the Protestants secretly sought entrance into the Queens Presence with a drawn Sword set upon one or two in his way and being apprehended confessed that he purposed to have killed the Queen Ed. Ardern his Father-in-Law a Gentleman of Warwick-shire and Arderns Wife and their Daughter Somervil's Wife and Hall a Priest were condemned as guilty of Somervil's practice After three days Somervile was found strangled in Prison for fear of revealing it as was thought where he lay and Ardern was hanged the next day Mendoza the Spanish Ambassador thrust out of England IN 1584 some English Gentlemen began to practise the delivery of the Queen of Scots Francis Throgmorton was suspected by Letters written to the Queen of Scots and intercepted Presently Thomas Lord Paget and Charles Arundel a Courtier left the Land secretly Henry Earl of Northumborland and Philip Earl of Arundel were commanded to their Houses And there was great cause of circumspection for the Papists by printed Books incited the Maids of Honour to do that agianst the Queen that Judith did against Holofernes Yet was the Queens Mercy such that she caused 70 Priests to be sent out of England The chief of them were Gasper Heywood who of all the Jesuits first came into England James Bosgrave John Haâ—â— and Edward Rishton who presently after wrote a Book against the Queen At this time Bernardinus Mendoza the Spanish Ambassador was thrust out of England for practising Treason against the State He having dealt with Throgmarton and others to bring in strangers to invade the Land as appeared by Throgmorton's action who being apprehended sent one of his Packets to Mendoza His other Packets being searched there was found a Catalogue of all the Havens in England sit to land in and another of all the Noblemen in England which favoured the Romish Religion And he did not deny that he had promised his help to Mendoza and the help of those Nobles it was fit he should deal with A Popish practice against Q. Elizabeth discovered not without a Miracle by Creighton's torn Papers a Scotish Jesuit QUeen Elizabeth that rare Paragon of her Sex and that fairly flourishing Flower which Traitors though oft attempted could never nip nor crop up being a Princess both Prudent Pious and Pitiful seeking therefore a fair opportunity and sutable means to set the Queen of Scots at those Times tainted with some Treasonable Practices against her Crown and Person at liberty And for that purpose sent Sir William Wade who was then returned out of Spain to confer with her of the means thereunto And the good Queen was about to send Sir Walter Mildmay to bring this aim of hers to further issue But some further terrors and fears in the interim brake out between them which disturbed that intention especially by a notable discovery by certain Papers which one Creighton a Jesuit sailing into Scotland did then tear in pieces when he was apprehended in the Ship by Dutch-Pirates at Sea whose person being by them â—â—ised on he took forth his Papers wherein it seems the project of a Traiterous Plot against Queen Elizabeth at that time was described tore them into small pieces and with all his force threw them into the Sea But see how the Lord 's good Providence ordered it as they flew in the Air the Wind blew stifly by force whereof they were all blown back again into the Ship even in a miraculous manner as the Jesuit himself confessed when he saw it Which Papers were all kept and gathered together sent to England to Sir William Wade aforesaid and with much labour and singular skill so joyned and set together again that he found they contained a notable new Plot among many other of the Popes the Spaniards and the Guise's resolution to Invade England Whereupon and by reason of many other rumours of dangers intended against the Queen and whole Kingdom of England a great number of all sorts of Men out of common charity and to shew their love and affectionate care of the welfare of the Queen and State bound themselves by an Association as then it was called by mutual promises and subscriptions of Hands and Seals to prosecute all such by all their force and might even unto death that should attempt any thing against the Life of the Queen or Welfare of the Kingdom Now the Queen of Scots took this as a thing devised to bring her into danger and she also was so continually set upon by seditious spirits who if they may but have access are able to draw the greatest Princes to destruction And what have been their practices from time to time but to bring great Persons and greatest Families to ruin Lamentable experience shews openly the fruit of their malice and mischievous plots of Treason which they impiously and audaciously call and count nothing else but advancing of their Catholick Cause Now the Scots Queen led on by her blind guides dealt most importunely with the Pope and Spaniards by Sir Francis Englefield that by all means they would with speed undertake their intended Business namely the Invasion of our Realm For the advancing whereof the Pope and Spanidrd had resolved on these points 1. That Queen Elizabeth should be deprived of her Kingdom 2. That the King of Scots a manifest favourer of Heresie should utterly be dis-inherited of the Kingdom of England 3. That the Scots Queen should Marry some Noble-Man of England that was a Catholick 4. That this Man must be chosen King of England by the Catholicks of England 5. That this choice so made must be confirmed by the Pope 6. That the Children of him so chosen begotten of the Scots Queen must be declared Successors in the Kingdom All these things were confirmed to be true by the testimoney of one Hart a Priest Who was that noble English-man that should marry the Scots-Queen was much enquired after by Sir Francis Walsingham with all diligence but not certainly found out yet there was strong suspicion of Henry Howard Brother to the Duke of Norfolk who was Noble by birth unmarried and a fast favourer of that Religion and in great grace and favour with them All these things were discovered by this Creighton the Jesuite's torn Papers as aforesaid And all this their plotting and contriving of France Spain and the Pope against Queen Elizabeth and King James for no other cause but for their Religion which they had now fairly begun to establish among their People Parry Executed for Treason IN the year 1585 William Parry a Welehman and Doctor of Law spake against that Law which in the Parliament then held was Exhibited and called it a Bloody Law Presently after he was accused of practizing the Queen's death He confessed voluntarily in the Tower that having obtained the Queen's pardon for breaking into the Chamber and wounding one Hare for which he was Condemned he being a sworn Servant to the Queen from England he went into France and was reconciled Afterward at Venice in consultation
〈…〉 â—â—â—â—UNT 〈◊〉 â—HE â—everal PLOTS CONSPIRACIES and Hellish ATTEMPTS of the Bloody-minded PAPISTS against the Princes and Kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland from the Reformation to this present Year 1678. AS ALSO Their Cruel Practices in France against the Protestants in the Massacre of Paris c. WITH A more particular Account of their Plots in relation to the late Civil War and their Contrivances of the Death of King CHARLES the First of blessed Memory LONDON Printed for J. R. and W. A. 1679. Plots Conspiracies and Attempts of Domestick and Foraign Enemies of the Romish Religion against the Princes and Kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland c. THose which make descriptions of large Countries in small Tables offend not against truth though somewhat against quantity so Pliny telleth us Notwithstanding with much convenience case to the beholder and truth of observation things are presented to our Eyes in those little Draughts that the very places themselves being viewed with great Trouble and loss of Time cannot yeeld more benefit to the most diligent oftentimes not so much Wherefore especially because the Argument cannot be now unseasonable for the abridgment of the Commentaries of large Histories is not unlike Maps of Kingdoms I have here collected out of divers Authors which have severally handled parts of this subject into one The chief Conspiracies and Attempts against the Kingdoms alone and immediately of great Britain and Ireland or else mediately through the sides of the Princes of these Countries by Traytors at home or abroad of the Romish Religion or foraign Enemies by treacherous courses of those of the same bloody superstition The beginning I make the first-time of Reformation of Religion here in England under Queen Elizabeth and the extent unto this present Year I begin no higher than Queen Elizabeth because the Reformation of Henry the eight was but in part and the other of King Edward was an interrupted one by the sudden succession of his Sister Queen Mary the rather because for ought we know there was no great matter plotted against this hopeful young Prince that was not rather from Ambition if there was any such than from a desire of subverting Religion Not but that the Enemies of our Religion and Kingdom had us then in their Minds but other ways there were before bloody and desperate Practises were to be taken in hand to be first entred into of less difficulty and more hopeful success And these are the steps the Adversaries of our Religion use to tread who thirsting after England labour first to bring us back to Rome by striving to make our selves hate our own Religion and leave that God which brought us out of the Land of Egypt bewitching us with glorious Idolatry of the golden Calves of Rome introducing Ignorance and Blindness that we may when our Eyes are out patiently grind in the Mill of Slavery If this course fail the next is by Poyson Murdes and force of Arms to draw us to Sodom and Egypt The Reformation of England and Ireland fall under one time and because that of Scotland also differeth not many years in age they may all be brought in one account With the Plots are jointly handled the Deliverances which in some respect or other may very well be called great either in regard of the Misery we had fallen into if God had not prevented them of the slavery