the storie of those Princes concerning those affaires PRescription and precedents swaying with the positiue lawes of the Kingdome they may then farre better ouer-rule or at least giue Reall satisfaction in point of meere conceit and late conceiued disaffection reading our owne Annalles and Chronicles we shall there finde many mutuall intermarriages to haue beene betweene the two Royall Crownes of England and Spaine began in the very infancie of our Monarchy running in a long discent chayned and linked together one with another making as it were a golden Orbe and circle of sincere Princely loue and amity so that many mighty Kings of Spaine and Portingale haue had Royall mothers of the English Nation and likewise many Royall Princesses of Spaine haue beene the blessed mothers of some puisant and victorious Kings of England King William surnamed the conquerour by whom England receiued his last subuersion and generall alteration his courses of gouernment institutions and lawes by which wee are now gouerned being exactly executed were as linkes intermutually fastned made so strong a Chaine that it hath euer since held together the whole frame of the state in peace and order as all the politique Regiments vpon earth all the inter-leagued societies of men cannot shew a straighter forme of combination This King first began contracted Margaret his youngest daughter to Alphonsus King of Galicia 1076. Henry the second lineally discended from him a famous and worthy King of England married Elenor his second daughter to another Alphonsus the ninth 1171. surnamed the good King of Castile Richard the first surnamed Cuer de Lyon sonne of Henry the second he tooke to wife Berengaria daughter of Sanctius King of Nauarr. The next intermarriage wee finde to haue betweene those two Nations being England had thereby a Queene therein And so for other in like sort I will be more particular it was in the time of King Henry the third Henry the third raigned 56. yeares who of all the Kings of England since the conquest raigned longest and his troubles therein the greatest not any wayes occasioned by the marriage but for that he would rule and gouerne according to his will and lusts and not by his lawes those that desire to be more particularly informed thereof Stowe Hollinsh Speede. the story of his life written by many will giue them further and full satisfaction for so much as shall concerne marriages and other passages betweene England and Spaine I will onely contract my selfe This King when he had raigned 39. yeares with infinite and daily troubles of ciuill warres with his Barons hee was suddainly called to another seruice from home Alphonso King of Spaine The King of Spaine claimed Gascoyne claymed title to Gascoyne by vertue of a Charter from Henry the second confirmed by Richard and Iohn Kings of England Henry the third fearing the Gascoyners would draw in the Spaniards peaceably as it were in the manner of a Progresse repayred into Gascoyne King of England went into Gascoyney and from thence sent Ambassadors to the King of Spayne to desire that the Lady Elenor his sister might bee giuen in marriage to his sonne Prince Edward Ambassadors sent into Spaine to treat of a marriage which was after Edward the first this motion was well approued besides that they brought Letters Patents with them from the King of Spaine in which amongst all other clauses it was contained The King of Spaine released his claime to Gasconey that the King of Spaine did quit his claime and whole right which by vertue of any graunts from Henry Richard and Iohn Kings of England he had or ought to haue herevpon the King of England sendeth both for his Queene and his sonne whom the King of Spaine desired The King of Spaine sends for the Prince of England might be conuayed vnto him onely with a noble intent to see and doe him honour Among other acts of sincerity and loue Alphonso sent to the King of England good aduice that after the example of good Kings and Princes he should be a Lamb to his Subiects and Seruitors and a Lyon vnto Aliens and Rebels Soone after the Queene and her sonne arriuing in Gascoyne when all things were rightly prepared Prince Edward was thence presently sent into Spaine where at the Citie of Burges he married the Lady Elenor sister to the King with great honour The Prince of England marrieth with the King of Spaines sister hauing first receiued Knighthood at his hands which done returnes to Burdeux from whence they altogether came safe through Fraunce into England the King of Fraunce being not long before returned from the Holy land The Prince of England had great entertainment in Fraunce gaue them both safe conduct in their passage and did to him and all his whole company all the honour with triumphes and feasts which the wit of man or the goodly Kingdome of Fraunce could afford afterwards landed safely at Douer what treasure this noble young Princesse brought in portion to her husband our Writers haue not deliuered vnto vs but the king forthwith gaue to his sonne Gascoyne Ireland Bristowe Stamford and Grantham King Henry liued after the marriage of his sonne seauenteene yeares during which time this Spanish Lady carried