He treated likewise with the Queen by his friends that she should substitute foure of the Royall House of the Stewards who if she dyed without issue should succeed to the Crowne one after another without regarding who were legitimate or no thinking he should be one seeing he was the Kings Sonne though vnlawfully begotten But the Queene wisely considering that such a substitution was contrary to the Lawes of the Kingdome to defraud the right Heires a most pernicious example dangerous for her Subiects and would be an hinderance to her selfe for her second marriage she mildely answered That she would more aduisedly deliberate with the States of the Kingdome about a matter of such weight consequence and to testifie her fauour and bounty towards her Brother shee honoured him with the title of Earle of Mar afterwards with the Earledome of Murray for the dignity of Mar was then in controuersie being ignorant all this while that he aymed at the Kingdome and affirmed himselfe to be the lawfull Sonne of Iames the Fifth To make the easier way hereunto by meanes of the extraordinary fauour the Queene shewed to him he supprest the most noble Family of the Gordons powerfull in vassalage and command whom he both feared in respect of themselues as also by reason of the reformed Religion which adhered vnto him he expelled Hamilton Duke of Chastelraut out of the Court who was reputed next Heire to the Crowne imprisoned the Earle of Arraine his Sonne banished Count Bothwell into England dismissed all opposites of their honourable offices and places and retained the Queene vnder his power and suruey as a Gardian might doe his Ward aboue all other things being carefull that Shee might not negotiate nor intend any marriage And when he saw that of the one side the Emperour sollicited her for his Brother and the Spaniard on the other part for his Sonne he absolutely disswaded her both from the one and the other alledging vnto her how the ancient immunities of Scotland would not permit nor indure a strange Prince and whensoeuer the Scepter fell into the hands of Women they neuer made choyce of an Husband but within their owne Countrey of Scotland But in conclusion he perceiuing that all the Scots generally affected her marrying and discerning that by the perswasion and inducement of the Countesse of Lenox she desired to marry with the Lord Darley hee himselfe likewise then commended him vnto her for an Husband hoping in respect of his youth and for that he was of a tractable nature and disposition he would be euer at his direction and dispose Neuerthelesse when hee saw how dearely the Queene loued him himselfe to fall by little and little out of her fauour and grace hee repented of the counsell and aduice he had giuen and admonished Queene ELIZABETH to crosse this marriage by all the meanes possible that she could Presently after the Nuptials were accomplished and the Lord Darley proclaimed KING the King then presently reuoked such gifts as during his minority the Queene had conferred both vpon him and others whereupon being nigh associated with them he tooke vp armes against the King and the Queene pretending that this new King was dis-affected to the Protestant Religion and how she contracted this marriage without the consent of the Queene of England But hauing scarcely made any triall of the fortunes of warre he fled as I said into England where despayring of all succour he laboured by Letters to Morton a man of great subtilty and another like himselfe to effect that seeing the marriage could not be broken off yet that the affection and loue of the married couple might be abated by some secret practices and a fit occasion offered it selfe for after some domesticall and priuate grudgings to quaile the courage of this young King which boyled a little too hot and to preserue entyre her owne Royall prerogatiues in
condemned committed to perpetuall prison and her Sonne crowned KING Finally there wanted not others who for her summary chastisement and punishment would haue had her depriued both of her Royall Authority and life And this was vsually preach'd and diuulged by Knox and some other Ministers in the open Pulpit Throgmorton produced against this many reasons and Arguments taken out of the holy Scriptures touching due obedience and submission to superiour power who retaine the Sword of Authority in their hands arguing very strongly and constantly How the Queene was vnder no other Tribunall but that of the heauenly IVDGE neither could shee iuridically be constrayned to appeare and answer in the Court of any earthly Iudge That in Scotland the same authoritie which the Queene had not delegated nor made ouer to any other was nothing and by her reuocable But the Scottish-men replying alledged the peculiar rites and priuiledges of Scotland and that in extraordinary occurrents they might extraordinarily determine euen as they had collected out of Buchanans reasons who by the Earle of Murrayes perswasion then writ that Dialogue of the Right of Reigning or gouerning among the Scots who was condemned wherein he maintained against the Testimony of the Scottish Histories that the people were priuiledged to create or depose their Kings Notwithstanding Throgmorton ceased not importunately to sollicite them for the Queenes re-establishment and that himselfe might visit her though he no sooner opened his mouth in this poynt but they all replyed how this by no meanes could be granted him because herein they had denyed the French and that by this meanes they would not distaste the King of France to please and satisfie the Queene of England who as often experience heretofore had taught them laboured for nothing but her owne peculiar interests when shee was a meanes to driue the French away out of Scotland and lately shewed her selfe but niggardly and sparing of her fauours towards the Scottish Exiles Whereupon he thought it fit to take heed lest this importunity might vrge them to embrace the amity of the French and shake off that of the English when according to the French Prouerbe Qui quicte la partie la perd He that leaues his partie loseth it aduised and counselled the English to be carefull and iealous how they forsooke and lost the Scots After this by a Writing vnseal'd filled with variety of discourse which they committed to Throgmortons hands they vowed and protested that the Queene was remoued and restrained to a close place for no other end but to disioyne her from Earle Bothwell whom shee most entyrely loued till this heat of affection and her wrath conceyued against them might somewhat slacken and therefore they requested him to be satisfied in this Answer while some other Nobles of the Kingdome were assembled and yet neuerthelesse they restrayned the Queenes liberty euery day more and more though with teares shee intreated them to vse her more fauourably if not as Queene yet as shee was a Kings Daughter and Mother to their Prince and so hee many times requested that hee might goe and visit her but all in vaine Briefly not to rip vp in particular all the iniuries and disgraces offered her at last they made triall whether by milde and faire meanes they could induce her freely to giue ouer the gouernement either by reason of her weakenesse and indisposition or in respect of the trouble and annoyance it brought her to to reigne and gouerne which indeed they deuised for an excuse or else as others counselled her with more drift and subtilty to the end that being more weakly and gracelessely garded shee might the more safely and easily make her escape But when all this tooke no place they threatned to bring her to a publique triall to accuse her that shee had led an incontinent life murdered the King her former Husband and practised tyranny in violating the Lawes and ancient priuiledges of their Country especially those which De R. and De Oisel had enacted in the King of France his name and her owne Finally through feare of death and without euer hearing her answers they forced her to seale three Patents the first of which contained that shee assigned the gouernement ouer to her Sonne who was scarcely thirteene moneths old the second comprehending how shee constituted Earle Murray to be Vice-Roy during her Sonnes minority and the third implyed that in case Murray refused this charge shee ordayned for Rectors and Protectors of her Sonne the Duke of Chastelraut and the Earles of Lenox Arguile Athol Morton Glencarne and Mar But then shee presently certified the Queene of England by Throgmorton how shee had surrendred the gouernement of the Kingdome by compulsion and against her will subscribed to the Patent thereof by Throgmortons perswasion who informed her that any Grant extorted from her during imprisonment which causeth a iust and true feare was inualidious and of no effect But I will relate these things more at large in the yeere ensuing according as they may be faithfully extracted out of the Accusations and Answers of parties which were propounded at Yorke before the Commissioners to whom the absolute determination of this businesse was referred Fiue dayes after this Resignation or Grant IAMES Sonne to the Queene was consecrated and crowned King Iohn Knox then preaching publiquely after the Hamiltons had protested how it was without any manner of preiudice to the Duke of Chastelraut in the right of Succession against the Family of Lenox But Queene ELIZABETH forbade Throgmorton to be present hereat to the end that by the presentiall assistance of her Ambassadour shee might not seeme to approue this vniust deposition of the Queene Twenty dayes after Murray returned out of France into Scotland where hauing remained onely three dayes he went to the Queene with certaine of the Conspirators in his company he obiected vnto her many crimes and like a religious Confessor layd open vnto her many demonstrations to moue her to conuert vnto God with true repentance and to implore his mercy Shee shewed her selfe penitent for the sinnes of her life past confest part of them obiected to her extenuated some and excused others out of humane fragility and weakenesse but absolutely denyed the greater part entreated him to assume the mannaging of affaires vnder her Sonne and coniured him to be tender of her reputation and life Whereunto he made answer how this lay not in his power but shee must sue for it from the Estates of the Kingdome perswading her notwithstanding to obserue these things if she regarded either her life or honour That she should not disturbe either the peace of the King or Kingdome not to attempt the breaking of her imprisonment no wayes to excite the King of France or Queene of England to any domesticall or externall Warre no more to affect Bothwell and neuer to seeke any reuenge against them that were his enemies So soone as he was proclaimed Vice-Roy or
condemned to the Gallies The Spaniard also by Letters written to the Count De Mont-Agond Gouernour of Boetia forbade the transportation of Oyle Allum Sucker Aromatiques and all other such like things into England supposing that if the English wanted these things they would readily rebell and so vpon this he likewise treated with the Duke of Norfolke and the Earle of Ormond by secret messengers to the end the latter might hold the Queene play in Ireland and the former in England But they freely discouered his motions out of the fidelity and loyalty they bare to the Queene When the inhabitants of the coasts of England heard of these things it is incredible to see with what ioy they made our to Sea and how resolutely they put in execution their Letters of Mart against the Spaniards so that to depresse them Proclamations were faine to be published prohibiting the buying of any Merchandize of such as came by it by way of reprizall As the English men were denyed traffique in the Low Countries so were they no lesse debarred the same in Russia as well through the false dealing of Factors and bad intelligence that past betweene them as out of the enuy of the Germanes and Russians the Russians complaining of fraudulent commodities and that the price of Merchandizes was enhaunsed and the Germanes of their monopoly and societie To remedy these euils Thomas Randolph was sent thither the yeere before who though with no liking to the Emperour of Russia because whereas hee should haue treated of the amity hee desired to entertaine with Queene ELIZABETH whereof wee spake in the yeere 1567. hee onely employed himselfe carefully in the matter of traffique neuerthelesse obtayned so much by his sollicitations that the Emperour for the singular good will he bare to the Queene and the English nation granted to the Company of English residing in Russia immunities from customes with Commission to sell their commodities ouer all the Countrey where they would within the extent of his Empire which is ample and large and to transport them into Persia and Media by the Caspian Sea though Merchants of other Nations were permitted to goe no further than a mile beyond the Citie of Mosco hee allotted them houses to winde and twist their Ship-tacklings with Wood for their yron-workes and he receiued the English for OPPRISMâ—Y that is to say the elect seed and choyce of his people Wherefore they began to trauell more confidently ouer all those Countries and to transport their commodities to Vologda vpon the Dwine in Vessels made of one entire peice drawne by force of arme against the current of the water by an handiworke gouerned with Oares and long Piles from thence to Yeraslaue which is ten daies iourney by Land afterwards into Germanie for 30. dayes and nights trauell downe the riuer of Volga which is about a mile in breadth and runnes along a clay soyle set with Oakes and Bouleaux and when they had built Boats they oftentimes crossed the Astracane and the Caspian Sea that in many places may be waded ouer and so by the Defarts of Hercania and Bactriana they came to the Teueres and Casbine Cities of Persia out of an assured confidence they should at last open a way and passage to Cathay But the warres that suddenly grew betweene the Turkes and Persians and frequent robberies of the Barbarians cut off this commendable designe of the London Merchants and as for the Emperour he sent backe Randolph with gifts and presents and with him An. Gregoritzki an Ambassadour in very honourable equipage certainely for the custome of that Countrey who was receiued of the Londoners with great festiuities and of the Queenes Maiestie with much honour This Ambassadour exhibited a formall Writing in the Russian Tongue and required that the alliance and amitie might be confirmed in his presence in the same termes a secret Letter which hee propounded translated into the Russian Tongue with all the Letters subscribed with the Queenes Hand and sealed with her Seale and that shee should likewise send an Ambassadour into Russia reciprocally to receiue from the hand of the Emperour priuy Letters written in the same words which in his presence should be sealed with his Seale and confirmed with a kissing of the Crosse The Queene agreed to this Alliance reseruing onely this Clause So farre as that formerly contracted with other Princes might permit That they might so ayde one another against their common enemies that nothing be performed vniust or vnlawfull and by the word of a Christian Princesse in the presence of the Ambassadour and the most honoured of her Priuy-Councell shee promised inuiolably whereof likewise hee had Letters sealed with her owne Priuy-Seale that if accidentally eyther by his owne Subiects or strangers he brought to such a poynt as to forsake his Countrey she would receiue and entertaine both himselfe and his children with al the honour befitting so great a Prince shee would assigne him a peculiar place for his residence permit him freely to exercise his Religion and to depart at his pleasure For these things hee earnestly required in his secret Letters But this was so far from satisfying this harsh-natur'd and sauage man who held for all right and Law meerely his will pleasure that he by numerating and setting out at large by Letters the sundry benefits and good deedes which hee had done to the English Nation and reproaching them with such fauours and friendships growes angry and is irritated against Queene ELIZABETH for not sending an Ambassadour with his to take the Oath blames her Maiestie that shee made no greater account of her selfe saying shee was ouer-much giuen to Merchants affaires as much vnworthy to be so much respected of a Prince and suspecting the Marchants to be opposite to his designe as being ouer-base vpbraided them in contemptible despitefull and iniurious manner as sordid people who respect their owne profit and priuate gaine more then the Honour and credit of their Soueraignes threatning them in a most barbarous manner to suppresse and abolish all former Priuiledges by him granted to them Which neuerthelesse hee effected not beeing moderated and appeased by the courteous and kind Letters that Qu. ELIZABETH wrote vnto him which were sent by Ienkinson he shewed himselfe all his life time most diligent and carefull to please her Maiestie cherishing and honouring her as a Sister often vrging her to confirme more straitely and firmely that Alliance and lou'd singularly the English far aboue all other Nations Murray had then procured a safe returne into Scotland propounding vnto the Queene herselfe and the Duke of Norfolke and the rest of her friends in England her re-establishment in the Kingdome of Scotland who to that end had hindred and kept in awe the Scots who sought to kill him by straitely charging and prohibiting not to hinder his comming Being first arriued in Edenborough he summon'd all such Nobles as fauoured the Queene
diuers strange iudgements vpon the same and among other surmizes his mothers dreame was then recalled to memory of a Lyon and a Dragon combating in her wombe after she had beene priuately knowne by Iames the Fifth Diuers were the opinions and censures of most men but especially of those of sounder iudgement and apprehension according to their diuers affections of some he was much commended because he was very studious for the expelling of the Romish Recusants out of Scotland for so carefully preseruing the King being yet an Infant and likewise for his great and liberall bounty to men of learning and aboue all to Bucchanan on the contrary part hee was of other-some greatly condemned because he vnder the colour and couerture of Religion enricht himselfe and his friends with the spoiles of the Church and with a most iniurious ingratitude insulted and tyrannized ouer the imbecillity of his Sisters weake Sexe hauing before obliged him to her by many benefits And of these some would presage through their suspicious coniectures grounded vpon the mischieuous inclination which is incident to most bastards That that man would not spare the Sonne that had bereaued the Mother of her Kingdome The Queen of Scots exprest much sorrow for him because such a violent and vnexpected death had snatcht him away before as she said he had by serious repentance expiated the multiplicity of the sinnes hee had committed against God his Countrey and his Prince But forasmuch as hee greatly fauoured such English as were affected to the Duke of Norfolke hee was thought and accused to bee a faigned and dissembling Politician The next succeeding night to this murder T. Carrey of Fernihurst and Walter a Scottish-man of Buchlui two of the hardiest and valiantest of those Frontiers and so much affected to the Queene of Scots that for their deuout following of her faction and party they suffered banishment with the confiscation of their goods breathing forth defiance and vengeance against the Queene of England because the Vice-Roy in her fauour had so cruelly afflicted the Frontier inhabitants they violated the peace and by force entred into England with a rout of Scottish and some English Rebells consuming and deuasting with sword and fire the neighbouring Countries as though they would haue made them desolate like Desarts whereupon T. Randolph was incontinently dispatcht into Scotland there in a publike Assembly of the Lords of the Realme to giue notice of this iniurious outrage And if by reason of the manifold troubles wherewith Scotland was at that present incumbred they could not represse the disturbers of the Peace the Queene would reuenge and right herselfe by force of Armes of that insolent affront which she had receiued without any way indamaging others saue those that had deseruedly incurred her vengeance To this was only answered That as yet there was no Vice-Roy chosen or designed amongst them Neuerthelesse that the iniuries done to the Frontier inhabitants might bee redressed a command was giuen to the Lord of Sussex to leauie a competent Armie and march against the Lords of Buchlui and of Fernihurst to pursue and chase with deserued rigour onely those that with the rebellious English had ouer-run pillaged those of the Frontiers Now the Earles of Huntley and Argathel that had all this while laboured in the behalfe of the Queene of Scots hearing of his approach sent vnto him one Trebon to demand a Truce and that they might obtaine so long respit vntill they should acquaint Queene ELIZABETH with their affaires But they perceiuing that they could by no meanes wrest him from his dessignes they began first to vse threatnings thinking to deterre him but that not preuailing they were enforst to vse submissiue intreaties that he would become an arbitratour for the abolishing of certaine ordinances which had beene created in Scotland some two yeeres before Neuerthelesse Sussex about the midst of Aprill entred into Scotland with the Baron of Hunsdon Drury Marshall of Barwicke and the English Armie where they burned through the whole Countrey of Tiuisdale the houses and villages of Buchlui and Carrey ouerthrew and destroyed their countrey and vtterly ruinated Fernihurst and Craling two of the principal Forts of T. Carrey At the same instant the Lord Scroope likewise entred vpon the East parts of Scotland laying desolate on euery side through the Earledome of Anaudale the possessions of Ionston others that had in like maner fauoured the English Rebells such was his expedition at his first cōming that there were 300. houses consumed by fire 50. Forts at least laid leuell with the earth A few dayes after the Lord of Sussex entred further into Scotland with the Baron of Hunsdon where they besieged the Castle of Hume which was the chiefe refuge of the English Rebels which yeelded vp as soone as the great Artillery were planted against it But there were found in it but two of the Rebells which they caused presently to be hanged and placing a Garrison in it Drury was forth-with commanded to batter downe Fast-Castle which was also a prime Fortresse of the Baron of Hume which likewise without resistance was yeelded vp The English Rebells then retired into the heart of Scotland associated with diuers other Rebels there with fire and sword they threatned the Frontier inhabitants of England and those in like manner of Scotland that were of the Queenes partie the Lord of Sussex againe sent forth Drury who returned within seuen dayes with 1200. foote and 400. horse Drury receiued from Collingham certaine hostages for the Earles of Angus of Morton of Mar of Glencarne and for the Barons of Reuuen and of Lindsay who with diuers others had recalled the English Then Sussex himselfe accompanied with G. Carrey P. Manours R. Constable which hee had honoured with the order of Knighthood with Druray A. Bowes G. Knolles T. Brichwell R. Gam Elrington Carnill with other Captaines and Commanders in the Armie marching toward Edenborrough ioyned his forces with those Earles and the Duke of Lenox then newly returned from England who before was suspected to be of the partie with the Duke of Norfolke and the Queene of Scots Thus marching through Limnuch towards Glasco where the Lord of Hamilton Duke of Chastelraut had retired himselfe and from thence towards the Castle Hamilton which after they had mightily battered with the Cannon and almost beaten it downe was yeelded vp in a small space Then were the houses of the Hamiltons with their stately and magnificent buildings defaced and consumed with remorcelesse fire ransacking their demaines of Cluisdale and at their chiefe Mannour house situated neere Limnuch Thus the Hamiltons with the rest that tooke part with the deposed Queene beeing extirpated and put to flight the Lords of Scotland and those of the Kings part beeing ready to assemble about the election of a new Vice-Roy they sent to demand counsell of Queene ELIZABETH who sent them this answer That because she would not preiudicate against
of London for intertaining clandestine conferences with the Earle of Southampton a most deuoted man to the Romish Religion In the meane time Sussex accompanied with the Lord Scroope with Companies of Souldiers being gone againe into Scotland burn'd the Villages in the Valley of Annandale ruined the Castle of Annandale which belonged to Heris and the Castle of Caer-Laueroc belonging to Maxwell who had made some pillaging incursioÌ„s into England and brought them to such distresse who continued on the Queene of Scotlands side that the Duke of Chastelraut and the Earles of Huntley and Argathell send them a promise in writing sealed vnder their hands obliging themselues thereby no longer to maintaine warres and to abandon the English Rebels This being done hee forthwith returned and for their valour Knighted Hastings Russell Browne Hilton Stapleton and Musgraue and himselfe afterwards for his approued wisdome and vertue was admitted to be of the Queenes Priuy Councell ELIZABETH hauing her thoughts full of doubts with various suspitions by reason of this Bull and Norfolkes conspiracy sent vnto the Queene of Scotland being then at Chettesworth in the Countie of Darbie Cecil and Walteâ—â— Mildmay who in regard the waters were risen aboue measure it being in the Moneth of October came thither with much difficultie to consult with her about the most conuenient meanes how to compound the variance in Scotland for the restoring of her to her former estate to secure ELIZABETH and prouide for the safetie of her young Sonne Shee could say nothing but deplore her afflicted condition and complayned of the fraudulent deuices of Count Murray iustified the Duke of Norfolke and reposed all her hope on the courtesie of ELIZABETH vnderstanding that shee had the generall gouernement of the affaires of Scotland as well as of England They propounded vnto her that to conclude a certaine peace betweene the two Kingdomes she ought to oblige her selfe to confirme the Treatie of Edenborrough and disclaime the title and right which shee pretended to England so long as ELIZABETH or any issue of her body should liue Not to renew or entertaine any alliance with any Prince whatsoeuer against England Not to admit any forreine troupes into Scotland nor hold any Councell with the English or Irish without notice first giuen to ELIZABETH To send backe the English Fugitiues and Rebels to satisfie the dammages done vpon the Frontiers To make search according to the Law of the Murder aswell of Darley her Husband as of Murray and deliuer her Sonne into England for a pledge Not to contract her selfe in marriage with any English man without acquainting the Queene of England nor with any other contrary to the Ordinances of Scotland That the Scots might not goe for Ireland without leaue of the Queene of England That for the performance of these things the Queene and the Commissioners appointed for the same shall thereto set their hands and Seales Six Hostages whom the Queene of England would nominate should be sent into England That if the Queene of Scotland or any other by her procurement attempted any thing against her she should in that reâ—pect alone be cut off from all right which shee might claime in England That the Castles of Hume and Fast-Castle were held from the English for three yeeres space That shee should deliuer into their hands certaine Forts in the Countrey of Galloway or Cantire to the end that the Borderers on that coast might not inuade Ireland And lastly that the State of Scotland should confirme al these things by Act of Parliament To these things her selfe suddenly with great dexteritie and wisdome made answere neuerthelesse referred it to be answered more fully by the Bishop of Rosse her Ambassadour in England Alexander Gorden Bishop of Galloway and to the Baron Leuinstone deputed by Her lieutenants of Scotland who afterwards allowing some of these Articles and reiecting others made answer as here followeth THat it was reasonable to confirme the Treatie of Edenborrough and renounce the title of England during the life of ELIZABETH but as concerning the ancient alliance of France it was to be considered that if they did not intertaine that still the Queene should lose her dowrie the 100. armed Men and the 124. Souldiers of the Scottish Guard being Archers the Merchants Schollers and many who are to haue inheritance their pensions and immunities which they enioy shall be cast out and depriued of them and of the loue and assistance of a most puissant Nation which things if the English did not amply satisfie the Queene of Scotland could in no manner renounce this alliance But that shee would not entertaine any forraigne souldiers vnlesse such rebellion might happen which could not be suppressed by the strength of the Countrey That she would haue no intelligence or keepe correspondancie with any of the English to the preiudice of England prouided that the Q. of England on the other side intertayned none with the Scots to the preiudice of Scotland That if there were any English Rebels and Fugitiues in Scotland they might demand them of the Scottish Rebels who were for the more part neere as they to examine by deputies the dammages which they had receiued and make inquiry according to the Lawes of Scotland of the death of Darley and Murray That shee could not deliuer the King in pledge in regard hee was in their custodie who vnder his name coloured the Rebellion against the Queene That it was a strange innouation that a free Princesse should receiue Lawes from a stranger-Prince or his Subiects for her marriage That the Scots should not passe into Ireland to any preiudice of the Queene of England prouided that the Irish were by a reciprocall Law obliged not to passe into Scotland Agreed for confirmation of the securitie to giue such pledges as the Queene of England should nominate the Duke of Chastelraut and the Earles of Huntley Argathell and of Athole excepted Furthermore it shall be in their power to exclude the Queene of Scots from all right of Succession in England if shee should goe about to doe any thing contrary to the right and authoritie of the Queene of England so that the Queene of England would be bound in the like penaltie if shee should doe any thing against the power and priuiledge of the Queene of Scotland They demand that restitution be made of Castle-Hume and Fast-Castle to the Baron of Hume being the Lord to whom by right they appertaine and the English to hold them no longer To deliuer vp the Forts in Galloway and Cantire were to no other end but to minister a new occasion of warre When these things could in no wise bee agreed vpon neither any Commissioners came from the Vice-Roy of Scotland in the meane while it was divulged all abroad that the Pope the King of France and the Duke D' Alua was importunately sought vnto for ayde to set the Queene of Scotland at libertie and the English Rebels the Earle of
and Thomas his brother Percy Lowder Powell and Godier who all declared what they knew in hope of pardon Assoone as the Councell had produced their Confessions in the Dukes presence the Queene of Scotland and the Bishop of Rosse's Letters with the said Remembrance hee was very much deiected considering this remembrance and those Letters which through a weake credulity he supposed to bee burned he sighed and brake out into these words I Haue beene betrayed and vndone by mine owne people in fayling to distrust which is the onely sinnewe of Wisedome But he humbly besought the Councell to mediate the Queenes fauour in his behalfe promising to conceale nothing of what he knew and seriously protested that he neuer approued of any thing which was to the preiudice of the Qu. or Kingdome But on the contrary from the very bottome of his heart condemned the designe of seizing vpon the Queenes person or the Towre of London and the setting at liberty of the Queene of Scotland and that hee neuer harboured a thought so much of bringing forraigne Troupes into Great Brittaine but only to suppresse certaine of the Scots rebelling against the Queen Being this day examined vpon 50. Articles or thereabouts hee answered without dissimulation After that they penned the substance of the whole businesse in the Star-Chamber before a great Assembly of Noble-men in presence of the Lord Maior and Shiriffes of the Citie of London from thence in the Palace of London in view of all the inhabitants by G. Fleetwood Recorder of the Citie And forasmuch as by all these confessions especially by the Dukes the Bishop of Rosse was conuicted as Author of these Plots they seriously consulted what was best to bee done For as they doe ordinarily that haue such charges he conceiued that it was lawfull for him to vse any meanes for the aduancement of the affaires of his Princesse and that by the oath and inuiolable right of an Ambassadour he was not bound to acknowledge the authority of any other and relying hereupon exposed himselfe to the liberty of diuers turbulent Actions kindling of seditions and taking counsell in the night with the Earle of Southampton and afterwards inclining to the English Fugitiues in Flanders the Duke of Alua the Spaniard and the Pope about the inuasion of England They proposed hereupon vnto Lewes Dale Drury Aubrey and Iones men of sound iudgement in the Ciuill-Lawes In the first place WHether an Ambassadour mouing sedition against the Prince vnto whom he is sent may enioy the priuiledge of an Ambassadour or not and whether he be not subiect to punishment as an Enemy To which they answered that by the Common Lawe of Nations and Ciuill-Law of the Romanes such an Ambassadour was falne from all priuiledge and was subiect to punishment as an enemy WHether a Minister or Agent of a deposed Prince another being crowned in his place ought to haue the priuiledge of an Ambassadour They answered that if such a Prince be lawfully deposed his Minister cannot challenge the priuiledge of an Ambassadour forasmuch as none but absolute Princes which haue soueraigne power can constitute Ambassadours In the third place WHether a Prince being come into another Kingdome and kept in hold may haue his Agent and if this Agent ought to be accounted an Ambassadour or not They answere That a Prince may prohibit an Ambassadour to enter into his Kingdome and command him out of his Kingdome if he doth not containe himselfe within the limits prescribed to Ambassadours but in the meane time he ought to enioy the priuiledge of an Ambassadour for the authority of his Ambassie Vpon the answers of these Ciuill-Lawiers the Bishop of Rosse being called backe from the Isle of Ely and sharply reprooued the Councell denounced him not to be acknowledged an Ambassadour but to be punished as a pernicious Malefactor To which he answered THat he beeing Ambassadour to an absolute Queene vniustly deposed had according to his duty laboured for the libertie of his Princesse and for the good of both the Kingdomes that hee was come into England with ample authoritie vnder publique testimony which hee exhibited and that the sacred Rites of Ambassadours ought not by any meanes to be violated Whereupon Burghley grauely shewes him that neither the Rites of the Ambassies nor publique Letters of Credit are of validitie for Ambassadours which offend against the publique faith but are subiect to penall actions and that otherwise it should be permitted to wicked Ambassadours to attempt against the life of Princes vnpunished He on the contrary opinatiuely maintained that the authority of Ambassadours had neuer beene violated by way of Rite but onely by way of fact to vse his owne words and boldly admonisheth them not to deale with him more sharpely then the English Ambassadours had beene dealt with Throgmorton in France Randolph and Tamworth in Scotland who had apparantly excited and nourished rebellions and were acquitted vpon command to depart within a certaine time They began to presse him vpon the witnesse of some English-men he gently intreated them not to doe it because saith hee that a receiued custome doth establish it selfe for a Law An Englishman ought not to beare witnesse against a Scottishman nor a Scottishman against an Englishman After some arguings hereupon whether such custome tooke place elsewhere then vpon the Frontiers of both the Kingdomes and whether English Ambassadours had stirred Rebellion or no Rosse is carried to the Tower of London where being straitly kept within a few dayes hee briefly made answere to all the interrogatories with this caution that his answeres might not be preiudicious to any And first he excused the Queene of Scots who being prisoner and in the prime of her age seeking to escape by any meanes ELIZABETH hauing excluded all from seeing her and barred her from all hope of libertie and openly supported all her aduersaries afterwards excuseth the Duke that hee had not treated marriage with her but by the aduice of many that were of Queen ELIZABETHS Councell nor could he relinquish her although he had vnder his owne hand-writing promised to doe it forasmuch as before that promise a former promise of marriage had passed betweene them And finally excuseth himselfe that being Ambassadour and Minister could not without blame leaue the duety of his charge and be wanting to his Princesse in her afflictions and that he had propounded the seyzing of the person of Queene ELIZABETH to no other end but to try whether the Duke had a minde prepared to doe a mischieuous act and verily hee craftily extenuated the offences of the rest and would neuer discouer the names of the Nobles which offered themselues to the Dukes seruice for the seyzing of the Queenes person onely confessed that by the commandement of the Queene of Scots he consulted with the Earles of Arundel Lumley and Throgmorton and by Lumley and the Vicount of Mountague because that he was to deliuer into the hands of the English the
of Spaine the Iudges of England had no power ouer him But hee was condemned according to the forme of Nihil dicit because no man can free himselfe from the Lawes of the Countrey where he is borne nor renounce his naturall Countrey nor his Prince and suffered as a Traytor There was then for certaine yeeres controuersie betweene the Portugals and the English during the commerce betweene them and the Moores for pure Gold from the yeere 1552. in that part of Africa called Guienne and others who had first discouered those Coasts hindered as much as they could by force of armes so as they fought sometimes by Sea and detained Ships on both sides But Sebastian King of Portugall being newly come to age to make a peace sent Francis Gerard into England who made a Couenant with the Queene almost in these very words THat a perfect amitie may be made and free commerce had on both sides the one shall not attempt any thing to the preiudice of the other nor lend succour to their enemies Rebels or Traytors the Merchandize Moneyes and Ships which are vnder arrest to be restored And Queene ELIZABETH to gratifie the King of Portugal prohibiteth the English to vse any Nauigation in the Seas or to the Lands which the Portugals had conquered And that if they should doe otherwise it should be vpon their owne perill if the Portugals should depriue them both of goods and liues The Kingdomes of Portugal and Argarbe also the Iles of Azores and Madera excepted in which free Nauigation was permitted This yere W. Parre Marquis of Northampton being very old peaceably departed this life a man much conuersant and well read in the delectable studies of Musicke and intertainement of Louers and other courtly iucundities who was first raised to the dignitie of Baron Parre of Kendal afterwards he married Anne Bourchier sole daughter heire to the Earle of Essex at the same time when the King married his sister and afterwards bâ— EDVVARD made Marquis of Northampton vnder the reigne of MARIE hee was condemned of High-Treason for taking armes on the behalfe of Iane Grey who was brought in by subornation to be Queene but was shortly after pardoned and restored to his inheritance as he was afterwards to his honours by Queene ELIZABETH He had no Children but left to be his heire Henrie Herbert Earle of Pembroke his other Sisters Sonne Iohn Iewell a man of an excellent spirit and exquisit learning in Theologie and of great pietie died the same yeere being hardly fiftie yeeres of age descended of good Parents in Deuonshire and commendably brought vp in Corpus Christi Colledge in the Vniuersitie of Oxford who in Queene MARIES reigne was banished into Germanie and afterwards by Queene ELIZABETH beeing made Bishop of Salisburie put forth in the yeere 1562. an Apologie for the English Church and most learnedly defended the Protestants Religion against Harding who was falne from it in two Volumes in our owne Tongue which are now translated into the Latine Ireland at that time was quiet enough for Iohn Perâ—t President of Mounster had so ransacked Iohn Fitz-Morris who had pillaged Kilmalocke that hee was constrained to hide himselfe in Caues and in the end as wee shall relate hereafter brought to begge pardon with humble submission Sidney Deputie of Ireland returning into England Fitz-William who had married his Sister succeeded in his place THE FIFTEENTH YEERE OF Her Reigne Anno Dom. 1572. THe beginning of a new yeere brought forth a new Tragicall spectacle to the Inhabitants of London for in the Palace of Westminster a Scaffold was erected from the one end to the other with a Tribunall vpon it and seates on either side the like had not bin seene for eighteene yeeres before Thither vpon the sixteenth day of Ianuary was Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolke conducted betweene Owen Hopton Lieutenant of the Tower of London and Peter Carew Knight before whom was borne the fatall Axe with the edge forward vpon the Tribunall was seated George Talbot Earle of Shrewsbury constituted Lord high Steward of England for that day vpon either side of him were placed the Nobles appointed Commissioners which we call Peeres to wit Reynold Gray Earle of Kent Tho. Ratcliffe Earle of Sussex Henry Hastings Earle of Huntington Francis Russell Earle of Bedford Henry Herbert Earle of Pembroke Edw. Seimor Earle of Hartford Ambrose Dudley Earle of Warwicke Robert Dudley Earle of Leicester Walt. Deuâ—reux Vicount of Hereford Edward Lord Clinton Admirall William Lord Howard of Effingham Chamberlaine William Cecill Lord Burghley Secretarie Arthur Lord Gray of Wilton Iea. Blount Lord Mountioy Will. Lord Sands Tho. Lord Wentworth William Lord Bourrowes Lewes Lord Mordant Iohn Pawlet Lord S. Iohn of Basing Robert Lord Rich Roger Lord North Edm. Bruges Lord Chandos Oliuer Lord S. Iohn of Bletso Tho. Sackuill Lord Buckhurst and Will. West Lord De-la-Ware Silence being commanded the Commission was read importing the power giuen to the Iudge Then Carter chiefe King of Heralds deliuered into his hands a white wand which he presently after deliuered to the Groome Porter who standing by did hold it erected the whole time of the Court. Silence againe commanded the Lieutenant of the Tower was bidden to bring forth his charge and present the Duke before the Seat of Iustice who foorth-with appeared on either side were the Lieutenants of the Tower and Peter Carew next of all he that carried the Axe the edge thereof turned from the Duke Silence the third time proclaimed the Clerke appointed for the Acts of Iudgement thus spake to the Duke Thomas Duke of Norfolke late of Kenninghale in the County of Norfolke hold vp thy hand When he had holden vp his hand the said Clerke read aloud the Crimes of which he was accused that is to say That in the eleuenth yeere of Queene ELIZABETH and afterwards the Duke hath treacherously held counsell to depose the Queene from her Kingdome to take away her life and to inuade the Realme by raysing of warre and bringing in troupes of Strangers That notwithstanding he had certaine knowledge that Mary late Queene of Scots had arrogated to herselfe the Crowne of England with the Title and Armes thereof yet hath he treated vnknowne to the Queene of a marriage betwixt them and contrary to the promise vnder his hand and Seale hath lent vnto her certaine large summes of money That hee had assisted and succoured the Earles of Northumberland Westmerland Marquenfield and others notwithstanding that hee had good notice that they had raised Rebellion against the Queene and were chased into Scotland That in the thirteenth yeere of the Queenes Reigne by Letters he demanded succours of the Pope Pius Quintus sworne Enemy to the Queene of the Spaniard and Duke D' Alua to set the Queene of Scots at liberty and re-establish the Romane religion in England Finally that hee had relieued and aided Heris a Scottish-man and others enemies
to her Maiestie in Scotland These Articles being read the Clerke demanded of the D. if he were guilty of these accusations Whereupon the Duke desired if the Law would permit it that he might haue an Aduocate to defend his cause to which Catelin the Chiefe Iustice answered that it might not be allowed THen it is meet said he that I submit to the sentences of the Iudges but the matter is full of ambiguities neither did I knowe within these foure and twenty houres that I was to come to Iudgement and so was vnprepared of Bookes I see now well that I must enter into combate for my life without Armes I haue heard neuerthelesse that in the reigne of HENRY the seuenth in a cause of Laesae Maiestaris Humphrey Stafford had an aduocate assigned him To which Dier Chiefe Iustice of the Common-Pleas answered that Stafford indeed had an Aduocate allowed him to pleade for him concerning the right of Azile from whence by force he was taken but for the crime of Laesae Maiestatis without any assistance hee pleaded his cause himselfe THen this day replyes the Duke must I my selfe plead for my life goods my Children and for what counteruailes all these mine Honour but let that Honour passe if I innocently perish GOD will not let it passe vnreuenged Yet this one thing let me be permitted to question whether that enumeration of crimes will hold true in euery point and to what point I must make answere Catelin made reply Since the causes are true this enumeration also must be esteemed true I desire to bee instructed saith the Duke whether euery of these bee crimes of Laesae Maiestatis For I haue heard related that in the cause of the Lord Scroope vnder the Reigne of Henry the 4. But as he would haue proceeded the Clerke interrupted him speaking with a loud voice THomas Duke of Norfolke art thou guilty of these crimes or no The Duke denyed Then he was further demanded How wilt thou be tried He answered I commit my cause to God and to these Peeres The odiousnesse of these crimes amazeth mee but the Royall clemency of her Maiestie from which besides what I haue receiued I can expect no more much refresheth me But of you my Lord Iudge let me request thus much that I may bee iustly dealt withall and that my memory which is indeede but weake may not bee too much oppressed with a confused variety of matters I confesse my selfe happy hauing you my Peeres for Iudges and with much willingnesse would commit my life to the integrity of the most of you I was assured in mine owne innocency and therefore sought no way to fly Yet I cannot but ingenuously confesse that I haue beene wanting in my duty towards the Queene but neuer did I any thing which might touch or offend so Royall a Maiestie I beseech you then that those higher matters may not bee commixt equally with those of Laesae Maiestatis Then Barham the Queenes Serieant at Law began Those Crimes saith hee of Laesae Maiestatis of which you thus expostulate are these You haue complotted to depriue the Queene both of Kingdome and life you haue consulted of a marriage with the late Queene of Scotland you haue inuited forraigne powers to inuade the Realme you haue succoured Rebels and haue sent ayde to those Scots which were the Queenes Enemies The Duke interposeth saying BArham doe not I pray you exasperate the matter with words in obiecting against me the marriage and other things which fall not amongst the offences of high Treason Barham turning to the Peeres vrgeth this He quoth he that will marry a wife that layeth claime to a Kingdome doth likewise affect the same Kingdome For the Duke had enterprized the same being amongst the Commissioners at Yorke appointed for the hearing of the Queen of Scots Cause being at that time bound by his oath equally to ballance the accusations and defences of either part The Duke replyeth There be diuers parts contained in that cause which are not crimes of Laesae Maiestatis But the Lord high Steward commanded the Duke not to stray so farre from the purpose by digressions wherevpon Barham clamorously insisting he acknowledged that the Queene of Scots had laid claime to the Crowne of England but had long time since desisted Barham on the contrary demonstrated that shee had not as yet desisted because she had not yet renounced the right which she pretended hee furthermore grieuously accused the Duke that he instructed the Deputies of the Queene of Scots what to answere according as it appeared in the Confession of the Bishop of Rosse The Duke confessed that Lidington had made a motion to him of the marriage but he refused the same neither gaue he any instructions but desired that Rosse might be produced in presence After this Barham amply prosecuteth many things of the marriage which haue beene spoken of with an intent to prooue that the Duke had an affection to the Kingdome and insisteth with often-repeated Interrogatories What other thing could the Duke propound to himselfe whilest without the Queens knowledge he determined to marry the Queene of Scots being a woman without meanes or Kingdome her Sonne being established in the Kingdome then that by her he hoped to enioy the Crowne of England and so consequently depriue the Queene both of rule and life You haue quoth the Duke lowdly repeated these things to conuince me of enterprizing the deposing and ruine of the Queene To come to the point sayes Barham it is sufficiently knowne that you haue consulted about the surprizing of the Tower of London which is the strongest place in the Realme whereby it is necessarily manifest that you had then plotted the ruine of the Queene seeing that Rule is impatient of competitors The Duke denieth not hat one Hopton suggested him to the surprizing of the Tower of London but he vtterly reiected it Why then quoth Barham did you aske counsell of the Earle of Pembroke concerning the same who disswaded you from it Barham proceedeth and vrgeth that when the Queene of England had demanded that the young King of Scotland certaine Castles and the rebellious English which were in Scotland should be deliuered into her hands The Duke had vnder-hand aduised the Scots not to consent thereunto He likewise accused him that hee endeuoured to free the Queene of Scots out of prison and that after hee had religiously promised by his hand-writing not to meddle with her in any kind of busines One Candish was then produced for a witnesse who deposed that the Duke had constantly resolued of the marriage and had asked him if after the death of Queen ELIZABETH he might draw his Vncle to his partie These the Duke altogether denyed reiecting his testimony as of a poore and abiect fellow After this it was demonstrated that the Duke had secretly sent a Seruant to the Earles of Northumberland and Westmerland to aduertise them not to stir in the Rebellion because
France whereunto with notable dissimulation the King of Nauarre and the most noble Protestants were drawne by sweet promises and probable hopes of perpetuating the peace bringing themselues into grace as also the Earle of Leicester and the Lord Burleigh were inuited out of England vnder an honourable colour and out of Germanie the Sonnes of the Elector Palatine to the end that being intangled in the nets if those of the Euangelicall Religion together with themselues were not all denounced in an instant yet they should receiue a mortall and irrecouerable wound For when the Nuptials were solemnized this so expected and wished serenitie was presently ouer-cast with that terrible and bloudie tempest the Parisian Butcherie and through the cruell Massacres that with execrable impietie were committed in all the Citie of France against Protestants of all estates and conditions the which notwithstanding they would faine haue couered with a pretext of equitie yea of pitty and to practise this impious fraud vnder the cloake and shelter of the Edicts imputing to the Protestants that they had wickedly conspired against the King the Queene his Mother his Brethren the King of Nauarre and the Princes of the Bloud For pieces of money were coyned in memorial of this act which had of the one side the Kings effigies with this Inscription Vertu contre les Rebelles Vertue against Rebels and on the other La pieté à esmen la iustice Pittie hath moued iustice Not long before the Queene-Mother of France very subtill in counterfeiting good-will to the Protestants being to vnderstand the future euents and credulous in Astrologicall predictions which by the coniunction of the Royall Planets at the birth of her Sonnes prognosticated Kingdomes to each of them commanded la Mottef to breake with Queene ELIZABETH about the marriage of her with Francis her youngest Sonne Duke of Alenzon to purchase him if shee could the title of a King or at least to diuert Queene ELIZABETH from ayding the Protestants in France La Mottef propounded this matter at Kennelworth two dayes before the Massacre of Paris But Queene ELIZABETH excused her selfe by reason of the difference in Religion and disparity in yeeres For hee was hardly seuenteene yeeres old and she aboue eight and thirtie Neuerthelesse shee promised to deliberate of it and the Duke of Alenzon forbare not to sollicite her by the procurements of Fleri In the same moneth Thomas Percie Earle of Northumberland who because of his Rebellion fled into Scotland had his Head cut off at Yorke after hee was deliuered into the hands of the Lord of Hunsdon Gouernour of Berwicke by the treachery of one Morton who stood much bound vnto him for many benefits when hee was banished into England but was euer found gratefull towards the afflicted And as this yeere like a dreadfull Axe cut off the Duke of Norfolke and Earle of Northumberland in the flower of their age a milde and gentle death carried likewise out of the World two others in their decrepit yeeres who were of the most eminent Nobilitie and of the Priuy-Councell George Pawlet Lord Treasurer of England Marquis of Winchester Earle of Wilton and Lord Saint Iohn of Basing who went through many great honours attained to the age of ninetie seuen yeeres and begot to the number of an hundred and three children Sir William Cecill Baron of Burleigh supplied his place in the dignity of Lord Treasurer Edward Earle of Darbie and Baron of le Strange of Knoking departed this life with whom in some sort dyed the glory of English hospitality After his commendable discharge of many honourable Ambassies there dyed also Sir George Peters an honourable Knight who was one of the priuy Councell Secretary to King HENRY the Eighth King EDVVARD the Sixt Queene MARY and Queene ELIZABETH and Chancellour of the order of the Garter descended from the worthy Family of Exceter after that by his wisedome and learning he had collected a great Estate out of his owne goods and the permission of Queene MARY he augmented with annuall reuennues Exceter Colledge in the Vniuersity of Oxeford where he was a Student and brought vp The Queene her selfe who had alwaies liued in perfect health for she neuer ate but when she had a stomacke neither drunke any Wine felt some small grudging of infirmitie at Hampton-Court But she recouered her former health before it was almost known she was sicke and being vigilant ouer matters worthy of a Princes care forecast shee commanded that Portsmouth should be rampard with new fortifications her Fleet increast with Ships of war that at certaine constituted times Soldiers might bee inrold throughout the Shires and Youth to be trained vp in Armes though she liued then in most secure peace Shee willingly and with much thankes restored the money shee had borrowed of her Subiects in doing of which she gained no lesse loue of her people then in sending foorth two Proclamations which she caused to be publisht in the beginning of the yeere In one of which she ordained that those Noblemen should be taxed according to the ancient Lawes that tooke more followers and retainers then was permitted them because these their retainers followers were hereby exempted from publike Offices they maintained Factions and many waies offended against the Lawes relying on the Protection of the Nobles to whom they had proffered their seruice And in the other shee curbed a rauenous kind of people called Enquirers after conceald Lands by reuoking their warrants and constraining them to restore many things taken away For being appointed to seeke out whether particular men concealed not some land that belonged to the Crowne with most sacrilegious auarice they began to seaze on such as had heretofore beene giuen by pious Ancestors to Parish Churches and Hospitals yea to plucke downe the Bells and Lead wherewith the Churches were couered In Ireland the burdensome authority of one Fitton Gouernour of Connath produced some troubles For the sons of Richard Earle of Clanricard brought foorth by diuers women not beeing able to endure it in that they were headstrong and giuen to liberty they raised a Rebellion and passing ouer Sene made cruell Incursions vpon the inhabitants of the westerne parts of Mijs which with many outrages committed they pillaged and forraged Their Father who was of the ancient Family of Bourgh in England venerably bald and of a staid disposition went to the Deputy iustified himselfe of this crime and required aduice of the Councellours of Ireland how he might depresse his sonnes that spoiled and wasted the Countrie in this manner But her Maiesty thought fit for publike tranquillity by little and little to draw Fitton out of Connath and to make him Treasurer of Ireland A little while after the Earles sonnes defeated by the Garrisons which fell vpon them submitted themselues to the Depruie The Enlagen Omors a kinde of seditious people stird vp also new troubles but they likewise being proclaimed
returne backe againe as he came But so soone as her Maiesty heard how Henrie Duke of Aniou his Brother had beene elected King of Poland Also the French King to be grieuously sicke shee sent word to the Duke of Alanzon to take not as yet his iourney for England alledging him these reasons THe Protestants Massacre lately most cruelly acted on the Bloudy Theater of all France and in hatred of their Religion during the solemnizations and recreations of a marriage That hee hauing already heretofore sought her to Wife the Protestants of England partly suspected fatall the Nuptials and the more sith himselfe transported of a courage enemy to the Protestants had gone in person to besiege Rochell and had written of all parts that hee would come to see her Maiestie presently after the taking of the said City insomuch that hee seemed rather to hate the Protestants Religion than to beare affection or loue to the Queenes Maiestie and that this caused the best part of England to suspect that hee would come into their Countrey to marry the Queene with a Sword dyed in the bloud of those poore Christians who professed their owne Religion Therefore her Maiesty friendly counselled him FIrst to procure and mediate a Peace in France to yeeld some worthy proofe and noted testimony of his affection to the Protestants of France to be the better welcome in England and the more graciously receiued according to his desire Since this Peace was re-established in France the exercise of Religion granted in certaine places to the Protestants The King and the Queene desired nothing more than the absence of the Duke of Alanzon because he was of a harsh and seuere nature inclined to trouble their States affaires they did their best and vsed their vttmost endeuoures to effect the match and by like meanes prayed Qu. ELIZABETH to permit to their other sonne the Duke of Aniou if he should goe by sea to Poland Authority to saile vnder publike assurance vpon Great-Brittaines Sea This their request her Maiestie granted not only most willingly but more shee offered him a Fleet of Ships to conuay him in the meane while the Duke of Alanzon fell sicke of the small poxe and the Queene his mother giuing aduice thereof to Queene ELIZABETH by the Earle of Rez excuseth him by reason of his sicknesse for not comming into England Gondy met Queene ELIZABETH at Canterbury where she entertained him with great magnificence and the same time Matthew Parker Arch-bishop of Canterbury celebrating the Queenes birth-day which was the seuenth of September in the Arch-bishops Hall very spacious and by him newly repaired inuited the Queen thither and Gondy and la Motto and feasted them with like number of Nobility that Charles the fifth and HENRY the Eighth had being feasted in the same Hall in the yeere 1519. In Scotland Iames Dowglasse Earle of Morton beeing elected Vice-Roy of Scotland in Murray's place by the meanes of Queene ELIZABETH and his authority made sure by the Assembly of the States in the name of the King established these Lawes for confirming Religion against Papists and Heretickes and made sure Alexander Areskin Earle of Marre the Kings Gardian by speciall right being as yet in his minority vpon these Conditions THat the Papists and Factious persons should be excluded from hauing accesse to his person an Earle might be admitted to him with two seruants only and a Baron with one all others alone and without weapons In the Interim the French hauing sent Viriack who endeuoured what he could to supplant the Vice-Roy before he should be authorized set to oppose him the Earles of Athole and Huntley promising them a reward Queene ELIZABETH to counter-scarfe these designes let the Scots vnderstand by H. Killigrewe that this cruell Massacre of Paris had bin put in execution by the conspiracy of the Pope and the Kings of France and Spaine to exterminate the Protestants And therefore warned them to take heed lest being corrupted either with Pensions from France or deuided by Factions they open a way to Stranger Forces which were thought should be conducted by Strossie To oppose themselues all vallianty and with equall courage against it for defence of Religion which was the only bond of concord betweene the English and the Scots And to be very carefull to preserue their King or to send him into England to preuent his taking away and carrying into France Neuerthelesse some great Ones partakers with the imprisoned Queene would in no sort acknowledge the Authority either of the King or his Vice-Roy vntill Queene ELIZABETH by interposing her power had by the Agencie of Killigrew brought the Duke of Chastelraut and the Earle of Huntley who were the principals among them to these Conditions which were equall enough THat they should acknowledge the Religion established in Scotland submit themselues to the King and to the Gouernement of the Earle of Morton and his successours and renounce the authority of all others That all those which should enterprize any thing against the Religion the King and the Vice-Roy should be adiudged Traitours by Act of Parliament The sentences giuen against the Hamiltons and the Gordons should be cut off and annihilated except those which concerned the murdering of the Earles of Murrey and Lenox Vice-Royes which should stand according to the pleasure of Queene ELIZABETH Who neuerthelesse sent this businesse backe to the King and was of opinion that this Clause ought to be added to it Vntill that the King being come to age should take the Gouernement of the Realme according to the Law of the Kingdome And that of all and euery crime committed since the fifteenth of Iune 1567 the Murder of the Earle of Lenox excepted pardon should be granted to all that would aske it Notwithstanding it was thought good for the safety of the King lest hee should bee exposed to murder that the Queene of England should promise by a publike Instrument that neither the Hamiltons nor any other should be adiudged for the murdering of the Vice-Royes or fined without her consent And that was ordered in the Assembly of States for the settling of a publike peace in a turbulent season Howbeit Kirckall Lord of Grange who had beene established Captaine of Edenborrough Castle after he had taken oath in the Kings name and the Baron of Hume Lidington the Bishop of Dunkeld and others thinking that iniustice was done to the Queene of Scotland would by no meanes admit of these Conditions but with vndaunted Courage contemned the authority both of the King and Vice-Roy kept and fortified the Castle in the Queenes name by the counsell of Lidington thinking themselues sure in regard of the strength of the place which is of a most difficult accesse and of the Munition which were in it for there all Munition Royall is kept and of the Succours promised by the Duke D'Alua and the King of France who had vnder-hand sent them some money the greater part whereof
