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A05353 A treatise concerning the defence of the honour of the right high, mightie and noble Princesse, Marie Queene of Scotland, and Douager of France with a declaration, as wel of her right, title, and interest, to the succession of the croune of England: as that the regiment of women is conformable to the lawe of God and nature. Made by Morgan Philippes, Bachelar of Diuinitie, An. 1570.; Defence of the honour of the right highe, mightye and noble Princesse Marie Quene of Scotlande and dowager of France Leslie, John, 1527-1596. 1571 (1571) STC 15506; ESTC S106704 132,510 314

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one rule as a general Maxime is obiected against her And yet the same rule is so vntruely set forth that I can not wel agree that it is any rule or Maxime of the cōmon law of this Realm of Englād Your pretēsed Maxime is whosoeuer is born out of the realm of Englād and of father and mother not being vnder the obediēce of the King of England cannot be capable to inherite any thing in England Which rule is nothing true but altogether false For euery stranger and Alien is hable to purchace the inheritance of landes within this Realme as it may appeare in 7. 9. of king Edward the fourth and also in 11. 14. of king Hērie the fourth And although the same purchace is of some men accounted to be to the vse of the King yet vntil such time as the king be intitled therevnto by matter of Record the inheritance remaineth in the Alien by the opinion of al men And so is a very Alien capable of inheritance within this Realme And then it must nedes fal out very plainly that your general Maxime where vpon you haue talked and bragged so muche is now become no rule of the common law of this Realme And if it be so then haue you vttered very many wordes to smal purpose But yet let vs see fartther whether there be any rule or Maxime in the cōmon Law that may seeme any thing like to that rule wherevppon any matter may be gathered against the Title of the said Marie Queene of Scotland There is one rule of the cōmon Lawe in wordes somewhat like vnto that whiche hath ben alleaged by the Aduersaries Which rule is set forth and declared by a statute made anno 25. of King Edward the third Which statute reciting the doubt that then was whether infants borne out of the allegeance of England should be hable to demaund any heritage within the same allegeance or no it was by the same statute ordeined that al infantes inheritours which after that time should be borne out of the allegeance of the King whose father and mother at the time of their birth were of the feaith and allegeāce of the King of England should haue and enioy the same benefittes and aduantages to haue and carie heritage within the said allegeance as other heires should Whervpon it is to be gathered by dew and iust construction of the statute and hath bene heretofore cōmonly taken that the cōmon law alwaies was and yet is that no person borne out of the allegeāce of the King of England whose father and mother were not of the same allegeāce should be able to haue or demaund any heritage within the same allegeance as heire to any person Which rule I take to be the same supposed Maxime which the Aduersaries do meane But to stretch it generally to al inheritances as the Aduersaries woulde seeme to do by any reasonable meanes can not be For as I haue said before euery strāger and Alien borne may haue and take inheritance as a purchaser And if an Alien do marie a woman inheritable the inheritance therby is both in the Alien and also in his wife and the Alien thereby a purchaser Noman doubteth but that a Denizon may purchase landes to his owne vse but to inherit landes as heire to any person within the allegeāce of England he can not by any meanes So that it seemeth very plaine that the said rule bindeth also Denyzōs and doth only extend to Descētes of inheritance and not to the hauing of any landes by purchase Now wil we then consider whether this rule by any reasonable construction can extende vnto the Lady Marie the Queene of Scotland for and cōcerning her Title to the Croune of England It hath bene said by the Aduersaries that she was borne in Scotland which realm is out of the allegeāce of England her father and mother not being of the same allegeance And therfore by the said rule she is not inheritable to the Croune of this Realm Although I might at the beginning very wel and orderly deny the consequent of your argumēt yet for this time we wil first examine the Antecedent whether it be true or no and then consider vpon the consequent That the Queene of Scotland was borne in Scotlād it must nedes be graūted but that Scotland is out of the allegeāce of Englād though the said Quene and al her subiects of Scotland wil stourly affirme the same yet ther is a great nūber of men in Eng and both lerned and others that be not of that opiniō being lead and persuaded therto by diuers histories Registers Recordes and Instruments of Homage remaining in the treasurie of this Realm wherin is metioned that the Kings of Scotland haue acknowledged the King of Englād to be the superiour Lord ouer the Realme of Scotland and haue done homage and fealtie for the same Which thing being true notwithstanding it be cōmonly denied by al Scotsmen then by the lawes of this realme Scotlād must nedes be accōpted to be within the allegeance of Englād And although sins the time of King Henry the sixt none of the Kinges of Scotlande haue done the said seruice vnto the Kinges of England yet that is no reason in our lawe to say that therefore the Realme of Scotland at the time of the birth of the said Ladie Marie Queene of Scotlande being in the thirtie and fourth yeare of the raigne of our late Souereigne Lorde King Henrie the eight was out of the allegeance of the kinges of England For the law of this Realm is very plain that though the Tenant do not his seruice vnto the Lorde yet hath not the Lord thereby lost his Seignorie For the lande still remaineth within his Fee and Seignorie that notwithstanding But peraduenture some wil obiecte and say that by that reason France should likewise be said to be within the allegeance of England forasmuch as the possession of the Croune of France hath bene within a litle more then the space of one hundred yeares now last past laufully vested in the kinges of Englād whose right and title stil remaineth To that obiectiō it may be answered that there is a great difference betwene the right and title which the Kings of Englād claime to the Realme of Fraunce and the right and title which they claime to the Realme of Scotlande Although it be true that the Kinges of Englande haue bene lawfully possessed of the Croune of France yet during such time as they by vsurpation of others are dispossessed of the saide Realme of France the same Realme by no meanes can be said to be within their allegeance especially considering how that syns the time of vsurpation the people of France haue wholy forsaken their allegeance and subiection which they did owe vnto the Kings of Englande and haue geuen and submitted them selues vnder the obedience and allegeance of the vsurpers But as for the Realme of Scotlande it is otherwise For
the Title whiche the Kinges of England haue claimed vnto the Realme of Scotland is not in the possession of the lande and Croune of Scotlande but onely vnto the seruice of homage and fealtie for the same And although the Kinges of Scotland sith the time of King Henry the eight haue intermitted to doe the said homage and fealtie vnto the Kinges of Englande yet for al that the Kinges of Scotland can not by any reason or lawe be called vsurpers And thus may ye see gentle Reader by the opinion of al indifferente men not lead by affection that the Realme of Scotlande hath bene and is yet within the allegeance and dominion of England And so is the Antecedent or first proposition false And yet that maketh no proufe that the Realme of France likewise should nowe be said to be within the allegeance of the Kings of England by reason of the manifest and apparent difference before shewed But what if your Antecedent were true and that we did agree both with the said Queene of Scotland and her subiectes and also with you that Scotland were out of the allegeance of England Yet it is very plaine that your consequent and conclusion can not by any meanes be true And that principally for three causes whereof one is for that neither the King not the Croune not being specially mētioned in the said rule or pretended Maxime can be intended to be within the meaning of the same Maxime as we haue before sufficiently proued by a great number of other suche like generall rules and Maximes of the lawes An other cause is for that the Croune can not be taken to be within the woordes of the said supposed Maxime and that for twoo respectes one is bycause the rule doth only dishable Aliens to demaunde any heritage within the allegeance of England Whiche rule can not be stretched to the demaunde of the Croune of Englād which is not with in the allegeance of England but is the very allegeance it selfe As for a like example it is true that al the landes within the Kinges dominion are holdē of the King either mediatly or immediately and yet it is not true that the Croune by whiche onely the King hath his Dominion can be said to be holdē of the King. For without the Croune there can be neither King nor allegeance And so long as the Croune resteth onely in demaund not being vested in any person ther is no allegeāce at al. So that the Croune can not be said by any meanes to be within the allegeance of England and therfore not within the wordes of the said rule or Maime The Title of the Croune is also out of the wordes and meaning of the same rule in an other respect and that is bycanse that rule doth only dishable an Alien to demaūd landes by descent as heire For it doth not extende vnto landes purchased by an Alien as we haue before sufficiently proued And then can not that rule extende vnto the Croune being a thing incorporate the right wherof doth not descend according to the common course of priuate inheritance but goeth by successiō as other corporatiōs do No man doubteth but that a Prior Alien being no denizon might alwaies in time of peace demaund land in the right of his corporatiō And so likewise a Deane or a Person being Aliens and no deniznos might demaund lande in respecte of their corporations not withstāding the said supposed rule or Maxime as may appeare by diuerse booke cases as also by the statute made in the time