Palmeus he told him that he had found out a way to help the afflicted Catholicks in England if the Pope or some learned Divines would approve it as lawful The Jesuit Palmeus approved it Next in France one Morgan drew him to consent to murder the Queen if it should prove lawful This Act the Pope's Nuncio Ragazonius commended Parry afterward having access to the Queen shewed her all and not long after Cardinal Come his Letter approving the enterprize Now he taketh a new resolution to perform it encouraged especially by Doctor Alen's Book teaching that Princes Excommunicated are to be spciled of their Kingdoms and Lives These with many other things Parry confessed before the Lord Hunsdon Sir Christopher Hatton and Sir Francis Walsingham in Westminster-Hall the heads of his Accusation being read he confessed himself guilty He died in the Palace-yard before Westminster-Hall not once calling upon the Name of God At this time also Henry Earl of Northumberland for entring into Traiterous Counsels with Paget and the Guises to invade England was cast into the Tower where he was found dead being shot with three Bullets under the left Pap the Chamber-door belted in the inside A Pistol was found in his Chamber and himself the author of his own death Thus from time to time the most noble Families of England have been Seduced and Ruined by the false and bewitching coundsels of Jesuits and Seminaries Savage's attempt to kill the Queen NOw again there was a most abominable Treason conspired and voluntarily confessed by the Conspirators One Gifford a Doctor in Divinity Gilbert Gifford and Hodgeson Priests persuaded one John Savage a bloody Fellow to undertake to kill Queen Flizaheth To hide their mischievous intents more conningly from the Queen's Council who were very careful to foresee all Danger they wrote a Book in which they advise the Papists in England not to go about to hurt the Queen For they were to use no other Weapons against their Prince than the Christian Weapons of Tears Fasting Prayers and the like And most cunningly also these Foxes spread a Rumour that George Gifford one of the Queen's Pensioners had sworn to kill the Queen and for that cause had gotten from the Guises a very great sum of Money The Easter following John Ballard an English Priest of the Colledg of Rhemes was come into England who had been trying the minds of Papists in England and Scotland He had dealt with Mendoza the Spanish Ambassador in France Charles Paget and others for the Invasion of England And although it seemed to be a very hard work yet he had sworn to use his utmost endeavour in it and also for the liberty of the Queen of Scots At Whitsuntide in a Souldiers habit and under the name of Captain Fortescue he had a conference in London with Anthony Babington a young Gentleman of Darby-shire Romishly affected who not long before in France had conference with Thomas Morgan and the Bishop of Glasco the Scotch Queen's Ambassador He was drawn by them shewing him most assured hopes of Honour from her to addict himself to them and by their means had favourable Letters from her Ballard and Babington conferred together concerning the Invasion of England but it was not deemed a thing could be done Queen Elizabeth being alive Then Ballard informed Babington that Savage had undertaken to kill her Babington's advice was that it should not be committed to Savage alone lest perhaps he might be hindred but to six resolute Men of which number Savage should be one Upon this Babington took into his consideration the Ports in which the Invaders should land the Confederates that should joyn in the act of murdering Q. Elizabeth and delivering the Scots-Queen In the mean time a Letter was brought from the Imprisoned Queen to Babington in a secret Character blaming Babington's long silence but he excused it because she was under the custody of Sir Amice Paulet a severe Keeper declared unto her that which Ballard and he had resolved before and that himself with one hundred more would deliver her The purpose by her Letters unto Batington was commended And it was advised that it should be undertaken considerately and that nothing should be moved before they were sure of External Forces that they should make an Association as if they feared the Puritans that some Tumults might be raised in Ireland while the thing should be done here That Arundel and his Brethren and Northumberland should be drawn to their side Westmerland Paget and others called Home The way to deliver the Scots-Queen was appointed to overthrow a Coach in the Gate or set the Stables on fire or intercept her as she rode to take the air betwixt Chartly and Stafford Babington undertook for rewards to all that should give their help He had gotten unto him Edward Windsor the Lord Windsor's Brother Thomas Salisbury Charles Tinley the Queens Pensioner Chidioc Tichbourn Edward Abingdon whose Father was the Queen's Cofferer Robert Gage John Travers John Charnick John Jones Savage Barnwel an Irish Gentleman Henry Dun Clark of the First-fruits Office and one Polly also joyned himself who was thought to reveal all to Sir Francis Walsingham Abingdon Barnwel Charnick and Savage took an Oath to kill her with their own hands Babington enjoyned that whosoever was admintted into the Conspiracy should take an Oath of secrecy They were so confident of the success that they did not fear to cause the undertakers of the Treason to be Pictured together which Picture being seen of the Queen she knew only Barnwel and seeing him a good way off she blamed the neglect of guarding her Person This Fellow afterward gave it out that if the Conspirators had been present the deed might easily have been done That the aid from France might not be wanting leave was obtained for Ballard to pass over thither for Money under a false name and Babington was to follow who that he might the more cunningly work his ends pretended to Sir Francis Walfingham that he had a desire to go into France to discover what the Fugitives plotted for the delivery of the Scots-Queen Walsinghom seemed very much to like the matter and to commend Babington's resolution but upon pretences delayed his going This was known to Walsingham either out of a fingular faculty he had to find out Treasons or else by the means of Gilbert Gifford a Priest who was sent out of France to incourage Savage in his wicked resolution and that Letters might safely be transmitted by him to the Queen of Scots Gifford corrupted with Money or for fear revealed the Plot to Walsingham and promised to communicate unto him all his Letters Walsingham kindly used him sent him into Staffordshire to Sir Amice Paulet in a Letter persuading Sir Amice to suffer some of his Servants to be corrupted by him Gifford for some Gold prevailed with Sir Amice his Brewer who conveyed the Letters to and from Gifford which by Messengers for that end appointed came