his Armes and so absolued the people from all oath of Fealtie so that it was lawfull and free for them to elect another Prince The Duke permitted all those the vse of the Romish Religion which would sweare Allegeance to him and abiure the Spaniard After this hee betooke himselfe to the field where he lost Aldenard and tooke in Alost But six hundred English souldiers exclaiming of General Norris his imperious seueritie ouer them forsaking him fled to the Spaniard vnder the leading of Captaine T. Norris Barney Cornish and Gypson who exposing themselues to all perils and being basely respected were paid with slow and late repentance and infinite miseries the paine of their perfidiousnesse But notwithstanding General Norris with three hundred horse and the rest of his foot-companies got the renowne of a valorous and most iudicious Warriour for his couragious encountering the Duke of Parma who fell vpon him with a farre greater power the whilest he warily and wisely made his retreat into the City of Gand in sight of the two Dukes of Anjou and Orleans admiring his martiall valour from off the Ramparts where they stood to behold him But why insist I vpon these matters The Duke d' Anjou hauing now without successe spent huge summes of money sent him out of England weighing with himselfe that only apparant Titles were bestowed vpon him and considering that all the managing of these matters were in the power of the States assayed by a precipitate counsell with his Armie to enter by force Antwerpe and some other townes but all in vaine and with the losse of many of his men and shortly after was constrained shamefully to quit leaue Flanders It shall suffice to note in a word in passing that nere vnto CHAPELLE in the month of May in the 12 degree of Gemini appeared a Comet or blazing starre with bright shining beames streaming ouer the right sholder of the Dragon About that time happened a horrible tempest in Norfolke with fearefull flashes of lightning and thunder of long continuance with violent furious winds and hailstones of three inches about Queene ELIZABETH for better security and to fortifie her selfe the more abroad against the Spaniard whom shee knew to be infest against her for that she had furnished the Duke d'Anjou with moneyes admitted into the fraternity of the order of Saint George Frederick the second King of Denmarke who had alwaies shewed himselfe most affectionate towards her Maiesty and to inuest him therewith sent ouer Sir Peregrin Bertie whom shee as her Maiesty was euer nice in conferring honors had with some difficulty honoured with the title of Lord Willoughbey of Eresby before he had giuen any proofe of his martiall vertue howsoeuer the Duchesse of Suffolke his mother was daughter and sole inheritrix to the ancient Baronry of Willoughby of Eresby The King of Denmark with ioyfulnesse put the chaine of Roses about his necke and the Garter about his legge the other Robes he locked vp in his Chest but refused to put them on because they were exotick or to take the oath for that he had taken one afore when by the French King hee was installed Knight of the Order of Saint Michael The whilest the Lord Willoughby was in Denmarke he propounded to the King a complaint from the English Merchants concerning the raising of Imposts and customes for that in times past for passing the Oresunde or straits of Denmarke they vsed to giue for euery ship but a Rose-Noble which made the fourth part of an ounce of gold as much for the fraught with some smal peeces of siluer for the fire-beacons giuing light by night vvhich vvere to direct them by their Sea-markes ouer the Shallowes and by the Shelues bankes Rocks He treated also for the Merchants that the tribute vvhich they call their LAST GELT might be remitted by the vvhich they begunne vvhen the Warres were so hot betwixt the Kings of Denmarke and Sueden to exact by vvay of borrowing the thirtieth part of all manner of Merchandizes vvith promise to repay them or the value of them againe the warre once ended But these as matters of importance vvere referred till another time For Princes doe seldome or neuer abate of their Custome Taxes or Imposts esteeming that such things as these vvhich they call Royalties belonging to the rightfull liberty of euery Kingdome are not things subiect to be moderated or abrogated by any strangers Queene ELIZABETH the better to secure her state at home imployed Sir Walter Mildmay to comprimise businesse with the Queene of Scots But finding that the Guises had consulted with certaine English Fugitiues about the setting her at liberty and gathering forces together vnder the pretext of sending supplyes to the Duke of Anjou in Flanders vvhich in very deed vvere to haue beene past ouer from the Hauens of Aux or Ew obscure harbours of Normandy into England which the French King hauing notice of out of his loue to Queene ELIZABETH certifieth her thereof and stayed them hereupon the matter was intermitted and the Queene of Scots affaires deferred But by the vvay to meet with the Guises attempts in Scotland whither it is supposed he employed the Earle of Lennox to dissolue the League betweene the King of Scots and the English whilest Will Ruthen lately created by the K. Earle of Gowry begunne to be mutinous He for that hee vvould not degenerate frō his Father bearing a mortall malice to the Kings Mother together with others of his confederacie were to put in practice the best wits they had for the vvorking of the Duke of Lennox and the Earle Arran both out of the Kings fauour and company vnder a colour of Religion the Kings securitie and the league of amity vvith England Now behold their subtilty and crafty proiects They begin to perswade Lennox vvho had been established L. High Chamberlain of Scotland to exercise the rigor of his iurisdiction though then out of vse for no other purpose but to purchase his owne disgrace with the people vvhilest the Presbytery out of their Pulpits should declaime against him as a Papist of the faction of the Guizes and a rude and seuere Executioner of the Law should publikely foretell and denounce his ruine and destruction When as therefore Lennox was departed from Perth where the King remained to execute his office at Edenburgh and the Earle Arran absent from the Court Gowrey Marre Lindsey and others taking their opportunity inuited the King to the Castle of Ruthen being there they held him in such feare that hee durst not walke abroad such of his seruants as he thought best of they sent away the E. of Arran they arrested and cast into prison and compelled the King by the intercession of Queen ELIZABETH to recal the Earl of Angus out of exile and to sends the Duke of Lenox into France who as he was a Noble man of milde disposition and altogether inclin'd to
Marquesse of Huntley the other with the Earle of Marre And that he might shew himselfe a King by exercising in due time his authoritie whereas those of the conspiracie had declared in a publike assembly instituted by their authoritie that the arrest detaining of his person was iustly lawfully performed and therupon enrolled the said Declaration amongst the publike Registers the King on the contrary in a generall assembly of the Nobilitie and States declared that it was traiterously done Notwithstanding the Ministers as the supreme Iudges of the Realme pronounced in a Synode conuocated by their authoritie that it was most iust and did hold it fit that those which would not approue thereof should vndergoe the censure of Excommunication In those dayes the warres betwixt the Emperor of Muscouia and the King of Swethland vnder the Artique Circle must not be left to obliuion Iohn King of Swethland perceiuing his powers farre too weake to resist so great an Emperor sent in Noble Embassie towards Queen ELIZABETH H. of Wissembourg his neere kinsman and A. Rich his Secretarie by Letters to request her Maieesty to intercede by Ambassage to the Emperour for the conclusion of a peace betweene them Which she presently vndertooke and without delay performed so well that with reasonable conditions she induc'd the Muscouit to a composition of peace who forthwith treated with her concerning the alliance of which I haue often made mention and that hee might bee allow'd refuge and a retreat into England if any disastrous aduersity should fall vpon him likewise he desired a Wife should be giuen him out of England But Sir Hierome Bowes Knight being sent Embassadour found it a difficult matter to content the Emperour For the Muscouite most importunately laboured for an absolute league in such tearmes as hee himselfe should set downe neither would hee giue any hearing to any remonstrances which hee propos'd that it was not the duty of a Christian neither would the Law of Nations permit that hostile enmities should bee denounced and practised or open warres begunne before the party from whom the wrong proceeded were admonished to repaire the iniury and desist from it The Queene appointed the Sister of the Earle of Huntington to be giuen as a Wife to him But when shee was certified that the Lawes of his Countrey would permit him at his own pleasure to repudiate and put away his wiues Shee excused the matter by the sicklinesse of the maid and by the loue of her father that was not able to beare the absence of his Daughter in a Country so farre distant And also that it was not in her power to dispose of in mariage the daughters of any of her subiects without their parents consents Neuerthelesse the Ambassador so farre preuailed that the establishing of the Merchants priuiledge was granted But death taking away the Emperour the yeare following the affaires of the English beganne by little and little to returne towards Russia and the Ambassador returning not without much danger of his life was with much commendation kindly receiued of the Queene Hee was the first that brought into England where the like was neuer seene if an Historian may with good leaue make mention of so small a thing a beast called Maclis which is a creature likest to an Alçe very swift and without ioynts And moreouer certain Deere of wonderfull swiftnesse which being yoakt and driuen will with much speed draw men vp and downe in Chariots like horses But to returne againe to the affaires of Muscouia Theodore Iohannide sonne to Iohn Basil succeeded in this great Empire a Prince by nature of a slow capacity yet he knew well how to follow the aduice of his best Counsellors Hee gaue free passage to all Merchants of all Countries into Russia and being oftentimes sollicited by the Queene of England to confirm the priuiledges granted by his father to the Muscouian Company of English Merchants importing thus that it might not be lawfull but to the English of the said society to land vpon the North coasts of Russia and there to exercise their traffique without paying of any tribute or custome because they were the first by sea that found a way to those parts Hee againe requested that all the English in generall might be suffered to traffique in Russia esteeming it iniustice to giue leaue to some and forbid others saying that Princes should beare an equall hand amongst their subiects not conuert into a Monopoly or the particular profit of some few men that commerce by which the right of Nations ought to be common to all And as for the custom hee promised to take by the halfe lesse of them of that societie then of others Other priuiledges hee added in fauour of the Queene and not for the desert as hee said of that society of which some he hath obserued that haue euilly dealt with his subiects Other answer could the Queene by no meanes procure or obtaine albeit shee afterwards sent about the same affaires Egide Fletcher Doctor of the Law who set forth a booke called The policy or tyrannie of the Russian wherein were contained many things worthy observation but it was presently supprest lest it should breed offence to a princely friend The same Summer came from Poland neighbouring vpon Russia into England to visit the Queene one Albret Alasco Count Palatine of Sirad a man most learn'd of comly stature and lineaments wearing his Beard long richly cloathed and of gracefull behauiour the Queene with much bounty and loue receiued him the Nobles with great honour and magnificence entertained him and the Vniuersitie of Oxford with learned recreations and diuers pastimes delighted him but after a while finding himselfe ouercharged vvith debt he priuily stole away In this yeare also was seene in Dorset-shire a thing no lesse prodigious then that which was seene in the yeare 1571 in Herefordshire A field of three Acres situated in Blackmore both with trees and hedges was remoued out of its owne place into another leauing in its stead a huge vaste gappe but the high-way leading to Cerne shut vp whether this was by some subterranean earthquake such wherewith as Seneca reporteth the heads of the gods in the bed of Iupiter were turned into the contrary parts or out of too much moistnesse caused by the springs abundantly flowing in those parts the field being situate in the side of a Hill let others make enquirie This was the last yeare to Thomas Ratcliffe being of that Family the third Earle of Sussex a man of haughty courage exquisit counsell of a singular faith towards his Countrie and of an illustrious Progeny He had to his Mother the Daughter of the Duke of Norfolke for his Grandmother the daughter to the Duke of Buckingham Constable of England Himselfe also had past through many great honorable imploiments As being sent Ambassador by Queene MARIE into Germany to the Emperor Charles the fifth to
these things They resolue to driue the French out of Scotland The English are sent into Scotland both by Land and Sea The death of Francis L. Talbot Earle of Shrewsburie Booke 1. 1560. A Treaty of peace in Barwicke Martigues comes and brings French-men into Scotland D'Elbeuf driuen by a Tempest The Spaniard counsels to Peace The Spaniards detaine from the English their munition The French doe endeuour to call the English backe from Scotland The French protest againg the English that they are meerely cause that the peace is broken An Answer to them The Guizes are sworne and professed enemies to Queene Elizabeth The French offer to render vp Calis Her Maiesties Answer to them She sends the Lord Vicount Montaigue into Spaine Who makes known to the Spaniard the cause of the Wars of Scotland he also excused the Scots Confederates Arthur Gray son heire to the Lord Gray is wounded Lieth is besieged The English repulsed Croft is accused The Queene Regent of Scotland dyes The treaty of Edenborrough A peace is published Queene Elizabeth is sought in marriage by Charles Arch-Duke of Austria by Iames Earle of Arran and by Erric King of Sueden Adolphe Duke of Holsatia Sir W. Pickering The Earle of Arundel Robert Dudley Whom shee fauoured Vicount Montaigu Ambassador to the King of Spaine He fauoured notwithstanding Elizabeth against the French He re-deliuered the order of the Garter He disdained to be refused in things of small importance The Count Ferie whets his indignation He incenses the Pope against the Queene The Pope writes to Elizabeth The Pope Pius the fourth of that name his Letter sent vnto Queene Elizabeth by his Nuncio Vincent Parpalia The King and Queene of France refuse to confirme the Treatie for Edenborrough The reasons Francis the second dyeth The Edict of Qu. Elizabeth against the Anabaptists Her Maiesties Edict against sacreligious persons The Colledge of Westminster founded The Coine brought to full value This was corrupted by King Henry the Eighth His lauish expence The Earle of Huntington dyeth Shan O-Neale stirs vp sedition in Ireland Booke 1. 1561. The Queene of Scotland puts off the confirmation of the Treatie The Queene of England denieth passage to the Queene of Scotland She complained to Throgmorton Ambassadour from England Throgmorton's answer to the Qu. Mary of Scotland Contestation betweene the Queene of Scotland and Throgmorton Queene Elizabeths Ambassador into France The Queene endeuours to content Qu. Elizabeth But in vaine She returnes into Scotland Elizabeth answers him Qu. Elizabeth presseth the confirmation of the Treatie Receiues the Guizes courteously The Guizes vse the English ill That the right to assemble a Councell belongs not to the Pope Carne dyes How far an Ambassadour ought to beare an offence Qu. Elizabeth prepares things necessary for Warre Qu. Elizabeths husbandrie S. Pauls Steeple burnt The death of Earle Bathon Booke 1. 1562. Pole had vnder examination Katherine Gray imprisoned He is fined He is fined The Guizes practice against Elizabeth H. Sidney is sent into France After into Scotland They deliberate the inter-view of the Queene of Scotland Which puts her in doubt Vnlesse it were vpon certaine conditions The Cardinall of Lorraine propoundeth a marriage to the Queen of Scotland Queene Elizabeth endeuoureth to diuert her from it Giues her reasons Shee excuses the French fugitiues The death of the Earle of Oxford Defends his cause Booke 1. 1563. Fifteenths Tenths Subsidies The Prence of Condé taken in the Battell of Dreux The Kings answer Hostages giuen for the restitution of Calais attempt to fly away Peace made in France War proclaimed between the French and the English The Qu. Maiestie offers to surrender Haure de grace for Calais The English Soldiers molested with the Pestilēce Haure de grace beleagred and assailed by the French Articles for the restitution of Haure de grace France reioyceth for recouery of Haure de grace The English Soldiers bring the Plague into London and other parts of England Marriage againe propounded to the Queene of Scots The Queene of England recommends Dudley for her husband The French diuert her They insult ouer their Queene The Baron of Gray dyes And the Bishop of Aquila The Spaniard against the English Lord Paget dyeth The supreme dignities of honour in England Death of the Earle of Rutland Duchesse of Suffolke Booke 1. 1564. Articles of peace accorded on betweene the English and the French The King of France enstalled in the Order of the Garter The English ill entreated in Spaine And in the Low-countries The mutuall complaints of the English and Flemmish English Merchants prohibited in the Low-Countries The English constitute a Faire or Mart at Embden Guzman labors to atone this difference Queenè Elizabeth visits the Vniuersity of Cambridge Robert Dudley raised to honors Dudley accuseth Bacon Diuers opinions about the point of Succession The Queene of Scots cal◠home the Earle of Lenox into Scotland The discent of the Earle of Lenox Causes of the Repeale of the Earle of Lenox The Queene of England endeuours to preuent the Qu. of Scots proiect Another commendation of the Earle of Leicester A Treaty of Marriage betweene the Queene of Scots and the Earle of Leicester Booke 1. 1565. Darley goes into Scotland He is beloued of the Queene of Scotland Asketh Qu. Elizabeths consent Deliberation vpon it Throgmorton is sent to hinder He is answered Lenox and Darley are re-called out of Scotland They excuse themselues The Queene of Scotland marries the Lord Darley The Earle of Murray and others murmure The Queene of England indures it with moderation Some Scots take distaste about the marriage They are put to flight They are maintained in England They counsell the Qu. of England to marry The Emperour recommendeth his Brother It causeth hatred to grow in the Court. The Queene reconcileth them Tamworth not admitted They answere by writing Cecillia Queene of Sueden comes into England Creation of the Earle of Glencar Vice-Royes and Iustices of Ireland Affaires of Ireland Discord betweene the Earles of Desmond and Ormond Chiefe President of Mounster The death of Sir Thomas Chaloner Booke 1. 1566. The Duke of Norfolke and the Earle of Leicester Knights of the Order of France Prouision of Corne. The Earle of Arundel goes out of the Kingdome The English carry their Armes and their courages to the Hungarian Warre The birth of King Iames the sixth of Scotland The Queene of England reioyceth Visits the Vniuersity of Oxford Holds a Parliament The States sollicite her to marry and to declare her Successor The modestie of the great Ones The popular sort eagerly The Queene is angry She sweetens the moued spirits Giues backe part of the Subsidie Chides the States Maketh it plainely to appeare that the Queene of Scotland had the right of Succession The ordination of Bishops is confirmed Promoters supprest The Earle of Bedford sent Ambassrdour to the Queene of Scotland for the baptizing of her Sonne The death of I. Mason and Sir R. Sackuile Booke 1.
Ambassage of Gondy Count of Rez Ambassage of the Earle of Worcester in France The Sea is purged of Pirats by Holstoc The French Protestants handle shrewdly the French Papists in England The French Leger Ambassadour complained to Queene Elizabeth concerning the helpe and assistance sent out of England to the Protestants of Rochell besieged Her Maiesty excused her selfe * Flagges Queene Elizabeth is earnestly sollicited to marry with the Duke of Alanzon Her Maiestie heares of it willingly By a double apprehension Queene Elizabeth graÌ„ts leaue to the Duke of Alanzon to come into England And her Maiesty presently sends him word not to come as yet Gondy returned into England Earle of Morton Vice-Roy of Scotland The King of France endeuours to destroy him Qu Elizabeth to defend him Grange opposeth The English are sent to besiege it Vpon what Conditions The Castle besieged by the English Forces The Castle yeelded Kircald and others hanged Lidington dyes Peace made in Scotland The Bishop of Rosse banished out of England Absence innouates Enterprizes The Duke of Alua is called out of the Low-Countries Lodowicke Zuniga sucseedes him Burches heresie Marshall Law Burch is hanged Effingham dies Gray Earle of Kent dies Caius the Phisition dyes The Colledge of Gonuell Caius Troubles in Ireland The Earle of Essex sent into Ireland The Deputie enuies it Mac-Phelim is taken The vnprofitable attempt and force of Chaterton Booke 2. 1574. The Duke of Alanzon desires to visit Queene Elizabeth Queene Elizabeth agrees to it He is suspected in France He is as it were prisoner being garded Queene Elizabeth comforts him Charles the ninth King of France died The right Honourable Lord Roger Lord North Baron of Catelage is sent Ambassador with a noble train to Henry of Valois the third of that name King of France Poland The King of France and mother Queene recommend the Duke of Alanzon to Queene Elizabeth They fauour the Queene of Scots against the Vice-Roy Morton She giueth credit to those who make reports aginst the Queene of Scotland The Earle of Huntington President of the North. An Edict against the riâ—tousnes of apparell England imbellished with magnificent structures The English worke treason in Holland They are defeated Ministers deceiued A Whale cast on shore An extraordinary floud in the Thames The Skie seemed to be on fire Booke 2. 1575. The league with France renued Warre kindled in France The Queene of England denieth ships to Requesens The entrance of the Ports To banish the Dutch fugitiues She denies the confederate Dutch entrance into the English ports Requisens chaseth the rebellious English from Flanders Dissolues their Seminary The Prince of Orange thinkes to run to the protection of the King of France The Queene of England disswades him The confederat Dutch deliberate what Protector they should chuse They haue recourse to the Queene of England She deliberateth thereupon She reiecteth their proffer The Ambassy of Champigni Requesens dyeth The Queene studieth to bring the affaires of the Netherlands to a composition A conflict vpon the borders of Scotland Heron is slaine The English led as prisoners into Scotland The Queene of England is much incensed The death of the Duke of Castell-Herauld Essex reduced into distresse in Jreland Sidney the third time Deputy maketh his progresse in Ireland The death of Peter Carew Booke 2. 1576. The French propound a marriage to Queene Elizabeth She peace to them She labours to diuert them from the Netherlands The Zelanders molest the English by Sea are repressed A confusion in the Netherlands Antwerpe sacked by the Spanish mutiners The Queene laboureth a peace for the Netherlands The arriuall of John of Austria in Flanders The Queene furnisheth the Estates with money to continue the Prouinces in the King of Spaines obedience The traffique re-established betweene England and Portugall With what probabilitie Witnesse Ienkinson an Englishman Bernard le Tor a Spaniard Furbisher is sent to discouer the Strait in the North part of America The death of Maximilian the Emperour Queene Elizabeth mournes The Elector Palatine dyes A Franc is two shillings English Essex death suspected The death of Sir Anthony Coke Tumults in Ireland William Drury President of Mounster Malefactors pursued and punished Ceass what it is The Irish complaine of exactions The Queene hath compassion Booke 2. 1577. Austria inclines to Peace Elizabeth perswades to it Orange diuerts her Austria seekes to marrie the Queene of Scots And by her to get the Kingdome of England Copley made a Baron of France The dissimulation of Austria He takes vp armes again Elizabeth couenanted with the Scots She declares the reason of it to the Spaniard The Spaniard did not willingly heare these things Don John complaines to Queene Elizabeth of the States England the ballance of Europe A pestilent sicknesse caused by the stinke of a prison Maine a Priest executed The death of the Lord Latimer Secretary Smith dyes Saffron Walden Rebellion in Ireland Rorio Oge Rorio slaine Booke 2. 1578. Queene Elizabeth is carefull of the Low-Countries English gone into the Low-Countries The Embassie for the Low-Countries Peace is irritated Egremond Radcliffe and his associate are put to death Don John dyes Aniou prosecutes the mariage with the Queene Leicester murmures The death of the Countesse of Lenox The business of Scotland Morton the Regent admonished The King sends an Embassador into England The Summe of the Embassage The answere of the Queene Morton takes vpon him the administration againe The Peeres rise vp against him The inuading of England consulted vpon Th. Stukeley takes Armes against his Countrie Ciuita Vecchia He is slaine in the African Warre William Drury Lord Deputie of Ireland Sidney's adieu to Jreland Booke 2. 1579. Casimire comes into England The Queene lends the States mony Semier solicites the marriage for the Duke of Aniou Thinkes on nothing but reuenge One was shot with a Pistolet being in the Boat with the Queene The Duke of Aniou came into England The dangers of the marriage The commodities of it The incommodities if it be neglected Aimé Stuart Lord of Aubigni came into Scotland From wheÌ„ce hee tooke the name of Aubigni He is raised to honours He is suspected of the Protestants Hamiltons deiected Proscribed Succoured by Elizabeth The Societie of the Turkey-Merchants Hamonts impietie N. Bacon dyes Thomas Bromley succeedes Gresham dyes His Colledge of London Rebellion of James Fitz-Morris in Ireland Stirred vp by the Pope and the King of Spaine Fauoured by the Earle of Desmond Dauile murdered in his bed Sanders approues of the slaughter He fights with those of Bourg Fitz-Morris is slaine William of Bourg made Baron He dyes for ioy John Desmond kils the English The Lord Deputy sick N. Malbey Gouernour of Mounster Defeats the Rebels The Earle of Desmond manifests himselfe a Rebell The death of Drury Lord Deputy The Rebels thereby incouraged William Pelham is Lord Chiefe Justice of Ireland Admonisheth the Earle of Desmond of his duety Proclaimes him Traitor The Earle of
and Scottish Iesuits do suggest diuers things to the Queene of Scots The French labour to hinder the League The King of Scots propoundeth conditions He is not deterred by the French King Iames's answer to them The League of fast friendship A conspiracie against Queene Elizabeth How discouered Ballard returneth into France Ballard sent backe into England Meeteth with Babington He instructs him in the stratagem Babington receiueth Letters from the Queene of Scots He writeth back to her She answereth him His associates in the conspiracie Babington giueth to euery one his taske They confer together Their vanity Babington in care to bring in the forraigne aides sends Ballard to worke for him Insinuateth with Walsingham Deceit by deceit deceiued Giffard discouereth all the conspiracy Sendeth the Letters he receiued to Walsingham Ballard vpon his departure is taken Babington soliciteth for Ballards libertie Falleth into the same net Getteth himselfe out Lyeth in a wood Harrow-Hill They are found And all the rest of the conspirators All discouered The Q. of Scots kept with a guard and separated from her seruants Her Cofers with Letters sent to the Queene Giffard sent into France dyeth miserably The Traytors come to Iudgement Are punished The Queen of Scots her Secretaries examined The King of France is aduertised Sundry opinions how to dispose of the Scottish Queene By what Law shee should be iudged Commissioners appointed to heare the cause A Commission granted to that end Booke 6. * William Poulet Marquesse of Winchester Edward de Vere Earle of Oxford Lo high Chamberlâ—ine of England George Talbot Earle of Shrewâ—bury Earl Marshall Henry Grâ—y Earle of Kent Henry Stâ—â—â—â—y Earle of Derby William Somerset Earle of Worcester Edward Manners E. of Rutland Ambrose Duâ—ley E. of Warwick Master of our Ordnance Henry Herbert Earle of Pembroke Robert Dudley E. of Leicester Master of our horse Henry E. of Lincoln Charles L. Howard high Admiral of England Anthony Viscount Montagu Henry Cary BaroÌ„ of Hunsdon Lo. Chamberlaine of our houshold Henry Neuill Baron of Abergaueny Edward Lord Zouch Edward Parker L. Morley Will. L. Cobham Lord Warden of the cinque Ports Edward L. Stafford Arthur Lord Gray of Wâ—lton Iohn L. Lumley Iohn L. Stuâ—ton William L. Sands Henry L. Wâ—ntworth Lodowick L. Mordant Iohn L. Saint Iohn of Bletso Tâ—â—mas Sackvill Baron of Buckhurst Henry L. Compten Henry Lo. Cheney Sir Francis Knolls knight Treasurer Sir Iacob Crofts knight CoÌ„troller Sir Christ Hatton Vice-Chamberlaine Sir Francis Walsingham our Secretary of State William Dauâ—son Esq our second Secretary Sir Ralph Sadler knight Chancellor of our Dutchy of Lancaster Sir Walter Mildmay knight 〈◊〉 Aymâ— Poulet knight gouernor of our Island of sarsey all our trâ—sty beloued priuy Counsellor and Sir Christopher Wâ—ay knight L. chiefe Iustice of the Common plees Iohn Wâ—â—sey esq our Secretary for the Latin Sir Edmund Anderson knight L. chiefe Iust of our Bench Sir Roger Manwood chiefe Baron of our Exchequer Sir Thomas Gawdy and Sir William Pickering Commissioners come to her She answereth the letters vpon the sudden Booke 3. Addeth the next day to her answer She refuseth her tryall Exception against the new-made Law Sir Christopher Hatton perswadeth her to appeare Her tergiuersation Shee yeeldeth at last to appeare and answer The maner of the sitting The Lord Chancellor speaketh to her Her protestation Recorded Proceeding She denieth the former allegation Copies of letters shewed Extracts out of Babbingtons confession She denieth them They vrge her with the confessions of Sauage and Ballard She blames Walsingham Walsingham maketh his Apologie Charles Pagets letters are produced and Babingtons and the testimonies of her Secretaries She obiecteth against their credites Arguing about transferring the kingdome She excuseth her selfe for hauing giuen Morgan an annuall pension by pensions giuen to the Scottishmen She offereth the Duke of Guise and her sonne pledges for her libertie The Lord Burghley answereth She interrupteth him He proceedeth Letters shewed again She interrupteth their reading Affirmeth her Secretaries were not to be credited She is accused againe for transporting the Kingdome She condemnes her Secretaries as periured Sir Thomas Egertons the Q Sollicitors demonstratioÌ„ She crauest a hearing iâ— open Parliament Sentence pronounced against her Some suspect the credite of the Secretaries Or duety Declaration that the sentence against the Q. of Scotts did nothing preiudice her sonne A Parliament held The banishing of traytors confirmed The States approue confirme the sentence and desire the publication therof The Queen answereth She desireth them to find out some other remedie Their Answer to her Her reply to them The Q. of Scotland is certified of her iudgment The Ambassador of France slayeth the publishing of the Sentence Notwithstanding it is published The Queen of Scotland carrieth herself with a resolute courage She moues a request to Queen Elizabeth Opinions of the Q. of Scotl. cause In her behalfe Against her The Q. of Scotland's sonne intercedeth for her Some Scots against her The K. by letters and messages And propoundeth some things considerable As the K. of France did by his Ambassadors Bellieures reasons for the Qu. of Scotland Answers to his Reasons The Ambassadour of France attempteth Queene Elizabeths life Stafford discouereth the enterprise to the CouÌ„cell The Ambassadour denieth it The Ambassadour mildly rebuked Whether an Ambassador be to discouer the attempts if he know any to be committed against the Prince to whom he is sent But Gray the Scot more She weigheth these businesses The Courtiers perswade her By reasons And by examples She is notwithstanding suspensiue perplexed with doubtfull feares She commandeth a Warrant to be drawne for the execution Her Councell send secretly The Q. of Scotl. prepares herself for death Shee is brought to the scaffold Her speeches to Meluine her Steward To the Earles Her last words The Epitaph The prouidence of God plainly seen in her death Elizabeth is sorry therefore and grieueth thereat Is angry with her Councell They vrge him vpon his owne confession The Queen Sergeants reproue him The Iudges opinion vpon his fact The L. Gray defendeth him Sentence giuen against him He maketh request to the Commissioners Dauison his particular Apologie The indignation of the Nation of Scotland Suggestions vsed to the King Qu. Elizabeth indeuoureth to appease them By what reasons Sir Francis Drake is sent into Spaine to preuent the comming of the Jnuincible Nauy for the inuasion of England His expeditions The great Carraque Saint Philip is taken The profit which the English receiued thereby The East Indies Companie Thomas Cauendish circuits the Earth Stanley and Yorke Traitors New kinde of Duels brought into England With what successe The States of the vnited Prouinces doe blame the Earle of Leicester The States send for Leicester again to raise the siege before Sluce Leicester is molested Leicester goes about to make himselfe Lord ouer their Cities He is called home againe The Title of his Excellency Leicester distributes Medailles coyned en memory of his person to those of his faction The Estates doe put in Leicester place Prince Maurice of Nassau Leicesters faction in the Low-Countries Russell suspected Leicester auoids his aduersaries accusation The death of the Lord Neuill Baron of Abergauenny And the Duchesse of Somerset being very aged And Sir Ralph Sadler Also Sir Thomas Bromley The Earle of Rutland dyes And Sir Christopher Hatton is made Lord High Chancellor William Fitz-Williams Lord Deputie of Ireland for the same time The reason why it is a difficult thing to war against Jreland Booke 3. 1588. A wonderfull and admirable Yeere Great preparations are in hand in Spaine to assault and inuade England By what counsell The reason why They consult about the meanes how to assault and subdue England Preparation in Flanders Traytors hated The Popes assistance Preparation in England By Sea And Land Consultation for defence And concerning the Papists at home The King of Scotlands alacrity against the Spaniards Booke 3· Conference of peace in the meane time Commissioners sent to that end into Flanders Propositions of the English answered Complaint made vnto the Duke of Parma The conference breakes vp The Spanish Armada 28. Maij. Sets forth and is dispersed Sets out againe The English Nauy sets out The first fight The ability of the English Flees * Cantabrica Peter Valdes taken The Ship of Oquenda taken The English Admirals prouidence The third fight Knights created for their valours by the Right Honourable Charles Howard Earle of Notingham Lord High-Admirall Diuers Noble-men and Knights of England ioyne themselues with the English Fleet before Calais The Spanish Fleet lyes at anchor and rests betwixt Calais and Douer The Duke of Parma is sent for againe by the Spaniards He is vnprepared The good seruice of the Hollanders who hindred Parma from ioyning his Forces with the Spanish Nauy The Spaniards amazed fly confusedly Hugh Moncada slaine The fourth combate The Spaniards resolue to returne home by the North-Sea The Queene visits her Campe. Conditions offered vnto the King of Scots Money coyned in memory of this famous victory Tout ainsi coÌ„me l'on dit de Caesar IL EST VENV IL A VEV IL A VINCY on peu dire de mesme de L'espagnol auss que IL EST VENV IL A VEV mais qui pis est IL â—'EN EST ENFVY aulieu que Caesar estoit victorieux Misery of the Spaniards in Jreland Causes of the defeat The Spaniard takes patiently this ouerthrow Queene Elizabeth caused a generall thankes-giuing to God for it and publique reioycing in England Praysed those who were of the English Nauy The publike ioy is increased by the good newes which came out of Scotland The death of Robert Dudley Earle of Leicester His dignities and titles His disposition and manners Leicesters goods are sold Berghen ap Zoom besieged by the Duke of Parma Who raiseth the siege Innouations in England Martin Mar-Prelate and other scandalous Bookes Beginning of a great Rebellion in Jreland Ambassadour in Denmarke The Emperour of Russia most fauourable to the English
Elizabeth partly to requite his warlike exploits for shee imployd him in sundry Sea-seruices to his immortall honour and commendation made him Knight of the Garter Charles Earle of Notingham Baron of Effingham Anno 1597 The 23. of Octob. the Lord Charles Howard for his Princely desert and illustrious birth was created by Q. Elizabeth Earle of Nothingham Likewise for his worthy seruices done to his Prince and Countrie in generously repelling Spaines inuincible Nauy of 88 being Lord High Admirall As also for his Martiall valiancy in the sacking of Cadiz with the Earle of Essex her Maiestie honour'd him with the Gartet the noblest order of Knighthood Iohn Baron of Elsemere Viscont Brackley Earle of Bridge-water This Noble Earles Father Sir Thomas Egerton Viscont Brackley Baron of Elsemere Lord high Chancellour of England was a Noble man of admirable parts excellency well seene in the Lawes of England industrious in State affaires which mou'd Q. Elizabeth to choose him her Maiestie Solicitor Anno 1583. And for his other deserts Anno 1593 she Knighted him Next she made him Master of the Rolls and finally Lord Keeper of the great Seale of England Anno 1594. William Earle of Salisbury c. And William Earle of Excester c. Sir William Cecil for his graue wisedome and excellent vertues was by Q. Elizabeth created Baron of Burghley he was also one of her Maiesties Priuy Councell Lord High Treasurer and Chancellor of Cambridge's Vniuersitie He was these two Noble Earles graâ—â— father both issued of two of his Sonnes William Baron of Compton Earle of Northampton This noble Earles grandfather Sir William Compton waâ— for his worthinesse created Baron Compton by Queene Elizabeth To the no lesse Illustrious than Noble Henry Lord Cary Baron of Hunsdon Viscont Rochford AND The Noble Lady Elizabeth Barkeley now married to Sir Thomas Chamberlaine HENRY CARY Lord Chamberlain to Queen Elizabeth His cousin for he was the sonne of William Carie Esquire to the body of King Henry the eight by the Lady Mary Bullen his wife sister to Queene Anne Bullen the mother of Qâ—eene Elizabeth this Henry was by Queene Elizabeth created Lord Carie Baron of Hunsdon Also by her Maiestie made Knight of the Garter one of the Lords of her Priuie Councell and gouernour of Barwicke To this Noble Lord Henry Viscont Rochford hee was Grandfather and this Illustrious Lady Barkley was his only daughter and heire Rob. Lord Willoughby of Eresby Baron of Perke AND Henry West Baron de la Warre Peregrinâ— the Father to this generous Lo Willoughby was restored in his ancestors Honors by Qu. Elizabeth who created him Baron Willoughby of Eresâ—y the 14. of her raâ—gn 1582. before thee sent him with the Garter to the King of Denmarke being the son of the Duchesse of Suffolke sole daughter and heire to the Lo Willoughby of Eresby Also Sir William West This Lord de la Warr's grand Sire was created Baron de la Warre by Queene Elizabeth being Nephew to Thomas West Lord de la Warre and knight of the Garter in King Henry the eight's daies who died without issue Anno 1570. IOHN POVLET Lord Saint Iohn Baron of Basing heire apparant to the Lord Marquesse of Winchester c. Anno 1594. WILLIAM POVLET this Noble Lord's Grandfather was in the time of his Father IOHN Lord Marquesse of Winchester by Queene ELIZABETH made a Petre of England and sate in that High Court of Parliament among the Barons and Peeres of the Realme as Baron Saint Iohn of Basing He died the first day of Ianuary 1598. and was sumptuously buried by his predecessours at Basing The truly Pious Lady Frances Wray Countesse dowager of Warwicke AND The Lady Elizabeth daughter and sole heire to Francis Lord Norice late Earle of Barkshire Viscount Thame and Baron of Ricot wife to the right Noble worthy Edward Wray Esqu Sir Christopher Wray for his great deserts the noble family from whence hee was deriued was by Qu Elizabeth Knighted and for his rare wisedome being expert in the Law was aduanced to his great Praise and immortall fame to diuers Honourable dignities in this Kingdome First he was made Lord Chiefe Iustice of England and then Lord Keeper of the Priuy Seale He was one of her Maiesties most prudent Counsellours and Father to this Religious Countesse Dowager of Warwick Also Grandfather to these Noble Brothers Sir Iohn Wray Knight Edward Wray and Nathanaell Wray Esquires Anno 1572. Sir Henry Norrice was for his Noble worth created by Queene Elizabeth Baron Norrice of Ricot He was this Noble Ladie ELIZABETH WRAY her Grandfather DVDLEY Lord North Baron of Kirtling AND To the vertuous Lady his only Sister the Lady Mary Conningsby Anno 1594. Roger Lord North Baron of the ancient Baronry of Kirtling for his Vertues and Prudency was in gracious fauour neare Q. Elizabeth who respecting him much made vse of his faithfull seruices in diuers honourable affaires of importance Anno 1574. he was by her Maiestie sent Ambassadour Extraordinary into France to giue King Henry the third good Counsell and to condole with his Maiestie after the death of K. Charles the ninth And although this Noble-man was not created Baron by Q. Elizabeth yet I haue erected these lines to his noble and immortall memory for his Vertues sake and for the duty and humble seruice which I must euer owe to his illustrious Grand-Children The Lord North Sir Iohn North Captaine Roger North Gilbert North and the noble Lady Conningsby To the Honour of the right Worshipfull Sir Arthur Capell his noble Sons AND The Nobly desceÌ„ded Ralph Sadleir Esquire of Standen in Hertfordshire This worthy Knight was the last which her Maiesty Knighted Also this noble Esquires Father Sir Thomas Sadleir son to Sir Ralph Sadleir was the last knight banneret of England Chancellour of the Duchy of Lancaster and Priuy Counsellor to King Henry the eight Edward the sixt Queen Mary and Queene Elizabeth A PREPARATION AND INTRODVCTION TO THE HISTORY THE All-glorious All-vertuous incomparable inuict and matchlesse Patterne of Princes the Glory Honour and mirror of Woman kind the Admiration of our Age ELIZABETH Queene of England was by the Fathers side truely Royall being Daughter to HENRY the Eighth Grand-child to HENRY the Seuenth and great Grand child to EDVVARD the Fourth of the Mothers side indeed vnequall yet nobly descended and had many great Alliances spred through England and Ireland Her great-Grandfather was Iefferay of Bolene descended from the famous House of Norfolke who in the yeere 1457. was Maior of London and was then graced with the Dignitie of Knighthood a man of much integrity and of such reputation that Thomas Baron of Hoo and Hastings Knight of the Order of S. George gaue him his daughter and heire to wife he was of so great meanes that he married his Daughters into the famous houses of the Chenies Heidons and Fortescues he left a great Patrimonie to his sonnes and by Will gaue a thousand pounds sterling
and marked it with dignities and Royall preheminences The which the States of Ireland had liberally offered to Henry the eighth and the Queene a little before vsed and enioyed the same But these things are not for this place The Romane Religion seemed then to be well established in England howbeit the Ecclesiasticall company seeing that Mary was now fortie yeeres old growne dry and sickly scarce hoping for any ofspring began forthwith to be afraid of ELIZABETH For they knew she was brought vp in the Protestant Religion and obserued that all men cast as vpon a rising Sunne both heart and eye vpon her Therefore they seriously consult from the very beginning of Maries Raigne how to preuent that the Religion now called backe should receiue any detriment by her The wiser and more consciencious sort iudged it to be an exceeding foule crime to destroy Royall Linage and Mary herselfe who was a godly Princesse though displeased with her Sister for the discord of their Mothers yet certaine sicke-braind fellowes who neither durst vndertake any thing nor performe any thing by right or wrong to establish the Catholike Religion did thinke it fit And it happened very commodiously for them that Tho. Wyat Peter Carew Iames Crofts and others for the Protestants seditiously endeuoured to doe rash and turbulent things labouring with all haste to mary ELIZABETH to Edward Courtney Earle of Deuon-shire She as being guilty hereof is thrust into prison first of all vncertaine rumors are dispersed that she was a partaker of sedition thereupon many are brought in question for their heads and others brought to the Racke Croft with a religious asseueration openly affirmed that she was no way guilty and out of all offence for sedition Wyat also it was thought who was ready to vnder-goe his last punishment would haue accused her and hee openly professed the same Neuerthelesse she is put into the hands of Keepers who hurry her this way and that way at length her Seruants and Maides are laide in fetters harder dealing then her dignity deserued In the meane time the French King Henry the second by priuate Letters full of loue comforts her and by many and great promises seekes to draw her into France whether for loue or by deceit to beget her a greater danger I will not say to make way to the Queene of Scots his Neece to the Crowne of England after Queene MARY In like manner Christian the Third King of Denmarke who long before made profession of the Protestants Religion endeuours all he can and treates vnder-hand to marry her to Frederick his Sonne Which when the Papists of England perceyued they againe threaten perill and mischiefe and fearing her cry out that all of the Romane Religion Queene and Kingdome are in ieopardy while shee subsists therefore necessarily to condemne her eyther Laesae Maiestatis or as a depraued Heretique and during that storme whilest cruelty was rigorously exercised vpon the meaner sort of Protestants I. Storie Doctor of the Law and others cunningly giue it out in all places in seuerall assemblies that they vnderstood it was practising to extirpate and ridde out Heresie ayming at her without sparing the smallest branches Notwithstanding moderating her selfe imitating the Mariner when a storme violently increaseth heard diuine Seruice according to the rule of the Romish Church came often to Confession and verily beeing oft rudely and churlishly disturbed by Cardinall Pole the terrour of death made her confesse her selfe to bee a Romane Catholique Howbeit MARY hardly beleeued it not forgetting that herselfe being forced by the same apprehension had by Letters written to her Father with her owne hand which I haue seene renounced for euer the authority that the Pope pretended to haue in England and acknowledged her Father to be Soueraigne Head of the Church of England and that the marriage betwixt him and her Mother was incestuous and vnlawfull Neyther could the Cardinall and other Prelates perswade themselues to it who to assure the Romane Church wished her to be taken out of the way But Philip MARY'S Husband and other Spaniards being more iust on ELIZABETHS behalfe would not heare of that Not that the fortune of an afflicted Princesse mooued them so much to mercy as their owne reason circumspectly aduised them Because fore-seeing if ELIZABETH were cut off that by Marie Queene of Scots next Heire to the Kingdome of England now married to the Dolphin of France England Ireland and Scotland might be ioyned to the Scepter of France then which nothing could be more fearefull to the greatnes of Spaine with whom they haue continuall warres When therefore without impietie they could not put ELIZABETH to death many thought it would be most aduisedly done to remooue her farre from England and marry her to Emanuel Philibert Duke of Sauoy Neyther did this please Spaine who before had purposed her for Charles his sonne And Thomas Cornwallis who was of the Queenes Councell likewise disswaded it telling Her that the people of Englād would hardly beare it yea in no wise suffer it that the next Heire of the Kingdome should be carryed away into a forreine Countrey At which time MARY for her inueterate hatred to ELIZABETH and because shee refused to marry with Sauoy grew to that heat of anger that shee ouer-charged her with reproaches and often-times would not stick to say that Marie Queene of Scotland was the certaine and vndoubted Heire of the Kingdome of England next to her selfe These consultations holden against ELIZABETH were taken away by a warre which MARY denounced in the behalfe of her Husband against France which although that was the prime and principall cause shee neuerthelesse alledged others and those most true viz. That France against the Lawes of couenant had nourished and sustained by his Agents and ministers the Rebellions of the Duke of Northumberland and Tho. Wyat the machinations and workings of Dudley and Ashton against her person sent out Pyrats against the English Merchants furnished Stafford with Ships and Armes to possesse the Castle of Scarborough had attempted by wicked practices to surprize Callais permitted English mony to be counterfeited and adulterated in France and inuaded the Low-Countries which the English by couenant are bound to defend In this flaming warre and the Scots stirred vp by the French inuading the Frontiers of England Calais is lost the Castles of Lisbanck Newnambrig Mere Oyes Hammes Sandgate the Castle and Towne of Guines and amongst the frequent Funerals of Prelates which sad presage seemed to fore-shew the displeasure of the diuine power MARY neglected of her Husband and with concocted griefe for the losse of Callais which had beene Englands rightfully two hundred yeeres with a Feuer and the Dropsie the seuenteenth day of Nouember 1558. departed hauing reigned fiue yeeres foure moneths A Princesse of a holy behauior to al her piety to the poore liberalitie to the Nobles and Clergie can neuer enough be praysed But the time was
infamous by the incredible crueltie of Prelates who polluted England through all parts with a most sad dreadfull spectacle in burning the Protestants aliue For as some haue obserued there were more consumed of all rankes Bishops Ministers and common people by this vengible and direfull way of death these fiue yeeres than England saw in all the seuen and thirtie yeeres of HENRY the Eighth In the reigne of Iohn Christians against Christians with vs began to tyrannize with flames The same day that MARY dyed within a few houres after Cardinall Pole Arch-bishop of Canterbury tormented with a quartane Feuer expired A man whom pietie learning and integritie had made much more famous than the splendor of his Royall Race though hee was Nephew to George Duke of Clarence Brother to Edward the Fourth King of England A TABLE OF THE CONTENTS of this matchlesse and famous HISTORIE The first Booke Anno M.D.LVIII QVeene ELIZABETH is proclaymed Queene of England Fol. 2. Choyce of her Priuy Councell Fol. 3. Her care to re-establish the Catholike Christian Religion Fol. 4. Philip King of Spaine Queene MARY's Widdower is a Sutor to her Sister Fol. 5. Queene ELIZABETH refused him and wherefore Fol. 7. Consultations about the safe re-establishment of true Religion Fol. 9. Diuine Seruice allowed by the Queene in English Fol. 11. Anno M.D.LIX. CReation and restoration of diuers Noble-men Fol. 12. A Parliament summoned and held at Westminster Fol. 14. Proposition to reforme Religion Fol. 15. Dispute established betweene Protestants and Papists Fol. 17. Sir Edward Crane Ambassadour for England is detayned at Rome Fol. 18. Disputes and strifes for Callais Fol. 19. A Treatie of peace with the French King in Cambresis Castle Fol. 22. The Articles of the said peace Fol. 23. Peace concluded betweene the Queenes of England and Scotland Fol. 24. The Baron of Wentworth and others questioned about Calais Fol. 25. The Parliament exhort the Queene to marry Fol. 26. Her Maiesties answer Fol. 27. Lawes and Ordinances established by the Parliament Fol. 29. The Nobles of the Land re-established and Papists deposed Fol. 30. By what degrees Religion was altered in England Fol. 33. The profit proceeding by Religions alteration Fol. 34. Queene ELIZABETH's Poesie or Motto Fol. 35. Her Maiesties answer to forreine Princes interceding for the Papists ibid. The Emperour seekes Queene ELIZABETH for his sonne Fol. 36. The French King challenged the Kingdome of England for the Queene of Scots Fol. 37. The King of France his sodaine death being kill'd at a tilting ibid. Francis the Second King of France and Mary Queene of Scots his Wife take vpon them the Title of King Queene of England and Ireland Fol. 38. The originall of the hidden hatred which hath beene betweene the Queenes of England and Scotland Fol. 39. The Scots refuse to obey the Queene-Regent but seeke helpe of Queene ELIZABETH Fol. 40. They resolue to driue the French out of Scotland Fol. 42. The English are sent into Scotland both by Land and Sea Fol. 43. The death of Francis Talbot the first Earle of Shrewsbury Fol. 44. Anno M.D.LX. A Treatie of peace in Barwicke Fol. 45. Martigues brings French-men into Scotland and the Marquesse of Debeux is driuen by a tempest Fol. 47. Spaines counsell to peace Fol. 48. Spaniards detaine from the English munition ibid. The French call the English from Scotland and doe protest they are meerely the cause that peace is broken Fol. 49. The Guizes are sworne and profest enemies to Queene ELIZABETH ibid. The French offer to render vp Calais Fol. 50. Queene ELIZABETH answered them and sends Viscount Montague into Spaine ibid. Arthur Gray sonne to the Lord Gray wounded and lyeth besieged Fol. 51. The English repulsed Crofts is accused Fol. 52. The Queene-Regent of Scotlands death Fol. 53. The Treatie of Edenborough ibid. A peace is published Fol. 54. Queene ELIZABETH is sought in marriage by diuers potent Princes ibid. Spaine fauoured England against the French Fol. 58. The King of Spaine deliuered backe the Order of the Garter ibid. Hee is disdained to be refused in things of small importance and the Count of Feria whets his indignation Fol. 59. The Pope is incensed against Queene ELIZABETH Fol. 60. Yet the Pope writes and sends his Nuncio ouer Fol. 61. The King and Queene of France and Scotland refuse to confirme the Treatie of Edenborough with their reasons Fol. 63. Francis the Second King of France dyed ibid. An Edict set forth by Queene ELIZABETH against Anabaptists and sacrilegious persons Fol. 64. The Colledge of Westminster founded ibid. The Coyne brought to full valew ibid. Good Coyne stampt for Ireland which wee call Sterling Fol. 65. The death of the Earle of Huntingdon the second of that Race Fol. 66. Anno M.D.LXI THe Queene Dowager of France Queene of Scotland deferred the confirmation of Edenboroughs Treaty Fol. 68. The Queene of England refused passage to the Queene of Scotland from France ouer Fol. 69. Shee complayned to Throckmorton Ambassadour for England Fol. 71. Throckmortons answer to the said Queeene Fol. 72. Contestation betweene them two Fol. 73. The Queene of Scotland laboured to content Queene ELIZABETH Fol. 74. But in vaine ibid. The Queene of Scotland takes her iourney out of France into Scotland where she well and safely arriued Fol. 75. She sends to Queene ELIZABETH who answered her Fol. 76. Queene ELIZABETH presseth the confirmation of the treatie Fol. 77. The Guizes and other French Noble-men who had conueyed the Queene of Scots into Scotland returning home thorow England are magnificently entertained with all royall courtesies by Queene ELIZABETH Fol. 77. That the right to assemble a Councel belongeth not to the Pope Fol. 78. How farre an Ambassadour ought to beare an offence Fol. 79. Queene ELIZABETH prepares things necessary for the warre ibid. She findes the Calamite stone Fol. 80. And prepares a Fleet. ibid. The English in emulation of their Queene striue who can build the best Ships ibid. Tillage more vsed than euer Fol. 81. An Edict in fauour of the King of Poland ibid. S. Pauls famous Steeple in London is burnt Fol. 82. The Earle of Bathe dyed ibid. Anno M.D.LXII ARthur Pole his Brother and others are examined Fol. 84. The Lady Katherine Gray is imprisoned ibid. The Guizes practize against Queene ELIZABETH Fol. 85. Henry Sidney is sent into France and presently after into Scotland Fol. 86. They deliberate the inter-uiew of the Queene of Scotland Fol. 87. The Cardinall of Lorraine propoundeth a marriage to the Queene of Scotland and Queene ELIZABETH endeuours to diuert her from it Fol. 88. Shee excuses the French Fugitiues Fol. 89. The death of Iohn de Vere Earle of Oxford Fol. 90. Shan O-Neale comes into England to defend his cause ibid. Anno M.D.LXIII LAw established by Parliament Fol. 92. Fifteenes and Subsidies granted Fol. 93. The Prince of Condé is taken in the Battel of DREVX Fol. 94. The King of Spaines answer ibid. Hostages giuen
pitties her Fol. 178. The Priuy-Councell consult of it ibid. The Councell resolue shee should be retained in England Fol. 179. The Countesse of Lenox complaines of her ibid. The Baron of Heris intercedeâ— for her Fol. 180. Earle Murray is commanded to yeeld a reason of the Queenes deposing ibid. Deputies for the King of Scots Fol. 181. Others for the Queene of Scots ibid. Lidingtons declaration to the Scots ibid. The protestation of the Queene of Scots Fol. 182. A declaration for the Queene of Scots Fol. 183. The answer of the Kings Deputies Fol. 184. The Queene of Scots reply 185. Murray refuseth to yeeld an account of the Queenes deposing Fol. 188. Authoritie of the Commissioners reuoked Fol. 189. The Duke of Norfolke glad ibid. New Commissioners granted ibid. The Queene of Scots will not submit her cause to their hearing but vpon condition Fol. 190. The proceedings dissolued ibid. Debate about the gouernement of Scotland Fol. 191. Murray offers to marry the Duke of Norfolke to the Queene of Scots yet disperseth rumours against her Fol. 192. The Duke of Norfolke is suspected ibid. The third Ciuill War in France Fol. 193. The French and Flemmings make England their refuge and were the first that made Bayes Sayes other light Stuffes Linnen and Woollen Fol. 194. The beginning of the Warres in the Low-Countries ibid. Ferdinando Aluares Duke of Alua constituted supreame Gouernour Fol. 195. Moneyes sent into the Low-Countries deteyned in England ibid. The English-mens goods deteyned and seized vpon in the Low-Countries Fol. 196. The like done to the Flemmings in England Fol. 197. The death of Roger Askam ibid. Anno M.D.LXIX A Proclamation touching goods detayned by the Duke of Alua. Fol. 198. A Declaration against the said Proclamation ibid. Practices against Cecill Fol. 199. The money formerly detayned in England is demanded by the Duke of Alua. Fol. 200. Free Traffique established at Hamborough for the English ibid. Doctor Story taken ibid. The Duke of Alua enraged against the English ibid. Men of Warre called in Fol. 201. Traffique of Russia hindred ibid. The liberties of the English in Russia ibid. Their Traffique into Russia Fol. 202. And into Persia by the Caspian Sea ibid. A Russian Embassadour comes into England Fol. 202. Alliance with Russia Fol. 203. The Emperour of Muscouia and Russia is irritated and inflamed against the English ibid. Murray appeaseth the friends of the Queene of Scotland Fol. 204. Rumor spred throughout Scotland against Murray ibid. Queene ELIZABETH is diligent and doth endeuour to quench such false rumours Fol. 205. She deales by letters concerning her restoring Fol. 206. A marriage intended betweene the Prince of Scotland and Margaret the Duke of Norfolkes onely Daughter Fol. 207. Murraies Proprsition to the Duke of Norfolke ibid. Throckmortons Counsell Fol. 208. Propositions of the Match made by Leicester to the Duke Fol. 209. The Articles of marriage propounded to the Queen of Scotland ibid. She agrees to them in some manner Fol. 210. A Designe to free the Queen of Scotland Fol. 211. Notice is giuen thereof to Queene ELIZABETH ibid. The Earle of Leicester reueales the whole businesse to the Queen at Tichfield Fol. 212. She rebukes the Duke of Norfolke ibid. The Duke departs the Court without leaue ibid. Cecill finds out the matter Fol. 213. The Duke of Norfolke goes into Norfolke ibid. Feare caused in the Court through the Duke of Norfolke Fol. 214. He returnes to the Court ibid. Murray discouers the businesse ibid. The Duke and others are imprisoned Fol. 215. Their Complices craue pardon Fol. 216. Libels against the marriage ibid. Chapin Vittelli comes into England and why ibid. Rebellion in the North by Northumberland and Westmerland Fol. 217. The Rebels Prteext Fol. 219. Their declaration ibid. They write to the Papists Fol. 220. They rent and tread vnder-foot the Bible ibid. Their Colours and number ibid. They returning take Bernard Castle And flie Fol. 221. Some are put to death Fol. 222. Some are banished ibid. A new Rebellion ibid. The Rebels are defeated Fol. 223. Queen ELIZABETH lends succour to the reformed Churches in France Fol. 224. The end of the Table of the Contents of the First Booke A TABLE OF THE CONTENTS of this matchlesse and famous HISTORIE The second Booke Anno M.D.LXX. THe Earle of Murray demands that the Queene of Scotland might bee put into his hands Fol. 233. He pursueth the English Rebels and is suddenly slaine 234. Diuers opinions are had of him 235. The Scots and English Rebels make incursions vpon England 236. The English take reuenge thereof 237. And succour those of the Kings party in Scotland ibid. They take the Castle of Hamilton 238. The Earle of Lenox is established Vice-Roy of Scotland 239. The King of Spaine giues succours against those who were of the Kings side ibid. The Lord Setone his Embassage to the Duke of Alua. 239. The Answere of the Duke of Alua. 241. The Bishop of Rosse is set at liberty who laboureth the libertie of the Queene of Scots 242. They consult about the freedome of the Queene of Scots 243. The Sentence of Pope Pius the fifth against Queene ELIZABETH 245. Rebellion in Norfolke as soone ended as begun 249. Felton punished for sticking vp the Popes Bull. ibid. The Papists and greatest part contemne the Bull. ibid. Diuers are imprisoned 250. Sussex chosen a Priuy Councellour 251. Treaty with the Queene of Scotland ibid. The Queene of Scotlands answer to the Propositions of the English 253. They cannot agree 254. The Bishop of Rosse requires helpe to free the Queene of Scotland 255. The death of the Earle of Cumberlend ibid. The death of Nicholas Throcmorton 256. Rebellion in Ireland quencht before they saw the day ibid. Stukeley flieth out of Ireland 257. Anno M.D.LXXI THe Royall Exchange named Fol. 258. The Creation of Baron Burghley ibid. The manner of creating Barons 259. Letters from the Pope to the Queene of Scotland ibid. Edict of the Scots against the Authority Royall condemned by Queene ELIZABETH 260. The demands of the English for the freedome of the Queene of Scotland 261. The English refuse the offers of the Scots 261. Alteration amongst the Scots 262. Complaints of the Scots against the English ibid. A Remembrance sent from the Queene of Scotland to the Duke of Norfolke 263. The counsell of the Bishop of Rosse 265. The attempts of others 266. A great Earth-quake ibid. The Embassage of Baron Buckhurst 267. A Proposition of a Match betweene Queene ELIZABETH and the Duke of Aniou ibid. The hopes which they conceiued with the Articles of Marriage 268. The Answer ibid. To what end this marriage was proposed 270. They haste the marriage of the Queen of Scotland 271. The Bishop of Rosse and others committed 272. Money sent into Scotland ibid. The Duke of Norfolke and others committed to the Tower 274. Propositions touching an Embassadour answered 276. The Bishop of Rosse questioned 277. He declines from the English Witnesses ibid.
