acknowledge that they who are thus punished â—or their mad tricks may not be accompted Martyrs but yet they will say that these things ought not to belong to the Emperour to punish Iust as the Papists say the punishment of their Clergie belongeth not to the Magistrate I demand then sayth Augustin Whether they thinke that the superior powers ought not to haue care of Religion of punishing false religion The Apostle saith The works of the flesh are manifest which are adaltery fornicatioÌ„ vncleannes wantonnes idolatry witch-craft hatred debate emulation wrath contentions seditions heresies envie murthers drunkennesse gluttony and such like What reason can these men render why it should be justice for the Empeperours to punish Idolaters Murtherers and such and not by the same reason to be like justice in them to punish heretiques When as they are accompted in the same fruits of iniquitie Someruill was found strangled in the prison For feare belike that he might haue discovered moe Ardern being condemned was hanged the next day This is the common end that Priests bring such Gentlemen vnto who are willing to heare them and be perswaded by them The next yeare after for seldome did any yeare passe without some treason some English Gentlemen began to practise the deliverance of the Queene of Scots Francis Throgmorton fell first into suspition by certaine Letters intercepted written to the Queene of Scots As soone as he was committed to prison and beganne to confesse something presently Thomas Lord Paget and Charles Arundell a Courtier secretly fled the land and went into France These men meeting with other devoted to the Roman Religion did much complaine recounting their sorrowes among themselues that the Queene was estranged from them without their fault by the cunning of Leicester and Walsingham that them selues were exposed to vnworthy contumelies ignominies that singular tricks were found out and secret snares laid so cunningly that improvident men will they nill they must needs be intangled in such snares that to remaine at home there could be no safety for them It was thought at this time that some cunning was practised to feele mens affections and that counterfeit Letters were written vnder the name of the Scots Queene and of some fugitiues knowne traytors to the State which Letters might be left in the houses of Recusans and that spies were sent abroad to gather rumors and to catch suspitions Diverse were drawne into snares Among others Henry Earle of Northumberland and his sonne Philip Earle of Arundell was commanded to keepe his house his wife was committed to Sr Thomas Shirly to be kept and Henry Howard the Dukes brother was often examined of Letters sent from the Scots Queene from Charles Paget and from one Mope then vnknowne Some blamed the narrow searching of things and the manner of drawing men into danger Others thought that all the means that might be vsed to prevent the Queenes danger and to saue her life was but necessary And indeed the outragious maliciousnes of the Papists against the Queene brake out daily for by Bookes imprinted they exhorted the Queenes maides and Ladies of honor to doe the same against the Queene which Iudith did against Holofernes The Author of that Booke was not found Gregory Martin was suspected a man learned in the Greeke and Latin tongues and chosen by the Duke to be the bringer vp of his children Carter the Stationer that caused the Books to be Printed was punished for it The Queene that was much traduced for crueltie knowing her owne mildnes and desirous to leaue a good remembrance of her name behinde her was much offended with the Iudges of the Papists apprehended if they passed any cruell sentences against them which might be iniurious to her honor Insomuch that they were forced to excuse themselues by publike writings wherein they protested that the Priests were much more mildly vsed then they deserved that no question of Religion was moued to them but onely of such pernicious machinations against their Country against their Prince whereof they were either found guiltie or by the discovery of others suspected That Campian was never so racked but that presently he was able to walke or to subscribe to his confessions But for Briant who stubbornly denied to vtter by speech or by writing who was the man that wrote these secret things which were found about him to this man meat was denied vntill by writing he would aske it For all this the Queene was not satisfied and therefore she commanded the Examiners to abstaine from tormenting men and the Iudges from punishing And short after she commanded seventie Priests to be sent out of England whereof some were condemned to die all of them were intangled within the danger of the lawes The chiefe of these were Gasper Haywod the sonne of Haywod the Epigrammatist who of all the Iesuites first entred England Iames Bosgraue which was also a Iesuit Iohn Hart the most learned among them with whom Doct Reinolds had conference and Edward Rishton a wicked and vngrateful man who wrote a Booke presently after shewing forth the poyson of a cankred heart against the Queene to whom he owed his life The Lord Paget and Arundell who went into France were narrowly observed there by Edward Stafford the Ambassadour Leiger there for Queene Elizabeth but he could not find out what they practised yet he dealt with the French King that they Morgan and some other English fugitiues who were knowne to be practisers against their Prince and their Country might be thrust out of France But it was answered that if they practised any thing in France the King would by law punish them but if they had practised any thing in England that of such things the King could take no notice nor by law punish them that all Kingdomes were free for fugitiues that it behooued Kings to maintaine their owne liberties That Elizabeth not long before had admitted into her Kingdome Montgomery the Prince of Condie and others of the French Nation and that Segneres Ambassadour of the King of Navarre was in England practising of some things that concerned the French state In the meane time Bernardinus Mendoza the King of Spaine his Ambassadour for England stole fecretly into France fretting and fuming that he was thrust out of England by a violation of the right of an Ambassadour When as indeed he was a man of a troublesome spirit and had abused the reuerend right of Ambassadours by the practises of treason against this State wherein he was He was commanded to depart out of the realme whereas many thought fit that he should haue beene with some severity censured for violating the office of an Ambassadour For he had practised with Throgmorton and others to bring in strangers into England to invade the land and to remoue the Queene And being gently reprooued for these things he was so far from offering to excuse these things with a modest answer that he began to accuse the
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
Castles by sleight and trechery and wrote to Spaine that the best course is to take Zealand before the more inner Provinces And being prone to beleeue that which he desired he wrote that England might be had with greater ease then Zealand and he laboured by Escouedus to perswade the Spanish King But the Queene seeing all tend to warre in the Netherlands entred a league with the States for mutuall helpe and sent Thomas Wilkes into Spaine to complaine of the headdy courses of the Duke of Austria And in the meane time prepared for warre But behold when Don Iohn was in the height of his pride and ambition in the flower of his age in the middest of busines and preparations he died on a suddain as some thought of the Plague Some thought that vpon griefe that he was not so respected of the King his brother he ended his foolish ambition with his life afterthat he had embraced in his ambitious desire the Kingdome of Tunis wherevpon Guleta was lost in Africa and after that the Kingdome of England and had confirmed a league with the Guysians without the knowledge of the French and Spanish Kings for defence of both Crownes Thus was the enemy disappointed the Queene the Land the Church preserved And haue we not cause to remember these Workes of God and to giue God the glory of his own worke that is of delivering his Church England was as a Stage wherevpon diverse entred to play their parts one after another The part that they played was alwayes treason some was kept farther off by Gods providence to doe lesse harme some brought the danger nearer home But GOD taking the protection of his Church in England none prevailed And could any other power but the power and protection of God preserue a Land from so many so deadly dangers Let all mouthes be stopped and let this continuall course of deliverance be acknowledged the worke of God CHAPTER IIII. THE next man that came vpon this Stage was Thomas Stucley but the malice that he and the Pope by his employment intended against England was turned cleane another way by GODS providence Thomas Stucley an English-man borne when he had spent his estate in ryot prodigality and base meanes went into Ireland An 1570. And gaping for the Stewardship of Wexford and missing the same began to vtter contumelâ—ous words against the best deserving Prince but he was contemned as one that could doe no hurt From Ireland he went into Italy to Pius V. Pope It is a thing incredible what favour he got with the old Pope that breathed nothing but the destruction of Elizabeth Stucley with magnificent ostentation as he was a man singular in ostentation made the Pope beleeue that with three thousand Italians he would driue the English out of Ireland and bâ—rne the Queenes Navy And indeed these things he most wickedly attempted afterward but to his owne destruction Pius V. having procured all the troubles that possibly he could against Queene Elizabeth seemed to die for spite that he could not hurt her After him suceeded Gregory 13. This Pope had secret consultations with the King of Spaine for the invading of Ireland and England both together Meaning vnder the maske of Religion to serue their owne ambitious endes The Popes end was to make his sonne Iames Boncampagno whom he had lately made Marquesse of Vineola now King of Ireland The Spanyardes end was