her selfe The Spanish Lady a most vertuous Princesse as a most noble and worthy Princesse and afterwards being Queene a more renowned loyall and vertuous wife no age euer afforded This King Edward the first amongst many his enterprises of a Royall and Kingly resolution went in person to Warre against the Sarazenes where that renowned and vertuous Lady Elenor his wife did endure with him an vnseperable companion of all his fortunes and was at Acon deliuered of a daughter there baptized by the name of Ione shee is denoated by our owne Writers to be a matchlesse precedent of coniugall affection the King her husband being trayterously wounded by a Sarazen with a poysoned knife that when no medicine could extract the poyson this Lady Elenor whilest the King her husband slept With her tongue daily licked his ranckling wounds drawing forth the impoysoned matter that soone after hee was fully cured and shee fortunately preserued The King and Queene not long after taking their iourney together towards Scotland the Queene in her way thither-wards sickned and dyed in the yeare 1284. The king almost struck dead with sorrpw alters his resolution returnes backe towards London with a long and sorrowfull iourney in a slowe and stately manner shee being conuayed out of Lincolnshire towards London in her honour the king her husband who loued her aboue all worldly creatures caused those many famous Crosses to bee erected wheresoeuer her Royall corpes did rest Charing Crosse at Waltham St. Albones and Dunstable The King with his whole Nobility and Clergie in a pompeous and Royall manner meetes the body at Saint Albones and with a Noble and generall concourse of his Subiects brings it to the
Royall Sepulture of his Auncestors at Westminster and there in Saint Peters Church it was with all possible Royalty and magnificence honourably interred The King gaue vnto the Abbot there twelue large and rich Lordships charitably to giue Almes and deuoutly to pray for the blessed Queene vntill the worlds end Our owne Writers affirme of this Queene Speede. Walsing Camdens Britania to our Nation she was a louing mother and saith one the Columne and pillar as it were of the whole Realme shee added the vertues of a wife to her sex to them both her immortall fame is a glory and an honour to her Nation King Edward the third 1360. married his daughter Iohanna to Henry the second King of Castile sonne of Alphonsus the 11. Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster fourth sonne of King Edward the third did take to wife Constancia eldest daughter of Peter King of Castile To whom in right of his said wife Constancia the Kingdome of Castile and Leon did discend and they both stiled themselues King and Queene of Castile and Leon which illustrious title is yet to be seene vpon his noble monument in Saint Pauls Church in London Katherine the sole daughter of the said Duke of Lancaster by his aforesaid wife Constancia was married to Henry 1388. the third sonne of king Iohn of Castile and Leon. Edmund Duke of Yorke youngest sonne of king Edward the third 1391. married Isabella youngest daughter of Peter king of Castile King Henry the fourth married Iohanna the daughter of Charles king of Nauarr. 1403. The next intermarriage wee finde betweene England and Spaine was in the time of king Henry the seauenth his owne marriage his sonnes with Spaine and marriages of his daughters are the greatest acts of State our English Annalles doe afford vs first his owne marriage made a Vnion whereupon after the effusion of much bloud to the consumption of the greatest part of the English Nobility there followed and euer since continued a happy peace and then by the marriage of his daughter settled an vndoubted and permanent succession for the Crowne of England the blessed happinesse at this instant wee enioy All which with the patience of the Reader contrary to my intended resolution which was onely for the story of the Spanish matches I will a little digresse and briefly touch hauing one with another dependancy and coherence This king Henry the seauenth for his wisedome was said to be a second Salomon and lay somewhat heauie on his people and was Auncestor to our now Soueraigne who will peraduenture some way both for the mannaging of the State and marriage of his children make him a patterne and precedent But the difference is the more is our happinesse Henry the seauenth his gathering of treasure together was to heape vp in store as appeared being found at Richmond after his decease vnder his owne key and keeping eighteene hundred thousand pounds sterling A huge masse of money for those times Our king hath expressed his Royall and Princely bounty and exposed his treasure vpō important occasions wherevnto his Maiestie hath beene necessitated gathered vp from his Subiects but as showers of raine that falls backe vpon the earth againe But it hath beene of late and it is very like hence-forth it will be imployed to repay support and supply About the ninth yeare of king Henry the seauenth his raigne there was one Peter Hyalus an Ambassador A Spanish Ambassadour sent into England sent from Ferdinando and Isabella king and Queene of Spaine to treate