by no other way but by Arguments Into Scotland were sent three Sorbon Doctors with the Bishop of Amiens But with what safety might any Man dispute with them when he that did so was in the midst of his armed Enemies and there was greatest fear of violence from the Disputers themselves For the Bishop of Amiens counselled the Queen Regent that if any there were which should be found to dispute against the Romish Decrees he should be put to death yea even those who but seemed to be of another Mind only We are not informed that the Queen Regent put in practice the foregoing counsels perhaps the time was not altogether seasonable nor do we take every single action which might conduce to the subverting of Religion to be a Conspiracy but we may well esteem by the Queens Words the Councellors and Commanders Intents and Purposes the placing of such a Regent all this to be a continued Conspiracy to strangle in the birth the Church of Scotland having yet scarcely taken breath in the World Not long after the Queen Regent dyeth and although it will perhaps be said there was no discovery of any Conspiracy which was in acting as to put to death all the Nobility or all that would dare dispute against the Bishop or Doctors could be no easy task to go about the latter because the death of their last Martyr Walter Mille did seem so grevious unto them and if any more should suffer how would such a thing be taken by French-men People of another Nation It may be objected from the above named Arguments that there wanted no endeavour After the death of the Mother the Daughter returning into Scotland was married unto Henry Lord Darnley who being of the same Religion with the Queen and they both a Brothers and Sisters Children did strongly maintain Popery against the Protestant Religion We cannot imagine here that any thing should be contrived against the lives of those Princes by a Popish Party to overthrow Religion For to subvert Religion no way could be found better than by maintaining in life and honour such Princes as these two were who professed and maintained Popery as contrarily to subvert Religion Laws Liberties and the like the best means are through the sides of such Kings and Queens as are Projectors and Maintainers of them So the holy Scripture declareth by Word and Example I will smite the Shepheard and the Sheep shall be scattered For this Queen was so far from furthering the establishment of Religion nay from connivence at those who should go about any such matter that she professed she would follow the example of her Cousin Queen Mary of England which was no other thing than maintaining in her Dominions the Pope and Popery and punishing the contrary minded as Hereticks It will not be thought I suppose that either the Papists at home in Scotland or those in France or elsewhere would go about to take away the lives of such Princes whose lives secured their Religion For what was attempted against the Life and most unhappily succeeded of the King was not any way to subvert Popery because the deed was committed and the Plot chiefly laid by Papists It rather was undertaken against the Life of this Prince by some to make way for their own Family to inherit the Crown of Scotland by others to get the Kingdom and admit any Religion But those that look farther into Matters judg this act to be committed against a Professor of the Romish Religion that he being taken out of the way another might succeed which had greater Power and Friends to bring to pass what King Henry the Queens Husband had a Mind but not Power enough to do And that made those who were no Enemies to the King in point of Religion not dislike the Treason for the Ends sake I cannot be of their Minds altogether who judg that of the Queen of Scots being now in restraint in England not long before married to Earl Bothwell and presently to desire a Devorce from him and to require that he should be summoned within the space of a very few days to return into the Kingdom to make answer and defence to the Queens Suit of Divorce to have proceeded from the changing Fancy of the Queen not so much from Conscience For it was as well known before her departure into England as after that Earl Bothwell had a Wife living when he married the Queen insomuch that at the publishing the banes of their Matrimony one stood up in the Church and forbad them It was generally thought that it was that a way might be open for the Duke of Norfolk who then made Suit unto her He indeed was such a Man as being of great Wealth mighty in Friends and singular Abilities of Mind could better bring about what was desired than a Man of no great riches at any time but was now in extream Poverty and Disgrace in the Dominions of the King of Denmark and notoriously infamous for his Crimes in Sctoland The Rebellion of the Earls of Northumberland and Westmerland AT this time the King of Spain wrote unto the Duke of Norfolk to join with the Earls of Northumberland and Westmerland to riase a Rebellion in England and to the Earl of Ormond to do the like in Ireland These Letters were shown unto Queen Elizabeth by the Duke and the Earl that from hence at least might appear their Loyalty Nevertheless whether by the advice of the Bishop of Rost who lay as Ambassdor at London for the Queen of Scots and one Rodolf a Florentine going in the appearance of a Merchant Factor or purposing of himself whatsoever he might pretend he privately sought