secretly to helpe the Rebells of Ireland as Elizabeth did the Dutch and in faire words intertaine a shew of friendship on both sides The King of Spaine had a farther reach even to get the Kingdome of England by the Popes authoritie that from thence he might with â—â—ore ease tamâ— the Dutch that were confederate against him This he found hard for him to doe vnlesse he were Lord of the Seas which he saw he could not be vnlesse he had England And there was no doubt but as he owed the Kingdomes of Naples Sicily Navarre to the beneficence of the Pope so with all his heart he would haue held England by the like fauour They knowing that the greatest strength of England stood in the navy of the Queenes shippes and Merchants shippes which were also built and framed for the vse of warre thought that the best way to lessen the Naviâ— was to set on the Merchants of Italy and Netherlands to hire many of the Merchants shippes seeking diverse seuerall pretenses and hauing hired them to send them vnto the farthest Navigations that whilst these are absent the Queenes Navy might be overthrowne with a greater Navy And then at the same instant Thomas Stucley the English fugitiue might ioyne his forces with the rebels of Ireland Stucley a bare-worne deceiver did no lesse cousin this next succeeding Pope then he had done his predecessor with admirable bragges He promised the Kingdome of Ireland to the Popes bastard sonne and got such favour with the old ambitious Pope that he honored him with the titles of Marquesse of Lagen Earle of Wexford and Caterloghe Vicount of Morough and Baron of Ross. These be famous places in Ireland And made him generall of DCCC Italian Souldiers the King of Spaine paying their stipends and so sent him into the Irish warre Stucley came with these to Portingale to the mouth of Tagus purposing to subdue Ireland But the purpose of God was otherwise And that which the Pope and Spanyard had with such deliberation proiected was by the councell of God dissipated and brought to nothing For Sebaâ—tian King of Portugall to whom the chiefe conduct of the forces against England was committed for this Prince puffed vp with a heat of youth and ambition had long before offred all his power to the Pope to be imployed against Mahumetanes and Proteâ—tants was then intised and drawne by many great promises of Mahomet sonne of Abdalla King of â—ess vnto the African warre Sebastian being thus drawne from the English Warres another way dealt with Stucley that first of all he would carry his Italian souldiers into Mauritania Stucley finding the Spanish King not against this proiect for the Spanyard disdeined that the Popes Bastard should be King of Ireland went with Sebastian into Mauritania and was killed in that memorable battell wherein three Kings Sebastian Mahomet and Abdall-Melech were all slaine And so Stucley had too honorable an end of a dishonorable life By the death of Sebastian the Spanyard was cleane drawn away from thinking of the English invasion for a time and set all his forces vpon the invasion of Portugall If this occasion had not drawne away the Spanyard a great tempest of Warre should haue fallen vpon England if any credit may be given to the English fugitiues for they declared that those hug Armies which the Spanyard had provided against England out of Italy were now all to be imployed vpon the subduing of Portugaâ—l neither would he be by any meanes peâ—swaded then to thinke of the English invasion albeit the
a breach yet others followed lowed as desperate as the first And would not vnderstand that they ventured both soule and body in the cause of the Pope against Christ for such is the cause of treason being commanded by the Pope and forbidden by Christ. The Priests and Iesuites at this time spent all their learning and skill to stirre vp rebellion in England giving out in corners and in publique Printing Bookes to declare that the Pope and King of Spain had conspired that England should be overthrowne left as a prey This was done of purpose to confirme their owne side and to deterre others from their obedience to their Prince Wherevpon the Queene set out a Proclamation signifying that she had never made attempt vpon any Prince onely defended her own not invading the Provinces of other Princes though she had beene provoked with wrongs and invited by opportunitie If any Princes should oppugne her she doubted not but by Gods favour she should defend her owne and had therefore Mustered her Forces by Land and Sea and was readie against any hostile incursion She exhorteth her faithfull subiects to hold their faith alleagance firme to God their Prince Gods Minister For others that had shaken off the loue of their Countrey and obedience to their Prince She commandeth them to carry themselues modestly and not to provoke the severitie of iustice for she would no longer indure sparing of evill men least so she might be cruell against the good Among the Iesuites that came then into England Robert Parsons and Edmond Campian were chiefe they had procured a temper or qualification of the Bull of Pius V. obtained of Greg. 13. in these words Let petition be made to our holy Father that the Bull declaratory of Pius V. against Elizabeth and her adherents be interpreted which the Catholikes desire to be vnderstood so that it binde her and heretiques alwayes but not Catholiques things standing as they doe But onely then when the publike execution of the Bull may be had These foresaid favours the Pope granted to Robert Parsons and Edmond Campian now ready to goe into England the 13. day of Aprill 1580. in the presence of Oliver Manarcus assisting This was procured to giue some content to the Recusants that were offended at the publication of the Bull and found that it did them more harme then good Parsons and Campian came secretly into England and changed their exterior habit and apparel that they might the better passe vnknowne Somtimes they went like ruffians somtimes like ministers somtimes like noble men somtimes like souldiers somtimes like apparitours they walked secretly from Recusants houses to Recusants houses and did in words and writings roundly set forward the businesse for which they came Parsons was the superior a man of a seditious and turbulent spirit armed with audaciousnesse he brake out so farre among the Papists against the Queene as to propose the proâ—ect of deposing of her In so much that some Papists themselues as they themselues hauâ— said did thinke to haue delivered him into the hands of the Magistrate Campian was somewhat more modest yet by a Booke which he had much laboured and brought with him which as himselfe sayth might be taken with him if he were apprehended did provoke the Ministers of the Church of England to disputation the Booke was Intituled A Booke of ten Reasons or Arguments written politely in Latin to confirme the doctrines of the Church of Rome Parsons wrote more virulently against Mr Charke who had written soberly against Campians prouocation but Campians ten reasons were throughly and solidly answered by Dr Whittaker Campian was taken and brought to disputation where it was found that in learning and knowledge he came farre short of that expectation which himselfe had raised of himselfe the whole disputation was afterward set forth in Print In the meane time many threatnings were published against the Church and State of England and much speech was of the Pope and the Spanyards preparations to subdue England By which manner of proceedings it may appeare that the end why these other such were sent into England was not to draw men to God but to betray the Land to strangers for these men cared not what became of England so the Church of England might be displanted and Popery set vp againe For which purpose we may obserue the Colledges for Seminaries set vp at Rhemes and Rome These Colledges did strangely swarue from the end and foundation of the ancient Colledges The ancient Colledges were founded for learning and Religion these for meere faction the ancient Colledges were for the furtherance of godlinesse and piâ—tie these for the practises of â—ngodlinessâ— and vngracious treasons Let no man tell me that the ancient Colledges were founded by Papists so were these Seminaries and therefore for the maintenance of the same Religion for this is nothing but colouring and daubing of their new practises from the sight of the ignorant for all their hope is in the ignorance of men hoping that they shall haue the greatest part because the greatest part are ignorant But now God in his mercy hath so plentifully revealed the truth the ignorance of men is not so great as the Papâ—sts would haue it for men are taught to know that in the Councell of Trent there hath beene hatched a new birth of Popery Where they haue changed the rule of faith which was ever maintained in the Church of Rome before that time Wherevpon there followeth a change of the Church a change of Religion They that founded the ancient colledges knew not this new Church this new Religion which is newly hatched in the Trent Councell Therefore these late Colledges of Seminaries are founded vpon a new Religion This new Râ—ligion of Rome is nothing but the practâ—se of Treasons against States Surely it must be a sâ—rangâ— Religion that must be maintained by vngodly practises There was never any Religion that allowed such practises And herein the Papists exceed the Heathen who being guided onely by the light of nature yet haue disallowed such vngodly and vngracious practises which the Papists vse Let all men consider whence this new Religion of Rome proceedeth that in vngodly practises is founded and maintained that all such practises proceed from the devill no man can doubt that God hath preserved this Church of England from all these practises this is that which causeth vs to trust in God and to giue all the glory of our deliverance to his holy name Edmond Campian Ralfe Sherwin Luke Kirby Alexander Briant were taken in the yeare 1581. and being brought to iudgement were accused of treason against the Queene and State that they were directed by the Pope came into England to stirre vp sedition and to make a strong partie and herevpon they were condemned as offending against the lawes Campian was demanded whether he tooke Queene Elizabeth to be Queene of England by right and law to that he refused to answer
