because he is contrary to Christ and Christ contrary to him The Pope cursing and Christ blessing the Pope seeking thereby to destroy the Queene Christ maintaining her made her stronger after this cuâ—se then ever she was before Yet it is true that many troubles did rise thereby but God turned them all vnto her good that men may vnderstand the fruit of true Religion established which bringeth the protection of God with it CHAPTER II. THE first poysoned fruit of this excommunication was rotten before it could ripen There was an intention of a great and terrible Rebellion The Duke of Norfolke was excited to stirre what Forces he could and to ioyne with the Earles of Westmerland and Northumberland at the same time an Armie was to come out of Ireland and another Armie to be sent from Duke Dalva in the Low-Countries If all these had ioyned together as the intention was God knoweth what might haue inâ—ued But there is no counsell can prevaile against God All the plot was broken in peeces without any other trouble saving that which fell vpon the plotters themselues their instruments The King of Spaine who watched all opportunities to doe mischiefe wrote one Letter to the Duke of Norfolke exciting him to raise a power within England and wrote another to the Earle of Ormond to raise a tumult in Ireland But both the Duke and the Earle shewed the Letters to the Queene declaring thereby a purpose to be loyall The Duke suffred himselfe to be wrought vpon too much by pernicious instruments The instruments were the Bishop of Ross who lay in London vnder pretence of being Ambassadour for the Queene of Scots and one Robert Ridoâ—f a Noble-man of Florence who lay in London in the habit and pretence of a Factor These pestifâ—rous instruments laboured to perswade the Duke to marry the Queene of Scots who being next heire to the Crowne of England would bring great hopes with her and by subtill and pernicious counsell drew the Duke so farre that against his promise made to the Queene he began to thinke of that marriage and the hopes that might follow the same and entred inâ—o a secret course of writing and receiving Letters from the Queene of Scots by 〈◊〉 Characters All which together with a Commentary sent to him by the Scots Queene the Duke commanded his Secretary Higfoâ—d to burne But he laid them vnder the Matt in the Dukes Chamber And being apprehended declared where they were At the Dukes arraigâ—ment a Letter was produced written to him from the Scots Queene signifying her griefe for that the Earles of Westmerland and Northumberland were vp in Armes before the Duke had raised his powers For Queene Elizabeth finding wherevnto things tended apprehended the Duke sent for the Earles to come to Court but because they had once excused their absence she sent peremptorily for them all excuse laid aside vpon their alleagance to come vp Supposing that if they were innocent they would come but if guiltie then should their purpose sooner breake out into open sight As it fell out For they supposing by this the plot to be betrayed brake out into open rebellion before the helpe which they looked for from other parts could come to them This rebellion was plotted by the Pope Pius V. and by the King of Spaine and was so cunningly handled and carried with such secresie that it was well knowne to strangers before it was knowne to vs whom most the matter concerned And no marvaile seeing strangers were the devisers and first authors of it I will therefore declare it in the words of a stranger who set it forth in Print at Rome before it was well knowne in England Hieronymus Catenâ— in the life of Pius V. wâ—iteth thus When Pius V. was inflamed with a zeale to restore the Romane Religion in England and to displace Queene Elizabeth out of that Kingdome and yet could not haue his Nuntio Apostolicall nor any other publique person fit to effect this thing he ordered the matter so that Robert Ridolf a Gentleman of Florence who â—tayed in England vnder colour of merchandise should stirre vp the mindes of men vpon the destruction of Elizabeth Which thing he diligently executed not onely among the Catholikes but also among some Protestants who conspired together herein some out of private hatred against them that aspired to the Kingdome others out of a desire of a change Whilst these things were secretly carried a contention rose betweene the Spaniard and Elizabeth vpon the occasion of a sum of money going to the Duke Dalva but intercepted by Elizabeth This occasion the Pope apprehended to perswade the Spaniard that he would helpe the conspiratours in England against Elizabeth that so he might haue his affaires in the Netherlands in greater securitie and the Romane Religion might be restored in Bâ—itaigne The Pope also perswaded the French shewing him that this he ought to the Scots Queene affianced to him and worthily to the Scots who by their incursions had withdrawne the forces of England that they could do lesse helpe to the Protestants of France neither did the noble conspiratours of England deserue lesse favour of him who by their cunning haue hindered the Queene of England to giue any helpe openly to the Protestants of France In this respect the French King promised them ayd for the deliverance of the Scots Queene but failed of performance of any thing In the meane time Ridolphus effected thus much that the conspiratours should draw the Duke of Norfolke into their societie and make him chiefe therein to whom they promised marriage with the Scots Queene whereto she consented The Pope to set these things forward by his Bull published deposed Elizabeth from her Kingdome and absolued her subiects from all oath and alleagance sending the printed Coppies to Ridolphus which might be dispersed ouer England Whereupon the Earles of Northumberland and Westmerland tooke Armes against their Prince who presently money and meanes failing withdrew themselues into Scotland The Duke of Norfolke with