themselves to search for mischiefs and being found to scandallize the State with them How these were nourished and afterwards fomented the revolution of time hath made obvious to all men and saves me the labour to set down the particulars It was no novelty then to applaud the former times and to vilifie the present for indeed her fame carried it current in a long continuance to have lived and dyed Royally and Victoriously without the disquiet of the peoples affections and being but a Sojourner in the World in respect of her Maiden-hood might be and was a blessing to her own times the impression of her good Goverment besides her happy memory is not without some effect which doth survive her But this K blessed already with Royal issue and whose fruitful Bed promised increase It was more proper and agreeable with him to be studious not onely in the Transitory part of good Government but in those Acts which are in their nature permanent and perpetual to his posterity rather to increase than diminish the Advantages of Soveraignty which he aimed at and for his part and time did perform but t is a tender subject to discuss I have done Yet I may add a truth That all the force and power of his Progenitours and all their merits and policies to boot for more then an age before her could never borrow so much credit upon their Privy Seals as she did during her time and left them all for this King to discharge great and vast sums Which shews that Necessities put her upon that piece of State when neither her Exchequer could afford relief nor the urgency of her affairs indure the delaies of Parliaments assistance For in truth she had strained likewise from her people in that way of Subsidies more then ever any Prince I will not say many that were before her She had the way to do it by complaisance of a Princess and he a King not affecting that Course failed of such effects For he was by nature more reserved than popular and had his virtues fitter for estimation then Love and did like a King his soul being planted higher overshot such matter as lay level to anothers eye And so as I have said some of these ways to get mony was set a foot this year 1614. and upon several occasions in his reign after proposed but not effected In those times of Trade the Merchant-Adventurer usually transported Our English Cloths white undress'd and undy'd and the Dutch had gotten the Art by the end fitted and stretcht them by their Knavery and so returned them to us at high rates of this the Cloth-worker of London complains which was soon remedied by Proclamation forbidding the transport and to countenance that Corporation the King was feasted in their Hall and made free of their Company the rather because their Cote Arms the Thistle is the Scots Embleme And over went our Cloaths accordingly dyed and drest which the Hollanders forbid to be bought by them and therefore dealt with our Fell-mongers and got over Our Woolls and the Mystery of making Cloth Hereupon we proclame and forbid the transport of our wools The Quarrel between those two Corporations and their respective gain is by the Merchant Adventurers complained of and for mittigation of their Mischief several warrants for some thousands of Cloths were sparingly licensed by wisdome of State to be sent over and so evenly moderating the mystery of Merchants that cozen each other and at their great Feast likewise the Prince was made free The King of Denmark makes a second visit to his Sister the Queen for fourteen daies upon no business of State onely his affections to her and jollity to himself with a Train of no more than half a hundred persons of honour and Noblesse of his own breeding to the Dutch Diet and Drink to which he was too much inclined and oft-times had his load for we were not wanting of our boon-Companions that waited on him for that purpose The Earl of Suffolk succeeding Salisbury in the Treasurership yielded his Office of Lord Chamberlain of the Kings Houshold to his Son in Law Somerset as aforesaid and he the Place of Secretary unto Sir Ralph Winwood lately returned from the Netherlands where he had been Ambassadour Lieger of a long time The Summers Progress returns the King to London where had been some muttering of Overbury's death in the Tower discovered beyond the Seas by the Apothecary's Boy that impoysoned the Glyster and having his Reward was sent out of the way to Flushing where he told the Tale to Trimball the Kings Agent there by whom it came to Winwood's knowledg and so to the King and by degrees to particular Examinations Confessions and Executions of all these Weston an Apothecary Mistris Turner a Doctor of Physick's widow Sir Iervis Yelvis Lieutenant of the Tower and Franklin all accessaries But Weston being the principal actor it was therefore his turn first to come to the Bar at the Hinstons Court in Guild-hall where beyond Judg Cook 's expectation the man stood mute notwithstanding all allurements and threats that could be used and so was returned to Prison Cook informs the King that unless the principal be convict the accessaries could not be tried but by continual cunning and some fair promises of pardon Weston put himself upon his Countrey and was cast condemned and hanged Cook not content with that gets knowledg under-hand that Serjeant Yelverton an obliged Servant to the House of Howards had advised this Counsel for Weston not to betray any parties And this Tale was told by Sir Robert Cook from his fathers confession After all comes Somerset and his Countess and both condemned some that were then at their Trial and not partial conceived in conscience he might have been spared that Sentence and as himself says to the King That he fell rather for want of well defending than by force of proofs for I so far says he for sook my self and my cause as that I might be more condemned for that than for the matter And because it was a story of evil fame near and far off I shall put it to the test in a brief Narratory being pleaded before the Lord Elsmore Chancellour and High Steward for the Day and most of the Peers at Westminster Hall May 1616. in this manner A Peer of the Land hath this Privilege upon Treason or Felony indicted to be tried by his Peers the King by Letters Patents assigns some sage Lord of the Parliament to be High Steward of England for that Day of his Arreignment who before that time makes Precept to his Serjeant at Arms to warn to appear before him a certain number of Lords of the Parliament twelve at the least upon that Day at Westminster At which time the High Steward shall sit under the Cloath of State and causeth his Commission to be read the same Serjeant returns his Precept and calls the Lords who appearing by
course but it fell out more fatal to him which lasted to the end and thereby wrought its best use In the midst of sufferings the bread of sorrow tastes better than the Banquet of fools for afflictions brings such mens souls to be Saints at the Mark which otherwise would be overgrown with too much Greatnesse His memorable abilities remain but in few and his compassionate infirmities common to all To expiate which he did as became him to do to the House of Peers prostrate himself and sins which ingenuously he acknowledged promising amendment of his life and made it good to the Worlds eye Those excellent works contrived in his retirement do evidently manifest his wit and worth with much regret to many good men that such an one should be fallen off from the face of State In Bacons place comes Doctor Williams Dean of Westminster by the Title of Keeper of the Great Seal of England the same power and Jurisdiction as the Chancelour see Statute quinto Elizab which was not so besore At first but as Vice-Chancelour Matthew Paris saith Custodiam â—igilli Regii accepit Cancelarii Vices Acturus Officium c. He was also then made Bishop of Lincoln together to make him more capable of the Office brought in sayes one to serve turns which no Lay-Man was bad enough to undertake Former ages held it more consonant to reason to trust the Conscience of the Clergy with the case of the Lay-man they best knowing a Case of Conscience and antiently the Civil Laws were adjudged by the Ministers of the Church and the Chancery and other Courts of Equity then in the charge of a Divine Minister And therefore a mistake in the Record that sets it down as a Wonder for an Arch-bishop of Saint Andrews to be made Chancelour of Scotland by King Charles a thing he saies not known in that Kingdom for three hundred years before for a Clergy man to bear that office But we find Iames Seaton and David Seaton both Arch-bishops of Saint Andrews and Chancelours of Scotland within one hundred years space And many other Arch-bishops and Bishops within three hundred years not only Chancelours but Judges of the Law Master of the Robes and other Offices of Judicature By which means their onely Bishopricks too poor they advanced to degrees of wealth enabling them to erect most of those sumptuous Fabricks of piety and Honour in that Nation and so in England by our Clergy by this man also in some measure So ran the Channel till Bacons father had it from a Bishop and now a Bishop has it again and had King Iames lived to have effected his Desires the Clergy had fixed firm footing in Courts of Judicature out of the rode of the Common-Law and this was the true cause of Williams initiation thither his quality thus fitted for the Kings intention He was in truth Chaplain to Buckinghams Mother and let into Court parallel in some degree with Cardinal Richlieus entrance by Queen Mother of France a Man may take view of these conformities not few if you consider proportions what is allowed to the Jesuit must rebate of the Reformed and what this man could not do in competition as the other his aim shewed his will but not the effect But at his entrance into this Trust comes two Bills signed from the King to be made Patents by the Seal the one for a Pension of two thousand pound per annum and the other for the Office of Earl Marshal of England both of them to be conferred upon the Earl of Arundel The first though with some regret in those unseasonable times to receive such large pensions which yet he sealed but took upon him to trench upon the Lord Treasurer Middlesex who willingly gave way to it for which they both had enmity ever after The later he refused upon these Queries 1. Whether in the Delivery of the Staff to the Earl his Majesty did not declare it to him for ease of the other Commissioners that executed it before with him and so to imply no inlargement of power which this Patent doth 2. Whether his Majesty means that this Patent leaping over the powers of the three last Earls Essex Shrewsbury and Somerset should refer only to Arundels own Ancesters Howards and Mowbrays Dukes of Norfolk who claimed that place by Inheritance the usual way and reference of Patents being unto the last and