of Soul and Body and this agreeth with all Or else for the strangeness of the discoveries of their mischiefs sometime almost miraculous before they have come to their birth or disappointing them of their purposes when the Authors have put them in practise and these two respects the one or the other which may well denominate God's goodness to us in disappointing them to be great may be found in all likewise So that for these Mercies received we ought to ascribe to our Deliverer that which is due unto him the praise of his own Work and continual thanks for his Mercies which even to this day is from those Deliverances of the days of old extended we should have bin then betrayed but we had now bin Slaves both we our selves and ours one Plot had it succeded had bin the betraying of England at once to them who love themselves too well to have it lost easily and are so wise that they endure no Traitors but for themselves nor can endure any that loves his Country but a Spaniard We may learn also to trust in him even now particularly who is the same yesterday and to day and for ever nor is his hand shortned that he cannot save nor his Ear heavy that he cannot hear those that call upon him lifting up pure Hands in sincerity of Heart although the Sins of our Nation in general may justly provoke our God to punish us by them that hate us for that cause that instead of extirpating Popery and Superstition a thing not hard to be done in human Reason if the Children of Papists were carefully educated under Protestant Tutors we think their Religion tolerable and nothing so dangerous to Soul or Body as some Men seem to make it Should we not detest and abhor the Religion of such a Generation as count they do God good service by killing us witness the bloody Persecution under Queen Mary and the damnable Plot of the Gun-Powder Treason Yet some there are that would seem Protestants and yet deny that their cruelty was such as the Author of the English Martyrology makes the Marian Persecution to be Others of no small esteem in the Church of England instead of acknowledging Foxes History a Monument of Martyrs call it a Book fraught with Traitors and Hereticks And for the Gun-Pouder Conspiracy some affirm it the deeds of a few Male-Contents far from the approbation of the Catholicks others as falsly that there was no such Treason intended but that it was an invention of him whom in reverence I forbear to name But yet this may incourage us that God will still preserve us for their sakes that have now and heretofore stoutly defended God's true Religion and that in very many places of this Land we have had those that with all their power have opposed the very beginnings of Popery But wonderful it is and scarcely credible that any should so much have forgotten the Gun-Powder Treason as to say that they would rather trust a Papist than a Puritan as if they believed not there was any such Treason or had forgotten it or that they thought that those whom Men call Puritans were traiterously minded and bloody Persons In the most Reverend and Judicious Assembly of this Kingdom a Member of that Assembly declared in particulars how the best Men have bin branded with the name of Puritan it was where any Man might freely have spoken yet no Man contradicted him If it be given sometime to the best without question those ordinarily called by that bie-name are none of the worst because from likeness at least
appointed came ever to the hands of Sir Francis Walsingham who coppied out the Letters and by the Art of Thomas Philips found out the Character and by the help of one Gregory sealed them up that none could suspect them opened and then sent the Letters as they were directed The Queen hereupon commanded Ballard to be apprehended which was done Babington advised presently to send Savage and 〈◊〉 to kill the Queen Babington intreateth leave of Walsingham 〈◊〉 into France and sueth fox Ballard's liberty who would be of use 〈…〉 discovery and to avoid suspition Sir Francis keepeth 〈…〉 with delays and draweth him to his own House Skidmore Sir Francis's Servant was commanded to observe him strictly and to go with him pretending lest he should be taken with Messengers This Letter being read for the Command was written by Skidmore was perceived and read also by Babington sitting by him who Supping with Sir Francis's Man in a Tavern pretending to rise to go pay the Reckoning lest his Cloak and Rapier and fled Then Barnwel Gage Dun Charnick being in the mean time proclaimed Traitors fled into the Woods and after were concealed fed and clothed in a rustical habit by one Bellamy at Harrow on the Hill After ten days they were found and brought to London Salisbury was taken in Staffordshire and Traverse also Jones in Wales not privy to the Conspiracy but he concealed them and furnished Salisbury and his Man with a changed Cloak Windsor was not found Gilford was sent into France as an Exile and there died Sept. 13. Seven of the Conspirators being brought to Judgment confest themselves guilty and were condemned of Treason other seven the next day pleaded not guilty but were guilty and condemned Polly though guilty yet for consessing something to Sir Francis Walsingham was not brought to Judgments on the 20th the first seven were hanged and quartered in St. Giles's Fields where they used to meet The French Ambassador's Plot to kill the Queen IN the Year 1587 Obespineus the French Ambassador of the Guisian faction conferred with William Stafford to kill Q. Elizabeth Stafford refused it but commended one Moody in Prison Trappius Secretary to the said Ambassador in the absence of Stafford conferred with Moody about the deed Moody proposed Poison or a bag of Gun-powder Trappius disliked it and wished rather for such a Man as the Burgundian which killed the Prince of Orange this thing Stafford revealed to the Council Trappius was apprehended going into France and afterward the Ambassador Moody Stafford Trappius all accused the Ambassador before the Lords who sent for the Ambassador Staffordâ—â—ginning â—â—ginning to speak was interrupted by the Ambassador saying that Stafford first proposed it to him who if he did not desist threatned to send him bound Hand and Foot to the Queen Stafford upon his Knees with great protestations affirmed that the Ambassador first moved it The Ambassador was admonished to take heed of such Crimes and dismist by Burley insinuating unto him that it was more the Queen's Clemency than that his Office claimed any such favour The Spanish Armada IN the Year 1588 was set out by the King of Spain for the Conquest of England the Invincible as they called it Navy For this purpose the Duke of Parma had an Army in Flanders of one hundred and three Companies of Foot and three thousand Horse among which were seven hundred English Fugitives the Bull of Pius Quintus for Excommunicating Q. Elizabeth is renewed by Sixtus Quintus and a plenary Indulgence granted to all who would joyn against England The Queen prepared a Navy also and makes the Lord Charles Howard Admiral and sends him into the West to joyn with Sir Francis Drake Vice-Admiral Henry Seymor second son to the Duke of Somerset with 40 Ships English and Dutch is appointed to stop Parma's coming forth upon the Land Southward were placed 20000 Men another Army of 22000 Foot and a 1000 Horse at Tilbury under Leicester another Army guarded the Person of the Queen consisting of 34000 Foot and 2000 Horse under Henry Lord Hunsdon The Council of War decreed that all places commodious to land in should be strengthened with Men and Ammunition which places should be defended with the Trained-Bands in the Maritime Countries to hinder the Enemies landing if he should land then they should waste the Country round about that he might find no more relief than he brought and that they should keep him in continual Alarms To secure the Queen at Home from Papists some were committed to Wisbitch Castle There was in the mean time a Treaty of Peace from the Spaniards even till the Fleet was almost come to the English Coast The Spanish Fleet consisted of 130 Ships 19290 Souldiers Mariners 8350 chained Rowers 2080. Great Ordnance 2630. They loosed out of the River of Tagus three of their Ships by the help of David Guin an English Servant and the Turkish Rowers were carried into France the rest of this mighty Fleet was by God's help overthrown and dispersed with eight Fire-ships made to cut their Cables weigh their Anchors and flie confusedly and the Admiral Gallyasse was taken when they began again to gather together they were battered and torn divers of them perishing in the Sea So a Navy three years in preparing was overthrown in a Month many of their Men being slain and drowned divers of their Ships sunk and taken not 100 Englishmen lost and but one Ship driven about Scotland Oroades and Ireland much Impaired and returned with shame God's Name be honoured Lopez his undertaking to poison the Queen IN the Year 1593 one Stephen Ferrera de Gama which came with Don Antonio the expulsed King of Portugal into England and afterwards sought to be reconciled to the King of Spain being of inward familiarity with one Roger Lopez a Portugues the Queen's Physician prevailed with him to promise to poison Q. Elizabeth Ferrera writeth to Ibarra the King of Spain's Secretary at Wars about the promise of Lopez and his requiring for the undertaking 50000 Crowns Ferrera promised him that there should one come in the habit of a Mariner to him who should bring him the value of 50000 Crowns in Rubies and Diamonds this was Lopez's own confession who added also that it could not be but that the King of Spain was acquainted with the matter for the Money was to come from the King of Spain He further confessed that Stephen Ferrera told him that if he would offer to the Count Fuentes this great service to poison her Majesty he should want no Money and hereupon he was coâ—â—â—nt that Ferrera should write to the Count Fuentes or Secretary Ibâ—â—â—â— to assure them that the Doctor would undertake to poison her This secret was discovered by Letters which were intercepted for all Letters to any Portugues and every Portugues coming from beyond Sea was to be staied superscribed to Diego Heruandes from Francis Torres Diego Hernandes Ferrera confessed to be himself Francis Torres was one Manoel