others were committed to prison Among them was Ridolphus whom the Pope had appointed to helpe the conspiratours with an hundreth and fiftie thousand Crownes which thing he could not doe being clapt vp in prison But when the Queene could not pierce into the secrets of the conspiracy he was sent out of prison with others and then he distributed those Crownes to the conspirators Who sent him to the Pope to informe him that all things were prepared in a readines and ordered against Elizabeth and to intreat the Spanish King to ioyne his Forces from the Netherlands as soone as may be the Pope commended the enterprise albeit the Duke Dalva did not like it as being full of difficulties when as Ridolphus in his iourney told him the matter The Pope sent Ridolfe to the Spaniard vnder another pretence and to the King of Portugall with insâ—ructions and at the same time writing to the Duke of Norfolk promised him ayde He did much
vrge the Spaniard to helpe the conspiratours and to the end he might the more vehemently stirre him vp he promised if need were himselfe would goe for to helpe them and would ingage all the goods of the Sea Apostolike Chalices Crosses and holy Vestments Declaring that there was no difficultie in it if he would send Chapinus Vitellius with an Army into England from the Low-Countries Which thing the King of Spaine commanded to be done with great alacritie And the Pope provided money in the Netherlands These things were not pleasing to the Duke Dalva both because he enuied Vitellius this glory wherein he rather wished his owne sonne to be imployed and because he feared some hostile invasion out of France and proposed it to be considered whether England being overcome would fall to the Spaniard whether the French would not resist that proiect and whether the Pope were able to bring helpe enough to effect so great a matter Notwithstanding the Spanish King expressely commanded him to set vpon England Ridolf was sent backe with money to the Netherlands But see how God would haue it All the matter was opened to Elizabeth by a stranger without the Kingdome The Duke of Norfolke was apprehended and put to death Which thing the Pope tooke heavily the Spaniard condoled who before the Cardinall of Alexandria the Popes Nephew sayd that never any conspiracy was more advisedly begun nor concealed with more constancy and consent of minds which in all that time was not opened by any of the conspiratours that an Army might easily be sent out of the Low-Countries in the space of 24. houres which might suddenly haue taken the Queene and the Citie of London vnprovided restored Religion and set the Scots Queene in the Throne Especially when as Stukley an English fugitiue had vndertaken at the same time with the helpe of 3000. Spaniards to reduce all Ireland vnto the obedience of the King of Spaine and with one or two shippes to burne all the English Navy Thus farre Catena writeth of these things opening some things that before were not knowne to the English The Booke was Printed at Rome An Dom 1588. by the priviledge of Pope Pius V. This is the Narration of a Papist published at Rome by the authoritie of the Pope It may seeme strange to men that haue any feeling of the feare of God that a Pope should so boldly publish his owne shame to all the world The Pope doth practise treason against States sets his instruments to raise rebellions stirreth vp Princes against Princes one Kingdome against another and when he doth this he will not vnderstand that he is in this doing the instrument and servant of the Devill to disorder the world If any would excuse this as being done against an Heretike that excuse will not serue here for I speake not of excommunicating supposed Heretikes but of raising rebellions against Princes to set the subiects to murther the Prince or to stirre vp one Prince to murther another these things be wicked and vngracious practises but the Papists are growne to such an oâ—duration in these sinnes that they iudge these no sinnes to murther or secretly to poyson or by any horrible mischiefe to compasse their owne endes The things that are by the Lawes of God of Nature of Nations wicked and abominable against the ordinances which God hath set in the world must forsooth change their nature if the Pope command them nay if any of their superiours command such things their doctrine of blind obedience sets them vpon any mischiefe and so they doe not onely teach for doctrines mens traditions but make doctrines for mens destructions If the Popes presume that they haue such a priviledge that the things which are horrible sinnes in other men are no sinnes in them this were in effect as much as for the Pope to proclaime himselfe the Man of sinne that runneth into all sinfull courses with greedinesse with an open profession of the same For what can any man of sin doe more then to command sinne to warrant sin to commit sin to glory in sin If all this be done by the Pope who can iustly deny him this title of the Man of sinne But blessed be the name of God that alwayes delivered his Church here from such wicked practises and hath brought the mischiefe that these wicked men haue deuised vpon their owne head Now let all vnderstanding men iudge where God is where godlinesse is where Religion and the feare oâ— God is Whether with them that by bloudy vniust vnlawfull practises seeke their owne endes or with them that are persecuted by this bloudy Nation and in patience suffer all their mischievous and cruell practises committing the matter to God the revenger of bloud and trufting in God reioyce vnder his holy protection being kept in safety by him that commandeth all the world For what power could be able to keepe his Church from being swallowed vp by such cruell adversaries but onely the hand and holy protection of our God Must not we then glorifiâ— his name that hath done so great things for vs And for our adversaries they haue their power limited and