of King Richard the second And although the Croune hath alwaies gone according to the common course of a Descent yet doth it not properly descende but succede And that is the reason of the lawe that although the Kinge be more fauoured in all his doinges then any common person shal be yet can not the King by lawe auoide his grauntes and Letters Patentes by reason of his Nonage as other infantes may doe but shal alwaies be said to be of ful age in respect of his Croune euen as a Person Vicare or Deane or any other person incorporate shal be Whiche can not by any meanes be said in lawe to be within age in respect of their corporations although the corporation be but one yeare olde Bysides that the King can not by the law auoide the Letters Patentes made by any vsurper of the Croune vnlesse it be by act of Parlament no more then other persons incorporate shal auoide the grauntes made by one that was before wrongfully in their places and romes whereas in Descentes of inheritance the lawe is otherwise For there the heire may auoide al estates made by the disseafour or abatour or any other person whose estate is by lawe defeated Whereby it doth plainely appeare that the King is incorporate vnto the Croune and hath the same properly by succession and not by Descent onely And that is likewise an other reason to proue that the King and the Croune can neither be saide to be within the wordes nor yet with in the meaning of the said general rule or Maxime The third and most prncipall cause of all is for that in the said statute whervpon the said supposed rule or Maxime is gathered the children descendantes and descended of the blood royal by the wordes of Infantes de Roy are expresly excepted out of the said supposed rule or Maxime Whiche wordes the Aduersaries do much abuse in restrainīg and construing them to extende but to the first degree only whereas the same wordes may very wel beare a more large and ample interpretation And that for three causes and considerations First by the Ciuil lawe this word Liberi which the worde Infantes being the vsuall and original worde of the statute written in the Frenche tongue counteruaileth doth comprehende by proper and peculier signification not only the childrē of the first degree but other Descendants also in the law saying That he who is manumissed or made free shal not commence any Action against the children of the Patrone or manumissour without licence not onely the first degree but the other also is conteined The like is when the lawe of the twelue Tables saith The first place and roome of succession after the death of the parentes that die intestate is due to the children which successiō apperteineth as wel to degrees remoued as to the firste Yea in al causes fauourable as ours is this worde son Filius cōteineth the nephew though not by the propertie of the voice or speache yet by interpretation admittable in al such thinges as the law disposeth of As touching this worde Infantes in Frēch We say that it reacheth to other Descendāts as wel as the first degree Wherein I do referre me to suche as be expert in the said tongue We haue no one worde for the barenes of our English tōgue to coūterpaise the said French word Infantes or the Latin word
and defende him against al men that would then after challenge or pursue him as guiltie of the said crime The wihch their doings the Queene considering and fearing dangers imminent and withal calling to mind the sundry and diuers vprours and seditiōs already made against her the wretched and most cruel murther of her Secretarie in her own presence the late strāge and miserable murther of her husbād the distresse the discomforte and desolation wherein she was presently bewrapped the Earles actiuitie in Martial feates and the good and faithful seruice done by him to her mother and to her self fearing some new and fresh sturre and calamitie if she should refuse her Nobilities request though very circūspect and naturally prudent in al her other doinges yet neuerthelesse a woman and especially neuer to that houre ones admonished either opēly or priuately after the Earles acquital that he was guiltie of the said fact nor suspecting any thing therof yelded to that to the whiche these craftie colluding seditious heads and the necessitie of the time as then to her seemed did in a maner enforce her Let them now lay on lode let them now rage and raue against this acquital and mariage let them lie to their owne shame vpō their owne deuifes and doinges thereby to defame their Queene Let them lie that the Erle of Huntley was restored to his fathers patrimonie to procure his sisters consent to the diuorse betwene th' Erle and her which restitution was made not for that cōsideratiō but by cause the Queene thought in her cōscience his father wrongfully cōdemned Let them crie out vpō th' Earle Bothwel for that the sentēce of diuorse was promulged partly by force partly without the iust and vsual order of the law and without sufficiēt proufs Let them cry out vpō him for his violēt taking and deteining the Queene Yet if they cā not precisely proue the Quenes consent to any of his vnlawful actes as hitherto they were neuer able to do then can they not get or gather any iust occasion which is the thing they only seeke for to suspect the Queene of this greuous acte On th' other side it is wel knowē and easy to be proued that this faction did chiefly procure as we haue said aswel the acquital as the supposed mariage and therfore by likelihod was priuie of all other consequent deuises and practises Wherefore they do nothing but blow out and blase to the worlde with their owne foule filthy mouthes their own shame and doe fare like a man that doth thrust a sworde through both his owne sides to pricke a litle and raise but the outward skinne only of his enemie Ye may now wel perceaue gētle Reader that hitherto they haue produced litle matter of credit against their Quene and yet as it appeareth very good matter against them selues and for their owne discredit Nowe may ye therefore easely coniecture and by these their chiefe and principal matters and groundes easely perceaue what accompt is to be made of al the residue of their lewde slanders and what smal force and strength al their whole sayinges do beare They see it they see it wel inough themselues good Reader whereby they wel perceaue and fully vnderstand that they altogether are vnable to beare out and mainteine by reason iustice or law these their outragious and seditious procedinges And therefore they set vpon them the best colour and countenance they can Wherein you shal nowe heare what they did alleage being in England for them selues They say that no man can charge them or the residue of their Nobilitie that they haue gone as much as one onely step from the office and dutie of good subiectes in taking armes against the outragious enormities already committed and to preuent the great dāgers imminēt to the persons of their Queene and her dere sonne to their Nobilitie and to the whole state of their weale publike And that it was no smal harts grief to them to heare what vilanie al Nations thought and openly spake of them for suffering such a Tragical matter to scape vnpunished which thing ingendreth of vs say they among strangers and al forain Nations an ill and sinister opinion of some common consent thereto made by our whole Nobilitie Yea to see also the very Executour thereof him selfe by violent force to take deteine and kepe his and their Souereigne and with mariyng with her to disteine her honour Wherfore to set her Maiestie at freedom out of his bondage to preserue her honour and the personne of her sonne and by due punishment of suche a malefactour to recouer their good name and estimation with the rest and quietnes of their Cōtrey when they had but in vaine attempted aswel al other meanes as by the offring to the Earle singuler battail they were driuen to gather force to resist them who came to the fielde against them with a strong army But he refusing either to wage singuler battail which was then offered to him or to ioyne in battail with their cāpe escaped by flight The Queene in the meanewhile rendred herself into the Nobilities hands there assembled and by them was conueied to Edēborough but afterward they were of very necessitie compelled to sequester her vntil such time as some remedie might be found for these maters into Lochleuē Wher she hauīg now aduised with her self and fully perceued her owne disabilitie to susteme the weight of so great a roome frely and volūtarily by their saying gaue ouer the Croune to her sonne appointing the Earle Murray being at that time out of the Realme to be Regēt therof during her sonnes minoritie Th' Earle Bothwel not long after being by them pursued fled the Realme to escape their handes Now this said resignation by the Queene ones made to her sonne he was forthwith by them solemnly crouned and he as King the Earle Murray as Regent obeyd and the state of both these Regimēts was by Acte of Parlamēt established Whervpō quietnes began to encrease and iustice more and more daily to take place which yet some persons sai thei much enuiyng at to the disturbāce of the same and of the kings authoritie first practised contrary to the said their Acte of Parlament the Queenes deliuerance out of Lochleuen and then shewed them selues in armes But as their attēpt say they was vnlauful so the victory fel against them on our the righteous side Whereby God him self semeth to haue geuē sentēce for the equitie of our whole cause against our Aduersaries These are the principal allegations that these good men haue proposed for the iustification of their proceedinges against the Quene before the Cōmissioners of Englād Finally they say that the moste parte of them selues are for particuler benefits priuately so muche beholding to their said Quene that a number of them could be cōtēted and wel willing if they might preserue Scotland in the state of a Kingdome preseruing also the professiō of true religion with the Kinges person
