Elizabeth partly to requite his warlike exploits for shee imployd him in sundry Sea-seruices to his immortall honour and commendation made him Knight of the Garter Charles Earle of Notingham Baron of Effingham Anno 1597 The 23. of Octob. the Lord Charles Howard for his Princely desert and illustrious birth was created by Q. Elizabeth Earle of Nothingham Likewise for his worthy seruices done to his Prince and Countrie in generously repelling Spaines inuincible Nauy of 88 being Lord High Admirall As also for his Martiall valiancy in the sacking of Cadiz with the Earle of Essex her Maiestie honour'd him with the Gartet the noblest order of Knighthood Iohn Baron of Elsemere Viscont Brackley Earle of Bridge-water This Noble Earles Father Sir Thomas Egerton Viscont Brackley Baron of Elsemere Lord high Chancellour of England was a Noble man of admirable parts excellency well seene in the Lawes of England industrious in State affaires which mou'd Q. Elizabeth to choose him her Maiestie Solicitor Anno 1583. And for his other deserts Anno 1593 she Knighted him Next she made him Master of the Rolls and finally Lord Keeper of the great Seale of England Anno 1594. William Earle of Salisbury c. And William Earle of Excester c. Sir William Cecil for his graue wisedome and excellent vertues was by Q. Elizabeth created Baron of Burghley he was also one of her Maiesties Priuy Councell Lord High Treasurer and Chancellor of Cambridge's Vniuersitie He was these two Noble Earles graâ—â— father both issued of two of his Sonnes William Baron of Compton Earle of Northampton This noble Earles grandfather Sir William Compton waâ— for his worthinesse created Baron Compton by Queene Elizabeth To the no lesse Illustrious than Noble Henry Lord Cary Baron of Hunsdon Viscont Rochford AND The Noble Lady Elizabeth Barkeley now married to Sir Thomas Chamberlaine HENRY CARY Lord Chamberlain to Queen Elizabeth His cousin for he was the sonne of William Carie Esquire to the body of King Henry the eight by the Lady Mary Bullen his wife sister to Queene Anne Bullen the mother of Qâ—eene Elizabeth this Henry was by Queene Elizabeth created Lord Carie Baron of Hunsdon Also by her Maiestie made Knight of the Garter one of the Lords of her Priuie Councell and gouernour of Barwicke To this Noble Lord Henry Viscont Rochford hee was Grandfather and this Illustrious Lady Barkley was his only daughter and heire Rob. Lord Willoughby of Eresby Baron of Perke AND Henry West Baron de la Warre Peregrinâ— the Father to this generous Lo Willoughby was restored in his ancestors Honors by Qu. Elizabeth who created him Baron Willoughby of Eresâ—y the 14. of her raâ—gn 1582. before thee sent him with the Garter to the King of Denmarke being the son of the Duchesse of Suffolke sole daughter and heire to the Lo Willoughby of Eresby Also Sir William West This Lord de la Warr's grand Sire was created Baron de la Warre by Queene Elizabeth being Nephew to Thomas West Lord de la Warre and knight of the Garter in King Henry the eight's daies who died without issue Anno 1570. IOHN POVLET Lord Saint Iohn Baron of Basing heire apparant to the Lord Marquesse of Winchester c. Anno 1594. WILLIAM POVLET this Noble Lord's Grandfather was in the time of his Father IOHN Lord Marquesse of Winchester by Queene ELIZABETH made a Petre of England and sate in that High Court of Parliament among the Barons and Peeres of the Realme as Baron Saint Iohn of Basing He died the first day of Ianuary 1598. and was sumptuously buried by his predecessours at Basing The truly Pious Lady Frances Wray Countesse dowager of Warwicke AND The Lady Elizabeth daughter and sole heire to Francis Lord Norice late Earle of Barkshire Viscount Thame and Baron of Ricot wife to the right Noble worthy Edward Wray Esqu Sir Christopher Wray for his great deserts the noble family from whence hee was deriued was by Qu Elizabeth Knighted and for his rare wisedome being expert in the Law was aduanced to his great Praise and immortall fame to diuers Honourable dignities in this Kingdome First he was made Lord Chiefe Iustice of England and then Lord Keeper of the Priuy Seale He was one of her Maiesties most prudent Counsellours and Father to this Religious Countesse Dowager of Warwick Also Grandfather to these Noble Brothers Sir Iohn Wray Knight Edward Wray and Nathanaell Wray Esquires Anno 1572. Sir Henry Norrice was for his Noble worth created by Queene Elizabeth Baron Norrice of Ricot He was this Noble Ladie ELIZABETH WRAY her Grandfather DVDLEY Lord North Baron of Kirtling AND To the vertuous Lady his only Sister the Lady Mary Conningsby Anno 1594. Roger Lord North Baron of the ancient Baronry of Kirtling for his Vertues and Prudency was in gracious fauour neare Q. Elizabeth who respecting him much made vse of his faithfull seruices in diuers honourable affaires of importance Anno 1574. he was by her Maiestie sent Ambassadour Extraordinary into France to giue King Henry the third good Counsell and to condole with his Maiestie after the death of K. Charles the ninth And although this Noble-man was not created Baron by Q. Elizabeth yet I haue erected these lines to his noble and immortall memory for his Vertues sake and for the duty and humble seruice which I must euer owe to his illustrious Grand-Children The Lord North Sir Iohn North Captaine Roger North Gilbert North and the noble Lady Conningsby To the Honour of the right Worshipfull Sir Arthur Capell his noble Sons AND The Nobly desceÌ„ded Ralph Sadleir Esquire of Standen in Hertfordshire This worthy Knight was the last which her Maiesty Knighted Also this noble Esquires Father Sir Thomas Sadleir son to Sir Ralph Sadleir was the last knight banneret of England Chancellour of the Duchy of Lancaster and Priuy Counsellor to King Henry the eight Edward the sixt Queen Mary and Queene Elizabeth A PREPARATION AND INTRODVCTION TO THE HISTORY THE All-glorious All-vertuous incomparable inuict and matchlesse Patterne of Princes the Glory Honour and mirror of Woman kind the Admiration of our Age ELIZABETH Queene of England was by the Fathers side truely Royall being Daughter to HENRY the Eighth Grand-child to HENRY the Seuenth and great Grand child to EDVVARD the Fourth of the Mothers side indeed vnequall yet nobly descended and had many great Alliances spred through England and Ireland Her great-Grandfather was Iefferay of Bolene descended from the famous House of Norfolke who in the yeere 1457. was Maior of London and was then graced with the Dignitie of Knighthood a man of much integrity and of such reputation that Thomas Baron of Hoo and Hastings Knight of the Order of S. George gaue him his daughter and heire to wife he was of so great meanes that he married his Daughters into the famous houses of the Chenies Heidons and Fortescues he left a great Patrimonie to his sonnes and by Will gaue a thousand pounds sterling
priuiledges belonging to the place were gathered together a certaine impunitie imboldening them For EDVVARD the third had granted to the Earle of Desmond all Regall Liberties that the Kings of England had in that Countie except for Burnings Rapes Forestallings and Treasure found Notwithstanding the President iudging that these Liberties were granted rather for the exercise of Iustice then for the protecting of Mischiefe valiantly defeated the most selected troopes of the forlorne Rebels which the Earle of Desmond had layd in Ambuscado and made search through all Kerria and punished many of them seuerely The Earle of Desmond vexing at this and grieuously complaining to the Lord Deputie of Drury as well of this as of the Taxe which they call Ceass This Taxe is an exaction of Victuals at a certaine price as the Glebe among the Ancients for Prouision of the Deputies Family and the Garrison Souldiers Of this Taxe he complained not alone but in Lemster the most ciuill part of the Isle the Viscount Bultinglas Deluin Hoth and Trimleston Barons and also other of the Nobler sort complaining denied to pay it as not to be exacted but by authoritie of Parliament And thereupon sent Deputies into England who being heard before the Councell were committed and in like manner in Ireland were those that sent them vntill they submitted to pay it It appearing by the Records of the Kingdomes Exchequer to be instituted long agoe and is a certaine right of Maiestie called Royall Prerogatiue which is not subiect to the Lawes nor yet repugnant as the Lawyers haue iudged it But the Queene commanded the Lord Deputie to vse a moderation in such like exactions and vsed the old saying While they may sheare her subiects doe not shaue them and said moreouer AH how greatly I feare lest that which Bato in time past to Tiberius vpon the reuolting of Dalmatia be obiected against vs by the Irish You you are in fault who commit not your flockes to Shepheards but to Wolues THE TVVENTIETH YEERE OF Her Reigne Anno Dom. 1577. DOn Iohn of Austria perceiuing himselfe too weake for the States of Holland strengthened by the amitie of neighbour Princes sent Gastel to Queene ELIZABETH to thanke her for the ayd which she had offered him against the French to declare his desire of Peace She by Edw. Horsey now sent the second time to him commends his disposition to Peace and withall treates that the goods of the English detained in Antwerpe might be restored Answer was made verie slowly he being much distracted as he pretended with other affaires wholly intending The perpetuall Edict for Peace as they call it which scarce lasted a yeere Queene ELIZABETH seriously desiring Peace sends Sir Thomas Leighton to the Prince of Orange to perswade him not to labour or attempt any thing against Peace vntill Iohn Smith who was sent into Spaine to procure a Peace should returne The Prince of Orange who from his heart condemned this perpetuall Edict hauing opportunely learned that Don Iohn of Austria did endeuour to marrie the Queene of Scots which occasion he willingly catch't and by Famier forthwith aduertiseth Queene ELIZABETH to auert her from Peace She neuerthelesse as seeming to know nothing by Daniel Rogers congratulates with Don Iohn for the perpetuall Edict of Peace although she had discouered for certaine that by the perswasion of the Earle of Westmerland and the English Fugitiues and the inclination of the Pope and the fauour of the Guizes he had an assured hope to attaine to this mariage and together with it to swallow England and Scotland and had alreadie resolued to possesse himselfe of the Isle of Man situate in the Irish Sea as a fit place for the inuading of England on Ireland side and from the West-side of Scotland where the Queene of Scots had many people at her deuotion and in the opposite part of England to make vse of North-Wales and the Counties of Cumberland Lancaster and Chester where the most part of the Inhabitants are most addicted to Poperie And certainly as we haue learned by Perez the King of Spaines Secretarie Austria caried away with ambition seeing himselfe falne from all hope of the Kingdome of Tunis had dealt secretly with the Pope to pull downe ELIZABETH from her Throne to marrie the Queene of Scotland and to subdue England and vnknowne to Philip wrought with the Pope to excite Philip for the publike good to the English Warre Don Iohn himselfe is readie to goe for Flanders this was prosecuted in Spaine and anon after Escouedo is sent from Flanders to desire that a Port in Biskye might be granted him from whence with a Nauie he might inuade England But Philip not likeing these designes begun to neglect him as a man too ambitious Neither did Queene ELIZABETH vnderstand of these things till as I haue said the Prince of Orange did informe her Notwithstanding it wanted not suspition that Thomas Copley a prime man among the English Fugitiues being commended to the French King by Vaulx Secretarie to Don Iohn had beene made Knight and Baron But Copley endeuouring to auoide suspition protested obedience to his Prince and that he had accepted this Title out of no other reason but for the greater accesse of honour to his wife his companion in exile and that his Pension from Spaine would be the greater because a Gentleman of Title is of more esteeme among Spaniards and he thought he was capable of the Title of a Baron his Grandmother being the eldest Daughter to the Baron of Hoo and his great Grandmother the eldest Daughter of the heires of the Baron of Welles In the meane time Don Iohn vnderhand prosecutes this match and withall the better to cloke the matter sends the Viscount of Gaunt Embassadour to ELIZABETH who shewed her the Articles of Peace and to demand a longer terme for the paiment of the Money which the States borrowed of her This she willingly grants and after treates with him by Wilson that the dammages which the English Merchants receiued at the sacking of Antwerpe may be repared He deludes her and while he pretended to be busie about this perpetuall Edict of Peace breakes out into Warre and by craft surprises Castles and Townes and writes to the King of Spaine that the wisest course is to take the Islands of Zeland before they lay siege to the interiour Prouinces and being thus transported with hope striues to perswade him by Escouede his Secretarie that it were easier for him to take England than Zeland At length when all things tended to warres in the Low-Countries the States send to Queene ELIZABETH the Marquis of Maure and Adoulfe Medkerke to borrow of her a hundred thousand pound sterling for eight moneths Shee made them this answer That if they could borrow it else-where Shee with the Citie of London would willingly giue caution for it prouided that such Townes of the Low-Countries as She shall
Towne next after they make Trenches and raise Mounts from which they battered no lesse the Towne then the Ships The French make many Sallies out with more courage than strength and shewe many proofes of Magnanimity Amongst others vpon the fifteenth day of Aprill they tooke the Trenches nayled three of the greatest Cannons tooke and led away prisoner M. Berclé But I. Croft and C. Vaghan driue them backe as fast into the Towne and it was not done without losse of men Arthur Gray sonne to the Lord Baron Gray who had the principall command in the Campe was shot into the shoulder After that they bring the Campe neerer to the Towne because the Battery was so farre off that the Bullets for the most part fell without effect and a short time after part of the Towne and a great quantity of Corne was burned by casuall fire which was much encreased by the English who placed on that side their biggest Cānons and being in the meane time entred into the Ditch tooke the height of the Wall and the sixth of May while the English and the Scots were together of accord hauing placed the Ladders on all sides gaue three powerful alssaults to gaine the Wall but because they were too short and the waters higher then ordinary the Sluces beeing shut they were repulsed with a showre of Bullets that ouerwhelmed them from aboue and there were many slaine yet more wounded This check was imputed to Croft's fault because he had stayed in his Quarter with his Armes foulded as if he had reproued this expedition seeing others doe without putting himselfe in action to assist those who had neede thereof and I cannot tell whether hee did it out of iudgement or for affection which he bore to the French or for hatred to Gray But so it is that Norfolke and Gray accused by Letters which they writ to the Queene to haue had secret consultations with the Queene of the Scots and to haue oppos'd this designe and in hauing sequitiuely bin brought in iustice the gouernment of Barwicke was taken from him and giuen to the Lord Baron Gray But the Queene shewing him fauour conseru'd it for him and for his merit established him afterward Controwler of her Maiesties House This first Mis-hap hauing abated the courage of the English and Scots the Duke of Norfolke rais'd them as quickly vp againe by new Troops which hee brought to strengthen and since that time there were some light combates vntill that the King of France hauing aduice that his men were so blockt vp at Lieth that all the Passages by Sea and Land were shut also considering that they could not send him succour in time requisite for the great distance of places and the seditions which augmented from day to day in his Kingdome gaue power to the Bishop of Valence and De la Roche Faucaud to accord the Affaires with Qu. ELIZABETHS Commissioners esteeming and the Queene of Scotland with them that it were a thing vnworthy their Maiesty to enter into equall dispute with their Subiects And Queen ELIZABETH deputed as speedily into Scotland W. Cecill and N. Wotton Deane of Canterburie and Yorke At the same time the C. of Murray made some propositions But Cecill thought that they ought not to be made by Subiects nor agreed on by Princes During these debatings the decease of Queene Marie of Lorraine mother to the Queen and Regent of the Kingdome of Scotland hapned a pious most prudēt Princesse who was neuerthelesse ignominiously and vnworthily handled by hot-headed Preachers as it may appeare euen by the Ecclesiasticall History of Scotland which Queene ELIZABETH caused to be suppressed vnder the Presse and by the Lords of the Assembly who as being borne Councellors of State had vnder the name of Queene of Scotland and her Husband suspended her from all administration as contrary to the glory of God and the libertie of Scotland The Articles of which the Commissioners after the siege begun agreed vpon are these THe treaty of peace made in the Castle of Cambray betwixt Queene ELIZABETH and Henry the Second the French King shall be renewed and confirmed They shall cease both the one side and the other to make preparation of warre The Fortresse of Aymouth in Scotland shall be demolisht The said King and Queene Mary shall quit the title and armes of England and Ireland The strifes touching the recompence of the iniurie done to Queene ELIZABETH and the assurance of the first Article are remitted to another Assembly which shall be holden at London and if they cannot then be agreed of it shall be referred to the Catholique King The King and the Queene shall reconcile themselues with the Nobles amongst their Subiects of Scotland the Confederates shall be therein comprised and aboue all the Catholique King This Treatie shall be confirmed within sixtie dayes the intertayning of it sworne on both sides This Peace is published as well in the Campe as in the City with a common reioycing of all The English growing weary of the warre seeing their neighbouring Countrey vtterly spoyled The French because they were depriued of all traffique commerce and the Scots for not hauing beene payed their wages And indeed it was holden for the weale good and well-fare of Great Brittaine since Scotland retained his ancient liberty and England kept the dignity and surety which it had gotten And since that time she hath beene really exempt and freed from all subiects of feare from Scotland side The English haue merrily acknowledged that Queene ELIZABETH was the founder of the surety and the Protestants of Scotland Restoresse of the liberty During all that time Queene ELIZABETH for the singular loue which shee bore to the parties was so attentiue to the publique good that shee razed from her heart the loue of powerfull Princes who sought her in marriage to wit CHARLES Arch-duke of Austria second Sonne of Ferdinando the Emperour who made this suit by the Count of Elpheston Of Iames Earle of Arran who was recommended by the Protestants the which propounded to themselues to vnite by his meanes the Kingdomes of England and Scotland which were diuided which was also quickly reiected and neuerthelesse to her Maiesty praise Of Erric King of Sueden who to the same purpose imployed Iohn his Brother Duke of Finland to this end sent into England by Gustaue his Father a little before his death and grounding his hopes vpon this that hee was of the same Religion as Queene ELIZABETH was made himselfe so credulously importunate that hee thought of nothing but England notwithstanding that the King of Denmarke his sworne enemy had resolued to take him in the way thinking that it concerned him greatly if England and Sueden betweene which Denmarke lyes should be ioyned by the meanes of a marriage Queene ELIZABETH acknowledged and praised his singular and Soueraigne loue and made him answer that his comming should be very agreeable
nominate would be bound by writing to repay it within a yeere and made alliance with them of mutuall succour both by Land and Sea vnder these conditions THe Queene shall send for succour to the States a thousand Horse and fiue thousand foote to whom they shall pay three moneths after their imbarking their intertainement and expence in the City of London and the warres ended shall defray their expence for their returning into England The Generall of these forces who shall be an English-man shall be receiued into the Councell of the States and nothing shall be ordered concerning warre or peace without consulting thereupon either with the Queene or him nor make league with any whosoeuer without her approbation and if shee please to be comprehended in the same If any Prince doe any hostile act against the Queene or Kingdome of England vnder any pretext whatsoeuer the States shall resist as much as in them lye and shall send ayde to the Queene in the same number and vpon the like conditions If any discord arise among the States it shall bee referred to her arbitrement If the Queene be to prepare a Nauie against enemies the States shall furnish xl Ships of a competent burthen with Mariners and euery thing else necessary which shall obey and follow the Admirall of England and shall be defrayed at the Queenes cost The States shall in no wise admit into the Low-countries such English as the Queene hath declared Rebels If they conclude a peace with Spaine they must take heede that the Articles whether ioyntly or seuerally bee confirmed by the Queenes pleasure Immediately as this Treatie begun the Queene lest shee should be calumniated as a nourisher of Rebellion in the Low-Countries sent Thomas Wilkes to the Spaniard to declare vnto him as followeth FOrasmuch as there neuer want malicious spirits which studie craft and subtiltie to breake friendship betweene those Princes and by vniust suggestion to cast aspersions vpon their honours by supposall as if shee had kindled this fire in the Low-Countries First shee prayes the King and the Gouernours of the Low-Countries that they would call to minde how often and how earnestly like a friend shee long-agoe forewarned of the euils hanging ouer the Low-Countries And then when they thought of reuolting what studious paines she tooke in often Missitations to the Prince of Orange and the States that they should continue in dutie and obedience to the King yea euen when those most opulent Prouinces were offered her in possession what sinceritie shewed shee not to take them into protection Finally when all things were deplorable how much money did shee lately furnish to hinder the States being pressed by vrgent necessitie not to subiect themselues vnder another Prince and trouble the treatie of the late propounded peace But when shee had notice that the Prince of Orange was vnwilling to embrace the peace already begun shee did not onely admonish him to embrace it but also shee most sacredly protested interposed threatnings and in some sort commanded him If these things be vnworthy of a Christian Prince studious of peace and most desirous to deserue well of her good Confederate the King of Spaine let the King himselfe and all the Princes of the Christian World iudge And that wars might sleepe on both sides and that hee might haue the Hollanders obedient aduiseth him to receiue them as an afflicted people into his ancient fauour restore their priuiledges obserue the last couenants of peace and elect out of his owne Family some other Gouernour Which could by no meanes be effected vnlesse Don Iohn were remoued whom the States distrusted with more than a hostile and implacable hatred and whom shee certainely knew by his secret practices with the Queene of Scots to be her vtter enemy Insomuch that shee could expect nothing from the Low-Countries but certaine dangers while He gouerned there But now when shee doth perceiue what great number of forces Don Iohn inrolled and how many Troupes of French there were in a readinesse shee profest that to keepe the Low-Countries to the King of Spaine and to repell danger from England shee had promised ayde to the States Who reciprocally had promised to persist in their obedience to the King and to innouate nothing in Religion From which if shee shall perceiue the King auerse but to haue determined breaking the barres of their rights and priuiledges to draw them into seruitude like miserable Prouinces captiuated by conquest shee cannot both for the defence of her Neighbours and her owne securitie be failing or negligent But also if the States doe breake their faith with the King or enterprise any thing contrary to what they haue promised she would speedily turne her Ensignes against them The Spaniard was not pleased to heare these things neuerthelesse knowing that it lay much in Queene ELIZABETHS power to establish or ruine his affaires in the Low-Countries and knowing for certaine that Don Iohn laide Ambuscadoes for her dissembled it and prayed her to prosecute the designe which shee had for establishing peace and not rashly to belieue the false reports that runne or that be practised vnworthily against a Prince that is his friend Whiles Wilkes exposeth these things in Spaine Don Iohn who feared Queene ELIZABETH and withall wished her ruine sends Gastell to her who blamed the States exceedingly accuseth them of many foule crimes and layde open at large the causes that moued Don Iohn to take armes againe Queene ELIZABETH like an Heroicke Princesse stood Arbitratresse between the Spaniard the French and the States insomuch as shee had power to apply this saying of her Father He shal carry it away for whom I am and that which he writ is found true that France and Spaine are the scoales of the Ballance and England the beame At the very same time the Iudges holding the Assises at Oxford and R. Ienke Stationer an impudent talker was accused and brought to triall for speaking iniurious words against the Queene the most part of the assistants were so infected with his poysonous and pestilent breath and by reason of the stinke whether of the prisoners or the prison that they almost all dyed within forty dayes besides women and children and this contagion extended no further Amongst others R. Bel chiefe Baron of the Exchequer a graue man and learned in the Law R. Doyley Sir G. Babington Vicount Doyley of Oxfordshire Harcourt Waineman and Fetiplace persons of great estimation in that Countrey and Barham a famous Lawyer being almost of one Iury and about three hundreth more died there Hitherto the Papists in England enioyed a cheerefull tranquillitie who by a kinde of merciful conniuency exercised their Religion in priuate houses in some sort vnpunished although it was prohibited by the Law vpon paine of a pecuniary mulct to be inflicted neither did the Queen thinke it fit to force the conscience But after that thundring Bull of Excommunication against the Queene which came