Aimé Stuart Lord Aubigny into Scotland 393. Sir Nicholas Bacon Sir Thomas Bromley Sir Thomas Gresham dye one after another 396. Dauile murdered in his bed 398. The death of the Lord Druty Deputie 401. Anno M.D.LXXX ARthur Lord Gray made Deputie of Ireland 405. The Spaniards and Italians land in Ireland 406. They are all slaine and the subiects hanged 407. The taking of Malines And of an Earth-quake 409. The beginning of the English Seminaries 410. Persons and Campian Iesuites came into England 413. Sir Francis Drake returnes into England 417. Iohn Oxenham sayleth into America 419. Drakes voyage and warlike exploits 424. The Spaniards demand his riches 428. The death of Fitz-Allen Earle of Arundell 430. The Earle of Lenox enuyed by the Scots is accused by them to Queene ELIZABETH 432. Alexander Earle of Homes Baron of Dunglas is sent from King IAMES to excuse it 434. Regent Morton is cast into prison 435. The end of the Contents of the Second Booke THE CONTENTS Of this royall and famous HISTORY THE THIRD BOOKE RANDOLPHS intercession for Morton against Lenox Folio 1. The King of Scotts answer 2 Norris his victories in Freezland 4 Albanois 5 Drunkennesse brought out of the Low-countries ibid. By what right the King of Spaine possesseth Portugall ibid. The Qu. of France her title to Portugall reiected 6 Antonio banisht Portugall 7 Couenants of marriage betweene the Duke of Anjou and Q. Elizabeth concluded on 8 The K. of France vrgeth the marriage and the Q. of Engl. deferreth 10 Qu. Elizabeth giueth the Duke of Anjou a Ring 12 The queene much disquieted 13 Reasons disswading her from marriage and a booke set out against it 14 The Queens declaration against this pernicious libell 15 Champian the Iesuite and other Priests put to death 17 New lawes against Papists 18 The Duke of Anjou sayleth into Flanders 19 A Comet 21 Qu. Elizabeth bestoweth the Order of the Garter vpon the King of Denmarke 21 The treaty concerning the queene of Scotts is deferred 22 Gowry and others tumult in Scotland 23 The Duke of Lenox driuen out of Scotland ibid. An Ambassie from the French K. for the deliuery of the king of Scots 24 The qu. of Scotland's letter to queen Elizâ—beth 25 The Duke of Lenox returnes thorough England 33 Consultations about the deliuery of the queene of Scotland 34 The K. of Scotland seekes the loue of the queene of England 36 The King of Scotland sets himselfe at liberty 37 Walsingham is sent into Scotland from queene Elizabeth ibid. The king of Scots answers him freely 38 Walsinghams remonstrations to his sacred Maiesty ibid. The King answereth them 39 His Maiesty reestablâ—shed the reputation and honour of the Duke of Lenox causing likewâ—se his children to returne into Scotland 39 The Ministers of Scotland are against their Kings authority 40 A peace obtained for the King of Sweden ibid. The Emperour desires alliance with England and is a suiter to her Maiesty to graunt him an English Lady for his wife ibid. The Emperours death 41 A Polonian Nobleman commeth into England to see queene Elizabeth 42 A wonderfull earth-quake in Dorset-shire ibid. The death of Thomas Ratcliffe Earle of Essex 43 Sir Humfrey Gilbert drowned by shipwrack 44 The death of E. Grindall Archbish of Canterbury ibid. Iohn Whitgift preferred to bee Archbishop of Canterbury 45 The English betray Alost and do deliuer it into the hands of the cruell Spaniard 48 A miserable end of traytors ibid. The Earle of Desmond is slaine ibid. Nicholas Sanders an English Seminary Priest famisht himselfe 49 Viscount of Baltinglasse fled out of Ireland 50 Labouring men sent into Ireland 51 The gestures and behauiour of Sir Iohn Perrot Viceroy of Ireland ibid. Troubles in Scotland 52 The Earle of Gowry is taken the conspirators are dâ—spersed queene Elizabeth succoureth some of them the king demandeth them by the league but in vaine 53 Walsingham fauoureth the fugitiue Hunsdon against them 54 The power of a Secretary argued ibid. The arraignement of Gowry ibid. He is beheaded 55 The treason of Fr. Throkmorton 56 The Lo Paget retyreth into France ibid. The queenes clemency towards Papists 57 The Priests are banished 58 Spanish Ambassadour sent out of England 59 Thokmortons confession 61 A new treaty with the qu. of Scots 63 She answereth propositions made vnto her 64 She demandeth to be associated to the kingdome with her sonne 65 The queene of Scotts maketh new propositions 66 The Scotts of the English faction oppose them 67 The insolency of the Scottish Ministers 68 Buchanans writings reproued ibid. The Scottish and English make incursions one vpon another 69 Patrick Grayes Ambassage ib. The queen of Scotts committed to new guardians 72 Councell holden amongst the Papists 73 The death of the Earle of Westmerland ibid. The death of Plowden ib. Alancon dyeth and the Prince of Orenge is slaine 74 The French king inuested with the Order of the Garter 75 Is accused of treason 76 His confession 77 He consulteth with the Iesuites about the murdering of the queene ibid. He discloseth the matter to the queen 78 Alans booke addeth fresh courage to him 79 Neuill offereth him his helpe ibid. Parry is arraigned and executed 80 Lawes demanded in Parliament against Bishops and against Non-residents 81 Lawes against Iesuites and Priests 82 The Earle of Arundell resolueth to flye out of England 83 The Earle of Northumberland is found dead ibid. The causes of his imprisonment manifest 85 Lamentation for the Earle of Northumberland 87 Queene Elizabeth laboureth to contract a league with the Princes of Germany ibid. The like with the king of Scotts 88 Arâ—atâ—on of the death of Russell and the manner thereof ibid. The death of Thomas Carre 90 The fugitiue Scots are sent out of England back into Scotland ibid. They are reconciled vnto the King 92 The rebellion of the Bourkes in Ireland 93 The Sccots of Hebrides called into Ireland 94 The Gouernour laboureth for a peace but in vaine 95 He pursueth the Scotts and defeateth them 96 The States of the Netherlands consult of a Protector 97 They are refâ—sed of the French and the English consult about it 98 The Dutch offer themselues to the queene 100 Antwerpe is yeelded vp the queene deliberateth with her selfe and takes vpon her the protection 101 Vnder what conditions 102 Queene Elizabeth publisheth the causes and sends to the West Indies to diuert the Spaniard 103 Iames town taken from the Spaniard 104 Hispaniola or S. Dominick surprised ibid. Spaniards motto Auarice and Couetousnesse 105 Carthagena assaulted ibid. Saint Anthony and S. Helena fired by the English 106 Booty of the English voyage and expedition 107 A search made for a discouery of a way to the East Indies ibid. An Edict against Woad 108 Death of the Earle of Lâ—ncolne and of the Earle of Bedford 109 Earle of Leister sent into Holland ibid. His instruction 110 Absolute authority giuen to the Earle of Leyster by the States 111 Queen Elizabeth offended thereat
Prayse of those who were of the English Nauy ibid. Publike ioy encreased by good newes out of Scotland ibid. Leicesters goods are sold 289 Bergen ap Zone besieged by the Duke of Parma ibid. Who rayseth the siege ibid. Innouâ—tions in England ibid. Martin Mar-Prelate and other scandalous bookes 290 FINIS THE HISTORIE OF THE MOST High Mighty and Inuincible Princesse Queene ELIZABETH of most happy and neuer-dying memory OR ANNALLS Of all the most remarkable things that happened during her blessed Raigne ouer the Kingdomes of England and Ireland c. The first yeere of her Raigne Anno 1558. AFter that for certaine houres the decease of Queene MARY had beene concealed the Peeres Prelates and Commons of England being at that time assembled together in Parliament First notice was giuen to them of the vpper house which were in a manner strucke silent with griefe and astonishment for a while But they presently after rowzed vp their spirits and amazed senses moderating their mournings with ioy either not to seeme altogether sad or sorrowfull that Queene ELIZABETH succeeded the Crowne or else ioyfull that by the death of Queene MARY the succession thereof fell to her Maiesty so they bent their cares to publike affaires and with a common accord and firme resolution concluded and agreed that by the law of succession in the 35. yeere of King HENRY the eighth ELIZABETH was ought to be declared true and legitimate Heire of the Kingdome Therefore at that instant Nicholas Heath Lord Archbishop of Yorke and Lord Chancellour of England carried the first newes to those of the Lower-house giuing them to vnderstand with much sorrow and sighs that death preuenting the course of nature had depriued them of a Queene no lesse fauourable to the Roman Religion then kinde and louing to the Common wealth and that each member of the Vpper-house had receiued such extreme griefe thereby that they seemed to be comfortlesse without hope of consolation if God through his speciall grace fauour towards the English Nation had not reserued for them ELIZABETH another Daughter to King HENRY the â— to succeed her Sister and that her right to the Crowne was so euident and true that no man could nor ought to make any doubt or question thereof and that the Peeres and Prelates of this Realme had all with one accord and voice determined that she should be forthwith publisht Queene and proclaimed Soueraigne if they were so pleased to condescend thereunto Which words being scarce vttered the whole Assembly immediatly with a common acclamation cryed aloud GOD SAVE QVEENE ELIZABETH that her Raigne may be long and happy And immediatly the whole Parliament rising she was openly proclaimed Queen by sound of Trumpets first in Westminster-Hall and then soone after thorow the whole City of London by the title of Queene of England France and Ireland and Defendresse of the faith with the happy applause and ioyfull shouting of all the people vndoubted presages truly most happy for indeed no Prince was euer cherisht of his people and Subiects with more ardent and constant loue and zealous affection then this Queene was nor none receiued and welcommed with more respect and ioy then she hath beene nor blessed and prayed for with more vowes and prayers so often iterated as this happy Princesse hath beene all her life time chiefly when shee shewed her selfe in publike or openly abroad Queene ELIZABETH was about fiue and twenty yeeres of age when her Sister died But she was so rarely qualified by aduersity and so well accomplisht and accommodated by experience which are most effectuall Tutors that she had purchased Prudence and Iudgement farre aboue the capacity of her age and of her pregnant wit and admirable wisdome she gaue sufficient proofe and worthy testimony in the election and choice that shee made of her Priuie Councellors for she tooke into her Priuie Councell the aforesaid Nicholas Heath Archbishop of Yorke a Prelate no lesse prudent then modest and discreet William Poulet Marquesse of Winchester Lord high Treasurer of England Henry Fitz-Allen Earle of Arundel Francis Talbot Earle of Shrewsbury Edward Stanley Earle of Darby William Herbert Earle of Pembrooke Edward Baron of Clynton Lord high Admirall The Lord Howard Baron of Effingham Lord Chamberlaine Sir Thomas Cheney Sir William Peter Sir Iohn Mason Sir Richard Sackuile Knights and Nicholas Wotton Deane of Canterbury All which had beene Priuie Councellors to Queene MARY and professing her owne Religion Shee adioyned to them by temporizing according to the time these vndernamed who were all Protestants and had had no office at all nor charge of gouernment in Queene MARIES Raigne William Parr Marquesse of Northampton Francis Lord Russell Earle of Bedford Thomas Parr Edward Rogers Ambrose Caue Francis Knollys and William Cicill who before had beene Secretary to King EDVVARD the sixth a noble Gentleman most wise vnderstanding and iudicious whose learning and worth exceeded many others and a little after she brought in Sir Nicholas Bacon whom she made Lord Keeper of the great Seale of England She so ordered and tempered them in place with all those which succeeded since in such sort that they were true faithfull and affectionate to her Maiesty and she alwaies free and not subiect to any At these happy beginnings her first and chiefest care was to re-establish the Protestant Religion the which as much by the instruction and knowledge that shee had receiued thereof from her infancy as also by her owne particular iudgement she firmely held and maintained to be very true and most conformable to the holy Scripture and to the sincerity of the primitiue Church so effectually resoluing in her heart to settle and re-establish the same that she imployed to that purpose some of her Councellors being the most intimate with the rest of the other Lords of her most honorable Priuy-Councel she tooke order that the Ports Hauen-Townes should be fast shut secured and fortified The Tower of London she committed to the care of one whose fidelity and loyalty had been fully approued a new Commission she sent to Thomas Earle of Sussex Lord Deputie of Ireland who with a Garrison of three hundred and twenty Horse and one thousand three hundred and sixty foot yeelded in submission the whole Countrey which otherwise had not bin quiet nor peaceable Also the like Commission shee sent with a clause or restraint not to conferre any office to Iudges and Magistrates for to hinder the Conuocation of the Assembly of the iurisdiction by the authority there appointed New Iustices and Sheriffes shee likewise established in each County and tooke order that no money nor coine should be transported by exchange out of the Realme to forraine Nations beyond Sea and that the Preachers should desist and abstaine from treating of questions or disputing about Controuersies in Religion and withall concerning State-affaires out of the Kingdom she gaue order that Ambassadors should be sent to all
Christian Princes to let them vnderstand Queen MARY's decease She therefore appointed and sent with all speed to the Emperour Ferdinando Sir Thomas Chaloner with letters of her owne hand-writing by which shee gaue him notice of her Sisters death and that first by Gods speciall grace next by her hereditary right and through the generall loue and consent of all her Subiects she succeeded these her Crownes and dignities And that now she desired nothing more than to maintaine the loue and to encrease the ancient amitie which of long time had beene betweene the Houses of England and Austria To the King of Spaine who at that time was in the Low-Countries she also sent Ambassador the Lord Brook Baron of Cobham with the like Embassage and Commission by which shee of new imployed and delegated the Earle of Arundell Turlbey Bishop of Ely and L. Wotton who before had beene delegated and appointed by Queene MARY for the treatie of peace in the Citie of Cambray and adioyned to them W. Howard Baron of Effingham She also secretly sent Sir Henry Killigrew Ambassadour to the Princes of Germany to inflame them in the zeale of Gods pure Religion To the King of Denmarke D. B. was sent Ambassador and to the Duke of Holsatia also Armigild Waade Philip King of Spaine hearing of the death of Queen MARY fearing one way to lose the title of King of England and the force of that Realme which were vnto him most vsefull and profitable and likewise that the kingdomes of England Ireland and Scotland should be vnited to the Crowne of France by the meanes of the high and mighty Princesse the Queene of Scotland hee therefore treats seriously of a match with Queene ELIZABETH with promise to obtaine a speciall dispensation from the Pope And to that effect imployed the Earle of Ferie who had visited her MAIESTIE by the like meanes as he had done Queene MARY in her sicknesse This Sutor puts Queene ELIZABETH into great anxiety and perplexity considering how inconsiderate and ingratefull her Maiestie might seeme to be in refusing a Christian Prince who had already obliged her in other things much but yet more in this as to seeke her to his wife through his owne free desire and motion The French King likewise was in an extasie considering how important and dangerous it was to France if Spaine her enemy should vnite adioyne to his kingdoms the Realmes of England and Ireland therefore hee vseth his best endeuours at Rome by the intermission of the Bishop of Angoulesme to hinder the grant of such dispensation shewing to that end that Queene ELIZABETH was held for Supportresse of the Protestant Religion and rather than faile went about to declare her illegitimate But all this most secretly and closely for feare to irritate England before that his affaires were throughly well settled The Earle of Ferie contrariwise on the other side labours as hard to bring this marriage to passe and to that end giues the English Papists to vnderstand who were dispersed throughout all parts of the Realme that it was the sole and onely way left for them to preserue their Religion and defend their ancient dignities and honours and that if they should contemne it hee could not but deplore the misery and calamity of England as being out of money vnprouided of men trained vp and vnskild in the military discipline void of fortification and lacking munition and garrisons for Warre and her Councellors of State depriued likewise of good aduice And indeed to speake truely Englands affaires were at that time in a most miserable case and lamentable state for England had warre on the one side with Scotland and on the other side with France and was in a manner vndone by those debts that King HENRY the Eighth and King EDWARD the Sixt had run into and her treasury was exhaust and empty and the Town of Callais had beene but newly lost and the whole Countrey of Oyes with all the munition and furniture of warre The people here were diuided into contrarieties through differency of religion and the Queene left without any powerfull friend to assist her hauing no alliance at all abroad with forrain Princes But when as her Maiestie had more seriously agitated her spirit and carefully considered in her minde the proposition of this match shee findes the holy Scripture expressely inioyning that no woman ought to ioyne with him who had beene her sisters Husband no more than it is lawfull for a man to marry his brothers widdow and therefore that such marriages were directly illegitimate and wholly forbidden by Gods Law although the Pope should neuer so much grant a Dispensation And moreouer that if she should contract it by vertue thereof shee should acknowledge and proue her selfe illegitimate sith shee was issued from the match that King HENRY her father had contracted after his diuorcing and putting away Katherine of Spaine for hauing beene his brothers wife which neuerthelesse had beene approued iust and lawfull according to the Diuine Law by all the Academies of Christendome and likewise the Synod of London as well as that of Katherine vniust and vnlawfull Her Maiestie therefore endeuours to stop preuent and hinder by little and little the course of King Philips suite by an honest answer truely modest and well-beseeming the chaste integrity of her constant virginity and chiefly grounded vpon scruple of her conscience But he notwithstanding all this surceased not his suite but persisted therein vrging her with feruent and frequent Letters By which shee obserued the manners and behauiours of so great a King compounded with grace and graue modesty and truely worthy his Maiestie the said Letters being much by her admired in the often publishing of them yea her Maiestie taking pleasure to imitate them vntill some Nobles of her Court began to defame and speake against the matchlesse pride and practices of the Spaniards Also some of the intimate Lords and fauorites of her Maiesties Priuy-Councell fearing lest the tender and young spirit of a Maide often moued might easily condescend to their desires told to her MAIESTIE secretly that both her Maiestie and friends with the whole Realme of England were vndone if in such Dispensations or in any thing else whatsoeuer she should giue any credit or make the least estimation of the Popes authoritie and power since that two of them had declared and published her Mother illegitimate and vnlawfully ioyned in wedlocke with King HENRY the Eighth Also that by vertue of such Declaration the most high and most mighty Princesse the Queene of Scotland should pretend right to the Crownes of England c. and that the Pope would neuer retract nor goe from that iudgement and that her Maiestie should not expect nor looke for any thing good or iust from the Popes hand who had beene enemies and shewed themselues vniust both towards her Maiestie and her Mother And that the French King laboured hard vsing his vtmost power and
that it was done in consideration of the marriages which ought to be contracted with the other Princes and hereupon propounded to marry the first Daughter who should issue by the mighty Princesse Mary Queene of Scotland and the Dolphin of France with the first Sonne that might be procreated by Queene ELIZABETH to whom she should bring in dowry the Towne of Calais and that for this cause the Queene of Scotland should quit her right which shee had vnto the Kingdome of England or otherwise to marry the first Daughter which should be borne of Queene ELIZABETH with the eldest Sonne that should descend from the Queene of Scotland and hereupon the English should renounce the right which they pretend vnto the Realme of France and the French should be discharged of all the debts they ought to England and that Calais should in the meane time remaine in their hands But these propositions being vncertaine for another time they sought to win time and increase the delayes but were contemned by the English who made as if they seemed not to haue heard them As they stood vpon these termes the Spaniard hauing aduice that Queene ELIZABETH did not onely breake the marriage which hee had offered her but likewise changed many things in Religion began to giue ouer the desire which he seemed to haue before the restitution of Calais and his Ambassadours almost losing their patience were somewhat of accord with the French for the rest made account to continue the warres no longer for Calais vnlesse the English would contribute more men and money as before and would aduance it for sixe yeere This raised the heart of the Cardinall of Lorraine who assured the Spaniards that the Queen of Scotland his Niece was truely and vndoubtedly Queen of England and therefore that the King of Spaine ought to imploy all his forces if he made any account of iustice to cause Calais to be deliuered into the hands of his Niece the direct Queene of England But the Spaniards which suspected the power of France not hearing that willingly tryed secretly to draw out of England the Lady Katherine Gray the yonger Niece of King HENRY the Eighth for his Sisters sake to oppose her to the Queene of Scotland and the French if Queene ELIZABETH should happen to decease and to hinder thereby that France might not be augmented by the surcrease of England and Ireland And strongly insisted that there should be a Truce betwixt England and France vntill such time they should agree together and that in the meane time Calais should be sequestred in the hands of the King of Spaine as an Arbitrator of honour But that was refused as much by the French as the English Queene ELIZABETH had well presaged that for shee could not hope for any good from the Spaniards side seeing that she had contemned and despised to marry with their King and changed Religion She also had knowledge that the treatie of Cambray was not made for any other purpose but to exterminate roote out the Religion of the Protestants And truely the consideration of her Sex and the scarsitie of treasure made her Maiesty finde that peace was more to be wisht for than warre though most iust Also it was her ordinary saying that there was more glory in settling a peace by wisdome than in taking vp armes to make warre neither did shee thinke that it was beseeming either to her dignity or to the dignity of the name of the English to relye vpon the defence of the Spaniard And she thought therefore that it was better for her to make a peace aside and separably and to go thorow and conclude for Calais with the King of France being sollicited thereunto by continuall Letters from the Duke of Mont-morancy Constable of France and the Duke of Vandosme as also by message of the Duke of Guise who sent the Lord Gray who had beene taken prisoner at Guienne and released to that end And for to conclude this agreement B. Caualcance a Lord of Florence was employed who from his infancy had been brought vp in England with whom the French King hauing conferred in secret did hold that it should be safer to treat thereof by new Commissioners in such priuat Country-houses of the Kingdomes of England or France that were of no great note But Queene ELIZABETH being mooued shewed her selfe to be of a manly courage in declaring that shee was a Princesse absolutely free for to vndergoe her affaires either by her owne selfe or by her Ministers and although that during the reigne of her Sister nothing was concluded but according to the Spaniards aduice and that shee would neuerthelesse without giuing him the least notice or taking his counsell dispatch these affaires betweene the Deputies of both sides not in an obscure and priuate place but openly in the Castle of Cambresis neere Cambrai This offended no lesse the Spaniard than the refusall and contempt of his marriage with her Maiestie with the alteration of Religion had done heretofore Neuerthelesse the French who was crafty and cunning enough to discouer how she was affected to match with Spaine prayed her Maiestie first of all to take away two scruples from them before the yeelding of Calais to wit that they forsaking that Towne before they were assured whom shee should marry it might easily fall into the hands of the Spaniard because that he would haue her Maiestie if possible vpon any condition and that there is nothing so deare but women will part with it to their beloued husbands the other whether as the Spaniards boast that the English haue such neere alliance with them that they ought to ioyne in armes with them against all Nations whatsoeuer to these it was answered that her Maiestie bore such motherly affection toward the Kingdome of England that she would neuer part with Calais for to fauour a husband and that although her Matie shold grant it yet England would neuer suffer it Moreouer that betwixt her Maiesty and Spaine there was not any such alliance but a meere forced amitie and that her Maiesty was most free for any contract with any Prince which might be commodious and beneficiall to England Vpon this it was thought good and expedient that the Commissioners of each part should equally vse their vtmost endeuours in the Castle of Cambray to agree all differences and to conclude a peace Therefore Queene ELIZABETH sent for England as Commissioners Thurlbie Bishop of Elie the Lord Howard Baron of Effingham Lord high Chamberlaine to her Maiesty and Doctor Wotton Deane of the two Metropolitan Sees of Canterburie and Yorke For the French King Charles Cardinall of Lorraine Archbishop and Duke of Rheims the chiefest Peere of France Anne Duke of Mont-morancy Peere Constable and great master of France Lord Iames Aulbon Lord of Saint Andrewes Marquis of Fronsac and Lord Marshall of France Iohn of Moruillier Bishop of Orliens and Claude Aubespine Secretary of the Priuy-Councell of France These ioyntly
that they should forbeare absolutely to beare these Armes by the intercession of M. Memorency the Guizes Emulator who thought it not to be any honour for the King of France to take any other Title or to graue in his Seales any other armes than the Armes of the Kings of France and shewed that this Title alone was of more importance than many others and that the precedent Kings had no other when they sought their right in Naples and Milan And truely from these Titles and these Armes which the King of France at the instigation of the Guizes hath taken from the Queene of Scotland then vnder age all the disasters which afterwards happened vnto her haue flowed from that for from thence came the enmities openly declared by Queene ELIZABETH against the Guizes and those which shee practised against her priuatly which by the subtil malice of men who made vse of the growing enuy and of the occasions which sprung from day to day haue beene so fomented on both sides that nothing could extinguish them but death for Soueraigntie admits no Companion and Enmitie against Maiestie is grieuous A few daies after in stead of giuing foure Hostages for the Towne of Calais as they were bound by the treaty of Cambray they gaue onely three the English Merchants are iniuriously dealt with in France one of the Ambassador Throgmortons seruants was sent to the gallies which F. great Prior of France had taken carried away by force from a publique place Some Pistols were shot at the Ambassadour himselfe and in his owne lodging and to make him the more contemptible hee was serued at the Table with no other Vessell but such as the Armes of England and France were ioyntly grauen on Finally la Brosse was sent into Scotland with a troupe of choyce men Gallies were sent for from Marseilles and from the Mediterranean Sea Those in Scotland which professed the Protestants Religion and qualified themselues with the title of the Assembly perswaded by certaine heady Ministers and especially by Knox a most hot controller of the Royall authority that it behooued the Peeres of the Realme to take away Idolatry from their authority by force to settle the Princes within the limits prescribed by the Lawes had already refused to obey the Queene-Mother and Regent though shee was a modest and a prudent woman changed Religion tumultuously ransacking and burning the sacred places drawne to their partie Hamilton Duke of Chastelraut the most powerfull of all the Kingdome much prouoked by the wrongs done by the French and many Nobles were bayted with hope to haue the Ecclesiasticall Reuenues insomuch as they seemed not to thinke of Religion but to plot in good earnest a reuolt against the Queene Regent and against the French which made warre in Scotland and accused Iames Prior of Saint Andrewes Bastard brother to the Queene their Coriphea who since was Count of Mura to haue coueted the Kingdome from his Sister But by the holy protestations which hee made vnto them hee tooke away all suspition of hauing any other ayme but the glory of God and the Countries liberty and that seeing it opprest by the Queene Regent and the French he could not chuse but lament most bitterly for it They sent William Maitland of Lidington Secretary to Queene ELIZABETH and hee in a pittifull discourse complained to her that since the marriage of the Queene of Scotland with the Daulphin the administration of the Kingdome had beene changed strange Souldiers spoyl'd and ruin'd all the French were placed in the chiefest offices of the Kingdome the Castles and strong places put into their hands the pure money corrupted for their particular profit and that by these deuices and the like they fortifie themselues fraudulently to take away the Kingdome as soone as the Queene should be dead Cecill who was the principall minister that Queene ELIZABETH vsed in this businesse and in all other for his singular wisedome employeth H. Percy who afterwards was Earle of Northumberland to know what end the Lords of that Assembly propounded to themselues what meanes they had to obtaine that which they desired and if one should send them succour vpon what conditions might Amitie bee maintained betweene the two Kingdomes They answered that they propounded not to themselues any other end but the aduancement of the glory of Iesus Christ and the sincere preaching of Gods Word to extirpate superstition and idolatry and to keepe the liberty of their Ancestors which they knew not by what meanes it might be done but they hoped that God would giue successe to their designes according to their desire to the confusion of their aduersaries And as for the intertaining of amitie betweene the two Kingdomes that that was the abridgement of their wishes and thereunto vowed their goods their faith and their constancy They deliberate slowly of these things in England because the Scots were not well furnished with money and armes nor very faithfull among themselues But they considered that the Marquis D' Elbeuf Vnkle to the Queene of Scotland had leuied men in Germanie by the meanes of the Ringraue for the Scottish warre that they had brought downe into the Hauens peeces for battery that the preparations which were made were greater than was necessary for the restraining as was pretended of a small number of vnarmed Scots that the French to draw to their league the King of Denmarke promised him that the Duke of Lorraine should quit the right which hee pretended to haue to his Kingdome and that likewise the censure of the Pope against the Queene was more importunately sollicited than euer and a sentence declaratory for the right of the Queene of Scots to England there was sent vpon the frontiers of Scotland one Sadler a prudent man and the Counsellor of the Duke of Northumberland who guarded the South frontier and Iames Croft Gouernour of Barwicke For the Councell of England could not see what these things tended vnto except to inuade England and to pursue by armes that which they attributed to themselues by their Coates and Titles Now doe they in England seriously consult vpon the businesse and it seemed to them to be a very bad example that one Prince should lend ayde and succour to the subiects of another Prince who rayse vp broyles and tumults but it seemed also that it were an impietie to abandon those who professe the same Religion a slow wisdome to permit the French who were sworne enemies to the name of English challenged the Realme of England and enioyed at that time in all places an assured peace to remaine armed in Scotland so neere England and so opportunely for the inuading of that side where Nobles and Commons of England are most affectionate to the Romish Religion That it were to deliuer cowardly into the Enemies hand the safetie of particulars and the peace of the generall For that cause it behooued not to stand vpon dreaming and
slow Counsels but to dispatch and take armes That the prudence of England had alwaies beene accustomed to goe meete their enemies and not to waite for them and that it had euer beene aswell suffered to preuent dangers as to expell them to defend themselues with the same weapons that they are assayled with That England was neuer assured but when it was powerfull and armed that it was more powerfull when it had nothing to feare but the Scottish coast and that to take away this feare it were meete to assist those which professed the same Religion and chace the French out of Scotland against whom Armes are very auaileable but not Counsels That for hauing contemned them too much heretofore they had lost Calais with shame and hurt and a little before by surprize Ableville and the forts neere Bullen whiles they fained to seeke a peace which was the cause that Bullen afterwards was constrayned to render and that they should looke for no lesse of Barwicke and the frontier Townes if they tooke not armes the sooner without staying to see what the French will doe who looke as if they meant to make peace in Scotland Their designe being hidden their ambition infinite their reuennew exceeding great insomuch that it is growne a Prouerbe long agoe in England that France cannot be three yeeres both without warre and without meanes Queene ELIZABETH also often alledged this saying of the Emperour Valentinian Haue French for a friend but not for a neighbour It was resolued then that it was iust necessary and profitable to driue the French out of Scotland as soone as could be possible In the end a Nauy was sent into Borrough which is now called Enden-borrough Frith coÌ„ducted by W. Winter master of the Nauall Artillery who to the great terrour of the French set vpon their ships which were there in the Road and vpon the Garrison that they kept in the I le of Inch-Keith Likewise presently the Duke of Norfolke was established Lieutenant generall in the Northerne parts towards Scotland the frontiers of the East and of the South were coÌ„mitted to the Lord Baron Gray who not long ago had couragiously but vnluckily defended Guien against the French and Thomas Earle of Sussex who in the reigne of Queene MARY had beene Deputy of Ireland is sent back thither with title of Lieutenant together with speciall command to ouer-looke this Irish Nation being so much the more superstitious by how much lesse it was husbanded and tilled should not be stirred to rebellion by the practices of the French vnder pretext of Religion to furnish Ophalie with some small Forts to giue to the old Soldiers some lands to be to them and their heires males begotten of their bodies to receiue Sulij-Boy Scotsh-Irish to hold the possessions which hee had claimed by hereditary right in the Countrey of Vlster to hold in fee and to doe homage and seruice for the same to increase moderately the reuenues of the Prince and reduce the treasury to the forme of that of England While these things passed thus F. Talbot the fifth Earle of the House of Shrewsburie dyed who was one of the chiefe Councellors of the Kingdome leauing for Heire George his onely Sonne by Marie Daughter to T. Dacre of Gilsland THE THIRD YEERE OF HER RAIGNE Anno Domini 1560. AS soone as the Duke of Norfolke was come to Barwicke the Prior of Saint Andrews the Baron of Rethuen and others came to meete him and in the name of the Duke of Chastelraut and his Confederates treated allyance with him for the Queene of England in these termes Whereas the French haue striuen by right or wrong to subdue Scotland and to vnite it to the Scepter of France the Queene of England will take into her Protection the Duke of Chastelraut the Heire apparent to the Kingdome of Scotland as long as the marriage of the King of France and Mary Queene of Scots shall last and one yeere more He shall set forth Armies by Land and Sea with all sort of warlike Munition to chase and driue the French out of Scotland He shall not make peace with them but with condition that Scotland shal enioy its former libertie The Forts which shall be taken from them by the ayde of the English shall be also presently demolished or put into the hands of the Duke of Norfolke according as hee shall thinke good The English shall not fortifie any place in Scotland but by the counsel of the Duke of Chastelraut and the Peeres of the Kingdome The Scots shall assist the English to their vttermost endeuours they shall hold their Enemies theirs and shall not suffer that the Kingdome of Scotland shall bee ioyned to France otherwise then by marriage as now it is If England be set vpon by the French on this side Tine the Scots shall send at the Queenes charge two thousand Horse and a thousand Foot-men If on the other side they shall ioyne themselues to succour the English with all the strength they are able to make and at their owne charge for thirtie dayes as they haue beene accustomed to doe for the defence of Scotland The Earle of Argaehel Iudge of Scotland shall labour to reduce vnto due obedience the Northerne parts of Ireland vnder certaine Conditions which shall bee agreed vpon betweene the Vice-roy of Ireland and himselfe Finally it is determined what the one and the other shall doe if Iames Maconel or others raise any commotion in the Countrey of Hebride in Scotland or in Ireland For establishing these things Hostages shall bee sent into England before the English Armie enter into Scotland which shall be changed at the discretion of the Scots from sixe moneths to sixe moneths or from foure to foure Moneths so long as the Marriage betweene the King of France and the Queene of Scotland shall last and a yeere ouer and aboue That the Duke of Chastelraut the Earles and Barons Conferrates shall ratifie these Coâ—â—entions vnder their Signes and Seales within twenty dayes and shall declare that in all things which shal not tend to the oppressing of their ancient Liberty they shal yeeld obedience to the Queene of Scotland and to the King of France her Husband forasmuch as the Queene of England vndertakes not these things but by way of friendship and neighbourhood and to free the Scots from Bondage It was already discouered by Messages from stranger Princes and intercepted Letters that the French were resolued to set vpon England Seb. Martigues a young Gentleman of the House of Luxembourg with a thousand old Souldiers and two wings of Horse was come into Scotland and Doisel a Frenchman assuring himselfe too much to be of the Councell of the Queene Regent of Scotland had propounded to the chiefe of the Kingdome at Aymouth neere Barwicke that ioyning their forces they at the very instant would put the King and Queene of Scotland in possession of England but hauing considered the difficultie of the thing
Towne next after they make Trenches and raise Mounts from which they battered no lesse the Towne then the Ships The French make many Sallies out with more courage than strength and shewe many proofes of Magnanimity Amongst others vpon the fifteenth day of Aprill they tooke the Trenches nayled three of the greatest Cannons tooke and led away prisoner M. Berclé But I. Croft and C. Vaghan driue them backe as fast into the Towne and it was not done without losse of men Arthur Gray sonne to the Lord Baron Gray who had the principall command in the Campe was shot into the shoulder After that they bring the Campe neerer to the Towne because the Battery was so farre off that the Bullets for the most part fell without effect and a short time after part of the Towne and a great quantity of Corne was burned by casuall fire which was much encreased by the English who placed on that side their biggest Cānons and being in the meane time entred into the Ditch tooke the height of the Wall and the sixth of May while the English and the Scots were together of accord hauing placed the Ladders on all sides gaue three powerful alssaults to gaine the Wall but because they were too short and the waters higher then ordinary the Sluces beeing shut they were repulsed with a showre of Bullets that ouerwhelmed them from aboue and there were many slaine yet more wounded This check was imputed to Croft's fault because he had stayed in his Quarter with his Armes foulded as if he had reproued this expedition seeing others doe without putting himselfe in action to assist those who had neede thereof and I cannot tell whether hee did it out of iudgement or for affection which he bore to the French or for hatred to Gray But so it is that Norfolke and Gray accused by Letters which they writ to the Queene to haue had secret consultations with the Queene of the Scots and to haue oppos'd this designe and in hauing sequitiuely bin brought in iustice the gouernment of Barwicke was taken from him and giuen to the Lord Baron Gray But the Queene shewing him fauour conseru'd it for him and for his merit established him afterward Controwler of her Maiesties House This first Mis-hap hauing abated the courage of the English and Scots the Duke of Norfolke rais'd them as quickly vp againe by new Troops which hee brought to strengthen and since that time there were some light combates vntill that the King of France hauing aduice that his men were so blockt vp at Lieth that all the Passages by Sea and Land were shut also considering that they could not send him succour in time requisite for the great distance of places and the seditions which augmented from day to day in his Kingdome gaue power to the Bishop of Valence and De la Roche Faucaud to accord the Affaires with Qu. ELIZABETHS Commissioners esteeming and the Queene of Scotland with them that it were a thing vnworthy their Maiesty to enter into equall dispute with their Subiects And Queen ELIZABETH deputed as speedily into Scotland W. Cecill and N. Wotton Deane of Canterburie and Yorke At the same time the C. of Murray made some propositions But Cecill thought that they ought not to be made by Subiects nor agreed on by Princes During these debatings the decease of Queene Marie of Lorraine mother to the Queen and Regent of the Kingdome of Scotland hapned a pious most prudēt Princesse who was neuerthelesse ignominiously and vnworthily handled by hot-headed Preachers as it may appeare euen by the Ecclesiasticall History of Scotland which Queene ELIZABETH caused to be suppressed vnder the Presse and by the Lords of the Assembly who as being borne Councellors of State had vnder the name of Queene of Scotland and her Husband suspended her from all administration as contrary to the glory of God and the libertie of Scotland The Articles of which the Commissioners after the siege begun agreed vpon are these THe treaty of peace made in the Castle of Cambray betwixt Queene ELIZABETH and Henry the Second the French King shall be renewed and confirmed They shall cease both the one side and the other to make preparation of warre The Fortresse of Aymouth in Scotland shall be demolisht The said King and Queene Mary shall quit the title and armes of England and Ireland The strifes touching the recompence of the iniurie done to Queene ELIZABETH and the assurance of the first Article are remitted to another Assembly which shall be holden at London and if they cannot then be agreed of it shall be referred to the Catholique King The King and the Queene shall reconcile themselues with the Nobles amongst their Subiects of Scotland the Confederates shall be therein comprised and aboue all the Catholique King This Treatie shall be confirmed within sixtie dayes the intertayning of it sworne on both sides This Peace is published as well in the Campe as in the City with a common reioycing of all The English growing weary of the warre seeing their neighbouring Countrey vtterly spoyled The French because they were depriued of all traffique commerce and the Scots for not hauing beene payed their wages And indeed it was holden for the weale good and well-fare of Great Brittaine since Scotland retained his ancient liberty and England kept the dignity and surety which it had gotten And since that time she hath beene really exempt and freed from all subiects of feare from Scotland side The English haue merrily acknowledged that Queene ELIZABETH was the founder of the surety and the Protestants of Scotland Restoresse of the liberty During all that time Queene ELIZABETH for the singular loue which shee bore to the parties was so attentiue to the publique good that shee razed from her heart the loue of powerfull Princes who sought her in marriage to wit CHARLES Arch-duke of Austria second Sonne of Ferdinando the Emperour who made this suit by the Count of Elpheston Of Iames Earle of Arran who was recommended by the Protestants the which propounded to themselues to vnite by his meanes the Kingdomes of England and Scotland which were diuided which was also quickly reiected and neuerthelesse to her Maiesty praise Of Erric King of Sueden who to the same purpose imployed Iohn his Brother Duke of Finland to this end sent into England by Gustaue his Father a little before his death and grounding his hopes vpon this that hee was of the same Religion as Queene ELIZABETH was made himselfe so credulously importunate that hee thought of nothing but England notwithstanding that the King of Denmarke his sworne enemy had resolued to take him in the way thinking that it concerned him greatly if England and Sueden betweene which Denmarke lyes should be ioyned by the meanes of a marriage Queene ELIZABETH acknowledged and praised his singular and Soueraigne loue and made him answer that his comming should be very agreeable
and pleasing to her but she could not yet finde in her heart to marry in changing her present condition which was vnto her much more delightfull pray'd him to proue her good wil in any other thing assuring him that although hee could not enioy his desires neuerthelesse hee should perceiue that his loue had not beene ill placed and admonished him not to deferre the time any longer to make choyce of a Wife which might be worthy of him With this answer I. C. of Finland returnes into his Countrey After hauing imployed all kinde of meanes to make this marriage in courting her Maiestie importunately by bold demands vsing of great liberality towards her Courtiers captiuating the good will of the inferior sort amongst which he often strowed pieces of Siluer telling them that when his Brother should come he would distribute largely pieces of Gold to the common people in generall Neuerthelesse his Brother suspecting that he had made this suit for himselfe receiued and intertained him ill at his returne and obstinating himselfe in his designe ceased not to continue this suit two yeeres after and made the condition of it to be propounded by Nicholas Guildenstain but as hee was imprudent and light at the same time hee demanded the daughter of Philip Landgraue of Hessen hauing beene refused at last married with a Lady of meane condition But as for Charles Duke of Austria he conceiued such hope that his House already allied by marriages with great Princes would be much more augmented by the addition of the alliance with England and that the ancient Religion should be tolerated if not altogether established which he so expected as a thing which he could not faile of and Qu. ELIZABETH tooke not at an instant this hope from him For her Matie shewed openly to euery one protested in the presence of C. Elphinstain and writ to the Emperour that of all the illustrious marriages which were propounded to her there was not any more or greater than that of the Arch-Duke that neuerthelesse neither the storme of dangers had not power heretofore nor the fauourable winde of honour could yet for the present diuert her from that manner of life in which shee had settled her selfe Notwithstanding without being come so farre as to renounce altogether the state of marriage and that shee hoped that God vpon whose goodnesse shee wholly supported her selfe would addresse his ends in that and in euery other thing to the safety both of her and her Subiects Adolphe likewise Duke of Holsatia was stirred vp by Frederic the Second King of Denmarke his Nephew to hinder her from marrying with the King of Sueden and carried with hopes to be able to effect it by the desire which her selfe had by her Letters witnessed vnto him that he was possest with the same affection towards the English as he had beene long agoe towards the Spaniards and by the promise that shee had most louingly made him hee came into England where she intertained him royally honoured him with the Order of the Garter gratified him with an annuall pension and through her extraordinary courtesie profest vnto him her Maiestie obliged for euer a most illustrious Prince who had purchased the renowne to be a most famous warriour in a conquest lately by him wonne against those of DITHMARS There were also in her Kingdome certaine Lords who according to the custome of Louers vainly prated concerning the marriage viz. Sir William Pickering Knight of the Order who had an indifferent good estate but honourably descended hee through his rare study and affability had gotten much honor and no lesse applause by his Ambassage in France and Germanie The Earle of Arundel a man of a most ancient House no lesse great in meanes than illustrious by birth but growing into yeeres and Robert Dudley the yongest Sonne of the Duke of Northumberland whom Queene MARY restored to his right and honours a noble young Lord of most comely lineaments of body who was as farre in fauour with the Queene as his Father and Grand-father were generally hated of the people out of a rare and royall clemency which she professed towards him in conferring heaping honours vpon him whose Father would haue attempted her death Whether this might proceed from some secret instinct of those vertues apparant in him or out of common respect they both being prisoners vnder Queene MARIE or from their first procreation by a secret coniunction of the Planets at the houre of their birth combining their hearts in one no man can easily conceiue Howsoeuer it were it is most certaine that onely Destinie causeth Princes to affect some and reiect others In token of honour and for the testimony of her well-wishing towards him the first yeere of her reigne after she had made him her Champion shee made him Knight of the Garter which amongst the English is the most honourable dignitie of all with the Duke of Norfolke the Marquis of Northampton and the Earle of Rutland at which euery one wondered In the meane time Vicount Montaigu Ambassadour for Spaine moued him of the necessitie of the warres of Scotland and laboured what in him lay to preuent the imputation of the Scots to be Rebels shewed him by the instructions wherein he was commanded but coldly in regard hee was a zealous professour of the Roman Religion that that which was established in England was conformable and grounded vpon the holy Scripture and the Aecunomicke Councels and intreated him to renew the alliance of the Burgundians formerly contracted betweene the Kings of England and their predecessours The Spaniard howsoeuer it was agreeable and vsuall amongst Princes to confirme such a renouation in respect it giueth as it were life to their Alliances and testifieth to the world their mutuall good will and howsoeuer himselfe and Charles his Father in the treaty of marriage with MARY Queene of England in the yeere 1533. were bound to confirme this alliance answered notwithstanding that it was needlesse lamented the alteration of Religion happened in England seemed to distaste the raising of an army and rooting out the Rebels in Scotland and fained to be too late aduertized thereof But for all this hee still opposed the designes of the French who laboured to excommunicate ELIZABETH and brought it so to passe that she could be no way subiect to excommunication without his consent and to aduertise her though it were too late that they ought for her aduantage to insert in the Articles concluded with the King of France that if the French should returne into Scotland it might be lawfull for the English to expulse them and in expresse termes to condition for the certaine assurance of the restitution of Calais The Earle notwithstanding perceiued well and so did the Queene that he was displeased as well by the circumstances I haue related as principally for that hee re-deliuered into the said Vicounts hands the tokens and ensignes of the order
waxe hot in the minority of Charles the Ninth the Princes which enuied one another pretending on both sides the specious name the defence of Religion and those of the reformed Religion beeing grieuously oppressed And herevpon the Papists of England by I knowe not what hope which they had conceiued thereby to oppresse the Protestants many discourses of importance were whispered very secretly in priuate assemblies and all full of suspicion Margaret Countesse of Lenox who had a secret intelligence with the Queen of Scotland and the Earle of Lenox her husband were for a time put and detayned vnder the custodie of the Master of the Rolles Arthur Pole and his Brother Nephews sonnes to George Duke of Clarence King Edwards Brother Anthony Fortescue who had married their Sister and others were brought into examination for hauing conspired to withdraw themselues into France to the Guizes and from thence to returne with an Armie into Wales and declare the Queene of Scotland Queene of England and Arthur Pole Duke of Clarence as they at their Tryall ingenuously confessed neuerthelesse protesting that they intended not to doe it while Queene ELIZABETH liued and that they had been seduced by diuiners to beleeue that shee should dye that yeere for which they were condemned to dye notwithstanding for the respect which was had vnto their bloud they were suffered to liue But as many haue thought they vsed Katherine Gray very seuerely though she was much neerer of kinne to the Queene being Daughter to the Duke of Suffolke For hauing beene married to Henry eldest Sonne to the Earle of Pembrooke by him lawfully repudiated and left long time in great contempt finding her selfe with child neere her lying down was put in the Tower of London although shee protested that she was married to Edward Seimor Earle of Hertford and great by him Hee himselfe being returned from France whither he went for his pleasure by the Queenes permission hauing made the like acknowledgement was also imprisoned in the same Towre the Arch-bishop of Canterbury and others were appointed to examine and decide the Cause without appeale and when hee could not produce witnesse of his marriage within the time prescribed him the Arch-bishop by a definitiue Sentence pronounced That the Carnall company which he had had with her was illegitimate and vnlawfull and that for this offence they ought both to be punished This Sentence was impugned as wicked and vniust by Iohn Hales a man very opinatiue but otherwise very learned who maintained that their sole consent did legitimate their coniunction for which reason he himselfe was committed She was deliuered in prison of her first-borne and afterwards her Keepers being corrupted by the Earle of Hertfords deuice Edward Warner Lieutenant of the Towre was punished as conscious of the fact and displaced Hertford is accused in the Starre-Chamber of three crimes that he had deflowred a Virgine of the Bloud-Royall broken the Prison and had accompanied with her since Whereupon after hauing protested that hee was lawfully married to her he confessed that hauing found the doores of the Prison open hee had visited her in the affliction which was caused by the sentence pronounced against them and had payed her the duty of wedlocke For which cause hee was fined fiue thousand pound for euery offence and kept Prisoner nine yeeres Yet neuerthelesse by perswasion of Lawyers hee insisted against the Arch-bishops sentence by interiecting an appeale and continued to visit her priuily But in this time hee voluntarily and publiquely left it off and she after some yeeres to the end I may in the time of their separation speake ioyntly of them fell into a grieuous sicknesse after hauing in the presence of Hopton Lieutenant of the Towre demanded pardon of the Queene in regard shee had married without her aduice and with Prayers re-commended her Children to her trust and Hertford his libertie She dyed in Christ piously and peaceably Warre renewing then in France betweene the Princes of the Bloud and the Guizes vnder a feigned pretence of Religion as I haue said one sought for to strengthen both parties Queene ELIZABETH began to feare lest neighbour-warres should intangle England therein For she had learned that the Guizes to draw Anthonie of Burbone to their partie had boasted to put him in possession of Nauarre to marry him to the Queene of Scotland and to giue him in dowry the Kingdome of England at the expence of the Spaniard and by the authority of the Pope who would breake the marriage because his Wife was an Heretique and by the same meanes depose Qu. ELIZABETH of her Kingdome as being so Vpon that she sent H. Sidney a man of great renowne that he might informe himself more surely of these things to exhort vnto peace the Conductors of these seuerall parties But the businesse was come to such a passe that the eares of both parties were shut against peace Sidney being returned from France is forthwith sent to the Queene of Scotland that the Colloque which shee desired to be holden in England with Queene ELIZABETH might be prorogued vntill the yeere following or vntill the Warres in France were abated Now it is consulted on whether it were expedient or not that these two Princesses should speake together in that the Queene of Scotland desired it the first it was not without suspition she did it to serue her owne ends and sought out stratagems in their season or to affirme the right which shee pretended to haue in England or to giue hope and increase of courage to the Papists of England and to the Guizes in France Some thought the contrary that this would be a meanes to vnite them with a firme friendship to decay by little and little the alliance with France and to draw the Queene of Scotland to the Protestants Religion Others obserued that such communications might rather sow seedes of emulation than of loue and that the shew of riches and power of the one would euer excite the enuy of the other and that the presence not answering to the opinion and reputation of the body of the grace in speaking and of the gifts of the spirit would leaue both to the one and the other some thing of reprehension The Queene of Scotland did likewise iudge that it were not safe for her to expose her selfe into the power of Queene ELIZABETH with whom shee had contended for the right of the Kingdome and as shee had learned that shee had openly declared her selfe for the Protestants of France shee was likewise in doubt on what side to ranke her selfe considering how shee her selfe had written that of the Father side she had drawne her extraction from England and of her Mother side from France that shee had beene crowned Queene of France and was Dowager of it that shee was the most certaine Heire of England and looked for the succession that if shee were obliged to her Vnkles of France who
of France and the Chancellour of the Hospitall in an ample Discourse expressing to them the present felicity they thereby enioyed and the generall contentment they ought to receiue and testifie the same withall for the amplification of this subiect and out of a false surmize he reported to them that the day before the Townes surrender there was seene within the view thereof an English Fleet which came for ayde and succour and he openly auerred that by reason of this warre the English were wholly frustrate of their right and demand touching the restoring of Calais The infected Soldiers were transported into England who so spred the face of this sicknesse through a contagious and infectiue poyson as all the Kingdome was therewith grieuously afflicted onely in the Citie of London consisting of an hundred twenty and one Parishes within the compasse of one yeere an hundred and thirty thousand men rather more then lesse dyed Monsieur de Guize Vncle to the Queene of Scots dying while this Ciuill Warre lasted the Queenes Maiesty of Scotland not beeing paid her Dowrie Marquis Hamilton depriued of the Duchy of Chastelraut and the Scottish Guard being excluded from the King of France the Queen of Scots tooke it very much to heart But the Cardinall of Lorraine her other Vncle fearing that this would bee a subiect which might cause her to reiect the French and become friend to the English sends her word againe by Croc to marry with Charles of Austria and to offer for her Dowrie the County of Tyrol Shee aduertiseth Queene ELIZABETH thereof who counselled her by Randoll who I haue spoken on before to make choice of a Husband as heretofore I haue said and withall more plainely then yet shee had done recommended Robert Dudley whose wife beeing heire to Robsert had lately broke her necke and promised her in case that she would marry him to declare her Her Sister or Daughter and Englands Heretrix by Act of Parliament Foix the French Ambassadour made the Queene Mother and her Vncle 's acquainted with this who presently disdained the Party so much as altogether vnworthy of that Race and Royall Maiestie that they promised not onely to pay her Dowrie but also that the Scots should haue their ancient immunities yea and more if shee would stand firme in amity with France and reiect the marriage which was offered her telling her that Queen ELIZABETH did not propound this marriage to her seriously but with dissimulation as hauing destin'd Dudley for her owne Husband and that shee should not ground her hope vpon the authority of the Parliament because that in England one Parliament abolisheth what another hath established Furthermore that the designes of the Councell of England were no other but to hinder her from marrying at all She neuerthelesse referres it to the Colloque being molested with troubles in her Kingdome to see that the Arch-bishop of Saint Andrewes had beene imprisoned by the command of the Earle of Murray for not desisting to celebrate the Masse who would scarce grant him pardon though he asked it with flowing teares and that the feruent Ministers supporting themselues by Murrayes authoritie did violence to the Priest who had celebrated Masse in her Court being allowed by the Law and were not punished And it was not possible for her to suppresse those which troubled the affaires though all her care was wholy for the Common-wealth granting a perpetuall forgetfulnesse of all that was past increasing the stipend of Iudges establishing wholesome Lawes inflicting capitall punishment vpon Adulterers and often her selfe hearing causes pleaded in the Seat of Iustice so that by an equall Law shee gouerned both the great and the small In this vnlucky yeere dyed William Gray Baron of Wilton Gouernour of Berwicke who had in warre purchased great glory much diminished his patrimony for the ransome that he payed when he was taken prisoner in France The Protestants lamented much for him and Francis Earle of Bedford was substituted in his place Aluarus of Quadra Bishop of Aquila Ambassadour of Spaine in England likewise dyes who was no lesse lamented by the Papists whom he had fed with hope that the Romish Religion should haue beene re-established The Poles of whom I haue spoken were his intimates whereby he made himselfe suspected to haue nothing else in his minde but to trouble and disorder the affaires of England and to breake the amitie which was betweene the Queene and the King of Spaine whereupon the Queene intreated the King to reuoke him But hee excused it by his piety and writ backe that it would be a great incommoditie to Princes if at the first discontentment that is taken at their Ambassadours they should be constrayned to reuoke them And to say truth hee was displeased that without giuing him notice they had shut him vp in his House subiect to be questioned and publiquely reprehended for no other cause but that one Italian hauing shot another with a Pistoll he admitted him into his House and conueyed him priuately away whereupon he was more prouoked against the English than euer tofore taking occasion thereby to say that the English Pyrates molested the entries of Spaine and prepared to goe for the West-Indies and made it appeare manifestly sending Richard Shelley an English Fugitiue for Religion who was greatly bent against his Prince vpon an Embassie of honour to Maximilian the designed King of the Romanes to congratulate with him and seyzed vpon some English Merchants Ships in the Ports of Beotia because the English pursuing the French had intercepted some Spanish Ships William Lord Paget who for his vertue was exalted to three eminent dignities died Hee was so learned that HENRY the Eighth made him his Secretary sent him in an Embassie to the Emperour Charles the Fifth and to Francis the First King of France and he nominated him to be one of the Gouernours of the Kingdome during the minority of his Sonne Then Edward made him Chancellor of the Duchie of Lancaster Controller of the Kings House honoured him with the dignity of a Baron gratified him with the Order of the Garter which was reprochfully taken from him by Dudley Earle of Northumberland but restored againe with honour by Queene MARIE because by his prudence and sound aduice he had done good seruice to the Common-wealth and hee conferred vpon him the keeping of the Priuy Seale which is one of the foure highest dignities of ciuill honour For HENRY the Eighth by Act of Parliament constituted the first in the Chancellor the second in the Treasurer the third in the Lord President of the Priuy Councell and the fourth in the Keeper of the Priuy Seale aboue all Dukes and inferiour onely to the Children Brethren Vnkles or Nephewes to the King Queene ELIZABETH perceiuing that his old yeeres exempted him from being conuersant in matters of State as formerly he had beene remitted him of whatsoeuer belonged to publique administrations and