they haue their time limited and set forth vnto them beyond which they cannot passe But the soules of them that rest vnder the Altar whose bloud hath beene shed on euery side by this bloudy generation for the testimony of Christ these cry out with a lowd voyce Vsquequo Domine How long Lord holy and true Doest thou not iudge and revenge our bloud on them that dwell on the earth Yet so blind are these bloud-suckers that they labour still to increase this cry but GOD will giue patience to his Saints and in his time cut off this wicked Nation Be not merciful O Lord to them that sin of malicious wickednesse Thus then this rebellion that was so â—â—rongly plotted so secretly carried was by the hand of God disappointed and broken into peices We haue cause to blesse the name of God therefore Praysed be the Lord that hath not given vs as a prey to their teeth Thus can we comfort our selues in God but can our adversaries comfort themselues in their owne mischeifes The issue was the Pope and the Spanyard were disappointed the World wondered how this State was so soone quieted The Earles Northumberland and Westmerland seduced by a Priest that the Pope had sent one Nicolas Morton came to Durham where they had the Masse set vp From thence they marched to Clifford Moore not far from Wetherbie where hearing that the Scots Queene for whose deliverance they tooke armes was carried from Tâ—tbery to Coventry vnder the custodie of the Earles of Shewsbury and Huntingdon and that the Earle of Sussex on the one side had gathered a strong army against them that Sir George Bowes was behind them having fortefied Bernard Castle that the Lord Scroop and the Earle of Cumberland had fortified Carliell gathered an armie there in readines that
privatly proposed some Articles For which afterward by Leicesters motion he was imprisoned albeit those articles proposed by him were in the iudgement of the other commissioners not to be disallowed But Delegates haue their limits circumscribed which they are not to passe At last when the English could not obtain an abstinence from armes could by no meanes see the Charter by which the Duke of Parma had this authority granted to treat of peace they proposed these things that the ancient leagues betweene the Kings of England and the Dukes of Burgundy might be renued and confirmed that all the Dutch might fully inioy their own priviledges that with freedome of coÌ„science they might serue God that the Spanish and forrain souldiers might be put out of Dutchland that neither the Dutch nor their neighbouring Nations might feare them If these things might be granted the Queene would come to equall conditions concerning the Townes which now she held that all might know that she tooke vp armes not for her own gain but for the necessary defence both of the Dutch and of her selfe so that the money which is owing therefore be repayed They answered that for renuing the old leagues there should be no difficulty when they might haue a friendly conference of that thing That concerning the priviledges of the Dutch there was no cause why forrain Princes should take care which priviledges were most favourably granted not onely to Provinces and Townes reconciled but even to such as by force of armes are brought into subiection That forrain souldiers were held vpon vrgent necessity when as Holland England and France were all in armes Touching those Townes taken from the King of Spaine and the repaying of the money they answered that the Spaniard might demand so many myriads of crowns to be from the Queene repayed him as the Belgick warre hath cost him since the time that she hath favoured and protected the Dutch against him At this time D. Dale by the Queenes command going to the Duke of Parma did gently expostulate with him touching a Booke Printed there set out lately by Cardinall Allen wherin he exhorteth the Nobles and people of England Ireland to ioyne themselues to the King of Spaines forces vnder the conduct of the Prince of Parma for the execution of the sentence of Sixtus V Pope against the Queene declared by his bull In which she is declared an heretick illegitimate cruel against Mary the Scots Queene her subiects were commanded to helpe Parma against her for at that time a great number of those bulls bookes were printed at Antwerp to be dispersed through England The Duke denied that he had seene such a bull or booke neither would he doe any thing by the Popes authoritie as for his owne King him he must obey Yet he said that he so observed the Queene for her Princely vertues that after the King of Spaine he offred all service to her That he had perswaded the King of Spaine to yeeld to this treaty of peace which is more profitable for English then Spanish For if they should be overcome they would easily repaire their losse But if you be overcome the kingdome is lost To whom Dale replied that our Queene was sufficiently furnished with forces to defend the Kingdom That a Kingdome will not easily be gotten by the fortune of one battell seeing the King of Spaine in so long a warre is not yet able to recover his anciant patrimony in the Netherlands Well quoth the Duke be it so These things are in Gods hands After this the Delegates contended among themselues by mutuall replications weauing and vnweauing the same webb The English were earnest in this a toleration of Religion might be granted at least for two yeares to the confederate Provinces They answered that as the King of Spaine had not intreated that for English Catholicks so they hoped that the Queene in her wisedome would not intreat any thing of the King of Spaine which might stand against his honor his oath his conscience When they demanded the money due from the States of Brabant it was answered that the money was lent without the Kings authoritie or privitie But let the accompt be taken how much that money was and how much the King hath spent in these Warres and then it may appeare who should