of a marriage betweene Katherine their daughter and Prince Arthur sonne and heire of Henry the seauenth it was obserued this Hyalus was a man of great wisedome that through the present could see farre into the future which king Henry soone perceiued Hyalus instantly became in great fauour and estimation with him brought it so about and yet not seene therein that Hyalus was imployed for him into Scotland both about a treaty of peace as also a marriage for Margaret his eldest daughter with Iames the fourth then king of Scotland it was not king Henry his course to seeke peace at any Prince his hands But it was conceiued hee did it then as not louing the barren warres which hee thought would not bee worth his charge Hyalus so caried himselfe in those Ambassies that it was his master-peece which euer after gaue him the esteeme of an excellent workman which shall bee hereafter more particularly related The warres betweene the king of England and the king of Scots were then at the height when Hyalus was sent but comming as it were from the king and Queene of Spaine as from friends equally well affected to both parties to mediate a peace betweene the two kings of England and Scotland as also about a treaty or ouerture at least of a marriage which perhaps in their owne persons would not haue beene so easily brought about the point of honour might therevnto giue impeachment Hyalus so handled the point of his imployment that immediately after Bishop Foxe was sent as an Ambassadour into Scotland wherevpon followed an honourable truce and shortly afterwards a marriage concluded betweene the king of Scots and Margaret the eldest daughter of Henry the seauenth king of England so that Doctor Morton afterwards Cardinall and this Peter Hyalus the Spanish Ambassadour were two of the happiest instruments that euer were the one for composing and contriuing the marriage betweene king Henry the seauenth and Elizabeth the eldest daughter of Edward the fourth whereby the two houses of Yorke and Lancaster were vnited and Hyalus a fore-runner of good hap was therefore by some called an Elias being the first motiue and speciall meanes of the intermarriage betweene England and Scotland whereby we enioy our now Soueraigne whom God graunt long to raigne ouer vs. The Spaniards are obserued generally to be acute and ingenious and many of them of great wisdome and deepe iudgements some reason thereof conceiued for that they are freer from the dull discease of drinke then other Nations are The great Historians writes in this manner of them The Spaniards are more able Guichardine Biterus then either the French or Germanes to endure the actions of the body and to suffer the passions of the minde Their first founder was a Souldier therefore are they held naturally the more for warre Jgnatius and no Nation hath euer beene therein more exercised They haue a Spanish Prouerbe To haue peace with England doth vs betide warres with all the world beside These our auncient Writers affirme Droder Siculus lib. 6. Strabo lib. 3. Mila lib. 2. that the Spaniard is most patient in want hardnesse hunger thirst heat colde and all other toyle and trouble both of body and minde and most ready and resolute for loue of Country or honour to encounter all dangers whatsoeuer For the last particular wherein the Spaniard hath that height of commendation giuen him it neither can be any detraction or
by the Archbishop of Canterbury and she was euer after to be called the Queene Dowager few or none but are either so farre read in our English Chronicles or may obserue what afterwards became of the Popes vsurped Heptarchie in England and what further followed So here you haue heard the relation of the Story of this great Queene Katherine though infortunate was indeed a mirrour and example of wisedome integritie sincerity and all Royall and Princely vertues Yet it is vnlike but that before her comming ouet into this kingdome she might be detractiuely expostulated of and had not she beene as she is here discribed as the times afterwards were she would assuredly haue had her part of detraction from our Writers as they haue beene some way sparing of her due commendation After her separation and diuorce from the King there is little newes of her but that within some three yeares after at Kimbleton in the County of Huntington Queene Katherine deceased she there religiously liued and dyed and lyeth interred in the Cathedrall Church of Peterborough The next mariage betwixt England and Spaine King Philip the second came ouer into England and married Queene Mary Daughter to Henry the Eight which he had by Queene Katherine of Spaine That Mariage is yet so fresh in memory and amongst the countrie people is indeed a great occasion of producing those feares and doubts they seeme to apprehend these things I must acknowledge are too great a consequence of State for me to meddle withall yet vnder fauour as a Moderator I would willingly the country people should truly know and take it into their considerations that for those persecutions in Queene Maryes time it was thought she was much the more thereunto drawne by her two Bishops that were such bloud-hounds Gardener and Bonner