immediate Predecessor and not to the remote whose powers heretofore in these troublesome times were vage uncertain and impossible to be limitted 3. Whether that this Lord should bestow those Offices settled in the Crown as Sir Edward Zouches in Court Sir George Reynolds in the Kings Bench and divers others all which this Great Patent sweeps away being Places of Worth and Dignity 4. Whether my Lord Stewards place shall be for all his power of Judicature is in the Verge either altogether extinguished or at least subordinate to the Office A point considerable because of the Duke of Lenox who was Steward his greatness of Person and neerness of blood to the King And here he claws him 5. Lastly whether that the Offices of the Earl Marshall of England and the Marshall of the Kings house in former times distinct shall be now united to this great Lord A power limitted by no Law or Record but to be searched out from Heralds Chronicles Antiquaries and such absolute Monuments and thereupon this sixty years for Essex his power was cleerly limitted only as Marshall unfit to be revived by the Policy of this State And by these queries the Patent was pared which increased malice to the end of their Days Certainly there is a difference between the Earl Marshal of England and the Marshal of the Kings House See Lambert Archiron or of the High Courts of Justice in England The Marshall of England and the Constable are united in a Court which handleth only Duells out of the Realm and matters within as Combats Blazon Armory but may not meddle with any difference tryable by the Laws of the Land The Marshal of the Kings Houshold is united in a Court with the Steward which holds Plea of Trespass Contracts and Covenants made within the Verge and that by the Laws Articl super Cart. cap. 3 4 5. The honour of Lord Marshal is so antient as Thomas Lord Mowbray by Richard 2. was created Duke of Norfolk and the first Earl Marshal of England anno 1397. And so successively unto Iohn Lord Mowbray who dyed the 15. of Edward 4. anno 1475. and had issue one only Daughter married unto Richard Duke of York second son of Edward the fourth and was by his Father created Duke of Norfolk and Earl Marshall of England murthered in the Tower anno 1483 without issue Then comes Iohn Howard Son of the Daughter and coheir of Thomas Mowbray Duke of Norfolk and was by Richard the third created Duke of Norfolk but not Earl Marshall Nor was his Son Thomas
This Redemption I crave not as to my own person but with your benesits once given nor do I assume them very deep for I have voluntarily departed from the hopes of my Pension Place Office I onely cleave to that which is so little as that it will suffer no paring or diminution And as in my former Letters so by this I humbly crave of your Majesty not to let the practices of Court work upon your Son the Prince not fearing the sufferance of my loss in that particular so much for I cannot lose it but willingly all with it as for to take off the stage that which in the attempt may prove inconvenient And consider I pray your Majesty that my hope in desiring to pass these bad times was to be restored to my fortunes others are made unhappy by me if otherwise and then I lose my end I speak of impairing of changing or supplying as of any other way all such alterations and ruine are alike without I be worthy of your gift and that I can be worthy of all that Law can permit you to give or cast upon your Majesty by a more nearer Title as it doth by this I shall account them equal evils that leave nothing or a patched and proportioned one changed or translated from one thing to another But if your Majesty have any respects to move you to suspend your good towards me let that which is mine rest in your own hands till that you finde all opposite humours conformed to your purpose I have done wrong to my self thus to entertain such a doubt of your Majesty but the unrelenting of adversaries which when you will have them will sooner alter and that all this while I have received nothing of present notice for direction or to comfort me from your Majesty hath made me to expostulate with my self thus hardly for God is my Iudg Sir I can never be worthy to be if I have these marks put upon me of a Traitor as that tumbling and disordering of that estate would declare the divorce from your presence laies too much upon me and this would upon both I will say no further neither in that which your Majesty doubted my aptness to fall into for my cause nor my confidence is not in that distress as for to use that mean of intercession nor of any thing besides but to remember your Majesty that I am the workmanship of your hands and bear your stamp deeply imprinted in all the characters of favour that I was the first Plant ingrafted by your Majesties hand in this place therefore not to be unrootod by the same hand lest it should taint all the same kinde with the touch of that fatalness and that I was even the Son of a Father whose Services are registred in the first Honours and impressions I took of your Majesties favour and laid there as a Foundation-stone of that building These and your Majesties goodness for to receive them is that I rely upon praying for your Majesties prosperity I am in all humbleness Your Majesties loyal Servant and Creature R. Somerset I should not trouble you with the Marriage of the Lady Arabella Stuart and Sir William St Maure or Seymer both of kin to the Crown she by the Earl of Lenox in Scotland as I have before said 1577. and he Grandchilde to the third Son and the Heir of the Earl of Hartford created by Henry 8. whose Sister he married 1537. and by Edward 6. made Duke of Somerset and his Protector who stiled himself Edward by the grace of God Duke of Somerset Earl of Hartford Viscount Beauchamp Lord Seymer Uncle to the Kings Highness of England Governour of the Kings Person Protector of all his Realms Dominions and Subjects Lieutenant General of his Majesties Armies both by Sea and Land Lord high Treasurer and Earl Marshal of England Governour of the Isles of Gernsey and Jersey and Knight of the most honourable Order of the Garter and bears Gules two Wings conjoyned in Fess Or. Yet all these Honours rather helped him forwards to hop headless for Felony His third Son Edward was restored to the Earldom I Eliz. and this William his Heir And thus near the Crown in all Sovereignties are needfull to be narrowly lookt into for Marriage Queen Elizabeth did so at a farther distance of danger and her Father made it Treason in his time I say I should forbear more mention but that our Detractor begins at her Death in the Tower where she was imprisoned though her Husband escaped and says That it set mens tongues and fears a work that she went the same way having almost in his last words before told the story of Overbury impoysoned in the Tower by which he now enforces belief That her Death was so done for the Kings interest when in truth she died a year before in September 1615. There happened occasion at Common Pleas to dispute the Kings power in Commendams The Church being void and in his gift whether he might give a Commendam to a Bishop either before or after his Consecration during life or for years It was argued by Serjeant Chibborn against the King That the translation of Bishops was against the Common Law his Text was the Canons of the Council of Sardis That the King had no power to grant Commendams but necessitate That there would be no necessity because no need of augmentation of Livings No man being bound to be more hospitable than his means afforded And much more argument tending to overthrow the Kings Prerogative in cases of Commendams This case was to be farther argued in the Kings absence by all the Judges which he thought to protract untill they consulted with him and so commanded his Attourney General to signifie by Letters his pleasure to all the Judges The Judges notwithstanding at the day argue the Case and return answer by Letter to the King That they held those Letters to be contrary to Law and such as they could not obey by Oath and therefore had proceeded at the day appointed setting down the Case to be upon construction of two Acts of Parliament 25 Edward 3. and of 25 Henry 8. and now between Subjects for private interest and Inheritance That their Oath is That in case any Letter come to them contrary to Law they are not to obey them but to proceed to Iustice. And so they did the last Term 27. April 1616. The Judges subsign Cook Hobert Tansield Warburton Snâ—g Altham Bromley Crook Winch Dodderidg Nicols and Houghton The King returns them answer by Letter Reporting himself to their own knowledg his princely care for justice to be duly administred to his Subjects with all expedition and how far he was from crossing or delaying the interests of private persons But on the other side where the case concerned the high Powers and Prerogatives of his Crown he would not indure to have them wounded through the sides of a private person admonishing them of an
against all the world with ringing of Bells and making Bonfires in London so soon as it shall be certain of the Coronation I am satisfyed in my conscience the cause is just having rejected that proud and bloody man making that Kingdom not elective and when God hath set up the Prince a Mark of honour to all Christendom to propagate the Gospell and protect the distressed I dare do not other but to follow where God leads It is a great honour to our King to have such a son to be made a K. and me thinks I do in this and that of Hungary foresee the work of God that by piece and piece the Kings of the Earth that give their power to the Beast shall now leave the whore to Desolation as St. John saies Our striking in will comfort the Bohemians honour the Palsgrave strengthen the Union bring on the Dutch stir up Denmark and move his two Uncles Prince of Orange and Duke of Buillon together with Tremvile a rich Prince in France to cast in their shares and Hungary I hope will run the same fortune and for mony and means to support the War Providebit Deus This from my Bed and when I can stand I hope to do better service Geo. Cant. Sept. 12. 