by no other way but by Arguments Into Scotland were sent three Sorbon Doctors with the Bishop of Amiens But with what safety might any Man dispute with them when he that did so was in the midst of his armed Enemies and there was greatest fear of violence from the Disputers themselves For the Bishop of Amiens counselled the Queen Regent that if any there were which should be found to dispute against the Romish Decrees he should be put to death yea even those who but seemed to be of another Mind only We are not informed that the Queen Regent put in practice the foregoing counsels perhaps the time was not altogether seasonable nor do we take every single action which might conduce to the subverting of Religion to be a Conspiracy but we may well esteem by the Queens Words the Councellors and Commanders Intents and Purposes the placing of such a Regent all this to be a continued Conspiracy to strangle in the birth the Church of Scotland having yet scarcely taken breath in the World Not long after the Queen Regent dyeth and although it will perhaps be said there was no discovery of any Conspiracy which was in acting as to put to death all the Nobility or all that would dare dispute against the Bishop or Doctors could be no easy task to go about the latter because the death of their last Martyr Walter Mille did seem so grevious unto them and if any more should suffer how would such a thing be taken by French-men People of another Nation It may be objected from the above named Arguments that there wanted no endeavour After the death of the Mother the Daughter returning into Scotland was married unto Henry Lord Darnley who being of the same Religion with the Queen and they both a Brothers and Sisters Children did strongly maintain Popery against the Protestant Religion We cannot imagine here that any thing should be contrived against the lives of those Princes by a Popish Party to overthrow Religion For to subvert Religion no way could be found better than by maintaining in life and honour such Princes as these two were who professed and maintained Popery as contrarily to subvert Religion Laws Liberties and the like the best means are through the sides of such Kings and Queens as are Projectors and Maintainers of them So the holy Scripture declareth by Word and Example I will smite the Shepheard and the Sheep shall be scattered For this Queen was so far from furthering the establishment of Religion nay from connivence at those who should go about any such matter that she professed she would follow the example of her Cousin Queen Mary of England which was no other thing than maintaining in her Dominions the Pope and Popery and punishing the contrary minded as Hereticks It will not be thought I suppose that either the Papists at home in Scotland or those in France or elsewhere would go about to take away the lives of such Princes whose lives secured their Religion For what was attempted against the Life and most unhappily succeeded of the King was not any way to subvert Popery because the deed was committed and the Plot chiefly laid by Papists It rather was undertaken against the Life of this Prince by some to make way for their own Family to inherit the Crown of Scotland by others to get the Kingdom and admit any Religion But those that look farther into Matters judg this act to be committed against a Professor of the Romish Religion that he being taken out of the way another might succeed which had greater Power and Friends to bring to pass what King Henry the Queens Husband had a Mind but not Power enough to do And that made those who were no Enemies to the King in point of Religion not dislike the Treason for the Ends sake I cannot be of their Minds altogether who judg that of the Queen of Scots being now in restraint in England not long before married to Earl Bothwell and presently to desire a Devorce from him and to require that he should be summoned within the space of a very few days to return into the Kingdom to make answer and defence to the Queens Suit of Divorce to have proceeded from the changing Fancy of the Queen not so much from Conscience For it was as well known before her departure into England as after that Earl Bothwell had a Wife living when he married the Queen insomuch that at the publishing the banes of their Matrimony one stood up in the Church and forbad them It was generally thought that it was that a way might be open for the Duke of Norfolk who then made Suit unto her He indeed was such a Man as being of great Wealth mighty in Friends and singular Abilities of Mind could better bring about what was desired than a Man of no great riches at any time but was now in extream Poverty and Disgrace in the Dominions of the King of Denmark and notoriously infamous for his Crimes in Sctoland The Rebellion of the Earls of Northumberland and Westmerland AT this time the King of Spain wrote unto the Duke of Norfolk to join with the Earls of Northumberland and Westmerland to riase a Rebellion in England and to the Earl of Ormond to do the like in Ireland These Letters were shown unto Queen Elizabeth by the Duke and the Earl that from hence at least might appear their Loyalty Nevertheless whether by the advice of the Bishop of Rost who lay as Ambassdor at London for the Queen of Scots and one Rodolf a Florentine going in the appearance of a Merchant Factor or purposing of himself whatsoever he might pretend he privately sought to marry the Queen of Scots she being next Heir to the Crown of England contrary to his Promise made unto his Sovereign Queen Elizabeth The Queen of Scots and the Duke participate of one anothers Mind by Letters written in hidden Characters Neither was this a matter only supposed but the Dukes Secretary one Higford who was commanded by the Duke to burn such Letters as came from the Queen of Scots but did it not and hid them under a Mat in his Chamber and being under examination he caused them to be produced This was when the two Earls of Northumberland and Westmerland had secretly complotted to raise Arms and not long after the Dukes apprehension they fell into open Rebellion One of the Letters which was shewn at the Dukes arraignment was to this purpose That the Queen was sorry that the said Earls of Northumberland and Westmerland were in Arms before the Dukes Forces were ready This was undertaken after that Pope Pius Quintus had in Bulls from Rome printed and sent to Rodolf absolved Queen Elizabeths Subjects from their Allegiance The Pope perswaded the Spaniard to assist the Conspirators that his affairs in the Netherlands might prosper the better and the French did the like that the Queen of England might be less able to send aid to the Protestants
in France Northumberland and Westmerland having thus taken Arms Supplies and Moneys failing withdrew themselves into Scotland Norfolk was thrown into Prison Rodulf being in Custody for whom the Pope had appointed 150000 Crowns to help the Conspirators was for want of clear proof dismissed Rodolf being got out of Prison afterward distributeth the 150000 Crowns to the Partners in the Treason He being with the Pope is sent by him to the Spaniard to press him to give assistance to the King of Protugal also for the same purpose He wrote also to the Duke of Norfolk promising to send him aid The Popes Letter to the Spaniard was That he should send an Army out of the Low-Countries to invade England And this very thing the Spaniard endeavoured There was now a difference betwixt Queen Elizabeth and the Spaniard about Money sent by him to the Duke of Alva but was intercepted by the Queen and that was one pretence that the Spaniard had for his dealing agianst our Queen and Kingdom But the Duke of Norfolk was put to death Nor is this the Relation of an English Protenstant but of a Papist a good part whereof had not been known but for him one Hieronimus Calena The Book was printed at Rome by the priviledg of Pius Quintus 1588. The Earls of Northumberland and Westmerland seduced by one Morton a Priest and at Duresine set up the Mass thence they marched to Clifford-moore where hearing that the Queen of Scots was removed to Coventry that the Earl of sussex was sent with strong Forces against them and that Sir George Bowes was behind them and had fortified Bernards Castle that Scroupe and Cumberland had fortified Carlile and had also an Army in readiness that the Souldiers of Barwick and the power of Northumberland were in New-castle besieged Bernards Casle and took it on Conditions Then for fear of the Earl of Sussex they fled to Hexam thence by by-ways to Naworth Castle from that place into Scotland and from thence was Northumberland sent and here beheaded Westmerland escaped into the Netherlands where with a poor pension under the Spaniard he lived poorly all his Days Dacres his endeavour to deliver the Scots Queen IN the Year 1569 Leonard Dacres second Son of William Lord Dacres of Gillesland being grieved to see a very great Patrimony go from him to the Daughters of the Baron whom the Duke of Norsolk their Father-in-Law had joined in marriage with his Sons grew revengeful and joining with the Rebels endeavoured to deliver the Queen of Scots yet a little before being at the Court promised to assist the Queen his Soveraign agianst the Rebels but treacherously he undertook to kill the Lord Scroup and Bishop of Carlisle to whose custody the Scottish Queen was committed but he failing in the performance took Grastock Castle holding it as his own aud gathered Soldiers The Lord Hunsdon met him with the trained Souldiers of Barwick and after a sharp conflict overcometh him and Dacres fled into Scotland from thence into the Netherlands where at Lovaine he lived and died poorly Fitz-Morris raiseth Rebellion in Ireland IN this Year Edmund and Peter Butler Brethren to the Earl of Ormond joining with James Fitz-Morris of the House of Desmond entred into a Conspiracy against Queen Elizabeth and to further it came Joannes Mendoza secretly out of Spain The Earl of Ormond going into Ireland caused them to submit they were imprisoned and for their Brother the Earl sake not brought to