looke for repayment By such answers they driue off the English of purpose vntill the Spanish fleet was come neare the English shore the noise of guns were heard from sea Then had they leaue to depart were by the Delegates honorably brought to the borders neare to Calis The Duke of Parma had in the meane time brought all his forces to the sea shore Thus this conference came to nothing vndertaken by the Queene as the wiser then thought to avert the Spanish fleet continued by the Spaniard that he might oppress the Queen being as he supposed vnprovided and not expecting the danger So both of them tried to sow the Fox-skin to the Lyons CHAPTER XII THE Spanish fleet the best furnished with men munition engines and all warlike preparation that was ever seen vpon the Ocean and by that arrogant Title called invincible did consist of 130 shippes wherein there were 19 thousand two hundreth ninety mariners 8350 chainâ—d rowers 11080. great ordnance 11630. The chiefe commander was Perâ—zius Gusmannus Duke of Medina Sidonia For Antonius Columna Duke of Palian and Marquess of S. Crosse to whom the chiefe governmeÌ„t was allotted died whilst things were preparing And vnder him Iohannes Martinus Recaldus a man of great experience in sea affaires The 30 of May they loosed out of the â—iver Tagus and purposing to hold their course to the â—râ—in in Gâ—llitia they were beaten and scattered by a tempest three gallies by the helpe of Daâ—d Câ—in an English servant and by the perfidiousnesse of the Turks which rowed were carried away into France The Fleet with much adoe after some dayes came to the Groin and other harbours neare adioyning The report was that the Fleet was so shaken with this tempest that the Queene was perswaded that she was not to expect that Fleet this yeare And Sir Francis Walsiâ—gham Secretary wrote to the Lord Admirall that he might send back foure of the greatest shippes as if the Warre had beene ended But he did not easily giue credit to that report but with a gentle answer intreated him to beleiue nothing hastily in so important a matter that he might keep those ships with him though it were vpon his owne charges And finding a favourable winde turned sailes toward Spaine to surprise the enemies shaken shippes in their harbours When he was not farre from the shore of Spaine the winde turned he being charged to defend the English shore fearing that the enemies vnseene might by the same winde be driveÌ„ to England he returned to Plimmouth With the same winde the 12 of Iuly the Duke of Medina with his fleet departed from the Groin And
ioyned together The Duke Medina Leua Oquenda Recaldus and others with much adoe getting themselues our of the shallowes susteined the English force aswell as they might vntill most of their ships were pearced and toâ—ne The Galeon S. Mathew governed by Diego â—iâ—entellus comming to ayd Francis Toletan being in the S. Philip was pearced and shaken with the râ—iterated shots of Seimor and Winter and driven to Ostend was at last taken by the Flushiâ—gers The S. Philip came to the like end So did the Galeoâ— of Biscay and diverse other The last day of this moneth the Spanish sleet striving to recover the straights againe were driven toward Zealand The English lest of pursuing of them as the Spaniards thought because they saw them in a manner cast away For they could not avoyd to be cast vpon the shallowes of Zealand But the winde turning they got out of the shallowes and then began to consult what were best for them to do By common consent they resolved to returne into Spaine by the Northern seas for they wanted many necessaries especially shot their ships were torne they had no hope that the Duke of Parma could bring forth his forces And so they tooke the Sea and followed the course towards the North. The English navy followed somtimes the Spanish turned vpon the English insomuch that it was thought by many that they would return back againe Vpon which report the Queene came into the Campe at Tilbury and mustered the Army riding among them with a Leaders Staffe in her hand and did by her presence and speech animate both Captains and souldiers with incredible courage That day wherein the last fight was the Duke of Parma after his vowes offred to the Lady of Halla came somewhat late to Dunkerk and was received with some opprobrious words of the Spanyards as if in favour of Queen Elizabeth he had slipped the fairest opportunitie that could be to doe the service He to make some satisfaction punished the purveiours that had not made provision ready secretly smiling at the insoleÌ„cy of the Spanyards when he heard them glorying that what way soever they came vpon England they would haue an vndoubted victory that the English were not able to indure the sight of them Bernardinus Mendoza did indeed by Bookes in France sing a foolish lying triumphant song before the Victory The English Admirall appointed Seimor and the Hâ—llanders to watch vpon the coasts of Flanders that the Duke of Parma should not come out himselfe followed the Spanyards vpon their backes vntill they were past Edenborough frith The Spaniards seeing all hopes faile finding no other helpe for themselues but by flight fled amaine and never made stay And so this great Navy being three yeares preparing with great cost was within a moneth overthrown and after many were killed being chased away of English there were not one hundreth lost nor one shippe lost saving that of Câ—â—ks was driven about all Britain by Scotland Orcades Ireland tossed and shaken with tempests and much lessened came home without glory Wherevpon some money was coyned with a Navy slying away at full saile and this inscription Venit vidit Fugit Other were coyned with the Ships fired the Navy confounded in honor of the Queene inscribed Dux faeminafacti As they fled it is certain that many of their ships were câ—st away vpoÌ„ the shores of Scotland IrelaÌ„d Moe then 700 souldiers mariners