Scotland and Wales be al within one Territorie and not diuided by any sea And al old Recordes of the law concerning seruice to be done in those two Countries haue these words Infra quatuor Maria within the fower seas which must nedes be vnderstād in Scotlād and Wales aswel as in Englād b●cause they be al within one continent cōpassed with fower seas And likewise be many auncient statutes of this Realm writrē in the Normā Frēch which haue these wordes deins les quatre mers that is within the fower seas Now cōcerning the statute the title of the same is of those that are born beyond the sea the doubt moued in the corps of the said statut is also of childrē born beyond the sea out of the allegeance with diuers other brāches of the statute tēding that way Wherby it seemeth that no part of the statute toucheth these that are born in Wales or Scot lād And albe it at this time and before in tho reigne of Edward the first Wales was fully reduced annexed and vnited to the prop●● Dothinion of England yet was it before subrected to the Croune and King of England as to the Lorde and S●igniour aswel as Scotland Wherefore if this statute had 〈◊〉 made before the time of the said Edwarde the 〈◊〉 it seemeth that it could not haue bene stretched to Wales no more then it can now to Scotland I doe not therefore a litle meruaile that euer this man for pure shame could finde in his harte so childishly to wrangle vpon this word Infantes and so openly to detorte depraue and corrupt the common lawe and the Actes of Parlament And thus may you see gentle Reader that nothing can be gathered either out of the said supposed general rule or Maxime or of any other rule or Principle of the lawe that by any good and reasonable construction can seeme to impugne the title of the said Ladie Marie now Queene of Scotland of and to the Croune of this Realme of England as is aforesaid We are therefore now last of al to consider whether there be any statute or Acte of Parlament that doth seeme either to take away or preiud●ce the title of the said Lady Marie And bycause touching the foresaid mentioned statute of the 25. yeare of King Edward the thirde being only a declaration of the common law we haue already sufficiently answered we wil passe it ouer and consider vppon the statute of 28. and 36. of King Henry the eight being the only shoteanker of al the Aduersaries whether there be any matter therein conteined or depending vpon the same that can by any meanes destroie or hurt the title of the said Ladie Marie Queene of Scotland to the successiō of the Croune of England It doth appeare by the said statute of 28. of King Henry the eight that there was authoritie geuen him by the same to declare limite appoint and assigne the succession of the Croune by his Letters Patentes or by his last Wil signed with his owne hande It appeareth also by the foresaid statute made 35. of the said King that it was by the same enacted that the Croune of this Realme should go and be to the said King and to the heires of his body lawfully begotten that is to say vnto his Highnes first son of his body betwene him and the Ladie Iane then his wife begotten and for default of such issue then vnto the Lady Marie his daughter and to the heires of her body lawfully begotten and for default of such issue then vnto the Ladie Elizabeth his daughter and to the heires of her body laufully begotten and for default of such issue vnto suche person or persons in remainder or reuersion as should please the said King Henry the eight and according to such estate and after such māner order and conditiō as should be expressed declared named and limited in his Letters Patentes or by his last Wil in writing signed with his owne hande By vertue of whiche said Acte of Parlament the Aduersaries doo alleage that the said late King Henry the eight afterward by his last Wil in writing signed with his owne hand did ordeine and appoint that if it happen the said Prince Edward Ladie Marie and Lady Elizabeth to dye without issue of their bodies lawfully begotten then the Croune of this Realme of Englande should goe and remaine vnto the heires of the bodie of the Ladie Francis his Neece and th' eldest daughter of the F●ēch Quene And for the defaulte of suche issue to the heires of the body of the Ladie Elenour his Neece seconde daughter to the Frenche Queene lawfully begotten And if it happened the said Ladie Elenor to dye without issue of her body lawfully begotten to remaine and come to the nexte rightfull heires Wherevpon the Aduersaries do inferre that the successiō of the Croune ought to go to the childrē of the said Ladie Frācis and to their heyres according to the said supposed Wil of our late Souereigne Lorde King Henry the eight and not vnto the Ladie Marie Queene of Scotlande that nowe is To this it is on the befalf of the said Lady Marie Queene of Scotland among other things answered that King Henry the eight neuer signed the pretēsed Wil with his own hand and that therfore the said Wil can not be any whit preiudicial to the said Queene Against which answere for the defence and vpholding of the saide Will it is replied by the Aduersaries first that there were diuers copies of his Wil found signed with his owne hande or at the leastwise enterlined and some for the most part writen with his owne hande out of the whiche it is likely that the original Wil commonly called King Henry the eightes Will was taken and fayer drawen out Then that there be great and vehement presumptions that for the fatherly loue that he bare to the cōmon wealth and for the auoiding of the vncerteintie of the successiō he welliked vpō and accepted the authoritie geuen him by Parlament and signed with his owne hande the said original Wil whiche had the said limitation and assignation of the Croune And these presumptions are the more enforced for that he had no cause why he should beare any affection either to the said Queene of Scotland or to the Lady Leneux and hauing withal no cause to be greaued or offended with his sisters the Frenche Queenes children but to put the matter quite out of al ambiguitie and doubte it appeareth they say that there were eleuen witnesses purposely called by the king who were presente at the signing of the said Wil and subscribed their names to the same Yea the chief Lordes of the Coūsaile were made and appointed executours of the said Wil and they and other had great Legacies geuen them in the said Wil which were paid and other thinges comprised in the Wil accomplished accordingly There passed also purchases and Letters Patentes betwene King Edwarde and the executors of
euidently tende to this ende and scope if a zealous minde to the common Wealth if prudence and wisdome did not rule and measure al these doinges but contrariewise partial affection and displeasure if this arbitrement putteth not away al contentions and striffes if the mind and purpose of the honorable Parlament be not satisfied if there be dishonorable deuises and assignmentes of the Croune in this Wil and Testament if there be a new Succession vnnaturally deuised finally if this be not a Testament and last Wil such as Modestinus defineth Testamentum est tusta voluntatus nostra sententia de eo quod quis post mortem suam fieti velit then though the Kinges hand were put to it the matter goeth not altogether so wel and so smothe But that there is good and great cause farther to consider and debate vpon it whether it be so or no let the indifferent when they haue wel thought vpon it iudge accordingly The Aduersaries them selues can not altogether denie but that this Testament is not correspondent to such expectation as men worthely should haue of it Whiche thing they do plainly confesse For in vrging their presumptions whereof we haue spokē and minding to proue that this wil whiche they say is commonly called King Henries Wil was no new Wil deuised in his sicknes but euen the very same wherof as they say were diuers olde copies they inferre these wordes saying thus For if it be a newe Wil then deuised who could thinke that either him selfe would or any man durst haue moued him to put therin so many thinges contrary to his honour Much lesse durst they themselues deuise any new successiō or moue him to alter it otherwise then they foūd it when they saw that naturally it could not be otherwise disposed Wherein they say very truely For it is certaine that not only the common lawe of this Realme but nature it selfe telleth vs that the Queene of Scotlād after the said Kinges children is the next and rightful Heire of the Croune Wherefore the King if he had excluded her he had done an vnnatural acte Ye wil say he had some cause to doo this by reason she was a forainer and borne out of the Realm Yet this notwithstanding he did very vnnaturally yea vnaduisedly inconsideratly and wrongfully and to the great preiudice and danger of his owne Title to the Croune of France as we haue already declared And moreouer it is wel to be weighed that reason and equitie and Ius Gentium doth require and craue that as the Kings of this Realme would thinke them selues to be iniuriously handled and openly wronged if they mariyng with the heires of Spaine Scotland or any other Countrey where the succession of the Croune deuolueth to the woman were shutte out and barred from theyr said right dewe to them by the wiues as we haue said so likewise they ought to thinke of women of their royal blood that marie in Scotland that they may wel iudge and take them selues much iniured vnnaturally and wrongfully dealt withall to be thruste from the succession of this Croune being thereto called by the nexte proximitie of the royal blood And such deuolutiōs of other Kingdoms to the Croune of England by foraine mariage might by possibilitie often times haue chaunced and was euen nowe in this our time very like to haue chanced for Scotland if the intended mariage with the Queene of Scotland that now is and the late King Edward the sixt with his longer life and some issue had takē place But now that she is no suche forainer as is not capable of the Croune we haue at large already discussed Yea I wil now say farther that supposing the Parlament minded to exclude her and might rightfully so doe and that the King by vertue of this statute did exclude her in his supposed Wil yet is she not a plaine forainer and incapable of the Croune For if the lawfull heires of the said Ladie Francis and of the Ladie Elenour should happē to faile which seeme now to faile at the least in the Ladie Katherin and her issue for whose title great sturre hath lately ben made by reason of a late sentence definitiue geuen against her pretensed mariage with the Earle of Herford then is there no stay or stoppe either by the Parlament or by the supposed Will but that she the said Queene of Scotlande and her Heires may haue and obteine their iust Title and claime For by the said pretensed Wil it is limited that for default of the lawfull Heyres of the said Ladre Francis and Elenour the Croune shall remaine and come to the next rightful Heires But if she shal be said to be a forainer for the time for the induction of farther argument then what