Tryal The Lord Deputy and Sir Humphry Gilbert through Gods assistance appeased that rebellion It is clear enough that this Rebellion in Ireland arose from the Spaniard as the first mover for to this end he sent Mendoza into Ireland and had not long before written to the Earl Brother to the two Rebels to raise a Rebellion in Ireland Stanleys Conspiracy IN the Year 1570 under a colour of delivering the Queen of Scots Thomas Stanly and Edward younger Sons of the Earl of Darby Thomas Jerard Rolston Hall with others in Darby shire conspired but the Son of Rolston which was Pensioner to the Queen disclosed the Conspiracy All but Hall were imprisoned Hall escaped into the Isle of Man thence by the commendation of the Bishop of Ross he was sent into Dunbritan whence the Castle being won he was brought to London and suffered Death Dissimulation of Don John of Austria IN the Year 1576 Don John of Austria coming into the Low-Countries as Governour sent Gastellus to Queen Elizabeth pretending a perpetual Edict for Peace The Queen as if ignorant of any bad intent sent Rogers to congratulate John's Edict yet she knew that Don John had conceived a certain hope marrying the Queen of Scots and of enjoying Scotland and England intending to invade the lsle of Man that from thence he might out of Ireland the North of England and Scotland also where he knew were many Papists invade England This Man to help forward this great design practised secretly with the Pope and with the King of Spain for the Havens of Biscay But the King of Spain neglected him in this desire accounting England and Scotland a Morsel litter for his own Palate During this Treaty of perpetual Peace this treacherous Don treateth secretly with the Scottish Queen about the Marriage and the better to work his own ends took divers Towns and Castles in the Low-Countries by treachery and wrote into Spain that for the invasion of the Netherlands it would be best to seize on first the Towns of Zealand before the more inland places and that England might with the more ease be first invaded The Queen in the mean while prepareth for War but God cut off this her Enemy very suddenly before the fruits of his high thoughts were ripe Stucley's design against Ireland NOt Long before this time in Ireland Thomas Stucley a prodigal riotous and needy English man discontented for that he lost the Stewardship of Wexford breaths out Contumelies against the Queen and betaketh himself to the Pope with whom he treateth and boasteth that he will subdue Ireland with 3000 Men and burn the Queen's Navy Pope Pius Quintus had a great opinion of him After him Gregory the 13 and the King of Spain consulted together to invade England and Ireland at once The Pope aimed to get for his Son James Boncompayno the Kingdom of Ireland and the Spaniard chiefly to imitate the course of Queen Elizabeth who to keep the Spaniard busy abroad secretly sent aid to the Dutch that he might with draw her help from the Low-Countries But because the strength of England consisteth chiefly in the Navy the King of Spain seâ—teth the Merchants of Italy and the Netherlands a work to hire the Merchants ships of England and so to send them away in very long Voyages that the Ships being from home and Stucley joining with the Rebels of Ireland the Queen's Navy might be overthrown by a greater The Pope gave him very great Title in Ireland and sent
Lowys who had served the King of Portugal but remained now at Bruxels About Count Fuentes the Letter was very mystical and pretended Merchandise as that the Merchants on the other side did commend his Wares c. assuring him of good return c. and therefore desired him to continue there some time They commended the Jewel he sent and reported how the Ambet and Musk was highly esteemed and spake of Broad-Cloth Scarlet Threads of Pearl Diamond c. which Letter was consessed to be in Answer to that was written by Lopez to take away the Queen's life more Letters there were to the foresaid purpose from Secretary Ibarra to Stephen Ferrera and from the Count Fuontes at Bruxels Stephen Ferrera told Peter Ferrera his Keeper that himself and Lopez had written into Spain and made offer to give the Queen poison Squires Practice to poison the Queens Saddle ANno Dom. 1596 one Edward Squire sometimes a Scrivener at Greenwich afterwards a deputy Purveyor for the Queens Stable in Sir Francis Drake's last Voyage was taken Prisoner and carried into Spain and being set at liberty one Walpole a Jesuite grew acquainted with him and got him into the Inquisition whence he returned a resolved Papist he perswaded Squire to undertake to poison the Pummel of the Queens Saddle and to make him constant made Squire receive the Sacrament upon it he then gave him the Poison shewing that he should take it in a double Bladder and should prick the Bladder full of holes in the upper part when he should use it carrying it within a thick Glove for the safety of his Hand should after turn it downward pressing the Bladder upon the Pummel of the Queens Saddle This Squire confest Squire is now in Spain and for his safer dispatch into England it was devised that two Spanish Prisoners taken at Calice should be exchanged for Squire and one Rowles that it might not be thought that Squire came over but as a redeemed Captive The Munday sevennight after Squire returned into England he understanding the Horses were in preparing for the Queens riding abroad laid his hand and crushed the poyson upon the Pummel of the Queens Saddle saying God save the Queen Tho Queen rode abroad and as it should seem laid not her hand upon the place or else received no hurt through God's goodness by touching it Walpole counting of it as of a thing done imparted it to some principal Fugitives there but being disappointed of his hope supposing Squire to have been false to be revenged on him sent one hither who should pretend to have stoln from thence with Letters wherein the Plot of Squire was contained this Letter was pretended to be stoln out of one of their Studies Squire being apprehended confessed all without any rigour but after denied that he put it in execution although he acknowledged he consented to it in the Piot at length he confessed the putting it in execution also Earl of Tyrones Rebellion ANno Dom. 1597 Hugh a Bastard made Earl of Tyrone by Queen Elizabeth pardoned also by her for a Murder and usurping the Title of Oneal set on by the Spaniard with whom he had lived a Fugitive assaulted the Fort of Blackwater and at that very time when he wrote to Sir John Norris the English General that he might be dealt mildly withal lest he should run on the Rocks of rebellion wrote also to Kildare to fide with him the Queen desiring to spareshedding of Blood agreed unto a conference with him by her Commissioners but the Rebel not liking the conditions proposed by the Commissioners depisted and spoiled the Country about Black-water and pulled down the Town of Dunganon The Country wasted and no Victuals to be had Tyrone presented to the General a Petition craving pardon upon his Knees at the Foot of the Queens Picture and in the mean time dealt for aid out of Spains the King of Spain promised him aid requiring him to admit of no Articles of Peace with the English Hereupon though there was a cessation of Arms he burneth and spoileth the Country then he put on again his old habit of dissimulation and sues for Pardon Presently by shuffling or neglect Conaught and Vlster revolted then he fell to Rebellion again and about the Black-water overthrew 1500 English then the Earl of Essex coming General into Ireland he cleared Munster thence went into Lemster against the O Conors and O Neales whom he vanquished He sent thence Sir Conyeâ—s Clifford against O Rork himself going another way to distract the Forces of Tyrone but Sir Conyers was slain and his Forces defeated Tyrone coming near to the General declared he desired not to fight but parley of Peace which was denied afterward he obtained conference with the Lord General and then another conference where it was concluded that next day Commissioners should meet to treat of Peace Then was the Lord General sent for into England after whose departure Tyrone takes the Field again In the time of cessation of Arms the Spaniard sent him some Money and Ammunition the Popes Indulgences and a Plume of Peacock-Feathers Anno 1600 the Lord Mountjoy came into Ireland as Lieutenant General and in divers small Skirmishes beat the Rebels The Spaniard to further the Rebellion sent Don John de Aquila with 2000 old trained Soldiers and some Irish Fugitives who landed at Kingsale There were also at that same time 2000 Spaniards more arrived at Been haven Balimore and Castel-haven The Lord Deputy encamped near Kingsale Sir Richard Levison with two of the Queens Ships blockt up the Haven and on both sides the Town was battered Then Sir Richard Levison sunk five of their Ships To these Spaniards O Donel betook himself and presently after Tyrone O Rork Raymund Burk Mac Mahon Randâ—l Mac Surly and Trrel with the chief of the Nobility in all 6000 Foot and 500 Horse Tyrone on a Hill not far from the Camp made a bravado two days together as if he would give the English Battel The Lord Deputy at the foot of the Hill chose a convenient plot to fight with him but Tyrone soundeth a Retreat whom the Lord General followed and forced to make a stand in the midst of a Bog where by the Earl of Claurikard their Horse were routed and defeated Alonse O Campo one of the Spanish Generals and six Ensign-bearers were taken Prisoners and the Ensigns taken by the English and 1200 Spaniards slain Tyrone was forced to fly into Vlster O Donel fled into Spain the rest hid themselves The Lord General returned to King-sale and battered it for six days space the Enemy attempted nothing against him Then Don John offered conditions of surrendring the Town which propounded the Lord General the English being wearied out with a Winters Siege agreeth with the Spaniard on certain Articles and taketh possession of the Town and sendeth away all the Spaniards as well as those in the Town into Spain The next Spring the General pursueth Tyrone into Vlster