1619. Some regret there was in the Palsgrave as well might be to act without the consent of the King of Great Britain and whilst his Ambassadours were treating a Peace but by perswasion of the Prince of Anholt the Earl of Holloch and Baron Done with other their intimates he was at length intreated to accept of that golden Bait a Crown which was given to him freely not without some regret though by Others such a Bit would be swallowed with damnation it self And this was hastened upon him in August 1619. and his entrance into Prague the last of October and his Coronation four daies after But instantly posts the Baron to King Iames in excuse of all either of too hasty acceptance and neglect of his fatherly advice King Iames ever averse from such undue Precipitations for affections of the people to be ingaged at their pleasures and to be a President to dispose of Soveraignty already established utterly refuses Done's Address for a time but dispatches Ambassadours to the Emperour and to the States of the League and Covenant not meddling with his Son in Law to advise or neglect him Of this errand two are sent in joint Commission to Boheme Sir Richard Weston after Lord Treasurer and Sir Edward Conway not long after Secretary of State Ferdinand upon the News of his New Rival in the Kingdom hastens this Proscription against the Palsgrave We Ferdinando c. To all Electors Princes c. But especially to the subjects of Frederick Count Palatine of the Rhene Elector c. That Frederick Count Palatine of the Rhene hath made himself head of that perfidious and rebellious crue of our Kingdome of Boheme wherefore we proclame him guilty of High Treason and Iterate Proscription and of all the penalties which by Law and Custome are depending thereon We conclude him out of Our and the Imperial peace and are firmly resolved to execute the said penalties upon him as against one pubâ—ickly proscribed an Enemy and Adversary to us and the Empire Commanding you under pain of Life not to give him aid succour assistance mony provision munition openly or covertly And whoever is in pay his Complices or Helpers to forsake his service and that the States dependant alliances subject and his Vassals shall not yield to him Obedience nor partake to him of his crime but to forsake him and assist us to reduce him the Rebellious Frederick to obedience And we absolve ye his Vassals from his protection and from your Oath into our grace and favour and whoever disobeys this our command we declare him and them guilty of high Treason and iterate Proscription so well as himself Given at Our City Vienna c. 1626. And now each Party take the field The Duke of Saxony for the Imperial Ban with twenty five thousand Men reduced Lusatia The Prince of Anholt General and Holloch Lieutenant General for Boheme and with these evenly powred the war went on in that Kingdom And to make it famous through the Western World Spinola forms an Army in Flanders under Spains interest but for that purpose which King Iames suspected and to be assured sent to Sir Thomas Edmonds his Ambassadour at Bruxels to inquire for the truce of Spain and the Netherlands continued but Spinola's Commission was sealed up by the Spanish subtilty not to open till the March of the Army of twenty thousand foot and five thousand horse which proved fatal to the Palatinate The Spirits of the English began to bustle Sir Horace Vere being here and somewhat rusty since the peace with Spain associating his Nephew the Earl of Oxford and Essex young and daring Spirits saies one indeed so young they apprehend no danger and so ignorant they knew not how to avoid it Oxford the eighteenth Earl and Lord High Chamberlain without intermission from Awbry de Vere high Chamberlain to Henry the first Portgrave of London and Lord Chief Justice of England Discended from the Earls of Guisure the surname from Vere a Town in Zealand his Son Awbry created Earl of Oxford by Henry 2. and High Chamberlain The eighth Earl after him was by Richard 2. created Duke of Ireland during life and bore for that honour quarterly before his own cote three Crowns or a border Argent his own being quarterly Gu. and Or upon the first a Mulletary This man now was lately returned home from Travel in hope to recover his former debaucheries but how improved implicite credit was to expect the Tryal As for Essex then he onely boid up by the people upon his Fathers score which we have told before But made they were made by Our younger Brothers to fight and a Regiment onely was raised not I believe imagined for any goodly effects but to bandy with the Kings Wisdom who though not forward in this unjustifiable quarrel yet not without coâ—nsel to act for the future How madly some men urged the Kings interest seeming so hasty as to do the work at their own charge but being connived at to try their intent the good Earl of Essex had fifty brave fellows pinn'd upon him to pay them their pensions besides his compleat number of his own company These two brave Captains with the rest raw-souldiers adventured without fear under indeed the fame and fortune of that Right valourous and truly expert man of Arms Sir Horace Vere their Colonell who must needs indure with patience the toil he had to make them good Souldiers Spinola had got the start yet the English got over ere he took leave of the Arch-Duke but they followed at a distance somewhat in danger to go too near and in August both forces were marching the English had passage over
limitted And the Discipline erected by the Bishops and Super-intendents which had suffered some Diminution but no Synodical act for abolition should be confirmed And so with prosperous effects the Parliament ended and the King returns to his Sports at Sterlin The Presbyters now took up some colourable fears upon landing of one Amys or Amatus Stuart Lord Aubigny so called from Aubigny a Village in Aquitain a French-man born but of Scots family and kinsman to the King A notorious Guisit and Papist as they would have him The Town Aubigny was by Charles the seventh of France given to Iohn Stuart of the family of Lenox who commanded the Scots there and worsted the English which Town and Title depend ever since on the younger Sons and so on this Man He was sent over by the Guises or rather sent for over by Montross and Arguile to subvert Morton or to break the Truce twixt England and Scotland And no sooner landed but received with all honor and advanced in trust created Earl of Lenox and after created Duke a privy Counsellor of the Bed-chamber and Governour of Dunbarton Castle He was soon accused for engrossing so suddenly so much favour and since it hath been taken up for advantage who ever was like to please the King was thereupon cryed down by the Church for a Papist and so he was presented to Queen Elizabeth a dangerous Man and what mischief an evil favourite might suggest to the Kings maturity fitted to act evil impressions his Mothers Designs troublesome to both Realms more easy and proper for him to execute These in England and somewhat at home both together to wrest him from the King and Bowes is sent from Berwick to charge it home before the King and his Council The Queen of England not liking any so neer the King so much of the French Faction as he and one Monbirneau an Actor in the Massacre of France Bowes ere he entered into his errand required to have Lenox and him dismist the Board which was refused before the cause or crime were charged and bidden to produce his Commission for his peremptory demand which he could not and so was forthwith called home Yet to prevent the prejudice of his anger Alexander Hume is sent after to excuse it to the Queen so to learn the truth of her mistrust She as in such Cases to Messengers so all Princes take as Affronts to themselves and so did She and remits him to Burleigh disdaining to see him her self Burleigh Wisely assured him the Queens affections to his own person as a Protestant and his merits to his Master which she would own in any of his Ministers besides she knew him a good Counsellor for her Kinsman the King but denies you her presence who lookes not upon any Ambassadour from another where her own have been unheard and his Commission demanded without President But these are the fruits said he of your young Kings new Counsellors whose first principles are to discredit your best friends and interess their factions such as the Cosin Guises and a Frenchman or two of theirs sent over for that purpose to hazard ruin to the State if they be let to run on unless the Queens prudence and power prevent And so he parted Morton full of malice retires in discontent to Dalkieth disliking the state and manner of Court Miners for in doubt of some danger to his own person he came not neer the King but as commanded to counsel This distance gave his Enemies cause to fear and to prevent his hatred hasten their resolution to ruin him by the accusation of Iames Stuart sonne to the Lord Ucheltrie a bold-faced young man and had his arrand to charge him home which he did of murthering the late King and thus accused to his face and confined to his lodging he might expect no better than the last act of fate to take away his life and though a Pensioner to England this was done without dread of any But this ill news coming to Queen Elizabeth she Posts away Randolph now Post master of England to remove Lenox and to plead for Morton And in their great Assembly he recounts the Queens favours in freeing the Scots of the French with expence of English blood and treasure when her power could have seized all for her self the King then in his cradle his Regents successively owning these kindnesses till Aubigny and that other came in to ruine Religion and rule the King as their ward producing letters to some purpose which most men thought to be counterfeit and so effected nothing When nothing would serve his turn to turn out favorities Randolph takes upon him to set them by the ears and deals with both factions Lenox and Mortons underhand working jealousies to free themselves by force from eithers fewd which grew high and daingerous offering ayd from England to set things square which he made round These being marched to the Borders and the Scots as for the King prepared to receive them the English faction withdrew then and being discovered many were senâ— to prison and Randolph thus far besides his Commission durst not indure the power of his privilege but slipt away leaving his Nephew and Angus and Mar chief incendiaries to shift after and Morton to his just reward who was forthwith arraigned convict and beheaded for the murther of the Kings father and so confest by him before he dyed with this excuse that in those times of distraction he durst not but to do so The fatall Axe called the maiden himself had Patterned from that at Hallifax in Yorkshire which he had seen and liked the fashion for falling down between two posts executed him sure and sodain His Honour and Title was conferred on Iohn Maxwell He was an able man in what he undertook so that we may say as of Cato In hoc viro tanta vis animi ingeniique fuit ut quocunque loco natus est fortunam sibi ipse facturus fuisse videretur nulla ars neque privatae neque publicae rei gerendae ei defuit urbanas rusticasque res pariter callebat He was slow of speech with a natural composed gravity his countenance Majesticall his actions Princely had not that guilt of too much gathering and griping degraded those excellencies and left him naked to deserve nothing He desired to have a thing which dyed with him the Scots lawes reduced into Methode and it was urged as useless A great question with them to have Order in any thing that had none to serve God their opinion then hath since infected us His great wealth got together was scattered by unfaithful hands and hearts Livor post fata quiescit Discite mortales mortalia temnere illa Quaerere quae miseris non rapit aura levis About this time Ruthen lately created E. Gowry the son of William Ruthen Queen Maries deadly Enemy with other conspirators under pretence of