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
by the great and admirable applause and affections of all good men from the highest to the lowest of England And declaring his constant resolution for the maintenance of Religion deferred his Coronation till Saint Iames day In the meane time some vnquiet spirits entred into a conspiracy their vaine hopes for aduancing of their Religion failing their designe as is said was to surprize the King and Prince Henry Of forces they presumed meaning to retaine them prisoners in the Tower and with treasures therin to maintaine their intent or to carry them to Douer Castle and there by violence either to obtaine their owne pardons a tolleration of Religion and a remouall of some Counsellors of state or else to put some other proiect in execution To conceale this treason Watson the Priest deuised oathes for secrecie and himselfe with Clark another Priest taught that the act was lawfull being done before the Coronation for that the King was no King before hee was annointed and the Crowne solemnly set vpon his head The other persons inuolued in this practise were Henry Brooke Lord Cobham Thomas Lord Gray of Wilton Sir Walter Ralegh Sir Griffin Markham Sir Edward Parham George Brooke Bartholomew Brookesby and Anthony Coply All which were apprehended and committed The sicknesse being then rife in London the Tearme was kept at Winchester the place designed for their arraignement whether they were conueied vnder strong guard The first brought to triall was George Brooke brother to the Lord Cobham Sir Griffin Markham Sir Edward Parham Brooksly Coply Watson and Clark The inditement was that they had conspired first to destroy the King then to raise rebellion to alter Religion to subuert the State to procure forraine inuasion These their intents they had made known to the Lord Gray whom they intended to make Earle Marshall of England Watson Lord Chancelour Georke Brookes Lord Treasurer Markham Secretary that with the King the Lords also should be surprized in their Chambers at Greenwich and the Lord Maior and Aldermen of London should be sent for and so shut vp in the Tower George Brooke answered that he had commission from the King to doe that he did onely to trie faithfull subiects but being required to shew his Commission hee could produce none Sir Griffin Markham excepting onely the imputation of bloud confessed his offence penitently alledging it was through a discontented minde and desired the Lords to bee a meane to the King for mercy Watson and Clark the former of which confessed that he had drawne all those Gentlemen into those plots like true Roman Priests auerred that they held the King for no King vntill hee was crowned and therefore it could not be treason alledging that Saul was no King till hee was chosen in Mispeh though hee had beene annointed in Ramoth by the Prophet Samuel Neither Ieroboam who in the dayes of Salomon had beene confirmed by the Prophet to raigne ouer Israel vntill the people made him King vpon the foolish answere of Rehoboam making no difference betweene the mediate and ordinary succession of lawfull Kings in Common-wealths established and those which God himselfe extraordinarily aduanced to be scourges to an vngratefull land It was tould them that in England the King neuer dieth that there is no interregnum that the Coronation is but a ceremony to shew the King to the people Two dayes after was Sir Walter Ralegh brought to the barre hee was indited for combining with the Lord Cobham his accuser as it was said in the foresaid designes he pleaded not guilty and so stood for his purgation Hee pleaded for himselfe a long time and with some admiration of men who thought that a man of such vnderstanding would hardly bee drawne into a plot so foule and so foolish yet hee was found guilty and had sentence of death The like iudgement a few dayes after passed vpon the Lord Cobham and Gray arraigned on two seuerall dayes The former was indited for combining with Sir Walter Ralegh and George Brooke to procure forces from the King of Spaine and the Arch-Duke for inuasion the other for ioyning with the foresaid Priests Knights and Gentlemen in their conspiracies Sir Edward Parham was only acquitted by the Iury. Of the rest onely three died Watson Clark and George Brooke Watson had before in Print laid open at large the treasonable practises of the Iesuites and at his death left this suspition on them that they in reuenge had cunningly drawne him into this action which brought him to his end After this the Lords Cobham and Gray and Sir Griffin Markham were by a Warrant to be executed the Friday next But the King inclined to mercy sent at the day appointed a Pardon for them the manner whereof was such as gaue vnexpected ioy to them that looked for nothing but death The Pardon was brought to the place where they were to be executed by Master Gibb a Gentleman so secretly that none present vnderstood any thing thereof Sir Griffin Markham was first brought to the Scaffold erected in the Castle Greene and made himselfe ready for the stroke of the Axe When secretly Master Gibb deliuered to the High Shiriffe the Kings warrant to the contrary who vnderstanding his Maiesties intent tooke backe the prisoner as if he were first to confront the two Lords vpon some seruice of the King and brought him vnto the Castle Hall Then was the Lord Gray brought forth who hauing poured out his prayers vnto God at length kneeling downe for the stroke of death the Sheriffe bad stay telling the Lord that some further seruice was expected of him and thereupon led him likewise into the Castle Hall The Lord Cobham was last brought forth who being in preparation and prayers the Lord Gray and Sir Grâ—ffin were brought backe againe All the three prisoners appearing together on the Scaffold the Sheriffe notified his Maiesties warrant for the stay of the execution At which example of Clemency vnexpected both of the prisoners and spectators there arose great shoutes of the people crying God saue the King The condemned wished that they might sacrifice their liues to redeeme their faults and to repurchase so mercifull a Prince his loue This attempt seemed to be a matter of lesse danger because there appeared neither strength to act the businesse intended nor heads to carry it But our thankfulnesse must appeare to God for our least deliuerances It is certaine by their confessions that a great mischiefe was intended howsoâ—uer they might seeme vnable to effect it And this we may obserue that no treason was euer attempted without a Romish Priest The treasons attempted in England haue that proper and peculiar marke to haue a Priest in the practise CHAPTER XVI NOw I enter vpon a Narration which may fully open our aduersaries to the world wherein appeareth the profundity of malice and cruelty and vngodlinesse and whereby all men may vnderstand by what spirit these men are led The Histories of former times containe no example
King when armies were sent to them intertaining the armies in all obedience opening their gates shewing all loue and friendship to the Spanish armies were of a suddaine surprised and brought to vtter ruine The Spaniards killing and massackring all taking their goods abusing their wiues and daughters as the manner of such barbarous men is in a new conquest exâ—rcising more cruelties against their professed friends then they could doe to their enemies Such barbarous cruelties were practised against the Townes of Machlin Maestrich Zutphen Naerden Antwerp and others who were their friends agreeing in the same religion with them holding as then their obedience firme to the King yet were they spoyled killed ransacked and overthrowne like enemies Which strange cruelty declared that it was not religion that moved this cruelty but that which the Duke D'Alva did openly professe that the King must hold all the Low-Countries by a new conquest that so he might change the governement and impose what lawes he would It may seeme a strange vse of the Popes Authority which King Philip made when from the Pope he got a dispensation of that oath which he had taken at his entrance into the Low-Countries This is an vse of a Pope fit indeede for them that would doe whatsoever they list without conscience or the feare of Gods lawes or mans If such an vse may be made of the Popes power then Popish Princes must needes in the sight of the world seeme to haue a great advantage over others But if they may so dispense at their pleasure with oathes and promises then may all those of their religion see plainely that there are neither humane nor divine bands or securitie that can binde Papists for when they please the Pope will free them from all bands of conscience from the lawes of God of man of nature of nations But God will not be thus served And therefore by Gods iust iudgements they that rely vpon such vngodly practises loose more in the ende then they gaine by such profane dealings This was the cause of their troubles in the Low Countries That state being then so troâ—bled could yeelde no helpe to Queene Elizabeth yet did shee yeelde helpe to them The King of Denmarke and the Protestants in Fraunce were not able to helpe her nor to helpe themselues without her meanes This must needes be acknowledged an extraordinary blessing of God to make her able to withstand the greatest enemies and to helpe all that were distressed for Religion This famous Queene though troubled by forraine states in the beginning of her Raigne yet had great peace and quietnes at home This was the fruit of true religion her Subiects lived in peace and tranquilitie no motions then attempted Only in the fourth yeare of her Raign Arthur Poole and his brethren comming of the race of George Duke of Clarence who was brother to Edward the fourth and Antony Fortiskue who married their sister with some other of that conspiracie were brought to their tryall for that they had conspired to flie to the Gâ—ise into France and thence to come with an Armie into Wales and there to declare the Scottish Queene to be Queene of England and Arthur Poole Duke of Clarence All which they freely confessed at their tryall yet protesting that it was not their