and spoileth the Country upon which the Rebels make haste to come in unto the Deputy and Tyrone beggeth pardon upon his Knees From Dublin Tyrone should have been carried into England but the Queens death-hindred that and King James pardoned him Afterward he entred into another Conspiracy with O Cane but being sent for with a Process to answer a suit which the Bishop of Derry had against him and fearing he had bin sent for for his Conspiracy he sled out of Ireland Garnet Catesby and others labour to invade England IN the last Year of Queen Elizabeth there was a Plot layed against her by Garnet Catesby and others that the Spaniard should join with the Papists here in the Invasion of England Winter was sent into Spain for that purpose and Creswel the the Leger Jesuite in Spain Don Pedro Francisco second Secretary of State and the Duke of Lerma assured Winter that his Message would be very acceptable to the King of Spain Then had Winter an answer by Count Mirands that the King would bestow 100000 Crowns towards the expedition and at the next Spring at farthest would set his Foot in England Winter returneth and acquainteth Garnet Catesby and Trâ—sham with all and they others but before the next Spring the Queen died The Gun-Powder Treason AT the Queens death Christopher Wright was sent into Spain and Guy Fauks also from Brussels by Sir William Stanley to advertise them there that King James was as violent against the Catholicks as Queen Elizabeth and therefore urged the Spaniard to prosecute the old design The Jesuits privately suggested that they should not admit him into England as being an Heretick Catesby hâ—ld that the King being an Heretick forseiteth his Kingdom before â—â—y sentence pronounced The Parliament was dissolved the 7th of July which the King held and prorogued till the 7th of February Catesby at Lambeth broke with Winter about blowing up the Parliament House Winter told him that it struck at the root but what if it should not take effect Catesby won Winter to consent but first said be go over and win the Constable to obtain more favour for Catholicks and if you may bring over some confident Gentlemen as Mr. Faux Winter went met with the Constable at Bergen and delivered his Message The Constable answered that his Master commanded him to do all good offices for the Catholicks but he shewed the Constable nothing of the matter Faux and Winter came both into England This plot of blowing up the Parliament House after an Oath of Secreoy and the Sacrament received upon it Catesby disclosed it to Percy and Winter and Wright to Faux Percy hired the House Faxn was pretended to be Percy 's Man and names himself Johnson and kept the Keys of the House till the adjournment of the Parliament at which time all the Conspirators departed into the Country A House was hired at Lambeth by Percy to keep the Powder and Wood for the Mine to which it was to be conveyed When the Plot had taken effect what should they do Percy with two or three of them with a dozen more would seize on the Duke and carry him away The Lady Elizabeth was to be surprized at a hunting near the Lord Harringâ—ons They would save from the Parliament first Catholicks then some particular Persons While they wrought in the Mine they fed on baked Meats that they might not go forth At Candlemas the Powder is brought over about which time working in the Mine they came against a Stone-wall when hearing a rushing noise of Coals they seared they were discovered But it was only the moving of Coals to be sold which Celler Faux hired 20 Barrels of Powder they had provided which they hid with Billets and Fagots Faux went into Flanders to acquaint therewith Stanley and Owen Stanley was not there Owen approved it Percy and Catesby met at the Bath and it was agreed that Catesby should call in whom he thought best The number being small He called in Sir Everard Digby and afterward Mr. Tresham The Parliament was a-new prorogued till the 5th of November Then the Conspirators all went into the Country and returned 10 days before the Parliament and hearing that the Prince would be absent from the Parliament said they would then seize on the Prince and let alone the Duke Saturday before the Kings return which was on Thursday a Letter in the Street was delivered to the Lord Mounteagle's Man to put it into his Masters Hand It had neither Date nor Superscription and by the Lord Mounteagle was that Night sent to the Earl of Salisbury who made acquainted with it the Lord Chemberlain the Lord Admiral the Earl of Worcester and Northampton The Letter was this My Lord OVt of the love I bear to some of your Friends I have a care of your preservation Therefore I would advise you as you tender your Life to devise some Excuse to shift off your attendance at this Parliament For God and Man have concurred to punish the wickedness of this Time And think not slightly of this Advertisement but retire your self into your Country where you may expect the event in safety For though there be no appearance of any storme yet I say they shall receive a terrible Blow this Parliament and yet they shall not see who hurt them This counsel is not to be contemned because it may do you good and can do you no harm for the danger is past so soon as you shall have burned this Letter and I hope God will give you the grace to make a good use of it to whose holy protection I recommend you Friday following the King read it who considering the Sentence therein expressed that they should receive a terrible blow this Parliament and yet should not know who hurt them and joining it to the Sentence for the danger is past so soon as you shall have burn'd this Letter did suspect the danger mentioned to be some sudden danger of blowing up with Powder Afterward it was determined the Lord Chamberlain should view both above and beneath the Parliament Houses Which the Lord Chamberlain having done sound in a Vault under the upper House great store of Billets Faggots and Coals and casting his Eye aside a Fellow standing by which called himself Percy 's Man that had hired the Celler The King supposing that Gun-Powder might be hid under that Wood and Coals caused a further search to be made Whereupon Sir Thomas Knevet went about the Parliament House with a small number to search more narrowly the Mid-night next after where he found Faux standing without Doors booted and spurr'd and apprehended him then in search under the Wood and Coals 36 Barrels of Gun-Powder and about the Traitor three Matches and other Instruments fit for that wicked purpose were found which wicked intent of blowing up the House he instantly confessed affirming that if he had been in the House he would not have failed to blow up both himself and them
In this Mine wrought Catesby Robert Winter Esquires Thomas Percy Thomas Winter John Wright Christopher Wright Guido Faux Gentlemen and Bates Catesby's Man Sir Everard Digby Ambrose Rockwood Francâ— Tresham Esquires John Grant Gentlemen and Robert Keys were made acquainted with the Plot but wrought not in the Mine After Faux's apprehension the Traitors post away and pretending Religion they would fight for gathered in open Rebellion all they could which number never exceeded 80. They wandred through Warwick-shire to Worcester-shire and thence to the borders of Stafford-shire and having gotten themselves into a House they obstinately refused to yeild to the Sheriff but through God's Providence a less quantity of Powder than 2â— pounds taking Fire did so mangle some disable others that having begged pardon on their knees for their crime of God they desperately exposed themselves to the peoples â—ury three of the chief joined Back to Back and two of them were killed with one shot Catesby and Percy Winter was taken alive So all of them were killed beaten or taken The Conspirary of Sir Griffin Mackham and others ANno Domini 1603 George Brook Sir Griffin Markham Watson and Clerk Priests entred into a Conspiracy against King James it was said to surprise Prince Henry to keep the King and Prince in the Tower or to carry them to Dover Castle and there to obtain their own Pardons a toleration for Religion and removal of some Councellors Divers beside these were accused and condemned but Brook confessed he did it but by a Commission from the King to try the faithfulness of the Kings Subjects but he could produce no such Commission Sir Griffin Markham confessed that he intended forreign Invasion and Alteration of Religion but not to destroy the King as was in the Inditement Watson and Clerk confessed they drew the Gentlemen into the Plot holding the King for no King till he was Crowned Of them all only Watsn Clerk and Brook suffered Death The Massacre and Treason in Ireland extracted out of the Irish Remonstrance and Irelands Tears UPon the 23d day of October 1641 a most Prodigious and Nefarious Viper gnawing the Bowels of its Native-parent Ireland burst out of the Womb thereof and visibly appeared most epidemically destructive to that whole State and Kingdom It had lien long as some of the Rebels reported undiscovered but was all that while hatching by many hot and high-built hopes both by Forraign and Domestick Encouragements The accursed Midwives of this Bastard-birth were Popish Priests Friars and Jesuits together with other Fire-brands and Incendiaries of that State and Kingdom Their hideous and hellish hopes were mightily supported and corroborated by strong assistance from Spain France and Flanders together with deeply engaged assurance of full correspondency in England and an equivalent party in Scotland besides their great encouragements by Popish Bulls from Rome authorizing the speedy and immediate Surrender of all súch places of strength as they had Beleaguered promising free Pardon of all Sins whatsoever before-hand committed by any of them tending to the advancement of this great Work Thundering or rather Roaring out Excommunications against any that should refuso so to joyn with them therein terming themselves the Catholick-Army and the ground of their work as all their abominable and bloody Plots are the Catholick Cause Their desperate and most devilish resolution was therein not to leave a drop of English Blood in Ireland and so consequently not the least spark or glimpse of Gospel