King Phillip was both a mediator and Moderator what he could to stay them the which with the story of the mariage and other passages concerning the same I will here as our owne Writers haue affirmed briefly and truely relate Queene Mary her intent to marry with King Phillip she caused to be published Stephen Gardener then Lord Chancellour made a speech to the Nobilitie in the Chamber of presence setting forth the honour the riches and augmentation of Titles to the Crowne of England yet was it distastefull to many great feares and doubts instantly conceaued would follow as well the Church reformed as for the pollitique and State affaires of the kingdome The first beginners of commotion were Henry Duke of Suffolke and Sir Thomas Wyat making Proclaimations for the abandoning of strangers and to withstand the Queenes mariage with King Philip the reasons they further alleaged and published their proceedings and infortunate ends I leaue the reader to the perusall of their Stories by diuers Written at large The Queene remoued to the Tower The Queens mariage confirmed by Parliament Anno. 2. Ca. 2. Some of the Nobility and Commons much discontented The Queene sent Letters to giue them some content summons a Parliament wherein by Statute the mariage was confirmed to the great contentment comfort and ioy of the then time obseruers But some of the Nobilitie and the Commons for the most part were much grieued and discontented thereat These distastiue stomacks Queene Mary well perceauing therefore to giue them the more content she sent Letters signed with her owne hand into Wales charging the Lord President the Bishop of Oxford and Salisburie to intimate the benefit therof to the whole land as much as might be and especially London whose Lord Maior and Commons were sent for to whom the Lord Chancellour made a Speech told them how by the match all the Realme would be much intiched The Londoners became instantly for the mariage but especially London by their Trade and Traffique with Spaine that was enough not only to alter and reduce but to set them an edge beyond or at least equiuolent with all other respects or considerations whatsoeuer The Earle of Bedford and the Lord Fitzwaters King Phillip sent for were sent into Spaine to conduct King Phillip into England the Lord Admirall with twenty eight ships securing the seas the space of three moneths before All things thus ordered and Phillip in readinesse tooke shipping at Carone in Gallezia and with a Nauie of an hundred and fiftie sailed directed his course for the Queene vpon Friday the twenty day of Iuly he arriued at Southampton King Phillip landed in England and was the first man of the Fleete that set soote on the shore which no sooner done but he drew his Sword and bare it naked in his hand as he went The Earle of Arundle Steward of the Queenes house presented to his Highnesse the George and Garter and the Maior of the Towne of Southaempton the keyes of the Towne thither was sent the Lord Chancellour from the Queene and he againe of his Nobles sent to her who was on the way to Winchester to welcome himselfe Towards which City vpon Munday following he set forth being accompanied with the Marquesse of Winchester the Earles of Arundle Darby Worcester Bedford Rutland Penbroke and Surry the Lords Clynton Cobham Willoughbie Darcy Matreuers Talbot Strange Fitz-warren and North. The Spanish Nobles The Spanish traine were the Dukes of Aluer and Medina Cellina the Admirall of Castilla the Marquesse of Bergnes Piscara Sarra Valli Anguilar the Earles of Egmonde Horne Peria Chinchon Oliuares Saldana Medela Euente Sallida Landriano Castellar the Bishop of Cuenca and others so that more honourable Attendants had sildome beene seene Then there were Articles agreed on which were branched out into tenne propositions whereunto King Philip subscribed they were very honourable for England the perticulars of them I leaue the Reader to Mr. Speede his excellent compendious worke where the whole passages of this affaire and these Articles are at large related Then with the consent of all parties The matriage of King Philip and Queene Mary Anno 1554. the marriage with great state was solemnized at Winchester vpon Wednesday being the 25. of Iuly on Saint Iames day where the Emperours Ambassadours presently pronounced that in consideration of this marriage their Maister had giuen vnto his sonne Philip the Kingdomes of Naples and Ierusalem whereupon their titles by Garter King at Armes was solemnly proclaimed with these stiles as followeth Philip and Mary by the grace of God King and Queene of England Fraunce Naples Ierusalem and Ireland defender of the Faith Princes of Spaine and Cicill Archdukes of Austritch Dukes of Millane Burgundy and Brabant Counties of Haspurge Flaunders and Tyroll In Nouember following the marriage the Queene was reported to haue bene conceiued with Childe for ioy whereof Te Deum was commaunded solemnly to be sung and Processions and Prayers made for her safe deliuerance The Queene tooke her Chamber the Court was full of Midwiues and Gentlewomen Attendants Rockers were prouided the Cradle prepared and all made so certaine that some