to euery bodies knowledge shee sends Lidington to Queene ELIZABETH to haue her consent to contract with Darley and not to be any longer detained with a vaine hope of marriage Queene ELIZABETH propounds the matter to her most intimate Councellors who by the secret suggestions of the Earle of Murray easily beleeued that the Queene of Scotland had no other designe but to strengthen her selfe by such a marriage to carry the right which shee pretended for the Kingdome of England and at length to establish it and likewise the Romish Religion that some did adhere vnto her seeing that by reason of her children the succession was ascertained to her House and others for the affection which they bare to the Romish Religion there being found more Eirenarch's in England deuoted to the Romish Religion than to the Protestants That to preuent these accidents it was chiefly requisite first to pray the Queene to marry speedily to the end that the affaires and hopes of England should not depend else-where but of the certainty of Succession which should come of her and of her Linage for they feared that if the Queene of Scotland did marry and should haue issue first many would incline towards her for the certainty and assurednesse of succession Secondly to ruine as much as may be the Romish Religion in England and to aduance and carefully establish the reformed the one by vsing more moderately in things indifferent such Protestants that are carried with a feruent zeale the other in setting Guards againe vpon the deposed papisticall Bishops who were then dispersed through the Countrey by reason of the plague conferring vpon the other Bishops greater authority to execute the Ecclesiasticall Ordinances then they had contrary to the terrifying Praemunire which the Lawyers doe obiect suppressing those Bookes which Harding and the fugitiue Diuines had sent out of the Low-Countries into England driuing out some Scottish Priests who hid themselues in England depriuing the English fugitiues of the Ecclesiasticall Benefices which they enioyed vntill then and compelling the Iudges of the Land who were for the most part Papists to acknowledge the Queenes Soueraigne authority and to sweare vnto it And that to hinder the marriage of Darley it was fit to leuy Souldiers vpon the Frontiers of Scotland to the end to raise a terrour to fortifie the Garrison of Berwicke to set a guard vpon the Countesse of Lenox Darley's Mother and on Charles her Sonne and to re-call out of Scotland into England the Earle of Lenox and Darley his Sonne vpon paine of losse of their goods before they made any alliance with the French or with Spaine and to assist those which were bent against this match and to receiue the Earle of Hertford and Katherine Gray somewhat into fauour which thing onely was thought that the Queene of Scotland very much apprehended in regard that shee likewise pretended a right to the Kingdome and it seemed none other could bring a greater impediment to this marriage than she From hence Throgmorton is sent to the Queene of Scotland to aduise her that it behooued to deliberate long of a thing that can be but once determined on and that a precipitate marriage was followed with repentance to re-commend Leicester to her againe and againe and that it was altogether contrary to Canon Law to contract with the Sonne of her Aunt by the Father-side For Queene ELIZABETH desired aboue all that some of the English Race should by her meanes succeed to both the Kingdomes albeit there fayled not who for matter of Religion and for the two Kingdomes made account to succeed if shee dyed without issue She answers That it was now past reuoking and that Queene ELIZABETH had no cause to be angry seeing that by her Councell she had made choyce of a Husband which was no stranger but an English man borne of the Royall bloud of both the Kingdomes and the most noble of all Great Brittaine Amongst these things Lidington treateth of affaires in England and dissembling with Leicester often spoke vnto him touching marriage with the Queene of Scotland as also to the Duke of Norfolke much more worthy to marry a Queene who then refused it with a modest excuse The Qu. of England to interpose some hindrance to this so hastened marriage calls backe Lenox and his Son Darley as being her Subiects according to the forme of the leaue which she had granted them The Father excuses himselfe modestly by Letters the Sonne prayes her not to hinder his aduancement representing vnto her that hee might be vsefull to England his dearest Countrey and openly declared vnto her that aboue all things hee loued and honoured the Queene of Scotland To answere which loue she had adorned him forthwith with the dignity Equitis Aurati with the titles of Baron of Ardmanock Earle of Rosse and Duke of Rothesie and fiue moneths after his comming into Scotland marries him with the consent of many Peeres and declares him King The Earle of Murray who imbraced nothing so affectionately as ambition and vnder pretence of Religion had drawne to his faction the Duke of Chastelraut a man without leauen Murray murmuring exceedingly and others storming and stirring vp such like questions Whether a Papist might be admitted King or no If the Queene of Scotland might chuse her selfe a Husband If the States might not impose their authoritie The Queene of England bare this peaceably knowing the sweete and tractable nature of Darley and the open heart of his Father and taking pitty to see a kinsman and a Queene very young to haue to doe with turbulent men who hauing beene already more than twenty yeeres loosed from Royall command could not indure Kings and feared them not seeing that the power of this Queene who enuied her was not increased by so meane a condition hauing Darleyes Mother in her power and fore-seeing that troubles in Scotland would spring out of this marriage as it happened quickly after for some great ones of the Kingdome and the chiefe of them Hamilton and Murray disdaining this match the one because it had beene contracted without the consent of the Queene of England the other for the enuy which he bare to the House of Lenox but both the one and the other pretending the conseruation of Religion to disturbe the marriage brought their Ensignes into the field insomuch as she was constrained to raise forces to celebrate it in safety and with the helpe of the King her Husband pursued the Rebels so swiftly that she constrained them to flie into England before the English troupes which were promised them for ayde were arriued and the Queene of England conniuing with Murray who was much addicted to the Engglish assigned him a conuenient place to lye heere in safetie and sent him money vnder-hand by the Earle of Bedford vntill his returne into Scotland which was the morrow after the murder of Dauid Riz as wee shall speake of it
withall they shewed her that it could not bee done except she married or designed a certaine Successor For which cause they desired and aboue all things besought her to be ioyned by the sacred bond of Marriage with whom she would in what place she liked as soone as she pleased to the end to haue Children for helps to the Kingdome withall to ordaine with the States of the Realme a Successor certaine in case that shee or the Children which she might haue should dye without Children which God forbid And for the obtaining of these things so much the more easily being so necessary they represented vnto her many reasons for the same the feare which of fresh memory had seized vpon them with such a sicknesse of which they had beene but newly recouered the opportunity of the time the States of the Kingdome beeing then assembled which might maturely deliberate of so great matters the terrour which she should giue to her enemies by this meanes and the incredible ioy which she should fill the hearts of her Subiects withall They praise the examples of her Ancestors who in like cases prouided for the suretie of their Posterity condemning this saying of Pyrrhus who would leaue his Kingdome to him that had the sharpest sword And moreouer shewing her with what a storme England were threatned if she should dye without designing a certaine Successor there would follow impetuously vpon it seditions and intestine Warres of which the Victory it selfe is most miserable and that Religion should bee driuen out Iustice ouerwhelmed the Lawes trodden vnderfoot there beeing no Prince who is the soule of the Law and the Kingdome a prey to strangers They numbered and exaggerated many other like calamities which would inuolue all sorts of Families if she should dye without Issue And modestly they added counsels Precepts and examples drawne from the holy Scriptures But those of the Lower House debated of these things more tumultuously Bell and Monson Lawiers of great renowne Dutton P. Wentworth and others refuted Royall Maiestie too much and among other things maintained that Kings were bound to designe a Successor that the loue of Subiects was the most strong and inexpugnable Rampart of Princes their onely stay and Support That Princes could not obtaine this loue if they did not prouide for the good of their Subiects not onely while they liued but after their death That that could not be done if a Successor did not plainely appeare That the Queene for lacke of designing one prouoked Gods wrath and alienated the hearts of her Subiects That then to gaine the fauour of God and haue Subiects most affectionate and obliged and to raise her vp Statues in the hearts of men which would neuer perish shee should declare a Successor Others that shee should knowe that they did hold her not for a Mother and a Nurse but for a Stepdame and a murderesse of her Countrie seeing shee loued her selfe better than England which then breathed by her spirit would expire with her rather then subsist aliue That there were neuer but cowardly Princes haters of their Subiects and fearefull weake women who conceiued feare because of their Successors and that such as be enuironed with the loue of their Subiects ought not to apprehend the danger which might bee stirred vp against them by a declared Successor These things she heard with a great deale of displeasure but shee contemned them for a time and for a time kept them hidden For as vse had instructed her she well knew what danger there is to designe a Successor insomuch that Queene MARIE reigning many of the Nobility and of the people had cast their eyes and hearts vpon her as beeing to succeed her that euen as any thing had bin said or done in her most holy Cabinet or secret Councell they reported it to her and that Wyat and others misliking their state and desiring to innouate things had conspired against her to set her vpon the Royall Throne in her place Shee knew that the hopes of Competitors were better restrained and they kept in their duety while she suspended the wayting of euery one and made no declaration of any That by a precipitate desire to reigne euen Children haue tooke Armes against their Fathers and that shee could not looke for lesse from her kindred She had obserued in reading and when she disputed of that remembred incontinently that it was rarely found that the Successors had bin declared in the collaterall line That Lewis Duke of Orleans had neuer been declared Successor in the Kingdome of France to Charles the Eighth nor Francis Duke of Angoulesme to Lewis yet neuerthelesse they succeeded without any noise That such designation had alwaies in England beene the ruine of the designed and that Roger Mortimer Earle of March designed Heire by King Richard had not beene so soone extinct and his sonne Edmond constituted and kept prisoner twentie yeeres together but for this cause That I. Polhem Earle of Lincolne declared Successor by Richard the 3. after the death of his sonne by Henry the Seuenty was alwaies suspected and finally killed in warre as he was weauing of innouations and his brother Edward beheaded vnder HENRIE the Eighth But these things make vs goe from the purpose But as some ceased not with prouoked spirits and sharpe contention daily more and more to cry aloud these things which I come to tell and other things which had a greater sting the Queene hauing commanded that choyce should be made of thirty of the Vpper-House of Parliament and as many of the Lower and that they should appeare before her Shee with a light reproose made them milder and by force of her most worthy Maiesty diuerted them from their designe promising them with many words not onely the care of a Princesse but also the affection of a Mother And the States hauing offered her for Subsidies more than they were accustomed to doe vpon condition that she would designe a Successour Shee vtterly refused it as being too much receiued the ordinary commending their affection remitted the whole fourth payment of the granted Subsidie saying That her Subiects money was as well in their owne coffers as in hers The last day of these Sessions she spoke thus in few words which I will shut vp in fewer SEeing that the words of Princes doe often penetrate deepe into the hearts and eares of men heare these from mee As I haue simply cherished truth so haue I alwayes thought that you would ingeniously haue cherished her but it hath beene in vaine For I haue discouered that dissimulation thrusts her selfe into these assemblies vnder the maske of libertie and of succession There are some of them among you who are of opinion that I ought presently to grant or vtterly to refuse libertie to dispute of the Succession and to establish it If I should haue granted it those would triumph ouer mee hauing their wishes If I refused they had
this Company might traffique into the North part of Russia and they onely should sell their merchandizes throughout the whole extent of his Empire which is large and spacious as in fit place shall be declared An. Ienkinson returned with these Ambassadours into England who had obseruantly runne ouer all this Countrey he described the same in a Geographicall Map and was the first man of the English that cross'd the Caspian Sea and landed in the Countrey of the Bactrians The Emperour committed vnto him secret matters which hee would by no meanes communicate to any of his owne people which was seriously to treat with Queene ELIZABETH in his name that she would enter into mutuall league with him offensiue and defensiue against all the world and that she would send into Russia Ship-wrights Mariners warlike Munitions and to oblige her selfe by solemne oath courteously to receiue him with his Wife and Children if he were driuen out of his Empire eyther by rebellious Subiects or open enemies And thus this Tyrant whom no man could trust seemed to be distrustfull euen of himselfe and though he were somewhat moued with the short and ambiguous answer that her Maiesty returned yet did he not giue ouer solliciting of her in these things both by Letters and Ambassies as hereafter shall be expressed requesting her continually to send him backe that same Anthony Ienkinson who as he thought had not beene so faithfull as in matters of so great waight was requisite The first Moneth of this yeere dyed Nicholas Wotton a Doctor of the Ciuill Law and Deane of the Churches of Canterbury and Yorke a very honourable person for his parentage but much more for his prudence whereof he had giuen ample testimony both within and without the Realme For hee was one of the Priuy-Councell to the Kings HENRY the Eighth and EDVVARD the Sixth as also to Queene MARY and Queene ELIZABETH Nine times he went Ambassadour to the Emperour the Kings of France and Spaine and other Princes Three times he was a Commissioner to make peace betweene the English French and Scots and one of the sixteene whom HENRY the Eighth chose for Executors of his last Will and Testament There dyed also El. Leyborne third Wife to Thomas Duke of Norfolke and formerly Widdow to the Lord Dacres hauing brought him forth no Children But she had one by her first Husband George the Baron who dyed young with a fall off of a Vauting-Horse of wood when he learned to vaut and three Daughters who were all affianced by promises of performance to the Dukes three Sonnes I told you how Shan O-Neale lawfull Sonne to Cone-Oneale surnamed Bacon that is to say Lame the mightiest man in the North part of Ireland which is called Vlster was come into England and craued pardon for his offence in the yeere 1563. When hee was returned into his Countrey hee valiantly defended that part of Ireland against the Scots which landed there out of Cantria and Hebride and he slew 10. Mac O-Neale his father in Law and Anny his Brother who conducted them This victory causing him to be insolent he began to exercise tyranny vpon other petty Lords of Vlster not of so powerfull a command as himselfe hee burnt Armach the Metropolitane City of Ireland for hatred to the Arch-bishop draue Mac-Guire out of the inheritance of his Predecessors pilled and sacked Mac-Genisse and others and the English receiuing them into their protection hee spred rebellious colours against Queene ELIZABETH But he presently wrapt them vp againe at the instigation of Cusac a Knight of the Order yeelded vp his Sonne in Hostage and submitted himselfe And Queene ELIZABETH to containe him within bounds hauing rent and torne all those Letters by which HENRY the Eighth declared Matthew falsly reputed for his Sonne to be Heire to Cone she resolued to conferre vpon him the honourable titles of Earle of Tyrone and Baron of Dungannon as being the vndoubted Sonne and Heire But this man altogether impatient of repose and peace perceiuing that he was able to bring into the field a thousand Horse and foure thousand foot of his Vassals and Tenants and he had already fiue hundred of his Guard with barbarous pride hee reiected such titles of honour in comparison of the name of O-Neale but caused himselfe by his owne people to be styled King of Vlster He trayned vp the Peasants to War offered the Kingdome of Ireland to the Queene of Scots and conceiued such a mortall hatred against the English that hauing built a Castle vpon the Lac Eaugh he named it Feognegall which is to say the Hatred of the English and strangled some of his people because they ate the bread of the English though hee would neuer speake otherwise than honourably of the Queene Sir Henry Sidney was commanded to arme against him and Randolph a braue Conductor sent by Sea vpon the Northerne Frontiers of Vlster to Derry which is a small Episcopall See neere to Loygh-foy with a troupe of horse and seuen hundred foot to assaile him vpon the backe when the Vice-Roy would come vp and set vpon him in his Van. Shan vnderstanding this hotly beleaguerd Dundalk but was repelled by the Garrison with great losse of men as he was likewise from Wittscastell where hee met with no lesse losse Then being about with fire and sword to waste the Earledome of Louth with the ouerthrow of a number of men he was rowted by a small troupe of the English when making towards Derry he forraged all the Countrey round about and prouoked the English Garrison to fight who ranging themselues in battell fell on all sides vpon this disordered multitude disarrayed ouerthrew and put them to open flight But the victory proued but sorrowfull by reason of a lamentable accident that light vpon Randolph who was slaine fighting valiantly among the thickest of his enemies as braue a Gentleman questionlesse as our present times haue seene and none euer purchased greater respect ioyned with loue among Souldiers than this man had done S. Lo being constituted in his place he much endammaged the Rebels in that quarter till on a day when the Fort by an vnhappy accident was set on fire with all the Munition and Powder which blew vp many Souldiers For then embarking all his foot in shipping and with a wing of Horse commanded by one Haruey he past through the middest of his enemies who continually galled him and by a way of foure dayes iourney went to the Lord Deputy who to honour Randolphs vertue solemnized his Obsequies and was himselfe in mourning And raising forces presently to goe into Vlster Shan retyred with his men into the Woods and Forrests re-amassing againe together at seuerall times here and there the rest of his men about Clogner and Castell Salmon belonging to Turlogh-Leinich who then had left it But when the Lord Deputy had constituted Garrisons settled Odonel againe in his State and was returned to appease the
whom Queene ELIZABETH made knowne that shee could not yet discharge the Subiects of Scotland of the offence they had committed against their Princesse but notwithstanding that shee would request her in their behalfe and also heare them if they could alledge any thing for their iust excuse Earle Murray who presently followed them absolutely refused to insist by Accusation against his Sister but vpon the conditions hee had mentioned at Yorke The Commissioners were presently called home and their authority disanulled whereof the Duke who alwayes fauoured the Queene of Scots was very glad and thought he had nothing more then to effect but only to brand her with an eternall infamy to exclude her with her young Sonne from all right of succession to the Crowne of England and that hee had auoided two dangers for in giuing sentence against her he feared to ruine her and violate his owne conscience and denouncing Iudgement on her side to vndergoe the vnplacable wrath of his owne Queene and of all those who for Religions sake and any other consideration were opposite to the Queene of Scots But when Earle Murray saw that the friends shee retained in Scotland disturbed all affaires and that his presence was requisite he framed his Accusation in the presence of the Queene Sir Nicholas Bacon Lord Keeper of the great Seale the Earle of Leicester Clynton Lord Admirall Cecill and Sadler who by new letters were constituted new Commissioners and to proue the Queen of Scots culpable of her Husbands murder hee produced some probable and coniecturall Articles the Depositions of some Witnesses the Acts digested in the Assemblies of the States but aboue all certaine Loue-Letters and verses written as hee affirmed with the Queenes own hand as also he brought foorth Buchanan's Booke entituled The Discouery to be openly read but the greater number of the Commissioners gaue not much credit thereunto it proceeding from a partiall man and one that had made sale of his fidelity As for the Verses and Letters because they had no names subscriptions nor dates and so many Impostors there be who can counterfait others hands so naturally as the one can hardly be discerned from the other Queene ELIZABETH would in no wise affoord them beliefe or credit though shee were much instigated out of feminine emulation wherewith that Sex is many times violently transported remaining satisfied that these Accusations had imposed vpon the Queene of Scots some reprochfull Aspersions Her Deputies hearing that shee was dayly accused by Murray presented themselues to make answere but shee had now reuoked their authority which was but Delegatorie as shee had beene secretly informed by certaine English Ciuilians and this shee might doe by Law seeing that of the Duke and others had beene so formerly reuoked Afterwards shee peremptorily refused the new Commissioners two of whom shee suspected except the Ambassadours of France and Spaine were ioyned in commission with them that shee might be admitted to defend her own innocency openly in the presence of the Queen of England and them except Murray were restrained called to a Triall auerring how she could conuince him and proue that he was the author of the Lord Darleys murder The Duke of Norfolke the Earles of Arundel Sussex Leicester and Lincolne esteeming this to be but iust and equall Qu. ELIZABETH grew into wonderfull choller and told them openly that the Queen of Scots could neuer want an Aduocate till the Duke of Norfolke came short of his life and shee was contented to impart those crimes whereof Murray imputed her to euery one of her priuy Councell and to the Earles of Northumberland Westmerland Shrewsbury Worcester Huntington and Warwicke whom shee conuocated to this end vnder an oath of silence exhibited not to damnifie either of the parties And because Murray was called backe into Scotland and 't was commonly bruted abroad that Boyd attempted to release the Queen of Scots of her imprisonment this Proceeding was deferr'd to some other time Queene ELIZABETH so farre as seem'd probable sharply reprehending the insolency of the Scottish-men in deposing their Queene At that time Hamilton Duke of Chastelraut came out of France sent vnder-hand by the Guizes to oppose Murray in the gouernment and administrations of the Kingdome during the yong King's minority and maintayned before Queene ELIZABETH that beeing neerest of blood to the King he should be preferred before Murray who was but a Bastard Contrariwise Murray and the Kings Ambassadors alleadged that the gouernment of the Kingdome was not to bee assigned alwaies to those neerest of blood but to such who by a generall consent of the States were elected and chosen as most sufficient and capable of that Charge That it were a most vniust course to put the King who was young into his hands who by proximity of blood aspiring to the Kingdome might easily be tempted to violate right out of a desire to rule and reigne And how this was greatly to be feared especially of the Hamiltons who had practised many enmities against the Earles of Lenox the Kings Grandfathers wickedly slaine his great Grandfather by the Fathers side expell'd Mathew his Grandfather out of Scotland after he had reduced him to low pouerty and also of himselfe who made this motion who with bitter and implacable hatred wonderfully molested Henry the Kings Father and the more easily to enioy the Kingdome he married his Maiesties Mother with the King of France The which when Queen ELIZABETH vnderstood shee made knowne to Hamilton how his demand was most vniust and forbade him to depart out of England till Earle Murray were returned into Scotland Murray a little before his departure was so subtill as that secretly by his man Meluin he offered the Duke of Norfolk to marry with the Queene of Scots and her he promised to re-establish in her Kingdome as presently we will declare Notwithstanding to conceale it from Queene ELIZABETH he caus'd a rumor to be spred that shee had made ouer her claime of the Kingdome of England to the Duke of Aniou and how this alienation was confirmed at Rome he shewed certaine Letters shee had written to those of her partie wherein shee blamed Queene ELIZABETH for fayling of her promise and vaunted that shee expected succours otherwise then from her Whether these reports were true or fained I am not able to say But certainely Queene ELIZABETH was much moued herewith who could not imagine from whom she should attend these new reliefes because ciuill warre was so hotly kindled in France as the Bishop of Rhemes sent by the King entreated her that she would not haue any hand in those affaires and the Duke of Alua who was come the yeere before into the Low-Countries to supplant the Protestant Religion staid still there by reason of the troubles But as afterward it proou'd apparant and as H. Catene writ to Cardinall Alexandrine Pope Pius 5. not daring to send an open Nuncio had suborn'd R. Ridolpho a
Florentine who had lyen a long time Factor in London vnderhand to stir vp the Papists against Queen ELIZABETH as questionlesse he very industriously performed and with great secresie A slender but maruelous weake suspition was rais'd of some priuie conferences were held at Yorke betweene the Earle of Lidington the Bishop of Rosse and the Duke of Norfolke who being sollicited to employ his aduice and care for the safety of the afflicted Queen by the Earle and the Bishop who promised to marry him to her with a modest answere he made refusall thereof promising neuerthelesse that hee would not forsake her in her aduersities so far as might safely stand with his honour and the dutie and fidelity he ought to his Prince This suspicion was greatly augmented by meanes of Ligan one of the Dukes seruants being a great Papist by reason of the daily goings and commings he made to Bolton Castle which belonged to my Lord Scroope where the Queene of Scots was kept by Francis Knowles vnder colour to visit and salute his wife who was the Dukes Sister And though nothing was yet certainely knowne neuerthelesse the Queene was remooued from Bolton where a number of Papists dwelt neere together on all sides to be conducted to Tudberry situated in the heart of the Kingdome and was committed to the keeping of the Earle of Shrewsburie Queene ELIZABETH was then the more carefull both of her owne and of the safety of Religion and the Common-wealth because the Guizes in France and the Duke of Alua in the Low-Countries had begun to put in execution those Dessignes they proiected formerly at Bayon touching the vtter extirpation of the Protestants Religion For the Propositions of Peace set downe in France about the beginning of this yeere came to nothing For Edicts were publisht whereby the exercise of the Protestant Religion was absolutely prohibited they that made profession thereof depriued of their publike places the Ministers commanded to depart the Realme within a prefixt time they were threatned with warre all ouer runne vpon in euery place and cruelties practised against them though Queene ELIZABETH vsed many and importunate intreaties by her Ambassadour Seris to bring them to a firme and solid Peace perswading the King not to excite mens stomacks by vnseasonable courses and that he should take heed of them who by remouing from about him his faithfull Subiects laboured so to breake and dis-vnite the Forces of France that it might be exposed as a prey to other Nations When he made no account of her Entreaties or Remonstrances and forbare not to draw out of Italy Germany and Spaine both money and men to re-enforce Queene ELIZABETH also not to abandon them who ioyned with her in one and the same cause she sent an hundred thousand Crownes in pieces of gold cald Angels with great warlike preparations to the Protestants who then professed religiously that they tooke not vp Armes to make warre vpon the King but onely to defend themselues and shee with all humanity entertain'd the French that made their refuge into England as also the Flemmings who seeing that the Duke of Alua breathed nothing but blood and slaughter were in great multitudes retired thither as to an Asyle and planted by permission both at Norwich Glocester Sandwich Maidstone and Southhampton to the singular benefit certainely of England For they were the first that brought in the Art and knowledge of making those light Stuffes which are called Bayes and Sayes with other such like of linnen and woolen But because I must often commemorate the warres of Flanders as linkt and combin'd with the interest affaires of England I shall not digresse much from my purpose if I heere relate how they tooke their beginning When the Spaniard would by no prayers nor intreaties mitigate his bloody Edicts against Religion and those who made profession thereof in the Low-Countries but in stead thereof exercised all manner of cruelty against mens consciences by the meanes of the Spanish Inquisition prohibited all the Assemblies of the States Prouinciall of the Low-Countries which is the onely and most vsuall remedy for the appeasing and according of their differences but gouerned the Common-Wealth by Acts digested in Spaine and not by the Councels of the people of the same Countreys it so happened that a few of the very scumme of the Vulgar sort tooke certaine Images in euery place out of the Churches and tumultuously brake them in pieces and though this Tumult was as soone appeased as excited yet following their counsell who desired to impose a yoke on this Nation strongly bent to liberty and taking occasion from the temerity of some few particulars he entoyled all the people with a publike Delict of manifest Rebellion and as if they had then lost all their liberty to inuade the Gouernment he sent Ferdinando Aluarez Duke of Alua a cruell and bloody man who beeing constituted supreme Gouernour contrary to the ancient customes and immunities of the Countrie though hee was in no sort a Prince of Blood rais'd a long and fearefull Warre abridging the Authority of former Iurisdictions erecting new Tribunals condemning the Nobility of the Country by the ministery and prosecution of such as were not their Iudges putting them to death placing Spanish Garrisons in the Borroughs and Townes building Citadels and for each alienation and commotion drawing by force out of their purses the tenth part of their immouables and the twentieth part of their mouable goods At the very selfe-same time it happened that certaine Marchants of Genoa and other parts of Italy sent out of Spaine into Flanders a quantity of coine to haue it put out to vse in a great Ship of Biscay and foure lesse which the Spaniards tearme Zabres which beeing chased by Chasteler a French-man and defended by Winter an English-man had much adoe to saue themselues in the Ports of Plimouth Fawmouth and Southhampton in England So soone as the Queene was aduertised of it she commanded all the Magistrates of those Ports to vse the Spaniards very kindly and to defend their Shipping from the French and G. D'espes Knight of the Order of Calatraua Ambassadour Leager of the King of Spaine in England fearing the French obtayned of the Queene who thought verily that this money had belonged to the Spaniard that new Mandates might bee sent downe for the defence of these ships against the French who lay in wayte for them and afterwards hee vsed the meanes to haue this money brought into England and from thence to Antwerpe by Sea But in the meane while the French had almost taken away one of the Ships which had bin perform'd but that they were repell'd by the English And therefore it was thought expedient to land it for better security which was done out of hand But notwithstanding it was not all brought on shore for D' Espes supposing the Queenes intention to be other then is was gaue the D. of Alua to vnderstand how
she had seized vpon it While he was in Consultation with him Odet de Chastillon Cardinall who was retired into those parts by reason of the troubles in France certified the Queene that this money belonged to certaine Marchants of Genâ—a and not to the Spaniard and that hee would seize on it against their wils to employ it to the ruine of the Protestants And this was the reason the Councell made a question whether they should detaine it or no and the greatest of them that sate in Councell were of opinion that it should bee sent into the Low-Countries for feare of prouoking the Spaniard who was a great Prince and stood already but hardly affected to England But Queene ELIZABETH beeing assured by two of them to whom it belonged that the Marchants were onely interessed in it the King of Spaine nothing at all she resolued to take it vp of the Marchants by way of loane and giue them caution for it as Princes many times vse to doe with such goods as they find in their Ports and the Spaniard not long before had done the like And when the Spanish Ambassadour shewed her the Letters the Duke writ vnto her for the transportation of this money she told him she had taken it by loane and religiously protested to restore it againe so soone as she should truely vnderstand that it belonged to the King of Spaine The very same day which was the twentie ninth of December the Duke in hot rage and furie seiz'd on the English-mens goods all the Low-Countries ouer where he found any and taking their persons prisoners committed them to the guard of his Souldiers So that euery one may conceiue by comparing the times that he did this to terrifie the English what satisfaction soeuer the Queene gaue afterwards for the money But her Maiestie nothing at all daunted with this commanded likewise the Flemmings goods to be seyzed vpon in England their merchandize and shipping which was much more than those of the English that the Duke light vpon in Flanders so as he repented too late that hee had vnseasonably enlarged that wound which in the beginning might easily haue beene cured The last day but one of this present yeere pardon mee this short digression for the memories sake of an honest and vertuous man who beeing borne in the Countie of Yorke and brought vp at Cambridge was the first of our Nation that refined the Greeke and Latine Tongues and the puritie of the Stile with singular commendation for his eloquence Hee was sometimes a Reader to Queene ELIZABETH and her Secretarie for the Latine Tongue And yet notwithstanding in that he was giuen to play and Cock-fighting he both liued and dyed not very rich leauing behinde him two elegant Bookes as monuments of his rare wit and vnderstanding one of which was styled Toxophilus the other Scholarca But let vs returne to our Historie THE TWELFTH YEERE OF Her Reigne Anno Dom. 1569. THe sixth of Ianuary there was a Proclamation publiquely read in London concerning goods detayned by the Duke of Alua wherein most of the circumstances I formerly mentioned were exprest and the fault laide vpon D'espes and another Writing diuulged by him to the contrary in which hee alledged That this Proclamation came not out by the Queenes Order but from the authority of some disaffected to the King of Spaine in the behalfe of the Flemmish Rebels he highly commended the fauour that the Queene had alwaies beene ready to shew to the Spaniards grieued that shee was alienated in her affection for nothing and much stomacked that no more credit was giuen to him being Ambassadour and to the Duke of Aluae's Letters as also hee wondred the Money was detained considering the Queene as hee said had more reason to furnish the Spaniard with money against the Rebels than to take any from him and finally taxed her with offering the first wrong excused both himselfe and the Duke of Alua's proceedings and not resting there he spred abroad infamous Libels wherein hee offended the Queenes reputation vnder the title of Amadis Oriana Some great men of England among whom was the Marquis of Winchester the Duke of Norfolke and the Earles of Arundell Northumberland Westmerland Pembroke Leycester and others laboured to lay the blame of this detention of the Money vpon Cecill as formerly they did that which was sent to the Protestants in France and in effect they did so for they could not digest the great power and authority he had about the Queene they suspected he fauoured the House of Suffolke for the succession to the Crowne and feared hee would oppose himselfe to their designes Wherefore they consulted one with another to imprison him at the suggestion of Throgmorton his emulator who gaue them to vnderstand that if hee were but once clapt vp he might easily be ruinated But some one whom I cannot name discouered this proiect to the Queene and Cecill by the fauour of this Princesse who bare a very great liking and affection to him without any difficultie ouercame those plots that were prepared for him and at the same instant cut off another more secret intention they had which was to proclaime the Queene of Scots vndoubted next Heire apparant to the Kingdome after Queene ELIZABETHS death against a certaine Libell that was written and published in the behalfe and fauour of the Earle of Suffolke D'Assonuil came at that time from the Duke of Alua to demand the money which was detained but hauing no Letters to that effect from the King of Spaine Queene ELIZABETH referred him to her Councell to whom at first hee was not willing to addresse himselfe Wherefore he went presently to them and when he was heard about a moneth after hee returned without doing any thing in the businesse The English Merchants carry their Merchandizes to Hamborrough in Germanie as to a place lately ordayned for free traffique The Duke of Alua perceiuing this prohibited absolutely all commerce with the English and keeping all things from being imported or transported out of the Low Countries hee suborned certaine Spies amongst whom one Iohn Storie a Doctor of the Ciuill Law was very subtilly industrious who before had practised with Prinstal an impostorous Magician against the life of his owne Prince and sent aduertisements to the Duke of Alua for the inuading of his owne Countrey But being purposely brought into a Ship which was reported to haue brought heretical commodities and bookes out of England the Marriners presently setting sayle hee was thither conueyed and afterwards executed as shall be declared in proper place The Duke of Alua not satisfied with this prohibited all shipping to goe out of Flanders who were not armed and he commanded them to seyze on the English wheresoeuer they met them and gaue directions that the like should be done in Spaine where the English Merchants and Saylors goods were confiscated themselues put into the Inquisition and
vnder pretence and colour to consult with them about her re-establishment But the Lord Hamilton Duke of Chastelraut then made Lieutenant of Scotland by the Queene and the Baron of Heris were perswaded by the Letters of the credulous Qu. But Murray fearing to be deceiued by them circumuents them and claps them vp in prison not expecting the comming of others and pursued grieuously in oppressing all the fauourers of the Queene with all the rigors of Warre This Act produceth rumours through all Scotland That Murray had agreed and determined with Qu. ELIZABETH that the young King IAMES should be giuen her to be brought vp and educated in England and that the Castles of Edenborrough Sterling were to be fortified with English Garrisons Dunbriton also taken by force for the vse and profit of the English and Murray be publisht and declar'd true and lawfull Successour of the Kingdome of Scotland if the King should happen to dye without Issue and to hold the Kingdome as Tenent to Queene ELIZABETH These rumours increased ran and were divulg'd in this manner and through a certaine probability strook in such fashion the spirits of men all ouer Great Brittaine that Qu. ELIZABETH thought herselfe obliged to take away and clense all such spots both for her honour and Murray's sake To which end her Maiestie declar'd by a Royall Speech published and set forth in Print That these things were farre opposite to the Truth and meerely forged and inuented by such as enuyed the Peace and tranquillitie of both Kingdomes That since the last departure of Murray from England there was not any such thing propounded nor such Paction past either by word of mouth or writing betweene her Maiesty or any of her Officers and him that came to her knowledge But that the Earle of Lenox Grandfather to the yong King had prayed her Maiesty that he might be sent into England if hee could not bee secure in Scotland from the plots of the wicked Likewise her Maiestie affirmed that she held the Compact as false which was reported to bee betweene Murray and the Earle of Hartford to wit that they had both agreed and resolued together mutually to helpe and giue assistance one to another for to enioy the Crowne of both Kingdomes and to conclude that it was not her fault that the affaires and businesses were not ended betweene the Queene of Scotland and her Sonne but rather she still endeuoured that it might be finisht and though her Maiesty was in a conflict through feare and inueterate emulation which neuer dyes betweene Femall Princesses yet out of the remembrance and recordation of the misery of Scotland and the commiseration of humane frailety she sincerely laboured to effect it The Queene of Scots made an addition to that her pious pitty and sollicited her with many kind Letters in which she solemnly protested that in regard of the kindnesse she had found and the propinquity of their affinity she would attempt nothing against her neither be willing to owe restitution to any other Prince for her re-establishment This caus'd Queene ELIZABETH by Letters sent by Wood to deale with Murray and other Scots for her re-establishment to her Royall Dignity or if that could not be granted that shee might bee permitted to leade a priuate life and spend her daies at home freely and honourably which notwithstanding could not any wayes moue Murray hauing brought his busines to perfection There was a rumor at this time amongst those of better sort that the Duke of Norfolke should be linked in Hymens bonds with the Queene of Scots the which was desired of many the Papists expecting by it the aduancement of their religion others hoping by that meanes for the welfare of the Common-wealth Truely many which saw the Queene remote and farre from marriage and the forraigne Princes which were deadly professors to England did settle their eyes and hearts vpon the Queene of Scots as the true and vndoubted heire of England they esteem'd for to ground their rest and tranquillity and to keep thereby the Queene of Scotland within the bounds and limits of her Kingdome it was much more behoofefull and expedient that she should be married with the Duke of Norfolke who was the most Noble and the greatest Peere of England beloued of the people educated and brought vp in the Protestants Religion then to a forraigne Prince by whose meanes both Kingdomes should be in danger and the hereditary succession by him apprehended which they had alwayes and from the beginning wisht to be re-vnited in an English Prince of the blood the yong King of Scotland happening to dye whom they propounded to send into England to the end that as he was the true apparent heire thereof and being educated and brought vp there by the English he should be to them dearer and more beloued all scruple of Religion taken away and Queene ELIZABETH hauing him in her power were free from all feare and apprehension both of the Duke of Norfolke and the Queene of Scots Moreouer lest the Duke should attempt any thing against her but should more dearely affect her they resolued that Margaret the only Daughter of the Duke should bee marryed afterward to the young King of Scotland Amongst these were the Earles of Northumberland Westmerland Sussex Pembroke Southampton and many other Barons and Leicester himselfe it being doubtfull whether aiming intending the destruction of the Duke thought it fit first to acquaint the Queene with it and to commit it to her iudgement censure and that she should prescribe and make wholsome Lawes salutiferous to her selfe Religion and the Kingdome But this if you please you may haue written more at large in the Dukes Confession and the Commentaries of the Bishop of Rosse which was a great part of this businesse When as the Deputies and Arbitrators put in trust with those affaires had met at Yorke Lidington and the Bishop of Rosse in their Enquirie acquainted the Duke with the intended Contract as Murray himselfe did also at Hampton Court who in his priuate conference with the Duke and some others dissembled and did seeme that he desired and wisht for nothing more then that all differences being ended in Scotland shee might be restored to her former Dignities prouided that she should truely and heartily affect her Subiects as she had done formerly all iniuries on both sides beeing forgotten forgiuen and buryed in obliuion Notwithstanding hee feared that if as shee desired shee should marry a man out of France Spaine or Austria shee would reuenge her former iniuries make an alteration of Religion in Scotland and much damnifie the State of England To preuent all which he promised his assistance and best endeuours that she who formerly had beene married to a Child an improuident young man nay more a furious young man should now be contracted to the Duke a man of stayednesse mature iudgement the which would conduce to the welfare of
both Kingdomes the peace of either Prince and chiefly for the aduancement of Religion since he who was so great and worthy in Queen ELIZABETHS estimation should make friendship betweene the Scots and the English and might more easily perswade the Queene of Scots to the true Religion which hee had embraced Murray also by the meanes of Robert Meluin imparted this closely to the Queene of Scots and officiously promised his assistance but the Duke answered that he could not determine any thing of the marriage till she could cleare her selfe from her suspected crimes and wipe off those infamous aspersions but Rosse notwithstanding persisted in his perswasion and ceast not to draw him though vnwilling to it Not long after Nicholas Throgmorton met the Duke in Westminster who professing himselfe as euery way obliged and bound to performe all dueties of obseruance said that he vnderstood that Leicester dealt with the Duke concerning the match twixt him and the Scots which seemed strange and moued admiration in him since Leicester himselfe not long since had beaten the same bush and gone about it and friendly aduised the Duke that hee should put it off to Leicester who formerly had sought the honour of that marriage but if that could not be done that he should refuse it in regard the Scots accused her of many crimes but Throgmorton said that hee wisht that shee might bee ioyned to him in marriage that it might be prosperous to Religion and that she might wholly and soly depend and rely vpon Queene ELIZABETH But I doe premonish you that if you proceede in this matter Leicester may precede and goe afore you in counsell for by your owne meanes onely you cannot procure the assent and good will of the Queene Two dayes after the Earle of Leicester propounded the affaire to the Duke and receiued of him the answere that Throgmorton had forged and inuented afore-hand and when it came to the crimes he did moderate them according to the instructions and assurance that he had receiued of R. Cauendish of whom though suspected yet he recommended him to the Duke to make vse of his seruice After this he acquaints therewith the Earle of Pembroke who giues notice thereof to the Earle of Arundell and they all with Throgmorton doe write to the Queene of Scotland recommending vnto her Maiestie the Duke of Norfolke for her Husband as likewise Murray had formerly done The Duke himselfe also writes and witnesseth his loue vnto her offering her Maiestie louingly his humblest seruice and from that time he still communicated vnto them all such Letters as past betwixt them As for them they had ordinary and familiar discourses with the Bishop of Rosse concerning the meanes whereby they could effectuate and bring this marriage to passe and the twentieth of May 1558. a Proposition was made to the Queene of Scotland by Cauendish These ensuing Articles were written by the owne hand of the Earle of Leicester THat she should not vndertake any thing in the succession of the Kingdome of England preiudicious to Queene ELIZABETH or the issue her Maiestie might that haue she should passe an offensiue and defensiue League 'twixt their two Crownes That she should settle and firmely establish the true Protestants Religion in Scotland That she should receiue to her mercy all such Scots as then were against her she should reuoke the assignation that she had giuen of the Kingdome of England to the Duke of Aniou and that shee should take to her Husband some of the English Nobility and namely the Duke of Norfolke And they promised her that in case her Maiestie should conclude and agree the Articles to re-establish her anew in her Kingdome with all possible speed as could bee and to confirme her in the succession of the Crowne of England The Queene of Scots accorded them presently except that concerning the Allyance shee excus'd her selfe as not able to answere to it except shee had first consulted with the French King and concerning the assignation of the Kingdome of England she protested that she had neuer made any yet neuerthelesse shee would labour if they should desire it that the Duke of Aniou should renounce it Admonishing them to procure aboue all things the will and consent of Queene ELIZABETH for feare the affaire should turne and be preiudiciall both to herselfe and the Duke of Nolfolke as shee had formerly experimented in the match with the Lord Darley priuately contracted without Queene ELIZABETHS consent Yet they neuerthelesse esteemed fit first to sound the will and affection of many Noble-men who for the most part gaue their voice and consent prouided their Queene also to grant hers and likewise the Kings of France and Spaine were not against it but they onely had an apprehension of Murray and forasmuch as he had beene the first to propound this affaire promising to employ himselfe therein with all his might he should bee the first now to hinder it They yet notwithstanding were all of a mind that Lidington who then was lookt for should first sound the intention and disposition of Queene ELIZABETH In the meane while the Duke declares to the Lord Baron of Lumley all that was done and past in this businesse and with much adoe could hee obtaine from the Earle of Leicester leaue to take further consultation and aduice of his other friends he neuerthelesse made Cecill acquainted with it the Earle of Pembroke consenting thereunto At the same time the Lord Dacray resolued in himselfe to steale away the Queen of Scotland who at that time was prisoner at Winfield in the County of Derby vnder the keeping of the Earle of Shrewsburie The Earle of Northumberland who was of his counsell gaue notice thereof to the Duke of Norfolke who forbade to doe it fearing they went about to marry her to the Spaniard being then vpon hope to obtaine the loue and consent of Queene ELIZABETH The rumors and pretence of this match arriued presently to Queene ELIZABETHS eare beeing told her by some of those craftie and curious courtizans who smell and find out soonest the secrets of Louers The Duke knowing it labours with his vtmost power to make a proposition thereof to the Queen and to that end employed therein the Earle of Leicester the Earle of Pembroke and Throgmorton putting it off and deferring it from day to day as if he expected a fitter time and opportunity But Cecill seeing the said Duke perplexed in his mind counselled him himselfe to declare the businesse to the Queene for to take sooner away all scruple But the Earle of Leicester contrary to that opinion is against it promising him to propound the same to her Maiestie when she should walke abroad in the fields But whilest that hee by such sweete courtesies deferred the affaire from time to time Queene ELIZABETH beeing at Farnham causeth the Duke to approch neere vnto her Table and with a most graue and serious smile warned him That hee who
was repos'd and rested himselfe vpon a Cushion should take heed and looke to himselfe And finally the Earle of Leicester beeing at Tichfield found himselfe ill or else he counterfaited the sicke and being visited and graciously comforted by the Queene he was seized with such feare that her Maiestie could easily discerne it beholding his blood and vitall senses to shrinke in himselfe which was the cause that after he had asked pardon and implored forgiuenesse with sighs and teares of the Queene he declared vnto her all the businesse from the beginning In that very same time the Queen tooke the Duke aside into a Gallery where she rebuked him sharpely for hauing sought the Queen of Scotland in marriage without her leaue and permission commanding him to free himselfe of it for the fidelity and loyalty sake which hee ought to beare vnto his Soueraigne The Duke most willingly promised the same as if he had despised the match and fear'd not to assure that his reuennues and commings in heere in England were not whitlesse to those of the Kingdome of Scotland then miserably exhausted by the Warre and that when he was in the Tenis-Court of his Palace at Norwich he seemed in some fashion to be equall and not inferiour to some Kings But in a short space this courage begunne to grow weake and flexible discerning by the aspect and speech of the Queene that her Maiestie was irritated against him and that her anger rather augmented then diminished also that many Noble-men withdrew themselues by little little from his familiarity saluting him but with much adoe and breaking off in haste their discourses At this the Duke tooke his iourney to London without leaue and vpon the way tooke his lodging at the Earle of Pembroke's house who counselled him to be cheerefull to hope well and gaue him solace and consolation in his affliction That very day Queene ELIZABETH moued with anger refused to set at liberty the prisoned Queene to the Scottish Ambassadour who implored it of her Maiestie and commanded that she should behaue herselfe peaceably or else she should see shortly those vpon whom she most relyed cut off and beheaded Now when as the rumor of the match had more increased and the fame of it was euery where diuulged and the Ambassadour of the French King more by the perswasion of some English than the command of his Prince as it afterwards appeared did earnestly labour and vehemently vrge that the Queene of Scots might haue her libertie new suspicions were generally raysed and Cecill who was alwaies diligently carefull and studying for the well-fare of Religion was desirous to finde out the matter he dealt therefore with Sussex by Letters who was then President of the North Countries and a deare friend to the Duke that if so be he vnderstood any thing concerning the Dukes marriage he should certifie the Queene of it what he answered I am vncertaine And when it appeared that the Duke had priuate conference at Hampton-Court with Murray the Vice-Roy of Scotland George Carie the sonne of the Lord of Hunsden was sent to enquire if the Duke had imparted any thing to him concerning the marriage In the meane time the Duke affrighted with the false rumor of the rebellion and insurrection in the North and being certified of Leicester that he should be committed to prison went into Norfolke till his friends at Court as they promised had stilled the storme and he pacified the offended minde of the Queene with submissiue supplicatiue Letters When hee found no comfort amongst his owne and Heiden Cornwallis and other of his traine perswaded him that if he were guilty should flye to the Queenes mercy he was almost distracted with sorrow In the meane time the Court was sollicited and possest with feare lest hee should haue made Rebellion which if hee did they report it was determined to cut off the Queen of Scots But hee out of his innate goodnesse and a most pious conscience had not offended against any Law of her Maiestie that Statute made in the Reigne of HENRY the Eighth which prohibited the marrying any of the children of the Kings Sister Brother or Aunt without the consent and knowledge of the King being abolished and nullified by EDVVARD the Sixth and also out of a feare that they should vse the Queene of Scots more hardly sends Letters to his friends at Court in which he certified that he went into the Countrey for feare of imprisonment that through time and absence he might finde a remedy against ill reports and defamations which the Court was ready to intertaine hee most submissiuely intreateth pardon and forthwith prepareth to goe to the Court. In his returne hee being at Saint Albons Owen the Earle of Arundels man was sent priuately to him from Throgmorton and Lumley who formerly had beene in custody aduising him that hee should take all the blame on himselfe and not lay any fault on Leicester or others lest he should turne them from being friends to enemies There Edward Fitz-Gerald brother to the Earle of Kildare Lieutenant of the Pensioners went before drew him from thence and brought him to Burnham about three miles from Windsor where the Queene was to whom foure dayes after the Abbot of Dunfermline deliuered Letters in the behalfe of Murray importing how the Duke had secretly treated with him in the Royall Mannor of Hampton-Court to procure his fauour to this marriage on the contrary greatly menacing him in case he did refuse That to auoyd the dangerous practice of one Norton who watcht to kill him at his returne he gaue his promise to the Duke That the Duke assured him neither Norton nor any other should attempt any thing against his life and a little while after being sollicited by Letters written in Cypher to giue consent to this marriage he gaue him to vnderstand by Boyd that he would neuer abandon the Queene of Scots and moreouer how her Maiesties owne Officers had in some sort perswaded the Vice-Roy that Queene ELIZABETH gaue also her liking and approbation to this marriage and putting the same Queene of Scots in hope that shee should succeed to the Kingdome of England Renowned Queene ELIZABETH perceiuing also very euidently that to draw some great men of England to her partie shee gaue them expresly to vnderstand how she was taking a course for the Queenes Maiesties securitie and the infallible safety of the whole Kingdome The Duke who subtilly held correspondency by Letters with the Bishop of Rosse Leicester and Throgmorton causing them to be priuily conueyed in bottles of Beere being at the same time strictly examined about the poynt of this marriage after his confession of the greatest part and a bitter checke giuen him for departing the Court without leaue and being further accused of Innouation was sent to the Tower of London vnder the guard of Neuill a Knight of the Golden Order Two dayes after the Bishop of