Ambassage of Gondy Count of Rez Ambassage of the Earle of Worcester in France The Sea is purged of Pirats by Holstoc The French Protestants handle shrewdly the French Papists in England The French Leger Ambassadour complained to Queene Elizabeth concerning the helpe and assistance sent out of England to the Protestants of Rochell besieged Her Maiesty excused her selfe * Flagges Queene Elizabeth is earnestly sollicited to marry with the Duke of Alanzon Her Maiestie heares of it willingly By a double apprehension Queene Elizabeth graÌ„ts leaue to the Duke of Alanzon to come into England And her Maiesty presently sends him word not to come as yet Gondy returned into England Earle of Morton Vice-Roy of Scotland The King of France endeuours to destroy him Qu Elizabeth to defend him Grange opposeth The English are sent to besiege it Vpon what Conditions The Castle besieged by the English Forces The Castle yeelded Kircald and others hanged Lidington dyes Peace made in Scotland The Bishop of Rosse banished out of England Absence innouates Enterprizes The Duke of Alua is called out of the Low-Countries Lodowicke Zuniga sucseedes him Burches heresie Marshall Law Burch is hanged Effingham dies Gray Earle of Kent dies Caius the Phisition dyes The Colledge of Gonuell Caius Troubles in Ireland The Earle of Essex sent into Ireland The Deputie enuies it Mac-Phelim is taken The vnprofitable attempt and force of Chaterton Booke 2. 1574. The Duke of Alanzon desires to visit Queene Elizabeth Queene Elizabeth agrees to it He is suspected in France He is as it were prisoner being garded Queene Elizabeth comforts him Charles the ninth King of France died The right Honourable Lord Roger Lord North Baron of Catelage is sent Ambassador with a noble train to Henry of Valois the third of that name King of France Poland The King of France and mother Queene recommend the Duke of Alanzon to Queene Elizabeth They fauour the Queene of Scots against the Vice-Roy Morton She giueth credit to those who make reports aginst the Queene of Scotland The Earle of Huntington President of the North. An Edict against the riâ—tousnes of apparell England imbellished with magnificent structures The English worke treason in Holland They are defeated Ministers deceiued A Whale cast on shore An extraordinary floud in the Thames The Skie seemed to be on fire Booke 2. 1575. The league with France renued Warre kindled in France The Queene of England denieth ships to Requesens The entrance of the Ports To banish the Dutch fugitiues She denies the confederate Dutch entrance into the English ports Requisens chaseth the rebellious English from Flanders Dissolues their Seminary The Prince of Orange thinkes to run to the protection of the King of France The Queene of England disswades him The confederat Dutch deliberate what Protector they should chuse They haue recourse to the Queene of England She deliberateth thereupon She reiecteth their proffer The Ambassy of Champigni Requesens dyeth The Queene studieth to bring the affaires of the Netherlands to a composition A conflict vpon the borders of Scotland Heron is slaine The English led as prisoners into Scotland The Queene of England is much incensed The death of the Duke of Castell-Herauld Essex reduced into distresse in Jreland Sidney the third time Deputy maketh his progresse in Ireland The death of Peter Carew Booke 2. 1576. The French propound a marriage to Queene Elizabeth She peace to them She labours to diuert them from the Netherlands The Zelanders molest the English by Sea are repressed A confusion in the Netherlands Antwerpe sacked by the Spanish mutiners The Queene laboureth a peace for the Netherlands The arriuall of John of Austria in Flanders The Queene furnisheth the Estates with money to continue the Prouinces in the King of Spaines obedience The traffique re-established betweene England and Portugall With what probabilitie Witnesse Ienkinson an Englishman Bernard le Tor a Spaniard Furbisher is sent to discouer the Strait in the North part of America The death of Maximilian the Emperour Queene Elizabeth mournes The Elector Palatine dyes A Franc is two shillings English Essex death suspected The death of Sir Anthony Coke Tumults in Ireland William Drury President of Mounster Malefactors pursued and punished Ceass what it is The Irish complaine of exactions The Queene hath compassion Booke 2. 1577. Austria inclines to Peace Elizabeth perswades to it Orange diuerts her Austria seekes to marrie the Queene of Scots And by her to get the Kingdome of England Copley made a Baron of France The dissimulation of Austria He takes vp armes again Elizabeth couenanted with the Scots She declares the reason of it to the Spaniard The Spaniard did not willingly heare these things Don John complaines to Queene Elizabeth of the States England the ballance of Europe A pestilent sicknesse caused by the stinke of a prison Maine a Priest executed The death of the Lord Latimer Secretary Smith dyes Saffron Walden Rebellion in Ireland Rorio Oge Rorio slaine Booke 2. 1578. Queene Elizabeth is carefull of the Low-Countries English gone into the Low-Countries The Embassie for the Low-Countries Peace is irritated Egremond Radcliffe and his associate are put to death Don John dyes Aniou prosecutes the mariage with the Queene Leicester murmures The death of the Countesse of Lenox The business of Scotland Morton the Regent admonished The King sends an Embassador into England The Summe of the Embassage The answere of the Queene Morton takes vpon him the administration againe The Peeres rise vp against him The inuading of England consulted vpon Th. Stukeley takes Armes against his Countrie Ciuita Vecchia He is slaine in the African Warre William Drury Lord Deputie of Ireland Sidney's adieu to Jreland Booke 2. 1579. Casimire comes into England The Queene lends the States mony Semier solicites the marriage for the Duke of Aniou Thinkes on nothing but reuenge One was shot with a Pistolet being in the Boat with the Queene The Duke of Aniou came into England The dangers of the marriage The commodities of it The incommodities if it be neglected Aimé Stuart Lord of Aubigni came into Scotland From wheÌ„ce hee tooke the name of Aubigni He is raised to honours He is suspected of the Protestants Hamiltons deiected Proscribed Succoured by Elizabeth The Societie of the Turkey-Merchants Hamonts impietie N. Bacon dyes Thomas Bromley succeedes Gresham dyes His Colledge of London Rebellion of James Fitz-Morris in Ireland Stirred vp by the Pope and the King of Spaine Fauoured by the Earle of Desmond Dauile murdered in his bed Sanders approues of the slaughter He fights with those of Bourg Fitz-Morris is slaine William of Bourg made Baron He dyes for ioy John Desmond kils the English The Lord Deputy sick N. Malbey Gouernour of Mounster Defeats the Rebels The Earle of Desmond manifests himselfe a Rebell The death of Drury Lord Deputy The Rebels thereby incouraged William Pelham is Lord Chiefe Justice of Ireland Admonisheth the Earle of Desmond of his duety Proclaimes him Traitor The Earle of
infamous by the incredible crueltie of Prelates who polluted England through all parts with a most sad dreadfull spectacle in burning the Protestants aliue For as some haue obserued there were more consumed of all rankes Bishops Ministers and common people by this vengible and direfull way of death these fiue yeeres than England saw in all the seuen and thirtie yeeres of HENRY the Eighth In the reigne of Iohn Christians against Christians with vs began to tyrannize with flames The same day that MARY dyed within a few houres after Cardinall Pole Arch-bishop of Canterbury tormented with a quartane Feuer expired A man whom pietie learning and integritie had made much more famous than the splendor of his Royall Race though hee was Nephew to George Duke of Clarence Brother to Edward the Fourth King of England A TABLE OF THE CONTENTS of this matchlesse and famous HISTORIE The first Booke Anno M.D.LVIII QVeene ELIZABETH is proclaymed Queene of England Fol. 2. Choyce of her Priuy Councell Fol. 3. Her care to re-establish the Catholike Christian Religion Fol. 4. Philip King of Spaine Queene MARY's Widdower is a Sutor to her Sister Fol. 5. Queene ELIZABETH refused him and wherefore Fol. 7. Consultations about the safe re-establishment of true Religion Fol. 9. Diuine Seruice allowed by the Queene in English Fol. 11. Anno M.D.LIX. CReation and restoration of diuers Noble-men Fol. 12. A Parliament summoned and held at Westminster Fol. 14. Proposition to reforme Religion Fol. 15. Dispute established betweene Protestants and Papists Fol. 17. Sir Edward Crane Ambassadour for England is detayned at Rome Fol. 18. Disputes and strifes for Callais Fol. 19. A Treatie of peace with the French King in Cambresis Castle Fol. 22. The Articles of the said peace Fol. 23. Peace concluded betweene the Queenes of England and Scotland Fol. 24. The Baron of Wentworth and others questioned about Calais Fol. 25. The Parliament exhort the Queene to marry Fol. 26. Her Maiesties answer Fol. 27. Lawes and Ordinances established by the Parliament Fol. 29. The Nobles of the Land re-established and Papists deposed Fol. 30. By what degrees Religion was altered in England Fol. 33. The profit proceeding by Religions alteration Fol. 34. Queene ELIZABETH's Poesie or Motto Fol. 35. Her Maiesties answer to forreine Princes interceding for the Papists ibid. The Emperour seekes Queene ELIZABETH for his sonne Fol. 36. The French King challenged the Kingdome of England for the Queene of Scots Fol. 37. The King of France his sodaine death being kill'd at a tilting ibid. Francis the Second King of France and Mary Queene of Scots his Wife take vpon them the Title of King Queene of England and Ireland Fol. 38. The originall of the hidden hatred which hath beene betweene the Queenes of England and Scotland Fol. 39. The Scots refuse to obey the Queene-Regent but seeke helpe of Queene ELIZABETH Fol. 40. They resolue to driue the French out of Scotland Fol. 42. The English are sent into Scotland both by Land and Sea Fol. 43. The death of Francis Talbot the first Earle of Shrewsbury Fol. 44. Anno M.D.LX. A Treatie of peace in Barwicke Fol. 45. Martigues brings French-men into Scotland and the Marquesse of Debeux is driuen by a tempest Fol. 47. Spaines counsell to peace Fol. 48. Spaniards detaine from the English munition ibid. The French call the English from Scotland and doe protest they are meerely the cause that peace is broken Fol. 49. The Guizes are sworne and profest enemies to Queene ELIZABETH ibid. The French offer to render vp Calais Fol. 50. Queene ELIZABETH answered them and sends Viscount Montague into Spaine ibid. Arthur Gray sonne to the Lord Gray wounded and lyeth besieged Fol. 51. The English repulsed Crofts is accused Fol. 52. The Queene-Regent of Scotlands death Fol. 53. The Treatie of Edenborough ibid. A peace is published Fol. 54. Queene ELIZABETH is sought in marriage by diuers potent Princes ibid. Spaine fauoured England against the French Fol. 58. The King of Spaine deliuered backe the Order of the Garter ibid. Hee is disdained to be refused in things of small importance and the Count of Feria whets his indignation Fol. 59. The Pope is incensed against Queene ELIZABETH Fol. 60. Yet the Pope writes and sends his Nuncio ouer Fol. 61. The King and Queene of France and Scotland refuse to confirme the Treatie of Edenborough with their reasons Fol. 63. Francis the Second King of France dyed ibid. An Edict set forth by Queene ELIZABETH against Anabaptists and sacrilegious persons Fol. 64. The Colledge of Westminster founded ibid. The Coyne brought to full valew ibid. Good Coyne stampt for Ireland which wee call Sterling Fol. 65. The death of the Earle of Huntingdon the second of that Race Fol. 66. Anno M.D.LXI THe Queene Dowager of France Queene of Scotland deferred the confirmation of Edenboroughs Treaty Fol. 68. The Queene of England refused passage to the Queene of Scotland from France ouer Fol. 69. Shee complayned to Throckmorton Ambassadour for England Fol. 71. Throckmortons answer to the said Queeene Fol. 72. Contestation betweene them two Fol. 73. The Queene of Scotland laboured to content Queene ELIZABETH Fol. 74. But in vaine ibid. The Queene of Scotland takes her iourney out of France into Scotland where she well and safely arriued Fol. 75. She sends to Queene ELIZABETH who answered her Fol. 76. Queene ELIZABETH presseth the confirmation of the treatie Fol. 77. The Guizes and other French Noble-men who had conueyed the Queene of Scots into Scotland returning home thorow England are magnificently entertained with all royall courtesies by Queene ELIZABETH Fol. 77. That the right to assemble a Councel belongeth not to the Pope Fol. 78. How farre an Ambassadour ought to beare an offence Fol. 79. Queene ELIZABETH prepares things necessary for the warre ibid. She findes the Calamite stone Fol. 80. And prepares a Fleet. ibid. The English in emulation of their Queene striue who can build the best Ships ibid. Tillage more vsed than euer Fol. 81. An Edict in fauour of the King of Poland ibid. S. Pauls famous Steeple in London is burnt Fol. 82. The Earle of Bathe dyed ibid. Anno M.D.LXII ARthur Pole his Brother and others are examined Fol. 84. The Lady Katherine Gray is imprisoned ibid. The Guizes practize against Queene ELIZABETH Fol. 85. Henry Sidney is sent into France and presently after into Scotland Fol. 86. They deliberate the inter-uiew of the Queene of Scotland Fol. 87. The Cardinall of Lorraine propoundeth a marriage to the Queene of Scotland and Queene ELIZABETH endeuours to diuert her from it Fol. 88. Shee excuses the French Fugitiues Fol. 89. The death of Iohn de Vere Earle of Oxford Fol. 90. Shan O-Neale comes into England to defend his cause ibid. Anno M.D.LXIII LAw established by Parliament Fol. 92. Fifteenes and Subsidies granted Fol. 93. The Prince of Condé is taken in the Battel of DREVX Fol. 94. The King of Spaines answer ibid. Hostages giuen
Lenox Vice-Roy of Scotland is slaine 279. The Earle of Marre is elected Vice-Roy ibid. Lawes against disturbers ibid. Lawes against Papists 280. Iohn Story condemned to dye 282. Differences appeased betweene the English and the Portugals in Guienne ibid. Marquis of Northampton dyes 283. The death of Bishop Iewell ibid. Affaires in Ireland 284. William Fitz-Williams Deputy ibid. Anno M.D.LXXII Thomas Duke of Norfolke is presented before the Nobles and Peeres and arraigned in Westminster Hall 285. The manner of his Arraignement 286. The chiefe points of his accusation 287. The Duke demandeth an Aduocate to pleade his cause ibid. The second Article of his accusation 290. The third Article 292. His reply and that he was contrary to the Romane Religion 293. The Letters of the Bishop of Rosse to the Queen of Scots produced ibid. The Dukes Letter to his seruant 294. The Letters of Ridolph ibid. Of the Pope ibid. The testimony of Strangers ibid. The third Article of his accusation 295. The Peeres consult among themselues ibid. The sentence of death pronounced against the Duke 296. Baray and Marter are put to death 297. Earles created ibid. Barons elected 298. Lawes established for the better security of the Queene and her Kingdome ibid. The Duke of Norfolke beheaded ibid. His speech at his death 299. Sundry censures of him 300. Catenes relation of the precedent matters 301. Pope Pius the fifth incensed against Queene ELIZABETH imployeth Robert Ridolph a Gentleman of Florence into England 301. He perswades the Kings of France and Spaine against her ibid. The Queene of Scots accused 304. Her answere 305. Sedition in Scotland 306. The Queene of Elngand and the King of France endeuour to accord them ibid. They differ in opinion ibid. Causes alledged why the French fauour the Queene of Scotland 307. The Queene of England contesteth with the French ibid. The rebellious Flemmings being commanded out of England take the Breele 310. The Duke of Alua's carelesnesse ibid. The English repaire into the Low-countries to warre ibid. The dissimulation of the King of France 311. The alliance of Blois ibid. The Articles of the same ibid. The confirmation thereof 313. Mont-morancy admitted to the Order of the Garter 314. He intercedes to accord the differences of Scotland ibid. Answer made vnto him ibid. He also treats of a marriage with the Duke of Aniou 315. The Massacre of Paris ibid. Marriage of the Duke of Alanzon propounded to Queene ELIZABETH 316. The Earle of Northumberland beheaded ibid. Death of the Marquis of Winchester and of the Earle of Darbie ibid. Cecill made Treasurer ibid. Death of Sir George Peters 317 Queene ELIZABETH sicke ibid. Her care of the Publique ibid. She cuts off the superfluous number of followers attending Noblemen and curbeth Enquirers after conceald Lands of the Crowne 318. Rebellion in Ireland also the Omores rebellion there 319. A strange Starre 319. Anno M.D.LXXIII THe Spanish Fleete discomfited by the Hollanders 321. Queene ELIZABETH dischargeth her Fathers and Brothers debts 322. The Papists trouble the Common-wealth 323. The Ambassage of Gondy Count of Rez 324. Ambassage of the Earle of Worcester into France 325. The French Protestants handle the French Papists in England shrewdly and the French Leger Ambassadour complaines to Queene ELIZABETH for ayding the Protestants besieged ibid. She is earnestly sollicited to marry with the D. of Alanzon 326 She grants him leaue to come into England 327. Gondy returnes into England and Earle Morton is made Regent of Scotland 329. The English are sent to besiege Edenborrough 332. The Castle besieged yeelded 333. Kircald and others hanged and Lidington dyes 334. Lodowick Zuniga succeedes Duke d'Alua 335. Burche's Heresie for which hee is hanged 336. The Lord of Effingham the Earle of Kent and Caius the Physician dyed ibid. Troubles in Ireland the Earle of Essex is sent thither 338. Anno M.D.LXXIIII ALanzon desires to visit Queene ELIZABETH and hath leaue to come into England 342. He suspected in France hath a Gard set ouer him 343. Charles the Ninth King of France dieth and the right Noble Roger Lord North is sent Ambassadour extraordinary to Henry of Valois King of France and Poland 344. The Earle of Huntington made President of the North. 345. An Edict against pride 346. London Ministers deceyued A Whale cast on shore Thames ebbes flowes twice in one houre The Skie seemeth to burne 347. Anno M.D.LXXV THe League with France renewed 349. The Prince of Orange intended to flye to the protection of the King of France 352. The Ambassie of Campigni and de Requisens dyeth 354. The death of the Duke of Chastelraut 357. The Earle of Essex distressed in Ireland ibid. Sidney's progresse in Ireland for the third time Deputie there 358. The death of Peter Carew 359. Anno M.D.LXXVI QVeene ELIZAB. is offered a match by the French 361. A confusion in the Netherlands Antwerpe sacked by the Spanish mutiners 362. The comming of Iohn d'Austria into Flanders 363. Sir Martin Forbisher sent to discouer the Straits in the North part of America 364. The death of the Emperour Maximilian and of the Elector Palatine heauy to Queene ELIZABETH who sends Sir Philip Sidney Ambassador extraordinary to Rodulphus his Successour 365. The death of Walter Deuoreux Earle of Essex and of Sir Anthony Coke 367. Tumults in Ireland and William Drury made President of Munster 368. The Queene takes pitty of the Irish 369. Anno M.D.LXXVII AVstria inclined to peace at Queene ELIZABETHS perswasion 370. The Prince of Orange diuerts her from it 371. Sir Thomas Copley made Baron in France 372. Iohn of Austria's dissimulation ibid. Why Queen ELIZABETH couenanted with the Scots 373. Spaine is pleased with it 375. England the Ballance of Europe 376. Priest Maine executed Baron of Latimer and Secretarie Smith of Saffron Walden dyes 377. Rebellion againe in Ireland and Rorio Oge is slaine Harington and Cosby wounded 378. Anno M.D.LXXVIII QVeene ELIZABETH's care for the Low-Countries 380. Count Swartzeberg Bellieure and Cobham Deputy for France Germany and England and for the treaty of peace and Egremond Ratcliffe and his associate are put to death and Don Iuan de Austria dyes 381. Aniou's Duke pursues his intended marriage with Qu. ELIZ. and Leicester murmurs at it 383. The Countesse of Lenox death ibid. King IAMES sends an Ambassador to Queene ELIZAB. 385. Morton Regent takes vpon him the administration of the Realme againe 386. The Peeres are against him 387. How to inuade England consulted by Spaine 387. Thomas Stukeley a Traytor takes Armes against his Countrey and is slaine with three Kings 388. William Drury made Lord Deputie of Ireland 389. Anno M.D.LXXIX CAssimiere Palatin's Sonne comes into England 390. Queene ELIZABETH sends money into Holland 391. One is shot with a Pistoll who was in Queene ELIZABETH's Barge with her Maiestie the French Ambassadour the Earle of Lincolne and Sir Christopher Hatton 392. The Duke of Aniou comes into England ibid.