saye the Aduersaries to my Ladie Leneux borne at Herbottel in England and from thirtene yeares of age brought vppe also in England and commonly taken and reputed as well of the King and Nobilitie as of other the lawefully Neece of the said King Yea to turne nowe to the other Sister of the King maried to Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolke and her children the Ladie Francis and the Ladie Elenour why are they also disherited Surely if there be no iust cause neither in the Lady Leneux nor in the other it seemeth the King hath made a plaine Donatiue of the Croune Whiche thinge whether he could doe or whether it be conformable to the expectation of the Parlament or for the Kinges honour or for the honour for the Realme I leaue it to the farther consideration of other Nowe what causes should moue the Kinge to shutte them out by his pretensed Will from the Title of the Croune I minde not nor neede not especially seeing I take no notice of any such Wil touching the limitation of the said Croune here to to prosecute or examine Yet am I not ignorant what impedimentes many doo talke of and some as well by printed as vnprinted Bookes doe write of Wherein I will not take vppon me any asseueration any resolution or iudgement Thus only will I propound as it were by the way of consideration duely and depely to be wayed and thought vpon that is for as muche as the benefitte of this surmised Wil tendeth to the extrusion of the Queene of Scotland and others altogether to the issue of the French Queene whether in case the King had no cause to be offended with his sisters the Frenche Queenes children as the Aduersaries them selues confesse he had not and that there was no lawful impediment in them to take the succession of the Croune it were any thing reasonable or euer was once meant of the Parlament that the King without cause should disherite and exclude them from the Title of the Croune On th' other side if ther were any such impediment whereof this surmised Wil geueth out a great suspicion it is to be considered whether it standeth with reason and iustice with the honour of the King and the
The possions of the Croune of Englad that vvere beyondthe seas sealed into the Frenche kings hāds for the murther of Arthur Polid. 15. flor histor An. 120● Levvis the French Kings son claimed the Croune of this Realme in the Title of his vvise Pro hereditate uxoris meae scilicet neptis Regis loā usque ad mortem ●● necessitas exigeret decertabo Flor histo Anno 1216. Haroldus muneribu● genere fretꝰ regni diadema innasit H. Hunte hist Angli lib. 5 Cut regnū iure hereditario debebatur Palredus Rhie ual in histo R. Angliae ad H. 2. Cui de iure debebatur regnum An glorum Io. Lond. in Chron. Angliae Eadem uerba sunt in Math West mon. in flor hist a. 1066 What calamities sell to this Realm by the vsurping of King Harolde King Stephen and Iohn Rex Eduar dus misit c. ut uel ipse Eduar uel filius e ius sibi succederent c. Rich. Cicest uid Wil. Malmest de reg Angl. E. 2. c. 45. lib. 3. c. 5. Polid. 26. king H. 7 vvith his Counsaile is a good interpretor of our present cause The mariages of King E. 3. sonnes A fond imagination of the Aduersarie of the statute of 25. E. 3. There vvas no doubt made of the Kinges children borne beyonde the seas This statute toucheth not the Q. of Scotlād as one not borne beyond the seas Vide statuta Walliae in magna Charta Walesvvas vnder the allegeance of Englād before it vvas vnited to the Croune The statutes of King H. 8. touching the succession of the Croune An ansvves to the fore said statute The effect of the Aduersaries arguments for the exclusion of the Quene of Scotland by a pretensed vvil of King H. 8 An. H. 8.35 An. H. 8.33 21. An ansvvet by the vvay of reioinde● to the same Diuers presumptions and reasons agaīst this supposed vvil The supposed vvil is preiudicial to the Croune of Englande for the claime of the croune of France This supposed vvil geueth occasion of ambitious aspiring Succession to the Croune more vncertē bi the supposed vvil then before Much forgene and counterfeyting of Testamets Valerius Maximus dict et fact lib. 9. c. 4. In this supposed vvil is no condition for the mariage of the heires of the L. Francis as is for the Kinges ovvne daughters No order taken for the probate of the supposed vvil The enrollement in the chance rie is not a probate A great presumption against the supposed vvil for that the late pretensed Q. Iane did not vse the benefit of the same against the Q. of Scotland and others See the proclamation made the x. of Iulie the first yeare of her pretensed reigne Polid. lib. 8. The forgetie of this 〈…〉 〈◊〉 disclose● before the Parlament by the L. Paget A vvorthy deede for à Prince to cancell false Recordes Cicero 3. offic Sueton. de uiris illustrib Bed. lib. 3. histor Ecclesiast c. 1. L. tefliū ff de testibus L. Ob carnem ibid. No iust ●a●se to repel ●he testimonie of the L. Paget and others L. Fam●● ff ad 〈…〉 maies l. muliere ff de accusat Hovv a negatiue may be proued Gloss Doct. c. bo na de elect Hovv and vvhen the later testimonie is to be accepted before the former Why the stampe cānot counteruaile the Kings hand in this case Ioan Andr. in adit spe cul tit de requisit consul ad finem L. Sifundus ff de rebus corum●c de rebus Ecelesiae in 6. An ansvvere to the aduersaries touchinge Actes of Parlament alleaged to proue that the Kinges ovvne hād vvas not necessarie to the supposed vvil 18. E. 3. fol. 30. 3. H. 4. fol. 3. 11. 11. H. 4. fol. 67.9 H. 6. fo 6. 19. H. 6. fo 7. et 10 35. H. 6. fol. 12. 10. H. 6. fol. 26. 3. H. 6. fol. 8. 33. E. 3. fo 13. Vide Prisot 33. H. 6. fol. 39. 9. H. 6. fol. 35.35 H. 6. fol. 34.40 E. 3. fol. 2. 40. E. 3. fol. 35.21 E. 4. fol. 97.7 H. 7. fol. 15. 9. E. 4. fo 2. 22. E. 4. fo 47. 29. H. 6. fol. 6.29 lib. Assis P. 64. 27. H. 8. c. 10. 32. H. 3. c. 1. The supposed vvil cā not preiudice the Q of Scot lād though it had ben signed vvith the Kinges ovvne hād Ther must needes be some qualification and restrait of the general vvordes of the statute Matthae us Paristensis in Iohan. L. 1. ff qu● Testamenta facere The definition of a Testamēt L. fl pater ff Quae in frau credit L. fill famil ff de Donat. L. 1. c quae res pign l. obligatione ff de pigno c in genera de Regum iuris in 6. L. quidā ff de uerb s●g L. ut grada §. 1. de numer honor L. permittēdo cū notatis ff de iure dotiū In geuing general au thoritie that seemeth not to be comprised that the partie vvould not haue graunted being specially demaunded General voordes must be referred to hable persons L. 2. c. de Nopal L. fin § in computatione De iure deliber ibi notat Alciat in l. 1. de uerb significat 11. H. 4. fol. 72. 9. H. 6. fol. 24.11 H. 6. fol. 15. Non est par rati● lucra non capere damna sentire L. sin C. de co dicil L. Proculus ff de damno infect Insti de legat Si res L. qui ●ee● sare C. d● edendo §. commodum lust de indict L. st qui● i● aliquo documento C. de edend● An infamous libel made lately against the Queene of Scot. The Authour of the same seemeth litle to regarde touching the succession of the Croune any lavve but holy Scripture only He groundeh him self chefly vpon the 17. of Deuteron ● Samuel ● 2. Reg. 11. An ansvvere tou chinge the 17. of Deuteron Great difference be tvvixt successiō and clection August de merit remis pecc cont Pela li 3. c 8. 9. to 7 in quaest ex nouo Test ca. 8. to 4. Queene of Scotland no straunger 3. Politico 1. Reg. 8. 2. Reg. 12. An ansvvere to the 2. Samuel 5. Ioseph Iudaic An tiq lib. 9. cap. 6. A nevve fond and madde in terpretation vvho is an Aliē made by the Aduer sarie Ioseph ibi cap. 6. Athalia vvas no Aheamōg the levves Who is an Alien by Vlpian Who is an Alien by Vlpian L. 1. ff ad municip Matth. 12 Iosue 6. Dauid and Christ descend of Obed Ruthes sonne 4. Reg. 11. An ansvvere to the Aduer farre touching the lavve of Nature vvhich he vvresteth against vvomens gouernement L. 1. ff de iust iure l. ueluti l. ex hoc l. omnes cod Est enim nō scripta sed nata lex c. Cicero pro Milone The practise of Womens Regiment in Asia Aphrica and Europa Straebo ge● graph lib. 14. First in Asia Queene Artemesia Queene Ada. Solinus in collect lib. 67. Plinius lib. 6. cap. 20.
But see I pray you the impudencie of these men and consider how much it is to be mused and merueled at who are not ashamed to publish by open Edictes and Proclamatiōs that the Prince should be in more securitie and safegarde vnder the protection and keeping of the Regent and vsurping Rebelles then vnder the hādes and bringing vppe of his owne most natural and deare mother with diuers other like vnnatural ridiculous and absurd propositions God blesse him and graunt him no worse to speede then this most tender and louing mother daily wisheth and cōtinually praieth for Who good swete babe if he had age and discretion to vnderstand their dooings would geue the Earle Murray and his fellowes but colde thankes for the intruding of him against his good mother vnto the Croune and gouernment of the realme but would and might wel say that this was but a colour vnder his shadow to strengthen him the said Earle against his good mother and perchance against his owne selfe to His owne vnnatural Coronation also though these men much bragge it solemnly and orderly to haue proceded he would as much mislike Neither would he buye it so deare nor come foorth to be a King so vnnaturally as the Vipers enter into the world eating and gnawing out the mothers wōbe He would demaūd and aske what a strāge newe found solennitie and fond manner of Coronation this was For the matter being of so great and weighty importance of one hundred Earles Bisshoppes and Lordes and moe that haue voice in Perlament wherof al or the more parte of them should haue an agreement liking and consent as to al other so to these publike doinges also there were no more present but fower Earles onely wherof the most honourable had not the souenth or eigth voice in the Parlamēt among the Earles nor yet the first of twenty voice● among al the States Ye had farther but six Lordes who also were such as had laied their violent hande● vpon their Quene afore and put her in prison And least al should be voide if they should seme to lacke their ful Congregatiō of the Spiritualitie and Temporaltie in leapeth me one Bisshop and two or three Abbats and Priors But yet were ther not solēne Protestations I pray you then openly made and authentical Instrumentes thereof made also that whatsoeuer was that day done e●ther for the Coronation or inuesting of the King or for the establishing of a Regent or otherwise against the Queenes Royall