annointing was as justifiable as their Crowning with other ceremonies of Sword and Scepter But rather than a Bishop should profane the office and that one of themselvs be the first Minister Presbyter that ever sanctified that ceremony they were content that Bruce should do it on Sunday following at Edenburgh 2 daies after she made her triumphant entry through the Town with Feasts and Banquets Masks and shews for two moneths together These popish proceedings in Scotland makes Queen Elizabeth more serious at home both Kingdomes involved in the like danger which to prevent she falls upon such as gave most suspition and having restrained Philip Howard Earl of Arundell for three years in the Tower to keep him out of the way of doing mischief she now conceives it more safe to take him quite away from further danger He is arraigned therefore at Westminster The Earl of Darby High Steward for the day His accusations were such of which usually the greater Catholiques are guilty and being confirmed by Cardinal Allan before his banishment Parsons and other Jesuits with whom he kept correspondence viz. for reducing Papistry here proved by his Letters and the confessions of several Traytors lately executed Savage Throgmorton Babington Gerrard and Shelles But the Bull of Sixtus Quintus deposing the Queen and so the Legacy of these Realms bequeathed to the Spaniard together with his devotions prayers and Masses for successe of the Armado the last year 88. was the Choak-Pear which could not be relished His tender years thirty three not able to defend innocency in opposition to those excellent Pleaders Popham Egerton Scutleworth men of admiral abilities in the law made him submit to their arguments with some palliation and excuse not sufficient to save him from sentence of guilt which he received with submission saying Fiat Voluntas Dei His request was easâ—e to see his Wife and young Son born since his imprisonment whom he left to the Queens favour which was effected to the Fatheâ— also with pardon of his life though she kept him up from doing harm The loss of the Spanish Fleet and credit last year incourages two gallant Undertakers Sir Iohn Norris and Sir Francis Drake with the convenient assistance of the Queens men of War to an expedition into Portugall with eleven thousand Souldiers and fifteen hundred Mariners It was not amiss to take up the Claim and to take in the person of Don Antonio base born Prior of Craâ—o to the Kingdom of Portugall upon his vain expectation of that nations revolt from Spanish thraldom and assistance of the King of Morocco all which failed They land at the Groyne take and drown it burn the villages thereabout with slaughter of the Spanish forces three miles chace and imbarque again for Portugal where they land and march sixty miles to Lisbone over against the sacred Promontory St. Vincent where they feign there are certain Mares at a set time conceive by the Wind and bring forth Foals who live but three years several Authors say so The Suburbs of this City abandoned they enter and intrench whilst Drake undertakes to pass up the River to the City but he failing upon the shallowness of the Water and danger of the Castles no Natives comming in to their design and the Calanture infecting their Fleet they return with honour upon the enemy but loss of six thousand men by sickness to which the Northern people are subject and by contraries the Southern are rather confirmed in the North. Inward heat being remitted or intended by outward air as by sad experience of Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster in R. 2. and the Marquess Dorset 1512. and this now We call it the Earl of Essex Expedition who indeed ambitious of common Fame put himself to sea and got aboard the Fleet conceiting that their respect to his birth and quality would receive him their chief but was mistaken in that honour though he carried all the commendations with the comman man as titles get advantage from the merit of others more deserving though I know this comment upon that Lord gains little credit in these our daies With this honour of assisting the distressed Portugall the Q. assumed an interest in others her Allies to ballance her common Enemy the Spaniard and his Catholique cause as it fell out forthwith in France and Navaâ— For the French King Henry the third not likely of issue that Kingdom was to descend to the King of Navar and afterwards to the Prince of Conde both Protestants whereupon the Catholique Peers of France combine a Holy League Not to permit a Reformed Professour to reign no though he renounce it lâ—st he rechange his Religion with his State This design was to exclude Navar and Conde The fortunate Successes of the Duke of Guise the chief of this Villany magnifies him above the King who in jealousie of surprize by the multitude retires from Paris to Bloys where his necessity forces him to consent to the Holy League and ruine of the Religion and Guise to be Generallissimo and all this under Seal and receipt of the Sacrament But repenting of what he had done caused Guise in the Presence Chamber to be run thorow his Brother Cardinal to be strangled and his Son Cardinal Bourbon and others of the League to be committed Hence followed a various Rebellion the people at liberty to do what they list and several Cities affecting several Governments Democracy Aristocracy Oligarchy few or none Monarchy The Leaguers get possessession of the Crown Revenues a new Seal share the strong Holds are joyn'd with some Parliaments and all the Cleagie who cause one of their Monks Iaques Clement to murther the King The first Murther and first occasion of that damnable Docctrine of the Iesuits to murther Kings which the Pope Pius Quintus stiles Rarum inâ—â—gne memorabile non sine Dei particulari providentiâ Spiritus Saâ—cti suggestione designatum longè majus esse quam illud sanctae Judith quâ— Holoâ—ernam è medio suâ—â—uliâ— The Iesuit Francis Verona Constantinus in his Apologie for Iohn Casteelin c. Câ—m eâ— tempore c. that King being become intolerable it was not lawfull de jure or de faâ—to â—o condemn this Act of Clement by reason of King Henries tyranny in Church and State for his horrid Murders at Bloys oppression of Catholicks and favour to Hereticks and so became a private man subject to the Civil and Canon Law Besides says he this act was lawfull being committed upon him from whom all obedience and alleageance of his Subjects were taken away by the Pope Platina another Historian makes it the common opinion Eâ—m Clement à nemine ad hoc factum subordinatum â—ed à â—eipso poâ—tquam duabus aut tribus mensibus in hoc animi conceptu perseverâ—verat ad hoc arduum opus permotum esse instigatum post jejunia longa post orationes ad Deum
That witches can cure or cast on diseases the same reason that proves their power by the Divel of diseases in general their power in special is also proved as weakning the nature of some men towards women In others to abound above nature and so of particular sicknesses But in all he observes the different ends of God in the first cause and the Divel as his instrument in the second cause as Gods Hangman For where the divels intention is to perish in the patient soul or Body or both God by the contrary draws evermore out of that evil glory to himself either by destruction of the wicked or tryal of the patient and amendment of the faithfull being awakened by that rod of correction But who likes to be too curious of all their Practises read but Bodinus Daemonomancie collected with greater diligence than Judgment And further if you would be acquaiuted with the opinions of the Ancients concerning their power It is well described by Hyperius and Hemmingius two Germain Authors Besides many other Neoterick Theologues largely setting down that subject And if curious and inquisitive of the rites of this unnecessary Perilous black-art the Divel may too soon direct any unto Cornelius Agrippa and Wierus afore mentioned I know how it hath been of late urged that King Iames was not of the same mind alwaies and very tender of his Judges â—roceedings ignorantly condemning some innocent Melancholly simple old women whose miserable poverties made them weary of life and easily to confess themselves guilty of they knew not what though in sad condition otherwise liable to Satans suggestions and deceipt And so busied himself with curious perspicuity into tryal examination and discovery of sundry counterfeits pretenders to be possessed by evill spirits But yet to my knowledg he was ever constant to his former opinion of witches and witchcraft in particulars I can evidence The King thus busied to quiet the North Countries some Incursions were made on the Marches of each Nation the out-lodgers of Tindale Riddesdale for the English made in rodes upon the Scots County of Liddesdale The Laird Backlugh commander of those parts does the like into England and apprehending the chief mischief-makers 36 puts them all to the sword and returns with great spoil Against him is Sir William Bowes sent from the Queen to complain and with much adoe reconciled And for the future peace of the Borders the time was assigned for Hostages to be delivered on each side to either But Backlugh fayling to perform his part was feign to satisfie the Queens displeasure by entering himself into England as Hostage where he continued some Moâ—â—ths Queen Elizabeth evermore upon actions of diversion never upon conquest to assist her neighbours French and Netherlands prepares another Navy against Spain of 120 sail under command of Essex and Lord Thomas Howard and Sir Walter Ralegh in three sqadrons they set out of Plymouth but are weather beaten back and put forth again but become distressed ere they get cleer of land and so return And after fresh supply of men and victual they resolve for the Islands of Azores In the voyage by the way cross winds seperate Ralegh who being missed when the others came there Essex overhastily sent intelligence by a Bark into England that Ralegh had on purpose seperated himself from the fleet But he hastily coming in unto them that rash act of complaint was excused by Essex which Ralegh resented ever after And he landing on the Isle of Fiall before Essex came thither takes the Town which being misunderstood as in dispite of Authority they are peiced again They land upon Gratiosa and Flores take the spoil and depaâ—â— unto other Ilands to seek the Spanish India fleet which was then to come home And no sooner departed