of Saint George For hee seemed hereby vtterly to breake off all amity and friendship with England but shewed it much more by the refusall which was made him afterwards how he practised by his Ambassadour as hee did intercede by Count of Feria who had married the Daughter of W. Dormer which hee had by the Lady Marie Sidney for that the Queene permitted certaine men women and Children to stay in Flanders who for Religion were retired without leaue viz. to the Lady Iane Dormer Daughter of Thomas Newdigate and Widdow to Sir Robert Dormer Knight and to the Lady Clarence Grand-mother to the Count of Feria being very olde who had beene Fauourite to Queene MARIE and Almoner for the particular reliefe of poore women to Richard Shelley Prior of the order of Saint Iohn in England of which wee will speake hereafter and to Thomas Haruie all which were zealous professors of the Romish Religion and well beloued of the Spaniard This refusall was grounded vpon a restraint by the ancient custome Lawes of England prohibiting any person the Nobles and Peeres of the Kingdome excepted vpon paine of confiscation of their goods to depart out of their Countrey without speciall licence from the King and to reside in forraine parts beyond a certaine time prefixed and that either for the recouery of their health vnder a more warme climate or for the aduancement of their studies in the Academies or for their practice in militarie Discipline Whereof there was no president extant of any toleration granted to women to be continually absent from their Countrey and that moreouer the thing in it selfe seemed to be of no great importance Neuerthelesse in respect that those who desired it reaped not so much benefit thereby applying it to their owne particular ends as others were animated by their example to the detriment of the common good it was vnreasonable to condiscend vnto as the Queene signified to the King of Spaine The Earle stomaking this as a particular iniury to reuenge himselfe caused to be apprehended as an Heretique one of the seruants of Chamberlaine being there then Ambassadour ordinary for England and cast him into the Inquisition and rather as it were enuying the Queene and the English than the King himselfe added more fuell to his fire notwithstanding all the meanes his Wife vsed to disswade him It was also knowne that he was imployed to Pope Pius the Fourth in the beginning of his Papacy to presse the Excommunication of the Queene yet neuerthelesse the Pope vpon what good hope I know not sent vnto her Vincent Parpalia Abbot of Saint Sauiours with diuers secret aduertisements with a kinde Letter all which I will here at large insert howsoeuer I may seeme to sinne against the Law of Historie TO OVR MOST DEARE DAVGHTER IN CHRIST ELIZABETH Queene of ENGLAND MOST deare Daughter in Christ Salutation and Apostolicall Benediction God the searcher of all hearts knoweth and you may perceiue by the aduice that wee haue giuen you to behaue your selfe towards this our eldest Son Vincent Parpalia whom you know well how much we tender and desire according to the duty of our Office of Pastorship to prouide for your saluation honour together with the establishment of your Raigne thereby exhorting and admonishing your Greatnesse most deare Daughter that in reiecting those lewd Councellors who loue themselues better thâ—n you and aime but at their priuate ends You implore the feare of God to your Councell and remembring the time of your visitation you obserue our fatherly admonitions wholsome Counsels and we will promise you of our part all th' assistance you can desire not onely for the comfort of your soule but for th'establishment and confirmation of your royall dignities according to the authority place and charge committed to vs from God And if as wee most feruently desire and hope you returne into the bosome of the Church We will receiue you with the like affectionate loue as the Father of whom it is spoken in the Gospell receiued his Sonne when he returned to him and our ioy shall be farre greater then the ioy of a Father for his sonne onely But you in drawing after you the whole people of England shall heape with ioyes not onely to your owne particular saluation but to your whole Nation Vs and the Vniuersitie of our Brethren whom you shall shortly God willing heare to be assembled in an Aecumenique and generall Councell for th'extirpation of Heresies and the whole Church together You shall also cause the Heauens to reioyce and by such a memorable act purchase renowned glory to your name and a far more glorious Crown then that wherewith you are already crowned But of that the said Vincent shall more amply certifie you and fully demonstrate our fatherly affection toward you whom we desire your Highnesse to receiue courteously and graciously hearing him attentiuely and giue such credit to what he shall declare vnto you as you would vnto our selfe Giuen at Rome at Saint Peter's Palace the fifth day of May 1560. and of our Papacy the first I haue not found what Propositions were made by Parpalia for I cannot thinke that he was put in writing neither doth it please me to suppose as ordinarily Historians doe All the world knowes Queene ELIZABETH liued like her selfe and ALWAYES THE SAME and that the busines succeeded not to the Popes expectation The common fame also went for truth that the Pope promised to cut off as a thing vniust the sentence giuen against the marriage of Queene ELIZABETHS Mother to confirme out of his owne authority the English Liturgie and to allow in England the vse of the Sacrament vnder both kinds prouided that her Maiesty should ranke her selfe with the Roman Church and to giue some thousands of Crownes to such as laboured in these things The time of confirming the Treatie of marriage at Edenborrough was then come Queene ELIZABETH hauing by solemne Oath confirm'd and sent vnto the King and Queene of France also to ratifie the same on their part as it was meete Throgmorton Ordinary Ambassadour in France and Sir Peter Meuté Knight dispatched after him for the same purpose laboured to bring them to it But they preuailed not notwithstanding they had in expresse words vpon the Faith and royall word of a King by Commission from the Bishop of Valence deputed for passing this Treaty promised to confirm it The reasons they alledged to exempt themselues were That the Scots had past thorow Barwicke with the English not by Royall Licence but of themselues which they ought not to doe that they past like Rebels and that vnder colour of being Subiects they falsly profest themselues loyall and had no way shewed the obedience promised by it Whiles they were disputing hereupon Francis the second king of France not being yet eighteene yeeres of age left the most high and mighty Princesse Mary Queene of Scotland a Widdow at which
of O-Neales would not The grant which his father had made to King HENRY the Eighth and the restitution that HENRY the Eighth had made vnto him were nothing considerable seeing that Cone had nothing in the things granted but during her life could not haue made this grant without the consent of the Peeres and of the people who had elected him to the honor of O-Neale That such Letters also could not be of any valew vnlesse witnessed by the othes of twelue men that hee was the certaine Heire of the House which had not been done in this matter That by diuine and humane right he was vndoubted Heire moreouer the eldest Sonne of his Father begot in lawfull marriage designed O-Neale with a generall consent of the Peeres people by vertue of the Law of Temster which was his Countrey by which a man of ripe yeeres ought to be preferred before a Child and an Vnkle before a Nephew whose great Grand-father out-liued the Father To conclude hee had not vsurped any authority ouer the Lords of Vlster though in times past his Ancestors by a particular right had vsed it But of this I haue spoken else-where Which when the Queene found true he was sent home with honour where he behaued himselfe both faithfully and industriously against the Irish Rebels THE SIXTH YEERE OF HER RAIGNE Anno Domini 1563. IN the moneth of Ianuary the States of the Kingdome assembled at Westminster and established Lawes for the reliefe of the poore for the increase of traffique by Sea and for husbandry to represse South-sayers Negromancers Sodomites Coyners and Periury and translated the Holy Bible and Liturgy into the Welsh Tongue And to maintaine the Maiesty of the Queene and Realme tooke order that the like inconueniences might not happen to them which shamefully fell out by the Popes vsurped authority and to curbe the violence of those which vpheld it declared them criminals laesae Maiestatis whosoeuer after three admonitions should maintaine in print in words or in deedes that any Prince Prelate or stranger should haue any authority in Spirituall things in England or any other Countries of the Queenes Dominions or whosoeuer should refuse twice to take the Oath which should be offered to him for acknowledging of the Queenes soueraigne authority in Spiritual things and ouer Ecclesiasticall persons yet with this charge without spilling of blood neither that it should bee required of any Baron of this Kingdome or of those of more eminent dignity the Queene not doubting their fidelity nor any others Saue those which were which had been or hereafter should be of some Ecclesiasticall Order or those who after hauing bin aduertised of the forme of seruice of the English Church will not obserue it or shall publikely in words or actions depraue it which shall celebrate or heare Masse with like things which is seene in the Ordinance established for it Now to witnes the ioy which they had to see the prosperity of the times the Clergie granted the Queene a Subsidie and the Lay people another together with two Tenths and two fifteenths in acknowledgment of her reformation of Religion establishment of Peace deliuering England and Scotland from stranger Enemies to put downe base money repaire the Fleet make preparation for Warre and Nauigation beyond expectation and of the laudable designe which she had for France to assure England and the yong King of France and to recouer Calais Now this Tenth and Fifteenth that I may make it remarkable in the behalfe of strangers is a Taxe which long agoe hath bin imposed vpon euery City Borrough and village not by the pole but by generalities according to the fifteenth part of the reuenew of the places A Subsidie is that which is imposed vpon euery particular for goods and lands which he possesseth But neither of these two Taxes are euer imposed but by the Parliament In the meane time the Prince of Conde who made haste to get into Normandy to the English succour is taken in the famous Battell of Dreux and with him Nicholas Throgmorton who suffered himselfe voluntarily to bee taken by the Protestants to communicate some secret designes vnto them And beeing presently after set at liberty he presented the money which was promised to Coligni who was marched forward with the Troupes of auxiliary English to the Castle of Cane which he then besieged and easily compelled Cane Bayeux Falexe and the Temple of Saint Lo to render While things were thus carried in France Queen ELIZABETH made knowne to the King of Spaine by Chaloner her Ambassadour that to preuent the Guizes in time who insultingly and with deadly intent rais'd vp against her pernitious things and dangerous Treaties that shee had sent an Armie into France and kept still in her hands Haure de grace which was deliuered vp to her till shee receiued full satisfaction for Calais He answered her That if she demanded onely the restitution of Calais it was all shee desired from the beginning but if she vndertooke this warre for Religions sake he could not likewise abandon that of his Grandfathers and Predecessors As for the Guizes who are they said he for a most puissant Queene of England to feare they beeing of no alliance to the King of France as hereto fore they haue beene Whereunto she made no other reply but conformable to that English Prouerbe which sayes Euery one must looke to their own when their neighbours House is on fire And the King of Spaine vnderstood well inough how shee politikely treated with the Protestant Princes of Germany by the sollicitation of then Henry but now Lord Knowles and Christopher Hill for the Prince of Condé's reliefe and to defend the common cause of Religion whereat being more highly offended he likewise secretly sought meanes against her vnder the colour and pretext of Religion Withall those French Hostages who were sent into England for the security of the payment of â—ne hundred thousand Crownes promised in case Calais were not restored perceiuing all things enclining to a warre laboured all they could to flye away but beeing ready to take Barke they were taken and brought backe againe together with that famous Pylot Iohn Ribant who came secretly into England to conuay them ouer In the meane while peace was accorded in France between the King and the Prince of Condé allured thereunto out of hope that hee should haue the generall managing of all affaires and marry the Queene of Scots the Protestants and the Queenes Maiestie of England being no waies therein comprehended all men with one generall voice protested that if the English withdrew not themselues forthwith out of Haure de grace the promise of surrendting Calais intimated by the Treaty of Cambray should be frustrate and take no effect and by publique sound of Trumpet the French were permitted in this case to assaile the English to take and pillage them while they yeelded it vp The Queenes Maiesty of
the exercise of his owne Religion forbidden him Wherein I am not able to say whether the Spaniards shewed greater hatred to Queene ELIZABETH or to Religion considering that at the same time she vsed all manner of humanity to Guzman the Spanish Ambassadour in England permitting him the exercise of his religion Her Maiestie was wonderfully moued with this Insult esteeming it offered to her own person in that they vsed her Ambassadour so as likewise for the iniurie which was done at the same instant to one Iohn Hawkins This man went to traffique at the Port of S. Iohn de Vlua within the Mexican Gulfe hauing fiue Ships laden with merchandize and some Negro slaues of whom the English then made ordinary sale hauing learn'd it of the Spaniards but I know not with what honour they might so doe The day after his arriuall came in also the King of Spaine's Fleet which because he would not violate the Peace he suffered peaceably to enter into the Port though he might haue hindred it obtayning first a firme promise of security for himselfe and his people vpon certaine prouisoes and conditions The Spaniards thus entered scorning to haue conditions imposed vpon them in their owne Proprieties obserued a fit time and falling vpon the English slew many of them seized on three of their Ships and made pillage of the goods a victory notwithstanding that cost themselues much blood This treacherous Action caused the Souldiers and Sea-men of England to murmur vrging them to call out for warre against the Spaniard and dayly exclaiming how they were breakers of Peace and Accord because it was agreed vpon between the Emperour Charles the fifth and HENRY the Eighth that commerce should bee free betweene their Subiects in all and each of their Kingdomes and Dominions as also in the Ilands not excepting so much as America which then appertayned to Charles About the same time the second day of May the prisoner Queene at Lake-Leuin made an escape out of prison and retired to Hamilton Castle by meanes of George Dowglasse to whose Brother shee was committed in guard where vpon the testimonies of R. Meluin and others and with an vnanimous consent of all the Nobles who flockt thither in great numbers Sentence definitiue was vttered That the Grant or Resignation extorted by meere feare from the prisoner Queene was void from the beginning and the Queene her selfe beeing present tooke a solemne Oath that it was extorted and forced from her By meanes whereof in two dayes such multitudes of men repayred to her out of all parts as she raised an Army of sixe thousand braue Souldiers who notwithstanding when they came to ioyne battell with Murray fighting rather hare-braindly then with wit or discretion they were soone discomfited This timorous Lady beeing daunted with that hard successe betooke her selfe to flight and rode the same day threescore miles when comming by night to Maxwel's house Baron of Heris she had rather expose herselfe to the mercy of the Sea and rely vpon Queen ELIZABETHS Protection than vpon the fidelity of her Subiects But yet before her embarking shee sent vnto her Iohn Beton with a Diamond that Queen ELIZABETH had formerly giuen her for a gage of their mutuall loue and amitie to the end to aduertise her that shee meant to come into England and demand succour of her if her owne Subiects any longer pursued her by course of Warre Queene ELIZABETH promised her all the kindnesse and loue of a Royall Sister but she not staying the returne of the Messenger committed her selfe to a small Vessell against the aduice and counsell of her friends and so the seuenteenth of May with the Barons Heris and Flemming and some fewe others came to Werrington in Cumberland neere to the mouth of the Riuer Derwenton and the same day shee wrote to Queene ELIZABETH a Letter in French the principall heads whereof I thinke good to set downe euen as I extracted them out of the originall Copie it selfe which comprehend a Relation of that which passed against her in Scotland more at large then what before I haue deliuered MY most deare Sister you very wel vnderstand how some of my Subiects whom I haue raised to soueraigne degrees of honor haue conspired to suppresse and imprison both mee and my Husband as also that when by force of Armes I had expelled them out of my Kingdome I receiued them againe into grace at your entreatie notwithstanding all this they violently entred into my Chamber and though I was great with Child cruelly slew mine owne seruant in my presence and shut vp my selfe vnder guard and close keeping When I pardoned them of this crime then presently they perpetrate another the which though it were plotted by them and had obliged themselues to the execution thereof by seal'd writings subscribed with their owne hands yet they imputed it to mee and were ready with armed power to seize vpon me But beeing confident in mine owne innocence for the sparing of blood I was content to yeeld my selfe vnto them Foorthwith they committed mee to prison beeing depriued of all my seruants except two wayting-Maides a Cooke and a Phisician enforcing me by menacings and terrors of death to resigne ouer the gouernment of the Kingdome refusing to heare either me or my Attourneys in a Conuention of the Estates summon'd by their owne authority onely stript off all my goods and denyed the meanes to speake with any After this by Gods direction I vsed a course to escape this imprisonment and beeing assisted with the whole Flowre of the Nobilitie who cheerefully made recourse vnto me out of all parts I put mine enemies in minde of their duety and of the fidelity they had sworne vnto me offered them pardon tooke order that each partie might bee heard in the Conuention of the Estates to the end the Common-wealth might no longer bee rackt and tormented with intestine mischiefes and for this effect I sent towards them two Messengers But they imprisoned both of them proclaimed them Traytors that assisted me and ordayned that they should presently forsake me I entreated them vnder publike warrant and safety to negotiate with the Baron of Boyd for the according of these differences but in this motion they also refused me Neuerthelesse I conceiued some hope that they might bee brought vnder obedience by your procurements but when I saw that I must either dye or vndergoe another imprisonment I thought to goe to Dunbritton and was onward in my way They opposed and way-laid me beat and ouerthrew my people my selfe beeing constrained to flie Then I retired to the Baron of Heris and with him repayred into your Kingdome relying on your Princely and Royall affection that you will ayde me in my need and by your example inuite others thereunto Wherefore I request you in all kinde affection that beeing so deepely plunged in many distresses as at this instant I am you will cause mee to be conducted out of