estate and personne it should not be to her in any point hurtful or preiudicial as being then violently deteined and imprisoned Wel you wil alleage peraduenture that al these procedinges were ratified and confirmed by acte of Parlament Yet al this not withstanding this Noble Impe if he were at ripe yeares would no doubt acknowledge and allowe no suche disordered Parlament but would enquire of you what ●uthoritie you had to cal and sommon the said Parlament He would say that the ratifiyng of the said dimission of the Crouno by his mother is not allowable or to be approued First by cause she was then in prison and not at her owne libertie Next by cause it was done by violence and forced with feare of life and so whatsoeuer was builded vpon this foundation being of such weakenes and so vnstable could neuer be firmly and surely established and corroborated He would farther say that diuerse of the chiefe and most principal among the Nobilitie namely the Earles of Argile and Huntley with the Lorde Harris would not in any wise accorde or agree thereto otherwise then it should stand with the Queenes voluntarie wil voide and free from al manner threatninges force and violence Whereof they did ful earnestly and solemnly protest requiring their Protestations to be enacted and recorded He would moreouer say that he could in no wise wel like of that Parlament that should so dishonour his owne good mother and make her to be an infamous Princesse hauing none other ground and proufe to leade them to do so but only a few vncertaine ghesses and vnknowē obscure letters He would no doubt for al these mennes vayne bosting and bragging of Iustice and quietnes most tēderly lamēt and wofully bewaile the miserable and pitiful case and dolorouse state of that sely poore ragged and rent Realme the wretched and infinite robberies and spoiles committed and done vpō the true loial subiects thereof being daily most greeuousty oppressed and shamefully murthered and the whole Realme so meruelously maymed that the very outward enemie doth sore lament to see it or heare thereof and that wil be wondered at of all the posteritie so long as the world doth stand He would yet say that in case there had bene no iniurie offered either to his mother or to any other he would not such miser●e should through him or vnder his name be caused or occasioned though he might purchase thereby the greatest Empire in the world Thus may euery man see and perceaue how dishonourable and how disloyal your actes and doinges haue bene and also how disagreable to your sayings protestations and pretenses For ye pretended at your first seditious motion as we haue declared the Queenes libertie and honour and that ye would duely and faithfully serue her which your seruice what it was let your doings declare Ye make pretense that ye toke armes chiefly for the apprehension of the Earle Bothwel and yet ye dismissed and let him go being present and neuer but long after and coulorably sought him Ye pretended the quietnes and peaceable gouernement of the Realme But the Realme was neuer these many hundred yeares so disquieted and turmoyled with so sore stormes and blustering tempests Ye pretended at your first inueiyng and conference against your said Maistresse before the Commissioners of England that she finding her selfe vnable and vnmete to rule and gouerne her Realm and subiects voluntarily yelded vp and surrēdred the Croune But the contrary is most apparētly knowen yea you your selues about two monethes after quite forgetting your first allegations say that the States of the Realme of Scotlād depriued and deposed her At what time ye also made solemne hypocritical and cloked protestations how loth you were to publish and detect any matter to her dishonour Wherto might be replied against you aswel the rule of the law that Protestatio cōtraria facto non releuat as also the old prouerb Crotodili Lachry●●a the false traiterous teares of the hypocritical Crocodile Fie therefore and out vpon these your Crocodile teares whereby you would perswade and make the world beleue that you wold redeme and saue her honor with your perpetual bannishment And as for the religion ye speake of it were much to be merueled and sore to be pitied if it could not be mainteined and borne out without suche soule dishonest and outragious meanes and shifts But al this your great feare least that Scotlād otherwise shuld not be able to haue and beare
prince● qualities resplendent in her with ma● whereof she is much adorned and singule●ly endued that they haue in most earne● wise solicited and entreated that she migh● be restored againe to her honour an● Croune They haue moued the said Quen● of Scotland also that it may please her to accept and like of the most noblest man of all England betwene whome and her there might be a mariage concluded to the quieting and comforte of both the Realmes of England and Scotland Finally the noblemen of this our Realme acknowledge and accept her for the very true and right heire apparent of this Realm of England being fully minded and alwaies ready when God shal so dispose to receaue and serue her as their vndoubted Queene Maistresse and Souereigne whereby it may easely appeare howe wel they like of her cause that had the hearing and trial of the same although they neuer as yet came in her presence These things now and many other which for the eschuing of prolixitie we forbeare to enlarge our Treatise with may be alleaged for the defence of the Queenes integritie and for the vprightnes of her cause the whiche I would wishe you the Earles Murray and Murton with your allied confederats before al other most depely and bytimes to weigh and consider accordingly as th● weight and greatnes of the cause as your owne safety with the welth and honor of your owne natiue Countrey do require I am not ignorant that the matter is gone very farre with you and that many impedimentes doe concurre to withdraw you to seeke that remedy for reformation of things past which is the best and the only remedy But surely when ye haue fully weighed al thinges on euery side accordingly ye shall finde no sure and sound remedie but in making a true a sincere and an vnfained hūble submission to your gratious Queene whom ye haue so greeuously offended and molested Let not the greatnes or number of your treasons wrought against both your Quene and Coūtrey let not any vaine false imagined opiniō either of the shame of the world or of your vtter ouerthrowe by reason of suche fond presumption of your present high estate of your great power force and strength let no vaine expectation of external succours stay or stop you from so necessarie a duetie and so commendable before God and the worlde Ye best knowe that among al the Princely ornamentes and vertues of your Queene her mercy and clemēcy are singuler and peerlesse She seemeth well to haue learned that lesson of the Gospel If thy brother doe offend thee forgeue him not onely seauen times but seanenty times seauen times She will not onely forgeue but forget also She neither is ignorant in what state her Realme standeth in nor that extreme seueritie from the which she naturally abhorreth is not of al other times now against suche as wil imbrace mercie offered to them to be shewed and practised She wil rather like the lawe of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 obliuion and forgetfulnes so much of the Writers commended The great benefite wherof ye haue so often and so abundantly receaued at her handes And therfore ye neede the lesse to feare the discontinuance of your high and honourable estate and condition As for shame it standeth in the euil doing it self and not in the amending and reforming of il deedes which amendement and reformation if ye earnestly and truely mind it wil be to the great contentation of your most gratious Queene and of al her louing subiects And in so doing you shal both highly auaunce your honourable estate and estimation and make her a good amends for that which is past and can not be reuoked But on the other side if ye geue ouer and refuse this occasion now present and go forward with your rebellious enterprises and attempts minding to abide and trie the vttermoste ye must wilfully cut away and exclude from your selfe al good hope of mercie and pardō and take a wrong way for your owne saftie and preseruation For your cause is naught and so ye well know it to be And therfore can ye not loke to haue and obteine a good prosperous successe and ende thereof Wel ye may as hitherto ye haue done tosse turmoile and tumble al thinges vpside dounewards for a while but be ye assured that Gods hande wil fal and light the heuier and with a greater paise vpon you at the length therefore It is easy to be seen by the course of all times aswel by your owne very Stories at home as by the Chronicles of all other Nations abrode to what ende commonly such seditious conspiracies and treasons do come to that is to the vtter ouerthrow and confusion for euer of those persons that worke attempt practise and mainteine the same They seeme for a while to beare great sway and al the world for a while to runne with them but in the ende they faile and are cleane geuen ouer What meruaile were it if a house should not long continue that is builded but vpon a yelding sandy grounde Ye haue builded and founded al your doinges vpon vntrue and lying slaūders and treacherous treasons against your dread Souereigne The sincere veritie whereof we haue herein truely declared The which being once throughly detected and euidently knowen to such as ye haue in Scotland craftily abused and shamefully circumuented as surely it daily bursteth out more and more ye shal see your selues sodenly leaft naked and quite forsaken euen of those who haue bene your greatest assisters aiders and furtherers For as the old prouerbe is Trueth is the daughter of time And as ye shal be leaft alone at home so can ye not looke for maintenance and vpbearing of foraine Prin●es They wil not defile them selues and their honourable vocation with helping so foule a cause and so dangerous and perilous a matter that may tende to the molestation and hurt not only of their owne state but of the states of all Kinges Christened Nay ye must rather thinke that othe● Princes wil iudge and take it to touch the● to nigh to suffer such a vilanie to passe an● escape vnreuenged and so good a Ladie t● be left destitute and desolate The Emperou● wil not beare it France wil not beare i● Spaine wil not beare it And especially England with her worthy Nobilitie wil no● beare or suffer such outragious dealinges against their next louīg neighbour yea again●● the heire apparēt of this most noble Realme● albe it that ye with your surmised lyes the better to mainteine your vsurped and new erected Kingdome put others in feare o● their owne state in case the said innocent Queene should be restored to her Croune againe FINIS the teares of an english hart And his soden arryuall here with all the maner and circumstances thereof would yeelde nevve argumēts of an other much lōger discourse For first his cōming hither as it vver in a maske bewraies a strange melancholik