and pure Protestant Religion giving out in words and designing in their hearts that the Tower of London the Castle of Edinburgh and the Castle of Dublin were to be surprized by their Faction in all these places all upon one day In all which time this therefore might the more easily have been done esecially in Ireland there was not the least fear or suspition of Treachery yet there were a little before the day of this Bloody-birth secretly gathered together about 400 Irish Papists elected out of most parts of Ireland desperate and damnably bloody-minded persons designed for this horrid and hellish Attempt who had all privately conveyed and sheltered themselves in several places of the City and Suburbs of Dublin waiting and expecting the time and Watch-word when to give the on-set In this Plot all the Popish Nobility and Men of quality in Ireland were interessed and it was professed by that most impious and barbarous Arch Rebel Sir Philem O Neal that what he and they did was by the consent of the Parliament in Ireland Yea some of them have been so implously audacious as to prosess and persuade othere of their accursed Consederates to believe that they had Regal Authority for it and were so bold as to term themselves the Queen's Army And for the more violent prosecution of this their most exorbitant Villany the Conspirators and Traitors entred into a most accursed Covenant just as our Popish-Powder-Traitors did in their damnable Design and bound themselves by an Oath of Confederation and Secrecy Roily a prime Popish Priest and others like his Father the Devil compassing the Earth far and near to draw into their Conspiracy such as had not before been therewith acquainted as also to satisfie all scruples if any arose in any of their minds about the lawfulness of their Actions just as Garnet that old Romish Jesuitical Fox did with his Powder-Conspirators 1605. And whereas they falsly have masked this their most inhumane Treason and Rebellion under the King's Name pretending his authority and all they did or do in obedience to his Majesty and tender respect to his Royal Prerogative yet it hath been by some others of them professed that they intended to have a King of their own yea that they had one already some saying Tyrone was he others Sir Philem O Neal who hath been audaciously and traiterously honoured with the stile of his Majesty and that they will with the assistance of Spain and France set footing in England having compleated their own devilish Irish work and after that in Scotland where all things being setled to their desires the whole Forces in Ireland in way of Retribution and acknowledgment of Gratitude were intended as hath been confessed for the King of Spain against the Hollanders Such mighty and invincible Conquerors had they made themselves in their own conceits and most bold and bloody imaginations Unto which their horrid Disloyalty and unparalleld Treachery and Rebellion they added most execrable expressions of unheard of hatred and inhumane Barbarity to the Subjects of the English Nation Banishment or perpetual Slavery were the greatest favours that would have been afforded them their general profession being for a general Extirpation even to the last and least drop of English-blood from among them Yea and that which transcends all former extents of rage and unpattern'd wrath and malignity not so much as an English Beast or any of that Breed was to be left alive in that whole Kingdom And as the Hearts and
Tongues of these most base and abominable Traitors and Rebels were boundlessly and extreamly cruel in Intention and Profession So it pleased the Lord for the Sins of his People there to permit power unto these Harbarous Rebels to act with their Hands the most accursed and prophane Perpetration that ever Christian Eyes beheld or Ears ever heard of both for Impiety against God and his holy Gospel and almost unexpressible Inhumanity toward the true Pròfessors thereof among them blaspheming our God stripping his Servants stark naked and then bidding them go to their God to be clothed again breaking into Churches burning Pulpits with extream hatred to our Religion and exceedingly triumphing in all their Impieties Dragging some Professors of the Gospel by the hair of their Heads through the Streets into the Churches and there Stripping and Whipping them and with most cruel and taunting Terms abusing them telling them if they came to Morrow they should hear the like Sermon Yea so excessively impious was their hatred to the Gospel of Christ that they took the Sacred Books of the holy Scriptures and cast them into Kennels and Puddles of Dirt and Mire treading them under foot and Leaping and Skipping on them and O horrid Impiety causing a Bagpipe to play all the while and bidding a Plague upon them saying they were the cause of all Quarrels and Burning some and saying it was Hell fire that was then flaming and wishing they had all the Bibles in Christendom that they might use them so And as for the most Inhumane and more than Scythian Cruelties of those Irish Canibals and most barbarous Blood-sucking Tygres of whom we may most properly say as Jacob did of his bloody Sons Simeon and Levi in their Massacre of the Shechemites Gen. 49. 7. Cursed be their Anger for it was fierce and their Wrath for it was cruel Yea certainly more cruel than ever any Eye did see or Ear did hear yea I say past the most exquisite historical expressions of any Ancient or Modern Relations Witness their stripping stark naked Men Women and Children even Children sucking their poor Mothers Brests whereby multitudes of all sorts Ages and Sexes in the extremities of that oold season of Frost and Snow have most lamentably perished Women being dragged up and down Naked Women in Child-bed drawn out thence and cast into Prison one delivered of a Child while she was hanging one ripped up horesco referens and two Children taken out of her and all cast and eaten up by Swine One stabb'd in the Brest her Child sucking An Infant cruelly murthered whom they found sucking his dead Mother slain by them the day before A Child of fourteen years of Age taken from his Mother in her sight cast into a Bog-pit and held under-water while he was drowned Together with many other yet more horrible hideous and more than Savage or Beast-like Barharities too terrible for me any farther to relise but may be more fully found in that most lamentable Remonstrance of this Irish Rebellion and all there proved by Testimonies on Oath whereunto I refer the Reader Which makes me call to mind that old Observation proverbially spoken of Ireland which is That no poisonous Serpent will live on Irish ground which how true in the Historical meaning I know not but now I am sure 't is most false in the mystical meaning of it for here it seems that Satan's Serpentine seed a brood of most poisonous Native Serpents Adders and Snakes of Villany and Cruelty do live yea and thrive there also but I trust but for a season for certainly the Lord the most righteous Judg of all Men and severe Revenger of all Wrongs will not suffer such horrible Impieties and unpattern'd Cruelties to go unpunished but will undoubtedly ruinate such a pestilent Generation of Romish Vipers and Babylonish Blood-suckers as these are which he hath already most blessedly begun First By his most gracious and timely discovery of their main Plot the taking of the City of Dublin which was indeed the Master-piece of their intended Epidemical Mischief but prevented I say by the Lord 's great Mercy and good Providence in a most strange manner by a native Irish Gentleman one Mr. Owen Mack-Connel once Servant to that pious and most worthy Gentleman Sir John Clotworthy and this also by a most remarkable way and work of the Lord 's special Providence as is more particularly and punctually related in the Preamble of Irelands Tears to which I refer the Reader And secondly By the Lord's most Glorious and Victorious over-powering the out-ragious Power and Petulancy of those barbarous Miscreants now in open Rebellion by the hands of a very small remnant of poor Protestants there among them who by reason of the most unhappy Distractions unnatural Civil-discords raised up among us in England by the Popish Faction also and their Pontifician Abettors cannot be by us so sufficiently supplied with Men and Arms as is fit and much desired therefore I say the Lord of Hosts abhorring and abominating such atrocious and hell-fomented Blasphemies Murthers and merciless Cruelties makes his just Indiguation and Wrath to prosecute and pursue them at the heels giving those small and inconsiderable Companies such admirable and even almost miraculous Victories over them as most evidently declare the Hand of the Lord to be against them and his gracious Purpose utterly to supplant and exterminate such devilishly desperate and intolerably barbarous and bloody Rebels and Traitors the lively Limbs and Lineaments of that bloody Strumpet of Rome The most bloody Mossacre at Paris Anno 1572. extracted out of the French History truly and briefly related ANd now good Reader give me leave a little to seem to digress not so much from the Matter as from the Persons and Places at first propounded and to look but a little into our Neighbour Kingdom of France where I say I shall only vary from Personages but the subject Matter the same with the former setting forth the Bloody Plots and Conspiracies of the Popish Faction among them also against those of the reformed Protestant Religion in France and especially in that most butcherly and barbarous Massacre at Paris where it primarily and chiefly began to be cruelly acted and executed on God's innocent Lambs marked out to the slaughter before-hand And thus it was in brief In the years 1571 and 72 Charles the 9th then King of France the said King the then Duke of Guise and others of the Romish Faction bearing a most inveterate hatred which was crastily concealed against those of the Religion and in especial against the then most renowned Admiral of France whose Piety Prudence and Prowess was such and in so high esteem of all both Friends and Foes also that whilst he subsisted and survived the Popish party maugre their malice could do nothing to any purpose to the prejudice of the Cause of Religion At last a Plot was laid most craftily and cruelly under the pretence of a Marriage between the Prince