to marry the Queen of Scots she being next Heir to the Crown of England contrary to his Promise made unto his Sovereign Queen Elizabeth The Queen of Scots and the Duke participate of one anothers Mind by Letters written in hidden Characters Neither was this a matter only supposed but the Dukes Secretary one Higford who was commanded by the Duke to burn such Letters as came from the Queen of Scots but did it not and hid them under a Mat in his Chamber and being under examination he caused them to be produced This was when the two Earls of Northumberland and Westmerland had secretly complotted to raise Arms and not long after the Dukes apprehension they fell into open Rebellion One of the Letters which was shewn at the Dukes arraignment was to this purpose That the Queen was sorry that the said Earls of Northumberland and Westmerland were in Arms before the Dukes Forces were ready This was undertaken after that Pope Pius Quintus had in Bulls from Rome printed and sent to Rodolf absolved Queen Elizabeths Subjects from their Allegiance The Pope perswaded the Spaniard to assist the Conspirators that his affairs in the Netherlands might prosper the better and the French did the like that the Queen of England might be less able to send aid to the Protestants
the Protestants secretly sought entrance into the Queens Presence with a drawn Sword set upon one or two in his way and being apprehended confessed that he purposed to have killed the Queen Ed. Ardern his Father-in-Law a Gentleman of Warwick-shire and Arderns Wife and their Daughter Somervil's Wife and Hall a Priest were condemned as guilty of Somervil's practice After three days Somervile was found strangled in Prison for fear of revealing it as was thought where he lay and Ardern was hanged the next day Mendoza the Spanish Ambassador thrust out of England IN 1584 some English Gentlemen began to practise the delivery of the Queen of Scots Francis Throgmorton was suspected by Letters written to the Queen of Scots and intercepted Presently Thomas Lord Paget and Charles Arundel a Courtier left the Land secretly Henry Earl of Northumborland and Philip Earl of Arundel were commanded to their Houses And there was great cause of circumspection for the Papists by printed Books incited the Maids of Honour to do that agianst the Queen that Judith did against Holofernes Yet was the Queens Mercy such that she caused 70 Priests to be sent out of England The chief of them were Gasper Heywood who of all the Jesuits first came into England James Bosgrave John Haâ—â— and Edward Rishton who presently after wrote a Book against the Queen At this time Bernardinus Mendoza the Spanish Ambassador was thrust out of England for practising Treason against the State He having dealt with Throgmarton and others to bring in strangers to invade the Land as appeared by Throgmorton's action who being apprehended sent one of his Packets to Mendoza His other Packets being searched there was found a Catalogue of all the Havens in England sit to land in and another of all the Noblemen in England which favoured the Romish Religion And he did not deny that he had promised his help to Mendoza and the help of those Nobles it was fit he should deal with A Popish practice against Q. Elizabeth discovered not without a Miracle by Creighton's torn Papers a Scotish Jesuit QUeen Elizabeth that rare Paragon of her Sex and that fairly flourishing Flower which Traitors though oft attempted could never nip nor crop up being a Princess both Prudent Pious and Pitiful seeking therefore a fair opportunity and sutable means to set the Queen of Scots at those Times tainted with some Treasonable Practices against her Crown and Person at liberty And for that purpose sent Sir William Wade who was then returned out of Spain to confer with her of the means thereunto And the good Queen was about to send Sir Walter Mildmay to bring this aim of hers to further issue But some further terrors and fears in the interim brake out between them which disturbed that intention especially by a notable discovery by certain Papers which one Creighton a Jesuit sailing into Scotland did then tear in pieces when he was apprehended in the Ship by Dutch-Pirates at Sea whose person being by them â—â—ised on he took forth his Papers wherein it seems the project of a Traiterous Plot against Queen Elizabeth at that time was described tore them into small pieces and with all his force threw them into the Sea But see how the Lord 's good Providence ordered it as they flew in the Air the Wind blew stifly by force whereof they were all blown back again into the Ship even in a miraculous manner as the Jesuit himself confessed when he saw it Which Papers were all kept and gathered together sent to England to Sir William Wade aforesaid and with much labour and singular skill so joyned and set together again that he found they contained a notable new Plot among many other of the Popes the Spaniards and the Guise's resolution to Invade England Whereupon and by reason of many other rumours of dangers intended against the Queen and whole Kingdom of England a great number of all sorts of Men out of common charity and to shew their love and affectionate care of the welfare of the Queen and State bound themselves by an Association as then it was called by mutual promises and subscriptions of Hands and Seals to prosecute all such by all their force and might even unto death that