by the Arts of the Court of Rome That Jesuits professed themselves Independent as not depending on the Church of England and Fifth-Monarchy-Men that they might pull down the English Monarchy and that in the Committees for the destruction of the King and the Church they had their Spies and their Agents The Roman Priest and Confessor is known who when he saw the fatal stroke given to our holy King and Martyr flourished with his Sword and said Now the greatest Enemy that we have in the World is gone When the news of that horrible Execution came to Roan a Protestant Gentleman of good Credit was present in a great Company of Jesuited Persons Where after great expressions of Joy the gravest of the Company to whom all gave ear spake much after this manner The King of England at his Marriage had promised us the Re-establishing of the Catholick Religion in England Which is false and when he delayed to fulfil his promise we summoned him from time to time to perform it We came so far as to tell him that if he would not do it we should be forced to take those Courses which would bring him to his Destruction We have given him lawful warning and when no warning would serve we have kept our word to him since he would not keep his word to us That grave Rabby's Sentence agreeth with this certain Intelligence which shall be justified whensoever Authority will require it That the year before the King's Death a select number of English Jesuits were sent from their whole party in England first to Paris to consult with the Faculty of Sorbon then altogether Jesuited to whom they put this Question in writing That seeing the state of England was in a likely posture to change Government whether it was lawful for the Catholicks to work that Change for the advancing and securing of the Catholick Cause in England by making away the King whom there was no hope to turn from his Heresie Which was answered Affirmatively After which the same Persons went to Rome where the same Question being propounded and debated it was concluded by the Pope and his Council that it was both lawful and expedient for the Catholicks to promote that alteration of State What followed that Consultation and Sentence all the World knoweth and how the Jesuits went to work God knoweth and Time the bringer forth of Truth will let us know But when the horrible Paricide committed on the King's sacred Person was so universally cried down as the greatest Villany that had been committed in many Ages the Pope commanded all the Papers about that Question to be gathered and burnt in obedience to which Order a Roman Catholick in Paris was demanded a Copy which he had of those Papers But the Gentleman who had had time to consider and detest the wickedness of that Project refused to give it and shewed them to a Protestant Friend of his and related to him the whole carriage of this Negotiation with great abhorrency of the practices of the Jesuits In pursuance of that Order from Rome for the pulling down both Monarch and the Monarchy of England many Jesuits came over who took several Shapes to go about their work but most of them took party in the Army About Thirty of them were met by a Protestant Gentleman between Roan and Diep to whom they said taking him for one of their Party that they were going into England and would take Arms in the Independent Army and endeavour to be Agitators A Protestant Lady living in Paris is the time of our late Calamities was persuaded by a Jesuite going in Scarlet to turn Roman Catholick When the dismal news of the King's Murther came to Paris this Lady as all other good English Subjects was most deeply afflicted with it And when this Scarlet Divine came to see her and found her melting in tears about that heavy and common disaster he told her with a smiling countenance that she had no reason to lament but rather to rejoyce seeing that the Catholicks were rid of their greatest Enemy and that the Catholick Cause was much furthered by his Death Upon which the Lady in great anger put the man down Stairs saying If that be your Religion I have done with you for ever And God hath given her the Grace to make her word good hitherto Many intelligent Travellers can tell of the great joy among the English Convents and Seminaries about the King's Death as having overcome their Enemy and done their main work for their settlement in England of which they made themselves so sure that the Benedictines were in great care that the Jesuits should not get their Land and the English Nuns were contending who should be Abbesses in England An understanding Gentleman visiting the Friars of Dunkirk put them upon the discourse of the King's Death and to pump out their sense about it said that the Jesuits had laboured very much to compass that great work To which they answered that the Jesuites would engross to themselves the glory of all great and good Works and of this among other Works whereas they had laboured as diligently and effectually for it as they So there was striving for the glory of that Atchievement and the Friars shewed themselves as much Jesuited as the Jesuites In the height of Oliver's Tyranny Thomas White Gentleman a Priest and a right Jesuit in all his Principles about Obedience set out a Book Entituled the Grounds of Obedience and Government Wherein he maintains that If the People by any Circumstance be devolved to the State of Anarchy Dr. Moulin pag. 122. their promise made to their expelled Governour binds no more That the People are remitted by the evil managing and insufficiency of their Governour to the force of Nature to provide for themselves and not bound by any promise made to their Governour That the Magistrate by his miscarriages abdicateth himself from being a Magistrate and proveth a Brigand Pag. 123. 124. or Robber instead of a Defender The word Defender he writes with a greot D that the Reader may take notice whom he means If the Magistrate saith he have truly deserved to be dispossessed or if it be rationally doubted that he hath deserved it and he actually out of possession Pag. 133. In the former case it is certain the Subject hath no Obligation to hazard for his Restitution but rather to hinder it For since it is the Common Good that both the Magistrate and the Subject are to aim at and clearly out of what is exprest it is the common harm to admit again of such a Magistrate every one to his power is bound to resist him The next Case is if he be Innocent and wrongfully Deposed Pag. 135. nay let us add One who had Governed well and deserved much of the Commonwealth yet he is totally Dispossessed And so that it is plain in these Circumstances It were better for the Common Good to stay as