purpose to execute this designe as long as Queene Elizabeth lived who as they supposed should dye within a yeare for so some cosening Astrologians had told them Whereupon they were condemned yet their liues were spared in respect of their blood Wherein wee may acknowledge the goodnes of God in discovering such a plot before it tooke strength and the noble nature of the Queene that dealt so nobly with her owne blood Thus the Land within rested in great quietnes for some yeares The Church was established and increased learning flourished godlines and true pietie prevailed Popish ignorance was driven into corners The Papists that then were were content to keepe themselues quiet Either they kept their Religion private to themselues or els they came to our Churches as most of them did But the enemy of all goodnesse envying this peaceable state of England stirred vp the Pope to giue occasion to new troubles and to wrap the Kingdome into dangers Whereby as the Church hath beene more troubled then it was before so the Papists haue got nothing by the bargain but lost much by stirring vp the peaceable inclinatioÌ„ of the Prince against them and by provoking the State to make severe lawes to curbâ— them Who might haue liued quietly if they had not procured their owne trouble Paulus IIII. was Pope when Queene Elizabeth began to Raigne this Pope was not troublesome against her His successor was Pius IIII. who seemed to be a moderate man For he was moved by the Count of Feria who served the King of Spaine to excommunicate Queene Elizabeth but he thought it not good to proceed to such extremities For seeing the Popes authority is a thing consisting rather in the conceits of some men then in any truth and substance If it should once appeare that this thunderbolt of excommunicate whereby he hath so much terrified the world should proue idle ineffectuall without all poâ—er then might this great authoritie fall into contempt and so be made ridiculous Whether for this cause or what other he would not be perswaded to vse this extremitie against the Queene but sent Letters shewing some loue and kindnesse by an Abbot Parpalia by whom also he sent certaine secret Mandates Which what they were was not openly knowne But some acquainted well with State affayres then reported that the Pope offred to recall and disanull the sentence as vniust which was given against her Mothers marriage and to confirme the English Liturgie by his authoritie granting also the vse of the Sacrament vnder both kindes so that she would ioyne her selfe to the Romane Church acknowledge the Popes supremacy And for the effecting hereof a great sum of gold was promised to some that should be vsed as instruments for this purpose But Queene Elizabeth remaining SEMPER EADEM ever like her selfe vtterly denied to haue any thing to do with the Pope But the next Pope Pius V. that succeeded tooke another course whether a better or worse let the event declare For in the yeare 1569. he sent out an excommunication against her and all adhering to her wherein her subiects were absolved from the Oath of their Alleagance and from all other offices and duties and that all that should obey her were accursed Which thing brought more trouble vpon the Papists then vpon the Queene or any of her obedient subiects And hath openly declared to all the world that the Popes curse is a thing proceeding from private splene and malice and now nothing feared but contemned when all men may see that the Popes curse is turned by the favour of God into an extraordinary blessing and that the Pope is not Christs Vâ—car in these ministeries
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
vnrighteousnesse at the commandement of the Pope or any superior These I am sure are the practises of vnrighteousnesse would to God these men would once looke backe vpon themselues and their owne actions and consider what a difference is betweene ancient Bishops of Rome and these of late betweene godly Divines and the Popes Clergie The ancient Bishops did never draw the sword to propagate the faith the Apostles left no such example to them but by their labours in Preaching and their patience in suffring they gathered a Church and established the faith but behold how vnrighteousnes and villany is now come in place An vngracious bloudy wretch kills a man in his bed a man that was his friend such a thing chancing in the Warres may be borne with but in bed to murther his friend is an extraordinary signe of barbarous crueltie And yet that Sanders the Popes Legat should pronounce this thing to be a sweet sacrifice to God this passeth all imagination Can any either practise these things or commend these practises but onely such men as the Apostle describeth that are given vp to beleeue lyes and to worke vnrighteousnesse If any man shall answer me here with that old worn Cuckow long that these things are not vnderstood by them to be vnrighteoâ—s which the Pope commandeth that they doe these things in obedience to Christ his Vicar I answer they that would make such an answer are either such as are men of conscience or altogether without conscience If they be men without conscience I haue nothing to say to such but wish them better then they doe to themselues that they had some fecling of conscience If these men haue any sparke of conscience then would I intrâ—at them seriously to consider what is that which the Apostle in the place before cited calleth the deceivablenes of vnrighteousnes For this word sheweth that there is some plaine and down-right vnrighteousnesse and also some deceivablenesse of vnrighteousnesse What is that deceivablenesse of vnrighteousnesse Surely there is something herein for them to study that are so ready at the Popes command to doe vnrighteous things and make not Gods Word but the Popes word to be the rule to know what is righteous what vnrighteous When the law of God the law of nature the law of nations the law of our Land when I say all lawes forbid a thing and onely the Pope commands it and commands it against all lawes then if a man obey the Pope in such things he is deceived and he doth vnrighteously Here is the deceivablenesse of vnrighteousnesse But you must vnderstand that these men are thus deceived by him whose coÌ„ming is by the working of Satan with all power and signes and lying wonders and in all deceivablenesse of vnrighteousnesse in them that perish because they receiue not the loue of the truth Let men that haue any care to saue their soules learne to loue the truth the truth will deliver them And let them obserue that maintaining of false doctrines and of vnrighteous actions are things ioyned together one followeth the other Now because we see false doctrines or lyes maintained by Papists and vnrighteous and vngracious actions by them ordinarily attempted therefore we hold them vndoubtedly to be the servants of Antichrist who are given vp to beleeue lyes because they louâ— not the truth But for our selues we know that the Scriptures are the Word of God We beleeue the Scriptures We trust in God We worship him as himselfe hath revealed and commanded If our enemies wrong vs we haue recourse to God by prayer we haue found by continuall experience that God taketh the protection of them that thus trust in him We haue trusted in him we haue found his protectioÌ„ We rest in patience and commit the vengeance to God Is there any man in the world that knoweth any thing of religion that can denie that we are in a good state and our enemies in a desperate state we haue comfort but they can haue none Consider this you that forget God least he plucke you vp and there be none to deliver you Now which is our chiefe end in these collections for our deliverance we blesse the name of God and we doe acknowledge with all humilitie and thankesgiving that all our deliverances come from the vndeserved loue and favour of our most gracious God and Father And we finde our selues most sirictly oâ—liged vnto this dutie because we see God hath made our enemies his enemies they cannot fight against vs but they must fight against God how much then are we bound to honor serue this great God of heaven and â—arth that hath shewed such favour to his Church in England CHAPTER VI. AT this time An 1580. the seminary Priests and â—esuites increasing in England necessary lawes were provided against them These in truth were maintained by the adversaries of England as a seminary of rebellion for so still they proued Their first foundation was at Doway in the Low-Countries where by the procuring of William Alan an Oxford-man afterward Cardinall there was a Colledge provided for them in the yeare 1568. Where fugitiue Priests were brought vp not so much in Religion as in new and strange practises of treason The Pope assigned them a yearely stipend Thus they stood for some yeares But when the Low-Countries began to be troubled with Warres Requesenius who was governour there vnder the Spanish King did thrust out all English fugitiues out of the Low-Countries Wherevpon they that were willing to make vse of such instruments to trouble England thought good to giue entertainment to them And therefore two Colledges were set vp for the English sugitiues the one at Rhemes by the Guises another at Rome by Pope Gregory 13. From these Colledges they were sent into England vnder pretence of Religion but indeed to withdraw subiects from obedience to their Prince and to draw the Land vnto the subiection of strangers they called themselues Seminaries because they were to sowe the seed of the Roman Religion in England And what is that seed of Roman religion but the seed of Rebellion Certainly so it hath euer proued These men to shew their zeale to their new founders and their hatred to their Country disputed and defined the Popes authoritie by Gods law to haue the plenitude of power ouer the whole world in all things Ecclesiasticall and Politicall out of which plenitude he might excommunicate Kings and after excommunication depose them from their thrones and absolue their subiects from all oaths of alleagance Thus was the Bull of Pius V. published An 1569. From whence rose the rebellion in the north of England and those rebellions of Ireland of which we haue spoken Hanse Nelson Main Sherwod Prieâ—ts then taught that Queene Elizabeth was a schismatike and an heretike and therefore worthily to be deposed for which they suffred deservedly but still others were sent into their places and though they came in vpon desperate points as souldiers vpon