to substitute vnderstanding men to answere those complaints which the Queene of Scots would exhibit against him and his Confederates and to yeeld some iust cause and reason of his deposing her If not that herselfe would presently set her at liberty and employ all her forces for her re-establishment And so likewise she admonished him not to sell her precious habits and ornaments though the States of the Kingdome had permitted him Earle Murray obeyed there being no other way to call in question his administration and gouernement but those that came out of England and the great Men of the Kingdome refusing any manner of deputation Wherefore he came himselfe in person to the City of Yorke a place appointed for this proceeding with seuen of his most inward friends being Deputies for the Infant-King that is to say the Earle of Morton the Bishop of Orcades the Gouernour of Dunfermlin the Baron of Lindsay 10. Macgill and Henry Barneuay accompanied with the Earle of Lidington whom Murray drew thither with faire promises in that he durst not leaue him behinde in the Kingdome and George Buchanan who was wholly at his deuotion and becke And the very same day came thither the Duke of Norfolke and the Earle of Sussex who not long before was constituted President of the North and Sir Ralph Sadler a Knight and one of the Priuy-Councell who were nominated to heare and examine the cause why the Queene of Scots was deposed The Bishop of Rosse the Barons of Leuingstone and of Boyd the Gouernour of Kenivinin Iohn Gordon and Iohn Corburne appeared there for the Queene of Scots who was wonderfully wroth that the Queene of England would neither see nor heare her hauing commanded that her owne Subiects should stand vp against her before the Commissaries in that being an absolute Princesse she stood not bound except she listed to make answer to her Subiects accusations and obiections Being assembled on the seuenth of October and read the Commissions both of the one side and the other Lidington who was there present turning towards the Scots admonished them with a marueilous free and plaine discourse That seeing it seemed the Queene of England pretended no other thing by the authority shee had conferred vpon the Commissaries but to staine the honour and impaire the reputation of the Queene the Kings Mother and to interpose herein her owne censure as an honourable Arbitratrix but that they should weigh and well consider what a perill they exposed themselues vnto and how they were like to purchase not onely the hatred of the Scots who continued deuoted and affected to the Queene but further the ill-will of other Christian Princes and of such affinitie as shee had in France in criminally accusing and hazarding her reputation in such a publique and iuridicall Tryall before the English sworne enemies to the Scottish name and what account could they giue to the King of such a presumptuous and insolent accusation which could not but redound to the preiudice of Scotland when being of riper yeeres hee shall repute both himselfe his Mother and countrey hereby dishonoured And therefore hee thought it very fitting to let fall this odious accusation of so great a Princesse except the Queene of England had contracted with them a mutuall League offensiue and defensiue against those that should in case molest or trouble them And thus much said hee out of his loyaltie and dutie a Scottish Secretarie hath aduertised you of Hereupon looking vpon one another they remained not vttering one word The Queene of Scots Deputies who had the honour to speake first before the taking of their Oath protested That though the Queene of Scots thought good to haue the cause betweene her Maiesty and her disloyall Subiects handled before the English yet neuerthelesse they conceiued not themselues herein to be vnder the command of any but their owne Princesse seeing Shee was free and absolute and ought neither faith nor homage to any other The English in like manner protested How they accepted not of this protestation to the preiudice of any right or prerogatiue which the Kings of England haue heretofore challenged as Soueraigne Lords of the Kingdome of Scotland The next day the Queene of Scots Deputies put in their Declaration in writing HOw the Earles of Morton Mar and Glencarne the Barons of Hume Lindsay Reuthen and Sempil and others had raysed an Armie in the Kings name against the Queene her selfe taken her vsed her disgracefully and clapt her vp in prison at Lake-Leuin They broke open the Mint carried away all sorts of Coyne Gold and Siluer Money or no Money crowned the King her Sonne who was yet but an Infant and the Earle of Murray vnder the title of Vice-Roy or Regent vsurped his power and authority and seyzed on all the wealth munition and reuenewes of the Kingdome Afterwards they alledged that the Queene being escaped out of Prison after shee had beene there restrayned for the space of tenne dayes denounced publiquely vpon her oath That whatsoeuer shee had yeelded vnto during her imprisonment was extorted from her against her will by force threats and terrour of death Notwithstanding to prouide for common tranquillitie shee had giuen authoritie to the Earles of Argathel Eglenton Cassil and Rothsay to accord all differences with her Aduersaries who for all this forbare not with a strong and armed hand to seyze on her person as shee retyred by priuy wayes towards Dunbritton they slew the most of her loyall Subiects and for those remayning some they carried away prisoners others they banished and all this for nothing but onely in that they had faithfully serued their Princesse And that for these inhumane outrages shee was constrained to repaire into England to implore of Queene ELIZABETH that ayd and succour which shee had oftentimes promised her that so shee might be restored to her Countrie and former dignitie A few dayes after Earle Murray Vice-Roy and the Deputies for the Infant-King for so they were nominated put in their Answer which was THat Lord Darley the Kings Father beeing slaine Earle Bothwell who was reputed the author of this Murder had so bewitched the Queenes heart as hee carried her away by force remoued her to Dunbar and after a separation from his owne Wife married her That the Nobles of the Kingdome being moued herewith they thought they could not discharge a better office than to punish Bothwell the author of this assassinate for all ouer the Country it was imputed to a generall conspiracy among the principall of the Nobilitie to restore the Queene to her former libertie to dissolue this vniust marriage and to prouide for the young Kings safetie and the quiet and tranquillitie of the Kingdome When the matter was so exasperated as they were readie to come to hand-blowes the Queene caused Bothwell to retire out of the Realme against the Nobilitie shee thundred out such threats and threatned such reuenge as they were enforced to commit her
lay in Court after he had obtained the fauour to kisse the Queenes hands hee promised to employ himselfe with his whole power against them wherevpon he was sent home to his own house But when he was in the way as was discouered afterwards hee imparted vnto them his dessignes by messengers which renew'd their spirit and courage making them many promises in the behalfe of diuers Ambassadours to strange Princes and amongst others perswading them that with such men as he would raise in the Queenes name he would kill the Lord Scroope Gouernour of the West Borders and the Bishop of Carlile But not being able to effect it he followed the Earles who were fled with Letters recōmendatorie to the Scots surprized Gristock Castle and other houses belonging to the Dacres fortifyed the Castle of Naworth as if he had some right and interest in it and vnder pretext of defending his owne goods and opposing the Rebels hee got together three thousand theeues of the borders and others who stood best affected to the Dacres much esteemed and respected in those quarters The Lord of Hunsdon with the most expert Souldiers of the Garrison of Barwicke went into the Field against them who trusting to no fortifications went still forward and with an Armie rang'd in Triangular forme and flanker'd with Horse they attended them neere to a little Riuer called Gelt where questionlesse they had a sound fight both for the one part and the other and Leonard though he was lame came short of nothing required in a valiant and resolute Captaine But when the greatest part of his men were slaine he left the Victory to my Lord of Hunsdon not greatly pleasing to him and so retired into the neerest places of Scotland from whence not long after he crost ouer into Flanders where hee died poore at Louaine so that the curses imposed vpon him by his dying Father prooued true The Lord of Hunsdon commended the keeping of those Castles taken from the Rebells to the Duke of Norfolks men and the Queenes Maiestie by a publike Proclamation granted a generall pardon to all the multitude which he had excited to Rebellion Though this Rebellion raisd many tumults and disturbances within her Kingdome yet would not her Maiestie neglect the Protestants in France their State beeing at that time wretched and deplorable For the Princes of the same Religion hauing much importuned her to defend the common cause she furnisht the Queen of Nauarre with money vpon some Iewels and other ornaments and permitted Hen. Champernoune Brother by the Fathers side to Gawyn who married the Earle of Mountgomeries Daughter to conduct into France a Company of an hundred Noble voluntary Gentlemen vnder one Guydon who had written on it this Motto La vertu me donne fin Among whom were Phil. Butshed Fr. Barkley and Gualter Raleigh who was but yong and tooke his first say and taste of the wars The K. of France conceiu'd that either to draw vp or at least to diuert to some other employments the great wealth of England which was abundantly disburs'd in ayde and succour of the Protestants he resolued to kindle a new warre against England by assisting the Scots who kept the Castle of Dunbriton for the Queene of Scotland In which Seruice Monsieur de Martigues was employed a Souldier who then liued in the very prime of his Reputation but he being slaine with an Harquebuzada at the siege of S. Iean d' Angeli this Proiect vanisht tooke no effect Ireland in those times was no more free from Rebellion For Ed. and Phil. Butler brothers to the Earle of Ormond who had iniuriously entreated their neighbours in Munster refused to obey the Lawes molested true Subiects with Pillories and wastel and colleagued themselues with Ioh. Fitz-Morris of the house of Desmond Macartimore Fitz-Edmond Steward of Imoquell and others who had negotiated with the Pope and the King of Spaine to re-establish the Romane Religion in Ireland and to suppresse Queene ELIZABETH For which cause they were denounced Rebels against the State and Sir Pe. Carne continually galled them with light Skirmishes wherein Fortune was variable Neuerthelesse hauing made an head of many Galloglasses they beleaguerd Kilkennie and commanded the Inhabitants to deliuer into their hands the wife of Warham of Saint-Leiger but being repelled by the Garrison who issued out vpon them they miserably forraged and wasted the whole Countrey round about The more to excite and spread the flame of this sedition Iohn Mendoza came secretly in the behalfe of the Spaniard and out of England to extinguish it the Earle of Ormond who perswaded his Brothers to submit themselues who were neuerthelesse imprisoned But the Earle obtained of the Queen through his continuall and dayly intercession that their Triall and Iudgement might be desired and not be brought to the rigour of the Law though their crimes and offences had deserued it the which he tooke grieuously not beeing able to endure that at their occasion such infamie should be vpon their most Noble and illustrious house so neere allyed to Queene ELIZABETH who reioyced and glorified so often that the Nobility of that House had euer beene pure and their blood vntainted But the Lord Deputie pursuing liuely the remainder of that Rebellion dissipated it in a very short space of time Some Troubles were also moued and stirred vp in Vlster by Turlogh-Leinich who through inconstancie embraced sometimes warre and sometimes peace according to the headstrong desire rash pleasure of his Followers Officers and Seruants But he was kept in awe within the bounds of duety not so much by the English Garrisons as by the Hebrideans who of those poore and meagre Islands seized vpon his earthly possessions Against whose incursions there was sent out of England a great deale of money to fortifie and strengthen the Sea-Coast but in vaine out of a misfortune common as well to England as Ireland where for the most part men intrude themselues and are admitted into those publike places who basely respecting their owne priuate gaine doe neglect the publike weale and generall commodity of the Kingdome The end of the First Book of the Annals and History of that mighty Empresse Queene ELIZABETH of most happy and blessed memory THE HISTORIE OF THE MOST HIGH MIGHTY AND Euer-glorious Empresse ELIZABETH Inuincible Queene of England Ireland c. True Defendresse of the Faith of immortall Renowne and neuer-dying Fame and Memory OR ANNALLES OF ALL SVCH REMARKable things as happned during her blest Raigne ouer her Kingdomes of England and Ireland as also such Acts as past betwixt her MAIESTY and Scotland France Spaine Italy Germany and the Netherlands The second Booke Faithfully translated out of the French and publisht in English with the KINGS leaue and Authority granted by his most Excellent Maiestie to ABRAHAM DARCIE To my Noble and wel-deseruing Friend Mr. ABRAHAM DARSSIE Admire I would but dare not lest that I Be thought to flatter speaking VERITY
Reason bids attribute to worth its due And he detracts that spares to speake what 's true How shall I shunne if shunne the Truth to shame A Parasites or a Detractors name Much care I not yet this much dare I say DARSSIE thou hast done well deseru'st thy pay A Guerdon due to thy laborious Pen Raising ELIZA's Royall Fame agen Such as thy worke such honour as is due Shall to thy well-deseruing Pen accrue In making vulgar now this matchlesse Story England shall euer eternize thy glory THOMAS GASNALL To the worthy Patternes of true Nobilitie and Noble Fauourers of LEARNING Theophilus Lord Howard of Walden Heire apparent to the Earledome of Suffolke The Lady Elizabeth Vicountesse of Walingford his noble and vertuous Sister Oliuer Lord St. Iohn Baron of BLETSO Lady Dorothy St. IOHN Countesse of BATH his Right honourable sister George Lord Berkeley Baron of Berkeley-Castell And the most learned Lady Elizabeth Berkley his Most Noble Mother The Lord Mount-ioy Blunt Baron of Mount-ioy SIR Fulke Greuill Baron of Beauchams-Court and Lord Brooke ALthough a History Right Noble Illustrious bee most dangerous and no lesse troublesome to write yet there is nothing more commodious beneficial and salutiferous to men sith it is the Testimony of Time the light of Truth and the preseruer of Life suffering scarce no mens Names to dye nor their renownes to be buried in obliuion for by the recordation of the deedes which they haue inacted in Times past they are committed to future Times eternized to the perpetuall honour of immortall fame and neuer-dying glory Nay more they seeme as Alexander Scipio Pompey Iulius Caesar Charles the Great and diuers other whose memory is fresh and euer-liuing nothing else but the eternall monuments of Annalls deliuered Hercules and freed other worthy men who liued well and singularly profitable to their Countrey from fading and perishing though dead and forgotten It was this therefore which caused Princes and other great men to desire nothing more then that their worthy deedes and noble acts iudiciously performed in time of Peace as well as generously in Warre should be carefully written and so propagated to all posterities by some learned Historiographer as appeareth by Alexander the Great who when a messenger came to him exulting with ioy and running with a chearefull countenance fully to relate the prosperous successe of his fortunate affaires made him this answere What greater and better newes can you participate and vnfold vnto mee vnlesse by certifying mee that Homer is liuing Intimating thereby that all the glory of his Heroicke actions were like to wither and be forgotten except some such a one as Homer was should reuiue to sing worthily his Encomiums sound his Praises and Victories with the shrill sounding Trumpet of Fame Neuerthelesse confessing my selfe vnable though much desirous to doe you that seruice I haue vndertooke the translation of the Heroick Annals of that euer blessed Queene Elizabeth of most happy memory by which I aime at the preseruation of her glory and to the perpetuall honor of your names vnder whose honorable banner I haue sought to shelter these my poore labours To shew aswel the dutiful seruice of a poore Stranger to these Kingdomes in generall as his humble and sincere affection to all your Honours in particular The worthines of the Subiect makes me not doubt of your noble acceptance inuites mee to bring my Oblation to the Temple of your Vertues where after vnfeigned Prayers for your Honours perpetuall happinesse as well spirituall as temporall I with the lowest step of dutie take my leaue vowing euer to remaine Your Honours humblest deuoted obseruant ABRAHAM DARCIE THE HISTORIE OF THE MOST High Mighty and Inuincible Princesse Queene ELIZABETH of most happy and neuer-dying memory OR ANNALLES Of all the most remarkable things that happened during her blessed Raigne ouer the Kingdomes of England and Jreland c. The 13. yeere of her Raigne Anno 1570. REbellion being then extinct in England the Earle of Murray Vice-roy of Scotland with much care and policie perswaded and industriously laboured that the Queene of Scots might bee resigned and deliuered into his hands proffering to that effect hostages and pledges withall the better to incite a condiscending to this his demand hee promised that the Earles of Northumberland and Westmerland should be immediately deliuered backe In the meane time he wrought with such diligence that the Bishop of Rosse as an Author Fauourer and Assister of the Rebels was committed into the safe guard and custody of the Bishop of London And further to oblige Queene ELIZABETH by some speciall seruice he powerfully entred with an Armie vpon the frontier Prouinces of England there to seeke out the English Rebells but apprehending some fewe of small note in the conclusion finds out the Earle of Northumberland whom he found hidden and disguised among a company of Out-lawes and Fugitiues by the meanes of his Oast that discouered him The Vice-Roy much reioycing in his Noble Prize sent him as Prisoner to Lake-Leuin safely there to be kept in guard whilest he persisting in his reuenge with much rigour afflicted the inhabitants of those Frontier parts But vnfortunately retyring himselfe to a Towne called Limnuch which vulgarly passeth by the name of Lithquo there resoluing with himselfe after so many wearisome trauails and excessiue iournies to giue a quiet repose to his ouer-charged spirits the neuer-changing doome of heauen had there set downe the period of his dayes for riding through the Streetes little suspecting the disaster that attended him he was suddenly slaine by the stroke of a bullet vnder his nauell sent from the fatall hand of the Lord Hamilton who by present flight saued himselfe in France where he remained certaine yeeres oftentimes protesting that the strength of his patience no longer able to hold out against the many insolent iniuries done him by the Earle he made his owne hands the author of his owne reuenge For the Vice-Roy knowing him to be one of the Queenes partisans banished him and afterwards imprisoned him and by many threats and menaces of seuere punishment constrained him to release to one of his Tenants a little Countrie Farme which befell to him by reason of his wife that became lunaticke These inforst him to such rage that hauing by some strange meanes broke his prison hee committed this murder After this exploit liuing in France he was there reputed to be a very fit and ready instrument for such actions yet could he neuer be perswaded or procured to doe the like to the Admirall Coligni often answering that he had himselfe taken vengeance of his owne iust griefes and iniuries of which he repented himselfe yet neither reward nor intreaties should any way preuaile so much with him as to be the instrument of anothers reuenge The rumor of this murder being straight diuulged and spred ouer Great-Britaine there arose various opinions and
of Spaine the Iudges of England had no power ouer him But hee was condemned according to the forme of Nihil dicit because no man can free himselfe from the Lawes of the Countrey where he is borne nor renounce his naturall Countrey nor his Prince and suffered as a Traytor There was then for certaine yeeres controuersie betweene the Portugals and the English during the commerce betweene them and the Moores for pure Gold from the yeere 1552. in that part of Africa called Guienne and others who had first discouered those Coasts hindered as much as they could by force of armes so as they fought sometimes by Sea and detained Ships on both sides But Sebastian King of Portugall being newly come to age to make a peace sent Francis Gerard into England who made a Couenant with the Queene almost in these very words THat a perfect amitie may be made and free commerce had on both sides the one shall not attempt any thing to the preiudice of the other nor lend succour to their enemies Rebels or Traytors the Merchandize Moneyes and Ships which are vnder arrest to be restored And Queene ELIZABETH to gratifie the King of Portugal prohibiteth the English to vse any Nauigation in the Seas or to the Lands which the Portugals had conquered And that if they should doe otherwise it should be vpon their owne perill if the Portugals should depriue them both of goods and liues The Kingdomes of Portugal and Argarbe also the Iles of Azores and Madera excepted in which free Nauigation was permitted This yere W. Parre Marquis of Northampton being very old peaceably departed this life a man much conuersant and well read in the delectable studies of Musicke and intertainement of Louers and other courtly iucundities who was first raised to the dignitie of Baron Parre of Kendal afterwards he married Anne Bourchier sole daughter heire to the Earle of Essex at the same time when the King married his sister and afterwards bâ— EDVVARD made Marquis of Northampton vnder the reigne of MARIE hee was condemned of High-Treason for taking armes on the behalfe of Iane Grey who was brought in by subornation to be Queene but was shortly after pardoned and restored to his inheritance as he was afterwards to his honours by Queene ELIZABETH He had no Children but left to be his heire Henrie Herbert Earle of Pembroke his other Sisters Sonne Iohn Iewell a man of an excellent spirit and exquisit learning in Theologie and of great pietie died the same yeere being hardly fiftie yeeres of age descended of good Parents in Deuonshire and commendably brought vp in Corpus Christi Colledge in the Vniuersitie of Oxford who in Queene MARIES reigne was banished into Germanie and afterwards by Queene ELIZABETH beeing made Bishop of Salisburie put forth in the yeere 1562. an Apologie for the English Church and most learnedly defended the Protestants Religion against Harding who was falne from it in two Volumes in our owne Tongue which are now translated into the Latine Ireland at that time was quiet enough for Iohn Perâ—t President of Mounster had so ransacked Iohn Fitz-Morris who had pillaged Kilmalocke that hee was constrained to hide himselfe in Caues and in the end as wee shall relate hereafter brought to begge pardon with humble submission Sidney Deputie of Ireland returning into England Fitz-William who had married his Sister succeeded in his place THE FIFTEENTH YEERE OF Her Reigne Anno Dom. 1572. THe beginning of a new yeere brought forth a new Tragicall spectacle to the Inhabitants of London for in the Palace of Westminster a Scaffold was erected from the one end to the other with a Tribunall vpon it and seates on either side the like had not bin seene for eighteene yeeres before Thither vpon the sixteenth day of Ianuary was Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolke conducted betweene Owen Hopton Lieutenant of the Tower of London and Peter Carew Knight before whom was borne the fatall Axe with the edge forward vpon the Tribunall was seated George Talbot Earle of Shrewsbury constituted Lord high Steward of England for that day vpon either side of him were placed the Nobles appointed Commissioners which we call Peeres to wit Reynold Gray Earle of Kent Tho. Ratcliffe Earle of Sussex Henry Hastings Earle of Huntington Francis Russell Earle of Bedford Henry Herbert Earle of Pembroke Edw. Seimor Earle of Hartford Ambrose Dudley Earle of Warwicke Robert Dudley Earle of Leicester Walt. Deuâ—reux Vicount of Hereford Edward Lord Clinton Admirall William Lord Howard of Effingham Chamberlaine William Cecill Lord Burghley Secretarie Arthur Lord Gray of Wilton Iea. Blount Lord Mountioy Will. Lord Sands Tho. Lord Wentworth William Lord Bourrowes Lewes Lord Mordant Iohn Pawlet Lord S. Iohn of Basing Robert Lord Rich Roger Lord North Edm. Bruges Lord Chandos Oliuer Lord S. Iohn of Bletso Tho. Sackuill Lord Buckhurst and Will. West Lord De-la-Ware Silence being commanded the Commission was read importing the power giuen to the Iudge Then Carter chiefe King of Heralds deliuered into his hands a white wand which he presently after deliuered to the Groome Porter who standing by did hold it erected the whole time of the Court. Silence againe commanded the Lieutenant of the Tower was bidden to bring forth his charge and present the Duke before the Seat of Iustice who foorth-with appeared on either side were the Lieutenants of the Tower and Peter Carew next of all he that carried the Axe the edge thereof turned from the Duke Silence the third time proclaimed the Clerke appointed for the Acts of Iudgement thus spake to the Duke Thomas Duke of Norfolke late of Kenninghale in the County of Norfolke hold vp thy hand When he had holden vp his hand the said Clerke read aloud the Crimes of which he was accused that is to say That in the eleuenth yeere of Queene ELIZABETH and afterwards the Duke hath treacherously held counsell to depose the Queene from her Kingdome to take away her life and to inuade the Realme by raysing of warre and bringing in troupes of Strangers That notwithstanding he had certaine knowledge that Mary late Queene of Scots had arrogated to herselfe the Crowne of England with the Title and Armes thereof yet hath he treated vnknowne to the Queene of a marriage betwixt them and contrary to the promise vnder his hand and Seale hath lent vnto her certaine large summes of money That hee had assisted and succoured the Earles of Northumberland Westmerland Marquenfield and others notwithstanding that hee had good notice that they had raised Rebellion against the Queene and were chased into Scotland That in the thirteenth yeere of the Queenes Reigne by Letters he demanded succours of the Pope Pius Quintus sworne Enemy to the Queene of the Spaniard and Duke D' Alua to set the Queene of Scots at liberty and re-establish the Romane religion in England Finally that hee had relieued and aided Heris a Scottish-man and others enemies