Rosse was likewise examined and Ridolph that Florentine Councellor of whom both hee and others made familiar and common vse committed in keeping to Sir Francis Walsingham the Earle of Pembroke commanded to betake himselfe to his House and reserued to a priuate examination But by reason of his Nobility and old age it was agreed that by reason himselfe could not write his Confession should not be taken in writing After this some great men were prohibited the Court as Complices who exhibited their petitions and demanded pardon when they had acknowledged that they were consenting with the Duke to this marriage which Murray had formerly propounded yet after such a manner as the Queene of Scots the Duke and all the others were aduertized how the matter was first imparted to the Queenes Maiestie of England before any treatie of it The Earles of Northumberland and Westmerland being Confederates in this dessigne made in like manner their submissions to the Earle of Sussex then Gouernour in the North parts whom they intreated to sollicite the Queene for them Many Libels were in like manner dispersed against this marriage the Queene of Scots and the right and title whereby she layde claime to the Crowne of England as next heire apparant with such shamelesse insolency as the Queene resolued to send out prohibitions by a seuere Proclamation to the contrary and playing at hood-winke with the Bishop of Rosse she appointed him to answere them as hee did by another Booke intituled Morgan Philips wherein hee maintained the honour of the Queene of Scots her right of succession and that the Kingdome might be swayed and gouerned by women as this poynt was also called in question But since he ingeniously confest in his Commentaries that his reasons he set downe about her right of succession he drew out of Sir Anthony Brownes bookes chiefe Iustice of the common Pleas and of Carrell both very vnderstanding Gentlemen in the common Lawes of England In those daies there came from the Duke of Alua Chapin Vitelli Marquis of Ceton with Letters from the Spaniard who seemed to haue cleane loft his writing vnder pretext to accord some differences about commerce but really to obserue the issue of this rebellion which was presently to be raised and to command the Souldiers priuily to march downe into Flanders according to the Duke of Alua's promise who likewise sent for his fore-runner Le Mot Gouernour of Dunkerke apparelled like a Mariner that he might the better discouer and found the Ports as himselfe since hath auerred But when it appeared how this Marquis was onely substituted by the Duke of Alua who was the principall partie himselfe wherein the other was but a meere Lieutenant a doubt was made whether they should treatie with him as an Ambassadour Notwithstanding all this the Queenes Maiestie made knowne that she would acknowledge him for the Ambassadour of Spaine But when he made shew of no further Commission than to re-demand some moneys detained the Queene affecting peace aduised him to procure a larger Commission for the ordering of affaires while hee stayd and attended the same the rumor of that Rebellion to be excited in the North Countrey was daily augmented To relate the matter more originally there ran a great fame and brute of this Rebellion about the beginning of Autumne which at the first being contemned it presently strengthned and encreased by reason of the frequent meetings of the Earles of Northumberland Westmerland and some others so that the Earle of Sussex then Gouernour and Deputie of the North cited them before him and interrogated them precisely about these reports and rumors They could not deny but they had heard of it marry so they were in no wise guiltie or culpable with many and deepe protestations offering to lose their liues in the Queenes seruice against any Rebels whatsoeuer and thus he sent them backe to their owne houses with authoritie to enquire and search out the authors of this report which neuerthelesse daily so augmented as her Maiestie conceiuing that nothing was rashly to bee credited of so great men so commanded them by the Lord of Sussex to repaire presently to London for the remouing of all suspition Notwithstanding my Lord of Sussex I know not for what drift or policy enioyned them to come and meet him as if he meant to consult with them about some occasions of that Prouince At the first they drew backe but presently after expresly refused to repaire thither This ministred occasion to the Queenes Maiestie to command them by peremptory Letters which shee writ and caused to be conueyed with all expedition that laying apart all delayes and excuses they should incontinently appeare in her Royall presence and this onely to terrifie and absolutely diuert them from entring into this Rebellion or at least that they might precipitantly vndertake the same before they rallied their forces or that the matter grew to any maturitie For they relyed vpon some secret succours which the Scots Leaguers and the Duke of Alua were to land at the Port of Herripoole within the Bishopricke of Dunelme as afterwards it was manifested So soone as the Earle of Northumberland had read these Letters being of a tractable nature guiltie in his owne conscience deepely affected to the Romane Religion and excited to choller by reason that out of the prerogatiue Royall in Mynes a rich Copper Myne found in his owne grounds was taken from him wherein hee thought himselfe to be wronged but neuerthelesse fed with notable hopes of the Queenes clemency hee was in a wonderfull perplexitie whether he should flye or openly rebell His Friends and seruants being now prepared for a reuolt and seeing him floating in these ambiguities came vpon him a certaine night on a suddaine and headlongly and continually beating into his eares how Oswell Vlstrop and Vaughan his enemies were arriued with a troupe of armed men ready to take him prisoner they vrged entreated and coniured him that he would not forsake himselfe his friends and the Religion of his fore-fathers assuring him how the Catholiques were then in armes all England ouer to re-establish the Romane Religion and to stirre vp the multitude they tumultuarily sounded a Larum bell in all the Countrie Townes and Villages though 't was not yet time to attempt any such matter Affrighted hee presently start out of his Bed in the Chamber retyred to a Gallerie which looked into a Parke neere to Topcliffe and the night following he went to Blanspeth to the Earle of Westmerlands House where many were assembled who knew not what the matter was For to amasse and draw together an ignorant multitude they commanded some to take vp armes for the Queenes defence others were made beleeue that all the great men of England conspired with them to re-erect the Romane Religion othersome they told how they were enforced to take vp armes for preuention that the ancient Nobility of England might not be trampled vnder foot by late
Prelates the Clergie and people to acknowledge the Roman Church or obserue her Commandements and canonicall duties inforced diuers to sweare obedience to her detestable Ordinances to renounce the authoritie due to the Roman dignitie and acknowledge her the onely Soueraigne ouer temporall and spirituall things imposed penalties and taxes vpon such as were refractory to her Iniunctions inflicted punishments vpon those who persisted in the vnitie of the faith and obedience imprisoned the Prelates and Gouernours of the Catholique Churches where diuers being with a tedious languishing and sorrow miserably finished their vnhappy dayes All which things beeing thus euident and apparant to all Nations and so manifestly proued by the graue testimony of diuers that there is no place left for any excuse defence or tergiuersation Wee perceiuing that these impieties and mischiefes doe still multiply one by another and that the persecution of the faithfull and the affliction of the Church doth daily increase and waxe more heauy and grieuous and finding that her heart is so obstinate and obdurate that she hath not onely despised the wholesome Prayers and admonitions which the Christian Princes haue made for her better health and conuersion but that shee hath denyed passage to the Nuncio's who for this end were sent from this siege into England and being compelled to beare the armes of Iustice against her Wee cannot moderate the punishment that Wee are bound to inflict vpon her whose Ancestors merited so well of the Christian Common-wealth Being then supported by His Authoritie who hath placed Vs vpon this Soueraigne Throne of Iustice howsoeuer incapable of so great a charge out of the fulnesse of our Apostolicall power doe pronounce and declare the said ELIZABETH an Heretique and fauourer of Heretiques and those who adhere vnto her in the foresaid things haue incurred the Sentence of Anathema and are cut off from the vnitie of the bodie of Christ That shee is depriued of the right which shee pretends to the foresaid Kingdome and of all and euery Seigniorie Royaltie and priuiledge thereof and the Peeres Subiects and People of the sayde Kingdome and all others vpon what termes soeuer sworne vnto her freed from their Oath and from all manner of dutie fidelitie and obedience As Wee doe free them by the authoritie of these Presents and exclude the said ELIZABETH from the right which shee pretendeth to the said Kingdome and the rest before mentioned Commanding moreouer enioyning all and euery the Nobles as Subiects people and others whatsoeuer that they shall not once dare to obey her or any her directions Lawes or Commandements binding vnder the same Curse those who doe any thing to the contrary And forasmuch as it may seeme difficult for them to obserue these Presents in euery place where they haue occasion for them Our will is that Copies hereof being written by some publique Notarie and sealed with the Seale of some Ecclesiasticall Prelate or of his Court shall be of as good effect through the whole World as these Presents might doe if they were exhibited and represented Giuen at Rome at S. Peters the 5. of March in the yeere of the Incarnation of our Sauiour 1569. and of our Pont. the 5. Caesar Glorianus This caused new iealousies to increase that some Monster was a breeding also it manifested a new Rebellion presently begun in Norfolke which neuerthelesse was assoone extinct as kindled Certaine of the Nobles of Norfolke to free the Duke whom all the World did with an especiall loue affect practised a designe of collecting a great number of people together at the instant as they were flocking to a Faire at Harleston vnder colour of expulsing the Flemmings out of England who to escape the tyranny of the Duke of Alua were fled into this Country in great numbers Some of them being apprehended were brought to iudgement and condemned of high-Treason ELIZABETH neuerthelesse to testifie her clemency would suffer but onely three to be punished amongst whom I. Throgmorton was most remarkeable who being examined by the Iudge would answer nothing but being brought to execution cleared the rest and acknowledged himselfe the principall author and perswader thereof I. Felton who stucke vp the Popes Bull vpon the Bishop of Londons Gate making no great difficultie of retyring and sauing himselfe was presently taken and brought to iudgement and confessing boldly the deede howsoeuer no way acknowledging it as a fault was hanged hard by the place where hee had stucke vp the Bul affecting a vaine kinde of shew of a glorious Martyr For the rest the modester sort of Papists misliked this Bull because no lawfull admonition had preceded that She had formerly granted to them free exercise of their Religion in their particular Houses with securitie or such as made no scruple of conscience to bee present at the Seruice in the English Church fore-seeing a huge weight of dangers thereby to hang ouer their heads continued euer after firme in their due obedience perceiuing that the neighbour Princes and Catholique Prouinces neglected not the Queene notwithstanding this Bul but seemed to contemne it as a vain sound of words The same day that Felton was arraigned the Duke acknowledging his errour to proceed from inconsideration testified his repentance so farre that hee did not onely seeme to disclaim any thought of marriage with the Queen of Scotland but that his eares abhorred the remembrance of it and promised vnder his hand neuer to thinke further of attayning it was freed out of the Tower of London where the plague was already begun and sent to his owne House to the great ioy of euery one to be vnder the free custodie of Henry Neuill Neither truely could they plead against him by right of her Maiesties Law from the 25. yeere of Edward the Third as Cecill aduertiseth who out of the affection he bare vnto him laboured to espouse him to another Wife to the end to put by his thought of compassing the other and to prouide for the publique peace But after a few daies many things that hee suspected discouered themselues and their faith who were of his most secret counsell either with hope or by corruption was broken The times then were full of suspitions and conspiracies For T. and Ed. Stanley the two youngest sonnes of the Earle of Darbie by the Duke of Norfolkes Daughter Gerrard Rolston Hall and others of the Countie of Darbie conspired to free the Queene of Scotland out of prison but Rolstons Sonne who was one of the company of the Gentlemen guarders discouered the conspiracy and the rest were imprisoned except Hall who saued himselfe at the I le of Man and from thence was sent ouer to Dunbritton with re-commendation to the Bishop of Rosse where hee was afterwards taken at the surprize of the Castle and lastly put to death at London The Bishop of Rosse himselfe being lately in custodie and set at libertie is againe committed to the custodie of the Bishop
credit to those hurtfull truces and assembles For whilest they treated of these things in England they receiued great dammages in the punishments of many and murdering of others the taking of Dunbrittō situated neere Glotte or Cluide vpon an arme of the sea beeing the strongest and best fortified Castle in all Scotland I. Hamilton Arch-bishop of S. Andrews brother to the Duke of Chastelraut was hanged as a confederate of murdering the King without being brought according to the custome of the Countrey to Iudgement onely vpon the testimony of a priest who iustified that vpon taking confession of the assassinates of the King he heard them say that he was of the confederacie The Queene being prisoner could no longer harbour in her heart what shee had a long time concealed perceiuing herselfe out of all hope plunged in a deepe sorrow that of all her seruants they had left her but onely 10. and a priest to doe her seruice and that all meanes both for her health and liberty being euer most charitable seemed to bee taken away She sent thereupon secretly vnto the Duke of Norfolke a forme of her dessignes which shee had written long before and certaine amorous Letters written in a particular Character only betweene them two with other Letters to perswade him still to rely vpon the Pope and the Spaniard by Ridolph whom shee recommended vnto him as one most affectionate to his seruice and very necessary to be employed in his Affaires But Higford the Dukes Secretary who copied out this remembrance and those Letters in the vsuall Character being commanded to throw them into the fire hid them secretly vnder the mats in the Dukes Chamber for some further Dessigne as it seemeth This Ridolph being one day in the Dukes presence spake and made Barker often iterate the same THat he had obserued that there was as well among the Nobles as meaner sort in England three sorts who studied nouelties some were such as had flourished vnder the authority of MARIE and were then but few in number others who beeing zealous of the Romane Religion fretted that they were not permitted the free exercise thereof others who being transported with a new hope grieued at their present fortune who to enterprize any thing that would be propounded vnto them wanted nothing but a Leader of some Noble Race money and forraigne assistance That there could not be found one more illustrious and capable in such respect then the Duke who had the generall fauour of the people and that it stood with reason that he should reuenge the iniuries done him in that they had so long kept him prisoner against the Lawes of the Countrie and that they had not called him to the Assembly of Parliament sithence hee had his place and voice as beeing chiefe amongst all the Peeres Earle Marshall of the Kingdome of England And with the greater efficacie to perswade him to these things shewed him a Catalogue of the Nobles who had deuoted both themselues and their fortunes to his seruice if hee vndertooke this assured him that for forraigne helpe the Pope would be at all the charges of the Warre prouided that the Catholike Religion might bee aduanced hauing to this end disbursed the yeere before a hundred thousand Crownes when the Bull was publisht of which he himselfe had distributed to the English Fugitiues 12000. promised that the Spaniard prouoked by the iniuries of the English would send him for aide 4000. horse and 6000. foot which might very conueniently be brought in about the beginning of summer at Harwich a Port in Essex at whose approch the Duke had a great number of strong ships and without suspicion because about the same instant the Duke Medinoe-Coeli was to come into Flanders with a great Fleet. Concluded lastly that this might be supposed to be a meanes to free the Duke from all suspicion of attempting the Kingdome and to prouide for the safety of the Queene of England prouided that she embraced or at least-wise tolerated the Romane religion and consented that the Queene of Scotland should marry the Duke The Duke conceiuing these things somewhat probable gaue eare vnto him but neuerthelesse refused to subscribe the Letters of Credit which were offered him by Ridolph being vpon departure and would not harken to the counsel which the Bishop of Rosse suggested to him by Barker after he had often reuolued it in his minde TO seize vpon the Queene on the suddaine with a number of choise Gentlemen to disturbe the Parliament being then assembled And that this might easily be done considering the opportunity of times since this Assembly afforded him so many Gentlemē at his deuotion which could not be conuented in any other place without suspition That he had iust cause to be mooued hereunto in regard they had kept him so long prisoner against the Lawes of the Countrey and that they would not admit him to the Parliament and that they had sought out most seuere Lawes against the Papists And by pregnant examples sithence Castriot in Italy and others in all Countreyes hauing inopinately enterprized waighty affaires haue happily succeeded in them And if not long since fiue Gentlemen of Scotland were able to breake off the Parliament by which Murray was to be banished and bring the Queene vnder their power they might by the same meanes and as easily if they would lay hold of the occasion offered vnto them seyze vpon Qu. ELIZABETH accomplish the marriage of the Qu. of Scotland and prouide in England for the Catholique Religion without any great noyse or need of forreine assistance The Duke who of his naturall good inclination was far from offending reiected this counsell from his heart as most pernitious and dangerous But now H. Percy offered the Bishop to imploy himselfe about the deliuerance of the Queene of Scotland from prison prouided that Grange and Carre Farnihurst should receiue him at his entrance into Scotland and that the Earle of Northumberland his Brother who was prisoner should be set free Howsoeuer being suspected because of his great familiaritie with Baron Burghley and for that hee so long deferred the enterprise they gaue as little credit to this counsell as to that of Powels of Stanford one of the company of the Gentlemen of the Guard and to that of Owen one of the vassals of the Earle of Arundell who should haue vndertaken this but the Bishop of Rosse perceiuing they were vnable to effect it being men of no note hindered them As for other businesses which were closely done in these passages wee will omit vntill the light discouer them Whiles all these things were secretly handled in London there happened a most feareful Earth-quake in the Easterne parts about the Countie of Hereford neere the Towne of Kinaston For vpon the twelfth of March about sixe of the clocke in the euening the Earth opened and a Mountaine with a Rocke vpon which it was situated after a hideous noyse and strange crash
Queene ELIZABETH in England and that shee had not treated of this marriage but to cause the King of France his Mother and Brothers to shew themselues more fauourable to the Protestants in France breake off the hopes of the Queene of Scotland and the plots which the Spaniard and the Irish practised against England by the negotiation of the Cardinall of Lorraine and to auoid the Thunderbolts of the Pope by the interposition of the French For about this time the Earle of Leicester who saw more cleerely into the deepest thoughts of Queene ELIZABETH then any other wrote vnto Walsingham Ambassadour in France THat the Queene had a desire to marry but that she was not very hot vpon it and that she was of opinion that it was more necessary then her desire was to effect it moreouer that when the Duke of Aniou went from the Article concerning the toleration of Religion which Queen ELIZABETH would with such caution haue bound him to that he no longer persisted in his suite As the French tooke care and paine to make vp this Match certaine of the English laboured no lesse to aduance that betweene the Queene of Scotland and the Duke of Norfolke which through their wicked counsels they had againe reuiued contrary to his promise which first of all was discouered by these meanes Ridolph the Florentine who we told you was sent vnto forraigne Nations about the affaires of the Queene of Scotland had declared vnto Charles Bayliffe a Flemming one of his houshold seruants all that he had laboured with the Duke of Alua and put into his hands a packet of Letters written in counterfait Characters to her to the Ambassadour of Spaine to the Duke of Norfolke to the Bishop of Rosse and to Baron Lumley which hee carried with him notwithstanding the Bishop commanded him to leaue it with the Gouernour of Callais to keepe But hee had no sooner landed at Douer but hee was apprehended and imprisoned and the Packet sent to the Lord Cobham Gouernour of the Cinque Ports The Bishop who first of all knew it wrought so quickly and craftily with Cobham who was partly of counsell in the dessignes of the Duke that he deliuered him this Packet and another in stead thereof was sent to the Queenes Councell wherein were old-dated Letters tending to small purposes and aduertised Bayliffe thereof who being brought into question neuerthelesse confessed something of what had past and amongst the rest that this Packet had past through the Bishops hands who beeing aduertised thereof forthwith sent away Cutbert his Secretary to disperse amongst his friends the counterfait Characters and all that might doe hurt so as when Sussex Burghley Mildmay and Sadler came to search his house they could finde nothing at all nor get any thing out of him by examination he standing vpon it that an Ambassadour ought not to giue an account of his dealings to any but his Prince He was notwithstanding committed for two daies after to the Bishop of Ely and a little while after that carried to the Isle of Ely Stanley and Gerard Knights and Rolston of whom I haue spoken were clapt vp in the Tower of London and Howard who aspired to the Arch-bishoprike of Yorke was deliuered vpon suspicion to the custody of the Arch-bishop of Canterbury The Queene of Scots hauing about this time sent a certaine summe of money to the Ambassadour of France to be conueyed to those that were of her partie in Scotland the Ambassadour deliuered it to Barker and Higford who aduising with the Duke put it into the hands of one Browne of the Towne of Shrewsburie a seruant to the Duke to be deliuered in Scotland to Baron Heris by Banister and Lowder Browne beeing a crafty fellow perceiuing by the weight that in stead of Siluer they had giuen him Gold deliuered it ouer to the Councell of State Hereby the wiser sort began to obserue that the Duke had already begun to trespasse against her Maiesty in lending ayde to Heris and to the Scots her professed enemies who had forâ—aged the Frontier Inhabitants of England And hereupon Higford was committed to prison who presently confessed all the businesse concerning the money and shewed where the Letters and other writings were and the secret Characters and the remembrances and instructions of the Qu. of Scotland of which I haue spoken hidden vnder Maâ—â—land Tiles importing THat the French approued of the intended meeting with the Scots but that the Proposition of marriage of the Duke of Aniou with Queen ELIZABETH was to no other end but onely the better to colour the assistance performed to the Queene of Scotland for her re-establishment That they secretly preuented any contract with Iohn of Austria but fauoured the other with the Duke of Norfolke very much for the hatred they bore to the Spaniard That the Duke of Alua did so farre disproue the Designe of sending the Queene backe into Scotland that it would certainely be the ruine of her selfe and of the Catholique Religion through all Great Brittaine because shee being returned must of necessity either hazzard the danger of beeing besieged or try her fortune of the warres against the Rebels who by the aide of the English might easily bring her vnder their power before such time that any Forraigne forces could arriue That being then in no safety in Scotland and no hope to be expected from France so pestred with intestine warres he thought it more expedient to procure ayde from the Spaniard who had made an offer of marriage with Iohn of Austria which notwithstanding she neuer intended sithence she had promised by meanes of the Duke of Norfolke to re-establish the Romane Religion in Great Britaine And moreouer to send her Sonne out of Scotland into Spaine where he might be safely preserued and instructed from his Infancy in the Romane Religion and by this meanes all pretence taken from the Scots who shaddowed their rebellion vnder colour of him and lastly for the effecting of these businesses presently to dispatch away Ridolph with caution first to conceale these things especially from the French The Councell hauing receiued these instructions the Letters whereof I spake and other dispatches from the Pope and Barker who was surprized hauing confest all these particulars they commanded Sadler with a Company of armed men to goe vnto the Dukes house in London which was then at Charter-House Two dayes after the Duke who was altogether ignorant that those people had confessed any thing and confident that those Letters and Remembrances were burned in the fire beeing questioned denyed all that they had confest and therevpon was brought backe the seuenteenth day of September by Sadler Smith Neuill and Wilson to the great griefe of the people vnto the Tower of London from whence he was but the yeere before deliuered Afterwards they imprisoned Banister a Lawyer whose counsell the Duke had taken and followed after that the Earles of Arundell and Southampton Baron Lumley and Cobham
Castles which were in Scotland the Hostages and the King of Scots to renounce the title to England and the English Rebels But for this matter enough is spoken of this yeere and the particularities of it may be drawne from the Dukes confession and the memoriall sent to the Queen of Scots written by the Bishop of Rosse's own hand At the same time Mathew Earle of Lenox Vice-Roy of Scotland and great Grand-father to the King hauing appoynted the assembly of States at Sterlin and thinking to be safe there was surprized by the Lords of the contrary faction which met together by the Queenes authoritie at Edenborrough and hauing yeelded himselfe to Dauid Spencer who laboured very hard to protect him was slaine with him by Bell and Cauder after hauing with much trouble and paines ruled the Kingdome for the King his Nephew the space of foureteene moneths more or lesse at what time France tooke the Queenes side and Queen ELIZABETH the Kings not so much to get their friends the victory as to keepe them from being ouercome Queen ELIZABETH hoped that the young King should haue beene deliuered into her hands and the French thought that Dunbriton and Edenborrough should be giuen them whereupon some Scottish Merchants were very much troubled and traffique in France was denyed them which drew a great partie to the Queenes side in hope thereby to haue freedome of trade there againe In Lenox his place by the common consent of the people Iohn Areskin Earle of Marre was elected Vice-Roy a man of a calme spirit and a great louer of his Countrie who beeing no lesse afflicted with the turbulent counsels of his friends then by the insultings of his aduersaries for very griefe dyed when hee had gouerned thirteene moneths The iniquitie of these times and the loue which the people of England bore to their Queene and Countrey drew the States to Westminster where they made a Law to preuent the plots of the seditious by which it was ordayned by ancient authoritie THat if any did attempt to ruine or hurt the Queene to make warre or excite others to doe it in any part of her dominions or affirme that shee had no right to the Kingdome but that it were more iustly due to another or said that shee was an Heretique a Schismatique or Infidell that shee did vsurpe the right from another that was liuing or that the Lawes and Statutes were not of power to define and tye the right of Succession It should be Crimen laesae Maiestatis If any one during the life of Queene ELIZABETH should expresly affirme either by writing or Booke printed that any one is or ought to bee the Queenes Heire or Successour except the naturall Line which should proceede from her owne body or that should publish print or sell Bookes written vpon this Subiect he and his maintainers for the first time should suffer a whole yeeres imprisonment and lose halfe their goods but returning to the same offence againe they incurred the penaltie of a Praemunire which is losse of all goods and imprisonment during life This seemed grieuous vnto some which thought that the tranquillity of the Kingdome ought to be strengthened by the designation of an Heire but it was beyond beliefe what iests the maliciously-curious made of this clause Naturally begotten of her body because the Ciuill Law calls those Children naturall which are borne out of marriage and that nature onely and not the honesty of wedlocke begot them and the English Law Legitimate those that are lawfully begotten And I remember being then young to haue heard it spoken aloud that this word was prest into this Law by Leicester that some bastard-sonne of his should thrust in as one of neerest kinne to Queene ELIZABETH It was also ordained that those who had by any Bull or writing from the Pope reconciled any to the Church of Rome should vndergoe the punishment of Crimen laesae Maiestatis Those who sustaine the Reconcilers or bringers into England of Agnus Dei's Graines Crucifixes or any other things consecrated by the Pope of Rome should lose all their goods and indure perpetuall imprisonment and those that shall conceale and not detect these Reconcilers were holden guiltie of Misprision of Treason Furthermore those goods and lands which were conuicted for Rebellion in the North beeing in the possession of Iames Pilkinton Bishop of Durham who challenged Regall power betweene the Riuers of Teise and Tyne were adiudged to the Queene and her Successours because she had with great cost deliuered both the Bishop and the Bishopricke from Rebels yet so as that in time to come it shall not be preiudiciall to the Regall rite of that Church of Durham It was also ordained that to meete with the insolencies of such as were deuoted to the Pope and despising the authority of the Lawes and their obedience to their Princesse who day by day with-drew themselues into forraine Countries without the Queenes licence hoping in time with a great number and to innouate something they should returne within a certaine time and make their submissions and that the fraudulent conueyances which they had made should be burnt So much for the Papists On the other side by wholsome Lawes they suppressed as well the couetousnesse of certaine of the Clergie who as if they had beene borne onely to themselues with a notorious malice to their Successours wasted the goods of the Church and let out the Lands for many yeeres as the impudencie of others who with a desire to innouate opposed themselues to Articles of the Synod of London for the abolishing of Schisme in the yeere 1562. It was likewise againe propounded that if the Queene of Scots should againe offend the Lawes of England she might be proceeded against as if she were a Peeres Wife of the Realme of England But the Queene by her authority hindered that from being made a Law In the beginning of Iune the Parliament being ready to be dismissed they sate vpon Iohn Story a Doctor of Law and Spie to the Duke of Alua of whom I haue made mention in the yeere 1569. to know whether Iohn Storie being an English-man should be found guilty Laesae Maiestatis for hauing conferred with a stranger-Prince in Brabant for the inuading of his Countrey and shewing the meanes to doe it The learned'st sort in the Law did affirme that hee might be accused Laesae Maiestatis Whereupon hee was called vnto iudgement for hauing conspired against the life of his Princesse with one Prestoll a man much addicted to magicke and in giuing thankes at the Table alwayes cursed her and the King of Scotland to the fiends of Hell and demonstrated to the Duke of Alua's Secretary the meanes to inuade England to make Ireland reuolt and at the same time to bring the Scots into England He refused to submit himselfe to be iudged by the Lawes of England maintayning that being a sworne Subiect not to Queene ELIZABETH but to the King
he thought it would be very dangerous Letters also were brought in which the Queene of Scots had written to the Duke importing that shee was much grieued that the Earle of Northumberland was apprehended before hee had taken vp Armes in the Rebellion For whether shee vnderstood this by report or it was inuented of purpose I cannot say To this the Duke answered THat by these reasons it could not probably bee inferred that hee had laboured the destruction of the Queene neither was any thing that hath hitherto bin produced of any moment against him excepting the testimony of the Bishop of Rosse and that also of him being a forreiner by the authoritie of Bracton a man most expert in our Lawes in no wise is to be admitted That he neuer had Northumberland or Westmerland in such esteeme that hee would commit his life into their hands and that his innocencie was such a sure rampire to him that hee neuer meditated of any escape for himselfe Then Gerard the Queenes Attourney spake It is more than sufficiently apparant that the Duke would haue espoused the Queene of Scots to destroy the Queene of England The Letters which he hath writtē to the Pope the King of Spaine and Duke d'Alua doe iustifie that hee had a determination to inuade England That which hee consulted of with Ridolfe was now likewise openly knowne by the obscure Characters which were found hidden vnder the tiles in the house of the Howards and by the Letters also which he commanded to be burnt but were found at the entry of his Chamber vnder the Matte And all these things may easily bee proued by the interrogatories and answeres of them that haue not beene affrighted with torments nor condemned to haue attempted ought against the State To which the Duke replyed I Haue not quoth hee beene eyther author or fauourer of the counsels and deliberations holden with the Pope or Spaniard but to the contrary I haue alwayes reproued and disallowed them Those that haue offended let them suffer and not discharge them vpon me Besides all this Gerard accused the Duke that hee had consulted with Ridolfe for the landing of tenne thousand men out of Flanders at Harwich a Port in Essex and this was iustified out of the examination of Barker That Letters were written by Ridolfe to the King of Spaine and Duke d'Alua to which although the Duke subscribed not yet by the counsell of Rosse hee sent Barker his Secretary as Ambassadour to auerre them to be the Dukes owne Letters MY memory replyeth the Duke beginneth to falter neither can it containe such an intricate varietie of matters You other pleaders haue your notes and memorialls with you but I must ex tempore answere to all mine accusers But surely it is not probable that I who haue alwayes beene contrary to the Roman Religion should entertaine a treatie with the Pope I had a great deale rather be torne in pieces with wilde Horses than to depart from the Religion which I professe Consider but the situation of Harwich and it will easily annihilate the accusation Who sees not how difficult a thing it is to leade an Armie thorow that part of the Countrey which is round inclosed with hedges and most incommodious by reason of the streight and narrow wayes and passages Had I had a determination to rayse an army against my Princesse without doubt I would not haue beene vnprouided of Armes but I haue not for these tenne yeeres past bought any more than eight Corslets and for Gunpowder not any at all I neuer committed any Letters to the trust of Barker but rather of Banister that was to mee more than many Barkers Then were the intercepted Letters of the Bishop of Rosse which he writ in Prison to the Queene of Scots produced by which what things were before spoken were confirmed The Duke requested to see them for it seemed that he suspected them to be supposed But the Iudge answered You need not call them in question for they are written with the Bishops owne hand Besides these a little Letter was brought forth which the Duke had written in Okar to one of his Seruants wherein hee commanded him to burne the packet which was hidden in a certaine place and to turne the fault vpon the Bishop who by the priuiledge of an Ambassadour might delude the Law To which the Duke replyed in these words Being certified that it was diuulged abroad that many had accused mee I answered by this Letter and seeing all things were so neerely searcht into I commanded that packet should be burnt because I would saue others from danger Bromley the Queenes Sollicitor presented the Letters of Ridolfe wherein was conteined that the Duke d'Alua had approued the designe likewise the Letters of the Pope to the Duke dated the fourth of the Nones of May. Then Wilbraham made a faire discourse concerning what credit should be giuen to the testimonies of the Bishop and of the Dukes seruants whereto the Duke made answere CErtes it falls not vnder the power of my faculties to frame a replication to such an elegant and polished Oration Yet this Oratour such and so great as he is hath omitted to speake how great the violence of feare is which oftentimes doth remoue a firme and wel-composed minde out of its place and state Againe hee alledged Bracton against the credit giuen to forreine witnesses But Catelin answered that in such causes as this the testimonies of Strangers were auaileable and that it was in the power of the Peeres eyther to giue or deny them credit Now was that matter come to be proued that the Duke had succoured the rebellious Fugitiues which was found apparant by the Letters of the Countesse of Northumberland in which shee gaue the Duke great thankes for the money wherewith he furnished her husband and her selfe Finally the last obiection of the relieuing of those Scots which were enemies to the Queene was prooued by the Letters of the Duke to Banister by Banisters confession and by the Mony which was deliuered to Browne of Shropshire Hereupon the Duke demanded of the Iudges Whether the Subiects of another Prince confederate with the Queene may be accounted enemies to the Queene Catelin answered They might and that the Queene of England might make warre with any Duke in France and in the meane time obserue a peace with the King of France But as the night began to approch the Lord high Steward demanded of the Duke if he had any thing more to speake for himselfe The Duke answered In the equitie of the Lawes I repose my trust Then hee commanded the Lieutenant of the Tower to retyre with the Duke awhile after silence was proclaimed turning to the Peeres hee thus spake to them YOu haue heard how Thomas Duke of Norfolke being accused of Laesae Maiestatis and not confessing himselfe guiltie hath committed his cause to GOD and to you It is your part then
Ley hee whispered something in his Eare and after he spoke to the Deane of Pauls who turning him to the people said The Duke intreateth you all to pray with him that GOD would be mercifull to him and that you would be silent that his spirit be not disturbed Hee forgaue his Executioner asking him pardon refusing to put the Napkin ouer his face which he offered him saying I feare not death Then kneeling downe his heart lift vp to GOD on high hee prostrated himselfe on the Scaffold the Deane praying intentiuely with him then laying his necke ouer the Blocke at one stroke his head was cut off which the Executioner shewed a lamentable spectacle to the people most mournfully then shedding teares and sighing It is almost incredible how dearely the People loued him and how by his naturall benignity and courteous actions qualities well becomming so great a Prince hee had gained the hearts of the Multitude Diuers of the wiser sort as they were affected passed their censures diuersly some from an apprehension they had of great feare and danger might haue ensued had hee suruiued others commiserating the case of one so nobly borne so gentle by nature so comely of personage of so manly an aspect so compleat in all parts to perish so pittyously one who had not the subtill sleights of his Aduersaries and the slippery hopes he had conceiued vnder a colour of benefitting his Countrey and Common-wealth diuerted from the first-begun course of his life hee had beene the greatest honour and ornament of his Countrey They called also to memory the lucklesse death and destiny of his late Father who although vniuersally admired for Arts and Armes had some fiue and twentie yeeres before this lost his head in the same place vpon sleight occasions to wit for hauing his Armes quartered with King Edward the Confessour which we reade the Mowbrayes the Dukes of Norfolke had borne being giuen them by King Richard the Second from which Mowbrayes he drew his petigree Whereupon it shall not be impertinent to the purpose briefly to adde from what shop these Conspiracies were first forged as Hierome Catene in his History of the life of Pius the fifth relateth An Author for his credit made free Denison of Rome and admitted Secretary to Cardinall Alexandrine Nephew to Pius the fifth POpe Pius the 5. saith he burning with a zealous desire to re-establish the Romane Religion and hauing no other so conuenient a Messenger to bee his Nuncio Apostolike imployed Robert Ridolph Gentleman of Florence who comming into England vnder pretext of other businesse indeuoured himselfe to nothing more then to stir the hearts of the Queenes Subiects to her destruction wherein he dealt with such dexterity that he brought not onely Papists but also some Protestants to be of his faction some for a priuate malice they bore to those which aymed at the Kingdome others out of a desire of innouation As these matters were working vnder-hand and couertly there happened a debate betwixt the Spaniard and the Queene for certaine moneys that had been intercepted now in her possession Hereupon the Pope tooke occasion to perswade the King of Spaine to lend his helping hand to those which were combin'd Conspirators in England against Qu. ELIZA that so he might with the more facillity effect his affaires in the Low-Countries and restore the Catholike Religion in England In like maner dealt he with France as if he were bound to assist his Kinswoman the Queen of Scotland and to pleasure the Scots who to diuert the English from ayding the Protestants in France had made incursions vpon the English nor ought be any lesse to some great persons of the confederacy in England who by their policy had so preuented as that the Queene should not publikely send any ayde to the Huguenots of France by reason whereof the King of France promised his aide to set free the Qu. of Scots but failed to performe In the meane time Ridolph so wrought that he brought Norfolke to bee chiefe of the conspiracie promising him marriage with the Queene of Scots with her consent The better also to effect this businesse the Pope deposed the Queene of her Crowne and Kingdome and absolued her Subiects of all Oath and Allegeance by a Bull which hee caused to be published whereof he sent copies printed to Ridolph to be dispersed through the Kingdome Hereupon the Earles of Northumberland and Westmerland raised Armes in the North of England against the Queene but money failing there they speedily fled into Scotland and the Duke of Norfolke with others were committed to prison amongst which Ridolph was one who had receiued commandement from his Holinesse to deliuer to the Confederate League an hundred and fiftie thousand Crownes which hee could not doe beeing now prisoner But her Maiesty not looking so deepely as concerned her into the plot of the Conspiracie set Ridolph and some others at liberty and hauing distributed the foresaid moneys amongst the Confederates was by them sent home againe to the Pope to aduertise him that now all things were in a readinesse for the dispatch of the Queen and to procure with all speed the best supplies he might from the Spaniard out of the Low-Countries The Pope commended well this purpose although indeed the Duke of Norfolke had formerly misliked the same as a matter full of much difficulty in a priuate conference hee had with Ridolph once vpon the way and vnder a colour of other matter addrest himselfe to the Kings of Spaine Portugal to informe them thereof He promiseth the Duke of Norfolke by his Letters to send him succour mooueth with the King of Spaine to bee assistant and to further the matter the more offereth to goe himselfe in person and if neede were to spend the goods of his See-Apostolike Challices holy Vestiments and Crucifixes assuring him that he could and would easily effect the same nor was there any difficultie to be doubted would hee send ouer Chappin Vittel with an Armie out of Flanders into England which thing the Spaniard with all expedition commanded to be done whilest the Pope prouided money But the Duke D'Alua enuying that Vitel should haue the honour of this seruice sought to preferre his Sonne thereunto fearing that the French should fall from them with their Forces and doubting the Conquest of England might yeelde any profit to Spaine or that the Pope was able to comply with them for money sufficient for so great a designe Notwithstanding the King of Spaine gaue expresse command that he should inuade England and to that end sent moneys by Ridolph into Flanders But it pleased God the matter was discouered to the Queene of England by some beyond seas and the Duke of Norfolke apprehended and iudged to death which brought no lesse griefe to the Pope then to the King of Spaine who said in the presence of Cardinall Alexandrine his Nephew That neuer was
businesse more deliberately attempted carried with more courage and constancy of the Confederates nor lasted longer time vndiscouered by any of the coniurate-society That their military Companies might in foure and twentie houres space be put ouer out of Flanders into England the Queene and the City of London suddenly surprized Religion restored and the Queene of Scotland settled and crowned in her steade All which were like to haue the better successe for that Thomas Stukeley an English Fugitiue was then in readinesse with three thousand men to bring Ireland in subiection to the King of Spaine and with three Ships that were Spies set the English Fleete on fire Thus H. Catene of which much was vnknowne till the yeere 1588. when he published a booke printed at Rome and priuiledged by Sixtus the Sixth Now returne wee to the purpose if we be digrest Scarce ten dayes after the Dukes death were sent to the Queene of Scots then all mournefull and in sorrow Will. Lord de-la-Warre Sir Ralph Sadler Tho. Wilson Doctor of the Ciuill Lawes and T. Bromley the Queenes Attourney who were so to expostulate with her as to charge her for vsurping the Title and Armes of England nor that she had renounced them according as it was conditioned at Edenborrough and to assume them more freely had secretly contriued to marry with the Duke of Norfolke which the rather to bring to passe shee had left nothing vnassayed by the ministery of her Agents by force and Armes to set the Duke at liberty had raised Rebellion in the North Countrey had succoured the conuicted Rebels of Scotland and Flanders had by Ridolph the Italian his solliciting implored the aydes of the Pope the King of Spaine and others for inuading the Countrey of England they vrged also that shee had receiued Letters from the Pope who had promised to keepe her as safe vnder his wing as the Hen doth her Chickens calling her and her Complices The true Children of the Church And finally that shee had procured a Bull from the Pope against the Queene and and had suffered herselfe by her friends in forraigne parts to be called The Queene of England To all these with a bold countenance and constant resolution hauing first protested herselfe to be a free Prince and subiect to none she answered THat she had not vsurped the Title or Armes of England but that being yet young and vnder the power of her Husband the King of France necessity imposed them vpon her but since her Husbands death shee neuer bore them wherefore it was not to be imputed to her as any fault of hers neither would she take them to her so long as ELIZABETH liued or any Childe shee should beare That in the matching with the Duke of Norfolke shee had no thought of any ill might happen to the Cōmon-wealth but rather much good and if she should renounce the marriage it was contrary to the matrimoniall Vow she had made and that by dutie thereof she was bound to aduertise the Duke of his dangers and to quit himselfe out of prison That she had neuer raised nor consented to the raising of any tumults but was alwaies ready to discouer what plots shee knew of against the Queene or Countrey if she had pleased by her to bee admonished of or to haue admitted her to her sight or hearing nor at any time had succoured the English Rebels but only by her Letters had recommended the Countesse of Northumberland to the Duke D'Alua Of Ridolph she was to haue necessary vse for her pensionary Annuities and in some money-matters whom shee knew to be a great Fauourite of the Popes but neuer had receiued any Letters from him had neuer dealt with any touching her deliuery but indeed had not refused to giue eare to such as had offered the seruice in that kind and for that cause had passed her priuie Seale to Rowlston and Hall She had sometimes receiued Letters consolatory and full of piety from the Pope wherein was no mention of any such matter nor had shee procured any Bull from Rome onely on a time a copie of one of them was shewed her which after she had read shee cast it into the fire But if any out of forraigne Countries shall write or speake otherwise then they ought they ought to answere it and to suffer the penaltie of their faults She neuer sought or sent either to the Pope or K. of Spaine for the procuring any inuasion vpon England but had implored their helpes for her restoring into her owne Realme but not before her Maiestie had preadmonition thereof But if shee were to be called in question concerning these Letters she requested for that shee was issued from the Bloud Royall of England that she might answere for herselfe in person in open Parliament In the meane time was Scotland all vp in Armes miserably troubled with Ciuill Warres whilest on the one side such as fauoured the Queene relying vpon aide from the French and the other party expecting the like from England had dayly encounters together notwithstanding both English and French shewed themselues most desirous to appease and accord their dissentions by the Ambassages which either countrey sent into Scotland Of which France proposed that their most commodious course would bee to elect amongst them some persons of well-known worth and wisedome to gouerne the Kingdome for a time not taking vpon them supreame authority or the names of King or Queene they were not willing to acknowledge for King the King of Scotland for that they held hee had no right but by his mother and that shee was vniustly deposed of her Subiects and therefore shee was iustly to bee reputed their Queene and the ancient League of Alliance betwixt her and France to continue firme and inuiolable Those likewise from England on the contrary maintained by strong argument that such an Administration or popular gouernment would be an Anarchy and that the Commonwealth was not to admit plurality of Gouernours and that Scotland hauing alwaies beene commanded by Kings was not now to haue an election of such Administrators That the States of the Realme had deposed the Queene and lawfully crowned and inthroned the King and that the ancient recited Alliance was a contract not of persons but of the two Kingdomes of France and Scotland alledging also that by an expresse Law the most Christian King was bound to defend the King of Scots in these termes If there happen at any time controuersie about the Kingdome of Scotland the Kings of France shall support ayde and defend him whom the States of Scotland shall adiudge the Title of the Kingdome to And as touching the causes of the Queenes deposing it should bee enquired of of those Scots who haue deposed her The French notwithstanding openly fauouring the partie of the Queene of Scotland became serious intercessours to her Maiestie for to set her at liberty lest that as his Ambassadour did freely hee might
bee thought not to respect her who had been wife to the King his brother and now the Dowager of France and to neglect the now puissant Family of the Guizes in France or to approoue that pernicious example of deposing of Kings And which was the most capitall point of all that shee finding her selfe abandoned of the French in her aduersity might seeke Patronage from Spaine and that by her meanes the three prepotent Realmes of England Scotland and Ireland might colleague them in amity with Spaine to the no small endamagement of the State of France To these Qu. ELIZABETH with milde alacrity answered THe King of France will be well aduised what or how he shall doe with the Queene of Scotland notwithstanding she was their Queene and now is their Dowager howbeit for the dissoluing of the Duke of Aniou's mariages she hath held secret cōsultation with the Spaniard He will also consider whether that ancient Law of Alliance be violable and whether he be bound therby or no to defend the King in his nonage He will also bethinke him how much France is beholden or obliged to the Family of the Guizes by whose practices the Countrey hath beene afflicted with long and bloody wars the French haue beene forced to lose the loue of Scotland and the poore Queene brought into this calamitable case she is in In very deed the example of deposing Kings I hold a thing most pernicious and well deseruing infernall punishment but for that the Scots are to answere And for mine owne part I call to mind the things which grieue my heart to remember But notwithstanding I know not how the French in old times allowed of Pepin when he supplanted Childeric Hugo Capet Charles of Lorraine depriuing them of their ancient successions descended to them from a long-continued Race of Ancestors to transferre the Scepter to new-erected Families As also Philip surnamed the good Duke of Burgundie exiled Iaquette from his countries of Hainault Holland or the Danes when they expulst from his Kingdome Christianus the second and his Daughters Or the Spaniards who imprisoned the Queene Vraca after they had put her from the Crowne It is no nouelty for Sonnes to succeed their deposed Mothers So Henry the Second was admitted King of England Alphonsus the yonger Sonne of Vraca King of Castill and of late memory Charles the fifth King of Spaine and Sicily their Mothers then suruiuing The world is full of examples of many Queenes that haue exchanged their Diademes for prisons which France doth testifie at large hauing imprisoned not to say further the wiues of three of their Kings one after another Lewes Hutin Philip the long and Charles the faire For my part I detaine the Queene of Scots vnder a reasonable Guard but I doe it for the preseruation of England and mine owne safety after the example of the French who for their better security of affaires put Chilperic into a Monasterie Charles of Lorraine into a safe and straite prison and Lodowicke Sforza Duke of Mylan into a Dungeon with Iron grates Whereunto as she was very conuersant in the Histories of all Nations shee annexed other examples of the same nature drawne out of the Historie of Spaine and finally concluded that true it was such Presidents carried euer with them some semblance of Iniustice but she required that the King of France would vndertake the defence of the Queene of Scotland euen as he was bound by his Allyance intimating that it would bee an action of greater glory to the French than all those vnhappy enterprizes they assumed in the cause of that infamous woman Iane of Naples But when it was discouered that at the same time the Queene of Scots practised secretly to confirme an alliance with the Spaniard by the negotiations of the Lord Seton who arriuing in Essex disguised in the habit of a Mariner and returning from thence into Scotland through England hee had promised succours in the Duke of Aluaes name to the Scottish partakers with the Queene shee was kept with a straighter Guard and the affection borne to her by the French by little and little waxed cold And certainely as the Duke of Alua omitted nothing wherein he might vent his hatred to Queene ELIZABETH so was shee no lesse cautelous to preuent it and frustrate his dissignes For in the first moneths of this yeere hee complained by the Spanish Ambassadour in England that the Flemmish Rebels bought all their warlike munition there and were receiued into all her Ports and Hauens shee presently by a strict Proclamation commanded that all Flemmings any wayes suspected of sedition should depart out of England and that their ships of warlike equipage should be seysed vpon in her harbours All which returned to the dammage of the Duke of Alua. For Humes Earle of March and other Flemmings reduced as it were to a desperate poynt whether they were terrified by this Proclamation or that they were vnder-hand admonished to retyre but they presently surprised the Breele which is seated vpon the mouth of the Meuse caused Flushing forthwith to reuolt and other Townes which expelled the Spaniards as they were in hand to make cittadels to captiuate their libertie in a short time cut off the Duke of Alua by Sea and through the meanes they had to make it good for themselues had a power to molest and detaine the Spaniard with a long and tedious warre wherein Souldiers haue obserued that hee shewed for his part such palpable carelessenesse and negligence as was not beseeming so great a Generall who for the space of foure whole yeeres grossely ouer-slipt the maritime affaires and expeditions of Flanders At the same time there was a famous generall muster before the Queene at Greenwich with a pleasant trayning in Armes by the Citizens of London and after their returne from thence martiall men who began to rust and corrupt in their owne houses began to flow out of England into Flanders and according as they stood affected betooke themselues some to the Duke of Alua and others the farre greater number to the Prince of Orange who opposed his proiects for the defence of Religion and his Countries libertie Amongst whom Sir Thomas Morgan was the first that brought three hundred men into Flushing vpon the report whereof the Duke who intended the recouery of it forbare and retyred Further hee vsed such expedition and diligence as hee caused greater troupes to come for after himselfe there landed nine Companies more of English conducted by Humfrey Gilbert who being consorted with the French first attempted to surprize Scluse and Bruges then hee set vpon Tergow in Suethebenelant But their scaling-Ladders being too short hollow correspondancie betweene the French and the English and Mondragon comming on with fresh succours for the assieged they retyred to Flushing of which both the one and the other sought to make themselues masters each to themselues But the Prince of Orange made good vse of this
enuy among themselues so as neither of them obtained their end and purpose At that very time a pleasing serenity seemed to shine vpon the Protestants in France and Charles the Ninth pretending onely a warre in Flanders which he affirmed to be the preseruation of France and couering himselfe with this maske he feigned as though hee meant to contract alliance and amitie with the Queene of England and the Princes of Germanie to giue some testimony herein of his loue to the Protestants whose absolute ruine notwithstanding he couertly intended And as if he leaned to them of the one side and the Spaniard on the other hee substituted to this end the Duke de Mont-Morancy Birag de Anbisine the Bishop of Limoges and of Foix. The Queene of England who truely apprehended the secret plots and stratagems of the Duke of Alua deputed Sir Thomas Smith and Sir Francis Walsingham And Articles were drawne betweene them whereof you shall see an abridgement in the same expresse words and termes THis alliance shall not tye Princes allyed to leaue other Treaties past betweene them so they be not opposite and contrary thereunto There shall be a Confederation League and Vnion betweene them to defend themselues mutually against all who vnder some pretext or any other occasion whatsoeuer shall inuade or attempt to inuade their persons or Territories whereof they are now possest It shall remaine firme betweene them not onely while they liue but also betweene their Successours so the Heire of the first deceased giue notice to the suruiuant within the space of a yeere by Ambassadours and Letters that hee accepts of the same conditions Otherwise the suruiuant shall be reputed discharged of the obseruance of the same It shall bee validious against all yea and euen against those that are ioyned in affinitie to the one or other Prince and against all other Alliances contracted or to contract If the Queene of England be required to send succours by Letters sealed and subscribed with the King of France his owne hand shee shall be bound to passe ouer into France within two moneths after a thousand foot armed or fiue hundred Horse at her choyce whom the King must pay from the first day of their arriuall in France Shee was to send for the warre of Flanders eight Ships of equall greatnesse wherein twelue hundred Souldiers must be imployed with all things necessary and there must bee no Marriners nor Souldiers but English but yet they must be commanded by the Admirall of France payed and victualled by the King from the first day they enter into Seruice Shee was also to victuall her Ships for two Moneths which the King was also to pay within two moneths And if the Queene be moued to any warre the King hauing receiued Letters subscribed with her owne hand was to send ouer into England or Ireland within two Moneths sixe thousand foot or at her choyce fiue hundred Conductors armed at all poynts who should bring fifteene hundred Horse and about three thousand foot with good Horse and Armes after the French manner whom shee must pray from the time they set foot in her Countries And for the warre by Sea he was to furnish eight Shippes with twelue hundred Souldiers in manner and forme aboue mentioned Order agreed vpon for succours and pay to be digest in writing running in this forme that the one shall bee bound to sell vnto the other Armes and all necessary things to the Prince assayled They shall innouate nothing in Scotland but defend it against Strangers and permit them to enter and nourish the Scottish partialities But the Queene of England was permitted to pursue with Armes those amongst them who maintained or fostered the English Rebels who were at that present in Scotland That this Alliance shall be so taken and vnderstood as the onely proprietie and meaning of the words imported Each of the two Princes shall confirme euery one of these Articles by Patents and faithfully and really to deliuer them into the hands of Ambassadours for the one and other within three moneths For ratification of this Alliance on the behalfe of the King of France the Queene of England sent into France the Earle of Lincolne Admirall with a great traine of Gentlemen among which were these Barons the Lord Dacres the Lord Rich the Lord Talbot the Lord Sands and others And the King of France sent into England Anne Duke de Mont-Morancie and Monsieur de Foix with a magnificent traine that in the presence of them and Messieurs de Saligna and de la Mottef his Ambassadour ordinary the Queene might reciprocally confirme the same with oath which was performed at Westminster the seuenteenth of Iune and the day after the Queenes Maiestie with the consent of the French inuested with the Order of Saint George the Duke de Mont-Morancy in gratefull commemoration of the loue which Anne Constable of France manifested vnto her to whom HENRY the Eighth vouchsafed the same honour out of the loue he bare to the House of Mont-Morancy who carries the title of the first Christian of France and is there held for most Noble While Mont-Morancy remayned in England hee moued certaine propositions in the King of France his name that the Queene of Scots might there finde fauour so farre as it might be performed without danger That there might be a cessation of Armes in Scotland and that a Concord might be established by Act of Parliament And if a Parliament could not commodiously be summoned that some might be elected of the one and other part among the Scots to repayre to London to settle affaires with the Deputies of the King of France and Queene of England But answere was made him That more fauour had been shewed to the Queene of Scots than shee deserued and yet for the King of France more should be shewed her though the Estates of the Kingdome assembled had iudged how the Queene of England could not liue in security except some rigor were vsed to her That the Queene had carefully employed her whole power to establish Concord and procure a cessation of Armes hauing for this end lately sent into Scotland Sir William Drewry Gouernour of Berwicke with de la Croce the French Ambassadour But they could by no meanes induce Grange to peace nor the Garrison of the Castle of Edenborrough out of the hope they conceiued to bee succoured from France and Flanders though Huntley and Hamilton Arbroth for the Duke their Father had obliged themselues in writing to Queene ELIZABETH to enter it and other of the Queenes partakers had plighted their faith and promise thereunto After these motiues hee also propounded many other touching the marriage of the Duke of Aniou but in that they could not agree about some circumstances concerning Religion the matter grew hopelesse and he returned into France when there was preparation of the Nuptials betweene Henrie King of Nauarre with Margarite Sister to the King of