A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE Several PLOTS CONSPIRACIES and Hellish ATTEMPTS of the Bloody-minded PAPISTS against the Princes and Kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland from the Reformation to this present Year 1678. AS ALSO Their Cruel Practices in France against the Protestants in the Massacre of Paris c. WITH A more particular Account of their Plots in relation to the late Civil War and their Contrivances of the Death of King CHARLES the First of blessed Memory LONDON Printed for J. R. and W. A. 1679. Plots Conspiracies and Attempts of Domestick and Foraign Enemies of the Romish Religion against the Princes and Kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland c. THose which make descriptions of large Countries in small Tables offend not against truth though somewhat against quantity so Pliny telleth us Notwithstanding with much convenience ease to the beholder and truth of observation things are presented to our Eyes in those little Draughts that the very places themselves being viewed with great Trouble and loss of Time cannot yeeld more benefit to the most diligent oftentimes not so much Wherefore especially because the Argument cannot be now unseasonable for the abridgment of the Commentaries of large Histories is not unlike Maps of Kingdoms I have here collected out of divers Authors which have severally handled parts of this subject into one The chief Conspiracies and Attempts against the Kingdoms alone and immediately of great Britain and Ireland or else mediately through the sides of the Princes of these Countries by Traytors at home or abroad of the Romish Religion or foraign Enemies by treacherous courses of those of the same bloody superstition The beginning I make the first time of Reformation of Religion here in England under Queen Elizabeth and the extent unto this present Year I begin no higher than Queen Elizabeth because the Reformation of Henry the eight was but in part and the other of King Edward was an interrupted one by the sudden succession of his Sister Queen Mary the rather because for ought we know there was no great matter plotted against this hopeful young Prince that was not rather from Ambition if there was any such than from a defire of subverting Religion Not but that the Enemies of our Religion and Kingdom had us then in their Minds but other ways there were before bloody and desperate Practises were to be taken in hand to be first entred into of less difficulty and more hopeful success And these are the steps the Adversaries of our Religion use to tread who thirsting after England labour first to bring us back to Rome by striving to make our selves hate our own Religion and leave that God which brought us out of the Land of Egypt bewitching us with glorious Idolatry of the golden Calves of Rome introducing Ignorance and Blindness that we may when our Eyes are out patiently grind in the Mill of Slavery If this course fail the next is by Poyson Murder and force of Arms to draw us to Sodom and Egypt The Reformation of England and Ireland fall under one time and because that of Scotland also differeth not many years in age they may all be brought in one account With the Plots are jointly handled the Deliverances which in some respect or other may very well be called great either in regard of the Misery we had fallen into if God had not prevented them of the slavery of Soul and Body and this agreeth with all Or else for the strangeness of the discoveries of their mischiefs sometime almost miraculous before they have come to their birth or disappointing them of their purposes when the Authors have put them in practise and these two respects the one or the other which may well denominate God's goodness to us in disappointing them to be great may be found in all likewife So that for these Mercies received we ought to ascribe to our Deliverer that which is due unto him the praise of his own Work and continual thanks for his Mercies which even to this day is from those Deliverances of the days of old extended we should have bin then betrayed but we had now bin Slaves both we our selves and ours one Plot had it succeeded had bin the betraying of England at once to them who love themselves too well to have it lost easily and are so wise that they endure no Traitors but for themselves nor can endure any that loves his Country but a Spaniard We may learn also to trust in him even now particularly who is the same yesterday and to day and for ever nor is his hand shortned that he cannot save nor his Ear heavy that he cannot hear those that call upon him lifting up pure Hands in sincerity of Heart although the Sins of our Nation in general may justly provoke our God to punish us by them that hate us for that cause that instead of extirpating Popery and Superstition a thing not hard to be done in human Reason if the Children of Papists were carefully educated under Protestant Tutors we think their Religion tolerable and nothing so dangerous to Soul or Body as some Men seem to make it Should we not detest and abhor the Religion of such a Generation as count they do God good service by killing us witness the bloody Persecution under Queen Mary and the damnable Plot of the Gun-Powder Treason Yet some there are that would seem Protestants and yet deny that their cruelty was such as the Author of the English Martyrology makes the Marian Persecution to be Others of no small esteem in the Church of England instead of acknowledging Foxes History a Monument of Martyrs call it a Book fraught with Traitors and Hereticks And for the Gun-Pouder Conspiracy some affirm it the deeds of a few Male-Contents far from the approbation of the Catholicks others as falsly that there was no such Treason intended but that it was an invention of him whom in reverence I forbear to name But yet this may incourage us that God will still preserve us for their sakes that have now and heretofore stoutly defended God's true Religion and that in very many places of this Land we have had those that with all their power have opposed the very beginnings of Popery But wonderful it is and scarcely credible that any should so much have forgotten the Gun-Powder Treason as to say that they would rather trust a Papist than a Puritan as if they believed not there was any such Treason or had forgotten it or that they thought that those whom Men call Puritans were traiterously minded and bloody Persons In the most Reverend and Judicious Assembly of this Kingdom a Member of that Assembly declared in particulars how the best Men have bin branded with the name of Puritan it was where any Man might freely have spoken yet no Man contradicted him If it be given sometime to the best without question those ordinarily called by that bie-name are none of the worst because from likeness at