were cast vpoÌ„ the Scottish shore who at the Du of Parma his intercession with the Scots King the Queene of England consenting were afâ—er a yeare sent into Flaâ—ders But they that were cast vp vpoÌ„ the Irish shore by tempests came to more miserable fortunes for some were killed by the wild Irish others by the Deputies coÌ„maÌ„d for he searing that they might ioyne theÌ„selues to the wild Irish Bingham the Gouernour of Connach being once or twice commanded to slay them hauing yeelded but refusing to doe it Fowle the vnder-Marshall was sent and killed them which cruelty the Queene much condemned wherevpon the rest being afraid sicke and hungry with their torne shippes committed themselues to the sea and many were drowned Queene Elizabeth came in publike thankesgiuing to Pauls Church her Nobles accompanying her the Citizens were in their colours the Banners that were taken from the enemies were spred she heard the Sermon and publike thankes were rendred vnto God with great ioy This publike ioy was augmented when Sir Robert Sidney returning out of Scotland brought from the King assurance of his Noble minde and affection to the Queene and to Religion Which as in sincerity he had established so he purposed to maintaine with all his power Sir Robert was sent to him when the Spanish Fleet was comming to congratulate and to giue him thankes for his propense affection towards the maintenance of the common cause and to declare how ready shee would be to helpe him if the Spaniards should land in Scotland and that hee might recall to memory with what strange ambition the Spaniard had gaped for all Britain vrging the Pope to excommunicate him to the end that hee might be thrust from the Kingdome of Scotland and from the succession in England and to giue him notice of the threatning of Mendoza and the Popes Nuntio who had threatned his ruine if they could worke it and therefore warned him to take especiall heed to the Scottish Papists The King pleasantly answered that he looked for no other benefit of the Spaniard then that which Polyphaemus promised to Vlisses to dâ—uoure him last after all his fellowes were deuoured Now these things be such as whensoeuer we thinke vpon them wee cannot choose but lift vp our hearts to God for he hath put a song of ioy and thankesgiuing in our mouthes and taught vs to lift vp our eyes to him from whence commeth our helpe our helpe commeth from the Lord which hath made the heauen and the earth he will not suffer thy foote to slip for he that keepeth thee will not slumber behold he that keepeth Israel will neither slumber nor sleepe the Lord is thy keeper the Lord is thy defence at thy right â—and Then let others boast of their strength 〈…〉 power of God to be for vs against them Now this being a thing confessed on all sides that God was with vs against the Spaniard why will not our aduersaries that are men of vnderstanding enter into the consideration of this cause which God hath so often so mightily maintained The workes of the Lord are great and ought to bee had in remembrance of them that feare him And this dutie is required of vs that haue seene the great workes of God to declare them to other for one generation shall praise thy workes to another generation and declare thy power The workes of God must bee sought out had in remembrance and declared to other The word of God is the rule of our faith a direction to
deliverance of the Scots Queene but it appeareth that his intention was for himselfe as the Duke Dalva vnderstood it This is evident by that which we haue mentioned out of Catena For Duke Dalva was in some feare that if Queene Elizabeth were overthrowne yet the Kingdome of England might not fall to the Spanyard but to the French So that it was in their intention certainly to be cast vpon the French or Spanyard and here was no reckoning made of the Queene of Scots So that howsoever the pretence was for her deliverance yet there was another thing intended For seeing Queene Elizabeth was excommunicated and deposed if she could once be ouerthrowne then they made no other reckoning but that England would fall to the strongest Now the Spanyard thinking himselfe the stronger sought this prerogatiue for himselfe and therefore he ceased not to raise troubles to the Queene and the rather because he held it a thing impossible for him to recover the Low-Countries vnlesse he had England But because he found it a matter of great difficultie to set vpon England his first enterprise was to set vpon Ireland But when that succeeded not at last with all Forces that might be raised with many yeares preparations he set openly vpon England But these things are to be spoken in order Onely this I premise that we may know from whom all our troubles haue proceeded Many conspiracies brake out one after another vnder pretence of delivering the Queene of Scots To effect this thing Thomas Stanly and Edward his brother the yonger sonnes of the Earle of Darby Thomas Gerard Rolston Hall and other in Darâ—yshire conspired But the sonne of Râ—lston which was Pensioner to the Queene disclosed the conspiracy And they were imprisoned all except Hall who escaped into the 〈◊〉 of Man From whence by the commendation of the Bishop of Ross he was sent to Dumbrâ—toâ— Where when afterward the Castle was wonne he was taken and brought to London where he suffred death Before the Duke of Norfolk was beheaded there were that conspired to deliver him out of Prison The Bishop of Ross at this time a dangerous instrument against England and as dangerous against the Scots Queene for whom he laboured gaue desperate counsell to the Duke that with a choice company of Gentlemen he should intercept the Queene of a suddain and â—rouble the Parliament To shew that this was â—asâ—e he gaue some reasons But the Duke abhorred to heare of that counsell as pernicious and dangerous Sir Henry Percy at that time offred to the Bishop of Ross his helpe to free the Scots Queene so