and remaining beyond the sea in the custody of the said Constance yet of this fact being against al Iustice aswel the said Archbishop as also many of th' other did after most earnestly repent considering the cruel and the vniust putting to death of the said Arthur procured and after some Authours committed by the said Iohn himself Which most foul ād shamful act the said Iohn neded not to haue committed if by foraine birth the said Arthur had bē barred to inherit the Croune of England And much lesse to haue imprisoned that most innocent Ladie Elenor sister to the said Arthur in Bristow Castle wher she miserably ended her life if that gay Maxime would haue serued to haue excluded these two childrē bicause thei wer strāgers borne in the partes beyond the seas Yea it appeareth in other doings also of the said time and by the storie of the said Iohn that the birth out of the legeāce of England by father ād mother foram was not takē for a sufficiēt repulse and reiectiō to the right and title of the Croune For the Barōs of Englād being then at dissension with the said King Iohn and renoūcing their allegeance to him receaued Lewis the eldest sonne of Philip the Frēch king to be their King in the right of Blanch his wife whiche was a stranger borne albe it the lawful Neece of the said Richard and daughter to Alphonse king of Ca●til begotten on the bodie of Elenour his wife one of the daughters of king Henrie the second and sister to the said king Richard and king Iohn Which storie I alleage only to this purpose thereby to gather the opinion of the time that foraine birth was then thought no barre in the Title of the Croune For otherwise how could Lewis of Frāce pretēd title to the Croune in the right of the said Bblach his wife borne in Spaine These examples are sufficient I suppose to satisfie and content any man that is not obstinatly wedded to his own fond fantasies and froward friuolous imaginatiōs or otherwise worse depraued for a good sure and substantial interpretation of the cōmon law And it were not altogether from the purpose here to consider and weigh with what and how greuous plagues this Realme hath bene oft afflicted and scourged by reason of wrongful and vsurped titles I wil not reuiue by odious rehearsal the greatenes and number of the same plagues as wel otherwise as especially by the contention of the noble houses and families of York and Lancaster seeing it is so fortunately and almost within mans remēbrance extinct and buried I wil now put the gentle Reader in remembrance of those only with whose vsurping Titles we are nowe presently in hand And to begyn with the most aunciēt what became I pray you of Harold that by briberie and helpe of his kinred vsurped the Croune against the foresaid yong Eadgar who as I haue said and as the old monumēts of our Historiographers do plainly testifie was the true and lawful Heire Could he thinke you enioy his ambitious and naughty vsurping one whole entier yere No surely ere the first yeare of his vsurped reigne turned about he was spoiled and turned out both of Croune and his life withal Yea his vsurpation occasioned the conquest of the whole realme by Williā Duke of Normādie bastard sonne to Robert the sixt Duke of the same And may we thinke al safe and sound now from like danger if we should tread the said wrong steppes with Harolde forsaking the right and high way of law and iustice What shal I now speake of the cruel ciuil warres betwene King Stephen and King Henry the second whiche warres rose by reason of the said Henry was vniustly kept frō the Croune dew to his mother Maude and to him afterwardes The pitiful reigne of the said Iohn who doth not lament with the lamentable losse of Normandie Aquitaine and the possibilitie of the Dukedome of Britanie and with the losse of our other goodly possessions in France whereof the Croune of England was robbed and spoiled by the vnlawful vsurping of him against his nephew Arthur Wel let vs leaue these greuouse and lothsome remembrances and let vs yet seeke if we may finde any later interpretation either of the said statute or rather of the cōmon law for our purpose And lo the great goodnes and prouidence of God who hath if the foresaid exāples would not serue prouided a later but so good so sure so apt and mete interpretatiō for our cause as any reasonable hart may desire The interpretatiō directly toucheth our case which I meane by the mariage of the Lady Margaret eldest daughter to King Hēry the vij vnto Iames the fourth Kīg of Scotlād and by the opiniō of the said most prudēt Prince in bestowing his said daughter into Scotlād a ma ter sufficient inough to ouerthrow al those cauilling inuētiōs of the aduersarie For what time King Iames the fourth sent his ambassadour to king Hēry the seuēth to obteine his good wil to espouse the said Lady Margaret there were of his Counsaile not ignorant of the lawes and Customes of the Realme that did not wel like vpon the said Mariage saying it might so fal out that the right and Title of the Croune might be deuolued to the Lady Margaret and her childrē and the Realm therby might be subiect to Scotlād To the whiche the prudent and wise King answered that in case any such deuolution should happen it would be nothing preiudicial to England For England as the chief and principal and worthiest part of the I le should drawe Scotland to it as it did Normandie from the time of the Conqueste Which answere was wonderfully wel liked of al the Counsaile And so consequ●tly the mariage toke effect as appereth by Polydor the Historiographer of this Realm and such a one as wrote the Actes of the time by the instruction of the King him selfe I say then the worthy wise Salomon foreseeing that such deuolution might happen was an interpretour with his prudente and sage Counsaile for our cause For els they neaded not to reason of any such subiection to Scotlande if the children of the Ladie Margaret might not lawfully inherite the Croune of England For as to her husband we could not be subiect hauing him selfe no right by this mariage to the Title of the Croune of this Realme Wherevpon I may wel inferre that the said newe Maxime of these men whereby they would rule and ouer rule the succession of Princes was not knowen to the said wise King neither to any of his Counsaile Or if it were yet was it taken not to reache to his blood royall borne in Scotlande And so on euery side the Title of Quene Marie is assured So that now by this that we haue said it may easely be seen by what light and slender consideration the Aduersarie hath gone about to strayne the wordes Infantes or children to the first degree
betwene his sonne Edward and the said Lady and Quene Surely he was to wise of him selfe and was furnished with to wise Coūsailours to take such an homely way to procure and purchase the said mariage by And least of all can we say he attempted that dishonorable disherision for any special inclination or fauour he bare to the French Queene his sisters children For there haue bene of his neere and priuie Counfaile that haue reported that the King neuer had any great liking of the mariage of his sister with the Duke of Suffolke who maried her first priuily in France and afterward openly in England And as it is said had his pardon for the said priuy mariage in writing Howe so euer this matter goeth certeine it is that if this pretensed Wil be true he transferreed and trāsposed the reuersion of the Croune not only from the Queene of Scotlād from my Ladie Leneux and their issue but euen from my Ladie Francis and my Ladie Elenour also daughters to the Frenche Queene whiche is a ching in a manner incredible and therefore nothing likely I must now gentle Reader put thee in remēbrance of two other most pregnāt and notable coniectures and presumptions For among al other incōueniences and absurdities that do and may accōpanie this rash and vnaduised acte by this pretēsed Wil inconsiderately mainteined it is principally to be noted that this Acte geueth apparēt and iust occasion of perpetual disherison of the Style and Title of Frāce incorporated and vnited to the Croune of this Realme For whereby do or haue the Frenchmen hitherto excluded the Kings of this Realme claiming the Croune of France by the Title of Edward the third falling vpon him by the right of his mother other then by a politike and ciuil law of their owne that barreth the female from the right of the Croune And what doth this pretēsed Act of king Henrie but iustifie and strengthen their quarel and ouerthoweth the foundatiō and bulworke wherby we mainteme our foresaid Title and claime If we may by our municipal law exclude the said Queene of Scotland being called to the Croune by the Title of general heritage then is their municipal law likewise good and effectual and cōsequently we 〈◊〉 and haue made al this while an vniust and wrongful claime to the Croune of France But now to go somewhat farther in the matter or rather to come neerer home and to the quicke of the matter we say as there was some apparent and good cause why the king should the twentie and eight yeare of his reigne thinke vpon some limitation and appointement of the Croune king Edward as yet vnborne so after he was borne and that the Title and interest of the reuersion of the Croune after him was the thirtie and fifte yeare by Parlament confirmed to the late Queene Marie and her sister Elizabeth it is not to be thought that he would afterward ieoparde so great a matter by a Testament and Wil which may easely be altered and counterfeyted And least of al make such assignation of the Croune as is nowe pretended For being a Prince of such wisdome and experience he could not be ignorant that this was the next and rediest way to put the state at least of both his daughters to great peril and vtter disherison For the Kinges exāple and boldnes in interrupting and cutting away so many branches of the neerest side and line might sone breede in aspiring and ambitious hartes a bolde and wicked attempte the way being so farre brought in and