the English onely to thanke God for their deliuerance If the Spaniards will forget and passe it ouer as being farre the greater loosers it is both charity and religion for the English to doe the like And the rather for that and such like hostile actions passing betweene the two Nations in the time of warre and now in peace in all Christian and religious considerations enuie and hatred should haue an end and not be continued States are subiect to the wheele times haue their turnings and great Princes themselues not free from calumny and detraction and many times with much agrauation therein For these particulars I will conclude with that graue and sage obseruation of Cornelius Tacitus that free tongued Romane that wrote they made it a custome to make Kings the instruments of oppression they may many times seeme so and yet they themseues of a most gracious and Royall disposition Queene Elizabeth therein not second to any and yet according to the fate and fashion of great princes by some great and graue Councellours neere about her and by some that could thriue onely by warre she was much swayed and ruled which she thought was no diminution to her commendation though it made not so much for her absolutenes yet it seemed she held it the more for her safety Let vs not be transported with passion and doubts beyond reason good ground or probability the Kings and Monarchies of England in their whole choise of wiues made from all parts of Europe were neuer more fortunate and happy in any then in those Royall Queenes which they had from Spaine The first in this Scene of honour shall be the Royall Queene Elenor wife to Edward the first formerly mentioned what was shee but the wonder and myracle of her Sex The next Queene Katherine wife first to Prince Arthur afterwards to Henry the eight shee was the cleare mirrour and example of wisedome integrity sanctity and all Royall and Princely vertues in all which she was farre more precious and excellent being so tryed as she was with the touchstone of fortune Constancia Izabella Beringaria and Ioanna Spanish Princes all these were proper and peculiar to our English Monarchy our owne Chronicles telleth vs no otherwise of them but that they were as so many glorious and conspicuous lights of matrimoniall faith loue piety and chastity And lastly King Philip the second that married Queene Mary our own Writers leaues him to posterity highly commended So that for those Princes that we haue formerly had from Spaine England hath had ioy and comfort of them we haue loued them and they vs. Wherefore should we now so much doubt and feare for the future the like successe vnlesse we will conclude our dispositions are growne worse and that the then times deserued a great part of their commendations So that here you may see that no Nations in former times did euer more faithfully and entirely loue each another or were in more straighter leagues and bonds of friendship vnited together then the English and Spaniards vntill by the late warre they were â—â—â—oynted Seuere iudgement threatens high places Sa. ca. 6.4.8 The greatest happinesse of great Kings and Princes is to make happy their Subiects and that happinesse on eath is esteemed greatest which commeth neerest to that in heanen consisting onely in the eternity of blessed peace then consequently those Princes must be deemed most blessed who doe chiefly direct their Royall cares and endeuours to bring glory to God on high peace and good will to those on earth Our now gracious King hath so gouerned vs this 21. yeares that we haue enioyed that happinesse as God hath beene truly honoured he obayed and we haue liued in quiet vnder our own Figge trees and Vines eating the fruites of our owne labour4s free from those calamities and miseries of warre some of our neighbour Nations are subiect vnto and by Gods grace he will so continue vs whereby he will be worthily held in the esteeme and deemed one of the most blessed Princes according to the position before mentioned How willing desirous and obseruant the Spaniards haue beene to bee in peace and amity with vs let the Reader but duly consider that which hath beene formerly related and for farther satisfaction to an ocular experience we late had thereof The Xing of Spaine his desire to be in league and amity with England No sooner then our now gracious Soueraigne came to the Crowne but the King of Spaine Philip the third instantly sent ouer his Ambassadours sought peace at his hands and had it which euer since hath beene religiously nobly muioable kept and so continued his sonne now King of Spaine Philip the fourth An ouerture of marriage long time in treaty for our now Royall Prince Charles with the Lady Maria daughter of the said Philip the third by him much desired and now as much as her brother Philip the fourth as it is generally conceiued that those two Royall Scepters should be now conioyned in the sacred knot and bond of marriage thereby to strengthen their auncient Alliances and make a perpetuall league and indissoluble confederation of blessed peace and friendship betwixt them Seeing many excellent learned men meerely out of zeale and some others wise and polliticke in the affaires of State that