least divers Men have one Name We will acknowledg Hypocrites among them but because one is such no Man will conclude they must be all so No Man of us almost abhorreth the Name of Protestant to be given him and yet of these some will Lie others will Steal and a third sort will do worse Since this Parliament perhaps I imagine the time and reason aright the Jesuites and Jesuited have invented a strange Name for such Men and let fall the reproach of Puritan They call them by a figurative Name which is ignorantly spoken by most falsly by all and as the roundest Figure is of the largest Capacity so they have shaped them a Name which is larger than Precisian Brownist or the like surroundeth every one that thinketh it not a just thing to rail against the Parliament to curse the Fathers of his Country But I desire not to be called but to be totus terres atque rotundus So much by the way to fall upon the business now The King of Spain offereth Marriage to the Queen AT the beginning of the raign of Queen Elizabeth Philip the second of Spain sought to win her to him by Marriage not doubting to procure a Dispensation for the Incest but was as wisely answered as he wickedly and craftily intended that the Queen could not so soon forget her Sisters death she knowing it to be a part of discretion to keep in hope so potent an Adversary if he should be incensed by a denial her own Kingdom by reason of the change of Religion and the depriving of many Popish Bishops which the blinded People had in some esteem among many other alterations being of doubtful Affections till she could better provide for her own Security The Spaniard in the mean time perceived that his suit was not like to succeed when the thought of uniting England to Spain by the Marriage of Queen Elizabeth if like her Sister Mary she proved not barren was taken away he took hold on the next occasion The practice of the Guises with the Queen of Scots against England MAry now Queen of Scots Daughter and Heir apparent unto James the fifth and Wife unto Francis Dauphine of France Daughter of Mary of Lorrain who was Sister unto the Duke of Guise She after the death of Queen Mary of England being incouraged thereunto by the Guises her Uncles usurpeth the Arms of England uniting them to the Arms of Scotland on her Plate in the Windows of her House and on her Servants Coats declaring her self thereby Queen of England Her meaning was well understood and this it is very probable in the fourth year of Queen Elizabeth made Arthur Poole and his Erethren descended of George Duke of Clarence Brother to Edward the fourth and Anthony Fortescue their Brother-in-Law with their Confederates to conspire secretly to fly unto the Guises in France and thence and with their help to come with an Army into Wales and there to proclaim the Queen of Scots Queen of England and Arthur Poole Duke of Clarence God was pleased in a very good time to discover this Plot. For had they gone thither and discovered their intents it had if God had not powerfully opposed it not only animated the Guises to have seconded them and furnished them with Men and Money but having returned into Wales they would have gathered great Forces to augment their Numbers and put the Queen to the incomparable Trouble and Danger of a Civil War Beside all this she had at this time on every side Enemies abroad the French King the King of Spain the Guisian and Popish Faction in Scotland The Loyal People of Scotland were so unable to help her that they stood in need of her help The Low-Countries were under Spanish Tyranny and a convenient place from whence to annoy this Kingdom The Conspirators confessed that they did not intend to put in practise this thing during the Life of our Queen for indeed they were made believe by Predictions of Popish Astrologians that Queen Elizabeth could not live above one year The good Queen notwithstanding pardoned their Lives after Sentence of Death upon them from their own Confession And how zealously the Guises endeavoured to invade England may appear by the inclination of Sebastian Martigius sent into Scotland by the counsel of the Guises for about those times their alone Counsels were principally followed with Horse and Foot to assist in the Civil War of Scotland who could hardly be restrained from invading England presently and first of all presuming no question on the aid of Papists in England from intelligence held with them here For otherwise what could 1000 Horse and not very many Foot do in respect of conquering all England Now was the Queen of Scots in France and although the Regency of Scotland was put into the hands of the Marquiss of Hamilton yet the power of the Queen Dowager with her French Faction did so increase and on the other side the authority of the Marquiss Regent so abate that after the promise from the French King of 12000 Crowns by the Year and Dutchy of Castle-Herald to which was added the preferment of all the Marquiss's chief kindred the Marquiss resigned his place into the hands of Mary of Lorrain Queen Dowager a thing for a Woman to be Regent in Scotland but once before known She had made many promises unto the Scots of the freedom of exercising the Protestant Religion but being now setled in the Regency she discovered her mind wholly bent to alter Religion She told her Friends in plain terms that though the Ministers whom she named should preach more honestly or as she called it more sincerely than they had done yet they should all be banished She expressed at the death of a young Man whom she seemed to bewail being slain for that his Father had not rather excused him being a stout defender of the reformed Religion that she was cruelly minded towards the Professors thereof Easter also was commanded to be celebrated after the Romish Custom For these and divers other of her overtures Messengers were sent unto her to desire her to be good to the Protestants and to remember the many Promises she had made unto them to that end But all in vain She told the Earl of Glencarn and Sir John Campbel who were sent unto her That performance of Promises was to be expected from Princes no farther than stood with their profit Upon this they told one another that they then renounced all Obedience and Duty toward her Violence now with Art was to be used for effecting her Purpose touching Religion Hereupon advice was given by Labrosse a French Commander in Scotland to put to death all the Nobility of Scotland for that the People being bereaved of their Heads would after be easily brought to undergo any Yoak but that things might appear with a more pleasing Colour there was a shew as if the Queen had laboured and would endeavour to convince her Adversaries in