Rebels at the Earle of Kildares perswasion came vnder due obedience and at the same time Sir Thomas Smith a learned and prudent man with pitty entring into consideration what small account was made of Ireland obtained of the Queene that a Colonie might be sent thither vnder the conduct of his owne onely bastard sonne into the halfe Iland called Ardes at the East entry into Vlster to instruct and ciuilize the Demibarbarous inhabitants and to make them humane hoping the place might easily bee defended if Garrisons were planted in the straight or Istmus which ioynes it to the rest of the Iland He gaue to euery Footman 120. acres to each Horseman 240. ammounting to fiue hundred acres of English ground paying euery yeere but a penny for an acre But this businesse footed not according to his desire for Thomas his sonne hauing conducted thither the Colonie was surprized and slaine by the treachery of Neel Brian Artho Afterwards Malbie an English Gouernour of Lecale a frontier Prouince iudging all meanes lawfull to kill a perfidious murderer slew him likewise not long after and so left him to the Wolues iawes to be deuoured and eaten I know not whether it be materiall or no here to make mention as all the Historiographers of our time haue done how in the moneth of Nouember was seene a strange Starre except you had rather haue me tearme it a Phinomene in the Chaire of Cassioperaes Constellation which exceeded in relucencie that 〈◊〉 himselfe then when he is in the Perigie of his Eâ—ceâ—trick or Epicicle as I obserued my selfe and seated in the same Spheare of the heauens as also moued by his diurnall motion remained there 16. moneths Tho. Digsay and Ioh. Dee rare Mathematicians among vs learnedly did demonstrate by the maximes of the Paralels that it remained not onely in the elementall Region but in the very Celestiall circle and were of opinion that daily mounting higher by little and little at last it vanisht out of our sight And certainely their Iudgement was good and sound for after the eighth moneth it continually diminished Theodore Beza ingeniously compared this Starre to that which appeared at the birth of Christ and at the massacre of Infants which was perpetrated vnder Herod and in this short verse Thou therefore cruell Herod shake and feare admonished Charles new King of France who confest himselfe to be the author of that which was executed at Paris to tremble and feare and this was not out of a vaine and credulous beliefe For fiue moneths after the disappearing of this Starre he dyed of a bloody fluxe rackt with long and terrible torments THE SIXTEENTH YEERE OF Her Reigne Anno Dom. 1573. THe proceedings of Spaine in the Low-Countries being wonderfully crost by the taking of Flushing the reuolt of the Townes of Holland and the losse and discomfiture of the Spanish Fleet by the Hollanders with which the Duke de Medina coeli had a Commission with Chapin Vitelli to succour the Papists in England The Duke of Alua was constrained in despight of himselfe to shew himselfe more fauourable to the English and so it happened that in the moneth of Ianuary the commerce of the English with the Flemmings which in the same moneth of the yeere 1568. was interdicted at last came to be opened for two yeeres and the Articles were agreed vpon at Bristoll confirm'd by the Spaniard in the moneth of Iune amongst which this clause was inserted THat though this mutuall correspondencie and amity had beene obscured yet was iâ— in no wise to be reputed dissolâ—ed and broken and it was accorded that if the Deputies within a 〈◊〉 pâ—â—â—script time could not arbitrate the businesse that then the said Entercourse should be expired when the two yeeres came to an end But when the troubles renewed in Flanders it grew dead by little and little nay and before the two yeers were fully accomplished and a new one was commenst betweene the vnited States And as for Queene ELIZABETH she recompensed all the dammages of the English Marchants with such Flemmish goods as she retained in her hands restored the rest to the Duke of Alua and amply contented the Genoa Marchants for the money of theirs she seized vpon and tooke vp at loane which was the first cause of the warre although the Duke of Alua restored nor one shilling to the Flemmings of the English-mens goods which did accrue to the wonderfull honour of Queene ELIZABETH And yet she performed a farre more glorious Action then this and more pleasing to her Subiects by discharging England of those debts which her Father and Brother had taken vpon credit of Strangers which were greatly augmented by reason of the long interests due and to the inexplicable ioy of the inhabitants of the Citie of London calling in all the Citie obligations which had beene so often renewed Neuerthelesse both the Queene and the whole Clergie were wonderfully vext with certaine Ecclesiasticall persons who boyling with zeale and breathing nothing but Euangelicall Purity reprehended not only the Ecclesiasticall Gouernment as still defiled with Romane corruptions as well publikely as priuately both by Sermons Books which were intituled An Aduertisement to the Parliament and An Appologie of the Aduertisement but refused also to be present at the receiued forme of Common-Prayer vsurping framing to themselues other courses of seruing God So as the Queene condemning them for people impatient of Peace greedy of nouelties and apt to subuert things well established to preuent Schisme coÌ„manded that throughout the Kingdome they should by rigour of Law be vrged to obserue a generall forme and manner of publike Prayers and that these Libels might be deliuered into the hands of the Bishops or some one of the Priuie-Councell vpon paine of imprisonment although Iohn Whitegift who was afterward Arch-Bishop of Canterbury had with learned soliditie refuted them There was also diuulged by the English Rebels and Fugitiues a booke full of iniurie and calumniation whose title was A Treatise of Treason which to make Sir Nicholas Bacon Keeper of the great Seale and the Lord Burghley Treasurer of England odious to their Prince because they had often by their prudence and vigilancie cut off their wicked hopes and designes they preferred an accusation against them of being Traitors to their Countrie But the Queene was so farre from giuing credit to such friuolous accusations that by a publike Proclamation shee declared them idle and frustrate false calumnious and inuented by sworne Enemies to Religion and their Countrie by their wicked and secret practices to depriue the Queene of her faithfull Councellours And therefore shee admonished euery one to giue no credit to them to contemne throw them into the fire except themselues would bee punished as seditious persons in stead of those that were the true Authors Notwithstanding through a speciall vice very incident to the naturall curiosity of men they were frequently read till as it
ordinarily fals out comming at last to be neglected and contemned the vse of them grew out of request From the Month of Nouember in the precedent yeere Charles the Ninth King of France had a Daughter borne The King to make sure with Queene ELIZABETH and aswell to render her fauourable by all offices of humanitie and to take away from the Protestants of France all hope of succour from England intreated her to receiue her at the sacred Font of Baptisme and to this end as also to obtaine some certaine Moneyes from her hee sent into England De Gondy vulgarly called the Count of Rez who by an elaborate discourse indeuoured to perswade her that they had made the Massacre of Paris which some could call by no other name than a great and capitall wickednesse hee a safe and wholesome remedy not in hatred of the Protestant Religion but to dissipate the conspiracy of the Admirall Coligni and others and that the King most inuiolably kept the Edicts touching Religion That shee would not giue eare to those fearefull spirits that did nothing but adde to their owne affrightment and causelesly complaine but that Shee would religiously conserue the alliance of the new contract and exhort them to obey the King assuring her that they should finde him most mercifull To which shee promised to be mindefull of the Alliance and that shee would not faile the King in any thing that was fitting and agreeable for a most affectionate Ally but for the Money shee excused her selfe Nor did he demand it but as a designe to giue impeachment to her ayding of the Protestants in case they should require it after shee had made deniall of it to the King of France And surely shee tooke occasion from hence to make refusall of it to them calling to minde how euilly they had requited her for that which shee had lent them in their first Ciuill Warre By this Ambassage the Count of Rez obtained that from that time the Protestants found lesse fauour with her than they had done before A little after the Lord Somerset Earle of Worcester was sent into France with a Baptistrey of Gold for in Qu. ELIZABETHS name to promise the duetie of a Godmother at the christening of the French Kings Daughter with the Lady Mary the Emperours Wife and the Deputies of the Duke of Sauoy This arriuing to the knowledge of the Protestants of France and Flanders who at the same time were as Pirats vpon the Sea they suspecting the said Earle of Worcester to be a Papist mist him narrowly for they robbed two of his Ships and slew diuers of his people at which Queene ELIZABETH being highly offended sent to Sea Sir William Holstoc Controller of the Royall-Nauy who as much by his taking as chasing of them recouered some Ships loden with goods and purged the Sea of such And forasmuch as the most part of them had vowed their seruice to the Count de-Mont-Gommery who then was in England for helpe to succour those of Rochell besieged it hindered his dispatch parting from thence late and with so little an Army that hee did no good at all to Rochell This occasioned the French Protestants refuged in England being much moued to vse in iniurious manner some other Allens being French Papists in hatred of contrary Religion yea they assaulted them armed and among others the seruants of Monsieur Flery secretly sent into England from the Duke of Aniou to treat of a match with Queene ELIZABETH whereof Monsieur le Vidame de Chartres not knowing his comming accused Flery before the Councell of State as to be come of purpose and hyred to kill the said Earle of Mont-Gommery The ordinary Ambassadour of France contrariwise complained to the Queene that against the Alliance the Earle of Mont-Gommery had through the helpe of England vndertaken a voyage to Rochell and the English Merchants furnished the besieged Towne with victuals and prouisions To this her Maiesty answered THat she had alwayes inuiolably kept and would still to future times keepe her promise mentioned in the alliance That this aide and Succour was compounded of Pyrats and Vagabonds who could not tarry in their Countries and that they were parted out of England without her command vnder false Ensigne and that shee desired they should bee punished Moreouer that such English Merchants basely dealt withall in Bourdeaux were gone to Rochell without leaue and that men of their calling and kind vsed to sayle euery where chiefly where their profit and gaine was greater Shee likewise required that in stead of Rochell they should appoynt in France some Hauen-Towne more commodious for Negotiations The French were much pleased with this answer being assured that Qu. ELIZABETH would still keepe promise and that shee was so farre from sending helpe to the Protestants of France who expected none from her The King of France and his Mother loued intirely more and more Queene ELIZABETH seeing her Maiesty bore vnto them a true amitie and sincere affection they made the Duke of Alanzon write many amorous Letters vnto her from the Royall Campe before Rochell endeuouring with much care and no lesse pain to bring that marriage to passe that whole yeere by their Leger Ambassadour Monsieur de Chasteau-Neuf extraordinarily sent to that effect And truely her Maiesty was moued to consider it seriously by a double apprehension shee had both for the want of a Husband and Children The first was that her Maiesty should perhaps be contemned by her owne Subiects The second that forreiners would plot wicked practices against her Scepter her Maiesty was perswaded and said often that a Husband and Progeny are firme Fortresses against it her Courtiers contrarywise ayming at their particular ends maintained THat true Religion and Equitie were assured Forts and defensiue Rockes against all sorts of plots and designes That her Maiestie ought not to apprehend to be despised or contemned by her subiects for they had settled their fortunes ankered their hopes and grounded their solace vpon her Maiestie onely as much obliged vnto her by a long race of Ancestors affecting and taking pleasure more and more in the contemplation and admiration of her splendant and lustrous vertues With such other discourses familiar to Courtiers But as her Maiesty had often in her mouth that the most part contemned the setting Sunne these Flatterers alledged WHat is hee that will contemne the salutiferous Beames of a Sunne brightly shining for to aspect the fatall and confounded light of little Starres which rise all at once So they often termed her Competitors Among these things the Queene-Mother of France prayed her Maiestie to be so farre pleased as to permit that the Duke of Alanzon her Sonne might passe into England to see her which request finally Queene ELIZABETH granted wearied with the multiplicity of Letters sent to her Maiestie to that end prouided hee should not repute her leaue fraudulous or iniurious if hee should
Silua that his power grew too strong and his name aboue his Prince and that by his violent and sharpe command he would cause the Flemmings to reuolt yea to grow to desperation although some thought who were bloody-minded that none was so fit by Warre to bring Holland into subiection Which kinde of men thought their King too mercifull if he intended by meekenesse to bring the Prince of Orange and his confederates who had resolued mindes to retaine their freedome beeing confirmed thereto by their riches and strength of situation Lodowicke Zuniga of Requesen was appointed to take his charge The great Commander of Castile a milder natured man who by all offices of loue desired to oblige Queene ELIZABETH would by no meanes thrust himselfe into the affaires either of England or Scotland I know not whether I should or no call to minde the opinion of Burchet who thought it lawfull to kill those that were aduersaries to the Euangelicall truth who was so transported therewith that hee wounded with a poiniard Hawkins that famous Sea-man thinking him to be Hatton who was at that time one of the Queenes greatest Fauourites of her most intimate counsell and an enemy to Innouators The Queene was so extraordinarily prouoked herewith that shee commanded him to be proceeded against according to the Marshall Lawe vntill shee was aduised by some of her prudent Councellours that this Law had no place but in Warres and turbulent times but at home it ought to bee done by ordinary forme of Iustice Being called to Iustice he maintained that what he did was consonant to Scripture and therefore lawfull Afterwards seeing himselfe neere condemnation for heresie promised to renounce this opinion yet neuerthelesse when hee had a little more debated the case he would not In the end beeing committed to the Towre of London hee killed one of his Keepers with a piece of wood which hee tooke out of a Chimney and threw at his head and beeing condemned of murder had his right hand cut off and being at the Gallowes obstinately maintained his opinion and so was hanged In the beginning of this yeere dyed George Howard Baron of Effingham Lord Priuie Seale sonne to Tho. Howard Duke of Norfolke the famous Warriour by Agnes Tilnie his second wife a man of remarkeable fidelity and of an inuincible courage who first was Gouernour of Calais afterwards made a Baron by Queene MARY Admirall of England and Lord Chamberlaine and likewise by Queene ELIZABETH vntill broken with age he surrendred his Office to Sussex a few daies before he dyed and as I haue said before was made Lord Priuie Seale the fourth degree of Honour in England he had to succeed him in the honour of his Baronie Charles his son who was afterwards Chamberlaine to the Queene and high Admirall of England At the same time dyed likewise R. Gray Earle of Kent whom the Queene from a priuate man had called to this honour when that Title had beene vacant 50. yeeres after the death of R. Gray Earle of Kent who had consumed his Patrimony elder brother to this mans great Grandfather and Henrie his Sonne succeeded him It is not fit in silence to ouer passe I. Caius a famous Phisician who dyed at the same time he was borne at Norwich brought vp at Cambridge and Padua who gaue himselfe wholly to the studie of Phisicke translated and commented vpon the most part of Gallens and Celsus workes and gaue all his meanes to Schollers Adding a new Colledge to the old of Gonuell Hall and 25. fellow Commoners to be perpetually brought vp and of both made but one Colledge called by the names of Gonuell and Caius in which he is intombed with this Epitaph Fui Caius In Ireland the houses of O-Conom and O-More impatient of peace hauing gathered some bands of Theeues and Rebels made outragious incursions rob'd and burned Atlone vpon the Riuer Siney and willing to ioyne their forces with the Rebels of Mounster they were hindred by I. Perot President of Mounster who so ransackt Iames Fitz-Moris and Fitz-Edmonds Seneschall of Imoquell that rebelled by continuall ouer-running them and after hee had killed many of their men and taken the Castle of Maine and the French Garrison he compelled them to craue pardon most submissiuely for their faults within the Temple of Kilmalock called The holy Cell of Malachie At the same time the Earle of Desmond and Iohn his Brother authors of this Rebellion being brought backe out of England into Ireland by Fitton were imprisoned by the said Fitton at Dublin but after a while were let goe In Vlster Brian Mach-phelin who had vsurped the most part of Clandeboy burned the Towne of Knoc-fergus and some others began to trouble the Countrie George Deuereux lately created Earle of Essex by Queene ELIZABETH desired to be imployed against them by the counsell of those who had a designe to haue him farre from the Court vnder colour of increasing his honour to precipitate him into dangers which were not hidden from him But as he was vigilant and from his youth addicted to the Warres continuing constant in his designe agreed with the Queene that if hee draue out the Rebels hee and his partners should haue the halfe of Clandeboy vpon certaine conditions and to maintaine it he would entertaine at his owne charge two hundred Horse and foure hundred Foote To this end he borrowed of the Queene a thousand pounds for which and for Munition hee engaged Lands that he had in Essex G. Fitz-William Deputie of Ireland fearing that the splendor of so great an Earle should dimme his in Ireland counselled the Queene not to send him giuing her to vnderstand that all the Countrie of Vlster would reuolt at his comming Notwithstanding he is sent and to maintaine the honour and authority of the Deputy was to take Letters from him to be Gouernour of Vlster which he obtained though slowly after many importunate sollicitations After hauing bin beaten with a terrible Tempest he was driuen to Knock fergus about the end of August with the Lord Darcy and Lord Rich Henry Knollis and his foure brothers M. and I. Carey Iohn Noris with a company of Souldiers leuied in haste Brian Mac-phelin vnderstanding of his comming draue all his cattle which were all his wealth into the heart of the Countrey for without counting Sheepe and Hogs he had thirtie thousand head of Cattell and seeing him ashore saluted him and congratulated his arriuall and most courteously offered him all dutie and seruice and likewise Mac-Gillespike Mac-Gill Hugh Baron of Dungannon and all of account neere thereabout In consideration whereof he promised him pardon for his rebellion and studied which way he might oblige him But he reuolted and drew his men presently to Turlough Leinich and afterwards made light Skirmishes continually against the English The Lord Riche's particular affaires called him into England and returned within a moneth Henry Knollis in like manner
in regard of his indisposition of body and diuers others dayly taking some occasion or other to excuse themselues by little and little secretly withdrew themselues from that wild Countrie Essex writ of it to the Queene and to his friends and complained very much that the most worthy of his company languished because the enterprize had bin begunne too late and victuals came not in time that they were corrupted and that troupes inconsiderately leuied were many of them lost That Mac-phelin was reuolted fraudulently and others by the perfidiousnes of Percy an English Captaine who heretofore had commanded the Irish in that Countrey That he was not able to furnish the expence of War That the Deputie had not sent him his Commission and that for want of it he could not vse any authority against the Frontier Inhabitants Therefore beseecheth her to take the busines in her own name and speciall command though he vnderwent halfe of the charges Then he besought Sussex Leicester and Burghley to intercede with the Queene that she would grant him at her charge a hundred Horse 150. Foot and the Iland of May. And as the Queene was ready to call him from Vlster Leicester and others seeing new troubles growing in Mounster perswaded that he should stay there And the Deputie commanded him whiles he was going against Desmond to goe towards the Frontiers of Vlster which although it troubled him being fortifying Claudobie obeyeth notwithstanding and entring into Mounster with Kildare perswaded Desmond to embrace peace who shortly after submitted himselfe Now Essex hauing receiued Letters of Authority tooke a long iourney and O-Donell ioyned with him But Cone O-Donell Turloghes Sonne in Law would not serue vnder him therefore hee tooke from him the Castle of Liffer and gaue it to Hugh O-Donel Turlogh in the meane space protracted the businesse by parleyes vntill it was time for Essex necessarily to depart Hee after hauing wearied his body with labour and broken his spirit with care all the Summer Winter being now at hand began to reuolue more deepely in his mind by what meanes Vlster so long neglected and growne wilde and fierce might be reduced to ciuilitie and hauing maturely deliberated vpon it thought that if three Townes were built at the Queens charge and by the monies that his associates would contribute ten Forts in those places which hee had found to bee conuenient aboue seuen thousand pounds of current English money might be gathered euery yeere neither should there neede within the space of two yeeres any Royall Garrison Whilest these and the like things and for supply of victuals tooke all their care and studie they had beene almost surprized by the Irish For Brian Mac-phelin who lately had by treacherie ouerthrowne and slaine Moore a Captaine of the English hauing conspired his ruine with Turlogh and the Scottish Hilanders whereof as soone as he had notice he most wisely iudged that it were not best to stay and expect them but to set forward to assault them which did he so couragiously that he slew two hundred Irish tooke Brian and Rory Oge his brother by the mothers side and Brians wife With those businesses in Ireland this yeere was spent to the good of none but with much losse to Essex and also to the notorious detriment of Chaterton an English Gentleman who vpon certaine conditions betweene the Queene and him tooke to leade some Colonies of English into Fues a neighbouring Territory to O-Hanlane THE SEVENTEENTH YEERE OF Her Reigne Anno Dom. 1574. IN the first month of this yeere the Duke of Alanzon laboured more then euer as well by letters full of loue as by Mauuisser the French Ambassador to obtaine leaue to come into England vnder safe-conduct to see and salute Queene ELIZABETH to whom being absent hee testified all loue and respect Queene ELIZABETH ouercome with his continuall prayers and sollicitations granted him his request although she gaue him contrary aduice and vnder assurance of safety gaue him leaue to come when he pleased so it were by the twentieth of May with promise to vse him with all offices of humanity which he could expect from a Princesse which bore him great affection And certainly after shee had discouered that he was much irritated and greatly stirred vp against the Guizes her Maiesties sworne enemies she bare him more loue and good will then before But before he had receiued this answer Valentine Dale Doctor of the Law Ambassador in France in Walsinghams place then Secretary gaue aduice that hee and the King of Nauarre were suspected of innouation For the mother Queene a woman of great Spirit beganne to suspect that he couertly plotted with the King of Nauarre and the Duke of Mont-Morancy to depriue her the King being dead of the managing of State-affaires The Guizes increased this opinion giuing her to vnderstand that he had not long agoe imployed Coligni Colonell of the Protestants his intimate friend vpon which being examined he voluntarily acknowledged amongst other things that he had for a certaine time sought the marriage of the Queene of England and iudging the friendship of Admirall Coligni profitable in this designe had talked with him about it and of the prosecution of the warres in the Netherlands neuerthelesse ouer him and the King of Nauarre was a Guard appointed to preuent them But Thomas Wilkes Secretary to to the Ambassadour Dale went priuatly to see them and hauing in the Queenes name comforted them he promised thaâ— her Maiesty would let slip no occasion to relieue and comfort them Whereof this subtill and crafty old Queene hauing soone notice handled Wilkes in such manner that he was constrained to leaue France and returne into England where she so farre vrged her complants by letters vnto Queene ELIZABETH that he was sent backe againe to France to aske her pardon Henry of Bourbon King of Nauarre buried not this friendly office for he afterwards being King of France and meeting with him 25. yeeres after in Normandy he honoured him with the dignity of Knighthood After this Queene ELIZABETH sent T. Randoll into France to the Queene mother to restore againe into her fauour if it were possible the Duke of Alanzon and the King of Nauarre but before his arriuall into France King Charles died and his funerall Rites paid with great honour and magnificency in S. Pauls Church in London As soone as Henry of Valois the third of that name King of France his successor returned out of Poland the right noble and vertuous Lord Roger Lord North Baron of Kirtling was sent Ambassador extraordinary into France to congratulate his happy returne and succession to the Crowne of France and to condole with him the distracted and wretched estate of that Realme so miserably rent and ruinated with ciuill war to counsell him to make peace and entertaine the Edicts to take to fauor the D. of Alanzon to lessen the hate he bore to the D. of Mont-Morancy Delosse
to incite him to doe good to the religious Princesse the Lady Charlotte of Bourbon daughter to the Duke Mont-pensier who fled for her Religion into Germany But hee obtained nothing for France as it were pushed by fate ran headlong into a direfull warre Neuerthelesse the King and his mother the Queene writ iointly into England and sent La Garde to prosecute the marriage of the Duke of Alanzon For seeing this young Prince grow cholericke to see himselfe so vnworthily handled by his mother on all sides as if he had beene a prisoner and vnderstanding that he held secret Councel with the Politicians of France they thought it safest to diuert him from warre to send him into England In the interim they imployed all their cunning in Scotland to get Iames the young King ouer into France and to displace Morton the Vice-roy from his charge and for this purpose they sent thither the Kings Scottish guard The Queene of Scotland greatly desired this perswading her selfe that if her sonne were in France out of danger shee and the Catholikes should be more gently handled in England that the English faction which was in Scotland and alwaies relying vpon the Kings name would quickly be ruinated as he riper increased in yeres so the English should increase in feares as well of the French partie as of the Scots side The French did no lesse desire it fearing that the Regent of Scotland who was altogether at the deuotion of the English would breake the ancient Alliance which was betweene them and the Scots and neuertheles then when he instantly required that they would contract the Alliance of mutuall defence against strangers betweene England and Scotland it was denied him lest perhaps he should by the same meanes demand an annuall Pension to bee assigned to him and certaine Scottish men But eare was giuen to those who vpon a light suspicion accused the Queen of Scotland the Countesse of Shrewsbury and the Earle himselfe to haue without the Queenes priuity made the marriage between Charles the Paternall vncle of the King who had a little before confirmed vnto him by Parliament the County of Lenox and the Lady Elizabeth Cauendish the Countesse of Shrewsburies Daughter by her first Husband Wherevpon the mothers of either sides and others for this cause being kept prisoners a little time imputed and laid all the fault vpon the Queene of Scotland As it was vnknowne whither this marriage tended and that diuers suspicions had their birth by it Henry Count of Lidington was established President of the Assembly of the North with new instructions and secrets for this affaire This kind of Magistrate which at this present is very honourable hath in a little time from weake beginnings growne to this greatnesse and now what I haue learned of it by a free and short digresion I meane to leaue to posterity When in the reigne of HENRY the Eighth the rebellion of the inhabitants of that Countrie had stirred vp for the destruction of Monasteries was laid asleepe many made complaint of the iniuries which he had receiued during that Rebellion vnto the Duke of Norfolke who remained in those parts some of which he determined and left the rest to be finished by persons which to this purpose hee had established with Commissions sealed with his owne Seale but the King being aduertised hereof sent him a particular Seale to serue in such causes and hauing reuoked him gaue that Commission to Tunstall Bishop of Duresme and appointed Commissioners with power to heare and determine the complaints of the poore Hee was the first which bare the name of President and since the authority of his Successours hath bin of great value In these times the superfluity of Apparell so preuailed in England by a Vice peculiar to the Nation which pleaseth it selfe by imitating others that the ancient fashion fell in such disgrace that the men by a new fashion of habit and too much brauery made manifest the filthinesse and insolency of their spirits swaggering euery where couered with silke gold and siluer pure and mingled The Queene marking that this superfluity drew euery yeere out of the Kingdome to the dammage of the publike great quantity of money for the buying of silke and other strange Merchandizes and that many Gentlemen who might doe good seruice to the Publike and others to seeme to be He did not onely consume their demeanes to their particular dammage but also increased their debts vsed deceits and by this meanes fell into the nets of the Law and after they had prodigally lauisht their goods studied to make a change she endeuoured to prouide a fit remedy for it And although by the Lawes of HENRY the Eighth and MARY she could preuaile against them and draw from it great summes of money neuerthelesse she rather lou'd to preuent it by a simple commandement She commanded therefore that within 14. dayes euery one should forme his apparell to the prescribed fashion if he would not incurre the seuerity of the Lawe and shee herselfe began this reformation in her Court But by the malice of time this Edict and these Lawes by little and little gaue place to this superfluity which grew to a greater height of insolency was immediately traced by the riotousnesse of Feasts and splendor of Buildings for since that time more magnificent ample and faire Countrie houses of Noble-men and priuate men haue beene raised vp in England then in any other Ages whereby truly the Kingdome was greatly adorned but the glory of Hospitality greatly decreased The English which were at warre in Holland vnder Chester and Gainsford failed this yeere the one in vertue the other in successe For those which lay in Garrison at Valkenburgh gaue ouer the place and yeelded to the Enemy neuerthelesse they were pardoned for feare lest Queene ELIZABETH should not suffer the Spanish Fleet which was sayling towards Flanders vpon the Sea of Great-Brittaine to enter into her Hauens to victuall themselues The others which were in the Channell of Sluce after they had sustained a sharpe Combate and couragiously repulsed the Spaniards being surprized by theit enemies who had trauersed the Riuer were ouerthrowne and chased from the place with the losse of three hundred men and three Ensignes I know not whether it be expedient to record these triuiall things That this yeere the pious credulity of certaine Preachers of London was deceiued by a young wench who fained herselfe possessed with a Deuill That there was a great Whale found dry on the Shores of the I le of Thanet whose length was twentie Elles of our measure the breadth from her belly to her backe bone thirteene foote the space betweene her eyes eleuen foote That the Thames did ebbe and flowe twice in one houre That in the moneth of Nouember from the North to the South fuming Clouds were gathered together in a round the night following the Skie seemed to burne the Flames running
through all parts of the Horizon met together in the verticall point of Heauen Neuerthelesse let it not be imputed to me as a crime to haue made mention of these things in a few words and by a short digression since the grauest Historians haue recorded them in many words THE EIGHTEENTH YEERE OF Her Reigne Anno Dom. 1575. HENRY the third King of France being returned from Poland and already inaugurated in the City of Rhemes confirmed by his oath and signe of his owne hand before all things the Alliance passed in the City of Blois in the yeere 1572. betweene Charles his brother and Queene ELIZABETH and hauing giuen it to the Ambassador ordinary of England Queene ELIZABETH also for her part ratified it at Saint Iames neere Westminster Notwithstanding a while after he inquired by letters if the words mutuall defence against all mentioned in that alliance comprehended the cause of Religion And after that Queene ELIZABETH had discreetly replyed Yes and that she was alwaies ready prest and desirous to effect that mutuall defence euen in the cause of Religion if it was required by vertue of the alliance he tooke armes against the Protestants the Duke of Alanzon being drawne to the contrary part the marriage slept in a long and profound silence Notwithstanding Queene ELIZABETH in fauour of the Duke of Alanzon furnished the Duke Casimier with a great summe of mony to carry into France the Alman Rutters against the disturbers of the publike peace As her minde was busied about the affaires of France those of Flanders happened for De Requesens successor to the Duke of Alua was fully bent and endeuored nothing more then to recouer if it were possible the Sea which the Duke of Alua by a remarkable error in so great a thiefe had despised and by this meanes had caused that long warre of the Low Countries which indured so many yeeres but he being not well furnished with necessary things to set forth a nauall Armie because the tempest had broken and lost the Ships which for this purpose had a little before beene conducted from Spaine to Flanders by the aid of the English hee sent Boischot into England to leuy ships and furniture of warre with the Queenes leaue who being vnwilling to aduenture her ships and Sea-men in anothers cause denied it and gaue publike charge to all persons not to arme any Ships without her licence and did forbid the English Sea-men to enrole themselues vnder other Princes Vpon this refusall Boischot prayed her not to take it in ill part if the fugitiue English in Flanders should serue in a nauall Warre against the Hollanders vnder the command of the Spaniard and permit them to touch freely in the ports of England to victuall themselues But she would not approue that the rebellious English so she termed those whom he stiled Fugitiues should fight in the seruice of the Spaniard not to perswade her that Requesens would gratifie them prayed them not to doe it and namely T. Copely whom the Spaniards had loaded with the titles of the great master of the Muze Lord of Gaten and Rouchtey and intended to set to Sea to rob both English and Dutch For the ports she esteemed it exceeding folly to open them to Rebels and sworne enemies Yet Boischot to obtaine more vniust things required in the name of the Spaniard that the rebellious Dutch might bee banished from England But she refused that also knowing that those whom he called Rebels were poore miserable people of no note and had neuer enterprized any thing against him but being chased from their Country and spoiled of their goods during the warre had retired themselues into England thinking she should commit a great inhumanity and violate the lawes of Hospitality if shee should deliuer them into the hands of a Cut-throat She also remembred how far the affaires of Spaine were interessed in Flanders Then when at the prayer of the Duke of Alua she commanded 1572. the Dutch to leaue England and that hauing commanded the Count of March and other Dutch to be gone they had taken Brill and suscitated that warre neuerthelesse not to seeme altogether to depart from the ancient Alliance of the Burguinions although the Spaniard had refused to confirme it with him shee forbad by publike writing the Dutch Ships prepared for warre to goe forth and those Dutch that had taken vp armes against the Spaniard to enter into England and expresly the Prince of Orange and his house the Count of Culenberge of Berg of March and fifty others the most notable of that faction And she performed with more alacrity in regard Requesens at the intercession of Wilson the English Ambassador had caused the Earle of Westmerland and other English to retire themselues out of the Country of Flanders which was vnder the Spaniard and had dissipated the English Seminary which was at Doway in whose stead the Guizes at the sollicitation of Pope Cregory the 13. established another in the City of Rhemes The Prince of Orange finding his forces no way equall to those of the Spaniard and expecting no succour from England consulted with his friends in whom he might put his trust Now when Queene ELIZABETH vnderstood he had fixed his eye and heart vpon the King of France she first sent Daniel Rogers to disswade him but nothing being effected in regard he had before created with the Admirall Coligni and the King of France she sent H. Cobham to the King of Spaine to let him vnderstand how great the danger were if Holland and Zealand should reuolt from him and giue themselues to the King of France and by the most important reasons she could represent she perswaded him to make change of warre for peace to which he seemed to accord She then gaue aduice to Requesens by R. Corbet and ceased not by all meanes to turne the Prince of Orange from his designe by the imployment of I. Hasting but she could not obtaine her purpose being countermined by Villiers a French Church-man who came poore into England with a scuruy Cloake all torne I speake this because I knew him but was inriched by a collection which was giuen him to reade Diuinity Lessons fearing lest the Prince of Orange should cast his eye vpon the English maintained amongst other things nay by a publike writing that Queene ELIZABETH had no man of warre to whom she would trust an Army but the Earle of Sussex and that he bare no good affection to the Protestants and according as he had learned of Coligni he gaue forth that if the English did set foot in the Low-Countries they would renew their ancient hate against the French Neuerthelesse the intestine warres of France hauing taken away all hope of succour from the Prince of Orange and the Dutch they afresh consult to whom they may runne and rely vpon for aid They knew that the Princes of Almany were against the Spaniards also
English in England should surprize and leade into Scotland the Gouernour of the Meridional frontier and of Barwick and others and not release them before they had promised in writing to returne Shee tooke all this as a great iniury and a disgrace done to the name of the English and to her honour And so much the more because the Regent had constituted that inquisition should be made vpon the borders of Scotland whether those which were of the Commission did come to the place armed This proposition she iudged to come from a heart puffâ— vp with enmitie but that other with ambition that is to say that the Regent should prescribe a place of meeting to the Queene of England notwithstanding that shee had not long before appointed a meeting-place in the City of Yorke to the Regent Murrey Neither could the affrighted Regent satisfie the Queene vntill hee vnarmed had met with Huntington Deputy for England at Bonderod a Towne vpon the Borders and there promised with good offices to salue this hurt and for the reparation of the English name he sent Carmichel his indeered friend into England who for a space was detayned there in free imprisonment at Yorke and soone after was sent backe with honour and rewards For the fault was found to be sprung from Forster whilest hee aboue measure sustained the Cause of a notorious Malefactor Thus was the Queene reconciled to the Regent who remained euer after constant in his friendship chastising the Fugitiues of either side to his great praise and the good of both the Kingdomes In this yeere dyed not any in England of any noble remarke or note But in Scotland the thrice-Noble Iames Hamilton Duke of Castell-Herauld who being sonne to the Daughter of Iames the second King of Scotland was giuen as a tutor to Mary Queene of Scots appointed Gouernour and Heire to the Kingdome so long shee was vnder age and when he had deliuered her to the French he was created Duke of Castell-Herauld in France afterwards was constituted the chiefe of the three Gouernours of Scotland during Queene Maries imprisonment whose Cause whilest he constantly defended being an open man and of a nature peaceable he was much afflicted by the iniuries and plots of some troublesome spirits The Earle of Essex perceiuing himselfe much troubled aswell by the Ambushes of Turlogh and the Lord of Dungannon as also by the obiected Difficulties in England and learning that it was deliberated in England concerning his repeale he silently deplored the misreies whereinto by extreme iniurie he was precipitated he complained of the losse of his owne and his mens fortunes hee lamented Ireland which he perswaded himselfe that with two thousand Souldiers he could reduce into obedience he instantly demanded that for his honour he might compound the matter with Turlogh and hauing giuen vp to the Vice-Roy his command in Vlster because that with that small Company of men which he had assigned him he was not of power sufficient to prosecute what he had begunne hee was presently commanded to resume the same But hee had scarce resumed it and began to march against Turlogh but he receiued Letters of Command wholly to with-drawe himselfe from that warre and in as honourable termes as he could to conclude a Peace Which beeing presently performed he charged vpon the Scots of Hebrides which had seized vpon Clandeboy and forced them to fly into Caues and hauing with the ayde of Norris surprized the Island Rachlin and slaine 400. of the Islanders hee forced the Castle to yeeld and there placed a Garrison And beeing now in the middle course of victory hee was againe commanded beyond his expectation to resigne his authority and onely as a priuate Captaine had command ouer three hundred men And sure nothing was omitted by the close and subtill dealings of Leicester with continuall troubles to oppresse the milde and peaceable spirit of this Noble Worthy Henry Sidney was then sent the third time Vice-roy into Ireland when the Plague made large hauock of the Isle neuerthelesse he passed to Vlster where many humbled themselues to him and requested with Prayers their safe-guard to wit Mac-Mahon Mac-Guir Turlogh Leinich and others as many also in Lemster of the seditious Family of O-Conor and O-Mor who by force of Armes had holden their ancient Possessions in Leise and Ophale whereof by an Ordinance they had beene dispossessed Beeing arriued at Mounster he assisted as a mourner to honour the Funerals of Peter Carew a true Noble Knight and of memorable vertues who as heire to Stephanide and Reymond Crasse who were the first Conquerers of Ireland and of the of Ydorne had conquered by the Rites of Warre part of his Patrimony Comming to Corcagh the Earle of Desmond visited him and with great respect offered vnto him all willing and ready seruices From thence being carried to Connach he receiued Homage of the sonnes of Clan-Richard which were Rebels and pardoned all their offences after they had humbly implored the same in the Church of Galloway and so hee gouerned the Prouince with great and worthy applause THE NINETEENTH YEERE OF Her Reigne Anno Dom. 1576. ANew yeere beginning the two match-makers for the Duke of Alanzon la Mottefenelon and la Porte began to charme the eares of Queene ELIZABETH with sweete and amorous discourses To whom reply was made That it was then no time for such talke the Duke being so farre ingaged in the Ciuill Warres wherewith France was infested that he could not readily come into England Neuerthelesse two Ambassadours were sent into France one after another to renewe a fraternall friendship betweene the King and the Duke and to dehort them from the affaires of the Netherlands lest the Spaniard should kindle a new war in France shewing them how easie a thing it would be to him hauing then a puissant Army in Italy to surprize Saluces or beeing with his forces possest of Prouence to command the entry of the Mediterranean Sea especially the treasury of France being so neere exhausted of other semblable matters she admonished them to deterre them from the Low-Countries For the Prince of Orange for his owne particular profit and the hope of retaining the Principality of Orange which was situate in France hee ceased not to inuite the French into the Netherlands and promised to the Hollanders and Zelanders who as if they were borne to the Sea did infest the Sea with their Vessels purposely built for their Pyracies the pillaging of the shipping of the English Merchants vnder a pretext framed that they relieued the Dunkirkes their enemies with victuals and vnder borrowed names transported into Spaine the merchandizes of Antwerpe and other places which themselues were accustomed to transport thither and for their owne profit but now durst not by reason they knew themselues guiltie of reuolt Holstock was forthwith sent with Ships furnished for the warres to represse them who tooke aboue two hundred
priuiledges belonging to the place were gathered together a certaine impunitie imboldening them For EDVVARD the third had granted to the Earle of Desmond all Regall Liberties that the Kings of England had in that Countie except for Burnings Rapes Forestallings and Treasure found Notwithstanding the President iudging that these Liberties were granted rather for the exercise of Iustice then for the protecting of Mischiefe valiantly defeated the most selected troopes of the forlorne Rebels which the Earle of Desmond had layd in Ambuscado and made search through all Kerria and punished many of them seuerely The Earle of Desmond vexing at this and grieuously complaining to the Lord Deputie of Drury as well of this as of the Taxe which they call Ceass This Taxe is an exaction of Victuals at a certaine price as the Glebe among the Ancients for Prouision of the Deputies Family and the Garrison Souldiers Of this Taxe he complained not alone but in Lemster the most ciuill part of the Isle the Viscount Bultinglas Deluin Hoth and Trimleston Barons and also other of the Nobler sort complaining denied to pay it as not to be exacted but by authoritie of Parliament And thereupon sent Deputies into England who being heard before the Councell were committed and in like manner in Ireland were those that sent them vntill they submitted to pay it It appearing by the Records of the Kingdomes Exchequer to be instituted long agoe and is a certaine right of Maiestie called Royall Prerogatiue which is not subiect to the Lawes nor yet repugnant as the Lawyers haue iudged it But the Queene commanded the Lord Deputie to vse a moderation in such like exactions and vsed the old saying While they may sheare her subiects doe not shaue them and said moreouer AH how greatly I feare lest that which Bato in time past to Tiberius vpon the reuolting of Dalmatia be obiected against vs by the Irish You you are in fault who commit not your flockes to Shepheards but to Wolues THE TVVENTIETH YEERE OF Her Reigne Anno Dom. 1577. DOn Iohn of Austria perceiuing himselfe too weake for the States of Holland strengthened by the amitie of neighbour Princes sent Gastel to Queene ELIZABETH to thanke her for the ayd which she had offered him against the French to declare his desire of Peace She by Edw. Horsey now sent the second time to him commends his disposition to Peace and withall treates that the goods of the English detained in Antwerpe might be restored Answer was made verie slowly he being much distracted as he pretended with other affaires wholly intending The perpetuall Edict for Peace as they call it which scarce lasted a yeere Queene ELIZABETH seriously desiring Peace sends Sir Thomas Leighton to the Prince of Orange to perswade him not to labour or attempt any thing against Peace vntill Iohn Smith who was sent into Spaine to procure a Peace should returne The Prince of Orange who from his heart condemned this perpetuall Edict hauing opportunely learned that Don Iohn of Austria did endeuour to marrie the Queene of Scots which occasion he willingly catch't and by Famier forthwith aduertiseth Queene ELIZABETH to auert her from Peace She neuerthelesse as seeming to know nothing by Daniel Rogers congratulates with Don Iohn for the perpetuall Edict of Peace although she had discouered for certaine that by the perswasion of the Earle of Westmerland and the English Fugitiues and the inclination of the Pope and the fauour of the Guizes he had an assured hope to attaine to this mariage and together with it to swallow England and Scotland and had alreadie resolued to possesse himselfe of the Isle of Man situate in the Irish Sea as a fit place for the inuading of England on Ireland side and from the West-side of Scotland where the Queene of Scots had many people at her deuotion and in the opposite part of England to make vse of North-Wales and the Counties of Cumberland Lancaster and Chester where the most part of the Inhabitants are most addicted to Poperie And certainly as we haue learned by Perez the King of Spaines Secretarie Austria caried away with ambition seeing himselfe falne from all hope of the Kingdome of Tunis had dealt secretly with the Pope to pull downe ELIZABETH from her Throne to marrie the Queene of Scotland and to subdue England and vnknowne to Philip wrought with the Pope to excite Philip for the publike good to the English Warre Don Iohn himselfe is readie to goe for Flanders this was prosecuted in Spaine and anon after Escouedo is sent from Flanders to desire that a Port in Biskye might be granted him from whence with a Nauie he might inuade England But Philip not likeing these designes begun to neglect him as a man too ambitious Neither did Queene ELIZABETH vnderstand of these things till as I haue said the Prince of Orange did informe her Notwithstanding it wanted not suspition that Thomas Copley a prime man among the English Fugitiues being commended to the French King by Vaulx Secretarie to Don Iohn had beene made Knight and Baron But Copley endeuouring to auoide suspition protested obedience to his Prince and that he had accepted this Title out of no other reason but for the greater accesse of honour to his wife his companion in exile and that his Pension from Spaine would be the greater because a Gentleman of Title is of more esteeme among Spaniards and he thought he was capable of the Title of a Baron his Grandmother being the eldest Daughter to the Baron of Hoo and his great Grandmother the eldest Daughter of the heires of the Baron of Welles In the meane time Don Iohn vnderhand prosecutes this match and withall the better to cloke the matter sends the Viscount of Gaunt Embassadour to ELIZABETH who shewed her the Articles of Peace and to demand a longer terme for the paiment of the Money which the States borrowed of her This she willingly grants and after treates with him by Wilson that the dammages which the English Merchants receiued at the sacking of Antwerpe may be repared He deludes her and while he pretended to be busie about this perpetuall Edict of Peace breakes out into Warre and by craft surprises Castles and Townes and writes to the King of Spaine that the wisest course is to take the Islands of Zeland before they lay siege to the interiour Prouinces and being thus transported with hope striues to perswade him by Escouede his Secretarie that it were easier for him to take England than Zeland At length when all things tended to warres in the Low-Countries the States send to Queene ELIZABETH the Marquis of Maure and Adoulfe Medkerke to borrow of her a hundred thousand pound sterling for eight moneths Shee made them this answer That if they could borrow it else-where Shee with the Citie of London would willingly giue caution for it prouided that such Townes of the Low-Countries as She shall
promised him a Croysado as for a sacred warre Moreouer when certaine news came that Stukeley and those Italians were lost in Mauritania and that Spaine thought on nothing else but Portugal they called backe the English Fleet which attended for Stukeley vpon the Irish coast and Henrie Sidney deliuered vp the Countrey to William Drury President of Mounster When he had beene xi yeeres at seuerall times Lord Deputie and being ready to imbarke he gaue this farewell to Ireland with a Verse out of one of the Psalmes of Dauid When Israel came out of Egypt and the House of Jacob from a barbarous people This Lord Sidney verily was a singular good man and one most laudable among the best that had beene Deputies of Ireland and although Deputies are often complained of yet Ireland cannot but acknowledge to be much indebted to him for his wisdome and valour THE TWO AND TVVENTIETH YEERE OF Her Reigne Anno Dom. 1579. IOhn Casimere Sonne to Frederick the Third Prince Elector Palatine who the yeere before had brought a powerfull armie out of Germanie into the Low-Countries with great charge to the States and to Queene ELIZABETH and at the latter end of the yeere without performing any thing being drawne to Gaunt by the tumult of the people who were in diuision came into England in the moneth of Ianuary in a sharpe Winter full of Snowes to excuse himselfe and lay the blame vpon the French King and after hee had beene sumptuously receiued and brought with a number of torches to the City of Londons Senate-house by the prime Nobility of the Court he was intertayned with Barriers Combats Bankets honoured with the order of Saint George and the Garter which the Queene tyed about his legge with her owne hands indued him with an annuall Pension being loaden with many honorable gifts about the middest of February hee passed into the Low-Countries in one of the Queenes Ships where hee found this mercenary Army dispersed For the Germanes seeing Alexander Fernesa Prince of Parma established Gouernour of Flanders by the Spaniard readie to thunder vpon them and they wanting their pay and being brought somewhat low required money from him that they might depart out of the Low-Countries But he with an imperious fashion neuerthelesse which carried a grace and grauity replyed that he had spoke for them that they might depart their liues saued they were contented so they might haue a sure passe they make haste home but not without the losse of reputation but with greater detriment to the States Queene ELIZABETH fayles them not for all that but furnisheth them with great summes vpon the old gage of the rich ornaments and vessels of the house of Burgundie which by Matthew Duke of Austria and them were deliuered to Dauison who being sent to appease the commotions in Gaunt which had falne vpon the Church and Church-men brought them into England During which time Semier ceaseth not louingly to call vpon the marriage for the Duke of Aniou and although shee excellently put him off for a long time yet he brought her to this poynt that Leicester being intirely against this Match and others had raysed a report that hee had charmed her and made her in loue with the Duke with drinkes and vnlawfull arts hee to the contrary sues that Leicester may be degraded and put out of the Queens fauour telling that hee was married to the Earle of Essex his Widdow whereat she was so moued that she commanded him from the Court to Greene-wich Tower and did purpose to haue put him into the Tower of London which all his Enemies much desired But Sussex who was his chiefe Emulator and wholly bent to aduance this marriage disswades her from it being of a right noble minde and in-bred generositie was of opinion that it hath alwayes beene accounted honest and honourable and that none ought to be troubled for lawfull marriage notwithstanding he was glad that it had made Leicester out of all hope to marry the Queene Neuerthelesse Leicester was herewith so prouoked that he thought of nothing but of meanes how to be reuenged and they were not wanting that would doe what he would haue them doe Tewdor one of the Queenes guard is suborned to kill Semier which caused the Queene by a publique proclamation to forbid all persons to offend by word or deed him his companions or seruants And there happened at the same time shee going for her recreation in her Barge vpon the Riuer of Thames neere to Greenewich and with her Semier the Earle of Lincolne and Sir Chr. Hatton Vice Chamberlaine that a young fellow from a-board a Ship-boat with a pistolet shot a water-man thorow the arme that rowed in the Queenes Barge who anon after was taken and brought to the Gallowes to terrifie him but when he had religiously affirmed not to haue done it maliciously hee was let goe Neither would the Queene beleeue that he had beene suborned of purpose either against her or Semier So farre shee was from giuing place to suspition against her Subiects that it was an vsuall saying with her That shee could beleeue nothing of her Subiects that Parents would not beleeue of their Children Within a few dayes after the Duke of Aniou himselfe came priuily into England accompanied with two men onely and went to the Queene to Greenewich who likewise knew nothing of it where they had priuate conferences together which is not lawfull to search after the secrets of Princes being an inextricable Labyrinth and afterwards went away vnknowne except to very few But a month or two after shee commanded Burghley the Treasurer Sussex Leicester Hatton and Walsingham that after they had seriously weighed the dangers and commodities that might arise vpon this marriage they should conferre with Semier vpon the Couenants of the marriage There appeared some danger lest the Duke of Aniou should attempt any thing against the receiued Religion or take possession of the Kingdome as the Popes gift or render it vp into the hands of the Queene of Scots and Queene ELIZABETH being dead should marry her or his Brother dying should returne into France and place a Vice-Roy in England which the English would neuer indure Furthermore lest hee should inuolue the English in forreine warres lest the Scots assuring themselues of their ancient alliance with France should take better courage against the English lest Spaine being of so great power should oppose it Lastly lest the people oppressed with taxations to maintaine his magnificence should stirre vp sedition The commodities may be seene a firme confederation with the French might be established the rebellions of Papists if any should be the more easily supprest all the Queene of Scots hope and of all that seeke her in marriage and fauouring her are excluded Spaine would be compelled to compound the businesse of the Low-Countries and confirme the League of Burgundie and England at length should enioy a solid and