prepared to their handes by the King him selfe and their natures so readie and prone to follow euil presidents and to clime high by some colourable meanes or other to spoile and depriue the said daughters of their right of the Croune that should descend and fal vpon them and to conuey the same to the heires of the said Ladie Francis. And did not I pray you this drift and deuise fal out euen so tending to the vtter exclusiō of the late Queene Marie and her Sister Elizabeth if God had not of his mercy most gratiously and wonderfully repressed and ouerthrowē the same These reasons then and presumptions may seme wel able and sufficient to beare doune to breake doune and ouerthrow the weake and slender presumptions of th' Aduersaries grounded vpon vncertaine and mere surmises ghesses and coniectures as among other that the King was offended with the Quene of Scotland and with the Ladie Leneux Which is not true And as for the Ladie Leneux it hath no manner of probabilitie as it hath not in dede in the said Queene And if it had yet it is as probable and much more probable that the King would haue especially at that time for such cause as we haue declared suppressed the same displeasure Graunting now that there were some such displeasure was it honorable either for the King or the Realm or was it thinke ye euer thought by the Parlament that the King should disherite them for euery light displeasure And if as the Aduersaries confesse the king had no cause to be offended with the Frēch Quenes childrē why did he disherite the Ladie Frācis and the Ladie Elenor also Their other presumption whiche they ground vpō the auoyding of the vncertenty of the succession by reason of his Wil is of smal force and rather turneth against them For it is so farre of that by this meanes the succession is made more certaine and sure that contrarywise it is subiecte to more vncerteintie and to lesse suertie then before For whereas before the right and claime to the Croune hong vppon an ordinarie and certaine course of the common lawe vpon the certaine and assured right of the royall and vnspotted blood yea vppon the very lawe of nature whereby many inconueniences manie troubles daungers and seditions are in al Countries politikely auoided so now depending vpon the statute onely it is as easie by an other statute to be intringed and ouerthrowen And depending vppon a Testament is subiect to many corruptions sinister dealinges cauillations yea and iust ouerthrowes by the dishabilitie of the Testatours witnesses or the Legatorie himselfe or for lacke of dewe order to be obserued or by the death of the Witnesses vnexamined and for many other like considerations The Monumentes of al antiquitie the memorie of al ages and of our owne age and dayly experience can tel and shewe vs many lamentable examples of many a good and lawful Testament by vndue and craftie meanes by false and suborned witnesses by the couetous bearing and main tenance of such as be in authoritie quite vndone and ouerthrowne Wherefore Valerius Maxtmus crieth out against M. Crassus and Q. Hortensiu Lumina ●uriae ornamenta Fori quod scelus vindicare debebant inhonesti lucri captura inuitati authoritatibus suis texerunt This presumption then of the Aduersaries rather maketh for vs and ministreth to vs good occasion to thinke that the King would not hasard
the death of the Lorde Darley before the Counsaile of Englād The causes vvhy the Earle Murray vvent about asvvel to make avvay the L. Darley as to depose the Queene The Earle Murray de clared the day before that the L Darley should be slaine Diuers assembles of the Earle Murray ād his adherents to consult vpon the slaughter of the L. Darley Indentures made and subscribed for the execution of the said purpose Diuers excuted in Scotland for the said murther vvhereof none could charge the Queene The Q. in a māner miraculously deliuered out of Lochleuen prison The Commissioners appointed in Englād to heare the Quene of Scotlād her maters vvel liked of her faid innocency and of her title to the succession of the Cioune An exhortation to the Earles Murray ād Murton ād others to reconcile thēselues to the Q. The Q. of Scotlād ful of mercy The ende of Rebels euer vnhappy Other Princes vvil not suffer the Quene of Scotland to be iniuried by her subiectes Man only hath the pierogatiue of vvit and reason among al earthlye creatures Men are most boūd to the preseruation of their Coūtrey A great cōmoditie to the cōmō vvealth to knovv the heire appa rente Why all the vvorld almost doth enbrace succession of Princes rather then election Flores histor anno 1057. Richardus Canonicus sanctae Trinit Lond. Flor. histo anno 1190. Polid li. 14 Polid li. 20 The Quene of Scottes is right heire apparent to the Croune of Englande Inst de iust iure §. fin The common lavve of this Realme is rather grounded vpon a general custom then any lavve vvritten In Prologo suo eiusdem li. fo 1. et 2. De dict Ra nulpho Glāuilla uide Giraldum Cambren in topogra de Wallia Fortescue de lau Leg. Angl. c. 17. ● E. 4.19.33 H. 6.51 Pinsons printe Inst de iure natura gēt ciuil §. ex non script 25. E. 3. The adue● sacies case pettineth to subiects only No Maxime of the lavve bindeth the Croune vnles the Croune specially be named Of the Tenante by the curtesy Nor that the landes shal be diuided among the daughters Not the vvife shall haue the third part 5. E. 3. Tit. praerog 21. E. 3.9 28. H. 6. Nor the rule o● Possessio fratris c. Nor that the executour shall haue the goods and Chattles of the res●atour 7. H. 4. sol 42. Nor that a traitour i vnable to take landes by discente and vvithout pardō An ansvvere to the Aduersary making a difference be tvvene Attainder ād the birth out of the allegeāce 22. H. 6. fol. 43. The suppo sed Maxime of the Aduersaries touching not Kinges borne beyond the sea as appeareth by King Stephen and King H. 2. The Aduersaries obiection touching King H. 2. auoided As touching Arthur King Richardes nephevve Vt autem pax ista summa dilectio tā multiplici quā arctiori uin culo connectatur praedictis curiae uestrae Magnatibus id ex parte u● stra tractātibus Domino disponente cōdiximus inter Arthurum egregiū D● cem Britāniae nepotē nostrum haeredem si forte sine prole obir● nos contig● rit filiā uestrā matrimonium contrahendum c. In tractatu paci● inter Richa 1. Tancredū Regem Si ciliae Vide Reg. Houeden Richardū Canonicum S. Trinitatis Londin A false Maxime set forth by the Aduersarie 7. E. 4. fo 28.9 E. 4. fo 5.11 H. 4 fo 25.14 H. 4. fo 10. the statute of Edvv. 3. An. 25. to ● cheth in●e ritāce not purchase ● H. 4. fo 25. Scotland is vvithin the allegeance of Englād The Lorde loseth not his seignorie though the tenāte doth not his seruice The causes vvhy the Croune cā not be cōprised vvithin the pretended Maxime Without the croune there can neither be King nor allegeance 40. E. 3. fol. 10. 13. E. 3. Tit. Bref 264.16 E. 3. iurans desait 166.17 E. 3. tit scire fac 7. A Deane a Person a Priour being an Alien may demande lande in the right of his corporation An 3. R. 2.6 C. 3. fo 21. tit droit 26. lib. Ass p. 54.12 li. Ass tit enfant 13. H ● fol. 14.7 E. 4. fol. 10.16 E. 3. iurans defait 9. H. 6. fol. 33.35 H. 6. so 35.5 E. 4 fol. 70.49 li. Ass A. 8● 22. H. 6. fo 31.13 H. ● so 14. The King is alvvaies at ful age in respecte of his Croune The Kings children are expresly excepted from the surmised Maxime ● Liberorū ff de uerbo rū signific L. Sed si de in ius uo cādo instit de haere ab intest L. Lucius ff de baered instit L. Iusta L. N●torū L. Liberorum de uerb signif L. 2. § s● mater ad S. C. Tertul L. Filius de S. C. Maced L. Senatus de ritu nug● L quod s● nepotes ff test cū notatis ibid. Infantes in Frenche coūteruaileth this vvorde liberi in lat The grand fathers cal their nephues sonnes L. Gall●● § Instituēs ff de liber E● post l. ff C. de impub. Al●is substan c 1. q. 4 Father and son cōpted in person ād flesh in maner one Great absurditie in excluding the true ād right successour for the place of his birth only An euasion auoided pretēding the priuilege of the Kīgs children not to be in respect of the Croune but of other lādes The royall blood beareth his honour vvith it vvhereso euer it be Vide Anto. Corsetum de potest et excell regi q. 106. Cōquerors glad to ioinevvith the ioyall blood Henry the first L. ● ff de legious Commonvse and p●●ctise the best interpretation of the lavv Eod● anno Rex cū in diebus suis processisset Aeldredā Vigornen sem Episco pum ad Regem Hunga riae trans mittens reuocauit inde filium fratris sui Edmundi Eduardum cū tota fa milia sua ut uel ipse uel filij eius sibi succederēt in regnum Flor. histor 1057. Flor histo ●066 Aelredus Regioual lens de reg Anglorum ad Regem Henr. 2. King Stephen and King H. ● The aduer saries fond imagination that King H. 2. should come to the croune by composition not by proximitie of blood Rex Stepha nus omni haerede ui duatus prae ter solummo do Ducem Henricum recognouit in conuentu Episcoporū aliorum de regno Optimatum quod Dux Hēr ius hae reditariū in regnū Angliae habebat Et Dux benigne concessit ut Rex Stepha nus tota uita sua suū regnū pacifice possideret Ita tamen confirmatum est pactū quod ipse Rex ipsttūe praesentes cum caeteris regni optimatibus iurarēt quod Dux Henr. post mortē Regu si illum superuiueret regnum sine aliqua contradictione obtincret Flor. histo An 1153. The like fond imagination touching King Richardes nephevv Diuersitie of opiniōs touching the vncle ād nephue vvhether of them ought to be preferred in the royall gouernement