should attempt any thing against the Life of the Queen or Welfare of the Kingdom Now the Queen of Scots took this as a thing devised to bring her into danger and she also was so continually set upon by seditious spirits who if they may but have access are able to draw the greatest Princes to destruction And what have been their practices from time to time but to bring great Persons and greatest Families to ruin Lamentable experience shews openly the fruit of their malice and mischievous plots of Treason which they impiously and audaciously call and count nothing else but advancing of their Catholick Cause Now the Scots Queen led on by her blind guides dealt most importunely with the Pope and Spaniards by Sir Francis Englefield that by all means they would with speed undertake their intended Business namely the Invasion of our Realm For the advancing whereof the Pope and Spanidrd had resolved on these points 1. That Queen Elizabeth should be deprived of her Kingdom 2. That the King of Scots a manifest favourer of Heresie should utterly be dis-inherited of the Kingdom of England 3. That the Scots Queen should Marry some Noble-Man of England that was a Catholick 4. That this Man must be chosen King of England by the Catholicks of England 5. That this choice so made must be confirmed by the Pope 6. That the Children of him so chosen begotten of the Scots Queen must be declared Successors in the Kingdom All these things were confirmed to be true by the testimoney of one Hart a Priest Who was that noble English-man that should marry the Scots-Queen was much enquired after by Sir Francis Walsingham with all diligence but not certainly found out yet there was strong suspicion of Henry Howard Brother to the Duke of Norfolk who was Noble by birth unmarried and a fast favourer of that Religion and in great grace and favour with them All these things were discovered by this Creighton the Jesuite's torn Papers as aforesaid And all this their plotting and contriving of France Spain and the Pope against Queen Elizabeth and King James for no other cause but for their Religion which they had now fairly begun to establish among their People Parry Executed for Treason IN the year 1585 William Parry a Welehman and Doctor of Law spake against that Law which in the Parliament then held was Exhibited and called it a Bloody Law Presently after he was accused of practizing the Queen's death He confessed voluntarily in the Tower that having obtained the Queen's pardon for breaking into the Chamber and wounding one Hare for which he was Condemned he being a sworn Servant to the Queen from England he went into France and was reconciled Afterward at Venice in consultation
with Beuedict Palmeus he told him that he had found out a way to help the afflicted Catholicks in England if the Pope or some learned Divines would approve it as lawful The Jesuit Palmeus approved it Next in France one Morgan drew him to consent to murder the Queen if it should prove lawful This Act the Pope's Nuncio Ragazonius commended Parry afterward having access to the Queen shewed her all and not long after Cardinal Come his Letter approving the enterprize Now he taketh a new resolution to perform it encouraged especially by Doctor Alen's Book teaching that Princes Excommunicated are to be spoiled of their Kingdoms and Lives These with many other things Parry confessed before the Lord Hunsdon Sir Christopher Hatton and Sir Francis Walsingham in Westminster-Hall the heads of his Accusation being read he confessed himself guilty He died in the Palace-yard before Westminster-Hall not once calling upon the Name of God At this time also Henry Earl of Northumberland for entring into Traiterous Counsels with Paget and the Guises to invade England was cast into the Tower where he was found dead being shot with three Bullets under the left Pap the Chamber-door bolted in the inside A Pistol was found in his Chamber and himself the author of his own death Thus from time to time the most noble Families of England have been Seduced and Ruined by the false and bewitching counsels of Jesuits and Seminaries Savage's attempt to kill the Queen NOw again there was a most abominable Treason conspired and voluntarily confessed by the Conspirators One Gifford a Doctor in Divinity Gilber Gifford and Hodgeson Priests persuaded one John Savage a bloody Fellow to undertake to kill Queen Elizabeth To hide their mischievous intents more cunningly from the Queen's Council who were very careful to foresee all Danger they wrote a Book in which they advise the Papists in England not to go about to hurt the Queen For they were to use no other Weapons against their Prince than the Christian Weapons of Tears Fasting Prayers and the like And most cunningly also these Foxes spread a Rumour that George Gifford one of the Queen's Pensioners had sworn to kill the Queen and for that cause had gotten from the Guises a very great sum of Money The Easter following John Ballard an English Priest of the Colledg of Rhemes was come into England who had been trying the minds of Papists in England and Scotland He had dealt with Mendoza the Spanish Ambassador in France Charles Pages and others for the Invasion of England And although it seemed to be a very hard work yet he had sworn to use his utmost endeavour in it and also for the liberty of the Queen of Scots At Whitsuntide in a Souldiers habit and under the name of Captain Fortescue