but within two houres after the whole fleet of 40 sail full of treasure arrives there and meets with some of the English ships But ere Essex came in they were shrowded under the safety and shot of their own Castles Yet Essex lands farther off and takes Villa Franka burns a great Carocque ship But not much done in answer to Essex his ranting intentions they return in some distress by the way home And being come to Court the Repetition of their several incounters moved contention between Essex and Ralegh casting all misfortunes on each other Besides Essex now blown up with ambition was offended that Sir Robert Cacil in his absence was made Secretary of State and Chancellor of the Dutchie of Lancaster emulous of his wisdom and besides he was then Raleghs great friend But more malitious That the Lord Howard Admiral of England was created Earl of Nottingham with some Testimonialls mentioned in his Patent That he had secured England from the Spanish invasion of 88 and that joyntly â—ith Essex he had valiantly taken the Iland and City of Cadiz and that he had there wholly destroyed the Spanish fleet designed for their assault of the Kingdom of England but Essex would have it fancied he did all himself For he that usually ascribed all the glory to himself could indure no Rivalls especially that Nottingham now Earl took place of him and all others of the same degree as being Admiral according to the Statute of Henry the 8. That the high Chamberlain high Constable Marshal Admiral high Steward and Chamberlain should have preheminâ—nce of all others of the same degree of Honor. But to please Essex He is therefore made Marshal of England and so his pride took place of the Admiral This I note in particular to shew by what steps and degrees of distast He took occasion to turn Traytor not long after See Anno 1600 and so we return to Scotland The winter quarter brought the Estates to Edenburgh and the King timely holds a Parliament in some respects for restoring the Popish Lords now called Proselytes to their honors and lands And the Commissioners for the Ministery are suiters for sundry Articles Amongst them this was one That the Ministers representing the Church and third estate of the Kingdom might be admitted voice in Parliament according to several acts here to foâ—â— in favour of the Church and the libertie and freedom The King was earnest therein to please them and had it past But then obtained the manner as for himself thus That such Pastors and Ministers as his Majesty should please to provide to the Place and Dignity of a Bishop Abbot or other Prelate at any time shall have voice in Parliament as freely as any other Ecclesiastical Prelate had at any time by-past And that all Bishopricks then in his Majesties hands and undisponed to any person or which should happen to fall void hereafter should be only disponed to actua Preachers and Ministers in the Church or to such other persons as should be found apt and qualified to use and exercise the Office of a Preacher or Minister and who in their provisions to the said
Moses the Prophet and Servant of God had in all that belonged even to the outward and least parts of the Tabernacle Ark and Sanctuary witnesseth well the inward and most humble zeal born towards God himself The industry used in the framing thereof in every and the least part thereof the curious workmanship thereon bestowed the exceeding charge and expence thereof in provisions the dutifull observance in laying up and preserving the holy Vessels the solemn removing thereof the vigilant attendance thereon and the provident defence of the same which all Ages have in some degree imitated is now so forgotten and cast away by this super-fine Age by those of the Family by Anabaptists Brownists and other Sectaries as all cost and care bestowed and had of the Church wherein God is to be served and worshipped is accounted a kinde of Popery and as proceeding from an idolatrous disposition insomuch that time would soon bring to pass if it were not â—â—sisted that God would be turn'd out of Churches into Barns and from thence again into Fields and Mountains and under Hedges and the Officers of the Ministery robbed of all dignity and respect be as contemptible as those places all Order Discipline and Church-government left to newness of opinion and mens fancies yea and soon after as many kindes of Religions would spring up in Parish Churches within England every contentious and ignorant person pleasing his fancy with the Spirit of God and his imagination with the gift of Revelation insomuch as when the truth which is but one shall appear to the simple multitude no less variable than contrary to it self the faith of man will soon after die away by degrees and all Religion be held in scorn and contempt Which Distraction gave a great Prince of Germany cause of this Answer to them that perswaded him to become Lutheran Si me adjungo vobis tunc condemnor ab alis si me aliis adjungo a vobis condemnor Quid fugiam video sed quid sequar non habeo The time was come the first Anniversary Celebration in England with religious Rites and sacred Ceremonies of the unfortunately fortunate Nones of August noted in Red Letters in the Calendar to represent the bloud of many thousand Martyrs spilt of that day by Dioclesian in Rome but now to be distinguished with golden Letters in ours in memory of two renowned Kings in these Kingdoms the one receiving life the other escaped death on this day the Nativity of King Oswald who united the Crowns of England and Scotland which were severed afterwards for many Ages and who in the end died a Christian Martyr and sealed it with his bloud the other King Iames miraculously preserved from Gowry's Conspiracy Anno 1600. and who now again unites these Crowns and therefore we may change the old spell of the Martyrs Quintum fuge into Quintum cole if not for the Genesis of that one into life yet for this others Exodus out of the Chamber of death And as this King never failed of the day Tuesday weekly to hear a Sermon so neither of the Annual time unto his death kept holy by him and all his good Subjects and the truth of the Conspiracy sufficiently recorded heretofore and shall be hereafter confirmed Anno 1608. Though our Historian died it seems of a contrary faith in that himself being evenly conform to Gowry's loyalty Affectiones facile faciunt opiniones for he passes it over with this Odiism That Gowry assaulted him or he Gowry About this time a Commotion was stirred up by some Commoners against ingrossing their Ground when the King chanced to be invited in his hunting Journey to dine with Sir Thomas I. of Barkshire and turning short at the corner of a Common happened near to a Countrey-man sitting by the heels in the Stocks who cried Hosanna to his Majesty which invited him to ask the reason of his Restraint Sir Thomas said It was for stealing a Goose from the Common The Fellow replied I beseech your Majesty be Judge Who is the greater Thief I for stealing Geese from the Common or his Worship for robbing the Common from the Geese By my Sale Sir said the King to Sir Thomas I se not dine to day on your Dishes till you restore the Common for the poor to feed their Flocks Which was forthwith granted to them and the witty Fellow set free and care soon taken to quiet Commotions The Plague ceasing which hitherto bounded all mens expectations and persons at a distance the people now flock up to London to take view how the King would settle Laws and Constitutions afresh for the people A Parliament was expected the peoples Idol in those days which the King considered according to the power and interest of Lords and Commons therein and which thus grew up into a Body After the period of the Saxons time in England Herald one of the great men got power and put himself absolute the rest of the Satrapas call in Wiâ—â—iam Duke of Normandy an active and fortunate Prince against the French King the Duke leads over hither many the younger Sons of the best Families of Normany Picardy and Flanders and getting this Kingdom by the Sword he shared out his Purchace retaining to himself a Portion in each County and called Demenia Regnt ancient Demeans Crown-lands He assigns to others his Adventurers suitable portions to their qualities retains to himself dependency of their personal Services and were stiled Barones Regis Free-holders As the King to these so they to their followers subdivided part of their shares into Knights fees and their Tenants were called Barones Comitis The Kings gifts extended to whole Counties or Hundreds at the least the Earl being Lord of the one and a Baron of the inferiour Donations to Lords of Townships or Mannors As the Land was thus divided so was Iudicature each severally from the King to the meanest Lords had their Court-Barons yet perhaps Reddebant Iura by twelve of the Iury called Free-holders Court who with the Thame or chief Lords were Iudges The Hundred was next whence Hundredus or Aldermanus Lord of the Hundred wherewith the chief Lord of each Township judged within their Limits The County or Generale placitum was next Ubi Curiae Dominorumâ—probantur defecisse pertinet ad Vice-comitem Provinciarum The last was Generale placitum apud London universalis Synodus the Parliament of England consisting of King and Barons onely who ruled affairs of State controuling all Inferiours So were there certain Officers of transcendent power for executing not bounding the Kings will those were Steward Constable Marshal heretofore fixed in Fee to Families they as Tribunes grew too bold and their power was lessened after the death of that daring Eaâ—l of Leicester slain at Evesham Henry 3. by hard experience of his Father lessened their power by examining their usurpations over Regality being become Tot homines tot Tyranni Then began the favour of