Inheritance should succeed to the Crowne of England And if there bee two males the elder shal succeed to the Crown of France and the yonger shal haue the hereditary Right of his Mother And if one sole male he shal come to both the Crownes and shall resyde in England euery two yeares eight moneths And if the Duke shall not attaine the Kingdome of France the children shall succeed in Appanage If he suruiue the Queene he shall haue the tuition of his children till the sonnes shall accomplish the age of eighteene yeares and the daughters fifteene But if hee die before the tuition shall be left to the Authoritie of the Parliament Hee shall not promote any stranger to any Office in England nor shall hee change any ancient Rite or Custome He shall at no time carry the Queene or her Children out of the Realme without consent of the Nobilitie If shee dye issuelesse hee shall no longer challenge any right in England nor carie or conuay any of her Iewels out of the Land he shall suffer euery one and all places of the Kingdomes to bee guarded kept by the natiue English shall not take or cause to be taken away any munition of Warre Hee shall not engage England into any foraine warres Hee shall to his power procure the Land peace with other Nations The Queene shall onely enioy the Supremacie nor shall assume any Title which may happen to fall vpon the Duke as it were holding by the custome of England The Duke by this match intendeth not to preiudice the Right of his succession to the Kingdome of France The present Contract shall bee read published and kept vnder Record in all the Courts of France and England within six moneths after the Espousals with the Authoritie of the most Christian King for the ratification of these Articles There shall bee made a Treatise Confederation and League betwixt England and France These things shal be confirmed de bona side with an Oath on the part of the King of France as well for him as for his Heires who shall deliuer Letters of the confirmation thereof with all possible expedition hee may carying assurance that the Articles in the present Treaty contained shall be kept inuiolably also A reseruation apart was added vnder the hands and seales of all the Commissioners implying thus much That ELIZABETH was not bound to the consummation of the mariage till the Duke she should haue commutually satisfied and reciprocally setled each other in certaine things betwixt themselues and concerning these points they were within six weekes by writing to certifie the King of France Before the six weekes were expired Secretarie Somer was sent into France about this businesse But the King refuseth to giue him audience vrging the instant celebration of the mariage already concluded as if there had been nothing else remaining to bee done Somer shewing vnder signe and seale that there was first a defensiue league offensiue to bee performed maintaineth the contrary To moderate the matter there was sent ouer Sir Fran Walsingham with Sir Henry Cobham Leiger Ambassador in France and Somer who deliuered this or the like speech ALthough the vulgar sort doth censure hardly of the procrastinating of this contracted mariage Queene ELIZABETH intendeth nothing more then to content her people who are instant to haue her marry that they may be secured of a succession in her children Her Maiestie being sought to by the Duke of Anjou by good right hath his loue preferred before all other Princes by reason of his vertues and resplendent race and shee protesting to beare vnto him most soueraigne loue holding off from the consummation of mariage onely vntill she could haue knowledge from her people how they stand affected thereunto holding it a point of wisdome in the meane time rather to foresee then to repent too late seeming in these respects to demurre the more by reason of the ciuill warres in France the vnfortunate Duke of Anjous vndeseruedly falling out of the Kings fauour and in England an auersion of heart in most of the best of her Subiects since the first motion of the mariage yet all this breeds nor brings no diminution of true loyall loue in her Maiesty towards the said Duke Also it was at this time out of season for the French King to vrge a present consummation knowing the Duke was newly entred into warre against the King of Spaine the which he might not suddenly abandon or relinquish without great dishonour to himselfe discommoditie to the Kingdome of France and England as also the ruine of Flanders the Spaniard there growing dayly greater and greater Moreouer in stead of continuing peace at home for which the people prayeth they must of necessitie bee brought to bloody warres the Queenes husband being so deepely engaged thereinto For these reasons from henceforth that Treaty of sudden mariage is to surcease vntill the Duke of Anjou were dis-intangled out of these warres and that interchangeable conditions of Offensiue and Defensiue Alliance bee passed betwixt the two Kingdomes of France and England And assuredly the Queene desired it aboue all things But the French would promise no other thing but to passe to couenants of mutuall defensiue and as for the offensiue would heare it no further spoken of vntill the Nuptials were celebrated Within a short space after the Duke whom the States had elected Gouernor of Flanders comes into England after he had happily raised the siege of Cambray at the charge and cost of Queene ELIZABETH who had supplyed him with great summes of money by the hands of Henry Seimor Palauicine an Italian and Bex a Frenchman The hope he relyed vpon was this that if he should not presently dispatch the mariage yet should hee so effect that by the fauour of the Queene whom the Dutch honoured as an earthly Goddesse he should bee the better welcome to the Low-Countri-men at his returne He ariued safe in England and was magnificently entertained and receiued with all royall courtesies could be expected euident testimonies of honour and loue which her Maiestie shewed apparantly insomuch that on a time on the day of the solemnization of her Coronation he being entred into amorous Discourse with her Maiestie the great loue which shee bore him drew a Ring from her finger which shee gaue him vpon certain condâ—tions meant and agreed vpon betwixt them The assistants tooke that for an argument and assurance that a mariage was by reciprocall promise contracted betweene them Amongst others Aldegondy Gouernor of the City of Antwerpe dispatched messengers suddenly ouer into the Low-Countries where for great ioy at the hearing thereof both in Antwerpe and all ouer Flanders were made bonefires and their great Artillerie shot off But this bred sundry opinions among the Courtiers For as some reioyced exceedingly others were astonisht at it some quite strucke downe with sadnesse The Earle of Leicester who had laid a secret plot
to preuent the mariage the Vice-Chamberlaine Hatton and Walsingham were most of all malecontented as if the Queene Religion and Kingdome had been vndone Her women which were about her fell all in sorrow and sadnesse and the terror they put her into so troubled her minde that she passed all that night without sleepe amongst her houshold seruants who made a consort of weeping and sighing The next morning finding the Duke and taking him aside had serious discourse with him The Duke retiring himselfe after hee left her into his Chamber plucketh off the Ring casteth it on the ground taketh it vp againe rayleth on the lightnesse of women and inconstancie of Ilanders As she was perplexed with these passions shee called to minde what once the Lord Burley and the Earle of Sussex had told her that there was no Alliance offensiue to bee hoped for without marying with the Duke nor being alone and without assistancy was able to withstand the greatnesse of the Spaniard That the Spaniard offering his daughter in mariage to the King of Scots hee would easily draw the Papists in England to be his adherents and all the Fugitiues Rebels discontented persons and such as were sine spe sine re whereof the number was great to be on his side that al good people were now out of hope euer to haue issue of her body of the Blood Royall by this mariage and now hauing their hearts alienated from her hereby would cast their eyes and affections vpon some other of her Competitors That also shee could not but highly displease the King of France and the Duke his Brother who after the imploiment of so much time the holding of so many Counsels the sending of such honorable Ambassadors and the expences of so much money could hardly endure to finde himselfe in fine derided what colour so euer should be cast ouer the matter And to raise mony for the Duke of Anjou to imploy him in the warres of Flanders assigning him an annuall Pension for the time to come There remained also a scruple vpon her conscience that he so deluded of her might match himselfe in Spaine and then shee should bee in danger on both sides as well from France as from Flanders as euery one could breathe into her eares and her selfe presage Some thought that amidst this anxiety of doubtfull thoughts which troubled her minde about this mariage the necessitie of the time and matter made her put on a resolution that it would stand more with her honour and the good of her Common-weale to liue single then to be maried foreseeing that if she should marry with a subiect from such disparitie would grow disgrace to her selfe and kindle heart-burnings secret displeasures and domestique troubles and hatred If with a stranger she should bring her selfe and subiects vnder a foraine yoake and Religion in hazard remembring withall how vnfortunate that match of her Sister MARIES with King Philip was and that of her great grandfather EDWARD the fourth who was the first English King since the Norman conquest which tooke a subiect to wife She feared also to transfer vpon a husband that glory which whilst she liued vnmarried remained with her entire withall she was diuerted in minde from mariage by reason of the great perils she should be subiect to by conception and child-bearing as diuers women and Physicians bore her in hand Her Maiestie likewise burned with choller that there was a booke published in print inueighing sharply against the mariage as fearing the alteration of Religion which was intituled A gaping gulfe to swallow vp England by a French mariage In this Pamphlet the Priuy Councellors which fauoured the Match were taxed of ingratitude to their Prince and Countrey the Queene as not vnderstanding well her selfe by the way of flattery is tauntingly touched the Duke d' Anjou and his country of France in contumelious tearmes shamefully reuiled the mariage condemned for the diuersitie of Religions by poisonous words and passages of Scripture miserably wrested would seeme to proue that the Daughter of God being to match with the sonne of Antichrist it must needs bee the ruine of the Church and pernicious to the State neither would Queene ELIZABETH bee perswaded that the Author of this booke had any other purpose but to bring her into hatred with her subiects and to open a gap to some prodigious innouation it being so that shee neuer had respected so much the power shee had ouer her people as the loue they bore to her and as Princes are accustomed was neuer more carefull then of her royall reputation notwithstanding the writer of that booke neuer once made mention of meanes to establish in future securitie her selfe or Realme or for auoiding danger or how the States of the Land had in former times most importunately perswaded her Maiestie to mariage to giue an assured remedy against imminent euils And this she published in writing condemning the Author of the Libell made knowne the Dukes propensitie of minde towards her selfe and to the Protestants Religion grieuing to offer iniury to so worthy a Prince who neuer had once motioned to haue any change in State Common-wealth or Religion Shee also commended Sir H. Simier the Duke's Agent for his modesty and wisedome whom some had before in malignant speeches calumniated intimating to the people also that this Libell was a deuice of Traitors to stir vp hatred abroad seditions at home commanding it should be burnt in the presence of Magistrates Since that shee begunne to bee the more displeased with Puritans then she had been before-time perswading her selfe that such a thing had not passed without their priuitie and within a few dayes after Iohn Stubbes of Lincolnes Inne a zealous professor of Religion the Author of this Ralatiue Pamphlet whose Sister Thomas Cartwright the Arch-Puritan had maried William Page the disperser of the Copies and Singleton the Printer were apprehended against whom sentence was giuen that their right hands should be cut off by a law in the time of Philip and MARIE against the Authors of Seditious Writings and those that disperse them Some Lawyers storming hereat said the iudgement was erroneous and fetcht from a false obseruation of the time wherein the Statute was made that it was onely temporarie and that Queene MARIE dying it dyed with her Of the which Lawyers one Dalton for his clamorous speeches was commited to prison and Mouson a Iudge of the Common-pleas was sharply rebuked and his place taken from him after that Sir Chr. Wray chiefe Iustice of England had made it manifest by Law that in that Statute there was no errour of time but the Act was made against such as should put forth or divulge any seditious writing against the King and that the King of England neuer dyed yea that Statute likewise in the first yeare of Queene ELIZABETH was reuiued againe to the Queene and her Heires for euer Not long after vpon a Stage
set vp in the Market-place at Westminster Stubbes and Page had their right hands cut off by the blow of a Butchers knife with a Mallet strucke through their wrests The Printer had his Pardon I can remember that standing by Iohn Stubbes so soone as his right hand was off put off his hat with the left and cryed aloud God saue the Queene The people round about him stood mute whether stricken with feare at the first sight of this strange kinde of punishment or for commiseration of the man whom they reputed honest or out of a secret inward repining they had at this mariage which they suspected would be dangerous to Religion These things passed within a little after the Dukes ariuall in England and whilest hee stayed here the Queene to take away the feare conceiued by many that Religion should change and Papists should be tolerated by the importunity of Campian the Iesuite of whom I haue spoken Ralph Sherwing Luke Kirby and Alexander Brian who were indicted by an Act made in the 25 of Edward the third for attempting the ruine of the Queene and Kingdome for adhering to the Bishop of Rome the Queenes Aduersarie for raising sedition in her Realme and gathering forces together to the vtter subuersion of her Dominions of which they were found guilty and so condemned for that they obstinately defended the Papall Authoritie against the Queene they were put to death For Campian then condemned being demanded whether Queene ELIZABETH were right or lawfull heire answered nothing and againe If the Pope should inuade the Land whether he would take his part or the Queenes hee openly said the Popes which hee testified vnder his hand-writing After these some others were executed for the like matters and for ten whole yeares space together since the Rebellion but fiue Papists But I leaue the handling hereof to the Ecclesiasticall History neuerthelesse with permission I will briefely here obserue and note some such occurrences as are adioyning with those of States These times were such as that the Queene who was neuer of opinion that mens consciences should bee constrained often complained to haue beene of necessitie forced to these punishments lest vnder a pretext of conscience and Catholike Religion she should endanger her selfe and her louing subiects neuerthelesse her Maiesty beleeued not that the most part of these poore and miserable Priests had plotted the destruction of her country but that their Superiors made vse of them as instruments of their mischiefe for as much as they which were sent were wholly subiect to the power and authoritie of them which had sent them For when as such as were now and afterwards apprehended were demanded whether by the Authority of the Bull of Pius the fift the Queene of Englands subiects were so freed of their Oath of Allegeance that they might take Armes against her whether they esteemed her a lawfull Queene whether they approued the opinions of Sanders and Bristow touching the Authoritie of this Bul to which partie they would incline if the Pope should warre against the Queene Some of them answered so doubtfully others with such pertinacy and some with such preuarication or keeping silence so mocked the questions propounded to them that diuers Papists begunne to suspect that they nourished some falshood and Bishop although ingenious most zealous for the Roman Religion writ against them shewing that this Cannon which had passed vnder the name of the Lateran Councell vpon which was absolutely grounded the oath of absoluing subiects from their Obedience and fealty to their Princes and for the deposing of them was nothing else but a Decree of Pope Innocent the 3 which neuer was receiued in England as also that that Counsell was repeal'd and annihilated wherein nothing was done by the Fathers of the same at that time The more the number of the Priests comming by stealth into England increased the more increased suspitions of them who secretly practised to grope the hearts of men preached that it was lawfull to depose Princes excommunicated muttered and murmured that such as were not of the Roman religion were to be depriued of all regall power and Dignity and that such as had taken religious Orders were exempt from all obedience to Princes nor were any such held to be subiect either to them or their lawes That the Pope had supreme power ouer the whole world yea euen in politick affaires That the Magistrates of England had no lawfull institution and therefore were not to bee obeyed as Magistrates And that whatsoeuer Queene ELIZABETH had done since the publication of the Bull Declaratory of Pius the 5 was by the Lawes of God and Man disanull'd and to be held for naught And some of them denyed not in publike hearing that they were sent for no other causes into England then to absolue euery one seuerally and apart of all oath of fidelitie and obedience towards the Queene as the Bull had absolued all in generall which they did in taking confessions of their reconciliation And this they seemed to doe with more ease in promising Absolution from all mortall sinne and with more securitie because it was done priuately and vnder the Seale of Confession THE FIVE AND TWENTIETH YEERE of Her Raigne Anno Dom. M.D.LXXXII THese and the like things brought vpon Papists new and sharper lawes made by Act of Parliament at Westminster in the moneth of Ianuary where all such were declared guilty of high Treason which disswaded any of her Maiesties subiects frō their obedience to their Prince or from the Religion now profest in England or that should reconcile any to the Church of Rome or which should haue beene so perswaded turned or reconciled Two hundred markes fine and a yeares imprisonment inflicted vpon those which should celebrate Masse so long till they had paid And such as had willingly beene at any of their Masses one hundred markes and one yeares imprisonment and such as were not found to resort to their owne Parish Churches to diuine seruice for euery moneths omission ten pounds Which was maliciously vnderstood and interpreted by the Papists of Lunarie months who before had paid but one shilling to the poore for euery Sunday or Holidayes absence But I referre it to the Ecclesiasticall Historie to intreat of these things more at large The Duke d' Anjou after some three moneths abode in England tooke his way towards Flanders in the moneth of February Queene ELIZABETH in person accompanied him to Canterbury and commanded the Earle of Leicester the Lord Charles Howard the Barons of Hunsdon Willoughby Winsor and Sheffeild Sir Philip Sidney Sir Francis Russel Sir George Bourchier Knights and diuers other noble Gentlemen to accompany him to Antwerpe where he was created Duke of Brabant of Lymbourg Lotharing c. For the confederated States of Flanders had from thence proclaimed the King of Spaine falne from his Principality for infringing their Lawes broken his Seales cast downe
Councell concerning my affaires and Country for that were extreame indiscretion You know how my Aduersaries triumph in Scotland both ouer mee and my imprisoned son I haue attempted nothing in Scotland to your preiudice but to stablish a solide peace in the Realme hauing by so much the more a greater care then your Councellors by how much my interest there is more then theirs I haue desired to gratifie my son with the title of King to confirme him and to burie all discords Is that to take the Diadem from him But the enemies of me and my family will not haue it confirmed It is that that they dread whilst they carie in their heart a witnesse against themselues finding themselues culpable of euills apprehend they should bee dealt with accordingly Let not these and others my aduersaries so blind your eyes that during your life and in your sight they shall beare downe your nearest kindred and ruinate both the Crownes as to that end they are plotting villanies against me against my son and perhaps against you also Can it be any pleasure or honor to you that I and my son that you and we are by their meanes so long seeluded and kept asunder Resume your naturall goodnesse and meeknesse oblige your selfe to your selfe and seeing you are a Princesse be tender hearted to me a Princesse the nearest of your consanguinity that all things being set in quiet betwixt vs I may passe the more peacefully out of this life and that the sighes and sobbes of my afflicted soule ascend not to God on high To whose diuine power I present my daily prayers that these my iust complaints and sorrowfull laments my take place with you From Sheffield 8. Nouemb. 1582. Vostre tres-desolée plus proche parente affectionnée soeur MARIE R THE SIXE AND TWENTIETH YEERE of Her Raigne Anno Dom. M.D.LXXXIII ELIZABETH Queen of England being sundry wayes moued with these Letters after she had giuen permission to the French Ambassador La Mottef together with Dauison her owne Ambassador to goe into Scotland and had chosen out a time wherin he might opportunely meet with the Duke of Lenox vnawares then returning out of Scotland she her selfe kindely receiued Lenox yet gently blaming him for being somwhat slack in the Scottish affaires and forthwith sent Beale Clerke of her Priuie Councell for the dispatch of her Letters being indeed a man very austere and sharpe to the Queene of Scots to manifest the discontent of Queene ELIZABETH at the sight of her complaining Letters and by the same meanes to treat with the Earle of Shrewsbury concerning her enlargement because she oftentimes before with sundry Letters had sollicited for it and intreated that shee might yet at last her security being established to her inioy her libertie and be an associate with her sonne in the administration of Scotland Vpon these things was the Priuy Councell of England assembled where after serious debating and deliberate consultations it was at length agreed that the Queene of Scots should be set at libertie vnder these following conditions THat if she and her sonne would promise not to enterprise any thing to the preiudice of Queene ELIZABETH or the Realme of England That shee would confesse that whatsoeuer Francis the second King of France her husband had vndertaken and performed was altogether against her will and liking and that shee would disproue and disanull it as vniust That shee would confirme the Treaty holden at Edenbourgh That shee would freely and ingenuously confesse and discouer all other complots intendments which were since that time forged and would vtterly condemne the same That if shee would enter into obligation not to plot or doe any thing directly or indirectly to the impeachment of the gouernment or administration of the Kingdome of England either in things Ecclesiasticall or Ciuill but to resist and hinder all those that should undertake in what manner so euer any thing to the contrary and to withstand them as enemies That she would not during the life of Queene ELIZABETH claime any Right or Title to the Kingdome of England and after her death to submit and referre the right of succession to the iudgement of the Estates If she also to cut off all equiuocations and mentall reseruations and to forestall all pretended excuses that shee as a Prisoner accorded and condiscended to these conditions or being in a manner constrained would confirme all these by her aoth and the publique authoritie of the States of Scotland If the King likewise would ratifie the self-same conditions both by oath and writing and for the more assurance would deliuer hostages for the performance As concerning the association which the Queene of Scots demanded to haue with her sonne in the gouernment of the Kingdome it was holden expedient by the Councell that the Queene of England should not intermeddle therewith But if they could agree vpon the association between themselues then should the League be ioyntly treated of with them both but if otherwise then apart with either seuerally Thus these things were debated on yet without any successe For the Scots which were of the English faction altogether reiected them crying out aloud that certaine Scots sworne enemies to England by the Councell of the Queene of Scots were recalled out of France and that Holt an English Iesuite was secretly sent into Scotland there to attend a fit opportunitie to inuade England Then there arose strife betweene Monsieur de La Mottef and Monsieur de Maninguill Ambassadors of France of the one part and Bowes and Dauison Ambassadors for England on the other side which of them by insinuating should induce the King to the greater affectation of their Nation or purchase the greater number to their party vntill at length that with oblique designes they ingenuously became Counsellors either to other The King himselfe became as it were Mediator and knowing how to temper things honest with things profitable without prouing any way deficient either to the Church or the Common-wealth hee wisely endeuoured rather to calme the raging stormes of these factions then intermeddle with them But the Ministers of Scotland being by a certaine zeale prouoked against the French vpon the same day that La Mottef was by the Citizens of Edenborough inuited to a Feast appointed a Fast and the whole day vvith taunts and mocks derided and scoffed the King of France the Duke of Guise and the Ambassadors And as the Ministers did this openly so certain of the Scotch Nobilitie parties with the English ceased not to persecute the French Ambassadors secretly in such sort that first La Mottef retired himselfe and after him Maninguil leauing notwithstanding some certaine seeds of discord amongst those who had seaz'd and kept the Kings Person As soone as they were departed the King presented by Colonell Stuart and I. Coluil all affection and seruice to the Queene of England requesting her counsell for the allaying of troubles and also
contract a mariage betweene her and Philip. Then againe into Spaine to the said Philip there to cause him to ratifie the conuented Articles Also for Queene ELIZABETH he went Ambassador to the Emperour Maximilian there likewise to contract a match betweene her and Charles Duke of Austria Hee was Lord Deputy of Ireland Gouernor of the Northerne Prouinces of England also the Queenes Chamberlaine chiefe Iustice in Eire of all her Maiesties Forests Parkes and Chases beyond the Riuer Trent famous for the victories hee had obtained against the Hebrides and Scots that made spoile of the frontiers Dyed at London after he had been afflicted with a long disease leauing no issue behinde him albeit hee had had two wiues the Lady Elizabeth Wriothesly and the Lady Francis Sidney and his brother Henry succeeded him in the Earledome Henry Wriothesly likewise Earle of Southampton paid like tribute vnto death a man much deuoted to the Roman Religion and to the Queene of Scots which hee bought with the anger of his Queene and restraint or libertie He was sonne to Tho Wriothesly who for his tryed vertues by Henry the 8 from the dignitie of Baron of Wriothesly of Tichfield and Knight of the Order of the Garter was aduanced to that soueraigne greatnesse of being Chancelor of England and appointed him one of the supervisors of his last Will. And by Edward the 6 he was graced with the style of Earle of Southampton Hee left by his Wife Daughter of Anthony Browne Viscount Mountague Henry his sonne that succeeded him and a Daughter maried to Thomas Lord Arundel Baron of Wardour About the same time Sir Humphrey Gilbert Knight a man acute and deliberate esteemed industrious both in Peace and Warre was by the raging Ocean depriued of life returning from the North parts of America which we call New-found-Land whither he a little before hauing sold his patrimonie made a voyage in hope to build there a Colonie And there by the sound of a Trumpet proclaimed the Countrey to be vnder the English regency For Sebastian Cabot in the yeare 1497 vnder the Reigne of Henry the 7 made the first discouery therof And then diuided the Land seuerally to his companions But he was taught too late by the deuouring seas and default of meanes which forc'd him to breake off his designes teaching others also by his example that it is a matter of greater difficulty by the expences of a priuate man to plant a Colony in farre distant Countries then he and others blind in their owne errors haue to their vtter ouerthrow perswaded themselues Vpon the same instant Edmund Grindal Archbishop of Canterbury Metropolitan and Primate of England being blind and aged aboue sixty yeares breathed his last Who at his returne from exile which hee endured vnder the Reigne of Queene MARY was first inuested Bishop of London then Archbishop of Yorke and finally of Canterbury liuing much honoured with the fauour of Queene ELIZABETH vntill by the foule deceits and treacheries of his enemies hee was suspected to be a fauourer of the Conuenticles of those turbulent Ministers and such as were called Prophets But the reason was indeed because hee condemned as vnlawfull the mariage of Iulius an Italian Physician with another mans wife which much distasted the Earle of Leicester Such small meanes as he had gathered he bestowed in the founding of a Schoole at Saint Bee in Cumberland where hee was borne and to the aduancement of Learning on both the Vniuersities The English besides is bound to him for the bringing in of Tamariske or Tamarin into England for hauing found by experience that it was a soueraigne remedie against the great and indurate passion of the Spleene hee was the first that caused it to be planted there Iohn Whitgift was his successor being aduanced from the Sea of Worcester to the Archbishopricke of Canterbury a man of singular goodnesse and learning He obtained much commendation for his Iustice in the precedencie of Wales and likewise for his great doctrine in the defence of the Ecclesiasticall policy which by his worth wisedome and patience he dayly increased The Queene who held for a maxime that she ought not to be more remisse in Ecclesiasticall affaires then in politick aboue all cōmanded him to re-establish the discipline of the Church of England that as then lay dismembred by the conniuency of Prelates the obstinacie of innouators and by the power of some great ones whilst some Ministers couertly impugned the authoritie of the Queene in things Ecclesiasticall separating the administration of the Sacrament from the preaching of the Word vsing to their owne fantasie new rites of seruices in their priuate houses vtterly condemning the Lethargie and the appointed manner of adminishing the Sacrament as being in many things contrarie to the holy Scripture and therefore many refused to goe to Church but openly became Schismaticks the Papists all this while applauding them and drawing many to their party as though there had been no vnity in the Church of England To abolish which things and to reduce them to an vnitie Hee propounded these Articles to the Ministers by them to bee subscribed FIrst That the Queene had Soueraigne power ouer all those that were borne within her Dominions of what conditions so euer they were and that no other Stranger Prince or Prelate ought to haue any power either Ciuill or Ecclesiasticall within her Maiesties Realmes Secondly that the Booke of Common Prayers and that of the ordination of Bishops and Priests contained not any thing contrarie to the Word of God but might be lawfully vsed and that they should vse that and no other forme of Prayer or administring of the Sacraments Thirdly That they should approue and allow of the Articles of the Synode holden at London the yeare 1562 published by royall Authoritie and should hold them as conformable to the Word of God But it is incredible what Controuersies and Disputations arose vpon this what hatred and reproach hee endured of the factious Ministers what troubles and iniuries hee suffered of certaine Noblemen who by placing men vnfit in the Church increased their estate or else had hopes vpon the goods of the Church But by his constancie and patience he ouercame all difficulties vsing for his Motto this which he chose not rashly Vincit qui patitur Neither was the Church onely tossed and turmoiled by those people within the Realme but by others who had left the Kingdome as by R. Browne a Cambridge Diuine of whom the new Sectaries were called Brownists and by R. Harison Master of an inferiour Schoole For these men presuming to iudge of Religion according to their owne imaginations by certaine books which they set forth at that time in the Countrey of Zealand and dispersed through many places in England vtterly condemned the Church of England as no Church Which bookes notwithstanding were prohibited by Royall Authoritie and strongly confuted by many learned men and two
or enterprize ought in France the King according to equitie would chastise them but whatsoeuer they had done in England the King would neither enquire after nor execute the Law vpon them That all Kingdomes were free and open to fugitiues and that euery King should labour to defend the liberties of his Kingdome That ELIZABETH her selfe had not long before receiued into her Realme Montgomerie the Prince of Conde and others of the French Nation And that at that time Seguri the King of Nauarre his Ambassador remained in England plotting new deuices against the King of France Whilst these things past on Bernardin Mendoza Spaines Ambassador in England secretly past into France murmuring and raging as if he contrarie to the right of Ambassie had beene forc'd out of England being indeed a man of violent and turbulent nature and hauing himselfe abused the holy and sacred rights of Ambassadors did deserue according to the opinion of many after the ancient seueritie to bee pursued with sword and fire Hee was commanded to depart the Realm because he had intermixt himselfe amongst those wicked conspiracies with Throckmorton and others that laboured for the bringing in of Strangers into England and dispossessing of the Queene for which being gently reproued he in stead of excusing and purging himselfe by a modest reply accused the Queene and her Councel about the money which was detained from the Geneuois for the aide and succours which were sent to the States of the Netherlands to the Duke of Anjou and to Antonio King of Portugall and also for the Pyracies of Drake But lest the King of Spaine should thinke the rights of Embassie vvere violated by this and not the offence of Mendoza reuenged W. Waade one of the Queenes Councell for the expedition of Letters was dispatched into Spaine there plainely to demonstrate how mischieuously Mendoza had behaued himselfe in his Ambassage And to signifie likewise lest the Queene should be thought by returning of Mendoza to renounce the ancient friendship between the Kingdomes that she was ready to performe all Offices of humanitie towards him if the King in Mendoza's place would send any other more carefull for the maintaining of friendship prouided that the like might be performed to her Ambassador in Spaine But the King disdaining to receiue or conferre with Waade referred him to his Councell Whereat Waade somewhat incensed boldly declared that it had beene an ancient custome ouer all that the Ambassadors should bee admitted to speake in presence euen of their enemies and in time of Warre And that the Emperor Charles the fifth father of the King gaue admittance to the Herald that denounced warre against him from the King of France refusing to impart to the Councell the tenour of his Ambassie Now Idiac Secretarie to the King of Spaine endeuoured himselfe much to come to the knowledge of those matters but his Art and policies failing him hee was fully instructed out of France of the whole passage by Mendoza Whereupon laying aside the quality of a publike person he familiarly declared to Waade that to his griefe hee saw many men which bent all their studies to breake and seuer with mischieuous deuices the Leagues and amity of Princes and to increase their enmities That the iniury was done to the King of Spaine himselfe and not to Ambassadors first on the person of Dispez and then of Mendoza That there was no reason why he should any more accuse Mendoza to the King that had receiued for his fault if hee committed any sufficient punishment being so ignominiously and disgracefully sent backe That the Catholique King had dealt iustly in rendering like for like and as the Queene had dismissed Mendoza without hearing but appointed him to bee heard by her Councell the King in like manner had appointed him to the Cardinall Granuellan To this Waade made answer that there was a large difference between himselfe that had neuer giuen the least distaste to the Catholike King and Mendoza who had highly grieuously offended the Queene hauing insolently a great space disdained and refused to come neere her and committed many things vnfitting and vnworthy an Ambassador Notwithstanding all this Waade could not bee admitted but returned into England without being heard All those crimes for the most part which were obiected against Mendoza were taken out of the confession of Throckmorton For when Throckmorton saw himselfe at the point of being apprehended hee sent vnto Mendoza a little trunke wherein were contained his secrets neuerthelesse his other trunkes being diligently searched there were found two Catalogues in one of which were contained the names of the Ports which were most appropriate and conuenient for the landing of their troopes in the other the names of such Noblemen in England as did entertaine and imbrace the Roman Religion Which Catalogues when hee saw produced he cryed out aloud that they were things suborned and that he neuer saw them before that time and that they were purposely inserted into his trunke by some that plotted his destruction and being tortured to force him confesse hee still persisted but tortures being applyed the second time he confessed all that he knew and being examined touching the Catalogues to what end they were written he made this Declaration THat a few yeares since taking his iourney to the waters of Spaw with one Ieney and Englefield they consulted among themselues of the meanes by which England might bee inuaded of the strangers and the forme of the gouernment changed and to that end the names of the Ports and Noblemen were set downe in those Catalogues That Morgan had signified to him by Letters out of France that the Catholique Princes had already deliberated vpon the inuasion and by the auspicious succours of the Duke of Guise to set at libertie the Queene of Scots the Guise wanting nothing but money and some helping hands in England That to procure these things C. Paget vnder the assumed name of Mopus was sent into Sussex where the Guise had determined first to land his troops That he had communicated the businesse and shewed the names of the Ports and Noblemen to Mendoza who was now perfectly instructed by the rect of the conspiracie Neither doth he deny that hee had promised his owne helpe and industry And had also aduertised Mendoza with what Noblemen being a publique personage he might conferre with with whom he himselfe being but a priuate man could not without danger hold parley And with him found the meanes by some of the principall Catholiques to take vp souldiers in the Queenes name then when the stranger forces should ariue to bee ioyned with them These things he freely confessed Neuerthelesse being accused publikely in the Court at London hee precisely denied all affirming that hee had spoken out of his owne inuention and not the truth onely to free himselfe from the tortures againe and openly accused the Queene of cruelty and those of the Inquest of falshood framing
signifying to him that hee was at that instant in danger both of life and fortunes hee entreated him to conceale the matter and to cause them to retire that were knowing of the departure of the Lord Paget and the ariuall of Cha Paget all which hee presently dispatched and likewise remoued a farre off the seruant that hee had vsed betweene C. Paget and himselfe The Sollicitor further added That being a Prisoner hee had corrupted his Keepers and by their meanes gaue Shelley to vnderstand all what hee had confessed That Shelley also by a woman which was hyred to be a priuate messenger betweene them let him know that he could no longer abstaine from confessing that their conditions were farre vnequall because hee should bee forced by torments but the Earle by reason of his place and order not therefore sent him the copie of his confession Whereat the Earle groaned and would often say as Pantin the seruant of his Bed-chamber confessed that by the confession of Shelley he was vndone for euer After this the manner of his death was by testimony of the Coroners inquest of the Lieutenant of the Tower and of Pantin openly declared and from thence was gathered that he for feare lest his house should bee vtterly subuerted and himselfe dishonored had dispatched himselfe Certes diuers good men much sorrowed that so great a personage should perish by so miserable a death being induced thereto partly because they naturally fauoured Nobility and partly because he had obtained much praise by his valor What the suspicious fugitiues muttered against a certaine Bailiffe a seruitor of Hatton who a little before was appointed one of the Earles keepers I will ouer-passe as not certainely knowne Neither doe I esteeme it fit to insert any vncertaine things or vaine heare-sayes Queene ELIZABETH hauing seene the open conspiracies of the Guises against the Protestant Religion the King of France and her selfe well perceiued whence and by whom these mischiefes were dispersed through England Shee to oppose their designes and to contract a league amongst the Protestants for the defence of the Religion sent Thomas Bodley to the King of Denmarke the Elector Palatine the Dukes of Saxony Wittenbergh Brunswicke Lunbourgh the Marquis of Brandenburgh and the Landsgraue of Hessen And amongst other things she commanded him to aduertise the King of Denmarke that it behoued him aboue the rest to oppose the practices of the Guise because they haue made no question to claime the Kingdome of Denmarke as their kinsmans right for the duke of Lorraine as being son to the daughter of Christierne the 2 King of Denmarke neither did the Duke of Lorraine himselfe dissemble the same then when not long before he laboured to obtaine the Queene in mariage And to prouide least any danger should breake through Scotland as through a backe doore into England shee sent Edward Wotton to signifie to the King how acceptably she embraced the declaration of his loue to her by Patricke Gray and by Iustice Cleric And to draw him to a mutuall League of offence and defence by proposing to him the dangers that then threatned and menaced the profession of the Gospell And to offer him an annuall pension the better to maintaine his Royall Dignity because the reuenues of his Kingdome were much shortened by the negligence of the Regents And to commend vnto him in the vvay of mariage the daughter of the King of Denmark And earnestly in her name to make intercession for those Noblemen of Scotland that liued banished in England And to promise him that she would send them backe if she found the offence against the King to haue beene practised by them Wotton found the King affectionately bent to this League notwithstanding that the Earle of Arran and others of the French faction laboured to diuert him and the Estates of Scotland gaue their consent vnder their hands and seales for the conseruation of Religion to embrace this League prouided that the Queene would promise not to preiudice or hinder the Kings right in the succession of England so long as hee remained constant in his friendship and alliance But this matter was retarded and hindered by the death of Fra Russell sonne to the Earle of Bedford who was slaine the next day after For I. Forster and T. Carre of Fernihurst gouernors of the middle borders betweene the Kingdomes of England and Scotland hauing assigned an assembly vpon the seuen and twentieth of Iune to treat of the receit and emploiment of the Fynances of the Kingdome after the promise of safety made by both parties with their oaths and Proclamation that none should offend either in word deed or looke for so the borderers spoke The Scots brought with them to the place the number of three thousand men or thereabout being armed and set in order of battell with their ensignes displayed and their drummes beating contrary to the custome in such affaires but the English not surpassing three hundred The Gouernours were no sooner seated to heare the complaints but a tumultuous vproare was raised by the occasion of an Englishman taken in theft the Scots discharging a shower of bullets slue amongst others Russel and put the English to flight and eagerly pursuing them for the space of foure miles within England they caried some back with them as prisoners The author of this murther was not assuredly knowne but the English imputed the fault to the Earle of Arran then Chancelor of Scotland and to Carre of Fernihurst The Queene presently dispatched Ambassadors and Letters demanding that the murderers might be deliuered into her hands Because Henry the seuenth King of England had long time before deliuered into the hands of Iames the fourth King of Scots Will. Heron and seuen other Englishmen for murdering of Ro Carre of Cesford vpon a day of assembly and not long before Morton the Regent sent Carmichel a Scot into England for the murder of George Heron. The King after protestation of his innocency promised to send Fernihurst and the Chancelor himselfe also so soone as by cleare and lawful proofes they were conuicted of set purpose to haue violated the safety or to be guilty of the murder Fenwick an Englishman accused Carre before the King but was refuted by his simple deniall because hee could not produce any Scotchman for a witnesse For it hath beene a custome and so a Law amongst the borderers in their iudgements of causes bred by an inueterate hate that no witnesse can be admitted but a Scot against a Scot and an Englishmen against an Englishman Insomuch that though euery one of the Englâ—sh which were present had plainely beene beholders of this murder yet their testimony would preuaile nothing Arran neuerthelesse was confined within his owne house and Carre was kept prisoner at Dundey where in a short time he dyed Hauing beene a warlike man and one prompt and fit to enterprise matters of importance who for his constant loue and faith
that blood cryeth for blood and to be seuere vpon her cannot but seeme a thing cruell and bloody That the K. of France would endeuour seriously to dissolue the designes of those which conspired against Queen Elizabeth and that the Guises the Queen of Scotland's kinsmen should swear and subscribe to do the same who would take it very grieuously if she were put to death and perhaps would not suffer it vnreuenged Finally they required she should not be handled with such rigorous and extraordinary iudgement for if shee were the King of France could not but take it as a most grieuous offence howsoeuer the other Princes tooke it To euery one of these Articles answer was made in the Margent That the Queene of England hoped that the most Christian king of France made no lesse reckoning of her than of the Queene of Scotland who had practised her destruction she being an innocent Princesse her neere Kinswoman and in league of Alliance with the King of France That it is expedient for Kings and their Countries that wicked actions be not left vnpunished especially against Princes That the English who acknowledge Queen Elizabeth the sole Supreame Gouernesse of England cannot at once acknowledge two Soueraignes free and absolute Princes nor any other whilst she liued could participate in equalitie with her Neither could she perceiue how the Queene of Scotland and her Sonne which then raigned could be held at once for Soueraigne and absolute Princes Whether that the safetie of Queene Elizabeth be exposible to greater perils shee being put to death seeing it dependeth vpon future contingencie That the Estates of England hauing well weighed this point are otherwise conceited namely That whilst shee liueth there will alwaies be new plots of mischiefe breeding especially because it is now come to that issue that there is no hope left for the one if the other be not extinct and this saying should often present it selfe to her mind Either I shall dispatch her or shee me And the lesser time her life shall last the more celeritie will the Conspirators vse to execute their plots That hitherto she would neuer renounce her claime and challenge to the English Crowne and therefore was for iust cause to be detained in prison and detained must be till she renounce it although she came to England for succour and support And for what cause soeuer she was put in prison she is to be punished for the faults she hath cōmitted since the time of her imprisonment That the Queene of England had pardoned her before when shee was condemned of all the Estates for consenting to the Rebellion in the North the which was raised to haue made the Maryage betwixt her and tbe Duke of Norfolke and to pardon her againe were imprudent and cruell mercy That none are ignorant of that Maxime of the Lawyers An offender found within the Territorie of another is to be punished where he is found to haue committed the fault without respect of Dignitie Honour or Priuiledge And that the same is permitted as well by the Lawes of England as also by the examples of Licinius Robert King of Sicilie Bernard King of Italy Conradine Elizabeth Queene of Hungary Ioan Queene of Naples and of Deiotarus for whom Cicero pleading said It is not a thing vniust though vnusuall for a King to be arraigned His very words are these Primùm dico pro capite fortunisque Regis quod ipsum etsi non iniquum est in tuo duntaxat periculo tamen est ita inusitatum Regem capitis reum esse tante hoc tempus non sit auditum That shee that hath beene found guiltie by a iust Iudgement ought to vndergoe punishment forasmuch as that which is Iust is Honest and that which is Honest is also profitable That the History of Porsenna hath no allusion to the matter in question except it were to be thought that there are a great number yet behinde of them which conspire against Queene Elizabeth and so could perswade her out of feare and some little respect of honour to dismisse the Queene of Scotland without putting her to any paine as Porsenna past off Mutius after Mutius had told him there was yet 300. more of his Fellow-Confederates which had sworne his death Besides that Mutius set vpon Porsenna in open warre and assured himselfe that by sending Mutius away he was out of all danger That blood is to be spared but that is innocent blood That God hath said Blood cryeth for blood it is true and that France both before the Massacre of Paris since cā testifie this That punishment by death iustly inflicted cannot be accounted bloody no more than a wholsome medicine can be deem'd hurtfull Howsoeuer the Guises the Queene of Scotlands Cousens relish it Queene Elizabeth hath more nearer cause to respect her selfe her owne safetie her Nobilitie and the good of her People on whose loue shee wholly dependeth than the discontent of any other whosoeuer And that the matter was now at that point that the old Prouerbe of the two Princes Conradine the King of Sicilie and Charles the Duke of Anjou might be vsed and truly said of these two Queens THE DEATH OF MARY THE LIFE OF ELIZABETH And THE LIFE OF MARY THE DEATH OF ELIZABETH The promises of the French King or the Guises cannot secure the Queene of England nor the Realme of assured safetie much lesse make amends for her death if she be made away That the French King cannot discouer or keepe in the plots of Treason which are practised against him in his owne Country much lesse this against the Queene of England for that Treason is closely carryed and therefore ineuitable And if the wicked act were once committed what good would come on it to claime their promises How can the life of an incomparable Prince after death be repaired and what redresse can be found out for the Common-wealth failing with her in this sad confusion of all things That the hand-writings or oathes of the Guises can be of no great moment for that they hold it a meritorius matter to put to death the Pope of Romes Aduersaries and may easily haue a dispensation of their oath And when Queene Elizabeth shall be slaine and the Queene of Scotland which is of the House of the Guises aduanced to the Royaltie who is he will accuse them for her death or if they should be accused that can bring her to life againe But in that the Ambassadours haue said That the Iudgement was rigorous and extraordinary they haue spoken indiscreetly for they saw neither the proceedings of the businesse nor heard the proofes and haue with too much asperitie reprehended the Estates of the Realme of England being Personages of chiefest note in the Kingdome for noblenesse of Birth Vertue Wisedome and Pietie Yea and that they haue altogether deliuered these speeches from the King of France to terrifie the Queene of England and the Estates of the Land That the
forced to yeeld And indeed the States hauing truely reserued that Soueraigne degree and power which they at first had giuen him by words would not furnish him with a great and sufficient Army and hee dained not to subiect himselfe to particulars of small ranke and note who vnder the name of States striued to domineere ouer him notwithstanding that their Gouernour had the same authority that Charles the Fifth had ouer his Commanders of the Low-Countries From thence deriued open hatred on both sides the which discouered themselues yet apparantly after that he had mentioned to agree vpon with Spaine for their eares abhorr'd and their hearts detested the very name of peace as preiudiciall and obnoctious to their affaires Euen as then he perceiued his authority to diminish hee had recourse to fraudulous deceit and resolued to breede factions with the people there and to make himselfe Master of the City of Leyden with other Townes But being frustrated of his hope of the losse of some with his men to the great discontentment that this action prouoked Queene ELIZABETH sending for him he gaue ouer the gouernement and free administration of the States of the Vnited Prouinces and was derided and laughed at of many but most by those who enuied him hauing forsaken the Title of his Excellencie which neuer any English-man had taken vpon him before him Leicester vpon his departure for England distributed for a perpectuall memory of his person to such as were of his faction a Medaille or pieces of Gold which he had caused to be coyned on the one side there was his picture on the other a Flocke with some lost Sheepe a Dogge who going from them turned backe his head to looke on them as if it were for pitty with this Inscription Ie quite malgre moy J forsake to my griefe And neere it this Non point le troupeau mais les ingras Not the Flocke but the vngratefull And questionlesse hee intended to inuade the Netherland Dominions for himselfe but those Nations haue not only kept by their care and diligence the liberty which they hold by their Ancestors wholly to themselues against the Spaniards might who warre as well with their art and deceits as with their goods as likewise against the French and English by craftinesse policy yea against the Prince of Orange himselfe who acted the Foxes part but also they haue it maruellously increased by the fauour of their neighbouring friend and which is more worthy admiration is that whereas other countries are ruinated by the war these vnited Prouinces are inriched thereby The States established in his roome for Gouernour of the vnited and confederate Prouinces Prince Maurice of Nassau then about twenty yeeres of age son to the Prince of Orange by his Wife the Lady Anne de Saxe Daughter to that Heroick Elector Maurice and Queene ELIZABETH established in Leicesters stead Peregrine Bartue Lord Willoughby of Eresby Generall of the English auxiliary Forces which then were in the Low-Countries whom those of Leicesters faction much troubled for the Garrisons of Geertruiden-Berg Worcom Nerden Heusden aboue all that of Middlebourgh being at the English deuotion excited troubles vnder pretext that they had sworne loyalty and obedience to the Queene And Sir William Russell Gouernour of Flushing hauing drawne to his side the inhabitants of the Townes of Emuid and of Campe were mistrusted by the Estates to haue a determination to reduce the whole Iland of Zeland vnder the English and this suspition was increased the more by the comming of Englands Lord High Admirall out of England who though hee much laboured to pacifie these troubles the States neuerthelesse possest with feare dissembled not their mistrustings but witnessed it both openly to the World by certaine pieces of Siluer which ingeniously they caused to be coyned and stamped with the figure of two earthen Pots swimming vpon the Sea according to the ancient Apologue with this Inscription Si nous nous hurtons nous nous casserons Jf wee knocke one at another wee shall be broken And priuately by Letters which they wrote to the Queene who being most carefull of them and yet in nothing forgetfull of her selfe could prudently fore-see those infinite dangers then apparant the Spanish Fleete being then imminent commanded the Lord Willoughby to bring into submission such English as excited or stirred vp troubles to be punished by the States which hee most happily performed with the Prince Maurice of Nassau Leicester being then back and quickly finding out that the Baron of Buckhurst and others prepared themselues to accuse him to haue ill administrated the affaires of Holland and that therefore he ought to come into iudgement before the Councell Table wisely with-drew himselfe priuately to the Queen and prostrating himselfe humbly at her feet beseeched her Maiestie to testifie and speake for him coniuring her not to receiue ignominiously him whom she had sent magnificently neither to bury liuing and seeing him whom shee had raised from the dust He by these sweet and eloquent speeches calmed so her discontents that moderating the anger of her wrath shee receiued him into her fauour as before Therefore being called in question and brought before the Councell Table he whereas he should haue appeared in an humble manner according to the custome of others tooke his place among the Lords of her Maiesties Priuy-Councell and as the Clerke had begun to reade the chiefe Articles of his accusation interrupted him complayning they had done him wrong to haue restrained those publike instructions granted vnto him to priuate ones and in appealing to the Queenes iudgement auoyded and annihilated all accusations whereby his aduersaries were much indignated but they broke their anger in silence In this yeere in the moneth of February died Henry Lord Neuill Baron of Abergauenny grand-child of Edward Neuill who in King HENRY the Sixth's Reigne enioyed the title of Baron of Abergauenny by his wife who was onely Daughter Heire to R. Lord Beauchamp Earle of Wigorn and Baron of Abergauenny by whose right the Daughter and Heire of this Henry Lord Neuill challenging the title and honour of this ancient Barony had a memorable suit in Law about it with Edward Neuill the next Heire-male to the said Lordship to whom the Castell of Abergauenny was legacied by Testament and since the honour and title of the same Barony was conferred and confirmed vnto him by Act of Parliament where hee tooke place among the Peeres of that High Court as the first Baron of England There died also in the same yeere and moneth foure Noble persons both illustrious and famous the first was the Lady Anne Stanhop Duchesse of Somerset about ninetie yeeres of age wife to Edward Seymor late Duke of Somerset and Protector of England This Duchesse by meere enuy and hate she bore to the Lady Katherine Parr Queene of England and Dowager of King HENRY the Eighth excited diuers tragedies in
the Noble House of the Seymors at Dudley Earle of Warwickes perswasion during his plotting of the ruine of this puissant and princely House and all to preuent lest shee who was Wife to this Noble Protector should giue place or precedence to this Queene Dowager who then was her Husbands Brothers wife The next was Sir Ralph Sadler Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster a prudent and learned man whose worth and vertue had beene approued in diuers weighty and important affaires of State He was the last Banneret of England which worthy dignity of Knighthood had bin conferred on him at the famous Battel of Musselborough After him also died Sir Thomas Bromley Lord High Chancellor of England hauing scarce attained to the sixtieth yere of his age a man excellently well seene in the Law Six dayes after he was followed by Edward Manner Earle of Rutland to whom the Queene had chosen and appointed for his Successour the third of the Noble House of Manner a Noble man most learned and skilfull in the Law and humane Arts hauing but the Lady Elizabeth one onely Daughter for heire then but very young who was married to William Cecill Baron of Burleigh Lord High Treasurer Sir Christopher Hatton who was a Noble personage excellently endued with rare vertues flourishing at that time illustriously at the Court as one whose merit had purchased him the honour to be dearely affectionate intimate to her Maiestie in whose fauour his worth greatly aduanced him was from a Courtier established to this high dignity of Lord Chancellour of England not with little discontent of the Iudges and professors of the Law who since Church-men had bin depriued and dismist of that honour had iudiciously discharged that place with no lesse glory and equity than prudence and discretion which is the supreme magistracy of the Law yet in former times past it was oftner prouided for with Ecclesiasticall men and Nobles than of others Neuerthelesse though Sir Christopher Hatton had been aduanced to that place by the subtill art of some Courtiers who hoped that by his absence from Court and the difficulty he should haue to exercise duly so high and so weighty a Magistracy should weare out and diminish the great fauour he was in neere Queene ELIZABETH Neuerthelesse hee behaued himselfe in that high Seat of Iustice discreetly and worthily to the well-liking of the Queene and admiration of all her Subiects discharging that Dignity with as great magnificence and honour as any whatsoeuer had done before him studying to supply by equitie that which he wanted in the knowledge of the Law Sir Iohn Perot being this yeere sent for out of Ireland left that Kingdome very peaceable to Sir William Fitz-Williams for he had drawne from those persons whom hee suspected to be apt to rebell oathes and hostages which they as soone granted vnto him as hee demanded for not seeming any way to fauour rebellion hee imprisoned diuers Irish Rebels and such as were more dangerously giuen to rebellion he hanged them shewing admonishing the rest of their duety and the fidelity which they ought to their Soueraigne in so doubtfull a time The Irish seeing the sincere loue respect and affection he bore to them who were true subiects most willingly lent their eares thereunto and were true obseruers of his instructions Hitherto that I may a little stray were the Irish warres very easie to the English and eight hundred foot with three hundred horse were esteemed an inuincible Army For Randolph with sixe hundred English with much facility defeated O-Neale with foure thousand Irish Collier in the yeere 1571. with his onely one Company preuayled likewise against one thousand Hebridians in Connach The Butlers with a great Company of the Rebels were ouerthrowne by three hundred Horse-men And to passe the rest ouer two Companies of foot surprized in one day aboue twenty of the Irish Castels But after that the Perots had by command daily exercised themselues at home in their owne Countrey and were well instructed in the discipline of Armes and in the vse of their Muskets to resist the Hebridians and being practized in the wars of the Netherlands had learned the arts of fortification they vexed the English as wee shall finde with a difficult and dangerous warre THE THIRTIETH and most maruelous yere of her Reigne the euer-remembred Yeere of the Lord. Anno Dom. 1588. TO this admirable yeere of Christ 1588. are we now arriued Which by Regiomontanus the Astrologian was foretold about a hundred yeeres before to be a Yeere of Wonder and by the Germane Chronologers to be the Climacterical yeere of the World The rumors of warres which were before but slender relations began now daily to be augmented and were now become not as before a variable report but an assured certainty by the generall voice of all men that the Spaniard had prepared a most inuincible Nauy against England and had out of Italy Sicilie and also America gathered into Spaine the old experienced Commanders such as were most famous Captaines skilfull in military affaires For the Pope of Rome with certaine religious and deuout Spaniards and some English Fugitiues had long agoe diligently exhorted the Spaniard to inuade and conquer England but that counsell was by the Portugals warres for tenne yeeres before interrupted which now they carefully reiterated and with much instigation perswaded him that since Heauen had heaped vpon him infinite benefits and blessings by subiecting to his Empire the Kingdome of Portugall with the East-India and many other wealthy Ilands that it was now his part of duety to enterprize something which might bee agreeable and pleasing to God That there could be nothing more acceptable to God nor ought more worthy himselfe than the aduancing of his Church That the Church could not with more glory and merit be aduanced than by the conquest of England and there by the extirpation of Heresie to plant the Roman Catholique Religion That these warres would be most iust not onely because they were most necessary but because they were vndertaken to propagate the Religion of Christ seeing that the Queene of England being excommunicated notwithstanding obstinately persisted against the Church of Rome had succoured the Rebels in the Netherlands molested the Spaniards with continuall pyracies had surprized and pillaged diuers townes both in Spaine and America and lately violating the Maiesty of all Princes had caused the Queene of Scots to be put to death Therefore such warres should bee no lesse profitable than iust Because by this meanes the King of Spaine making addition to his Empire of the most flourishing Kingdomes he might easily extinguish the Netherlandish Rebellion which was nourished as it were by the breath of England hee should assure to himself the voyages to both India's in safetie and so lessen the annuall expences laid out for the conuoying of his Fleetes forward and backward To prooue this to him with more facility