Religion by no other way but by Arguments Into Scotland were sent three Sorbon Doctors with the Bishop of Amiens But with what safety might any Man dispute with them when he that did so was in the midst of his armed Enemies and there was greatest fear of violence from the Disputers themselves For the Bishop of Amiens counselled the Queen Regent that if any there were which should be found to dispute against the Romish Decrees he should be put to death yea even those who but seemed to be of another Mind only We are notinformed that the Queen Regent put in practice the foregoing counsels perhaps the time was not altogether seasonable nor do we take every single action which might conduce to the subverting of Religion to be a Conspiracy but we may well esteem by the Queens Words the Councellors and Commanders Intents and Purposes the placing of such a Regent all this to be a continued Conspiracy to strangle in the birth the Church of Scotland having yet scarcely taken breath in the World Not long after the Queen Regent dyeth and although it will perhaps be said there was no discovery of any Conspiracy which was in acting as to put to death all the Nobility or all that would dare dispute against the Bishop or Doctors could be no easy rask to go about the latter because the death of their last Martyr Walter Mille did seem so grevious unto them and if any more should suffer how would such a thing be taken by French-men People of another Nation It may be objected from the above named Arguments that there wanted no endeavour After the death of the Mother the Daughter returning into Scotland was married unto Henry Lord Darnley who being of the same Religion with the Queen and they both a Brothers and Sisters Children did strongly maintain Popery against the Protestant Religion We cannot imagine her that any thing should be contrived against the lives of those Princes by a Popish Party to overthrow Religion For to subvert Religion no way could be fourd better than by maintaining in life and honour such Princes as these two were who professed and maintained Popery as contrarily to subvert Religion Laws Liberties and the like the best means are through the sides of such Kings and Queens as are Projectors and Maintainers of them So the holy Scripture declareth by Word and Example I will smite the Shepheard and the Sheep shall be scattered For this Queen was so far from furthering the establishment of Religion nay from connivence at those who should go about any such matter that she professed she would follow the example of her Cousin Queen Mary of England which was no other thing than maintaining in her Dominions the Pope and Popery and pumshing the contrary minded as Hereticks It will not be thought I suppose that either the Papists at home in Scotland or those in France or elsewhere would go about to take away the lives of such Princes whose lives secured their Religion For what was attempted against the Life and most unhappily succeeded of the King was not any way to subvert Popery because the deed was committed and the Plot chiefly laid by Papists It rather was undertaken against the Life of this Prince by some to make way for their own Family to inherit the Crown of Scotland by others to get the Kingdom and admit any Religion But those that look farther into Matters judg this act to be committed against a Professor of the Romish Religion that he being taken out of the way another might succeed which had greater Power and Friends to bring to pass what King Henry the Queens Husband had a Mind but not Power enough to do And that made those who were no Enemies to the King in point of Religion not dislike the Treason for the Ends sake I cannot be of their Minds altogether who judg that of the Queen of Scots being now in restraint in England not long before married to Earl Bothwell and presently to desire a Devorce from him and to require that he should be summoned within the space of a very few days to return into the Kingdom to make answer and defence to the Queens Suit of Divorce to have proceeded from the changing Fancy of the Queen not so much from Conscience For it was as well known before her departure into England as after that Earl Bothwell had a Wife living when he married the Queen insomuch that at the publishing the banes of their Matrimony one stood up in the Church and forbad them It was generally thought that it was that a way might be open for the Duke of Norfolk who then made Suit unto her He indeed was such a Man as being of great Wealth mighty in Friends and singular Abilities of Mind could better bring about what was desired than a Man of no great riches at any time but was now in extream Poverty and Disgrace in the Dominions of the King of Denmark and notoriously infamous for his Crimes in Sctoland The Rebellion of the Earls of Northumberland and Westmerland AT this time the King of Spain wrote unto the Duke of Morfolk to join with the Earls of Northumberland and Westmerland to raise a Rebellion in England and to the Earl of Ormond to do the like in Ireland These Letters were shown unto Queen Elizabeth by the Duke and the Earl that from hence at least might appear their Loyalty Nevertheless whether by the advice of the Bishop of Boss who lay as Ambassador at London for the Queen of Scots and one Rodolf a Florentine going in the appearance of a Merchant Factor or purposing of himself whatsoever he might pretend he privately sought to marry the Queen of Scots she being next Heir to the Crown of England contrary to his Promise made unto his Sovereign Queen Elizabeth The Queen of Scots and the Duke participate of one anothers Mind by Letters written in hidden Characters Neither was this a matter only supposed but the Dukes Secretary one Higford who was commanded by the Duke to burn such Letters as came from the Queen of Scots but did it not and hid them under a Mat in his Chamber and being under examination he caused them to be produced This was when the two Earls of Northumberland and Westmerland had secretly complotted to raise Arms and not long after the Dukes apprehension they fell into open Rebellion One of the Letters which was shewn at the Dukes arraignment was to this purpose That the Queen was sorry that the said Earls of Northumberland and Westmerland were in Arms before the Dukes Forces were ready This was undertaken after that Pope Pius Quintus had in Bulls from Rome printed and sent to Rodolf absolved Queen Elizabeths Subjects from their Allegiance The Pope perswaded the Spaniard to assist the Conspirators that his affairs in the Netherlands might prosper the better and the French did the like that the Queen of England might be less able to send aid to the