to consider amongst your selues whether hee is to be holden guilty or no and to giue vp your verdicts according to conscience and honour They likewise withdrawing themselues at his command consulted together after a while they returned to their places Then the Lord High Steward beginning at the lowest said Lord De la Ware Is Thomas Duke of Norfolke guiltie of the crimes of Laesae Maiestatis for which he is heere arraigned at the Iudgement-Seate De-la-Ware rising vp and laying his hand on his brest hee answered Guilty the like did euery one in order being demanded Then was the Duke againe brought before the Tribunall to whom the Lord High-Steward in this manner spake THomas Duke of Norfolke you are heere arraigned for diuers crimes of Laesae Maiestatis and haue submitted your selfe to God and these Peeres by euery one of whom you are pronounced guiltie Is there now any cause why Iudgement should not be pronounced The Duke answered The will of GOD be done that will be iudge betweene mee and my false accusers Then euery man being silent the edge of the Axe was turned towards the Duke and Barham in the Queenes name required the Lord High-Steward to pronounce his Iudgement which hee with teares in his eyes according to the forme pronounced in these words FOrasmuch as you Thomas Duke of Norfolke beeing accused of the crimes of Laesae Maiestatis haue pleaded Not guiltie and submitted your selfe to the Iudgement of these Peeres who declared you guiltie The whole Assembly adiudged you to be committed back to the Tower from thence to be drawne vpon a Sledde thorow the Citie to the place of execution there to be hanged and cut downe halfe dead then to haue your Bowels taken out your Head cut off and your Body quartered into foure parts whose Head shall be at her Maiesties disposing and at the Queenes pleasure But GOD bee mercifull vnto your Soule The Duke hauing heard this Sentence with a minde full of courage he said THis Sentence is pronounced against mee as a Traytor my confidence is in GOD and the Queene hoping that if I bee depriued of your company I shall reioyce with them in Heauen and so will prepare my selfe for my death I desire no other thing but that the Queene would shew her selfe propitious to my Children and Seruants and bee carefull for the payment of my debts These were the particulars that passed in these affaires which I haue here declared because it is expedient for our posterity that in great matters the lesse occurrences should be remembred A few dayes after Barney and Marter were put to death for hauing conspired against the death of certaine of her Maiesties Councell and plotted the freedome and libertie of the Duke One Herle was priuy thereunto and of the same company but hee soone reuealed the same and as hee was brought face to face before Barney Truely said Barney thou hast preuented mee but of an houre for if thou hadst not so soone discouered it I purposed to haue done it and so now should I be in thy place to accuse thee and thou in mine to be hanged This conspiration and other plots which were practised to set the prisoners at liberty was the cause that a Parliament was forthwith summoned At which time the Queene created Walter d' Eureux Earle of Essex for that by his great Grand-mother hee was descended from the Bourchiers sometimes Earles of Essex And Edward Lord Clinton who had large possessions in Lincolneshire Earle of Lincolne Her Maiestie likewise made Iohn Pawlet of Basing Sonne to the Lord Marquis of Winchester Henrie Compton Henrie Cheyney and Henrie Norrice Peeres of England summoned them into the Vpper-House there to haue their voyces and after to beare the Title of Barons Amongst other Acts it was made Felony to intercept ruinate or burne any of her Maiesties Ships Fortresses or Harbours Item It was enacted that whosoeuer should attempt to set at liberty any person or persons committed by her Maiesties expresse command or which had trespassed against her Maiestie or was held suspected to haue offended if the partie were not indicted he was to be punished with onely losse of goods in stead of life and imprisonment during her Maiesties pleasure if indicted with death if condemned to be held guilty of treason But as necessitie brought in Decrees for the time so the States thought good they should be temporary or during the Queenes life But as new practices were daily discouered so they serued to hasten on the Dukes punishment which notwithstanding was yet deferred some fiue moneths more or lesse nor before could either the Lower-House of Parliament the Lords of the Priuy-Councell or the importunacy of Preachers aggrauating how great and eminent danger there was ouercome her Maiesties mercifull clemency The fourth day of Iune by eight a clocke in the forenoone the Duke was brought to a Scaffold built vpon the Tower-Hill whereupon being mounted and Alexander Nowell Deane of Saint Pauls who was appointed his Comforter had requested the confused People to be silent he said among many other words that I heard these IT is not strange to see some suffer death in this place although that since her Royall Maiestie began to reigne I am the first and I pray God I may be the last with that the People cried all aloud Amen Then continuing his Speech he said I know well said hee the Peeres of the Realme haue iustly iudged mee worthy to dye nor haue I purpose to excuse my selfe I haue treated I freely confesse in matters of great importance with the Queene of Scots without the priuity of my Soueraigne which I ought not to haue done and for that I was first committed and hauing had my libertie vpon my humble submission I past my faithfull promise that I would neuer more conferre with her yet I did I confesse which torments my Conscience but I neither promised nor swore as they say at the Lords Table I went and but once to Ridolfe but with no intent of conspiracie against her Maiestie For it is well knowne that I had great dealings with him vpon my accounts and reckonings I found he enuied the present peace of the Land and was very subtill in plotting proiects of mischiefe Twice there came Letters to my hands from the Bishop of Rome to which I neuer gaue consent nor to the Rebellion in the North. I renounced Papistrie after I tasted the sweete of Religion and reiecting the Popes doctrine I embraced the true Religion of Iesus Christ beleeuing wholy and soly in his precious bloud my Sauiour and Redeemer yet I cannot deny but many of my Family and familiars were addicted to the Romish Religion wherein if I haue offended GOD the Church and Protestants I beseech him and them to forgiue mee Then after they had sung a Psalme or two he said with a lowd voyce Into thy hands O Lord I commend my spirit Then imbracing Henry
had been intercepted at Blacknesh and should haue sent more had not the long Siege of Rochell hindred it Not being able then to draw them to any conditions of Peace neither by money which the Vice-Roy promised them nor by the perswasions of Queen ELIZABETH but they defended the Castle against the Vice-Roy molested the Towne of Edenborrough being the Seate of Iustice with Cannon-shot by issuing violently out and assaulting them euery day and would call for the ayde of France Queene ELIZABETH who by no meanes could endure the French to be in Scotland at length granted the requests of the Vice-Roy which were for Troupes Cannon and other warlike Munitions for the besieging and battering of the Castle vpon these conditions THe Vice-Roy shall not make any composition with the besieged without the aduice of the Generall of the English nor the English Generall without his and of those of the Kings Councell If the Castle fall into the hands of the English it shall bee within 6. dayes after deliuered to the King with all the Munitions of Warre Vtensils Memorials Euidences and Records belonging to the King or Kingdome the rest left to the besiegers The English shall not fortifie any place in Scotland but with the consent of the Vice-Roy and the Peeres The Vice-Roy shall lend the English such assistance and safe conduct as hee could possibly The Castle being taken the besieged shall be kept to haue iustice executed vpon them according to the Lawes the Queene of England beeing therevpon consulted with before hand If any English be kild their wiues and Children shall haue two yeeres pay If wounded they shall haue pay till they bee cured If any English Cannons be lost and the Powder and Shot bee wasted they shall haue Munition Royall in their stead which shall bee found in the Castle or else the Rebels goods Ten Hostages shall be sent into England for assurance of the Troupes and Ordnance which are to bee brought backe except such as are lost by the hazzard of Warre Vpon these Conditions William Drury Gouernour of Barwicke went into Scotland with some Peeces for battery and fifteene hundred Souldiers among which were G. Carey Henry Carey T. Cecill Hen. Lea W. Knollis Sutton Cotton Kelway and other Gentlemen Voluntaries And beeing ioyned with the auxiliary forces of Scotland besieged the Castle after hauing twice commanded them in the Kings name that they should render it vp but in vaine First they raised vp fiue Mounts from whence for the space of foure daies together they furiously beat against the Tower but especially vpon Dauids Tower which fell within a few dayes after After hauing giuen the assault they tooke the Bastion or Spurre till those which at the same made against them out of the Castle were repulsed with losse of men The morrow after the besieged hauing giuen the signe asked to speake to Drury and after they had receiued for hostages into the Castle Henry Lea and Fleck a Scottish-man they let downe by cords Kircald himselfe and Meluin who demanded life and goods that it might be permitted that Hume and Lidington might depart for England because of some particular enmities and Kircald to remaine in Scotland except he might depart with good license That not being granted them but onely the Souldiers permitted to goe out with their simple baggage and without Armes wanting men disagreeing amongst themselues wounded toyled and wearied with watching and labouring without hope of succour hauing no water because one of the wells which were within the Castle had beene filled vp with the ruines of a dry wall and the other was exposed to the shot of the Cannon within three daies after they yeelded which was the 33. day after the beginning of the Siege to the discretion of the Queene of England and Drury who after he had receiued Letters out of England deliuered vp the Castle to the Vice-Roy for the vse of the King with all that had yeelded themselues to him of which Kircald Iames his brother Mosman and Cock gold-smiths who had coined false money in the Castle were hanged although to buy Kircalds life an hundred of the House of the Kircalds had offered to be bound to doe perpetuall homage to the Vice-Roy and pay him three thousand markes of annuall rent and the first day twenty thousand pounds Scottish money and to giue sureties that for the time to come they should remaine faithfull and obedient to the King Hume and others being dispersed into diuers Castles obtained pardon of Queene ELIZABETH who got great praise by it for her clemency Lidington hauing beene sent to Lieth dyed of sicknesse not without suspition of beeing poysoned He was a person of great experience and of a neate spirit if he had bin lesse changeable as Buchanan who hated him painted him out in his life time by a certaine Writing which he intituled The Cameleon by which he represented him to be more changeable then the Cameleon and taxed him very sharpely to bee an enemy of diuers colours to the Kings Grandmother the Kings mother to the Earle of Murray to the King himselfe and to the Countrie Since that time Scotland hath beene free from Ciuill-Warre and aswell the Captaines of that side as the common-Souldiers carrying their courages to the wars of Sueden France and Flanders brought backe this great commendation of Vertuous and valorous Warriours To assure England from inbred enterprises in regard of the Queene of Scots Iohn Lesley Bishop of Rosse a faithfull seruant to her but not without the vndoing of many and of bringing no few in danger is commanded out of England and went into France but not without feare of the Earle of Southampton whose life he had called in question and likewise of Henrie Howard brother to the Duke of Norfolke whose anger to appease he writ an Apologie for himselfe Hee was scarce departed thence vntill Henrie Cockin his Secretary was apprehended and Morgan who was exceeding desirous to serue the Queene of Scots in her most secret affaires was detected and fled Atslow an Arch-papist Good a Doctor of Phisicke and Francis Berty who priuately intelligenced her by Letters were imprisoned for certaine moneths and for the same cause Henrie Goodyere and Richard Lowder were had in suspition In the meane time Rosse failed not to imploy all such dutifull endeuours for the Queene of Scots as a faithfull Subiect was obliged to doe towards the Pope the Emperour the King of France the Papists Princes of Germany all which gaue him hope but did nothing That this should fall out so ill hee complained exceedingly especially that the Duke of Alua in whom his greatest trust was planted was to leaue Flanders hauing obtained leaue vnder colour to recouer his health For without doubt he aduanced his victories so fast that he had reduced almost all Holland into his power Spaine called him away by the perswasion of Cardinall Granuellan and Roderico Gomezio de
Silua that his power grew too strong and his name aboue his Prince and that by his violent and sharpe command he would cause the Flemmings to reuolt yea to grow to desperation although some thought who were bloody-minded that none was so fit by Warre to bring Holland into subiection Which kinde of men thought their King too mercifull if he intended by meekenesse to bring the Prince of Orange and his confederates who had resolued mindes to retaine their freedome beeing confirmed thereto by their riches and strength of situation Lodowicke Zuniga of Requesen was appointed to take his charge The great Commander of Castile a milder natured man who by all offices of loue desired to oblige Queene ELIZABETH would by no meanes thrust himselfe into the affaires either of England or Scotland I know not whether I should or no call to minde the opinion of Burchet who thought it lawfull to kill those that were aduersaries to the Euangelicall truth who was so transported therewith that hee wounded with a poiniard Hawkins that famous Sea-man thinking him to be Hatton who was at that time one of the Queenes greatest Fauourites of her most intimate counsell and an enemy to Innouators The Queene was so extraordinarily prouoked herewith that shee commanded him to be proceeded against according to the Marshall Lawe vntill shee was aduised by some of her prudent Councellours that this Law had no place but in Warres and turbulent times but at home it ought to bee done by ordinary forme of Iustice Being called to Iustice he maintained that what he did was consonant to Scripture and therefore lawfull Afterwards seeing himselfe neere condemnation for heresie promised to renounce this opinion yet neuerthelesse when hee had a little more debated the case he would not In the end beeing committed to the Towre of London hee killed one of his Keepers with a piece of wood which hee tooke out of a Chimney and threw at his head and beeing condemned of murder had his right hand cut off and being at the Gallowes obstinately maintained his opinion and so was hanged In the beginning of this yeere dyed George Howard Baron of Effingham Lord Priuie Seale sonne to Tho. Howard Duke of Norfolke the famous Warriour by Agnes Tilnie his second wife a man of remarkeable fidelity and of an inuincible courage who first was Gouernour of Calais afterwards made a Baron by Queene MARY Admirall of England and Lord Chamberlaine and likewise by Queene ELIZABETH vntill broken with age he surrendred his Office to Sussex a few daies before he dyed and as I haue said before was made Lord Priuie Seale the fourth degree of Honour in England he had to succeed him in the honour of his Baronie Charles his son who was afterwards Chamberlaine to the Queene and high Admirall of England At the same time dyed likewise R. Gray Earle of Kent whom the Queene from a priuate man had called to this honour when that Title had beene vacant 50. yeeres after the death of R. Gray Earle of Kent who had consumed his Patrimony elder brother to this mans great Grandfather and Henrie his Sonne succeeded him It is not fit in silence to ouer passe I. Caius a famous Phisician who dyed at the same time he was borne at Norwich brought vp at Cambridge and Padua who gaue himselfe wholly to the studie of Phisicke translated and commented vpon the most part of Gallens and Celsus workes and gaue all his meanes to Schollers Adding a new Colledge to the old of Gonuell Hall and 25. fellow Commoners to be perpetually brought vp and of both made but one Colledge called by the names of Gonuell and Caius in which he is intombed with this Epitaph Fui Caius In Ireland the houses of O-Conom and O-More impatient of peace hauing gathered some bands of Theeues and Rebels made outragious incursions rob'd and burned Atlone vpon the Riuer Siney and willing to ioyne their forces with the Rebels of Mounster they were hindred by I. Perot President of Mounster who so ransackt Iames Fitz-Moris and Fitz-Edmonds Seneschall of Imoquell that rebelled by continuall ouer-running them and after hee had killed many of their men and taken the Castle of Maine and the French Garrison he compelled them to craue pardon most submissiuely for their faults within the Temple of Kilmalock called The holy Cell of Malachie At the same time the Earle of Desmond and Iohn his Brother authors of this Rebellion being brought backe out of England into Ireland by Fitton were imprisoned by the said Fitton at Dublin but after a while were let goe In Vlster Brian Mach-phelin who had vsurped the most part of Clandeboy burned the Towne of Knoc-fergus and some others began to trouble the Countrie George Deuereux lately created Earle of Essex by Queene ELIZABETH desired to be imployed against them by the counsell of those who had a designe to haue him farre from the Court vnder colour of increasing his honour to precipitate him into dangers which were not hidden from him But as he was vigilant and from his youth addicted to the Warres continuing constant in his designe agreed with the Queene that if hee draue out the Rebels hee and his partners should haue the halfe of Clandeboy vpon certaine conditions and to maintaine it he would entertaine at his owne charge two hundred Horse and foure hundred Foote To this end he borrowed of the Queene a thousand pounds for which and for Munition hee engaged Lands that he had in Essex G. Fitz-William Deputie of Ireland fearing that the splendor of so great an Earle should dimme his in Ireland counselled the Queene not to send him giuing her to vnderstand that all the Countrie of Vlster would reuolt at his comming Notwithstanding he is sent and to maintaine the honour and authority of the Deputy was to take Letters from him to be Gouernour of Vlster which he obtained though slowly after many importunate sollicitations After hauing bin beaten with a terrible Tempest he was driuen to Knock fergus about the end of August with the Lord Darcy and Lord Rich Henry Knollis and his foure brothers M. and I. Carey Iohn Noris with a company of Souldiers leuied in haste Brian Mac-phelin vnderstanding of his comming draue all his cattle which were all his wealth into the heart of the Countrey for without counting Sheepe and Hogs he had thirtie thousand head of Cattell and seeing him ashore saluted him and congratulated his arriuall and most courteously offered him all dutie and seruice and likewise Mac-Gillespike Mac-Gill Hugh Baron of Dungannon and all of account neere thereabout In consideration whereof he promised him pardon for his rebellion and studied which way he might oblige him But he reuolted and drew his men presently to Turlough Leinich and afterwards made light Skirmishes continually against the English The Lord Riche's particular affaires called him into England and returned within a moneth Henry Knollis in like manner