they suggested that the English Nauy was neither in number greatnesse nor strength comparable to the Spanish the Portugall Fleet being then added That England was altogether vnfortified neyther was it furnished with Commanders Souldiers Horse or prouision for warres but destitute both of friends and money besides there were many through the Kingdome which were addicted to Papistrie and would soone ioyne themselues in his ayde Last of all so great were the forces of the King of Spaine both by Sea and Land and the vertue of the Spaniards such that none would dare to oppose him and therefore they promised assuredly a certaine victory To this enterprise also that God had presented a fit opportunity for the Turke hauing then cōcluded a truce with him and the French beeing intangled with intestine warres were neither to be doubted or feared That it was more facile to subdue England than the Low-Countries because the passage out of Spaine into England is more short and commodious and through a vast and open Sea but into the Netherlands of greater length and difficultie through a narrow Sea and very neere adiacent to England That the Netherlands were in a manner continually a strong Bulwarke being on all parts fortified with Townes and Castles but England not with any and therefore it would be an easie matter euen at the first in an instant for him to penetrate to the very heart of the Land with an Army Finally according to that military Axiome That the Enemy should not be left behinde therefore it was most necessary for the Spaniard to subdue England being a mortall enemy by whose assistance the Low-Countries had so long sustained a great warre and with whom they could not at all stand So that if England were but once conquered the Netherlands must of necessity yeeld to subiection These matters thus resolued they began seriously to deliberate vpon some meanes for the inuasion of England Aluarus Bassanus Marquesse of Santa Croix Generall of the Nauy was of a minde That before all some Port or other in Holland or Zealand should by those Land-troupes which the Prince of Parma had and some few Spanish Ships sent before be vnawares to them surprized where the Spanish Fleete might make their retreate and from thence most opportunely begin the inuasion because that in the Brittish Sea being tempestuous the windes are subiect to often changing the ebbing and flowing thereof principally to be obserued the Fleete could not safely ride Of this aduice likewise was the Prince of Parma who earnestly vrged this expedition Others notwithstanding disallowed thereof as being a thing difficult full of danger requiring much time great labour large expence yet vncertaine of successe neyther could it be done secretly or vnawares and by the English would easily be hindred and frustrated And these were of opinion That one might at lesse charges and with more facilitie assault and subdue England if at the mouth of the Thames a puissant Army of Spaniards and Flemmings were placed and conuayed in a powerfull Nauy to take at the first vnawares the City of London the Capitall and Chiefe of the Kingdome This seeming easie was resolued vpon and speedily determined to be put in execution yet some neuerthelesse were of a mind that war should first be proclaymed by a Herauld and that in so doing it would be a sleight to take away all suspition from all Neighbouring-Princes and moue the Queene to call to her helpe forreine souldiers who as mercenary being insolent and vile would behaue themselues rudely and tumultuously ransacking and pillaging the Countries in such sort that it would take away the loue of her Subiects and put England in confusion But these mindes were not seconded by those who were obstinate as relying vpon the assurance of their forces and strength contenting themselues to put their cause their Nauy Armada's into the Popes hand and into the intercessions of the Catholiques to the Saints and to afright and terrifie England they set out a Libell printed containing the particulars of so great an equipage which truely was such that in Spaine Italy and Cicilia the Spaniards were amazed astonished at it and therefore audaciously termed it The inuincible NAVY The Duke of Parma caused also Ships to bee built in Flanders by the commandement of the Spaniard and likewise a number of Flat-bottom'd Boats each of them bigge enough to transport thirtie Horses with Bridges fitting to them hyred Mariners out of the East-Land Countries of Germany prouided Pikes sharpened at the one end and shod with Iron with hookes on one side twenty thousand Vessels and an infinite number of Wicker Baskets and placed in the Sea-Townes of Flanders one hundred and three Companies of foot and foure thousand horse amongst which were seuen hundred English Fugitiues a most contemned and despised Company Neyther were Stanley their Generall nor Westmerland nor any other who had assisted eyther with purse or person regarded but for their impietie against their Countrey prohibited all accesse and deseruedly and as ill presages not without detestation reiected And Pope Sixtus the Fifth lest hee should seeme to be wanting renewes vnto Cardinall Alane an English man sent into the Low-Countries The Declaratory Bulls of Pius the Fifth and Gregorie the Thirteenth excommunicates the Queene deposes her from her gouernement absolues her Subiects from their allegiance publisheth in print the Crusado as against Turks and Infidels whereby out of the Treasury of the Church hee bestowes vpon all assistants plenarie indulgence whereupon the Marquesse of Burgaw of the House of Austria the Duke of Pastraua Amadaeus of Sauoy Vespasian Gonzaga Iohn de Medices and diuers other noble Gentlemen serued in this warre as Volunteers On the other side Queene ELIZABETH lest shee should be vnawares opprest with singular diligence prepares as many ships and warlike necessaries as was possible And shee her-selfe who was of a piercing iudgement in distinguishing of dispositions and when shee was at her owne election without commendation of others alwaies happy designed by name the principall Officers to the seuerall Offices in the Nauie and made Charles Howard of Effingham Lord high Admirall of England Generall of whose good successe shee was very well perswaded as a man whom she knew to be skilfull in Nauigation prouident valiant industrious and of great authority amongst Sea-men by reason both of his moderation and Nobility Shee sends him seasonably enough to the West parts of England where Drake whom shee made Vice-Admirall ioyned himselfe with him Shee commands Henrie Seimer the second sonne of the Duke of Sommerset to lye in waite vpon the Belgique shores with fortie Ships English and Dutch to hinder Parma's comming out of the Riuers with his forces Although there wanted not some who earnestly aduised to expect the Enemy and receiue him in a Land-battel as it was deliberated in HENRY the Eighth's Reigne when the French threatned England with a mightie Nauy For the Land-seruice
and likewise for the Kingdome of Scotland Yet they neuerthelesse would not agree thereunto but meerely for those foure Cities which the Queen then had in possession as Ostend Flushing Bergen vp Zoom and the Breele and that during the said Treaty and twentie dayes after prouided that in the meane while it was lawfull to the Queene of England to assault Spaine and to the King of Spaine to inuade England as well out of Spaine as of Flanders During that time thus runned in speech about this Truce and the place appoynted for the conference which at last was appoynted at Bourbourgh Sir W. Crofts who for the great desire hee had of peace was gone to Bruxels without the knowledge of the rest of the Commissioners propounded in particular some Articles for which hee afterwards was imprisoned vpon the Earle of Leicesters accusation though that to the iudgement of others hee ought not to haue beene reproued or disauowed yet it is not lawfull to Commissioners to exceede the limits of their Commissions prescribed vnto them Finally the English seeing they could not obtaine a full and intyre cessation of Armes nor to see at all the Commission containing power for the Duke of Parma to treat of peace they propounded THat the ancient alliances betweene the Kings of England and the Dukes of Burgundie might be renewed and confirmed That the Flemmings might peaceably enioy their priuiledges and serue God with libertie of conscience That the Spaniards and other strangers might be sent out of Flanders to ridde the Flemmings and the neighbouring-Prouinces of all feare And that if they would grant these things the Queene to shew that shee had not taken vp Armes for her owne particular interest but for the necessary defence both of the Flemmings and her selfe would willingly hearken vnto any reasonable conditions touching the Townes which shee then possessed in the Low-Countries paying the mony which shee had laide out about them Whereunto the Dukes Deputies answered THat when it would please them friendly to conferre with them about the renewing of their ancient alliances there should be no disagreement in that regard That stranger Princes had nothing to doe with the Flemmings priuiledges of grace graunted as well vnto the reconciled Townes and Prouinces as vnto the rest which by force of Armes haue beene brought vnto obedience That their stranger-Souldiers were of necessitie retained there because they were vp in armes both in Holland England and France As for Townes taken from the King and expences of money the King of Spaine might well demand recompence of the Queene of many thousands of Crownes spent in the warres of the Low-Countries since her assisting and taking into her protection the rebellious Flemmings About this time Dr. Dale by the Queens cōmandement was sent vnto the Duke to make a friendly complaint vnto him of a Booke lately set forth by one Allin an English Cardinall by which hee admonished the Nobles and people of England and Ireland to ioyne with the forces of Spaine vnder the Dukes conduct for the execution of Pope Sixtus the Fifth his Sentence published by a Bull against the Queene by which he declared her an Heretique illegitimate and cruell against the Queene of Scots c. and commanded her Subiects to assist the Duke against her Many of those Bulls were printed at Antwerpe to be dispersed in England The Duke made him answere that hee had not seene any such Booke or Bull and that hee would not vndertake any thing in the Popes name yet that hee was to obey his King Moreouer that he honoured and admired so much the Queene for her Royall vertues that next vnto the King he made more account of her Maiestie than of any other Prince That hee had counselled the King to treate of that peace which would be more profitable to the English than to the Spaniards for quoth hee if the Spaniards be ouercome they can easily recouer their losse again but if you be once vanquished your Kingdome is vtterly lost Whereupon Doctor Dale replyed That the Queene was powerfull enough to defend her Kingdome and that himselfe might well iudge according to his graue wisdome that shee could not easily be ouerthrowne by the losse of one battell seeing the King of Spaine himselfe by so long a warre could not as yet recouer the inheritance of his Ancestors in the Low-Countries Well said hee these things are in the hands of the Almightie God Afterwards the Commissioners had many conferences and alterations and as it were weaued the same webbe againe When the English desired a toleration of Religion to be granted but for two yeres to the Vnited Prouinces it was answered That as the Spaniard interceded not in the like kinde for the English Catholikes so they hoped that the Queene in her owne wisedome would forbeare to request any thing of the Spaniard preiudiciall to his honour his oath and his conscience When they required re-payment of the money which the States of Brabant owed the Queene they answered That that money was lent without the Kings priuity or authoritie But all accounts beeing cast vp it might appeare both how much that money was and how much the King had spent in this warre to whom more ought to be paid By such kinde of answeres they deluded the English vntill the Spanish ARMADA approched the coast of England and the thunder of their Ordnance was heard from the Sea Then receiuing a conuoy from the Prince who during this treatie had brought almost all his forces to the shore by his Commissioners were honourably conducted to the borders neere Calais So vanished this treatie into nothing vndertaken by the Queene as the wisest sort of men iudged to auert the Spanish Fleete continued by the Spaniard to surprize England vnawares vnprouided so that both of them seemed to sew the Foxes tale to the Lyone skin That Spanish ARMADA the greatest and best furnished with men munition and all warlike preparations that euer the Ocean did see and arrogantly named Inuincible consisted of one hundred and thirtie ships in which were nineteene thousand two hundred and ninety souldiers eight thousand three hundred and fiftie Mariners two thousand eightie Gally-slaues chayned two thousand six hundred and thirty peeces of great Ordnance The Generall was Alphonsus Perez Guzman Duke of Medina Sidonia For Antonius Columna Duke of Palian of S. Cruz or of the holy Crosse designed Generall dyed during the preparation and vnder him was Iohn Martinus Recaldus a most skilfull Nauigator The third before the Calends of Iune they loosed from out of the Riuer of Tagus and bending their course towards the Groin in Galicia by a strong tempest they were dispersed three Gallies with three Oares on a seat beeing by the industry of Dauid Guin an English slaue and the perfidiousnesse of the Turkish Gally-slaues carried to the coast of Frāce after some time with great difficulty met at the Groin and the Hauens thereabouts So
distressed and weather-beaten was it as it was reported that the Queene was constantly resolued not to expect it that yeere and Secretary Walsingham wrote to the Lord Admirall as if the Warre were at an end to send back foure of the greatest Ships Hee a man not very credulous excusing himselfe fairely intreated him not to beleeue anything in so important a matter without mature deliberation and desired that hee might retaine them though at his owne charges And hauing a prosperous winde sayled towards Spaine with hope to surprize the Weather-beaten ships in the Harbours When he was almost vpon the coasts of Spaine the winde became South and hee who was commanded to defend the English shores fearing lest they with the same wind might arriue in England vnespied returned to Plimouth With the same wind the twelfth of Iuly according to the Iulian computation the Duke of Medina with his whole Fleet weighed ancor againe and set forward from the Groin About two dayes after he sent before into the Low-Countries Roderick Telius to aduertize the Duke of Parma of the approch of the ARMADA and to informe him of other needfull businesse For hee had commandement to ioyne himselfe with the Forces and Fleete of the Prince of Parma and to waft them ouer into England vnder the protection of his Armada and to set on shore his land-forces at the mouth of the Thames Now what was done euery seuerall day in this Nauigation according to the most credible relations both of the Spaniards and our owne Countreymen that the truth may more cleerely appeare I wil briefly deliuer The sixteenth day there was a great calme and a thicke cloud couered the sea till noone and then a strong North-winde blew then a South-winde till mid-night and then an East So that the ARMADA beeing much scattered could hardly re-collect it selfe till it came within sight of England which was the nineteenth day of the moneth which day the Lord High-Admirall of England being certainely aduertized by Captaine Flemming that the Spanish Fleet was come into the Brittish sea vulgarly called the Channell and discouered not farre from the Lizard the winde then keeping the English Nauy in the Port with great difficulty and no lesse industry and alacrity of the mariners himselfe not disdaining to pull at the hawser amongst the common Souldiers at length brought them into the open Sea The next day the English came within ken of the Spanish ARMADA built high like Towres and Castles rallied into the forme of a Crescent whose horns were at least seuen miles distant comming slowly on and although vnder full sayles yet as though the windes laboured and the Ocean sighed vnder the burthen of it the English purposely suffered them to passe by them that they might pursue them with a fauouring gale of winde The one and twentieth of Iuly the Lord high Admirall of England sending before him a Pinnace called the Defiance by discharging a peece of Ordnance out of her prouoked them to the fight and presently out of his Ship called the Arke-Royall the Admirall thundred vpon a Spanish Ship which hee thought to haue beene the Admirall of Spaine but was the Ship of Alphonso Leua At the same instant Drake Hawkins Furbisher peale terribly vpon the Reare which Ricaldus commanded who performed all the parts of a valiant and discreete Commander to stay the Ships vnder his gouernement from flying desiring to ioyn with the body of the Fleet vntill his owne Ship extremely battered with shot became vnseruiceable and with much difficulty mingled her selfe with the rest of the Fleet Then did the Duke of Medina re-collect his dispersed ships and with full sayle held on his course Neither could he do otherwise in regard both that the Winde stood faire for the English and that their ships inuaded retyred and re-inuaded them vpon euery quarter with incredible celerity When they had continued the fight sharply two houres the Lord high Admirall of England thought good to retyre in respect that hee wanted forty ships which were not yet come out of the Hauen The night following a Spanish Ship called the St. Katherine being very much battered in this conflict was receiued into the middest of the army to bee repayred And a huge great Cataloniā ship of Oquenda in which was the Treasurer of the Fleet was set on fire with Gun-powder by the deuice of a Flemmish Gunner But the fire was seasonably quenched by other shippes sent in for the purpose amongst which a Gallion of Peter Valdes falling foule with another Ship and her fore-mast intangled broken with the others sayle-yard the Ayre being stormy and the night darke and none able to relieue or succour her was forsaken and became a prey to Sir Francis Drake who sent Valdes to Dertmouth and gaue the Ship to bee rifled and pillaged by the Souldiers And Drake being that night commanded to carry the Lanthorne in the poope lighted neglected it for following certaine Germane Merchants Hulkes whom hee tooke to be enemies it was the occasion that almost all the English Fleet lay still because they could not see the Lanthorne Neyther could hee and the rest of the English shipping come neere the Admirall till the euening following who the precedent night with the ships called the Mary and the Rose hotly pursued the Spaniards All this day the Duke was securely busied in setting his Fleet in array and commanded Alphonso Leua to draw vp and ioyne the auant-gard and the reare together and assigned euery seuerall Ship his station according to the forme prescribed in Spaine with paine of death to euery one that forsooke their stations sends Ensigne Glich to the Duke of Parma to informe him of the estate of the Fleete and committed the Ship of Oquenda in Biscay hauing first remoued into other Ships the Kings treasure and the mariners to the mercy of the Seas Which the same day with fifty mariners and souldiers more or lesse miserably maimed and halfe burnt fell into the English mens hands and sent to the Port of Weymouth The three and twentieth day of the moneth at breake of the day the Spaniards hauing a prosperous North-winde turned sayle towards the English who to get aduantage of the winde easily turned themselues towards the West and after they had contended to preuent each other of the benefit of the winde both parts prepared themselues to the fight and fought confusedly and with various successe while in one place the English valiantly fetched off the London ships dangerously circled in by the Spaniards in another Ricaldus then in danger with no lesse resolution of the Spaniards was disingaged There was neuer more lightning and thundring of the Artillery then there was on both sides most of which notwithstanding went in vaine from the Spanish flying sheere ouer the English Ships Onely Cocke an English-man in a small Barke of his owne dyed gloriously in the middest of his Enemies For the English Ships beeing
the charge which was such as the most part of their Shippes were torne and bruised and the Gallion S. Matthew commanded by Diego Pymentel and appointed to assist Francisco de Toleda in the S. Philip was broken with the continuall batteries of Seymor and Winter and being driuen towards Ostend was againe beaten by the Zelanders and taken by them of Flushing as was the other called Saint Matthew and all the rest of the FLEET grieuously afflicted all that day The last day of the Moneth at the breake of day the Winde turned Northwest and the Spaniards striuing to get into the straight againe are driuen towards Zeland The English as the Spaniards beleeue ceased their fight perceiuing some of their Ships in great danger and ready to runne on the sands and shelues on the Coast of Zeland but the winde changing to Southwest the Spaniards tooke the benefit thereof and beeing gotten out from amongst those sands consulted in the Euening what they were to doe and by common consent resolued to returne into Spaine by the North Ocean because they wanted many necessary things and aboue all Bullets that their Ships were broken and that they had little hope of the Duke of Parma's putting to Sea Being then already at sea they tooke their route towards the North followed by the English Fleete vnto whom they would sometimes shew their prowesse and many being of opinion they would returne the Queene with a Kingly courage mounted on horsebacke and holding in her hand the trunchion of an ordinary Captaine made a review of her Army campe which was at Tilbury walkes vp and downe sometimes like a Woman and anon with the countenance and pace of a Souldier and with her presence and words fortifieth the courages both of the Captaines and Souldiers beyond all beliefe The very day of the last fight the Duke of Parma hauing paid his vow to our Lady of Halle came to Dunkerke but too late and was there receiued by the Spaniards with reproach as if to fauour Queene ELIZABETH hee had willingly caused them to lose so faire an occasion to execute their enterprise Therefore in some sort to content them he punished some that had charge of the victuals and mocking notwithstanding at the Spaniards insolency and arrogancy who bragge that in all parts where they beare Armes they euer draw after them an assured victory and that the English dared not to looke them in the face much lesse endure their countenance And surely Bernard Mendoza with great pride and vanity sung forth in France by a printed Pamphlet the triumph before the victory But the English Lord Admirall to keepe the Prince of Parma from comming out of Dunkerke commanded Seimer and the Hollanders to keepe the Coast of Flanders and hee himselfe followed the Spaniards behinde vntill they were past Edenborough Frith in Scotland For some feared they would retyre to the King of Scots at that time much incensed for the death of his Mother that to appease him Ashbey her Maiesties Ambassadour there offered him very good conditions to wit the dignitie of a Duke in England a yeerely pension of fiue thousand pound and a guard for his person at her Maiesties costs and other things Now whether he did this of himselfe or by procurement of others I cannot well say nor take no pleasure to enquire thereafter but so it chanced that the fault was imputed vnto him and these conditions were neuer accomplished The Spaniards then hauing lost all hope of pursuing their enterprize and iudging their safety to consist meerely in their flight follow still their route without staying in any place Thus did this Fleete returne shamefully into their Countrey which was preparing three whole yeeres with so infinite expences after hauing beene fought withall so oftentimes in one Moneth and then put to flight with the losse of many men and not of aboue one hundred English nor no Ship but Cocks Barke onely lost all the shot of those great Spanish Ships being spent in vaine flying ouer the English Ships hauing also gone round about the Iland of Great-Britaine by Scotland the Iles of Orchades and Ireland and beene furiously beaten and greatly diminished by tempests wrackes and all sorts of miseries In memoriall of which defeat there were certaine Medailles coyned wherein some had a Fleete grauen vnder-sayle and hastning away with all speed with this Inscription Ilest venu ilâ— veu il a fuy Hee came Hee saw Hee fledde And others in honour of the Queene with some Ships on fire among a confused Fleete with these words Vne Femme a conduict ceste action A Woman conducted this Action As thus they fled many of their Ships were lost vpon the Coasts of Ireland and Scotland where some seuen hundred Souldiers and Mariners were cast ashore who at the request of the Duke of Parma vnto the King of Scotland in their behalfe and by the Queenes permission were passed into Flanders a yeere after But those poore wretches which were cast away in Ireland were not so mercifully dealt withall for some of them were slaine by the Irish dwelling in the woods the other by the commandement of the Deputy who fearing lest they should ioyne with the Irish Rebels and seeing that Bingham Gouernour of Connaugh had refused vpon his reiterated commandement to kill those which had yeelded themselues hee sent Fowle the second Marshall who drawing them forth which had hidden themselues cut off the heads of about two hundred of them which the Queen detested with all her heart as a deed full of cruelty This so affrighted the rest that sicke and weake as they were and halfe starued they re-embarked themselues in their broken vessels and were for the most part sunke at Sea The Fleete being returned home imputeth this mischiefe vnto the Duke of Parma and vnto their too-much obedient prudence in taking it for so haynous a crime to disobey the commandement imposed vpon them For they were straitly charged to attempt nothing vntill the Duke of Parma were ioyned vnto them with his Forces without reseruing any liberty vnto themselues to iudge of occasions which might happen a thing very fit to haue bin done they boasted to haue bin able without that to haue defeated the English Fleete in their Port and the men of warre were in great dispute whether it were necessary whatsoeuer hapned to obserue religiously what is commanded lest by the neglect of obedience the commandement should be lost Or if it were fitter to correct things commanded by necessity and apply them to present vse according to the growth of affaires that the occasions and moments of doing expeditions might not be lost The Spaniard did constantly beare this losse as comming from aboue rendring thankes vnto God that it was no greater and vsed singular mercy and charity for the comfort of the Souldiers and Mariners Queene ELIZABETH likewise commanded publique prayers and thanks-giuing to be made in
all the Churches of England and went her selfe in triumph amongst the Companies and Societies of London which marched on both sides of her Maiestie with their Banners and roade thorow the Streetes which were richly hung with blue hangings in a Chariot drawne with two Horses Princes themselues not vsing foure as now adayes particular persons doe to Saint Pauls Church were shee gaue God humble thankes heard the Sermon which shewed the glory due to GOD alone and caused the Ensignes taken to be there set vp and shewed vnto the people Then shee assigned some reuenewes vnto the Admirall for the seruice which hee had performed with so good and happy successe praised highly her Sea-Captaines as men borne for the preseruation of their Countrey and as often as shee saw any of the other called them by their names to witnesse that shee tooke note of their deserts which they tooke as sufficient reward for their seruices Shee also recompenced the maymed and poorer sort with honourable pensions This publique reioycing was increased by the arriuall of Sir Robert Sidney who being come out of Scotland assured her Maiestie that the King of Scots embraced most affectionately the Queenes friendship made sincere profession of true Religion and would defend it with all his might Hee was sent vnto him before when Great Britaine was first threatned with the Spanish Fleete to acknowledge by his reioycings and thankes-giuing of the good will which he bore to the Queene to praise his forwardnesse to defend the common cause to promise him reciprocall succours if the Spaniard made any inuasion in Scotland To giue him to vnderstand with what ambition the Spaniard gapeth after the whole Monarchy of Great Brittaine solliciting the Pope to excommunicate his Royall person both to spoyle him of the Kingdome of Scotland and to exclude him out of the succession of the Kingdome of England To put him in minde of the threatnings which Mendoza and the Popes Nuntio vttered against him and that therefore hee was to take heed of Papists Whereunto that wee may note it by the way the KING answered graciously and merrily J expect no other courtesie of the Spaniard then such as Poliphemus promised to Vlysses to wit That he would deuoure him the last of all his fellowes About this time died the Earle of Leicester on the fourteenth of December of a continuall burning Feauer as hee was on his way to goe to Killingworth which death although the Queene much grieued at yet this ioy was neuer a whit diminished thereby Hee was the fifth sonne of Iohn Duke of Northumberland vnder King EDVVARD first Gentleman of the Kings Chamber vnder Queene MARIE who restored him to his first honours together with his Brothers and Sisters Master of the Artillery at the Siege of Saint Quintaines and vnder Queene ELIZABETH who affected him because of a simpathy of spirits betweene them occasioned perhaps by some secret constellation which the Greeke Astrologers call Sinastria he was Master of the Horse Knight of the Royall Orders of the Garter and of S. Michael one of the Priuy Councell Steward of the Queenes House Chancellor of the Vniuersity of Oxford Iustice in Eire of all the Forrests beyond Trent the Queenes Lieutenant and Captaine of the English Forces against Spaines Gouernour and Captaine generall of the vnited Prouinces of the Netherlands he began in his latter time to conceit a new hope and title of honour and authority looking to haue with Soueraigne power annexed thereunto a generall Lieutenancy vnder the Queene both throughout all England and Ireland of which he had gotten Letters Patents if that the Right Honourable William Cecill Lord Burleigh and Sir Christopher Hatton had not opposed themselues thereunto and also if the Queen had not betimes preuented the danger which might haue insued in giuing too-much power to one man alone Hee was reputed a compleat Courtier magnificent liberall a protector and benefactor of Souldiers and Schollers very skilfull in temporizing and fitting himselfe to the times to serue his owne turne very officious and cunning towards his ill-willers for a time much giuen to Women and finally a good husband in excesse To conclude as long as he preferred a power subiect vnto enuy before a solid vertue euill speakers tooke occasion to tugge and teare at him continually during the best of his fortune by defamatory libels which contained some slight vntruths And to say the truth hee was openly held to be in the ranke of those which were worthy of praise but the things which hee secretly plotted displeased many The Queene who was flexible ynough in all other things was hardly euer seene to remit any thing due to her treasure caused his goods to be sold to their vttermost value to pay that which he ought her The Duke of Parma hauing now broken off his purpose of inuading England to carry away notwithstanding with this great prepared Army for that end some glory from the English and by the same meanes to open the way of Zeland and deliuer Brabant from incursions besiegeth Bergen ap Zoom a Towne of Brabant strong by reason of the situation thereof and the Forts round about it and garded by a garrison the most part English But his indeuour was frustrated by the fore-sight of the Noble Lord Willoughby and the valour of the Garrison Souldiers For although that during the whottest of the siege there arose a great discord amongst the besieged some fauouring Drury Gouernour of the place established by the Lord Willoughby the English Generall and others adhering vnto Morgan prouided thereof by the Queenes Letters each of them notwithstanding hauing a care of the common good behaued themselues valiantly and by sallies and other military deuices did all of them so finde the Enemy busied that after hauing slaine taken or drowned about foure hundred which Grimston and Redhead feigning themselues to be Fugitiues had drawne into the Fort by great promises protestations and oathes the Duke hauing lost all hope of shutting vp their Hauen and to make himselfe Master of the Towne and seeing the Winter at hand and victuals fayling raysed his siege two Moneths after And the Lord Willoughby to honour with some recompence the well-deseruing knighted Sir Francis Vere who then began to shew himselfe Sir Thomas Knowles Sir N. Parker and Sir I. Pooly for their worthy valours England being now freed from the present feare of a forreine Warre found not her selfe so happily deliuered of an inward Schisme For schismaticall impiety waxeth alwaies insolent when any Warres be stirring nor euer did shamelesse and rebellious impudence and outragious malice more insolently beard the Ecclesiasticall Magistracie For whereas the Queene who was EVER THE SAME was very vnwilling to innouate any thing in Religion thinking it the way to cut the nerues of the Ecclesiasticall administration and the Royall Prerogatiue some which onely admired the discipline of the Church of Geneua iudging that there was no
1567. The murder of the Lord Darley who was married to the Qu. of Scots Buchanan condemned for falshood by the States of Scotland A digression from Scottish affaires Iames Prior of Saint Andrews Hee seekes to be Regent of Scotland Being frustrated of it vnder-hand opposes himselfe against the Queene Makes his ambition to be openly and euidently knowne He is created Earle of Murray He persecutes the great men of Scotland Hee disswades the Queen from marrying He takes armes against her after shee was married He flies into England He seekes to sow discord betweene the Husband and the Wife The murder of Dauid Rice in the Queene of Scots sight Murray is repealed Earle Morton flies into England Dissention set betweene the King and the Queene Lord Darley the Queenes Husband murdered Earle Bothwell commended to the Queene to marry him Testimony of the murder of the Lord Darley Bothwell is freed of the murder of the King He marries the Queene They conspire both against him and the Queene Earle Murray retyres into France Earle Bothwell is expelled The Queene emprisoned Queene Elizabeth complaines They consult what is to be done with the Queene prisoner Throgmorton defends the Queenes cause The Scots maintaine the contrary out of Buchanans reasons They extort from their Queene a Resignation of the Gouernement Iames the 6. consecrated and inaugurated King Murray returnes into Scotland Hee prescribes the Queene what shee should doe Hee is established Regent or Vice-Roy Some of the murderers of the King are put to death They acquit the Queene of all suspition The Queene of England and the King of France labour to procure her libertie Queene Elizabeth demands the restitution of Calais The French maintaine how they ought not to doe it Sir Thomas Smith's answere The Earle of Sussex is sent to the Emperour Leicester hinders it Representing to her all the discommodities that might happē if she married a stranger Articles of the marriage propounded Ambassadours sent from the Emperour of Muscouie The English opened the way to goe to Russia by Sea The Company of Muscouie Marchants A secret message from the Emperour of Muscouy The death of N. Wotton And the Duchesse of Norfolke Shan O-neale raiseth troubles He rebels Sir Henry Sidney armes against him He is discomfited Shan re-assumes courage He vseth cruelty to his men He meanes to yeeld He is slaine Hugon who was afterwards Baron of Dungannon Troubles in Munster Booke 1. 1568. The Papists absolue many The Jnnouators shew themselues Puritans Second ciuill warre in France The Duke of Aniou commended to Queene Elizabeth for an Husband The English Ambassador disgracefully vsed in Spaine Hawkins ill intreated by the Spaniards in America The Queene of Scots escapes out of prison She is vanquished She writes to Qu. Elizab. She writes againe Queene Elizabeth pitties her The priuy Counsell consult of it The Councell resolues she should be retained in England The Countesse of Lenox complaines of her The Baron of Heris interceds for her Earle Murray is commanded to yeeld a reason of the Queenes deposition Deputies for the King of Scots For the Qu. of Scots Lidingtons declaration to the Scots The protestation of the Queene of Scots Deputies A declaration for the Queene The anwer of the Kings Deputies The Queens Reply Murray refuseth to yeeld an account of the Queenes deposition Authoritie of the Commissioners reuokt The Duke of Norfolke glad New Commissioners granted The Queene of Scots wil not submit her cause to their hearing But vpon certaine conditions The Proceedings dissolued Debate about the Gouernment of Scotland Murray offers to marry the Duke of Norfolke to the Qu. of Scots He disperseth rumors against her The Duke of Norfolke suspected The third Ciuill-war in France Who did good to England The beginning of the Wars in the Low countries The Duke of Alua. Moneys sent into the low-Countries detained in England The English mens goods detained and seized vpon in the Low-Countries The like done to the Flemmings in England The death of Roger Askham Booke 1. 1569. A Proclamation touching goods detained Another declaration against the former Proclamation Practices against Cecil The money detayned in England is demanded Free traffique established at Hamborrough for the English Doctor Story taken The Duke of Alua enraged against the English Men of war called in Traffique of Russia hindred Liberties of the English in Russia Their traffique into Russia And into Persia by the Caspian Sea A Russian Ambassador in England Alliance of Russia The Emperour of Muscouia and of Russia is irritated and inflamed against the English Murray appeased the friends of the Queene of Scotland Rumors spred through-out Scotland against Murray Queene Elizabeth is diligent and endeuours to quench such false rumors She deales by Letters concerning her restoring The first mention of of this marriage Murray's proposition to the Duke of Norfolke Throgmortons counsell Propositions of the match made by Leicester to the Duke The Articles of marriage propounded to the Queene of Scotland She agreed them in some manner A dessigne to free the Qu. of Scotland Notice is giuen thereof to Queene Elizabeth The Earle of Leicester reueales the whole busines to the Queen at Tichfield She rebukes the Duke of Norfolke The Duke parts from the Court without leaue Cecill findes out the matter The Duke of Norfolke goes into Norfolke Feare caused in the Court through Norfolke He returnes to the Court. Murray discouers the businesse The Duke is imprisoned And others Their Complices craue pardon Libels against this marriage Chapin Vitelli comes into England and why Rebellion in the North. Pretext of the Rebels They runne violently into a Rebellion Their declaration They write to the Papists They rent and tread vnder-foot the Bible Their Colours Their number They returne They take Bernard Castle They fly Some are put to death The rest are banisht A new Rebellion The Rebells are defeated Qu. Elizabeth lends succours to the reformed Churches in France * This Noble Family was honoured with the dignity of Lord Howard of Walden by Queene Eliz. * Their most ancient House was honoured with the title of Baron of Bleso by Qu. Eliz. As also this noble Countesses Husbands Predecessor was also graced with the Earledome of Bath by her MAIESTIE * This Noble Lord is most highly borne from a most Honourable bloud being by his Father-side descended from the illustrious Lord William Berkeley Earle of Nottingham Vicount Berkeley of Berkeley-Castell and also Lord Marquis of Berkeley Earle Marshall of England * An illustrious Branch of the Noble House of the Caries created Baron of Honsdon by Qu Elizabeth * Descended fro◠Charles Blunt Earle of Deuonshire Lord Deputy and Lieutenant of Ireland a braue valiant Nobleman who expulsed the Spaniards there and compelled the Irish Rebells to submission he was created Baron of Mount-ioy by Queene Elizabeth * Knighted by Queeene Elizabeth at Killingworth There is great differency and diuersity tending to the manner of describing Stories First there is
Chronology Chronicles Ephemeride Epitomies Rhopsodies Abridgment History and ANNALS Chronology hath two conditions both particular and necessary called by the Greekes Alathea and Apathia which is the truth of things set forth without any passion The Chronicle aymes at the originall of matters and to seeke the immemoriall Time from the first antiquity and foundation of peoples and Nations as Herodole for Greece Titus Liuius for the Latine Lemaire in the illustrations of the Gauls Mr. Speed for England and others The Ephemerides describes that which hath been said or done betwixt two persons Rhapsodis and Epittonnes are short obseruations of History Annalls and History is different from all those for they describe all the memorable deedes and particular actions that hapned yeerely and from time to time such as Xenophon was in Greece Salust among the Latins Froissard in France and Mr. William Cambden in England and so diuers others The seuerall and yeerely acts must be described without any passion or affections * Such courtesie from your Honours will ingraue your worth in the Temple of Eternity making your names thereby immortall sith it is onely this or such like seruice that can make you liue againe in your graue keepe your noble fame fresh and your happy memory from fading sith it wil cause your ashes to bring forth Laurell and Palme flourish and spring out of your Tombes when the base ignorant contemners of learning which doe abound in this iron age will wither and fade they seeme now only to liue on earth but to warre against Vertues much like vnto wormes in Libraries to destroy and deuour learning which they should cherish Booke 2. 1570. The Earle of Murray demands that the Qu. of Scotland might be put into his hands He pursueth the English Rebells The Earle of Murray is suddenly kild Diuers opinions are had of him The Scots Rebels make incursions vpon England The English take reuenge thereof They succoured those in Scotland that were of the Kings partie They take the Castle of Hamilton The Earle of Lenox is establisht Vice-Roy of Scotland The King of Spaine giues succours against those who were of the Kings side The Lord Setone his Ambassage to the Duke of Alua. The answere of the Duke of Alua. The Bishop of Rosse is set at liberty Laboured the liberty of the Queene of Scots They consult about the freedome of the Queene of Scotland Rebellion in Norfolke assoone ended as begun Felton punished for sticking vp the Popes Bull. The Papists reproue the Bull. The greatest part cōtemne this Bull. Cecill aduiseth him to marry Diuers are imprisoned Sussex chosen a Priuy-Councellor Treaty with the Queene of Scotland The Answer to the proposition of the English They cannot agree The Bishop of Rosse requires helpe to free the Queene of Scots The death of the Earle of Cumberland The death of Throgmorton Rebillion in Ireland quenched before they saw the day Stukeley flieth out of Ireland Booke 2. 1571. The royall Exchange The ereation of Baron Burghley The manner of creating Barons Letters from the Pope to the Queene of Scotland Edict of the Scots against the authority Royall Condemned by the Qu. of England The demāds of the English for the freedome of the Qu. of Scotland The English refuse the offers of the Scots Alteration among the Scots Complaints of the Scots against the English A remembrance sent from the Q. of Scotland to the Duke of Norfolke The counsell of the Bishop of Rosse The attempts of oothers A great Earthquake The Ambassage of Baron Buckhurst A proposition of a match betweene Elizabeth and the Duke of Aniou The hopes which they conceiued Articles of marriage The Answer To what end this marriage was proposed They hasten the mariage of the Qu. of Scotland The Bishop of Rosse and others committed Money sent into Scotland He declines from the English witnesses Lenox Vice-Roy of Scotland is slain The Earle of Marre is elected Vice-Roy Lawes against disturbers Lawes against Papists Iohn Storie condemned to dye Differences appeased betweene the English and the Portugals Guienne The Marquis of Northampton dyes The death of Bishop Iewell Affaires of Ireland William Fitz William Deputy of Ireland Booke 2. 1572. Thomas Duke of Norfolke is presented before the Nobles and Peeres and arraigned in Westminster Hall Peeres of the Kingdome The maner of his arraignement The chiefe points of his accusation The Duke demandeth an Aduocate to plead his cause The second Article of his accusation The third Article of his accusation The Duke of Norfolke contrary to the Romane Religion The Letters of the Bishop of Rosse to the Qu. of Scots are produced The Dukes Letter to his seruant The Letters of Ridolfe Of the Pope The testimony of Strangers The third Article of his accusation The Peeres consult amongst thēselues The Sentence pronounced against the Duke Barney and Marter are put to death Earles created Barons elected Lawes established for the better security of the Queene and her Kingdome The Duke of Norfolke beheaded His speech at the houre of his death The Duke of Norfolke's head is cut off Sundry sensures of him after his death Catenes relations of the precedent matters Pope Pius the fifth incensed against Qu. Elizabeth How he imployed the English The King of Spaine The King of France The King of Portugal The Duke of Alua opposeth Wherefore A vaine successe Wherewith the Pope the King of Spaine are vext and angry The Queene of Scots accused Mary Qu. of Scotland her answere to her accusation Sedition in Scotland The Queene of England the King of France endeuour to accord them They differ in opinions Causes alleadged why the French fauour the Queene of Scotland The Queene of England contesteth with the French The loue and affection which the King of France and Queene of England bore once to the Queene Mary of Scotland growes cold The rebellious Flemmings commanded to goe out of England They take the Breele The Duke of Aluaes carelesnesse The English repaire into the Low-Countries to the warre Dissimulation of the King of France The Alliance of Blois The Articles of the same Confirmation thereof Mont-Morancy admitted to the Order of the Garter He intercedes to accord the differences of Scotland Answere made to him Hee also treats of a marriage with the Duke of Aniou Massacre of Paris Marriage of the Duke of Alenzon propounded to Queene Elizabeth The Earle of Northumberland beheaded Death of the Marquis of Winchester Cecill is made Treasurer Death of the Earle of Darbie And of Sir George Peters The Queene sicke She hath a care of the publike She cut off the superfluous number of followers which dayly augmented She curbeth enquirers after conceal'd Lands of the Crowne Rebellion in Ireland The Omors A strange Starre Booke 2. 1573. The Spanish Fleet discomfited Commerce betweene the Flemmish and English restored She dischargeth her Fathers and brothers debts Innouators trouble the Church The Papists troble the Common-wealth Their Libell is suppressed The
Ormond pursues the Rebels The Earle of Desmond writes to the Lord Chiefe-Justice Booke 2. 1580. James taken being wounded to death Desmond miserably oppressed Arthur Lord Gray Deputie of Ireland He pursues the Rebels They kill the English Italians and Spaniards land in Jreland They raise a Fort. They are besieged They answer to the Deputies demands They disagree Their Generall shewed himselfe a Coward They aske a parley They yeeld vpon discretion Strangers slaine with the Sword the Subiects hanged Excesse in apparell reformed The taking of Malines in Brabant The sacriledge of the English An Earthquake The Papists begin to be afflicted The beginning of English Seminaries Their Doctrine is then thought The euent proceeding thereof New Seminaries are sent into England To what end Jesuites doe steale priuately into England A Proclamation against Seminaries and Iesuites Robert Persons and Edmond Campian English Iesuits came into England Power granted to the Papists Who and what haue beene these Jesuits The English Fugitiues doe moue and excite strangers to war against their Prince and Countrey Queene Elizabeths declaration against them The seuerall Sects of Holland The house of LOVE A Proclamation against these Sects Francis Drake His originall extraction Francis Drakes education Drakes expedition in America A Vow Iohn Oxenham sayleth into America Jsla de Perlas John Oxenham depriued of life falls from a great and famous enterprize Drakes second voyage Doughtey beheaded Passeth the straightes of Magellan Eclipse of the Moone South Stars Little clouds of Magellan Drake finds booty both by land and sea Meets by chance with great wealth Sir Francis Drake takes a Spanish ship called Shite-Fire which hee made shite Siluer He thinkes of his return Drake discoueres a land which hee called the Nouam Albion He arriued at the Molucques Falls into a great danger He passeth beyong the Cape of Bona Esperance Returnes into England Drakes ship is consecrato perpetuall memory Francis Drake is knighted by Queene Elizabeth The King of Spaine by his Ambassadour demandeth Drakes goods which he had pirapirated He is answered The Spaniard hath part of Drakes money deliuered backe Iackman and Pets Nauigation to seeke away to the East-Jndies The death of the Earle of Arundell who was the first that brought the vse of Coches into England The Lord Gray represseth the Rebels in Ireland Innocency is an assured comfort Rebels supprest The Earle of Lenox is enuied of the Scots They accuse him in England Consultation holden against him They rayse false reports against him The Scots will not admit Bowes to accuse him Hume excuseth it Burghley's admonitions to him Morton imprisoned These Noble Knights for their worth and Vertues were honoured with the dignity of Knighthood by Qu. Elizabeth most of them in that Honourable euer-remembred Voyage of C. Howard Earle of NotinghaÌ„ L. high Admirall and that renowned Souldier the late Generous Earle of Essex c. in Spaine bâ—fore Cadiz taken ranâ—acked by the English Iun. 26. Anno 1â—96 * Their Honourable Predecessours were for their deserts aduanced both to Honour Dignity Sir Ch. Hatton was Lord Chancelor of England vnder Qu. Elizabeth he dyed in Hatton house the 20. of Nouember 1590. * Sir Walter Rawleigh Knighted and employed about diuers worthy affaires of waight and consequence by Queene Elizabeth * Wray Lord Keeper of the priuy Seale * And wherefore It is that these Noble persons haue by their worthy liues purchased Honour to their noble selues or else their Prodecessors haue by their Vertues deserued both Honour and Dignity from this vnparalel'd Empresse who as she was a true aduancer of Vertue and destroyer of Vice did liberally bestowe her Royall gifts of Honour vpon those and their Ancestors Booke 3. Randolphes intercession for Morton against Lenox The King of Scots his answer Randolph complaineth to the Nobles of Scotland Endeauoreth to raise Rebellion Getteth him out of Scotland Morton beheaded His friends fled for England Norris victorious in Friezland Is discomfited * Albanois A ridiculous combate Drunkennes brought out of the Low-Countries into England The King of Spaine possesseth Portugall By what right The Queene of France her title to Portugall fetcht farre and reiected Inciteth the Q. of England secretly against the Spaniard Antonio banisht Portugall commeth into England Delegates sent into England from France about the Duke of Anjous mariage Couenants of mariage concluded vpon A reseruation added The King of France vrgeth the mariage The Queen of England deferreth Wherefore Duke d' Anjou returneth againe into England Queene Elizabeth giueth a Ring vnto the D. of Anjou A motion of sundry conceits in Court The Queen greatly disquieted Her Maiesty thinks what inconueniencies might ensue in contemning and despising the Match with the Duke of Anjou Reasons disswading her from marying A book published in print against the mariage The Queens Declaration against this pernicious Libell The Author discouered and he that had dispersed the bookes Right hands cut off The Iesuite Edm. Campian with other Priests are put to death The punishing of Catholikes needfull Suspition of them increased By their tergiuersation False positions spread abroad Booke 3. New Lawes against Papists The Duke d' Anjou sayleth into Flanders Hee is made there Duke of Brabant c. Certaine English reuolt from him Generall Norris carieth himselfe generously and behaueth himself valorously The Duke d'Anjou departed from Flanders with shame A Comet Queene Elizabeth bestoweth the Order of the Garter vpon the King of Denmarke * Or the Coller of Esses The Merchants complaint not regarded The Treaty with the Queene of Scots is deferred Gowry and others begin tumults in Scotland Gowries conspiracie They intercept the King The Duke of Lennox driuen out of Scotland An Embassie from the French King sent to deliuer the King of Scots Mary Q. of Scotland her Letter to Quene Elizabeth The Q. of Scots deploreth her sons intercepting and her owne desolation Lidington and de Grange Booke 3. The Duke of Lenox's returne through England It is consulted about the deliuery of the Q. of Scots The Scots of the English faction are against it The English and French in emulation striue to obtaine the fauor of the King of Scotland The King of Scotland seekes the loue of the Queene of England The Lord Esme Stuart Duke of Lenox reputed a Papist by some malicious ill-willer of his dyed at Paris a true and sincere Protestant The King of Scotland sets himselfe at libertie His Maiesty vseth kindly those who formerly had seaz'd themselues of his Royal person Cals to the Court all such Nobles as stood and were of his side Walsingham is sent into Scotland from Q. Elizabeth The King of Scotland answers him freely Walsingham â—emonstrations to his sacred Maiestie The King answered them The King propounds a Pardon to those who had seaz'd themselues of his person Hee commands such as refus'd it to void the Kingdome His Maiesty re-established the Reputation and Honor of the Duke of Lenox causing
likewise his children to returne into Scotland The Ministers are against the King of Scotlands Authoritie Q. Elizabeth obtaineth of the Musconian Emperor a peace for the King of Sweden That Emperor requires an absolute alliance with England being a suter to her Maiesty to grant him an English Lady for his wife Sir Hierome Bowes is sent Ambassador to him from England The Emperor died A certaine kind of Deere called Maclis Theodore the New Emperor of Muscouia disallow'd the company or Monopolie of Englands Merchants Alberto Alasco a Polonian Nobleman came then to England to see Queen Elizabeth A wonderfull and fearfull Earthquake in Dorsetshire The death of Thomas Ratcliffe Earle of Sussex Likewise the decease of Henry Wriothesly Earle of South-hampton Sir Humphrey Gilbert Knight drowned vpon the Sea by shipwracke It is a most difficult matter and a very hard thing to bring the Colonies in farre countries The death of Edmund Grindal Lord Archbishop of Canterbury A wood called Tamarin first brought into England Iohn Whitgift is preferred to the Archbishopricke of Canterbury He endeuored to vnite the English Church Brownist Schismatiques One Someruille strangled himselfe in prison and Ardern is hanged The English betray Alost and doe deliuer it into the hands of the cruell Spaniard A miserable end of Traitors The Earle of Desmond is killed Nicholas Sanders an English Seminarie Priest affamisht himselfe Vicount of Balting glasse fled away out of Ireland Sir Iohn Perot is made Lord Deputy of Ireland Labouring men are sent into Ireland The gesture and behauiours of Iohn Perot Vice-Roy of Ireland Booke 3. Troubles in Scotland The Earle of Gowry is taken The conspirors are dispersed Queene Elizabeth succoureth some of them The King demandeth them by the League but in vaine Walsingham fauoureth the fugitiues Hunsdon against theÌ„ Controuersie or the power of a Secretary argued The arraignment of Gowry He defendeth his own cause He is beheaded The treason of Francis Throckmorton The Lord Paget retyreth into France The complaints of the Catholikes Spies are suborned Many suspected The malice of the Papists against the Queene The clemency of the Queene towards the Papists Priests are banished Fugitiues demanded of the King of France The answer of the King of France The Spanish Ambassador sent out of England Waade is sent into Spaine Is not receiued· Throckmortons confession He denieth all He seeketh an evasion Being condemned he inlargeth his confession About to dâ—e he denyeth all A new treaty with the Queene of Scots Propositions made to her She answereth She demandeth to be associated in the Kingdome with her sonne The treaty dissolued by surmises An association begun in England The Queen of Scots maketh new propositions The Scots of the English faction oppose them The insolencie of the Scotch Ministers Against the Lawes Ecclesiasticall Lawes of Scotland Buchanans writings reproued A fained conference The Scots and English make incursions one vpon another The Ambassie of Patrick Gray Hee is suspected of bad dealing The patience of the Queene of Scots offended She is committed to new guardians She earnestly seeketh for liberty Things plotted against her Counsell holden amongst the Papists The death of the Earle of Westmer land NEVILL a most nobleâ— most ancient and illustrious name The death of Plowden Alancon dyeth The Prince of Orange is slaine The power of Spaine growne terrible Booke 3. The French King inuested with the order of the Garter Is accused of treason He perceiueth not the euasion His confession He consulteth with Iesuits about the murthering of the Queene With the Popes Nuncio With Morgan With Priests With the Pope himselfe He discloseth the matter to the Queene He wauereth in his minde Alans book addeth fresh courage to him Neuil offereth him his helpe He discloseth the matter Parry is arraigned Punished with death Lawes demanded in the Parliament against Bishops Against Non-residents The association established Lawes against Iesuits and Priests Felony Praemunire The Earle of Arundel resolueth with himselfe to fly out of England He writeth to the Queene Is apprehended The Earle of Northumberland is found dead The Coroners Enquest The causes of his imprisonment manifested The Earle of Northumberland is lamented of diuers Queene Elizabeth laboureth to contract a league with the Prince of Germany The like with the King of Scots A relation of the death of Russell The manner of his death The proofes amongst the borderers The death of Thomas Carre of Fernihurst The fugitiue Scots are sent out of England backe into Scotland They haue intelligence of others remaining in the Kings Court. They enter into Scotland Sterlin is taken by them They are reconciled to the King Amnistie Maxwell establisheth the Masse The rebellion of the Bourgs in Ireland Mac-William * or Sheriffe The Scots of Hebrides called into Ireland The Gouernor laboreth for a peace but in vaine He pursueth the rebels And he brings them to submission Next the Scots of Hebride Whom he doth assault and defeats them The title of Mac-William abolished The Estates of the Netherlands consult of a Protector Reasons of the French side For the English They are refused by the French The English consult about the protection The Dutch offer themselues to the Queene Antwerpe is yeelded vp The Queen deliberateth with her selfe She takes vpon her the protection Vnder what conditions The Queen publisheth the causes She sends forth a Nauy to the West Indies to diuert the Spaniard The towne of S. Iames taken by the English froÌ„ the Spaniard A disease called Calentura whereby many perish The surprize of Hispaniola or Saint Dominick by the English The proud and audacious Motto of the Spaniards Auarice and Couetousnesse The English doe assault the City of Cartagena They set fire vpon the townes of S. Anthony and S. Helena They come to Virginia They bring the Colony thence Tobacco The booty of the English voyage and expedition Their pillage A search made for the discouerie of a way to the East India * Or Straits An Edict against Woad The company of the Barbary Merchants The death of the Earle of Lincolne Of the Earle of Bedford The Earle of Leicester sent into Holland His instructions Booke 3. Absolute Authoritie is giuen to Leicester by the Estates The Queen offended thereat She expostulateth with him With the Estates also They excuse themselues Leicester sendeth succours to releeue the City of Graue besieged But it is yeelded vp The Spaniards expelled out of the Betow An aduentrous enterprize Venlo is lost Axele is taken Graueline attempted Duisbourgh beleagerd Which yeelds Sir Philip Sidney is slaine The valour of Edward Stanley of the house of Elford The Estates complaine to Leicester against himselfe He returneth into England The Earle of Arundell is accused of many things He answered them well and is but fyned The King of Denmarke intercedeth for Peace with the Queene of England Queene Elizabeth answereth She furnisheth Henry King of Navarre with money She desireth a league with Scotland By what counsell The fugitiues