and sent under his command 800 Italians the Spaniard paying the Soldiers Stucley then went to Sebastian King of Portugal to intreat him to be chief Conductor out was perswaded by the said King and the King by Abdalla's Son Mahomet to go first unto the African War where both King Sebastian and himself lost their lives And thus God overthrew their wicked counsels for that time Fitz-Morris his second attempt against Ireland ANno Domini 1579 James Fitz-Morris formerly having fled into France being pardoned for a former Rebellion in Ireland goeth now to the Spaniard and is by him sent unto the Pope to consult with him about his request which was to reduce that Kingdom by force of Arms unto Popery The Pope at the earnest suit of Nicholas Sanders and English and Alan an Irish Priest gave Fitz Morris some Money to that intent and sendeth him back to the Spaniard from whence with his Priests three Ships and a few Soldiers he arrived at Smerwick in Kerry in Ireland and raiseth a Fort there Thomas Courtney an Englishman presently surpriseth the Ships John and James Brethren to the Earl of Desmond join themselves to Fitz-Morris who was their Kinsman The Earl of Desmond although he pretended the contrary favoured them drew forces together and by this pretence of Desmond caused the Earl of Clanrickard who came to oppose them to withdraw himself Fitz-Morris seeing few Irish come to his aid under pretence of going in Pilgrimage to the holy Cross of Tipperary went toward Conaught and Vlster to draw Forces together whose Horses being tired he took some Horses from the Plough of William a Burgh his Kinsman and being pursued by the Sons of William a Burgh Fitz-Morris perceiving that told his Cousin Theobald a Burgh that it was no time now to fall out about Horses but to joi with him in the business of Rebellion for which he was come into Iroland These Brethren had bin in a sormer Rebellion but now declared unto Fitz-Morris their sorrow for it yet now fighting with Fitz-Morris to recover the Horses both the Brethren and some others were slain Sor William Drury was then Lord Deputy who sent for the Earl of Desmond who made a promise by his Wife to the Deputy that he and his Men would fight against the Rebels He dissembled long but after that Malbey had defeated John his Brothers Forces and had sent for Desmond to come unto him about Rekel a Town of Desmond he plainly discovered his Rebellion That Night the Rebels set upon Malbeys Tents butwere disappointed Afterward Desmond was sent for to come in person by the Lord Deputy Pelham who succeeded the deceased Sir William Drury but excuseth himself by a Letter sent by his Wife The Earl of Ormond was sent unto him that he thould deliver Sanders the Priest the Castles of Carigofoile and Asketton and to submit himself absolutely The prosecuting of him was committed to the Earl of Ormond who ruined Conilo the Rebels only refuae he hanged the Bayliff of Youghall at his Door for refusing to take an English Garrison into the Town besieged the Spaniards in Strangical but they withdrew themselves and after were all killed and so hard he pressed Desmond and his Brethren that madly they intreated the chief Justice to take their parts Afterward the Justice sent for the Nobility of Munster to come to him and would not dismiss them till they had given pledges that they would assist against the Rebels They made the Baron of Lixenaw yield himself took Carigofoil Castle killed and hanged all the Spaniards in it and the Captain also an Italian San Josephus with 700 Spaniards sent into Ireland THe next Year 1580 700 Spaniards and Italians came to divert the Queens Forces rather than to conquer Ireland they landed at Smerwick under the command of San Josephus an Italian they fortified it and called it Fort Delor but being followed by the Earl of Ormond they withdrew thence into a Valley called Glammingel Some Prisoners of them were taken who confest they were 700 and that Arms were brought for 5000 and that more were expected from Spain that to conquer Ireland the Spaniard and Pope had resolved and therefore sent into the hands of Sanders Desmond and his Brother John a vast sum of Money That Night the Spaniards and Italians returned to their Frot which so soon as Ordnance could be brought and Winter was returned with the Ships of War from England was on every side besieged and after the five days taken The common Soldiers Italians and Spaniards were put to the Sword the Irish hanged only the Captains of the former were preserved Three Years after Desmond wandring like a Vagabond had his Arm almost cut off by a common Soldier before he was known and after was slain Nicholas Sanders was almost famished in the Woods and died stark mad This Year 1580 Priests and Seminaries much increasing in England severe Laws were enacted against them These were for the most part bred in the English Colledg of Doway founded by the procurement of Alan somtimes a Student in Oxford afterward Priestand Cardinal in the Year 1568. Afterward under Requesenius's Government in the Low Countries when the Wars were bet ween England and Spain the Fugitives were thrust from thence and two Colledges erected for them one at Rhemes the other at Rome the first by the Guises the second by Gregory the 13. From these places rose in England Hanse Nesson Main Sherward Priests whoreported Queen Elizabeth to the Heretick and so ought to be deposed for which they suftered In the aforesaid Year 1580 Robert Parsons a Man of a turbulent Spirit and impudent Campian a more modest Man both Jesuits they to serve the Catholicks turns obtained of Pope Gregory an interpretation of Pius his Bull against Queen Elizabeth that it bound the Queen and Hereticks always but not Catholicks till a convenient season Campian wrote a Book intituled 10 Reasons in defence of Rome Mr. Chark answered him soberly Parsons wrote against Chark virulently but Campian's 10 Reasons were thorowly answered by Dr. Whitaker Campian and others condemned EDmund Campian Ralf Sherwin Luke Kerby Alexander Briant were taken in the year 1581 as Traitors to the Queen and State and condemned for coming into England to stir up Sedition Still more and more Priests came into England and for their dangerons Doctrine That Princes excommunicated were to be thrown out of their Kingdoms that Princes of any other than the Roman Religion had lost their Kingly Dignity that those who had taken Orders were freed from Princes Jurisdiction and not bound by their Laws it was enacted 1582 That it thould be Treason to disswade any Subject from his Allegiance and from the Religion established in England c. Somerviles attempt to kill the Queen AN. Dom. 1583 divers Priests and Jesuits wrote dangerous Books against Q. Eliz. and certain other Princes excommunicated which prevailed so far that one Somervile a Gentleman breathing out nothing but Blood