Adrianus lib. 8. de gestis Alexā mag Iustinus li. 1 Herod li. 1. Strab. li. 16 Womans regiment in Pandea a countrie in Iudea Queene Semiramis and Nitrochris Queene Thomiris Ioseph lib. 20. 21. Antiq. c. 2. Euseb lib. 2. cap. 12. Ruff lib. 2. Eccle. hist c. 6. Clemens Alex. lib. 1. stromat Iustinus lib. 1. Tacitus lib. 2. Queene ●rato Claudianus lib. 1. in Eutropium Womans Regiment in Aphrica Queene Dido Queene Cleopatra Queene Isis Strabo 12. ●● Iustin 〈◊〉 18. ●● Diodor. Sicul. lib c. 2. 〈◊〉 Damianue● Agoes de side moribus AEthiopū Beda ca. 8 in Acta Apostolorum Euseb lib. 2 Ecclesiast cap. 1. Plinius li 6 c. 29. Strabo lib. 17. Act. Apostolor ca. 8. Dorotheus de uita obitu Prophetarū Apostolorum Hieronym in cap. 52. Esaiae Hilar. in Psalm 61. Euseb lib. 2 cap. 1. Sabel Strabo lib. 16. ●hiopia 〈◊〉 first ●stia●amō 〈◊〉 other ●un●s But ●taine 〈◊〉 first ●ōg the ●ounces Rome 3. Reg. 10. 2. Paral. 9. Math. 12. Luc. 11. Ioseph Iudaicar antiq lib. 8. cap. 12. Salomons ships fet ched gold from Cephalia Stobaeue 4●2 ex Nicolao de moribue gentium Lue●n lib. 10. Womans regiment in Europa Queene Olimpias in Epyre. Olimpias in Macedonia Irene Theodora Eudocia Zonaras Tom. 3. Annalium ●nius lib. ● cap. 6. ●●●ca Womans regiment in Spaine Portingale Burgundie and Flanders Irmelgardis daugh●er of Conrade Duke of Franconie Agnes vvife to Henry Duke of Saxony Agnes vvife to Henry the 3. Emperour Pau. Aemil. lib. 3. Car. lib. 3. Ful. de dict fact memor lib. 8. cap. 16. Crana Nōahs daughter Beros lib. 5 Liui. lib. 1. dēc 1. AEneas Syl nius de Asia c. 20. Lauinia ●●ene ●aples ●la●a ●ias lib. Regum ●an Chronie Palmerij Her. Contrac Mūstuniuers Cosm lib. 4 AEneas Syluius in descript Asiae d. ca. 20. Hect. Boet. lib. 1. Histo Scoti uide la geneal des Rois d● France impre Paris 1561. in Carolo Magno ●omans ●giment 〈◊〉 Lorain ●d Man●a ●n the ●ingdoms of Svvetia Dania and Noruegia Boemia Hungaria Scotland England Martia Proba Helena mo●her to Constātin the great Onuph de Rom Principib Euseb de uita Constantin lib. 1. Eccl. Voadicae In uita Agricolae Henry the second K. by his mothers right Vide Alligeneal cap. 1561. The Frēch make not vvomens Regiment vnnatural Adela K. Philippus mother ād Blanche the mother of S. Levvis See the prefaces of the said alliances The Frēch men hold great prin cipalities by the vvo mās right The conclusion against the Aduersaries touching the lavv of Nature Virgi li. 7. 〈◊〉 he vvife 〈◊〉 some ●ase may b●e head to her husband What absurditie follovveth by the streining this vvord ex fratrib ' Marc. ulti Psal. 1. et 4. L. Luci ' §. quaesitū ff de legat 3. ibi Barto Genes 13. L. 1. ff de uerborum signific L. Tresfra tres ff de pact l. Lucius fa●ni Ercis Dict. l. Lucius §. Quaesitum Quaesitum est an quod baeredes fra tribus rogati ●ssent restituere etiam ad sorores per tinet Respōdit pertinere nist aliud sensisse testatorem probetur Leuit. 9. Deut. 23. Zacha. 7. Math. 18. 2. Thes 3. 1. Ioan. 2. Neither this vvord brother excludeth a sister nor this vvord King a Queene by any Scripture Melech Malcah Anno Mariae 1. c. 2. L fi ff de Legibus the Ievves neuer in terpreted this vvord after the sort as the aduersarie doth Alliances c. Paradin● Fulko and others kīgs of Hierusalem by their vviues right Ioseph lib. antiq Iud. 17. c. 13. Iose lib. 13. c. 19. 20 Egesip de excid Hiero l. 1. c. 12 the vviues of Ioannes Aristobulus and Alexander gouerned the Ievves Genes 2. 3. Women earned Clement Alexand. Stromat lib. 1. Plato in Mene. Socrates in Simposio Platon Albericus l. Qui filiū Vbi pupit Hieron In Praefat. in Sopho. ad Panlum Eustoc Tripart lib. 11 c. 12. Diodor Sicul. lib. 1. 5. Illa Numae coniunx consiliūque fuit Ouid. 3. Fastorū Iustinian and other Princes consulted vvith their vviues in publike affaires Women the occasion that the Kings their husbandes vvere cōuerted to the faith Theodelida Bertha Clothildis Iustinian Authen ut Iudic. sine quo qui suffrag in princip l. bene c. de praescript quadriēna Hero. Hal lic lib. 1. Tripart lib. 9. c. 31. Paulus Diacon de gestis Long. Beda lib. 1. Eccl. Hist Paulus Ae. mil. lib. 1. Plutarc in com Numae Lycurg in uita Aegidis August d● Ciuit. Dei lib. 18. c. 9. Plato and Aristotle do not vtterly reiecte vvomens gouerment Tacitus de moribus Germanor Plato Dialog 5. Repub Polit. lib. 2. c. 7. Debora vvas Gouernesse of the Ievves by Gods special appointmēt Iudic. 4. Homil. 4. in 4. cap. Iudic. Pollio V●pistue in uita Aureliā Herod lib. 8. Iusti lib. 2. Iudic. 4. Ioseph antiq Iud lik 5. c. 6. The great victory of Debora The ceremonies that Kings of Englād vsed in their coronation Vide specu lum Histor Rich. Castrens lib. 3. cap. 3. One onely example in Scripture a sufficient president Iudith 19. It seemeth by the rules and vvordes of holie Scripture that a vvormā may haue Ciuil gouernemēt The Q. of Scotland no stranger to Englād A great cōmoditie that shal come to England and Scotland by the vnion of them in case this Succession chaunce
only Of the like weight is his other cōsideration imaginīg and surmising this statute to be made bicause the King had so many occasiōs to be so oft ouer the sea with his spouse the Queene As though diuers Kings before him vsed not often to passe ouer the seas As though this were a personal statute made of special purpose and not to be takē as a declaratiō of the cōmon law Which to say is most directly repugnant and contrary to the letter of the said statute Or as though his children also did not very often repaire to outward Countries as Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster that maried Peters the King of Castiles eldest daughter by whose right he claimed the Croune of Castile as his brother Edmūd Erle of Cambridge that maried the yongest daughter as Lionell Duke of Claraunce that maried at Milaine Violāt daughter and heir to Galeatius Duke of Milan But especially Prince Edwarde whiche moste victoriously toke in battaile Iohn the French King and brought him into England his prisoner to the great triumphe and reioysing of the Realme whose eldest sonne Edward that died in short time after was borne beyond the seas in Gascome and his other sonne Richard that succeded his grandfather was borne at Burdeaux as these noble King Edwardes sonnes maried with forainers so did they geue out their daughters in mariage to foraine Princes as the Duke of Lancaster his daughter Philippe to the king of Portingale and his daughter Catherin to the King of Spaine and his Neece Iohan daughter to his sonne Earle of Somerset was ioyned in mariage to the King of Scottes Iohan daughter to his brother Thomas of Wodstocke Duke of Gloucester was Queene of Spaine and his other daughter Marie Duchesse of Britannie Now by this mans interpretation none of the issue of al these noble Women could haue enioyed the Croune of England when it had fallen to them though they had bene of the neerest roial blood after the death of their Auncestours Which surely had bene against the auncient presidentes and examples that we haue declared and against the common Lawe the whiche muste not be thought by this Statute any thing taken away but only declared and against al good reason also For as we would haue thought this Realme greatly iniured if it had ben defrauded of Spaine or any of the foresaid coūtreies being deuolued to the same by the foresaid Mariages as we thincke our self at this day iniured for the withholding of France so the issue of the foresaide noble womē might and would haue thought them hardly and iniuriously handled yf any such case had happened Neither suche friuolous interpretation and gloses as this man nowe frameth and maketh vppon the statute woulde then haue serued nor nowe wil serue But of all other his friuolous and folish ghessing vpon the clause of the statute for Infantes de Roy there is one most fond of al. For he would make vs beleue such is the mans skil that this statute touching Infantes de Roy was made for the great doubte more in them then in other personnes touching their inheritance to their Auncestours For being then a Maxime saieth he in the lawe that none could inherite to his Auncestours being not of father and mother vnder the obedience of the King seing the King him selfe could not be vnder obedience it plainely seemed that the Kinges children were of farre worse condition then others and quite excluded And therefore he saith that this statute was not to geue them any other priuilege but to make them equall with other And that therefore this statute touching the Kinges children is rather in the superficial parte of the worde then in effecte Nowe among other thinges he saieth as we haue shewed before that this word Infantes de Roy in this statute mentioned must be taken for the children of the first degree whiche he seemeth to proue by a note taken out of M. Rastal But to this we answer that this mā swetely dreamed when he imagined this fonde and fantasticall exposition And that he shewed him selfe a very infante in law and reason For this was no Maxime or at lest not so certaine before the making of this statute whiche geueth no new right to the Kinges children nor answereth any doubt touching them and their inheritance but saith that the law of the Croune of England is and alwaies hath bene which lawe saith the King say the Lordes say the Commons we allowe and affirme for euer that the Kinges children shal be hable to inherite the Landes of their Auncesters where●oeuer they be borne Al the doubt was for other persons as appeareth euidētly by the tenour of the statute whether by the cōmon law they being borne out of the allegeance were heritable to their Auncestours And it appeareth that th' Aduersary is driuē to the hard wal when he is faine to catch hold vpon a selie poore marginal note of M. Rastal of the Kinges childrē and not of the Kings childrens children Which yet nothing at al serueth his purpose touching this statute But he or the Printer or who so euer he be as he draweth out of the text many other notes of the matter therin cōprised so vpō these Frēch wordes Les enfants de Roy he noteth in the Margēt The Kings childrē but how far that word reacheth he saieth neither more nor lesse Neither it is any thing preiudicial to the said Queenes right or Title whether the said wordes Infants ought to be takē strictly for the first degree or farther enlarged For if this statute toucheth only the succession of the Kings children to their Auncestours for other inheritāce and not for the Cround as most men take it and as it may be as we haue said very wel takē and allowed then doth this supposed Maxime of forain borne that seemeth to be gathered out of this statute nothing anoy or hinder the Queene of Scotlandes Title to the Croune as not therto apperteining On the other side if by the inheritance of the kings childrē the Croune also is meant yet neither may we enforce the rule of foraine borne vpō the kings children which are by the●presse wordes of the statute excepted neither enforce the word In●●●s to the first degree only for such reasons presidents and examples and other prouffes largely by vs before set forth to the cōtrarie seing that the right of the Croune falling vpō them they may wel be called the kings Childrē or at the lest the childrē of the Croune Ther is also one other cause why though this statute reach to the Croune and may and ought to be expoūded of the same the said Queene is out of the reach and cōpasse of the said statute For the said statute can not be vnderstanded of any persons borne in Scotlande or Wales but onely of persons borne beyond the sea out of the allegeance of the King of England that is to wrtte France Flandres and such like For England