Lord It is God that calls for us the House is entred by force and there is no means of Resistance The good Admiral then replied It is not long since I disposed my self to Die save you your selves if it be pessible for you cannot save my Life and thorefore I commit my Soul into the Hands and Mercy of God Presently hereupon his Attendants began to shift for themselves and to flie for their Lives and some of them got up into the top of the House and found a Window to issue out of the Roos and so into Gutters but most of them were slain in the next Houses but Cornatan and Merlin a godly Minister escaped and were miraculously preserved The Admiral 's Chamber-door being now opened seven or eight Armed Mem with their Targets entred into it and one Besmes Servant to the Duke of Guise with a naked Sword in his hand offered him the point Whereupon the good Admiral said unto him Young man thou oughtst to respect my Age and Insirmity yet shalt thou not shorten my life With that Besmes thrust his Sword into the Admiral 's Body and redoubling the blow upon the Admiral 's Head every one of the rest also gave him a blow in such sort that he sell upon the Ground and so lay gasping The Duke of Guise and others staying below in the Court and hearing the blows asked if they had done and commanded the Body to be thrown out of the Window which was presently done by that villain Besmes and his companions Now the blows that he had on his Head and the Blood covering his Face had so disfigured him that the Duke of Guise hardly knew him whereupon stooping down and wiping his Face with his Hankerchief he said Now I know him it is he indeed and therewith gave him a kick with his foot on his Face being dead whom all the Murtherers of France extreamly feared being alive Which done he left the Admiral 's House accompanied with his most bloody Train and began to cry about the Streets Courage fellow Souldiers we have made a good beginning let us now to the rest for the King commandeth it Repearing those words oft with great majesty For the King commandeth it it is his pleasure it is his express commandment Just as our Romish Clergy in the Irish Massacre in the Year 1641 pretended the King's Authority for their Rebellion laying all the Odium of their impious Villanies and Cruelties on the King's Majesty saying still 't was his pleasure it should be so Now presently thereupon the Palace Clock struck and then a Noise was heard all about the Streets of Paris saying that the Hugonots for so the Romish Catholicks term the true Protestants in France were in Arms they being all alas in their Beds far from any such thoughts and meant to kill the King just as our Powder Traitors intended had their Plot taken effect to have standered the Puritans in England to have been the Authors of that hellish-Treason to whom the Admirals Head was carried and presented and to the Queen-mother of France and then imbalmed and sent to Rome to the Pope and Cardinal of Lorrain The Common-people like Priest like People ran to the Admirals Lodging where they cut off his Hands and his privy Members and drew his Body for the space of three days about the Town which done it was born to the Gibbet of Monifaucon and there hanged by the Feet The Gentlemen Officers of the Chamber Governours Tutors and houshold Servants of the King of Navarre the French King 's Brother-in Law lately married to his Sister and of the Prince of Conde were driven out of their Chambers where they slept in the Louvre and forced into the Court were there massacred in the Kings own presence The like was done to the Lords and Gentlemen that lay round about the Admirals Lodgings and then throughout the Town in such sort that the number slain that Sunday at Night and the two next Days ensuing within the City of Paris and Suburbs thereof was esteemed to be above ten thousand Persons Lords Gentlemen Pages Servants Justices of all sorts Schollars Lawyers Merchants Artificers Women Maids and Boys not sparing little Children in their Cradles no nor in their Mothers Bellies The Courtiers of the Kings Guard and Strangers that massacred these Gentlemen said that in one day by Weapons and disorder they had ended those Processes which Pen Paper Sentences of Justice nor open War could not find the means to do or execute in 12 years space And thus these most honourable Protestant Lords and Gentlemen falsly accused and standered of Conspiracies and Practices against the King being stark naked thinking only upon their rest scarce awakened out of their Sleep utterly unarmed in the hands of infinite crud crafty and most treacherous Enemies not having so much leasure as to breath were barbarousaly slain some in their Beds others on the roofs of Houses and in whatsoever other places where they might be found It would be too tedious to recite at large the Names and Sirnames of all the honourable Personages of divers Qualities that were then slain and butchered it sufficeth that their Names are written in Heaven and that their Death though shameful and despicable in the sight and presence of Men of this World is precious in the sight of the Lords most holy Majesty Now let the tender hearted Christian Reader but consider and ponder in his Heart how strange and horrible a thing it might be in a great Town or City to see at the least 60000 Men with Pistols Pikes Courtlasses Ponyards Knives and other such bloody Instruments run swearing and blaspheming the sacred Majesty of God throughout the Streets and into Mens Houses where most cruelly they massacred all whomsoever of the Religion they met without regard of Estate Condition Sex or Age the Streets paved with Bodies cut and hewed in pieces the Gates and Entries of Houses Palaces and publick places died with Blood A horrible Plague of shoutings and howlings of the Murtherers mixed with continual noise of Pistols and Calivers together with the pittiful cries of those that were murthered the Bodies cast out at Windows upon the Stones drawn through the Dirt with strange noise and Whistlings the breaking open of Doors and Windows with Bils Stones and other surious Instruments the spoiling and plundering of Houses Carts carrying away the spoils and dead Bodies which were thrown into the River of Soame all red with Blood which ran in great Streams through the Town and from the Kings Palace into the said River As for the King of Navarre himself and the Prince of Conde they were called into the King's presence who must himself speak with them who with his own Mouth certified them what had thus past all this while adding that he had saved their Lives only upon Condition that they should renounce their Religion and follow his otherwise that they must look for the like punishment that their Adherents
had and should receive The King of Navarre besought the King to remember his promise of Alliance newly contracted and not to constrain him in his Religion The Prince of Conde also more fervently answered that the King had given his Faith unto him and to all those of the Religion with so solemn a Protestation and Vow that he could not be persuaded that his Majesty would falsify such an authentick Oath and that thereupon he had thus far yeilded to his Majesties Demands and faithfully performed what he had required of him on this Assurance But as touching the Religion whereof the King had granted him the free exercise and God the true knowledg to whom he was to make an account therein for this his Religion he said he was fully resolved to remain most constant therein and which he would always maintain to be true although it were with the loss of his Life This answer of the Prince set the King into such a choller that he began to call him Rebel seditious and Son of a seditious Person with horrible threatnings to cause them to lose their Heads if within 3 days they took not better counsel and indeed these threatnings and other crafty carriages in this way so wrought on both these Princes at last that they forsook their Faith and first Love and turned to Romish abominations Now the King perceiving that this Massacre of Paris would not quench the Fire but rather kindle it the more fearing lest those of the Religion in his other Provinces and Towns might assemble and unite themselves together and so give them new work he with the speedy advice of his Counsellors sent two Messengers with two several Messages the one to the Governours and seditious Catholicks of his remoter Towns wherein were many of the Religion with express command to massacre them the other containing certain Letters to the Governors of Provinces by which he pretended this Massacre to be perpetated by the Duke of Guise and the Admiral to be murthered on a particular and private quarrel betwixt them two and that the King 's honest meaning and intention was utterly against these things and seriously to maintain his former Edict of a general Pacification and therefore that his care and vigilancy had ceased it the same day it began and yet as my Author recordeth in his History on the Tuesday following being the 26 of the same August the King accompanied with his Brethren and the chiefest of his Court went to the Court of Parliament and there publickly declared in express terms That whatsoever had hapned in Paris was done not only by his consent but also by his Commandment and of his own motion And as for his other former mentioned Message and Letter to other Towns and Provinces for the massacring of those of the Religion among them also his bloody command herein was immediately put in execution at Lyons and many other places where the poor Protestants were murthered and massacred in most hideous and horrible manner by those merciless and inhumane Butchers of bloody Rome who knockt down the innocent Christians among them as so many Dogs cut their Throats mangl'd their Bodies slash'd off their Hands with great sharp Knives as on their Knees they held them up to the Villains praying for the sparing of their Lives yea and were known to rip up their Bellies and take out their Fat from their Bowels and to sell it to