against the Protestants secretly sought entrance into the Queens Presence with a drawn Sword set upon one or two in his way and being apprehended confessed that he purposed to have killed the Queen Ed. Ardern his Father-in-Law a Gentleman of Warwick-shire and Arderns Wife and their Daughter Somervil's Wife and Hall a Priest were condemned as guilty of Somervil's practice After three days Somervile was found strangled in Prison for fear of revealing it as was thought where he lay and Ardern was hanged the next day Mendoza the Spanish Amhassador thrust out of England IN 1584 some English Gentlemen began to practise the delivery of the Queen of Scots Francis Throgmorton was suspected by Letters written to the Queen of Scots and intercepted Presently Thomas Lord Paget and Charles Arundel a Courtler left the Land secretly Henry Earl of Northumberland and Philip Earl of Arundel were commanded to their Houses And there was great cause of circumspection for the Papists by printed Books incited the Maids of Honour to do that against the Queen that Judith did against Holofernes Yet was the Queens Mercy such that she caused 70 Priests to be sent out of England The chief of them were Gasper Heywood who of all the Jesuits 〈…〉 England James Basgrave John Hare and Edward Rishton who presently after wrote a Book against the Queen At this time Bernardinus Mendoza the Spanish Ambassador was thrust out of England for practising Treason against the State He having dealt with Throgmorton and others to bring in strangers to invade the Land as appeared by Throgmorton's action who being apprehended sent one of his Packets to Mendoza His other Packets being searched there was found a Catalogue of all the Havens in England fit to land in and another of all the Noblemen in England which favoured the Romish Religion And he did not deny that he had promised his help to Mendoza and the help of those Nobles it was fit he should deal with A Popish practice against Q. Elizabeth discovered not without a Miracle by Creighton's torn Papers a Scotish Jesuit QUeen Elizabeth that rare Paragon of her Sex and that fairly flourishing Flower which Traitors though oft attempted could never nip nor crop up being a Princess both Prudent Pious and Pitiful seeking therefore a fair opportunity and sutable means to set the Queen of Scots at those Times tainted with some Treasonable Practices against her Crown and Person at liberty And for that purpose sent Sir William Wade who was then returned out of Spain to confer with her of the means thereunto And the good Queen was about to send Sir Walter Mildmay to bring this aim of hers to further issue But some further terrors and fears in the interim brake out between them which disturbed that intention especially by a notable discovery by certain Papers which one Creighton a Jesuit sailing into Scotland did then tear in pieces when he was apprehended in the Ship by Dutch-Pirates at Sea whose person being by them seised on he took forth his Papers wherein it seems the project of a Traiterous Plot against Queen Elizabeth at that time was described tore them into small pieces and with all his force threw them into the Sea But see how the Lord 's good Providence ordered it as they flew in the Air the Wind blew stifly by force whereof they were all blown back again into the hip even in a miraculous manner as the Jesuit himself confessed when he saw it Which Papers were all kept and gathered together sent to England to Sir William Wade aforesaid and with much labour and singular skill so joyned and set together again that he found they contained a notable new Plot among many other of the Popes the Spaniards and the Guise's resolution to Invade England Whereupon and by reason of many other rumours of dangers intended against the Queen and whole Kingdom of England a great number of all sorts of Men out of common charity and to shew their love and affectionate care of the welfere of the Queen and State bound themselves by an Association as then it was called by mutual promises and subscriptions of Hands and Seals to prosecute all such by all their sorce and might even unto death that should attempt any thing against the Life of the Queen or Welfare of the Kingdom Now the Queen of Scots took this as a thing devised to bring her into danger and she also was so continually set upon by seditious spirits who if they may but have access are able to draw the greatest Princes to destruction And what have been their practices from time to time but to bring great Persons and greatest Families to ruin Lamentable experience shews openly the fruit of their malice and mischevous plots of Treason which they impiously and audaciously call and count nothing else but advancing of their Catholick Cause Now the Scots Queen led on by her blind guides dealt most importunely with the Pope and Spaniards by Sir Francis Englefield that by all means they would with speed undertake their intended Business namely the Invasion of our Realm For the advancing whereof the Pope and Spaniard had resolved on these points 1. That Queen Elizabeth should be deprived of her Kingdom 2. That the King of Scots a manifest favourer of Heresie should utterly be dis-inherited of the Kingdom of England 3. That the Scots-Queen should Marry some Noble-Man of England that was a Catholick 4. That this Man must be chosen King of England by the Catholicks of England 5. That this choice so made must be confirmed by the Pope 6. That the Children of him so chosen begotten of the Scots-Queen must be declared Successors in the Kingdom All these things were confirmed to be true by the testimony of one Hart a Priest Who was that noble English-man that should marry the Scots-Queen was much enquired after by Sir Francis Walsingham with all diligence but not certainly found out yet there was strong suspicion of Henry Howard Brother to the Duke of Norfolk who was Noble by birth unmarried and a fast favourer of that Religion and in great grace and favour with them All these things were discovered by this Creighton the Jesuite's torn Papers as aforesaid And all this their plotting and contriving of France Spain and the Pope against Queen Elizabeth and King James sor no other cause but for their Religon which they had now sairly begun to establish among their People Parry Executed for Treason IN the year 1585 William Parry a Welchman and Doctor of Law spake against that Law which in the Parliament then held was Exhibited and called it a Bloody Law Presently after he was accused of practizing the Queen's death He confessed voluntarily in the Tower that having obtained the Queen's pardon for breaking into the Chamber and wounding one Hare for which he was Condemned he being a sworn Servant to the Queen from England he went into France and was reconciled Afterward at Venice in consultation with Benedict