that Grange and Carr of â—ernihurst would receiue her at the borders and his brother the Earle of Northumberland might be delivered out of Scotland But when he was suspected for the inward faâ—iliaritie which he had with Burghly and deâ—erâ—ed the matter a longer time this counsell came to no effect As did also that of Powell of Samford one of the Gentlemâ—n Pencioâ—ariâ—s and of Owen one that belonged to â—he Earle of AruÌ„dell These two vndertooke the same busines also for the Scots Queenes deliverance but the Bishop of Ross stay'd that because he tooke them for men of a meaner ranke then to be â—it for â—hat busines After the Duke was the second time imprisoned many were for this matter imprisoned also The Earles of Arundell Southampton the Lord Luâ—ly the Lord Cobham Thomas his brother Sir Henry Percy Banister Lowther Godier Powell and others were committed who in hope of pardon told that they knew Barnes and Muthers ioyned with Herle in a bloudy practise to deliver the Duke and kill certaine of the Privy Councellers But Herle being the châ—efe in the villany opened the Proiect. When Bâ—rnes was brought before him found Herle to be the accuser he smiling vpon him said Herle thou hast prevented me if thou hadst stayed but one houre longer I should then haue stood in thy place the accuser and thou in my place to be hanged When Iohn Duke of Austria came into government of the Low-Countries he found the States strong The cruelty that the Duke of Dalva and others had vsed was so farre from bringing them into a servile subiection that it rather armed them with resolution to defend their liberties their lawes their religion and their liues Which may admonish great Princes to vse moderation in government for much hath beene lost by crueltie nothing gotten by it but nothing can serue to moderate restlesse spirits such a spirit brought Don Iohn with him into the Low-Countries who beholding the vnlucky ends of them that stroue to deliver the Queene of Scots he notwithstanding sought to worke her deliverance and to marry her and so to enioy both England and Scotland But to hide his purpose the better he made show of a perpetuall Edict for Peace as he called it and for that purpose sent Gastellus to Elizabeth Who throughly vnderstanding the Dukes meaning yet as if she had beene ignorant sent Daniel Rogers to Don Iohn to congratulate for his perpetuall Edict of Peace Albeit she certainly knew that he had resolved to deliver and marry the Scots Queene and in his conceit had devoured the Kingdomes of England and Scotland by the perswasion of the Earle of Westmerland and of other â—ugitiues and by favour and countenance of the Pope and the Guyses And that Don Iohn had a purpose out of hand to surprise the â—le of Man in the â—rish Seas that he might haue a fitter opportunitie to invade England out of Ireland and the North coast of Scotland where the Scots Queene had many at her deuotion and the opposite parts of England as Cumberland Lankyshire Cheshire Northwales had many that as he was informed favoured Popery The truth is Don Iohn of Austria as it was knowne from Peresius Secretary to the King of Spaine being before this carried away with ambition when he was disappointed of the hope which he had of the Kingdome of Tunis practised secretly with the Pope for the ouerthrow of Queene Elizabeth marrying of the Scots Queene and subduing of England That the Pope might excite the King of Spain to warre against England as out of a desire of the publique good Don Iohn before he came out of Spain to goe to the Netherlands did fâ—rward this motion in Spaine what he could and afterward sending Esconedus out of the Netherlands to Spaine did desire to haue the havens in Bisâ—ay whence a Navie might invade England But King Philip happily reserving England as a morsell for his owne mouth neglected Don Iohn as a man too ambitious Queene Elizabeth vnderstood not these things vntill the Prince of Orange opened them to her Don Iohn in the meane time prosecuteth the matter of the marriage with secresie And to dissemble the matter sent messengers to Queâ—ne Elizabeth to hold her with a tale of perpetuall peace but of a sudden brake out into warre and tooke divers Townes and
troubles that he in the meane time might the better proceed in his intentions for England These desperate courses drew the Scots Queene into more danger At this time a most desperate and pernicious conspiracy brake out which as by the free confessions of the conspirators appeareth was thus Some English Divines of the Rhemish seminary whilst they seemed to admire as men astonished or rather doting an omnipotency in the Pope did labour to perswade themselues that Pius V. his bull against Queene Elizabeth was indâ—ted by the Holy Ghost and that it was a thing meritorious to kill excommunicated Princes yea and that it was martyrdome to loose their liues in that quarrell Giffard a Doctor of Theologie Gilbert Giffard and Hodgeson Priests did so hammer these devises into the corrupt head of Iohn Sauage who they say was a Bastard that he being heady and bloudy a fit instrument for â—esuites made a vow to kill Queene Elizabeth At the same time they set out a Book for no other purpose but with great cunning to draw the Queene and Councell into securitie and to lay their vngracious plots more deeply and so with more ease to come to that mischievous end they shot at In which Booke they admonish the Papists in England that they practise no hurt to the Queene for that they were onely to vse such weapons as are lawfull for Christians to vse that is â—eares spirituall armour daily prayers watchings fastings against their adversaries this was their â—ox craft And withall they spred a false rumour by their whisperers that George Giffard one of the Queenes Gentlemen Pencionaries had sworne to kill the Queene and for that cause had wiped the Guise of a great summe of money At Easter following Iohn Ballard a Priest of the