their view Chancells were so divided from the body of the Church and thereupon so called And the Lord Chancelour and Lord Keeper have one power by Stat. anno 5. Eliz. So then you see how and for what he hath his name And though his Authority be highest yet it is given to him by the Law and proceedeth in course of Law not according to conscience but Law That all Justice runs from the Supreme power so by the Chancelour to all Jurisdiction A man complains of wrong or sues for right in Chancery from which Bill of complaint issues a precept commanding the Defendent to appear at a Day So then a man may not be sued before he have a Writ or Breve from the Chancelour a singular regard to the meanest The very Writs of Chancerie are prescribed by Law and a form registred in Chancery and if not accordingly issued out the Judges will reject them called in Law Abating of the Writ His Authority to judge is of two sorts by common Law or Positive Law Potentia Ordinata Processe pleading judgement Potentia Absoluta by Processe according to the Law of Nature viz. to send for the party to answer upon Oath to examine if he will not answer yet the Chancelour cannot condemn him in the cause for obstinacy Potentia Ordinata mispleading on either part may mar the matter and the judgement must be according to Law however the Equity of the case fall out But if the pleading be by Absolute Power though the party misplead if the matter be good the Iudgement must be by equity and not as the pleading be either formal good or bad or as the law will in the case The Question followes whether that conscience whereby the Chancelour be simpliciter and to be simplex conscientia or Regulata Viz. To be ordered by course of Court former Presidents and if no Presidents whether Reason in codem respectu may take cognisance of the cause viz. A rich Father to suffer an honest son to beg or a rich son contrario the Chancelour cannot Hereupon we may conclude that his Authority judicial both Ordinata and Absoluta Potestas are limitted by the Law of the Land For in the Ordinary he is tyed to the strict rule of Law and by the Absolute he is ruled though not by the course of law yet he is to deal per regulatam conscientiam but in any case not to contradict what Law hath allowed But to conclude his Absoluta Potestas by what means he should find out truth Truly it is without limitation only to be referred to his own Gifts and the grace of God that gives Wisdom Sir Francis Bacon succeeded Elsemere Lord Chancelour though a wonder to some so mean a Man to so much preferment he was then Atturney General and as others by that placc and in the usual way of preferment time beyond memory come to high Office of Indicature either there or to other Benches and so did he But his Mis-deeds afterwards turned him out of all and he dyed poor and private See Anno 1621. And as his Genesis of preferment came to the chair of State so the Exodus of the Treasurer Suffolk in his Office brought him to the Star-Chamber and the Glory of the new Chancelour Chair-man there to sit in censure upon him and so to set out himself in his Matchless Eloquence which he did then by Sentence as the Mouth of the Court as all others had done Their abilities affording them several waies and manners in that Court more particular as their Qualities concern them to distinguish So here also the Chief Iustice Cook newly revived from the sad condition of former disgrace for his too narrow inquisition upon the faults and fall of Somerset He now finding the Fate of Court-policy final in this Lord and his malice at Liberty to speak what he list Parrallels this Lords Crimes with other such corrupt Treasurers raking Presidents of all former Predecessors Even from Randolphus de Britton who was sentenced to lose all lands and goods but was restored to him and fined 3000. 1. for misusing K. H. 3. Treasure Such another was Treasurer of Ireland Petrus de Rivallis and of great command also high Chamberlain of England to Edw. 1. his Offences were Bribes of all men poor and rich Religiosis quam de Laicis fined and ransomed So did the Abbot and Moncks at Westminster took out of that Kings Treasury there ad inestimabile Damnum Regis Regni For which these privileged pretenders could not be exempt from Tryal and the Temporalities of the Abby seized for satisfaction till which time of payment they suffered Imprisonment Nay Walter de Langton Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield scapes not Edw. 2. This Treasurer took bribes then though small but a hundred pound of the Earl of Monteallo ut amicus in agendis negotiis versus dominum Regem lets him escape Prison to do his buâ—inesse and given of free Will and ex curialitate sua yet in those dayes it amounted to Extortion But he had Additionalls having indicted Iohn de Eugam of Tresgass for the Mannor of Fisby to which the King had title and imprisoned him and when another Mannor was conveyed to the Bishop for Courtesies done diversas curialitates Eugam was set at liberty but it seems the Bishops plea would not serve his turn That the King would rather punish by Imprisonment than fine And those good times accounted it Bribery Again the Bayliff of Oxford was committed for arrears of one hundred pound in his accompt and the Mannor of Calcat conveyed to the Bishop for satisfaction yet because he was of pure Devotion discharged by the Bishop these cases all three were condemned of Extortion and Bribery and the Bishop soundly paid for it by his purse and imprisonment In Edw. 3. He imprisoned William Lord Latimer with punishment and fine being in Commission to pay off the Kings debts he compounded for eighty per centum and 30. for 40. by which saies the Record he turned it upon the King to be a Bankrupt Compounder So did the Baron Nevil bought the Kings debts of the Army and though he pleaded that they forgave him the Remainder freely yet was he fined Such like as these were brought Examples to raise the Offence of this Lord Treasurer of himself as of high birth so most Noble and without doubt disdaining to commit base crimes but whether the guilt of Sir Iohn Dingly one of the Tellers in Exchequer an intimate Servant to the Secrecies of Suffolks Countess or some necessity to make bold to borrow such sums as his Fabrick Awdle-End had need of Or the vain and monstrous expence heretofore of that family All that could be besides the necessity of Court-Fate cast in his dish was the imbezeling the monies lately paid by the States of the Netherlands for redemption of the cautionary Towns Flushing and Bril and he fined thirty thousand pounds and Dingly two thousand pounds the
the Time and to discharge all Modification advance of stipends to any Minister for a year unless onely to such as have submitted to the Articles and in affection to the Kings service The Ministers thus curbed and the Northern men being come up to Edenburgh for their stipends complain of their Brethren their pride and insolency supplicate the Bishops to intercede and mitigate his Majesties displeasure and so they did and procured Letters from the King for allowance of their stipends And Mr. Simson was now released professing his hearty reluctancy for opposing his Majesty setting his hand to a Supplication which himself framed with all submission But his Brethren not liking any submission but to their Assemblies or Synods his being to the Council he sets out an Apologetick glossing upon each word of his Confession and concludes That whatever frailty or weakness had befallen him heretofore he hoped now to be like Peter Qui ore negavit corde confessus est and never to betray the Lords cause with Judas The Iesuits do even so fast and loose neither tongue hearts nor hands can binde them against their mental secret purposes And yet there being some hope that matters might amend for the Church and their frequent Synods preparing for their better obedience the Bishops procured the Kings consent to another General Assembly to be at Perth in August the next year This royal Progress of pleasure into Scotland and back again gave leasure to the King and advantage to all Attendants for preferment of their persons or other satisfaction for their services by the freedom of their Masters bounty both to Scots and English Especially to our new Favourite now of two years growth in the Kings affection This man George Villiers of an ancient Family in Leicestershire and bears 〈◊〉 on a cross Gu. five Escalops Or. His father Sir George Villiers begat him 1592. upon a second venter Mary Beaumont of noble extraction whom for her beauty and goodness he married By his first he had but one Son rising no higher in honour than Knight and Baronet his disposition not court-like and therefore injoying perhaps the greater greatness self-fruition yet in time he had preferment to the Government of Ulster Province in Ireland The other Sons were three and in order of Birth but not in Preferment Iohn was Viscount Purbech George Duke of Buckingham and Christopher Earl of Anglesey and one Daughter Susan Countess of Denbigh We are told that he came over by chance from his French Travels and sought his Preferment in Marriage with any body but mist of a Match for want of an hundred Marks and so pieces him for the Court like the story of Demetas Caparisons borrowing of each one by piece-meal to put him forward for the Kings Favourite But the truth is thus His Mother a Widow was afterwards married unto Sir Thomas Compton whose Brother the Lord Compton by chance falling upon a wonderfull Match for matchless wealth with the Daughter and Heir of Sir Iohn Spencer Alderman of London and her Father then lately dead this Lord was Master of all which was of more than credible and so might be enabled bountifully to set up a Kinsman without other help or Alms of the Parish It was plotted long before and Villiers sent for to the same purpose by practice of some English Lords to ballance with the Scots who by the help of the last Favourite Somerset and others of great affection with the King had the better of the poor English There had been a private Intertainment of a Supper at Baynards Castle by the family of Herbert Hertford and Bedford and some others by the way in Fleet street hung out Somersets picture at a Painters stall which one of the Lords envying bad his foot-boy fling dirt on the face which he did and gave me occasion to ask my companion upon what score that was done He told me this meeting would discover And truly I waited neer and opportune and so was acquainted with the Design to bring in Villiers who was entred before He had need to be well backed against enough that envyed his neerness and aimed by any affront to discountenance him until he made them know that his courage over mastered his sweetness For having bought the place of Cup-bearer to the King and taking the upper end of the Board at dinner before some other Waiter which not his due was told of it and so removed nor was it done with overmuch kindness for indeed the other was Somersets creature who urging a second incivility Villiers gave him a Box on the Ear. For which the custome of Court condemned him to have his hand cut off And which Somerset as then Chamberlain ought to prosecute the Execution which he did And here the Kings pardon without any satisfaction to the other party made him suspected a budding Favourite Who was indeed raised with or by Somersets ruine so drew envy from him as his competitor and from others his Friends compartners in his fall being then as one cast out of the passions of the King We shall find him come up degrees and to stand firm in favour to the death of this King and his second Master till his assassination The King minding to shew his own power to raise him from nothing and his will to advance him for nothing the others study therefore was the Kings inclination and so to leave on him whose affection was sufficient to hold up his head He waited hard and close his first years rising but having removed all the whole Line of Somersets lincks his Wives interests the Howards being boldly fixed in his Masters favor he would adventure to take leave but not too long to be absent And so by degrees inured the King from his custome of overtyring his Favourites and at last fortifies himself by raising out-works if in case of assault His own mariage with an heir the daughter of the Earl of Rutland rich and Honourable twisting himself and his issue by intermariages with the best and most noble For indeed the brouse boughs cut down or removed to plain the stem Our favorite appears like a proper Palm besides the discerning spirit of the King who first cherished him through his innate virtue that surprized all men Henceforth preserments came thick upon him for the next Saint Georges day after his initiation brought him Knight Bachelour and Gentleman of the Bed-chamber At new-years time Master of the Horse and Knight of the Garter and that Summer in August 1616. Baron of Whaddon and Viscount Villiers the beginning of next year Earl of Buckingham and privy Counsellor and this Summer in Scotland sworn there also Counsellour of that State At Christmass after that favours might be recorded Acts of time and of affection too he was created Marquess Buckingham and Admiral of England chief Justice in Eyre Master of the Kings Bench Office and Steward of Westminster places of profit and Constable of Windsor Castle