are true louers of their countrie haue written and spoken freely proposing doubts feares and dangers that may come and ensue to England with the mariage with Spaine and also others of both those sorts of like ranke and quality only in religion contrarily affected haue written and will speake as much for the approbation and commendation thereof proposing the infinite vnspeakable good the match may be to the Kingdome of England Without farther intermedling I will leaue those things to their learnings and iudiciall experiences that which I relate may be as materials for them to worke on and is intended but as home made stuffe for the Country people who in State affaires sees no farther then the Rhine and many of them wade not so deepe as into the point of Religion yet in their affections haue beene very auerse and expressed vnwillingnesse for our Princes Royall match I would herewithall cloathe or at least someway couer their bare opinions that there is no such great cause of feares doubts and dangers as they seeme to apprehend though the Spaniards were lately our enemies yet aunciently they were our friends and seeme to desire to be so againe to liue in league and amity with vs I would gladly so moderate and reclaime the disaffections of the common people that they might forget and remit all former occasions conceaued of distaste and not in their affections and discourses so disobe diently mutinie and dispute against our Soueraignes high commands and Royall intentions It is incident for men so to doe of some one of the dispositions following A kingdome composed of men of diuers humours and dispositions whereof some doe burne in hatred some busied in
kingdome as is generally feared Which collections I will here in my conclusion relate onely inuiting vnto them my countrie neighbours and friends and doe therein according to the fashion of Feasters wish their cheere better for their satisfaction Though the eyes of humane prouidence cannot see beyond that Horizon as directly to discerne future contingents yet can they onely iudge what seemes fit to be done by probabilitie grounded vpon mature consideration and profound iudgement therefore let vs not feare nor doubt but that by Gods infinite goodnesse and mercy the Kings great prouidence iudgement and integrity for religion there will be a gracious royall prouision and preseruation made Amongst the countrie people there is much feare and doubt conceiued the Pope in his power and prerogatiue being so predominant bth in Spaine and with other forraine Princes by them as Stales we may be drawne into that net The King that doth so much insist vpon his prerogatiue here in his owne kingdome that will not admit any dyminution therein that he should now giue way to haue it subiected to such a dangerous sorraine power there is no manner of likelyhood There haue beene many of our Kings of England Roman Catholik Princes that haue beene at difference with the Pope that were Roman Catholiques and other Forraine Princes yea and Spaine it selfe which I will here make bold to tell them wearied and tyred out with the insupportable pressures of the Pope haue beene at great difference with him at mortall enmity and open warre as namely Henry the fift the Emperour haning by the Popes instigation banded against his father Henry the fourth who associated him in the Empire and held him prisoner in that distresse that he died touched after with remorse of this act Note and reproach of the State for abandoning the rightes of the Empire leuies sixtie thousand foote and thirty thousand horse for Italy constrained the Pope and his Colledge to acknowledge the rights of the Empire in that forme as Leo the fourth had done to Otho the second and before that Adrian to Charlamaine according to the decree of the Councell of Rome and made him take his oath of fidelity betweene his hands as to the true and lawfull Emperour The Pope so soone as Henry was departed home assembles a Councell nullifies his acknowledgement as done by force and shortly after died The Emperour to make himselfe the stronger against his successors Note enters into aliance with the King of England takes to wise Maude the daughter to Henry the first being but fiue yeares of age Calixti the next succeeding Pope at a Councell held at Remes by ecclesiasticall sentence caused Henry the Emperour to be declared an enemy to the Church and degraded him of his Imperiall dignity The King of England seeing this Councell was held in France composed chiefly of the Gallicane Church desirous to ouer-master Louis the King of France incenses his sonne in Law the Emperour to set vpon him as the Popes chiefe piller on one side and he would assaile him on the other The Emperour easily wrought to such a businesse prepares all his best forces the King of England doth the like The King of France seeing this storme comming so impetuously vpon him wrought so with the princes of Germante as they taking into their consideration the future mischiefe of a warre rashly and vnaduisedly taken with the importance of a kinde neighbourhood aduised the Emperour not to enter thereinto till he had signified to the King of France the causes of his