Then he was demanded if the Pope should send an Armie into England against the Queene whether he would take the Popes part or the Queenes To this he protested openly that he would take the Popes part and confirmed it by his hand-writing he was put to death and some others for the same cause When as yet from the time of the rebellion there was but fiue put to death in this cause The Queene thinking that mens consciences should not be forced did often complaâ—ne that she was necessarily driven to these courses vnlâ—s she would suffer a mischiefe to fall vpon her selfe and her subiects by them that sought to colour their treasons vnder a pretence of consciencâ— and Catholike Religion And yet she thought that some of the poore Priests that were sent were not acquainted with the secret plots of treason but found that their superiors vsed these as instruments of their wicked intentions and they yeelded the whole disposing of themselues to the iudgement of their superiors for they that were then and afterward apprehended being demanded whether by the authoritie of the Bull of Pius V. the subiects were so absolved from their oath and alleagance that they might take Armes against the Prince Whether they held her for a lawfull Queene Whether they yeelded their coÌ„sent to the opinioÌ„s of Sanders Bristow concerning the authoritie of that Bull Whether if the Pope should warre against the Queene they would take his part or hers To these things they answered some so ambiguously some so fiercely some by preuarication or by silence shifting that diverse other Papists who were not acquainted with the secrets of their villanies began to suspect that surely they nourished some secret mischiefe and Iohn Bishop otherwise much addicted to their Religion wrote and soundly proued that the constitution obâ—ruded in the name of the Councell of Lateran from which they founded all their authoritie to absolue subiects from their alleagance and to depose Princes was indeed nothing but a decree of Innocentius III. nor was ever admitted in England Yea that Councell was no Councell and that nothing was decreed there by the Fathers Suspitions were still increased by reason of the number of Priests daily comming into England and creeping in corners who secretly sought out the minds of men and taught that Princes excommunicated were to be throwne out of their Kingdomes that Princes that professed not the Roman Religion were fallen from the title and Kingly authoritie that they who had taken orders were by the libertie of the Church freed from all iurisdiction of Princes neither were bound to their lawes or bound to reverence their Maiestie that the Magistrates of England were not lawfull and therefore not to be accounted as Magistrates Yea and moreover that what things soever had bin established by the Queenes authoritie after the publishing of the Bull of Pius V. were voyd altogether by Gods law and mans law and to be respected as things of no account Neither did they dissemble their purpose that they were come into England for this end that this Bull might be effected and that they might in private confessions reconcile men and so absolue them from all faith and alleagance toward the Queene This thing seemed to be more easily effected when men were absolved from all mortall sinne as the Priests perswaded them and this way was the safest because the most secret and vnder the seale of Confession These practiâ—es extorted of the Parliament held then â—n â—anuary An 1582 new lawes and more severe against these Popish practises By which lawes it was made treason to disswade any subiect from their alleagance to their Prince and from the Religion which was then established in England or to reconcile any to the Romish Church the same punishment was to be inflicted vpon them which were so perswaded or reconciled To say Masse was punished with two hundreth markes and a yeares imprisonment and to be farther punished vntill they had payed To be present at Masse willingly was punished with an hundreth marke fine and a yeares imprisonment They that refused to come to their Parish Churches were to pay twentie pound a moneth This manner of punishing refractary men that in matters touching the Church were troublesome and seditious was taken from an ancient manner of punishing such men in the time of St Augusâ—in for he speaketh diverse times of the Pecuniary mulct of the Emperours which was inflicted vpon the Donaâ—ists And because the seminary Priests and Iesuites who haue bin punished not for Religion but for Treasons in the execution of civill Iustice for offending against the lawes of the Land haue given out that they haue bin perfecuted for Religion and some of them haue beene made Martyrs these be a new kinde of Martyrs not for Christs cause but for the Popes cause against Christ and against his Word and Commandement It shall not be amisse to obserue the State of the Church in S. Augustines time and the iudgement of the Church then which in diverse resemblances doth answer to our times for then the Emperour had that power and authoritie which we now giue to our Kings The Pope had no more authoritie then then we would yeeld him now if he would maintaine the doctrine that the Popes then did The Pope was then vnder the Emperour the Emperour punished both Pope and others if they offended his lawes Parmenianus a Donatist complained they were punished by the Emperour and persecuted and called their persecution Martyrdome as did the Papists that were punished S. Augustin answering the Donatists saith Si quis quis ab Imperatore c. If every man that is punished by the Emperour or by the Iudges which he sendeth must presently be accompted a Martyr then shall we haue all Prisons full of Martâ—rs c. And after he sayth Therefore not every one that in some question of Religion is punished by the Emperour must presently be accompted a Martyr for he is iustly punished for superstition which he thought to be religion No man verily that in any respect is a Christian dare avouch this for such men proceeding like blind men see not that they who thus thinke proceed so farre as to proue that the very devils may thus chalenge to themselues the glory of Martyrs because they suffer this persecution by the Christian Emperours for as much as their temples are destroyed over all the world in a manner their ldols are broken in peeces their sacrifices are forbidden they who honor them are punished if they be found Which if it be madnesse to mâ—intaine then it followeth that righteousnesse is not proued by suffering but by righteousnesse suffering is made glorious therefore the Lord said not blessea are they that suffer persecution but he addeth that which maketh the difference betweene pietie and sacriledge blessed are they which suffer persecution for righâ—â—ousnesse c. And after he sayth If these men being convicted of their wicked practises shall
Queene and the Councell for the money taken from the Merchants of Genua and for helping the States of the Netherlands of the Count Antow of Antony of Portugall and charged them with the spoyles that Sr Francis Drake had taken from the Spany trds in the west Indies But that the Spanyard might the better vnderstand that this which Queene Elizabeth had done in sending away Mendoza was no violating of an Ambassadour but a censure of Mendoza his wicked practises Sr William Wade was sent to Spaine who might plainly informe the King how vnworthily he had behaved himselfe in his Ambassage and might also signifie that the Queene would not haue this sending away of him to be interpreted a renuntiation of friendship but that she would maintaine all offices of humanitie if he would send any other that were carefull to conserue friendship betweene them so that the like offices were performed to her Ambassadour in Spaine The Spanish King would not admit Wade to his presence but referred him to his Councell Wade herevpon declared boldly that the custome was received among Nations that even in burning warre Ambassadours were admitted into presence of their enemies that Charles the fift Emperour Father to the King of Spaine admitted into his presence an Herald who denounced to him warres from the French King and denied to communicate the instructions of his ambassage to his Councellers I diacius the Kings secretary could by no cunning fish out of Wade what were his instructions vntill he vnderstood the whole matter from Mendoza then lurking in France Then the Secretary laying aside his publike person did familiarly declare to Sr William Wade that he was sorry that some men did labour craftily to dissolue friendship among Princes and to nourish hatred betweene them The iniury that was done was not done to the Ambassadours but to the Catholike King that there was no cause for him to accuse Mendoza to the King who was sufficiently punished with an ignominious extrusion out of England for the fault if there were any which he committed Neither might he complaine if he were not admitted for the Catholike King did nothing herein but quit like with like seeing Mendoza was dismissed from the Queene vnheard And as she referred Mendoza to her Councell so the King had referred him to the Cardinall Granuillanus Wade answered there was great difference in their cases for himselfe he had never offended the Catholike King but Mendoza had grievously offended against the Queene and for a long time through his owne insolency disdained to come and had committed many things vnworthy the office of an Ambassadour yet he could not be admitted but returned vnheard The crimes that he would haue obiected against Mendoza were taken our of the confession of Throgmorton For Franâ—is Throgmorton when he was apprehended sent priuily one packet of letters to Mendoza His other packets being sought and opened there were two Catalogues found In the one of them were the names of all the havens of England that were for forces to land in In the other were contained the names of the Noble-men which here and there throughout England favoured the Roman Religion These