he had a conference in London with Anthony Babington a young Gentleman of Darby-shire Romishly affected who not long before in France had conference with Thomas Morgan and the Bishop of Glasco the Scotch Queen's Ambassador He was drawn by them shewing him most assured hopes of Honour from her to addict himself to them and by their means had favourable Letters from her Ballard and Babington conferred together concerning the Invasion of England but it was not deemed a thing could be done Queen Elizabeth being alive Then Ballard informed Babington that Savage had undertaken to kill her Babington's advice was that it should not be committed to Savage alone lest perhaps he might be hindred but to six resolute Men of which number Savage should be one Upon this Babington took into his consideration the Ports in which the Invaders should land the Confederates that should joyn in the act of murdering Q. Elizabeth and delivering the Scots-Queen In the mean time a Letter was brought from the Imprisoned Queen to Babington in a secret Character blaming Babington's long silence but he excused it because she was under the custody of Sir Amice Paulet a severe Keeper declared unto her that which Ballard and he had resolved before and that himself with one hundred more wou'd deliver her The purpose by her Letters unto Babington was commended And it was advised that it should be undertaken considerately and that nothing should be moved before they were sâ—â—e of External Forces that they should make an Association as if they feared the Puritans that some Tumults might be raised in Ireland while the thing should be done here That Arundel and his Brethren and Northumberland should be drawn to their side Westmerland Paget and others called Home The way to deliver the Scots-Queen was appointed to overthrow a Coach in the Gate or set the Stables on fire or intercept her as she rode to take the air betwixt Chartly and Stafford Babington undertook for rewards to all that should give their help He had gotten unto him Edward Windsor the Lord Windsor's Brother Thomas Satisbury Charles Tinley the Queens Pensioner Chidioc Tichbourn Edward Abingdon whose Father was the Queen's Cofferer Robert Gage John Travers John Charnick John Jones Savage Barnwel an Irish Gentleman Henry Dun Clark of the First-fruits Office and one Polly also joyned himself who was thought to reveal all to Sir Francis Walstngham Abingdon Barnwel Charnick and Savage took an Oath to kill her with their own hands Babington enjoyned that whosoever was admitted into the Conspiracy should take an Oath of secrecy They were so confident of the success that they did not fear to cause the undertakers of the Treason to be Pictured together which Picture being seen of the Queen she knew only Barnwel and seeing him a good way off she blamed the neglect of guarding her Person This Fellow afterward gave it out that if the Conspirators had been present the deed might easily have been done That the aid from France might not be wanting leave was obtained for Ballard to pass over thither for Money under a false name and Babington was to follow who that he might the more cunningly work his ends pretended to Sir Francis Walsingham that he had a desire to go into France to discover what the Fugitives plotted for the delivery of the Scots-Queen Walsingham seemed very much to like the matter and to commend Babington's resolution but upon pretences delayed his going This was known to Walsingham either out of a singular faculty he had to find out Treasons or else by the means of Gilbert Gifford a Priest who was sent out of France to incourage Savage in his wicked resolution and that Letters might safely be transmitted by him to the Queen of Scots Gifford corrupted with Money or for fear revealed the Plot to Walsingham and promised to communicate unto him all his Letters Walsingham kindly used him sent him into Staffordshire to Sir Amice Paulet in a Letter persuading Sir Amice to suffer some of his Servants to be corrupted by him Gifford for some Gold prevailed with Sir Amice his Brewer who conveyed the letters to and from Gifford which by Messengers for that end
divers Men have one Name We will acknowledg Hypocrites among them but because one is such no Man will conclude they must be all so No Man of us almost abhorreth the Name of Protestant to be given him and yet of these some will Lie others will Steal and a third sort will do worse Since this Parliament perhaps I imagine the time and reason aright the Jesuites and Jesuited have invented a strange Name for such Men and let fall the râ—â—roach of Puritan They call them by a figurative Name which is ignorantly spoken by most falsly by all and as the roundest Figure is of the largest Capacity so they have shaped them a Name which is larger than Precisian Brownist or the like surroundeth every one that thinketh it not a just thing to rail against the Parliament to curse the Fathers of his Country But I desire not to be called but to be toâ—us terres atque rotundus So much by the way to fall upon the business now The King of Spain offereth Marriage to the Queen AT the beginning of the raign of Queen Elizabeth Philip the second of Spain sought to win her to him by Marriage not doubting to procure a Dispensation for the Incest but was as wisely answered as he wickedly and craftily intended that the Queen could not so soon forget her Sisters death she knowing it to be a