discontent Whereupon Embassadours were dispatched to the King of France who answers that he grieued much to see the two greatest pillers of the Church thus shaken with those dissentions which might hazzard the ruine of the whole Frame that he was a friend to them both and would labour and endeauour all he could to mediate an attonement rather then adde fewell to a fire too fierce already which he desired to extinguish for the good and quiet of Christendome This Ambassage and answer so tooke that the Emperour was diuerted from his former resolution and was glad to haue Louis a mediator of the accord betweene the Pope and him which shortly after was concluded at Wormes for the Popes aduantage to whom the Emperour yeelds vp the right of the inuestitures of Bishops and other benefices The King of England expecting great matters to haue risen by this businesse was highly displeased being so disappointed of the Emperours assistance proceedes notwithstanding in his intentions against Louis Betweene them there were many great conflicts with the expence of much bloud and charges which is the onely fruit warre affordeth but in the end both wearied and tyred out a peace was concluded Then of late yeares as it hath beene here formerly related in the raigne of King Philip the second there was enmity and open warres betweene Pope Paul and the Spaniard The Pope besieged and confined within the walls of Rome by Duke Alua relieued by the French King yet fell from him and reconciled himselfe to the Spaniard as to the stronger side That the Pope cannot erre in matter of faith his power to depose Kings and dispose of Kingdomes are two mayne positions the Papists holde both which I humbly leaue to our Diuines to deale with them therein But for those two particulars here now mentioned and many other former passages of the Pope the vulgar may iudge In the time of Queene Elizabeth did familiarly and freely giue Bishopricks in Ireland but those that had them so giuen could neuer gaine possession Then farther there can be no such feares doubts for the alteration of Religion as is apprehended if we take into consideration these particulars following First we hauing a well ordered and well gouerned Kingdome where Religion is established Rites and Ceremonies ordained and by a long vse and custome receiued and confirmed the many apparent probabilities of the Kings integrity the many rare and worthy learned men that are in the Kingdome considered The King though Prince-like for his recreations and that his affections haue beene caried with some delights and pleasures yet hath he been so studious that he is learned beyond expectation and custome of great Princes and for his integrity it is of fifty seauen yeares growth hath made thereof many religious worthy expressions both by his learned works and words and indeede hath shot such arrowes which will hang in the sides of the Romish Religion in after ages as he is Defender of the Faith by title he will so continue in truth The first that had the Title was Henry the eight giuen him by Pope Leo the tenth for writing against Luther After his conuersion and suppression of Popery yet retayned he that stile and afterwards during the raignes of Edward the sixth the late famous Queene Elizabeth and our now Soueraigne it hath beene continued and doubtlesse by him will be maintained Amongst many his worthy expressions of himselfe therein
deliuered them by their Druides These things being they concerne the breach of the league betweene England and Spaine may be thought too deepe and of too great a consequence of State to be medled withall I hope I shall minister no cause of offence nor innouation but rather giue satisfaction and occasion moderation For here I obserue in the Country the Papists in their discourses magnifying the Royall proceedings of King Philip and the Spaniards in generall lay some taxe and aspersion vpon the late Queene Elizabeth which is very harsh and much displeasing to the Protestants And then on the other side they vrge and agrauate against the Spaniards with much bitternesse and thereupon they fall into expostulation Pro Gon of the Princes match neither vnderstanding nor taking into their considerations more or farther then to make good their owne part conceit which breedeth difference amongst our selues maketh and maintaineth a partition wall betwixt the English and the Spaniards in such loue as should be betwixt Subiects whose Soueraignes are in league amity That the Commons might not so disobediently in their affections muteny against that which the King hath so laboured and doth so much desire to bring to passe as also for their so much expostulation thereof the scope of my endeuours onely end and ayme of my ambition is that these my labours might occasion some moderation therein For the better accomplishing thereof and giuing the better satisfaction in those particulars I will here relate some obseruations which the Papists haue formerly collected and vsually in their discourses will vrge them the vsage and carriage of the Spaniards towards the English and other Nations and the English towards them with some other former passages betweene the two Nations I could