and some to the Gallies but were only all banished The King of Spain sends the whole Process to Venice and by His Ambassadour Lieger there one Mendoza declares publickly to all the World That in case his Minisâ—ers should so offend He remits them to punishment where they resiâ—e And another Mendoza for abusing our Ministers of Staâ—e here was first restrained and after banished 1586. See Another hereafter in this Kings Reign the Marquess Inojosa for scandâ—lizing the Prince and Duke of Buckingham 1624. And our Bookmen say that a Forein King though admitted here by safe Conduct for without Licence he cannot come may be impleaded for Debt or Trespass and condemned for Treason for iâ— is a general Law of Nations That in what place an offence is committed according to the Law of that place they shall be judged without regard of any Privilege For a King out of his proper Kingdom hath 〈◊〉 merum Imperium but only retains Honoris Titulos Dignitatis and per omnia distringitur etiam quoad personam And the same assuredly is of their Ambassadours Nâ— occasio daretur delinquendi He hath protection of His pâ—rson Like as a Sanctuary will save a Mans life from Manslaughter but not when Manslaughter is committed within the Sanctuary for then he does willfully wave the benefit Indeed their Persons as their Masters are sacred from violation of private men but not from punishment of offences against the publike State See Cook 7. part c. Here are Presidents but it hath been more nicely disputed let others conclude This year gave end of daies to that antient Noble Lord William Pawlet Marquess of Winchester and Lord Treasurer of England twenty years having lived 97. years whilst he saw the Children of his Childrens Children to the number of one hundred and three persons 〈…〉 bishop in spite of Adamson a Minister preaching against that Order which he divided in three sorts 1. The Lords Bishop to wit Christ and such was every Pastor 2. My Lord Bishop such who sit and vote in Parliament exercising Iurisdiction over his Brethren 3. The third sort was my Lords Bishop one whom some Lord in Coâ—â—â—substitutes hiâ— Receiver without means or Power Episcopal whom he called a Tulchan Bishop because the Tulchan which is a Calves skin stuffed with straw is set up to make the Cow give down her Milk Mr. Knox he preached more and pronounced Anathema dantâ— anathema accipienti Whilest the Estates were busie at Parliament far off from Edenburgh and thereby secure an attempt was made upon them There was one George Bell in Edenburgh Ensign to a Foot Company born in Sterlin well acquainted with each Corner there and each Lords Lodgings possibly to be surprized in their careless watch He marches from Edenburgh with two hundred Horse and three hundred foot Earl Huntley and others their Leaders thither and undiscovered till they had planted the Market place and set Guards in the Lanes entered the Lords Lodgings and surprize them Prisoners the Regent Glencarn and others Morton only defends himself with his Servants and the Enemy in hast set the House on fire some of his Men slain he yielded to Balclough who had married his Neece Margaret Dowglas The Souldiers careless fall to plunder the Houses whilst Mar and his men in the Castle force the Market place but in vain Then he sends sixteen pieces of Brass called Founds to his own new House a building and so not reguarded for plundering got up to the upper Rooms and shot out at the Windows into the very street when the Enemy was thickest who thus amazed fled without order and Mar pursues them with such other that crept out of their Hidings and make a sufficient number to be again Masters of their own both Prisoners and Spoil Morton and Glencarn seizing their Keepers the Regent was taken by David Spency who to save him at 〈◊〉 from the Souldier lost his own life and His also So both sides were vanguished and both victorious in a few hours Of such advantage is diligence and expedition and mischievous is negligencâ— and security Multum in utramque partem fortuna potest as Caesar saies The Kings Grandfather Lenox thus dead and presently buried there were three listed for Election Arguile Mar and Morton the first but lately reconciled to the Kings part the last was best beloved but Mar had the charge of the Kings person and so caried the vote to be Regent Sept. 1571. Much he could not do in his small time of Government he convend the Country and sate down against Edenburgh but wanting Artillery returns to Liâ—th parts the Kingdom â—â—to quarters and sends for their Divisions by turns Those in Edenburgh issue oâ—t and set fire on Dalkieth with Spoil and Pillage return but were so close beset that wanting victual they pâ—ocure the Ambassadors from France and England to mediate the reconcilemeâ—t And for a Preaâ—ble to future peace the Ambassâ—â—ours obtain a Truce in Iuly beginning the first of August 1572. until Ianuary following The Conditions were that Edenburgh should be free for all the Kings Subjects which was to say that the Enemy could keep it no longer And before the end of this Truce Mar takes leave of this life in a desperate Feavour at Sterlin October 1572. and without dispute Morton was elected to succeed him And now let us to return to England where in November 1572. appeared a blazing star alwaies portending ill fate to great persons It was placed Northwards in the Constellation of Cassiopeia making a Geometrical figure with three chief fixed Stars lozing-wise called Rombus It appeared bigger than Iupiter and less than Venus It never changed place but carried about by motion of the Heavens as other fixed Stars and so continued six moneths The Sphere far above the Moon where no other Comet was ever seen or indeed Natural can appear so strange to Astronomers as since the Creation was never the like and had onely reference to Caelestial or rather super-Câ—lestial consideration And therefore forthwith followed in Ianuary that Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolk was arraigned in Westminster Hall before Talbot Earl of Shrewsbury High Steward and 25. Earls and Barons His Commission being read Garter King of Arms delivers to him the White Rod which he receives and delivers to a Serjeant at Arms standing by and holds it up all the time The Duke was brought in between two Knights and the Ax held besides him by the Executioner with the edge from the Duke but after sentence it was immediately turned to him His Tryal lasted till night and all the matters before remembred were urged against him together with his own Letters as also those of the Queen of Scots and Bishop Rosses besides evidence by Witnesses whereof he was condemned as in Case of High Treason and after 4 moneths delay he was executed upon the Tower-Hill where he acknowledged and confessed all Aboâ—t ten daies after Commissioners were sent
to the Q. of Scots to expostulate criminally with her 1. For usurping the Title and Arms of England and had not released them as was agreed in the Treaty of Edenburgh 2. For the practice of Mariage with the Duke of Norfolk 3. As also all the beforementioned Contrivements particularly urged To all she wisely answered and to the most of them Nâ—gative A League being concluded between England 〈◊〉 France the Ambassadour moved for favour to the Queen who was answered that she deserved none for that she had secret confederacy with the King of Spain by the Lord Seaâ—on which being discovered and true the French were silent The Estates of Scotland took some time to present their Desires to Queen Elizabeth how fit Morton was for the Regency which â—he took well though she knew they intended the power upon him for so she had the honour to say She made him and with whoâ—â— in truth she alwaies kept the most narrow correspondency trusting to his Judgement and diligence to do much for the King with whom he alwaies sided The King was committed to the custody of Alexander Erskin for Erskin the then Earl of Mar was under age whose peculiar right it was to challenge that trust and Buchanan designed his Tutor a man of some fame by the Scale of learning whom Time and Ambition wrought afterwards a dangerous Incendiary to the King and State From this Parliament now sitting were the Papists utterly excluded and laws for advance of Religion enacted to the wonder of all how soon the Papists frighted into fears of loosing their Estates very forwardly subscribed to the Reformed which so heightened the Kirk into swelling Pride against Bishops also that their violence afterwards could never be brought to Moderation Though the Protector conceaved the Prelatical function to be no less necessary in State then warrantable in Reformation And so he regulated them as the Bishops of England Votes in Parliament but abridged their Authority over others And thus stood the power of Synods interposing the moderate Prelates who yielded much in Peace to the publick Ministery and belike conceiving that time and experience might mollifie them to a more convenient Constitution The faction for Papists was of the French and Queen of Scot whose countenance were the Hamiltons Arguile Huntley and Hume ancient Barons Grudging at the Vice-Roy's Government sought to undermine his Establishment and he at home by pleasing the people gained the City and Kirkmen For now was Knox become the Temple incendiary imitating the Vandalls devastatious ruinates the Monuments of Ancestors Piety Church-bells and Bed coverings scape not him nor any other such like sacrilegious