ever to the hands of Sir Francis Walsingham who coppied out the Letters and by the Art of Thomas Philips found out the Character and by the help of one Gregory sealed them up that none could suspect them opened and then sent the Letters as they were directed The Qu en hereupon commanded Ballard to be apprehended which was done Babington advised presently to send Savage and Charnick to kill the Queen Babington intreateth leave of Walsingham to go into France and sueth for Ballard's liberty who would be of use to him for discovery and to avoid suspition Sir Francis keepeth him back with delays and draweth him to his own House Skidmore Sir Francis's Servant was commanded to observe him strictly and to go with him pretending lest he should be taken with Messengers This Letter being read for the Command was written by Skidmore was perceived and read also by Babington sitting by him who Supping with Sir Francis's Man in a Tavern pretending to rise to go pay the Reckoning left his Cloak and Rapier and fled Then Barnwel Gage Dun Charnick being in the mean time proclaimed Traitors fled into the Woods and after were concealed fed and clothed in a rustical habit by one Bellamy at Harrow on the Hill After ten days they were found and brought to London Salisbury was taken in Staffordshire and Traverse also Jones in Wales not privy to the Conspiracy but he concealed them and furnished Salisbury and his Man with a changed Cloak Windsor was not found Gilford was sent into France as an Exile and there died Sept. 13. Seven of the Conspirators being brought to Judgment confest themselves guilty and were condemned of Treason other seven the next day pleaded not guilty but were guilty and condemned Polly though guilty yet for confessing something to Sir Francis Walsingham was not brought to Judgment on the 20th the first seven were hanged and quartered in St. Giles's Fields where they used to meet The French Ambassador's Plot to kill the Queen IN the Year 1587 Obespineus the Freuch Ambassador of the Guisian faction conferred with William Stafford to kill Q. Elizabeth Stafford refused it but commended one Moody in Prison Trappius Secretary to the said Ambassador in the absence of Stafford conferred with Moody about the deed Moody proposed Poison or a bag of Gun-powder Trappius disliked it and wished rather for such a Man as the Burgundian which killed the Prince of Orange this thing Stafford revealed to the Council Trappius was apprehended going into France and afterward the Ambassador Moody Stafford Trappius all accused the Ambassador before the Lords who sent for the Amoassador Stafford beginning to speak was interrupted by the Ambassador saying that Stafford first proposed it to him who if he did not desist threatned to send him bound Hand and Foot to the Queen Stafford upon his Knees with great protestations affirmed that the Ambassador first moved it The Ambassador was admonished to take heed of such Crimes and dismist by Burley insinuating unto him that it was more the Queen's Clemency than that his Office claimed any such favour The Spainsh Armada IN the Year 1588 was set out by the King of Spain for the Conquest of England the Invincible as they called it Navy For this purpose the Duke of Parma had an Army in Flanders of one hundred and three Companies of Foot and three thousand Horse among which were seven hundred English Fugitives the Bull of Pius Quintus for Excommunicating Q. Elizabeth is renewed by Sixtus Quintus and a plenary Indulgence granted to all who would joyn against England The Queen prepared a Navy also and makes the Lord Charles Howard Admiral and sends him into the West to joyn with Sir Francis Drake Vice-Admiral Henry Seymor second son to the Duke of Somerset with 40 Ships English and Dutch is appointed to stop Parma's coming forth upon the Land Southward were placed 20000 Men another Army of 22000 Foot and a 1000 Horse at Tilbury under Leicester another Army guarded the Person of the Queen consisting of 34000 Foot and 2000 Horse under Henry Lord Hunsdon The Council of War decreed that all places commodious to land in should be strengthened with Men and Ammunition which places should be defended with the Trained-Bands in the Maritime Countries to hinder the Enemies landing if he should land then they should waste the Country round about that he might find no more relief than he brought and that they should keep him in continual Alarms To secure the Queen at Home from Papists some were committed to Wisbitch Castle There was in the mean time a Treaty of Peace from the Spaniards even till the Fleet was almost come to the English Coast The Spanish Fleet consisted of 130 Ships 19290 Souldiers Mariners 8350 chained Rowers 2080. Great Ordnance 2630. They loosed out of the River of Tagus three of their Ships by the help of David Guin an English Servant and the Turkish Rowers were carried into France the rest of this mighty Fleet was by God's help overthrown and dispersed with eight Fire-ships made to cut their Cables weigh their Anchors and flie confusedly and the Admiral Gallyasse was taken when they began again to gather together they were battered and torn divers of them perishing in the Sea So a Navy three years in preparing was overthrown in a Month many of their Men being slain and drowned divers of their Ships sunk and taken not 100 Englishmen lost and but one Ship driven about Scotland Orcades and Ireland much inpaired and returned with shame God's Name be honoured Lopez his undertaking to poison the Queen IN the Year 1593 one Stephen Ferrera de Gama which came with Don Antonio the expulsed King of Portugal into England and afterwards sought to be reconciled to the King of Spain being of inward familiarity with one Roger Lopez a Portugues the Queen's Physician prevailed with him to promise to poison Q. Elizabeth Ferrera writeth to Ibarra the King of Spain's Secretary at Wars about the promise of Lopez and his requiring for the undertaking 50000 Crowns Ferrera promised him that there should one come in the habit of a Mariner to him who should bring him the value of 50000 Crowns in Rubies and Diamonds this was Lopez's own confession who added also that it could not be but that the King of Spain was acquainted with the matter for the Money was to come from the King of Spain He further confessed that Stephen Feerera told him that if he would offer to the Count Fuentes this great service to poison her Majesty he should want no Money and hereupon he was content that Ferrera should write to the Count Fuentes or Secretary Ibarra to assure them that the Doctor would undertake to poison her This secret was discovered by Letters which were intercepted for all Letters to any Portugues and every Portugues coming from beyond Sea was to be staied superscribed to Diego Hernandes from Francis Torres Diego Hernandes Ferrera confessed to be himself Francis Torres