the Apothecaries to make Medicines Thus also in those remoter parts from Paris were very many thousands of the Religion murdered without any difference or distinction either of Sex or Age. And so deeply enraged was the King and his Adherents and so desperately resolved to root out and extirpate the memory of those of the Religion especially of any note or eminency that the King having at last got into his custody one Briquemant a noble French Gentleman of the age of seventy years one that had valiantly imployed himself in the Service of the Kings of France having been found in the House of the Ambassador of England then resident in France wherein he had hid himself whilst the greatest fury of the Massacre was executed was by the King's command put in close Prison together with another vertuous Gentleman Cavagnes Master of the Requests both which Gentlemen bare great affection both unto the Religion and also unto the renowned Admiral and were themselves of great esteem and reputation in France but the King having them now fast in hold threatned to tear them in pieces upon the Rack if they would not write and sign with their Hands that they had conspired with the Admiral to kill the King his Brethren the Queen and the King of Navarre But they having most constantly and justly refused to avouch so horrible a lye against their own and their godly Friends Innocencies were racked and cruelly tormented and by a most unjst sentence of the Court of Parliament in Paris they were both declared guilty of Treason and condemned to be hanged upon a Gibbet which was accordingly executed The Queen-Mother leading the King her two Sons and the King of Navarre her Brother-in-Law to see the Execution Her Counsellors thinking that at this last exploit what they had wickedly projected namely the false transferring of the cause of this bloody Massacre on a treasonable Plot intended by the Admiral and others of the Religion against the King as was fore-mentioned would now be wrought out and effected if Briquemant in presence of all the People now at the time of his expected Death would ask pardon of the King withal to work it on the more sending one to him to certifie and assure him that so he might easily save his Life for the King was merciful and that he should have pardon if he would desire it confessing this fact wherewith he was charged But Briquemant answered boldly and with a good courage that it belonged not unto him but to the King to ask pardon of God for such an heinious Offence That he would never ask pardon for a fault wherein he had not offended but knew himself to be most innocent whereof he called GOD to witness desiring him to pardon the King 's so great Disloyalty and Cruelty Cavagnes also the other noble Gentleman did the like until he died Insomuch that this execution contrary to the King's expectation served to no other end but more to publish the iniquity of all those cruel Homicides and of all their most pernicious Counsels The Papists Plots in reference to the late Troubles and particularly about the Death of King CHARLES the First of blessed Memory as proved by Doctor Du Moulin WHen the Businesses of the late bad Times are once ripe for an History and Time the bringer forth of Truth hath discovered the Mysteries of Iniquity and the depths of Satan which hath wrought so much Crime and Mischief it will be found that the late Rebellion was raised and fostered by the Arts of the Court of
Rome That Jesuits professed themselves Independent as not depending on the Church of England and Fifth-Monarchy-Men that they might pull down the English Monarchy and that in the Committees for the destruction of the King and the Church they had their Spies and their Agents The Roman Priest and Confessor is known who when he saw the fatal stroke given to our holy King and Martyr flourished with his Sword and said Now the greatest Enemy that we have in the World it gone When the news of that horrsble Execution came to Roan a Protestant Gentleman of good Credit was present in a great Company of Jesuited Persons Where after great expressions of Joy the gravest of Company to whom all gave ear spake much after this manner The King of England at his Marriage had promised us the Re-establishing of the Catholick Religion in England and when he delayed to fulfil his promise we summoned him from time to time to perform it We came so far as to tell him than if he would not do it we should be forced to take those Courses which would bring him to his Destruction We have given him lawful warning and when no warning would serve we have kept our word to him since he would not keep his word to us That grave Rabby's Sentence agreeth with this certain Intelligence which shall be justified whensoever Authority will require it That the year before the King's Death a 〈…〉 of English Jesuits were sent from their whole party in England first to Paris to consult with â—â—e Faculty of Sâ—rbon then altogether Jesuited to whom they put Question in writing That seeing the state of England was in a likely pâ—sture to change Government whether it was lawful for the Catholicks to work that Change for the advancing and securing of the Catholick Cause in England by making away the King whom there was no hope to turn from his Heresie Which was answered Affirmatively After which the same Persons went to Rome where the same Question being propounded and dehated it was concluded by the Popeland his Council that it was both lawful and expedient for the Catholicks to promote that alteration of State What followed that Consultation and Sentence all the World knoweth and how the Jesuits went to work God knoweth and Time the bringer forth of Truth will lèt us know But when the horrible Paricide committed on the King's sacred Person was so universally cried down as the greatest Villany that had been committed in many Ages the Pope commanded all the Papers about that Question to be gathered and burnt in obedience to which Order a Roman Cathollck in Paris was demanded a Copy which he had of those Papers But the Gentleman who had had time to consider and detest the wickedness of that Project refused to give it and shewed them to a Protestant Friend of his and related to him the whole carriage of this Negotiation with great abhorrency of the practices of the Jesuits In pursuance of that Order from Rome for the pulling down both Monarch and the Monarchy of England many Jesuits came over who took several Shapes to go about their work but most of them took party in the Army About Thirty of them were met by a Protestant Gentleman between Roan and Diep to whom they said taking him for one of their Party that they were going into England and would take Arms in the Independent Army and endeavour to be Agitators A Protestant Lady living in Paris in the time of our late Calamities was persuaded by a Jesuite going in Scarlet to turn Roman Catholick When the dismal news of the King's Murther came to Paris this Lady as all other good English Subjects was most deeply afflicted with it â—nd when this Scarlet Divine came to see her and found her melting in tears about that heavy and common disaster he told her with a smiling countenance that she had no reason to lament but rather to rejoyet seeing that the Catholicks were rid of their greatest Enemy and that the Catholick Cause was much furthered by his Death Upon which the Lady in great anger put the man down Stairs saying If that be your Religion I have done with you for ever And God hath given her the Grace to make her word good hitherto Many intelligent Travellers can tell of the great joy among the English Convents and Seminaries about the King's Death as having overcome their Enemy and done their main work for their settlement in England of which they made themselves so sure that the Benedictines were in great care that the Jesuits should not get their Land and the English Nuns were contending who should be Abbesses in England An understanding Gentleman visiting the Friars of Dunkirk put them upon the discourse of the King's Death and to pump out their sense about it said that the Jesuits had laboured very much to compass that great work To which they answered that the Jesuites would engross to themselves the glory of all great and good Works and of this among other Works whereas they had laboured as diligently and effectually for it as they So there was striving for the glory of that Atchievement and the Friats shewed themselves as much Jesuited as the Jesuites In the height of Oliver's Tyranny Thomas White Gentleman a Priest and a right Jesuit in all his Principles about Obedience set out a Book Entituled the Grounds of Obedience and Government Wherein he maintains that If the People by any Circumstance he devolved to the State of Anarchy their promise made to their expelled Governour binds no more That the People are remitted by the evil managing and insufficiency of their Governour to the force of Nature to provide for themselves and not bound by any promise made to their Governour That the Magistrate by his miscarriages abdicateth himself from being a Magistrate and proveth a Brigand or Robber instead of a Defender The word Defender by writes with a greot D that the Reader may take notice whom be means If the Magistrate saith he have â—ruly â—â—served 〈…〉 or if it be rationally doubted that he hath deserved it and he actually out of possession In the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 iâ— is certain the Subject hath no Obligation to hâ—â—ard for 〈◊〉 Restitution but rather to hinder it For since it is the Commom Good that both the Magistrate and the Subject are to 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 out of what is exprest it is the common harm to 〈◊〉 again of such a Magistrate every one to his power is bound to resist him The next Case is if he be Innocent and wrongfully Deposed nay let us add One who had Governed well and deserved much of the Commonwealth yet he is totally Dispossessed And so that it is plain in these Circumstances It were better for the Common Good to stay as they are than to venture the restoring him because of the publick hazard And now to set down all his words and follow his stile which is affectedly