papers when Throgmorton saw produced he cryed out that they were counterfeited that he had never seene them before that they were devised for his destruction But when he was againe brought to the racke he denied not to answer what he knew to the questioÌ„s proposed Being therefore demanded of those Catalogues to what purpose they had beene written he made this narration that not many yeares since he went to the Spaw water where with Ieney and Fr Inglefeld he had counsell and communication how England might be taken by strangers and the forme of the government changed For that purpose he described the names of the havens and of Noble-men that Morgan had certified him by Letters out of France that the Catholike Princes were resolved to invade England that the Queene of Scots should be set at libertie by the forces of the Guises To this proiect there was nothing wanting but money and the helpe that was expected out of England To effect this the better Charles Paget vnder the name of Mope was secretly sent into Sussex where the Guise purposed to take land that he had communicated the matter to Mendoza and told him the names of the noble-men who knew all these things before fully of the conspirators Neither denied he that himselfe had promised his help to Mendoza and withall that he admonished Mendoza of those Nobles that were fit for him being a publike person to deale withall which himselfe being a private man could not doe without danger And that he had taken order with him and concluded of the meanes to be vsed namely that the chiefe Catholikes as soone as ever the forraine forces drew neare should muster souldiers in the Queenes name who should ioyn themselues with the forraine forces Thus much he confessed willingly Yet when he came to iudgement in the Guild Hall at London he denied all said that all these were fained devises to saue him from the racke and openly accusâ—d the Queene of crueltie the examiners of falshood seeking a starting hole from the space of time which passed between the time of the committing his crime and the time of his iudgement for in the XIII of Elizabeth certaine crimes are made treason for which no man should be called in question vnles the delinquent were accused within six moneths after the crime committed and the crime were proued by witnesse and oath of two or by the partie his owne free confession Now he pleaded that this time was past and therefore that he was not to be called into iudgment But the Iudges answered and shewed that the crimes obiected against him were of another kind for he had offended against an old law of treason made in the time of Edward 3. which admitteth no circumscription of time or proofe And from that law he was condemned Afterward being perswaded and better thinking on the matter he craued the Queenes mercy and by writing confessed all at full againe which he had done before and as a man vnconstant began to deny againe at the gallowes CHAPTER VIII QVeene ELIZABETH at this time sought a faire opportunitie and meanes to set the Queene of Scots free and for that purpose had sent Sr William Wade that was now returned out of Spaine to conferre with her of the meanes and was about to send Sr Walter Mildmay to bring that matter to a farther end But some terrors and feares broke in between them which disturbed that proiect Especially by a discovery of papers which Creighton a Scots Iesuit sayling into Scotland did tare then when he was taken by Dutch pyrats Creighton tore the papers threw them into the Sea but they were by the force of the winde blowne backe againe into the ship not without a miracle as Creighton himselfe said the papers being brought to Sr William Wade with
much laâ—our and singular skill he ioyned them together againe and found that they contained new practises of the Pope the Spanyard the Guises resolution to invade England Whereupon and because many other rumors of dangers were increased to the end that the wicked and treasonable practises might be in time prevented and the Queenes life and safetie might be procured vpon whose safety both the estate of the Kingdome and of Religion depended A great number throughout all England of all sorts of men out of common charity whilst they shewed their loue and care of the Queene bound themselues by an association as then it was called by their mutuall promises subscriptions of their hands and seales to prosecute all such by all their force even to death whosoever should attempt any thing against the life of the Queene the Earle of Leicester was supposed to be the author of this association Surely it was vsefull and held many in order The Queene of Scots tooke this as devised to bring her into danger and was so continually set on by seditious spirits that if they may haue accesse are able to draw the greatest Princes to destruction And what hath beene their practise but to bring great personages and great houses to ruine Lamentable experience sheweth openly the fruit of their malice and wicked plots for treason which they call religion The Scots Queene led on by her blind guids dealt somwhat rashly but with importunity to the Pope and Spanyard by Sr Francis Inglefeld that by all meanes they would with speed vndertake their intended busines There were some also that laboured to draw Queene Elizabeths affections altogether from the Scots Queene They told her that Cardinall Alan for the English Catholikes ecclesiasticall Inglefeld for the Laiks and for the Queene of Scots the Bishop of Ross had vndertaken were among themselues agreed and with the consent also of the Pope and Spanyard had fully resolved vpon these points That Queene Elizabeth should be deprived of her Kingdome the King of Scots as a manifest favourer of heresie should vtterly be disinherited of the Kingdome of England that the Scots Queene shall marry some noble-man of England which is a Catholike that this man must be chosen King of England by the Catholikes of England that the choice so made must be confirmed by the Pope that the children of him so chosen begotten of the Scots Queene must be declared successours in the Kingdome All these things were confirmed to be true by testimony of Hart the Priest Who was this noble English man that should marry the Scots Queene was now much inquired after Sir Francis Walâ—ingham sought it out with all diligence yet found it not out There was suspition of Henry Howard brother to the Duke of Norfolke who was noble by birth vnmarried and a favourer of that Religion and in great grace and favour with them These things that were discovered by Throgmorton by Creightons papers and other mens were matters which bred suspitions and feares though they were never so effected as they were intended But we find by these things that France and Spaine and the strength of the Pope were here all combined against Queene Elizabeth and King Iames for no other cause but for their religion because both Queene Elizabeth and King Iames had established the same religion Against which religion all the great powers of the world were combined and were therefore ready with their vtmost indevours to root out these two Princes from England and Scotland If a man shall consider the Councels the Pollicies the strength of these great powers which were set against these two Princes it is a matter to be wondred at how they should stand against so deepe and desperate dangers Here I wish that a Papist of any vnderstanding would take this matter into his consideration And looke but a little further to the end and event of things What man purposed What God wrought What became of these two Princes Queene Elizabeth King Iames against whom the world thus conspired Queene Elizabeth after so many malicious proiects against her by open warres by secret conspiracies yet lived to see all the malicious practises against her defeated and overthrowne the practisers themselues ruinated her people and Kingdome defended Gods truth maintained her service for the truth rewarded and after all dyed quietly in her bed and hath left a blessed memory behinde her King IAMES that was in the same cause with her in the same manner threatned for his Religion to be made incapable of the inheritance of England and then neither could he haue holden Scotland for he must either haue all his right or loose all for there is no middle-way in the inheritance of Kings yet after all these threatned dangers by the great powers of the world after a number of dangerous and devilish practises against him at home he hath not onely quietly possessed that which he had but is in the peaceable possession of England with such loue such gladnesse of heart and common reioycing that the like hath not beene knowne in former times And which was never done by any before though much wished and attempted he hath in his royall person knit England and Scotland together he hath not onely maintained the truth of Religion by his authoritie as all Christian Princes are bound to do but also by his wisedome by his learning confirmed the truth drawne many to the knowledge of it by his learned Labours Wherein he hath not onely farre exceeded all his progenitours in this Kingdome but hath left all the Kings and Emperours in the world farre behind him in this honour so that since the beginning of the time of grace to this day the world never saw a King so furnished and inabled to maintaine the truth and to discover the blindnesse and superstition of false Religion And therefore hath God blessed him with extraordinary blessings the loue of his subiects the peaceable estate of Ireland which before his time was never governed in peace especially the fruit of Religion and the reward of Religion maintained is the greatest blessing that Kings can looke for This hath beene and is the state of these religious Provinces so that men shall say Doubtlâ—sse there is a reward for the righteous verily there is a God that iudgeth the earth And because my purpose in writing this Booke is to declare the great Workes of God in the defence of this Church of England since Religion planted here by Queene Elizabeth and to giue God all the glory both of the planting and maintaining thereof We therefore remember these things with great gladnesse and ioy of heart to Gods glory giving thankes to his holy name for the favours that he hath exhibited to his Church here by the faithfull service of these two royall servants of God in whom is truely verified that which the Prophet Esay foretold speaking of Gods favour to his Church Kings shall be thy nurcing Fathers and Queenes