Remish seminary who had assayed the mindes of many Papists to whom he travelled to conferre with through England and Scotland was now returned into England This man had dealt with Bernardin Mendoza now the ordinary Spanish Ambassadour in France and with Charles Paget for an invasion of England Declaring that now was the fittest opportunitie for that service whilst the military men were absent being then imployed in the Low-Countries A fitter time could never be hoped for as much as the Pope the Spanyard the Guise the Duke of Parma had resolved to invade England to turne the Warres from the Netherlands And albeit Paget had made it evident that as long as the Queene liued the invasion of England would be in vaine yet was Ballard sworne and sent into England to procure all the helpe that might be to the conspiratours and the liberty of the Scots Queene At Pentecost following that silken Priest came into England in a Souldiers habit with a feigned name called Captaine Foscue This man had conference in London with Antony Babington a Gentleman of Darbyshire yong rich wittie and learned aboue the expectation of his yeares and being addicted to the Romish Religion had a little before got into France without leaue Where he had familiar conversation with Thomas Morgan and with the Bishop of Glasco the Scots Queenes Ambassadour These men extolling the heroick vertues of the Scots Queene made to him great ostentation of assured hopes of honor by her meanes to be obtained The ambitious yong man was easily drawne to take hold of that faire glistering estate proposed by them And they were as ready cunningly to set him forward and before he had well thought of the matter they commended him by Letters to the Scots Queene For when he was returned into England she saluted him favourably with her Letters from that time Morgan vsed his helpe in sending Letters to her vntill she was committed to the custodie of Amice Paulet For after that the yong man finding the danger ceased With this Babington Ballard had conference of the things aforesaid But he thought assuredly so long as Queene Elizabeth liued that the invasion of England would come to nothing But when Ballard signified to him that Queene Elizabeth would not long be aliue for Sauage who had vowed to kill her was now come into England Babington thought not good that so great a matter should be committâ—d to Sauage onely least he might be stopped from the enterprise But rather to sixe valiant and resolute Gentlemen in which number Sauage should be one that he might not be condemned for not performing his vow Wherevpon Babington tooke a new course for the invasion touching the ports where the strangers might land and the forces that should be ioyned with them and the delivering the Scots Queene and the Tragick slaughter of Queene Elizabeth as he called it Whilst he was fixed in these cogitations he received Letters by an vnknowne boy written from the Queene of Scots in that familiar character which was vsed betweene them She blamed him but mildly for his long silence and willed him to send her the Packet of Letters sent from Morgan and delivered by the French Ambassadors Secretary Which he did accordingly And by the same messenger sent to her a Letter wherein he excused his silence for that he wanted opportunitie of sending since that she was in the custodie of Amice Paulet a puritan a meere Leicestrian and a most bitter enemy of the Catholike faith He declared what he had resolved with Ballard that sixe Gentlemen were chosen to performe the tragicke slaughter and that himselfe with an hundreth other would deliver her He intreated that to these Heroick Actors so he called them rewards might be proposed or to their posteritie if they should faile in the action The twentie-seventh of Iuly answer was made to these Letters Babington his forward desire of promoting the Catholike Religion was commended He was warned that it might be vndertaken considerately and that nothing be moued before they were sure of externall forces that an association among them might be made as if they feared the Puritanes that some trouble might be stirred in Ireland whilst the stroke might be given here at home that Arundell and his brethren and Northumberland should be drawne to the side VVestmerland Paget and others might be secretly called home The way to deliver her was also prescribed either to overturne a Coach in the gate or to set the Stables on fire or to intercept her whilst she rode to take the ayre betweene Chartley and Stafford Last of all Babington was warranted to vndertake for rewards and to pawne his credit to the six Gentlemen and others Now had he gathered about him certaine Gentlemen inflamed with a fiery zeale of the Romish Religion Of whom the chiefe were Edward Windsore brother to the Lord Windsore a yong Gentleman of a soft disposition Thomas Salisbury of a Knights house in Denbigh-shire Charles Tilney an ancient Gentleman the onely hope of the Familie one of the Queenes Pencionaries whom Ballard had reconciled to the Roman Church both proper yong men Chidioc Tychburn of Hampshire Edward Abington whose father was the Queenes Cofferer Robert Gage