they hauing no good intelligence did niggardly depart with their mony discorded with the Dutch in certaine points of Religion and that the Emperour a neere Kinsman of the Spaniards would giue impeachment to it They also saw the French so engaged in their owne ciuill warres that they could finde no end that there was simulated inueterate hate betweene the inhabitants of the Low-Countries and the French that the Brabanders Flemmish and the neighbouring people of France would oppose it with all their force that the Commandement of the French was rude and burthensome as well as that of the Spanish and that the hauens of France are not much commodious for the nauigation of the Dutch But for the English that were almost vnder one paralell with the Dutch who also seemed to be of the same nature and Religion with them that their language was not much different their Countrey neere adioyning furnished with Ports commodious for Nauigation and fruitfull in Merchandize That the Queen both by Sea and Land was very powerfull a milde and gracious Princesse temperate in her commands one that would conserue their Liberties and in no wise burthen them with exactions They forthwith sent into England Phil. Marnix Lord of Saint Aldegonde I. Douza of Nortwic Paul Busy and D. Melsen which with an honourable legacy and learned oration offered to the Queene Holland and Zeland eyther to possesse or protect as being a Princesse issued from the Princes of Holland of the bloud of Philip Wife to Edward the Third Daughter to William Bauier the third of that name Earle of Hainaud and of Holland by whose second Sister the Spaniard came to the inheritance of the Prouinces The Queene gaue a willing and an attentiue hearing to these things But first of all shee weighed and considered in her minde the cause which they had vndertaken against their Lord and King the enmities of the Spaniard the enuy of the French the great expences and doubtfull euents of the warre and also what offence might be taken by this insolent example Then shee doubted whether by her discent from Bauier she might make claime to Holland and Zeland and whether shee might lawfully contract a league of protection with the Subiects of another Prince and whether they themselues could doe this without the consent of the Emperour who was Soueraigne Lord of the Fee Then further she scarce gaue credit to what some whispered in her eares that the Prouinces fell not to the Spaniard by hereditary right but by the election of the Subiects Finally hauing maturely deliberated vpon these things after she had respectiuely rendred thankes to the Prince of Orange and the rest for their great good will she answered that she had alwayes had a speciall regard of the honour and faith worthy a Prince nor could shee yet conceiue how she could in honour and conscience receiue the Prouinces into her protection much lesse into her possession but she would imploy her best labours to mediate for a happy peace betweene them At the same time arriued at the Court Iohn Perenot of Champigni from Lodwick Zuniga of Requesens who in his name modestly aduised the Queene to entertaine the league betweene England and Burgundie and not to entermeddle in the affaires of the Netherlands To whom the Queene promised to obserue the league notwithstanding the Spaniard had refused to confirme it Yet would shee alwayes prouide for her owne honour and safety if shee perceiued the ancient forme of command amongst the Burgundians to be changed and forreine Souldiers in great numbers daily to be admitted into the adiacent Prouince Before Champigni was returned Requesens yeelded to death and a strange confusion had ouercast the Netherlands the Souldiers deuasting all places with Sword and Fire And the Estates of Brabant Flanders c. assuming their former authority in the administration of the Common-wealth which the Spaniard by necessity was constrained to confirme to them vntill the comming of Iohn of Austria whom hee had instituted Gouernour ouer the Prouinces Queene ELIZABETH carefully laboured that the Spaniard might receiue no discommoditie conserue as much as she possible could the Netherlāds intyre to him and sent Dauison diligently to exhort them to a peace But by reason of outragiousnesse of the Spanish Souldiers nothing was effected England for this whole yeere remained in a peaceable quiet excepting in the moneth of Iuly there happened vpon the Southerne borders of England towards Scotland a conflict betweene the borderers of eyther part whereof the occasion was this Iohn Foster Knight Gouernour of the Meridionall Frontiers and at the same time of Barwicke also entred into parley vpon the Mount Redsquire with I. Carmichell Warden of Liddisdale in Scotland notwithstanding it was a custome that none but Gouernours should meete with Gouernours and Wardens with Wardens as equals in dignitie they were of either side accompanied besides certaine Noble-men with a multitude of Fugitiues and Malefactours all armed of which the most part quarrelled with one another about inueterate and mortall hatreds betweene them These sort of fellowes according to their custome hauing put their horses out here and there to feed round incircled the Gouernour Warden whom when they heard breake out into eager termes about the sending backe of Fugitiues they whose Lawes were onely their weapons knowing themselues guilty were afraid lest they should be deliuered into the hands of iustice vpon a squabble which fell out about the taking away of a spurre they tumultuously ranne to armes and euery one to reuenge their priuate spleene assayled his particular enemy or made prey of his Horse Whether a Scot or an English-man was the beginner it is vncertaine At the first encounter the English repulsed the Scots and tooke Carmichell But as they being too confident in their owne forces ranged about for booty and trifling pillage a troupe of Scottish succours sallying out of Iedbourgh Carmichell escaped and the English were put to flight George Heron Knight Warden of Tyndale and Ridisdale with others was slaine and the Gouernour Forster himselfe Fran. Russell sonne to the Earle of Bedford and sonne-in-law to Forster Cuthbert Collinwood Iames Ogle Henry Fenwich and many others were taken and carried to Dalquith in Scotland where the Regent was resident who courteously receiued them but fearing lest if hee should so soone permit them to depart their bloud yet boyling for the murther should inflame their courages to vengeance and so rayse a warre betweene the two Kingdomes hee for a time deteined them and would not release them before they had promised by writing to appeare at a certaine day in Scotland When Queene ELIZABETH had certaine notice of these matters shee was then if euer anger had preuayled with her full of vexation and mightily incensed that the Scots which were as her selfe spake indebted to her for their rest and libertie should violating the peace assault and murder the
Thighes so fought Norris the Leader of the English eagerly fighting had three Horses killed vnder him and brought away the glorie of a valorous Warriour and so did Stuart a Scottishman Burham Lieutenant to Cauendish and William Marckham That these Prouinces of the Low-Countreys afflicted and faint with these intestine Warres might be comforted there came into Flanders from the Emperour Count Swart-Zenberg from France Pomponio Belieure from Queene ELIZABETH the Lord Cobham and Sir Francis Walsingham to sollicite a Peace but the businesse was so poysoned that they returne without doing any thing Don Iohn refusing to admit of reforming Religion and the Prince of Orange to returne into Holland About that time Egremond Radcliffe Sonne to Henrie Earle of Sussex by his second Wife a man of a turbulent Spirit and one of the chiefe in the Rebellion of the North went to serue vnder Don Iohn and is accused by some of the English Fugitiues to be sent to kill him is apprehended in the Campe at Namurcke with Gray an Englishman as a partner in the plot and are both executed The Spaniards giue it out that Radcliffe which were the last words he spake before his death of his owne accord confessed that he was set at libertie out of the Tower of London and excited with great promises by Sir Francis Walsingham to performe this Some English that were present denied that he confessed any such thing although the Fugitiues wrought by all the meanes they could to draw the like confession from them but difference in Religion doth too much darken the light of the mind both of honestie and truth on both sides and who knowes not that the Fugitiues for verie hatred inuent many things to depraue and slander Within a little time after Don Iohn in the flowre of his age whether of the Plague or as others will haue it with griefe being neglected of his Brother left his fond Ambition and life together after he had gaped first after the kingdome of Tunis which caused the losse of Guleta in Affrica And secondly after England And vnknowne to France or Spaine contracted alliance with the Guizes for the defence of both the Crownes In the meane while the Duke of Aniou howsouer bent to the Warres of the Low-Countries prosecutes the mariage which he had begun being Duke of Alanzon that he might shew that he was able to giue his minde to the warres and to his Loue together First of all Bucheruile for this purpose is sent to Queene ELIZABETH He finds her at the House of one Cordall in Suffolke taking her Countrey pleasures By and by after comes Rambouillet from the French King and a moneth after Semier from the Duke of Aniou a refined Courtier who was exquisite in the delights of Loue and skilfull in the wayes of Courtship accompanied with many French Gentlemen whom Queene ELIZABETH receiued forthwith verie louingly at Richmond Then began Leicester to grow discontented seeing himselfe falne from the hope which he had so long conceiued to marrie her and that a little before she had beene angry with Astley a Lady of the Queenes Bed-Chamber for commending him to her and perswading her to marrie him WHat saith she thinkest thou me so vnlike my selfe and vnmindfull of the Maiestie of a Queene that I will prefer a meane Seruant whom I haue raised my selfe before the greatest Princes of the Christian world Neere the same time Margaret Douglas Countesse of Lenox Daughter of the eldest Sister of King HENRY the eighth Widdow of Mathew Earle of Lenox and Grandmother to IAMES King of Great Britaine after she had out-liued all her Children which were eight in number dyed in the Clymacteriall yeere of her age and was buried at Westminster being brought thither with a sumptuous Funerall at Queene ELIZABETH's charge A woman of singular pietie patience and chastitie who had beene three times cast into prison as I haue heard not for any suspition of crime against the Queene but for matters of Loue. First when Thomas Howard Sonne of Thomas Howard first Duke of Norfolke of that Name was falne in loue with her and dyed in the Towre of London Secondly for the loue of Henry Darley her Sonne and the Queene of Scots Lastly for the loue betweene Charles her younger Sonne and Elizab. Cauendish the Lady Arbella's Mother to whom the Queene of Scots was accused to haue been maried as I haue said before That we may lightly touch the affaires of Scotland At the begining of this yeere Thomas Randolph was sent from Queene ELIZABETH into Scotland that he by diligent search might feele in what estate the affaires stood there to congratulate with the King for his forward proceeding in good Letters who from his Child-hood hauing an exquisite and happie memorie had profited much beyond his age and to wish him to loue the English in regard of the many benefits she had done to him and motherly affection that she bare him and that he should deale with the Earle of Argathel that the Hebridians might not assist the Rebels of Ireland and to perswade the Regent Earle Morton to abandon in time the enmitie betweene him and the Earles of Argathel Athole and others lest he incurre the hatred of his Peeres and alienate altogether the Queenes minde from him He now was vnder-hand accused to haue stained the honour he had for wisedome and valour with filthy couetousnesse and would shortly make himselfe so hated of the common people that the State with a general consent will translate the administration of the affaires to the King though for his age hauing scarce attained to twelue yeeres he be not capable of it and that twelue of the principall of the Nobilitie be nominated three of them for three moneths together by course to assist the King in Councell amongst whom Morton to be one that he may seeme rather to be brought from one place to another then to be put out The King hauing taken the gouernment of his Kingdome doth most thankfully by Dunfermlin acknowledge Queene ELIZABETH's fauours towards him as proceeding not so much from the neerenesse of Blood as from the common profession of the true Religion Prayes her that the Treatie of Edenborough contracted betweene the two Kingdomes begun in the yeere 1559 may be ratified the more happily to restraine the robbers vpon the Borders and preuent the enterprizes of the Aduersaries of true Religion that Iustice might be equally ministred to the Inhabitants of both the Kingdomes the goods taken by Pirats fully restored and his Ancestors patrimonie in England viz. the possessions granted to Mathew his Grandfather and Margaret his Grandmother he being the next Heire may be deliuered into his hands likewise Moneys being cleane exhausted out of Scotland he wanted to entertaine his Family and a Guard about him as the dignitie of a King required The first Demands the Queene readily promiseth but to that concerning the Patrimonie she
the cause exceedingly feinedly calls all his friends together as though he meant to goe against them the Earle of Clanricard with a selected troupe of Souldiers going against the Enemies and Rebels met him but he deceitfully sends him away The Deputie hauing receiued certaine newes by Henry Dauile a valiant English Gentleman that the Enemy was landed commanded the Earle of Desmond and his Brethren ioyntly and forthwith to assayle the Fort but when they had talked and considered vpon it and found it full of perill refused Dauile departing is followed by Iohn Desmond who ouertooke him in an Inne at Tralli a little Burrough and hauing corrupted the Oast in the dead of the night he with other Murtherers brake into the chamber where Dauile with Arthur Carter Lieutenant to the Marshall of Mounster a very valiant old Souldier slept securely but being awaked with the noyse and beheld Iohn Desmond with his naked Sword in his Chamber raising himselfe vp What is the matter sayes he my sonne for so in familiarity hee was vsed to call him Now I am no more thy sonne saith he nor thou my Father thou shalt dye And at an instant ranne him and Carter that lay with him many times thorow the Body yea after that Dauiles Foot-boy had throwne himselfe naked vpon his Master to defend him as much as in him lay and receiued many wounds And shortly after he killed all Dauiles seruants as he found them dispersed here and there and returning to the Spaniard all rayed with Bloud boasts of the slaughter and said thus Let this be a pledge of my faith to you and to this cause And Sanders this That hee extolled it as a sweete sacrifice before God Fitz-Morris reproued the manner of it wishing it rather had beene done vpon the way than in bed The Earle when hee heard of it condemned it with all his heart as detestable The Spaniards seeing themselues ioyned with a few Irish and those vnarmed and miserable contrary to what Fitz-Morris had promised began to distrust and to cry they were lost and to deplore their misfortune not seeing any meanes to saue themselues either by Land or Sea Fitz-Morris exhorts them to patience and to wait assures them that great forces were comming to their succour hee feinedly tooke a iourney to the holy Crosse of Triporarie to pay the vow which hee had made in Spaine but in truth it was to draw together all the seditious of Connach and Vlster As he trauelled with a few horse and twelue foot-men through the grounds of William of Bourg his alliance who was with him at the League in the precedent Rebellion his Horses fayling tooke vp the work-horses that he found in his way the Labourers crying out assemble all the dwellers thereabout to recouer them amongst which were the sonnes of William of Bourg young men and couragious who being mounted on horse-backe pursued him so swiftly that they ouertooke him Fitz-Morris seeing Theobald of Bourg and his Brethren who were with him in the former Rebellion speaking friendly said Kinsmen let not vs fall out for a Horse or two for when you shall know the cause why I am come backe into Ireland I am assured that you will ioyne with mee Theobald answers Both I and my Father and likewise our friends doe greatly grieue for the first Rebellion and haue sworne and will performe our fidelitie to our most gracious Princesse who pardoned vs and gaue vs our liues therefore restore the Horses or I will make thee restore them and withall threw a Dart at him with a writhen Pike and they fought a time Theobald and one of his brothers were slaine and some of their men Fitz-Morris was runne thorow the Body with a Pike and shot thorow the head with a Pistoll so hee dyed and many of his men They cut off his head and hanged his quarters vpon poles ouer the Gates of Kilmalocke where as wee haue said before in the Church in the presence of Perot hee bound himselfe with great obtestations to be loyall to his Prince The Queen writes consolatory Letters to William of Bourg full of loue and sorrow for the losse of his sonnes creates him Baron of Castell-Conell and rewards him with an annuall pension Whereupon the old man confounded with so vnexpected ioy dyed shortly after Drury Lord Deputie was now come almost to Kilmalock and sends for Desmond who came before him promiseth faith and obedience to the Queene and bound himselfe by oath that he and his would warre against the Rebels Whereupon he is dismissed to collect his men and returne to the Deputie Iohn Desmond the Earles Brother who was substituted in Fitz-Morris his place by treachery intercepts and kills Herbert and Prisie Englishmen with the Companies which they led and he was wounded in the face This losse was supplied with sixe hundred Souldiers out of Deuonshire Perot is sent out of England with sixe Ships of warre to defend the mouth of the Harbour At which time the Deputie being vehemently sicke and growing daily worse worse must of necessity go to Waterford to recouer his health and left his place to Nicholas Malbey President of Connach and Gouernour of Mounster an old and a renowned Souldier Returning the Wife of Desmond offers her onely Sonne and Heire in hostage for the Father For after he departed from Kilmalock he appeared not although Malbey often-times by Letters admonished him of his duety and promise and not willing to delay remoues towards the Rebels in Conil a wooddy and boggy Country where Iohn Desmond put his men in array and displayes the Popes consecrated Banner he intertaines it and signes giuen they ioyne where both sides fought furiously Fortune at length yeelding to the vertue of the English Iohn was the first that fled and left his men to the slaughter amongst whom Allan the Diuine is found who incouraged them to the battle by promising the victory The Earle of Desmond who was a spectator from some Hill neere to that place the same night writ dissemblingly Letters congratulatory to Malbey and vnder a colour of friendship warnes him to remoue his Campe from thence Malbey sends backe the Messenger with Letters commanding the Earle to come to him and ioyne his forces whom when in vaine he had expected foure dayes hee remoued to Rekel a little Towne of the Earle of Desmonds Now the Earle who had so long both in countenance and words egregiously maintained his dissimulation leaues to be the same man and plainely puts on a Rebels minde and the same night it being darke the Rebels inuaded Malbey's Campe which they found so fortified that they returned backe as from a thing infected The Gouernour thinking this to be a fit place to disioyne the Rebels forces put a Garrison there and from thence marched to Asketon a Castle of the Earles standing vpon a Hill inuironed with the Riuer Asketon which was garded by Souldiers But before he