shall be thy Nurces In these things we can lift vp our hearts to God and giue him the glory and thankes for all his goodnesse But can our adversaries doe the like whose practises against these noble Princes were wicked and malicious and by God confounded Let men see and confesse the hand of God in maintaining them that maintaine his truth and dishonouring them that dishonour him The next yeare that is An 1585. there was a Parliament held wherein there was in the lower house a Law proposed against Iesuites Which was iudged needfull and accepted of all without contradiction saving only William Parry a welch man obscure of meane fortunes yet a Doctor of the civill Law he spake against that law which then was exhibited and said it was a cruell bloudy law and desperate and pernicious to the English Nation Being required to shew his reasons for that strange opinion of his he obstinately refused so to doe vnlesse it were before the Queenes councell Wherevpon he was committed to prison But after his reasons were heard and his submission made he was againe admitted into the assembly Presently after he was accused by Edward Neuâ—l who chalenged the inheritance of the Neuils and the title of the Lord Latimer as next heire male Edward Neuil charged him for practising the Queenes death This Parry some two yeares before returning out of Italy to the end that he might win favour and credit with the Queene declared secretly to her what Morgan and other fugitiues had practised to her destruction Making semblance to the Queene that he was conversant with them for no other end but onely to search out their secret purposes that so he might the better be a meanes to provide for the Queenes safety Wherevpon the Queene did not easily giue credit to Neuil the accuser Yet she commanded Sr Fancis Walsingham to aske Parry whether he had not dealt with some person discontented and suspected of that matter onely to try the man Which thing being demanded he vtterly denied The foole saw not that by this meanes the Queenes lenity opened a way for him to escape the danger for surely if he had signified that onely for to try the man he dealt with Neuil whom he knew to be a man discontented and suspected as he had foretold the Queene he might haue avoyded the danger but they who in their heart once haue given intertainment to wickednesse and treason though otherwise they be of wit and sharpe vnderstanding are made blind by a iust iudgement of God Now when as Neuil had no witnesse against Parry there was no great difference betweene Parry his word and his But Parry after some sharpe wordes had passed betweene them was imprisoned in the Tower Where he freely confessed thus much In the yeare 1570. said he I was admitted a sworn servant to the Queene I remained devoted to her Maiestie till the yeare 1580. At what time I fell into great danger of my life with great ignominy for he had broken into the chamber of Hugh Hare in whose debt he was and wounded him wherevpon being condemned by law his life was saved by the Queenes pardon after that I liued much vexed in my minde and getting leaue to trauell I went into France and had no purpose to returne because I had given my selfe to the Catholike Religion At Paris I was reconciled At Venice I had communication with Benedict Palmius a Iesuit touching the afflicted Catholikes in England and I signified that I had found out a way to helpe them if the Pope or some learned Divines would avouch it to be a lawfull course He commended this thing as pious He commended me to Campegius the Popes Nuntio at Venâ—ce and Campegius to the Pope I moued that I might come to Rome with safetiâ— Wherevpon Letters of publike credence were sent to me by the Cardinall of Come but these were not large enough and therefore other more large were sent But then was I returned into France Where meeting with Morgan he signified that there was an expectation that I should performe some especiall service to God and to the Catholike Church I answered that I was most ready to kill if it were the greatest subiect of England O but said he and why not the Queene her selfe I said that this also might be easily done so that it might appeare to be lawfull For Watt a Priest whose advise I asked in this matter suppressing the names told me plainly that it was not lawfull and Creighton the Iesuit is of the same opinion teaching that evill must not be done that good may come that God is more delighted with aduerbs than nounes and the thing that is done well and lawfully pleaseth him better then a thing good and that by the destruction of one many soules are not to be redeemed without an expresse commandement of God Yet for all this seeing I had in Italy bound my selfe by Letters and promise I could not goe backe if the Pope did approue it and would grant me a plenary indulgence Which I requested in my Letters to the Pope by Ragazonius the Popes Nuntio in France Who commended the interprise and sent my Letters to Rome Being returned into England I gat accesse to the Queene And all being remoued I opened the whole conspiracy yet hiding many things with as great art as possibly I could She heard it vndaunted vnterrified I departed daunted and terrified Neither can I forget that which she said that no Catholikes were to be brought into question for Religion or for the Popes supremacy so that they carry themselues as good subiects In this time whilst I stayed daily in Court seeking to be preferred with the mastership of S. Katharines I received Letters from the Cardinall of Come wherein the attempt was commended and I was absolved in the Popes name These Letters I shewed the Queene how they did worke with her I know not but with me they wrought so farre that they set a new courage in me to attempt the interprise and tooke all scruple out of my mind yet it was not my minde to offer any force if by any reasons she might be perswaded to deale more gently with Catholikes And to the end I should not commit slaughter alwayes when I had accesse to her I layd aside my dagger So oft as I considered her and her Princely vertues I was distracted by an ambiguous care for my vowes were in heaven my letters and promises with men And to my selfe I revolved these things in my minde She never deserved well of me It is true she pardoned my life but for such a cause to take away my life were tyrannicall Thus not content with my state I departed from Court and I light vpon Doct. Alans Booke written against the iustice of England Who teacheth that Princes being excommunicate for heresie are to be despoiled of their Kingdomes and liues that Booke did very sharply stirre me vp to finish mine attempt I read this Booke
of Surrey Iohn Traverse and Iohn Charnok of Lanchishire Iohn Iones whose father was Queene Maries taylour Sauage Barnwell a Gentleman of Ireland Henry Dun Clarke of the first fruit office Into this societie Polly also insinuated himselfe a man well acquainted with the affayres of the Scots Queene a man well skilled in the art of simulation and dissimulation Who was thought daily to reveile all their councells to Sir Francis Walsingham and to thrust them headlong into mischiefe who were forward enough of themselues to evill Albeit Navus the Scots Queenes Secretary warned them to beware of him To these did Babington communicate the matter but not all to each one his owne Letters and the Scots Queenes Letters he shewed to Ballard to Tychburn and Dun. He dealt with Tilney and Tychburn to be the strikers They at first denied to dehle their hands with the bloud of their Prince Ballard and Babington labour to proue it lawfull to kill Princes excommunicated and if right should be violated then for the Catholike Religion it is to be violated Herevpon hardly perswaded they yeeld their consent in a sort Abington Barnwell Charnok and Sauage readily and roundly without scruple sware to kill her Salisbury could by no meanes be perswaded to be a Queene-killer but to deliver the Scots Queene he offred his service willingly Babington designeth Tyâ—hburn aboue the number to helpe the percussors of whose fidelitie and courage he had perswaded himselfe much But he was now absent travailing abroad Babington commandes that they impart the matter to none except first an oath be taken to keepe silence These conspiratours now and then conferred of these matters in Saint Giles fields in Pauls-Church in Tavernes in which they had their daily feasts being now puffed vp with the hopes of great matters Sometimes commending the valour of the Nobles of Scotland who lately had intercepted the King at Sterling and of Gerard the Burgonian who killed the Prince of Orange And so farre they proceeded in their foolish vanitie so strangly infatuated that those that should strike the Queene they had portraied in liuely pictures and in the midst of them Babington with this Verse Hi mihi sunt comites quos ipsa pericula ducunt But when this Verse was disliked as seeming too plaine for it they set in place these wordes Quorsum haec alió properantibus These pictures were taken as it was said and brought to the Queene who knew none of their countenances but onely Barnwells who vsed often to come in her presence following the causes of the Earle of Kildare whom he served and she tooke notice of him by other markes Verily one day as she was walking abroad she saw Barnwell she looked sharply and vndauntedly vpon the man and turning to Sr Christopher Hatton Captaine of the Guard and to some others Am not I quoth she well guarded who haue not so much as one man in my company that hath a sword For Barnwell told this to the other conspiratours and declared how easily she might haue beene killed if the conspiratours had then beene present Sauage in like sort reported the same Now there was nothing that so much troubled Babington as the feare least the promise of externall forces might faile And therefore to make that good he resolved to goe into France and to send Ballard secretly before for whose passage he had procured licence for money vnder