after one day or two he sent Rhodericus Telius into Flanders to admonish the Duke of Parma giving him notice that the fleet was approching that he might be ready For Medina his commission was to ioyne himselfe with the Shippes and Souldiers of Parma and vnder the protection of his Fleet to bring them into England and to land his land forces vpon Thames side Now as the relator of this story hath taken paines to declare what was done each day I will follow him herein The 16 day there was a great calme and a thick cloud was vpon the sea till noon then the North winde blowing roughly again the Westwinde till midnight and after that the East the Spanish Navy was scattered and hardly gathered together vntill they came within the sight of England the 19 day of Iuly Vpon which day the Lord Admirall was certified by Flemming who had beene a Pyrat that the Spanish Fleet was entred into the English sea which the Mariners call the Channell And was descried neare to the Lizard The Lord Admirall brought forth the English Fleet into the Sea but not without great difficultie by the skill labour and alacritie of the souldiers and mariners every one labouring yea the Lord Admirall himselfe had his hand at the worke The next day the English fleet viewed the Spanish fleet comming along with Towers like Castles in height her front crooked like the fashion of the Moone the hornes of the front were extended one from the other about seaven miles asunder sailing with the labour of the windes the Ocean as it were groaning vnder it their saile was but slow and yet at full saile before the winde The English gaue them leaue to hold on their course and when they were passed by came behinde them and got the helpe of the winde The 21. of Iuly the Lord Admirall of England sent a Pinnace before called the Defiance to denounce the Battell by shooting off some peeces And being himselfe in the Arch-royall the English Praetorian Shippe or Admirall he set vpon a shippe which he tooke to be the Spanish Admirall but it was the shippe of Alfonsus Leua Vpon that he bestowed much shot Presently Drake Hawkins Forbisher came in vpon the Spanish hindmost shippes which Recaldus governed Vpon these they thundred Recaldus laboured what he could to stay his men who fled to their navy vntill his shippe beaten and pearced with many shot did hardly recover the Fleet. At which time the Duke Medina gathered together his dissipated Fleet and setting vp more saile they held their course Indeede they could doe no other for the English had gotten the advantage of winde and their shippes were much more nimble and ready with incredible celeritie to come vpon the enemie with a full course and then to turne and returne and be on every side at their pleasure When they had fought two houres and taken some triall of their owne courage and of the Spanyards The Lord Admirall thought good not to continue the fight any longer then seeing that fortie ships were absent which were scarce drawne out of Plimmouth haven The night following S. Catharin a Spanish shippe being sore torne with the fight was received into the midst of the Navie to be mended Here a great Cantabrian shippe of Oquenda wherein was the treasurer of the Campe by force of Gunne-powder that had taken fire was set on fire yet was the fire quenched in time by the Shippes that came to helpe her Of these that came to helpe the fired shippe one was a Galeon in which was Petrus Waldez the foremast of the Galeon was caught in the tackling of another shippe and broken This was taken by Drake who sent Waldez to Dertmouth the money fiftie-fiue thousand Dâ—cats he distributed among his souldiers That night he was appointed to set forth light but neglected it and some German Merchants ships comming by that night he thinking them to be enemies followed them so farre that the English navy rested all night when they could see no light set forth Neither did he nor the rest of the navy finde the Admirall vntill the next day at even The Admirall all the night preceding with the Beare and Mary Rose did follow the Spanyardes with watchfulnesse The Duke was busied in ordering his Navy â—lfonsus Leua was commanded to ioyne the first and last companies Every Ship had his station assigned according to that prescribed forme which was appointed in Spaine it was present death to forsake his station This done he sent Gliclius an Anceant to Parma which might declare to him in what case they wâ—re and left that Cantabrian ship of Oquenda to the winde and sea having taken out the money and mariners and put them in other shippes Yet it seemeth that he had not care of all for that shippe the same day with fifty mariners and souldiers lamed and halâ—e burnt fell into the hands of the English and was carried to Weimuth The 23. of the same moneth the Spanyards having a favourable North winde turned sailes vpon the English the English being much readier in the vse of their ships fett about a compasse for the winde and having gotten advantage of the winde they came to the fight on both sides They fought a while confusedly with variable fortune whilst on the one side the English with great courage delivered the London ships which were inclosed about by the Spanyards on the other side the Spanyards by valour freed Recaldus from the extreame danger he was in there was not greater effulminations by beating of ordnances at any time then was this day Yet the losse fell vpon the Spanish side because their shippes were so high that the shot went over the English shippes but the English having a faire marke at their great shippes shot never in vaine Onely Cock and English man bâ—ing caught in the midst of the Spanish shippes could not be recovered he perished but with great honor revenged himself Thus a long time the English shippes with great agilitie were somtimes vpon the Spanyardes giving them the one side and then the other and presently were off againe and tooke the sea to make themselues ready to come in againe Whereas the Spanish heavie shippes were troubled and hindred and stood to be markes for the English bullets For all that the Admirall would not admit the English to come to grapple and to boord their shippes because they had a full armie in their shippes which he had not their shippes were many in number and greater and higher that if they had come to grapple as some would haue had it the English that were much lower then the Spanish shippes must needes haue had the worse of them that fought from the higher shippes And if the English had beene overcome the losse would haue beene greater then the victory could haue beene for ours being overcome would haue put the kingdome in hazard The 24 day they rested from fight on both sides The Admirall sent