brought to Saint Iulians they found a Gibbet standing there which as it is thought Magellan set vp when he was forced thereabouts to punish some sedicious persons Where Mr. Iohn Doughtey a wise and valiant Gentleman and of chiefe command vnder Drake was condemned by the verdict of twelue men according to the English custome and beheaded after he had receiued the Communion with Drake himselfe The most impartiall of all the Company did iudge that he had indeed carried himselfe a little sediciously and that Drake hauing an eye not so much vpon such as might surpasse him in Sea-faring renowne as vpon those which were like to equall him did rid his hands of him as of a Competitor Others presuming to haue more knowledge of his intentions affirme that Leicester had commanded him to make him away vnder some pretext or other in reuenge that he did auerre oftentimes that he had made away my Lord of Essex by his deuices The 20. of August hauing no more then three Shippes for he had cast off the other two at Sea which were the lesser after hee had taken in the men and what else was ought worth he came to the straight of Magellan which is a Sea full of Ilands and circled in with high Mountaines the Element being full of Snow and the wether very cold past it the sixth of September and entred into the South Sea which is called Peacible or Still which he found neuerthelesse much troubled and his Fleet through the vehemencie of the Tempest carried about an hundred Leagues into the Ocean and separated At the same time they saw an Eclipse of the Moone the fifteenth of September at sixe of the Clocke at night I speake this in fauour of Mathematicians against that which others doe report They saw also that part of the heauen next the South Pole adorned with very few starres and of farre lesser magnitude then those in our Hemisphere and not aboue the third part of the greatnesse of ours And that the two little Cloudes which are of the colour of the Milke-way which we call the little Cloudes of Magellan are not farre distant from the Pole Of these Ships which the wind had thus hurried away the one in which Captaine Iohn Winter cōmanded plying vp the straights of Magellan againe returned safely into England and is the first that euer passed that way Drake who was then driuen alone by this tempest with his Ship vnto 55. degrees to the West and hardly could recouer the breadth of the straights ran along the Coast and contrary to that which is figured in the Maps he found that these Lands fetch a great compasse about before they trend vp into the East Being come the last of Nouember to the I le of Mouscha he sent his Mariners ashore for fresh water two of which were taken and detayned by the Inhabitants Being departed from thence he meets with an Indian who was fishing in his Canoe who thinking that his men had bin Spaniards told them that at Villa Parizo in the Roade there was a great Spanish Ship laden and brought them thither The Spanish Mariners which were but eight and two Negroes seeing the English ariue and taking them for Spaniards began to beate vp their Drummes and drawing of their Wines of Chillie to inuite them to drinke But the English boording them put them all vnder hatches rifle the next Towne called Saint Iacobin and the Chappell also the spoile whereof was for Mr. Fletcher Minister to the Fleet Afterwards they put all the men of their Prize on shore except the Pilot being a Grecian and carrying both the Ship and him away they found therein foure hundred waight of Gold of Baldiue so called by the name of the place because it is truely refined After that Francis Drake landed at Taurapaze where he found a Spaniard fast asleepe vpon the Sea side and neere vnto him two great Barres of massie Siluer to the value of foure thousand Ducats which hee caused to bee carried away without so much as awakening the man Then being entred into the Hauen of Aricae he found there three ships without Master or Sailors and within 57. ingots of siluer each of them weighing twenty pound waight besides other marchandise From thence hee sailed to Lima and meets with twelue ships in the Roade whose Tackling and Armes had beene brought ashore There was in them a great deale of Silke and a little coffer full of coined money but there was not so much as a Boy left to looke to them so great they accounted the security of that Coast for the distance of places and also because the nauigation was vnknowne no feare they had of Pirates And indeed no man from Magellan euer sailed those Seas before Drake but onely the Spaniards who haue built there all such Ships and Nauie as are there Drake hauing committed those Ships to the Ocean hee made haste with all sailes spred after another sumptuous Ship very rich called The Caco Fogue whereof he had notice was departed from Lima bound for Panama but he first meeting with a small ship from which he got 80. pound weight of Gold a Crucifix of pure gold diuers Emeralds of the length of a finger and some Munition The first day of March he ouertooke this Caco Fogue and after he had beaten downe with a Cannon shot the fore-Mast boords her and takes it finds therein besides many precious stones 80. pound waight more of gold 13. coffers full of coyned money and his ballast was pure siluer all which he caused to be brought ashore and leauing the said Ship the Pilot who was within gaue Drake this pleasant farewell We will exchange names of our Ships Call yours Cacofogue and ours Cacoplate which is to say yours shall bee named Shite-fire and ours Shite-siluer Since that time he met with no rich prize So omitting the relation of those ships of China of the golden Eagle of those faire Negroes which the Spaniard gaue him for sparing his ship and the pillage of a little Village called Aguatulcum I will speake of his returne Drake esteemed himselfe abundantly rich and indifferently well satisfied of the particular wrong which he had receiued of the Spaniards in S. Iohn of Vllua thinkes now of his returne and because it seemed to him full of eminent perils to repasse through the straights of Magellan aswell by reason of the raging Tempests vsuall there as of diuers Shelfs and Rockes vnknowne and likewise fearing lest the Spaniards should there watch for his comming backe as indeed Francis of Toledo Vice-Roy of Peruia had to that end sent thither Peter Sermiente with two ships of Warre as also to fortifie the straights of that Sea if any were Drake then tooke his way toward the North at the latitude of 42. Degrees to discouer in that part if there were any straight by which he might find a neerer way to returne But discerning nothing but
accepted the Challenge which two after a while trauersing their ground to and fro without one drop of blood-shed betooke themselues to drinke freely together and so of enemies became friends and parted Yet here wee must not omit to obserue that our Englishmen who of all the Northerne Nations haue beene most commended for sobrietie haue learned since these Low-Country warres so well to fill their cups and to wash themselues with Wine that whilest they at this day drinke others healths they little regard their owne And that this vicious practice of drunkennesse hath so ouerflowed the Land that lawes proscripts of restraint are vsually made for the drying vp of the same But whilest they were all this while contending in the Low-Countries for Dorppes Villages the King of Spaine getteth into his hands the rich Kingdome of Portugall For Henry which was King hauing paid Natures tribute the yeare before left the Realm to diuers Competitors amongst whom Philip King of Spaine sonne of his eldest Sister puissant enough in force though not in right by reason of his priority in blood and descent comming of the elder line and being Male thought with his friends himselfe worthiest to bee preferred to the succession of the said Kingdome before the women the yonger sort and such as did lesse participate of the blood The Duke of Sauoy reiected for that he came of the yonger Sister Farnese sonne to the Prince of Parma borne of the eldest Daughter of EDWARD brother King HENRY and KATHERINE of Brabant second daughter to the said EDWARD grounding themselues only vpon the benefit of Representation a simple fiction could not annihilate the true Title of Inheritance nor intercept the King of Spaines lawfull succession and this the Spaniards stood to maintaine And as touching Don Antonio Prior of Crates sonne to Lewis the second brother of King HENRY he was ipso facto reiected for that he was illegitimate The King of Spaine neuerthelesse propounded the matter twice to his Clergy and men of Law to decide the cause charging them in the name of God and vpon their faith and saluation to tell him freely whether hee had rightfull claime or no to that Kingdome They hauing with vnanimous voice assured him that it was proper to him he quickly putting forth first the Duke of Alua put to flight Antonio elected of the people and within 70 dayes brought all Portugall vnder his iurisdiction But touching the Right of Katherin de Medicis the Queen of France who claimed it from Alphonsus and the Earles of Boulogne for 320 yeares agone that the Spaniards laughed at as a Title out of date and fetcht from the old Prophetesse the Mother of Euander a thing iniurious to so many of the Kings of Portugal which had lawfully and lineally succeeded one another and therefore ridiculous to both Spaniards and Portugals Whereat the Queene incensed with anger and considering how mightily the Spaniard now in his ascendant enriched himselfe farre and neare by the accession or surcrease of this new-got Kingdome his Ilands and the East Indies breeding a feare within her to her selfe and the Princes her neighbouring friends aduised them and amongst the rest the Queene of England that it was already high time to stay the Spaniards in his mounting and to stop him vp within his owne bounds before his ambition should extend any further Queene ELIZABETH who was not to learne what shee had to doe in that nature for her selfe and her friends and foreseeing how dangerous the growing greater of the neighbour Princes would be lent eare thereto with no light attention but with great and Royall kindnesse entertained Antonio banished out of Portugall and recommended to her from France thinking that Spaine could not take exception thereat because hee was of her Alliance issued from the Blood Royall of England and of the House of Lancaster as shee well knew nor in any Treaties that euer had past betwixt Spaine and England was any caueat at all inferred forbidding England to receiue or to haue commerce with the Portugals At the same time for the more confirmation of assured amitie the Queene of France and the King her sonne prosecuting the mariage of the Duke d' Anjou addrest an honourable ambassage into England for the consummation thereof came ouer François de Bourbon Prince of Daulphiné Arthur de Cosse Cont de Secondigny Marshal of France Louis de Lusignan M. de S. Gelais Lansac Salignac Mauuisser Bernarde Brisson President of the Parliament of Paris and one of the learnedest men of France and others who as they they were of Honorable ranke were very nobly receiued and banqueted in a Banquetting-House built on purpose neere Westminster richly adorned with rare and sumptuous furniture and Titls and Tournaments proclaimed which were presented in a most princely manner by Philip Earle of Arundell Fred Lord Winsor Philip Sidney and Fulk Greuill Knights against all commers with sundry other courtly sports and Princely recreations not necessarily coincident to our History To conferre with them concerning these Nuptials were appointed the Baron of Burghley Lord high Treasurer of England the Earles of Sussex Lincolne Bedford and Leicester together with Sir Christopher Hatton and Secretary Walsingham Amongst whom these matrimoniall Contracts following were concluded vpon THe Duke d' Anjou and the Queene of England within six weekes after the ratification of these Articles shall personally contract mariage here in England The Duke and his associates seruants and friends being no English subiects shall haue libertie to vse their owne Religion in a certain place in their houses without molestation or impeachment He shall not alter any part of the Religion now receiued in England Hee shall inioy and haue the Title and Dignity of King after the mariage shall bee consummate but notwithstanding shall leaue intirely to the Queene the managing of affaires And whereas his demand was that immediately after the celebration of the mariage he should be crowned King instantly to inioy the title and dignity during the gouernment of the Kingdome in the minority of their children The Queene answered she would propound and further it at the next high Court of Parliament to be holden within fifteen dayes after the ratification Letters Patents and other things shal be passed in both their names as in the time of Philip and MARIE The Queene by Act of Parliament shall ordaine an Annuall pension for the Duke but the valuation thereof shall bee left to her pleasure she will also ordaine the said Pension to continue if he shall surviue her The Duke in Dowry shall bestow on the Queene to the value of forty thousand Crownes per annum out of his Duchy of Berry and shall forthwith infeofe her therein As touching their Issue it shall likewise be enacted by Parliament in England and registred in the Annals of France as followeth That the Heires of them as well Males as Females by maternall right of
Marquesse of Huntley the other with the Earle of Marre And that he might shew himselfe a King by exercising in due time his authoritie whereas those of the conspiracie had declared in a publike assembly instituted by their authoritie that the arrest detaining of his person was iustly lawfully performed and therupon enrolled the said Declaration amongst the publike Registers the King on the contrary in a generall assembly of the Nobilitie and States declared that it was traiterously done Notwithstanding the Ministers as the supreme Iudges of the Realme pronounced in a Synode conuocated by their authoritie that it was most iust and did hold it fit that those which would not approue thereof should vndergoe the censure of Excommunication In those dayes the warres betwixt the Emperor of Muscouia and the King of Swethland vnder the Artique Circle must not be left to obliuion Iohn King of Swethland perceiuing his powers farre too weake to resist so great an Emperor sent in Noble Embassie towards Queen ELIZABETH H. of Wissembourg his neere kinsman and A. Rich his Secretarie by Letters to request her Maieesty to intercede by Ambassage to the Emperour for the conclusion of a peace betweene them Which she presently vndertooke and without delay performed so well that with reasonable conditions she induc'd the Muscouit to a composition of peace who forthwith treated with her concerning the alliance of which I haue often made mention and that hee might bee allow'd refuge and a retreat into England if any disastrous aduersity should fall vpon him likewise he desired a Wife should be giuen him out of England But Sir Hierome Bowes Knight being sent Embassadour found it a difficult matter to content the Emperour For the Muscouite most importunately laboured for an absolute league in such tearmes as hee himselfe should set downe neither would hee giue any hearing to any remonstrances which hee propos'd that it was not the duty of a Christian neither would the Law of Nations permit that hostile enmities should bee denounced and practised or open warres begunne before the party from whom the wrong proceeded were admonished to repaire the iniury and desist from it The Queene appointed the Sister of the Earle of Huntington to be giuen as a Wife to him But when shee was certified that the Lawes of his Countrey would permit him at his own pleasure to repudiate and put away his wiues Shee excused the matter by the sicklinesse of the maid and by the loue of her father that was not able to beare the absence of his Daughter in a Country so farre distant And also that it was not in her power to dispose of in mariage the daughters of any of her subiects without their parents consents Neuerthelesse the Ambassador so farre preuailed that the establishing of the Merchants priuiledge was granted But death taking away the Emperour the yeare following the affaires of the English beganne by little and little to returne towards Russia and the Ambassador returning not without much danger of his life was with much commendation kindly receiued of the Queene Hee was the first that brought into England where the like was neuer seene if an Historian may with good leaue make mention of so small a thing a beast called Maclis which is a creature likest to an Alçe very swift and without ioynts And moreouer certain Deere of wonderfull swiftnesse which being yoakt and driuen will with much speed draw men vp and downe in Chariots like horses But to returne againe to the affaires of Muscouia Theodore Iohannide sonne to Iohn Basil succeeded in this great Empire a Prince by nature of a slow capacity yet he knew well how to follow the aduice of his best Counsellors Hee gaue free passage to all Merchants of all Countries into Russia and being oftentimes sollicited by the Queene of England to confirm the priuiledges granted by his father to the Muscouian Company of English Merchants importing thus that it might not be lawfull but to the English of the said society to land vpon the North coasts of Russia and there to exercise their traffique without paying of any tribute or custome because they were the first by sea that found a way to those parts Hee againe requested that all the English in generall might be suffered to traffique in Russia esteeming it iniustice to giue leaue to some and forbid others saying that Princes should beare an equall hand amongst their subiects not conuert into a Monopoly or the particular profit of some few men that commerce by which the right of Nations ought to be common to all And as for the custom hee promised to take by the halfe lesse of them of that societie then of others Other priuiledges hee added in fauour of the Queene and not for the desert as hee said of that society of which some he hath obserued that haue euilly dealt with his subiects Other answer could the Queene by no meanes procure or obtaine albeit shee afterwards sent about the same affaires Egide Fletcher Doctor of the Law who set forth a booke called The policy or tyrannie of the Russian wherein were contained many things worthy observation but it was presently supprest lest it should breed offence to a princely friend The same Summer came from Poland neighbouring vpon Russia into England to visit the Queene one Albret Alasco Count Palatine of Sirad a man most learn'd of comly stature and lineaments wearing his Beard long richly cloathed and of gracefull behauiour the Queene with much bounty and loue receiued him the Nobles with great honour and magnificence entertained him and the Vniuersitie of Oxford with learned recreations and diuers pastimes delighted him but after a while finding himselfe ouercharged vvith debt he priuily stole away In this yeare also was seene in Dorset-shire a thing no lesse prodigious then that which was seene in the yeare 1571 in Herefordshire A field of three Acres situated in Blackmore both with trees and hedges was remoued out of its owne place into another leauing in its stead a huge vaste gappe but the high-way leading to Cerne shut vp whether this was by some subterranean earthquake such wherewith as Seneca reporteth the heads of the gods in the bed of Iupiter were turned into the contrary parts or out of too much moistnesse caused by the springs abundantly flowing in those parts the field being situate in the side of a Hill let others make enquirie This was the last yeare to Thomas Ratcliffe being of that Family the third Earle of Sussex a man of haughty courage exquisit counsell of a singular faith towards his Countrie and of an illustrious Progeny He had to his Mother the Daughter of the Duke of Norfolke for his Grandmother the daughter to the Duke of Buckingham Constable of England Himselfe also had past through many great honorable imploiments As being sent Ambassador by Queene MARIE into Germany to the Emperor Charles the fifth to
to the Queene of Scots and the King her sonne was twice depriued of his goods and driuen from his Countrey and the fight of his children yet hee patiently supported his banishment remaining constant against all aduersities and bearing himselfe euer like himselfe Whilest the question of this murther was deferred and a gentle disputation raised whether the twelue thousand Crownes pension offered to the King were to bee accounted according to the English or the French account the Queene being much incensed for the death of Russel and the violation of the safety and being perswaded by some Scotchmen which enuyed Arran that hee was a fauourer of the Iesuites and that hee strongly laboured in France and Scotland to hinder the League that it might not be contracted shee gaue permission to the fugitiue Scots as Angus with Iohn and Claudius Hamilton Marre and Glan which were reconciled to him in their common exile and to the rest that liued banisht in England to returne into Scotland well furnished with money to worke the ruine of Arran The Earle of Bothwell and the Lord of Humey Humey Coldingknoll and others in Scotland had before promised them aide and aboue all Maxwell lately created Earle of Morton out of a certaine hope he had to shunne the penalty of the rebellion which he had raised in the Country of Annand if the Earle of Arran were once subuerted In the very Court also were Patrick Gray his bitter enemy Belenden a a Iustice of the Church and Maitland Secretarie drawne into parties against Arran The fugitiues being entred into Scotland they commanded all persons by a long Proclamation in the Kings name to giue them assistance for the defence of the Euangelicall truth to free the King from mischieuous Counsellors and to conserue loue and friendship with the English they appointed the place for their assembly at Fawkirk where they mustered 8000 men Arran who for suspition of the death of Russell was by the King commanded to keepe within Keneil hearing of these things he hastily retired to the King and accused Gray as the author of these enterprises Gray ingeniously excused himselfe in presence of the King But whilest Arran maketh great preparations for the defence of the towne the enemies appeared in readinesse to scale the walles He certainly knowing that they sought nothing but his head onely and suspecting the fidelitie of his men for hee was hated of most he secretly withdrew himselfe by the bridge the rest all abandoning the towne betooke themselues to the Castle with the King The fugitiues straight possest themselues of the Market-place and then besieged the Castle The King demanded by his Messenger Gray the cause of their comming they answered To submit our selues to the King and humbly to kisse his Highnesse hand He offered to restore to them all their goods if they would retire But they replyed that they made no esteeme of their goods in comparison of the Kings gracious fauour desiring him to admit them to his royall presence the King consented but vpon these conditions That they should not attempt any thing either against his Maiesties Person or their lines whom he should nominate and that they should not bring in any innouation into the gouernment of the Kingdome They vowed their liues for the safety of their Prince protesting that they conceited not so much as a thought of bringing in of Nouelties But they desired for their better assurance that their aduersaries might be deliuered into their hands with the fortified places of the Realme Of this matter they consulted the whole day but necessitie compelling by reason of the multitude wherewith the Castle was full stuffed and the want of prouision they were at last admitted to the King And forthwith the Earles of Montrosh of Crawford and of Rothese the Colonell Stuart Downi the brother of the Earle of Arran and others were deliuered into their hands the Earle of Arran was publiquely accused to haue conspired against the estate and as for themselues the King indulgently pardoned them as good and well-deseruing subiects Hamilton Arbroth was established Gouernor of Dunbriton Coldingknol of the Castle of Edenborough Angus of Tomtall Marre of Sterlin and Glan Captaine of the Kings guards After this hauing by their faithfull duty remoued out of the Kings opinion all such crimes wherewith their enemies had burdened them and all suspitions which they had raised of them by a generall Amnistie all banishments proscriptions which had for what cause so euer been adiudged and ordained since the Coronation of the King were abolished excepting only those which had relation to the murder of the Kings father such as were adiudged against the Archbishop of Glasco the Bishop of Rosse and of Dunblan And with a common most constant consent of their minds the Soueraigne Authority of the King in contracting of a league with the Queen of England and deputing of Ambassadors was confirmed vnto him Onely Maxwell abused this singular clemency of the King For hauing obtained by the benefit of the Amnistie free Pardon for the cruell slaughter and Pillage committed vpon the Iohnstons yet such vvas his audacious pride that contemning the authoritie of the Lawes he commanded the sacrifice of the Masse to be celebrated at Dunfrise which of nineteene yeares before had not been permitted in Scotland For which deed hee was punished with three moneths imprisonment Neither was in these turbulent times Ireland next adioyning free from the tempests of rebellion For when the rest of the Prouinces of that Isle were setled in a profound peace a great rebellion broke forth in Connach the west part of Ireland proceeding of the naturall disposition of that nation impatient of rest and quiet and also of the hate which they conceiued against Rich. Bingham their Gouernor complaining that his Commands were sharpe and bitter The Gouernour seeing the great and powerfull men of Ireland exercise such grieuous tyranny vpon the poore miserable peoples forcing them to acknowledge no other Prince then them he omitted no meanes to restaine them and confirme the royal authority although he was often for the same odiously accused of cruelty to the Queene and Deputy Thomas Roe-Bourk of the most noble family of Bourg in England was the first that opposed himself being sent for to the lawful assembly in the County of Maie he refused to come The Gouernor for a time dissembled seeming not to make account thereof but presently after he commanded him and two others turbulent spirits of the same house to be apprehended lest they should breake out into a more dangerous rebellion Thomas was slaine in fight ere he could be intercepted Meiler and Theobald the other two were taken and hanged and thus had the whole rebellion beene at the beginning compressed had not certaine English enemies to the Gouernor aduertised the rest of that family prouidently to beware of the Gouernor and by any meanes not to come neere him They