a counterfeit name And to remoue all suspition from himselfe by Polly he inâ—inuateth himselfe into Sir Francis Walsingham and dealeth earnestly with him to intreat of the Queene license for his passage into France promising to doe some especially seruice in searching and discovering the secret attempts of the fugitiues for the Scots Queene He commended the purpose of the yong man and promised not onely to obtaine him licence to travell but he promised withall great and goodly rewardes to him if he would doe such a service yet holding him in suspence he delayed the matter and knew his purpose and drift well having fished all out by an especiall skill he had in discovering treasons but especially by the discovery of Gilbert Giffard a Priest he was made acquainted with their intentions which they thought were kept so secret that the Sunne had not knowne any thing thereof This Giffard was borne at Chellington where the Scots Queene was kept and sent by the fugitiues into England vnder the name of Luson to put Sauage in minde of his vow vndertaken and to lurke as a fit meanes to transmit Letters betweene them and the Scots Queene because in so dangerous a businesse they could not draw in to serue their turne herein neither the Countesse of Arundell nor the Lord Lumley nor Henry Howard nor Sr George Shirly The fugitiues to try whether the way was safe by Giffard to transmit Letters first sent blankes many times sealed like Letters and packeted which when by the answers they perceived to be truely delivered now growne more confident wrote often of their affaires intended in secret Characters But Giffard before this whether vexed in his conscience or corrupted before with money or terrified with feare had opened himselfe to Sir Francis Walsingham and declared with what purpose he was sent into England and offered all his service as from the loue to his Countrey and his Prince and promised to communicate to him all the Letters that he received either from the fugitiues or from the Scots Queene Sir Francis imbracing the opportunitie offerd intertained him courteously and sent him into Staffordshire and wrote to Sir Amice Pawlet willingly to suffer some of his servants to be corrupted by Giffard and to winke at it But he being vnwilling as he said to suffer any of his houshold servants by simulation to become a traytor yet though vnwillingly he suffred that the brewer or the man that provided Provender for his horse who dwelt neare him might be corrupted by Giffard Giffard easily corrupted the brewer with some peeces of gold who by a hole in the wall where a stone was set which might be remoued sent Letters secretly and received others which alwayes by messengers provided for the purpose came to the hands of Sr Francis Walsingham Who opened the seales coppied out the Letters and by the singular cunning of Thomas Philipps found the secret Character and by the skill of Arthur Gregory sealed them vp againe so cunningly that no man could suspect that they were opened and then sent them to the parties to whom they were directed Thus were disclosed those former Letters from the Scots Queene to Babington and his answers and others againe from her to him in which there was a Postscript cunningly added in the same Character to write the names of the six Gentlemen and happily some other things Moreover the same day the Letters to Mendoza the Spanish Ambassadour to Charles Paget to the Lord Paget to the Archbishop of Glasco and to Sr Francis Inglefeld were all coppied out and transmitted The
foot and two thousand horse to guard the Queene The Lord Grey Sr Francis Knolles Sr Iohn Norrice Sr Richard Bingham Sr Roger Williams men famously knowne for Military experience were chosen to confer of the land fight These thought fit that all those places should be fortified with men muâ—ition which were commodious to land in either out of Spaine or out of Flanders as Milford hauen Falmouth Plimmouth Portland the I le of Wight Portsmouth the open side of Kent called the Downs the mouth of Thames Harwich Yarmouth Hull c. That trained souldiers through all the maritim Provinces should meet vpon warning given to defend these places that they should by their best means and power hinder the enemy to take land if he should take land then should they wast the country all about and spoile every thing that might be of any vse to the enemy that so he might find no more vittals then what he brought vpon his shoulders with him And that by continuall Alarums the enemy should finde no rest day or night But they should not try any battell vntill divers Captaines were mett together with their Companies That one Captaine might be named in every Shire which might command At this time divers told the Queene that the Spaniards were not so much to be feared without as the Papists within for the Spaniards durst make no attempt vpon England but vpon confidence of their helpe within And therefore for the securitie of the whole their heads were vpon some pretenses to be cut off Producing for this thing the example of Henry 8. For when the Emperour French King at the Popes instigation were combined and ready to invade England King Henry presently executed the Marquess of Exceter the Lord Montacute Edward Neuil and others whom he suspected to favour the enemies which thing as soone as he had done the intended invasion was stopped and proceeded no further But this advise the Queene vtterly disliked as being cruell she thought it enough to commit some of the Papists to Wisbich Castle in cuâ—tody and casting her eyes and mind on every side she stirred vp her Nobles with Letters often though they were carefull watchfull of themselues She certified Fitz Williams Lord Deputy of Ireland what she would haue done there She sent to the King of Scots to warne him to take good heed of Papists and the Spanish faction But he knowing well what a tempest and desolation was hanging and threatning both alike having already set his heart vpon the maintenance of true religion and resolving to take part with the truth in prosperitie and adversitie which is onely able to saue and deliver her maintainers had a little before refused to heare the Bishop of Dumblan sent thâ—ther from the Pope and had caused a league to be made among the Protestants of Scotland for resistance of the Spanyards and himselfe comming to Anandale with an army besieged Maxwell and tooke him and committed him to prison who was lately returned out of Spaine against his faith and alleagance and came with an intent to favor the Spanish side he declared the Spanyards should be held as enemies and against them caused all with great alacritie to be ready in Armes Among these preparations for warre which were great on both sides the councels of peace were not vtterly cast away Two yeares before the Duke of Parma considering how hard a matter it was to end the Belgick warre so long as it was continually nourished and supported with ayd from the Queene he moued for a treaty of peace by the meanes of Sir Iames Croft one of the privy councell a man desirous of peace Andrew Loe a Dutch man and professed that the Spaniard had delegated authority to him for this purpose But the Queen fearing that there was some cunning in this seeking of peace that the friendship betweene her and the confederate Provinces might be dissolved and that so they might secretly be drawne to the Spanyard she deferred that treaty for some time But now that the Warres on both sides prepared might be turned away she was content to treat of Peace but so as still holding the weapons in her hand For this purpose in February delegates were sent into Flanders the Earle of Derby the Lo Cobham Sr Iames Croft Dr Dale and Dr Rogers These were received with all humanity on the Dukes behalfe they presently sent Dr Dale to him that a place might be appointed for the treating that they might see the authoritie to him delegated from the Spanish King He appointed the place neare to Ostend not in Ostend which then was holden of English against the King his authority delegated he promised then to shew when they were once met together He wished them to make good speed in the businesse least somwhat might fall out in the meane time which might trouble the motions of peace Richardotus spake somewhat more plainly that he knew not what in this interim should be done against England Not long after D. Rogers was sent to the Prince by an express commandement from the Queene to know the truth whether the Spanyard had resolved to invade England which he and Richardotus did seeme to signifie He affirmed that he did not so much as thinke of the invasion of England when he wished that the businesse might proceed with speed And was in a maner offended with Richardotus who denied that such words fell from him The 12 of April the Count Aremberg Champigny Richardotus D. Maeâ—ius Garnier Delegated from the Prince of Parma mett with the English and yeelded to them the honor both in walking and sitting And when they affirmed that the Duke had full authority to treat of Peace the English moued that first a truce might be made Which they denied alledging that that thing must needs be hurtfull to the Spanyard who had for six moneths maintained great Army which might not be dismissed vpon a truce but vpon an absolute peace The English vrged that a truce was promised before they came into Flanders The Spanyard against that held that six moneths since a truce was promised which they granted but was not admitted Neither was it in the Queenes power to vndertake a truce for Holland and Zealand who daily attempted hostility The English mooued instantly that the truce might be generall for all the Queenes territories and for the Kingdome of Scotland but they would haue it but for foure Dutch townes which were in the Queenes hands that is Ostend Flushing Bergen vp zom the Briel and these onely during the treating and twenty dayes after and that in the meane time it might be lawfull for the Queene to invade Spaine or for the Spanyard to invade England either from Spain or Flanders Whilst these delayes were made concerning the truce and place which at last was appointed at Bourburg Crâ—ft vpon an earnest desire to peace went privatly to Bruxells without the knowledge of the other Delegates and