ravings himself accknowledged that Mary had and did then blame him for his too great rigor and severity that in his heart he never hated the persons against whom â—e thundred Gods Iudgments hating their Sins and forbore none of what ever condition doing it in Gods fear thus much he said for him selfe and being the words of a dying man I say them over for Christian Charity and Honour to his parts whose Character needs no more than the former History faithfully set down wherein it appears a Beacon he had been apted to fire the Kingdome but his blaze was this year extinguished and he died of good age 67. years whether his History of the Church were his own is suspected of some his name supposed to gain credit to the work which in many parts seems ridiculous Morton in some eminencie and lustre fell into an obloquie of an infamous Act upon the person of Thomas Percey Earl of Northumberland whose desperate case together with Westmerland forced them from home as you have heard to seek for succour in Scotland after some time Westmerland got into Flanders but Northumberland wandred in the woods of Hatles for habitation and was heretofore by his Comrades betrayed to Morton and delivered up by him to the late Regent Murray whose Authority preserved him by the Law of Nations from Queen Elizabeths fury but now Morton powerfull by preferment and plentifull in Estate whom honour had made so aud some meritt valuable yet I know not with what errour of honesty basely sould him for a piece of Money to Hunsdon Governour of Berwick and so became headless by the fatall Ax at York The fruit of this ungratious Act fell upon the Protector himself in the Ultimum of his life by the like fall of the Ax that often cures great men of these wicked maladies 1581 The Kingdome of Scotland heretofore in severall fewds now was devided into two unnaturall factions of Son and Mother the King and captivate Queen in which dissention the Nobility side into severals England and France interpose accord but with sinister respects for the French Ambassadour had his Item and meant nothing less Queen Elizabeth to countermine him sent Killegrew to join with the King and Religion yet a Treaty was perswaded In the interim Kirkaldy Lord of Grange and Governour of Edenburgh Castle being on a high Rock inaccessable fortified by a Feâ— and Lake on one side and a Moss which surrounds it and to his faction being the chief Baron the French gave hope of assistance To whom he sends over his Brother Iames Kircaldy for men and money with which returning he lands at the Castle Blackness the Governour thereof Andrew Stuart though before his Confident was of late bribed to seaze him into fetters whilest he carried the news and 1000. French Crowns of Kirkaldies to the Regent In his absence on this treacherous errand Kircaldy corrupts his Keepers and they the Souldiers and so of a Prisoner he hath the Keys and custody of the Castle In two daies returned Stuart and no sooner entered but is secured into Irons which he studies to revenge and conceived that the best way might be the same and so the less suspected to catch his Adversary in the same Gyn which so lately caught him With feigned tears and a cunning tale he melts the hardned Gaolers into compassion and they the Guard with helps of some bribings some Crowns secretly sowed up in his quilted Wastcoâ—e And as if better than they could design it Kircaldy would needs accompany his Wife in a visit forth of the Castle when as hastily he was shut out and the late Governour set at liberty commands all again During which time the Treaty came on but ended without effect and Grange begins his fury on the City as fuel to his fire Either part implore assistance The Protector from England and soon was sent to him by Land and Sea nine Canons six demi-Canons six Sakers 9. Culverins with all necessaries and 1500. men under Command of the Marshal of Berwick Sir William Drury who joined with 500. hired Scots and so furiously assaulted the Castle that from the twenty fifth of April in thirty three dayes it was rendred to the Mercy of the Queen of England who referred it wholly to the Regent and the Lord
The largest was Duke of Buckingham sent unto him by Patent into Spain and last of all Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports And so have we sommoned him at once with all these Titles which came to him in time heretofore and after These accumilations might no doubt astonish the Kitchen stuff conceipt of Sir A. W. Benefits imbroydered without the least vacancy or emptiness to any others workmanship The hearts of Princes once dilated with affection cannot be satiable in the exercise of any narrow bounty or little affection choice and love begets the Gift which act becomes fomented even to be in Love with their own giving and so to excesse And thus have we put together this great Man who was pieced up by degrees and time He had many kindred for his Family was ancient Heraldry might blaze as large fields of his Pedigree as need concern any subject to prove were a Man preferred to pensil his life which I take boldness but to touch with shadows These were dispersed by time into several Matches with the Gentry and what strange or new device was it in him to raise them that were neer in blood by Noble and worthy waies as he did He made his two Brothers Peers his Mother Sister Countesses the one by Patent the other by Mariage the rest of the kindred by his countenance got means to live like their Births being a race handsom and beautiful Imeâ—n the females descending of Villiers or Beaumont either matched with Peers or with the Sons and heirs of Earls or with Knights of plentiful condition for he did not much strengthen his subsistence in Court but stood there on his own feet the most of his Allies rather leaned on him than he sholdered up by any of them And thus much as a Preface to the History of him hereafter during this Kings raign wherein his actions are successively remembred But concerning his Mother made a Countess There are in England three sorts of honourable women by Creation Descent or Mariage 1. H. 8. created Ann Bullen Marchiones of Pembroke before he maried her So was Susan Widow the Sole Daughter of the Baron of Abergaveny created Baroness de le Spencer Cambden 63. 6. So also was the Lady Compton wife of Sir Thomas Compton brother to the Lord Compton made Countess of Buckingham with the see of twenty pound per annum 18. Iac. And also the Lady Finch a Widow created Viscountess of Maidstone 21. Iacobi 2. Noble women by descent or to whom dignities descend as heirs are said to be honourable by Tenure or those Heirs whose Ancestors were seized of an estate descendable to them in their titles of Dukedome Earldome or Baronies or Heirs to Ancestours summoned to the Parliament 3. And lastly Noble Women are these married to a Lord or Peer of the Realm though themselves but in the State of Gentry Knights Wives are not of the Nobility They are stiled Ladies by the courtesie of England but not in Courts of Judicature So much for Noble Women In the Kings return out of Scotland the people took occasion to complain in common and to petition in particular That the freedom of Servants and Laborers was extremely enslaved by their Masters pretended zeal and sanction against Idolizing as was pretended of such days as ancient custome from General Councils and the Church of England reformed even to that time had appointed to be kept Holy Whereby after the â—olemnizing of Divine service the Servants and Workmen were not usual to discompany from their accustomed moderate Pastimes such as the most rigid heretofore could not justly but admit The King not so over-affected to his own sports that the sense of the peoples sufferings might take advantage by his Example and so of Liberty in the like for much of his most serious affairs were shadowed from the vulgar nay from the observing Politicque by his own publick Pastimes But in truth it came to be a business of consequence to consider how the intemperate zeal of our then rigid Reformers to countenance their own design of deforming strook at higher powers through the peoples sides in many matters so in this also For at first these pure conceited Men quarrelled at the name of the Holy seventh day called then as of old Sunday which they would have named Sabbath and thereafter would have it observed levitically so strickt as not to gather sticks This being discussed in some Counties the people forbore their Recreations Then the Reformers took the like exceptions against the peoples lawful pleasures on Saints and Holy-daies and at last against all sports and publick Pastimes exercises innocent and harmless such were Leaping Dancing Running or any Mastery for the Gaol or Prize May-pole or Church-ale as debauched Idols In some of these Pastimes several Counties excelled and to entertain community with their Mirth the Court Progresses took delight to judge of their wagers in their journey to Scotland which the people observing took occasion to themselves to petition the King in his return for freedome and leave to be merry And thus by this means this Mans Monstrum Horrendum the Church-mans Maskarado was begotten and brought to allowance by command in print to justifie the people in their lawful pleasures though upon the Sunday after service This year died Edw. Talbot the 8. Earl of Shrewsbury without issue and therfore it descended upon George Talbot son of Iohn Talbot of Grafton Esq by Katherine his wife Daughter of Sir William Peters heir male of Sir Gilbert Talbot of Grafton second Son of Iohn Lord Talbot second Earls of Shrewsbury after the death of Gilbert and Edward Earls of Shrewsbury without issue male who was this next year 1618. admitted by King Iames the ninth Earl But this man dying also without issue the inheritance descended upon the children of Iohn Talbot brother to this George which Iohn dyed and left issue Iohn now the eleventh Earl 1652. He bears Gules a Lion rampant and a border engraled Or. Sir Walter Raleigh wearied with long imprisonment and having there spent his time well in the History of the World made his petition more passable to the King whose love to learning granted him now at last his Liberty and not long after gave him leave to wander after a design to the Western world where he had been in several Climates before The common World wondering at this mans wit who had a way to break Jests though to hazard his head again for in a jear he said That his whole History had not the like President Of a Kings chief Prisoner to purchase freedom and his bosome Favourite to have the Halter but in Scripture Mordecai and Haman meaning Himself and Somerset To which he was told that the King replyed He might dy in this deceipt which he did and Somerset saved But in truth he had a reaching and roving mind from his first rise and thereafter but a mean fortune which he meant now