either Prince or suffer any such person or persons in publike or in priuate to make stay or aboade in their Dominions But either of the said Princes vpon the first notice or request of the Prince from whom they haue reuolted offered shall deliuer or cause to be deliuered vp the said conspirators or Rebels without any delay or procrastination according to the Conuentions in our former Treaties betweene our selues and our predecessors expressed or at least shal compell them to depart out of the bounds of their Dominions And furthermore so long as the said Rebels or conspirators shall remaine in the said Dominions either of the said Princes shall giue reasonable satisfaction for all the wrongs and damages done by the said Rebels The ninth THat to compound for all and singular the iniuries and controuersies which haue hapned since the time that the most excellent King of Scots tooke the gouernment of the Kingdome vpon him and for the space of foure yeares before by reason of the frontier limits or amongst the borderers The Princes shall on either side within six moneths after this league concluded send capable Commissioners desirous of peace well instructed with commands sufficient and proper for the same affaires to some commodious place vpon the frontiers of both Kingdomes which shall determine and end all causes controuersies by a friendly and honorable composition The tenth THat neither of the said Princes shall contract any League or confederation with any other Prince Common-wealth or Communalty whatsoeuer to the preiudice of this present League and vnion without hauing and obtaining an expresse consent from the other by Letters either subscribed with his hand or sealed with his Priuy Seale That both Princes when either of them shall bee duely requested by the Ambassadors or Commissioners of the other shall approue and confirme this holy League of Society both by Oath and vnder the Great Seale And further for the greater assurance and stabilitie of the same shall deliuer or cause to be deliuered Letters Patents at a certaine time which by the mutuall consent of either Prince shall be constituted The eleuenth THat all the precedent Treaties of friendship and Conuentions of Leagues betweene the Predecessors of the said Princes their Kingdomes and Dominions though now seeming out of vse shall remaine in their vertue force and vigour And likewise this present treaty of mutuall alliance and fast friendship shall not derogate in any manner from the precedent Treaties and confederations passed by the said Princes with other their Allies or diminish in any part their waight and authoritie onely excepted the defence of the pure Religion which the said Princes doe defend and exercise at this present in their Kingdomes in which manner we vnderstand that this present League of offence and defence in its owne force shall remaine ratified and inviolable That when the King of Scotland shall come to the age of fiue and twenty yeares he shall so soon as he conueniently may approue and confirme by a publique assembly of his Kingdome this present League Likewise the Queenes Maiestie shall doe and accomplish the same thing and shall cause to be done and accomplished in the Court of Parliament by the Nobility and other states of the Kingdomes of England and Ireland In the same moneth that this League was concluded of a most pernicious conspiracy was discouered against Queene ELIZABETH of which in as few words as may possible be I will expound the originall and progresse according to that which I haue extracted out of the voluntary confessions of the conspirators Some out of the English Seminarie at Rheims admiring as it were with astonishment a certaine omnipotency in the Pope of Rome beleeuing that the Bull of Pius Quintus against Queene ELIZABETH was dictated to him by the Holy Ghost perswaded themselues and others also that desired the glory of being Martyrs that it was a meritorious thing to murder such as were excommunicate yea and a martyrdome to dye in such a cause Giffard Doctor in Diuinity Gilbert Giffard and Hodgeson Priests so farre possessed the minde of Iohn Sauage with these things who was reputed to be a bastard a man ready at all assayes that hee freely and voluntarily vowed to murder Queene ELIZABETH And to make men beleeue that they desired to assure the Queene and her Counsellors they published a booke at the same time wherein they admonished the Papists of England not to enterprize any thing against their Queene but with their teares which are the weapons of Christians to combate against her enemies And also by this meanes they dispersed a false rumor that George Giffard a Gentleman of the Queenes Guard had sworne to murder her and to that end was by the Guise hyred with large summes of money In Easter Holydayes Iohn Ballard Priest of the same Seminary after hee had visited many Papists in England and Scotland and had sounded their minds hee returned into France accompanied with Maude Walsinghams Spy a most crafty dissembler that had seduced his easie nature and treated vvith Barnardino Mendoza then Leidger for the King of Spaine in France and Charles Paget who was wholly deuoted to the Queene of Scots about the meanes to inuade England representing to him the apt opportunitie of the time which then vvas because the men of warre were then absent and busied in the Low-Countries neither was there a fitter time to bee hoped for because the Pope Spaniard Guise and Parma had then determined to inuade England to diuert the warres from the Netherlands But Paget clearely demonstrated that it would be in vaine to goe about to inuade England so long as the Queene was liuing Ballard neuerthelesse was sent backe after hee had sworne to procure speedy succours to them that should inuade and the liberty of the Queene of Scots At Whitsontide this Priest ariued in England apparelled in Silks in the habite of a Souldier and by a borrowed name called himselfe Captaine Foscue Hee consulted at London about these things with Anthony Babington of Dethicke in Darbyshire a yong man of a famous house of a haughty spirit in learning surpassing his age and very zealous to the Roman religion who without leaue had before passed into France vnknowne and there became familiar with Thomas Morgan a seruant to the Queene of Scots and the Bishop of Glasco her Ambassador who continually sounded in the eares of his ambitious yong man the heroicall vertues of the great Queene of Scots in whose seruice hee might obtaine the meanes to rise to great Honours Whereupon the yong man conceiued a certaine hope and Morgan without his knowledge commended him by Letters to the Queene For after that he was returned into England the Queene of Scots graciously saluted him with her Letters after that Morgan made vse of him for conueyance of Letters to and fro vntill such time that she was deliuered into the custody of Poulet then he perceiuing the danger
silent concluded the Tragedy For Babingtons brother being guilty of the same had strangled himselfe in prison After this execution M. Nauue a Frenchman and Curle both Secretaries to the Q. of Scots being examined of the Letters copies of Letters Notes and Characters found in the Queenes Closet presently confest and subscribed that they vvere their hand-writings dictated from her to them in French taken by Nauue and translated by Curle into English and vvritten out in secret Characters Neither denyed they that they had receiued Letters from Babington and that they by her bidding had written backe to him againe I will not say that they were hyred to say what they did yet this was plainely to be seene by their Letters and what Curle challenged at that time by Walsinghams promise but he reproued him as vnmindfull of the gracious fauours hee had receiued saying that hee had confessed nothing but what his fellow Nauue vrging him to hee could not deny Presently after Sir Edward Wotton is sent into France vvho was to certifie the King of all the Conspiracy and to shew the Copies of the Letters of the Queene of Scots and of others of the Nobility of England to testifie the truth of the cause that the King might perceiue in what perill the Queen was by the practices of Morgan Charles Paget and others then resident in France The Councell could not determine what should be done vvith the Queene of Scots Some aduised not to deale with her too rigorously but to haue her kept 〈◊〉 in Prison for that shee was not the Author of the conspiracie but conscious and because she was sickly and not likely to liue long Others were of opinion to haue her put to death by course of Law for feare of endangering Religion But the Earle of Leicester thought it better to dispatch her with poison and sent a Diuine to Sir Francis Walsingham to tel him that he thought it might lawfully be done But Sir Fr. Walsingham protested that he was so farre from consenting to haue any violence offered her as that he had diuerted Mortons purpose which was to haue had her sent into Scotland and to haue slaine her on the Borders It was argued againe amongst them by what Law she should be iudged Whether by that of An. 25 of Edward the 3 by which such were held guilty of Treason as conspired the death of the King or the Queene which should bring warre vpon their Kingdom or take part with their Enemies or by that of Anno 27 of ELIZABETH which I spoke of But the aduice of those which thought better of the latter preuailed for it vvas made in the case which vvas now to be handled and therefore proper There vvas chosen by Commission many of the Priuy Councell and of the Peeres of the Realme to proceed by vertue of the Law aboue-mentioned and to passe iudgement against such as had raised rebellion inuaded the Land or offered violence to the Queene c. And behold the words of the Statute as they are in the originall ELIZABETH by the Grace of God Queene of England France and Ireland c. To the most Reuerend Father in Christ Iohn Archbishop of Canterbury Primate and Metropolitane of England and one of our Priuy Councell and to our beloued and faithfull Tho Bromley knight Chancellor of England and of our priuy Councell as also to our welbeloued and faithfull William CECILL Baron of Burghley Lo high Treasurer of England our Priuy Counsellor c. Greeting c. The rest of the Lords Cōmissioners names for breuities sake are thus inserted Then after the rehearsing of the Law or Act as wee tearme it these words follow FOrasmuch as since the last Session of Parliament to wit since the first of Iune in the xxvij yeare of our raigne diuers things haue beene attempted and conceiued tending to the hurt of our royall Person aswell by Mary daughter heyre to Iames the fift late King of Scotland and Dowager of France pretending a title to the crowne of the Kingdome of England as also by diuers other persons with the priuitie of the said Mary according as it hath beene giuen vs to vnderstand And whereas we intend and determine that the said Act should in all and by all be well duely and effectually executed according to the forme and tenour of the said Act. And that all the offences in the aforesaid Act and the circumstances of the same aboue mentioned be duely examined and sentence or iudgement accordingly be giuen agreeable to the tenour and effect of that Act We giue to you or the maior part of you full and absolute power licence and authority according to the purport and meaning of the aboue recyted Act to examine all euery thing and things tending to the impeachment of our royall person which haue beene practised or conceiued aswell by the aforesaid Mary as by any other persons whatsoeuer with the knowledge and priuity of her all circumstances of the same and other forenamed offences whatsoeuer specified as hath beene abouesaid and all circumstances of the said offences and euery of them And moreouer according to the forenamed Act to pronounce sentence or iudgement according as the matter shall appeare to you vpon sufficient proofe And therefore We command you that yee proceed diligently vpon the foresaid matters in maner abouesaid vpon certaine dayes and in certaine places as you or the maior part of you shall thinke good Most part of these Commissioners met together the 11. of October at Fotheringham in the countie of Northampton vpon the riuer Nen where the Queene of Scotts was then kept The next day after the Commissioners sent to her Mildmay Sir Ayme Poulet and Barker publick Notary who deliuered vnto her the Queenes Letters which when she had read with a bold spirit and maiestick countenance she thus answered IT grieueth me that my dearest sister the Queene hath beene so badly informed against me and that after so many yeares as my body hath beene shut vp and kept with watch and ward the many iust conditions which I haue offered for my liberty haue been neglected and my selfe abandoned I haue sufficiently aduertised her of many dangers yet neuerthelesse she hath not giuen credite vnto me but alwayes reiected them though I be the next of her bloud When a combination was begunne and an Act of Parliament thereupon made I foresaw that what dangers soeuer might happen eyther from forraigne Princes abroad discontented persons at home or for Religion would redound vpon me hauing so great enemies in Court I might take it ill to haue my sonne contracted without my knowledge but I omit that Now as touching this Commission it seemeth strange to me to be arraigned in iudgement like a subiect being an absolute Queene not committing any thing preiudiciall to the Queenes royall Maiesty to any Princes of mine owne ranke and dignitie or against my sonne Mine
they suggested that the English Nauy was neither in number greatnesse nor strength comparable to the Spanish the Portugall Fleet being then added That England was altogether vnfortified neyther was it furnished with Commanders Souldiers Horse or prouision for warres but destitute both of friends and money besides there were many through the Kingdome which were addicted to Papistrie and would soone ioyne themselues in his ayde Last of all so great were the forces of the King of Spaine both by Sea and Land and the vertue of the Spaniards such that none would dare to oppose him and therefore they promised assuredly a certaine victory To this enterprise also that God had presented a fit opportunity for the Turke hauing then cōcluded a truce with him and the French beeing intangled with intestine warres were neither to be doubted or feared That it was more facile to subdue England than the Low-Countries because the passage out of Spaine into England is more short and commodious and through a vast and open Sea but into the Netherlands of greater length and difficultie through a narrow Sea and very neere adiacent to England That the Netherlands were in a manner continually a strong Bulwarke being on all parts fortified with Townes and Castles but England not with any and therefore it would be an easie matter euen at the first in an instant for him to penetrate to the very heart of the Land with an Army Finally according to that military Axiome That the Enemy should not be left behinde therefore it was most necessary for the Spaniard to subdue England being a mortall enemy by whose assistance the Low-Countries had so long sustained a great warre and with whom they could not at all stand So that if England were but once conquered the Netherlands must of necessity yeeld to subiection These matters thus resolued they began seriously to deliberate vpon some meanes for the inuasion of England Aluarus Bassanus Marquesse of Santa Croix Generall of the Nauy was of a minde That before all some Port or other in Holland or Zealand should by those Land-troupes which the Prince of Parma had and some few Spanish Ships sent before be vnawares to them surprized where the Spanish Fleete might make their retreate and from thence most opportunely begin the inuasion because that in the Brittish Sea being tempestuous the windes are subiect to often changing the ebbing and flowing thereof principally to be obserued the Fleete could not safely ride Of this aduice likewise was the Prince of Parma who earnestly vrged this expedition Others notwithstanding disallowed thereof as being a thing difficult full of danger requiring much time great labour large expence yet vncertaine of successe neyther could it be done secretly or vnawares and by the English would easily be hindred and frustrated And these were of opinion That one might at lesse charges and with more facilitie assault and subdue England if at the mouth of the Thames a puissant Army of Spaniards and Flemmings were placed and conuayed in a powerfull Nauy to take at the first vnawares the City of London the Capitall and Chiefe of the Kingdome This seeming easie was resolued vpon and speedily determined to be put in execution yet some neuerthelesse were of a mind that war should first be proclaymed by a Herauld and that in so doing it would be a sleight to take away all suspition from all Neighbouring-Princes and moue the Queene to call to her helpe forreine souldiers who as mercenary being insolent and vile would behaue themselues rudely and tumultuously ransacking and pillaging the Countries in such sort that it would take away the loue of her Subiects and put England in confusion But these mindes were not seconded by those who were obstinate as relying vpon the assurance of their forces and strength contenting themselues to put their cause their Nauy Armada's into the Popes hand and into the intercessions of the Catholiques to the Saints and to afright and terrifie England they set out a Libell printed containing the particulars of so great an equipage which truely was such that in Spaine Italy and Cicilia the Spaniards were amazed astonished at it and therefore audaciously termed it The inuincible NAVY The Duke of Parma caused also Ships to bee built in Flanders by the commandement of the Spaniard and likewise a number of Flat-bottom'd Boats each of them bigge enough to transport thirtie Horses with Bridges fitting to them hyred Mariners out of the East-Land Countries of Germany prouided Pikes sharpened at the one end and shod with Iron with hookes on one side twenty thousand Vessels and an infinite number of Wicker Baskets and placed in the Sea-Townes of Flanders one hundred and three Companies of foot and foure thousand horse amongst which were seuen hundred English Fugitiues a most contemned and despised Company Neyther were Stanley their Generall nor Westmerland nor any other who had assisted eyther with purse or person regarded but for their impietie against their Countrey prohibited all accesse and deseruedly and as ill presages not without detestation reiected And Pope Sixtus the Fifth lest hee should seeme to be wanting renewes vnto Cardinall Alane an English man sent into the Low-Countries The Declaratory Bulls of Pius the Fifth and Gregorie the Thirteenth excommunicates the Queene deposes her from her gouernement absolues her Subiects from their allegiance publisheth in print the Crusado as against Turks and Infidels whereby out of the Treasury of the Church hee bestowes vpon all assistants plenarie indulgence whereupon the Marquesse of Burgaw of the House of Austria the Duke of Pastraua Amadaeus of Sauoy Vespasian Gonzaga Iohn de Medices and diuers other noble Gentlemen serued in this warre as Volunteers On the other side Queene ELIZABETH lest shee should be vnawares opprest with singular diligence prepares as many ships and warlike necessaries as was possible And shee her-selfe who was of a piercing iudgement in distinguishing of dispositions and when shee was at her owne election without commendation of others alwaies happy designed by name the principall Officers to the seuerall Offices in the Nauie and made Charles Howard of Effingham Lord high Admirall of England Generall of whose good successe shee was very well perswaded as a man whom she knew to be skilfull in Nauigation prouident valiant industrious and of great authority amongst Sea-men by reason both of his moderation and Nobility Shee sends him seasonably enough to the West parts of England where Drake whom shee made Vice-Admirall ioyned himselfe with him Shee commands Henrie Seimer the second sonne of the Duke of Sommerset to lye in waite vpon the Belgique shores with fortie Ships English and Dutch to hinder Parma's comming out of the Riuers with his forces Although there wanted not some who earnestly aduised to expect the Enemy and receiue him in a Land-battel as it was deliberated in HENRY the Eighth's Reigne when the French threatned England with a mightie Nauy For the Land-seruice