part of discretion to keep in hope so potent an Adversary if he should be incensed by a denial her own Kingdom by reason of the change of Religion and the depriving of many Popish Bishops which the blinded People had in some esteem among many other alterations being of doubtful Affections till she could better provide for her own Security The Spaniard in the mean time perceived that his suit was not like to succeed when the thought of uniting England to Spain by the Marriage of Queen Elizabeth if like her Sister Mary she proved not barren was taken away he took hold on the next occasion The practice of the Guises with the Queen of Scots against England MAry now Queen of Scots Daughter and Heir apparent unto James the fifth and Wife unto Francis Dauphine of France Daughter of Mary of Lorrain who was Sister unto the Duke of Guise She after the death of Queen Mary of England being incouraged thereunto by the Guises her Uncles usurpeth the Arms of England uniting them to the Arms of Scotland on her Plate in the Windows of her House and on her Servants Coats declaring her self thereby Queen of England Her meaning was well understood and this it is very probable in the fourth year of Queen Elizabeth made Arthur Poole and his Brethren descended of George Duke of Clarence Brother to Edward the fourth and Anthony Fortescue their Brother-in-Law with their Confederates to conspire secretly to fly unto the Guises in France and thence and with their help to come with an Army into Wales and there to proclaim the Queen of Scots Queen of England and Arthur Poole Duke of Clarence God was pleased in a very good time to discover this Plot. For had they gone thither and discovered their intents it had if God had not powerfully opposed it not only animated the Guises to have seconded them and furnished them with Men and Money but having returned into Wales they would have gathered great Forces to augment their Numbers and put the Queen to the incomparable Trouble and Danger of a Civil War Beside all this she had at this time on every side Enemies abroad the French King the King of Spain the Guisian and Popish Faction in Scotland The Loyal People of Scotland were so unable to help her that they stood in need of her help The Low-Countries were under Spanish Tyranny and a convenient place from whence to annoy this Kingdom The Conspirators confessed that they did not intend to put in practise this thing during the Life of our Queen for indeed they were made believe by Predictions of Popish Astrologians that Queen Elizabeth could not live above one year The good Queen notwithstanding pardoned their Lives after Sentence of Death upon them from their own Confession And how zealously the Guises endeavoured to invade England may appear by the inclination of Sebastian Martigius sent into Scotland by the counsel of the Guises for about those times their alone Counsels were principally followed with Horse and Foot to assist in the Civil War of Scotland who could hardly be restrained from invading England presently and first of all presuming no question on the aid of Papists in England from intelligence held with them here For otherwise what could 1000 Horse and not very many Foot do in respect of conquering all England Now was the Queen of Scots in France and although the Regency of Scotland was put into the hands of the Marquiss of Hamilton yet the power of the Queen Dowager with her French Faction did so increase and on the other side the authority of the Marquiss Regent so abate that after the promise from the French King of 12000 Crowns by the Year and Dutchy of Castle-Herald to which was added the preferment of all the Marquiss's chief kindred the Marquiss resigned his place into the hands of Mary of Lorrain Queen Dowager a thing for a Woman to be Regent in Scotland but once before known She had made many promises unto the Scots of the freedom of exercising the Protestant Religion but being now setled in the Regency she discovered her mind wholly bent to alter Religion She told her Friends in plain terms that though the Ministers whom she named should preach more honestly or as she called it more sincerely than they had done yet they should all be banished She expressed at the death of a young Man whom she seemed to bewail being slain for that his Father had not rather excused him being a stout defender of the reformed Religion that she was cruelly minded towards the Professors thereof Easter also was commanded to be celebrated after the Romish Custom For these and divers other of her overtures Messengers were sent unto her to desire her to be good to the Protestants and to remember the many Promises she had made unto them to that end But all in vain She told the Earl of Glencarn and Sir John Campbel who were sent unto her That performance of Promises was to be expected from Princes no farther than stood with their profit Upon this they told one another that they then renounced all Obedience and Duty toward her Violence now with Art was to be used for effecting her Purpose touching Religion Hereupon advice was given by Labrosse a French Commander in Scotland to put to death all the Nobility of Scotland for that the People being bereaved of their Heads would after be easily brought to undergo any Yoak but that things might appear with a more pleasing Colour there was a shew as if the Queen had laboured and would endeavour to convince her Adversaries in Religion