wish the Commons would beleeue these things so farre forth as their owne knowledge or true informations doe not extend the contrary and the Papists to doe the like for that which is here alleaged either concerning the late Queene Elizabeth or the King of Spaine neither part to be transported with passion but of those things to make a fauourable and the best construction and mutually to take them into a charitable and reconciliable consideration The particulars are as followeth The Papists alleage The Papists collections that King Phillip had a great desire to continue in league and amity with England and that after he returned into Spaine constantly maintained the same for thirty yeares together would neuer hearken to giue assistance to any the discontented English Nobility that would haue rebelled and in the yeare 1568. absolutely denyed aide to the Earles of Northumberland and Westmerland and the Lord Dacres when they rose vp in rebellion in the North parts of England how the King afterwards to wit in the yeare 1575 for contenting her Maiesty at the Perswasion of some of his own Officers but namely the Cōmendador Maior that forthe present gouerned Flaunders was content to yeeld to the banishment of all English Papists out of his estate in Flaunders for the space of two years though he paid them alwaies their pensions to liue on as before And for the same consideration of friendship with the Queene and for keeping his league he denied diuers yeares help to the Irish that desired the same as namely in the yeare 1578. to Sir Iames Fitz-Morris and Sir Thomas Stukely Siukley slaine and to the later of them when afterwards he with some 5. or 600. men that he brought from Italy the King would not grant so much as a port in Spain to enter into wherby he was forced to passe to Lisborne where finding the King of Poxtugall ready to goe with his Army to Barbarie he could not refuse to goe with him was there slaine Sir Iames Fitz-Morris returning againe the next yeare to aske succours for the Irish to haue from Spaine some forces to carie for Ireland denied the same againe vntill at the last at the carnest suite of the Pope for that Doctor Saunders vpon his extreame zeale had aduentured to goe thither before in person to comfort the Irish not hauing with him aboue 50. men the King was contented to winke at and say nothing whiles Sega the Bishop of Placentia the Popes Nuncio vnder certaine of the Italian Captaines did send thither some fiue hundred Souldiers taken vpon the Sea coasts of Italy which were those that were slaine by the Lord Gray in Ireland Then doe the Papists farther vrge the Queenes taking of Flushing Brill and Oste-end and other Townes in Flaunders and likewise the assisting and countenancing of Duke Mathias at his first comming and after Monsicur Duke of Alenson and likewise the setting vp the title of Don Antonio King of Portugale and sending him into his Country with an Army The intercepting the King of Spaine his money first in the Duke of Alua his time and many times afterwards the sending of Hawkins Frobrisher Drake and Candish and others to the Indies and some of them euen to Spaine it selfe For which there were speciall Commissions graunted that whatsoeuer could be taken from the Spaniards to be held as lawfull reprisalls and those Commissions to be specified in Stowe his Chronicles Then they alleadge The breach of the peace between England Spaine that the King of Spaine did thereupon make arrests of the English ships then instantly grew enmity and oepn warres and afterwards viz. in the yeare 1588. the King of Spaine with his great Fleete attempted the inuasion of England which yet with many the English is too fresh in memory The Papists farther vrge and haue collected that in Nouember 1591. Queene Elizabeth published a strict Proclamation for searching out apprehending and punishing of Seminaries and Iesuites and such as receiued and fauoured them in England sharpe seuere lawes made and executed vpon them and further both to put feares and doubts into the heads of the Commons as also to exasperate them against the Spaniards Farther vrging that the King of Spaine his great power forces and wealth were dangerous to England possessing more Crownes Kingdomes and countries then euer any Christian Prince had before and yet ambitiously seeketh more endeauouring to make himselfe absolute Monarch of the world and that his cariage towards other Princes and their subiects was tyrannous and those nations which he subdued were cruelly dealt withall and kept in great slauery The Papists for all these particulars hane collected appologicall defences which in their arguments and discourses they will much insist vpon to the high commendations of the Kings of Spaine their royall and gratious proceedings with other Princes and towards their subiects as also with their owne which are as followeth First they propose and recommend it to consideration For the conceaued opinion amongst the English that the Kings of Spaine their gouernment is strict or rather indeed somewhat cruell the maine occasion thereof is The countries dominions and territories are very large and spacious many of them atchieued by